Show PLAY By y i Mr Ur He shut tho the door hastily and went wen back to her herShe herShe herShe She Impulsively threw her arms around hii hIli neck and raked Raised her taco face to his hla lips mot mo t i She Sho extricated herself from his embrace What utter r folly I must marry the duke You shant He slipped his arms around her again but sho moved resolutely away awny 1 I must mus I 1 shall bo be sorry Borry for tor ever everand everand everand and ever over afterwards If I 1 dont Its If been the dream of or my m life lire to wear a aducal aducal aducal ducal coronet Nonsense he lie said sternly Lady Joan threw herself bersel petulantly down on the sofa sora Oh you OU dont know a womans mind she sh moaned Yes I do I J know your our mind Is weighing love loe against social ambi ambition ambItion tion and I know kno lovo will weigh down the scales You dont donl know how weak w ak we sometimes are arc she went wont on unheeding ing lag Its foolish and horrid and an wicked but bul If I I marry any an ono one but the duke now note I r shall make mn e him wretched I 1 will chance It IL Four Foul hours hour later laler Lady Joan Itchy Itel gowned went up tho staircase at Mrs T Smythes She had only been a 3 widow for or a year and al at alwayn ways wayn wore white or mauve still be because because because cause she knew know It suited sull d her hor better than anything else elso Her lIer beautiful face lace was Wll flushed with triumph din dia diamonds monds montIs sparkled In her hair and at her ber breast It took a n long time to get het up the tho staircase but she sho did not mind be bu because cause tho the duke duko was at her side When they reached re the top ho was obliged to leave leae her because of an Important debate debato in the house of at lords He lie said something to lo her hor In a R low tone which no ono one olse could hear and lingered reluctantly but ho was wasa a man who always prided himself on oni i doing doln his hla duty to his country countr When he be had gone Wheatley ap appeared appeared Dont conic como near mo me she nhe he cried petulantly Hos Hes coming tomorrow morning at nt 11 for tor my m answer J I can never forgive you for this after afternoon afternoon noon Wheatley raised his eyebrows In Incredulously incredulously credulously which increased her an annoyance annoyance I hate you she ahe said vehemently What Whal time do you leave this crush ho asked her carelessly caroleRs I ordered my m brougham for tor 1030 I J want to get to the tho opera for the last act and then thon go to on to the countess ball Now go and talk lalle to some ono one elne else A dear friend has hae just told mo me m mour our names begin to lo be he bracketed and andone andone one cant be bo too careful y They Ther seemed a long while getting to Covent Garden Sho looked out of the window E Er EY was waa strangely s dark outside and they seemed to be traveling with unusual speed Where arc are you going she asked ed but no answer came to her repeated summons Lady J dr Joan become became suddenly uneasy une Horrid stories about people going sud Rud suddenly suddenly denly mad flashed through her mind Stop she cried Stop at once Do you not hear henr The man looked round drew up the tha car Clr and sprang down Under the chauffeurs cap she alia recognized Whoa Wheat leys les face race You she cried with sudden glad relief Oh I was was so frightened I J feel safe safa now youre oure here But why are ire you driving my m brougham Where are arc you OU taking me rae Surely It is IB some Bome trick Lady Joan Jonn ho lie answered quietly I told yon yott this afternoon you should not nol marry marr the duke dule What do you ou mean 1 she Abe asked Arc Are you running away with mo too Something rather like Jlko it it How dare you ou she cried passion passionately passionately atel How dare you youA youA youA A man dares anything when he loves as I do 1 I love lovo you ou with my whole soul he ho wont on boldly bold hI I would do or dare anything to win you I J hoped If It I J could get gel you away awa alone Ilone somewhere you OU might listen to me bo be before fore rare you OU promised the duke How dare you OU sho said again Lady Joan Ioan he ho answered coolly I dare daro anything as I have hae told you ou You are aro very ery cruel and there was waa WItRa wasa a sob Bob in her voice voce You think you will compromise me and th the duke will hear and wont marry me m Upon my ray soul I had no such thought be he said hoarsely Shall I tako take you OU homo home or to the countess c ball ban he asked In a low tone Home at once she Bhe He closed the window mounted the tho drivers sent scat turned turnell the tho oar round and drove droo back to town When the brougham stopped In Park street Lady Joan sprang lightly out and run ran up the steps without speaking but when hen she reached tho thu top she fihe looked back anxiously Arent you coming in inI inI I 1 think not He stood and watched her b r until the thedoor thedoor door opened then bared his head h nd and walked quickly away awty at 7 All the next day do and the next and the next Lady Joan J an was wa watching and waiting for a visitor who never came c c cAt At it last she could bear It ft no longer lonser and sent a 1 messenger m s boy with a note to chambers chamberss I 1 bavo have refused the duko duke |