Show l- l I lf SYNOPSIS f YDELL a j I Jon I die aged solicitor has hils saved from fromI fromy y drowning Felicity Harwood heiress I to her uncles uncle's wealth and anil so 10 young that that sho has lias fallen In n love lovo with shim him find and consented to bo be his wire wife While he he Is gloating over o his hla good fortuno fortune comes to tor toll tell him her uncle undo I has been ruined b by unwise Investments raging raginA with disappointment breaks their engagement without ro- ro re record cord ard either for tho the love lovo the girl bears r for for or him or 01 the passion ho he has learned to foci fool for lor her Felicity returning to the apartments nl at her ber hotel meets Ton ran Tony Masters a a. devoted admirer who tells her ho he has hns become heir to the family title and estate by br tho death of or his brother learns Je of her 1 broken enra engagement encasement ement Felicity l reaches the hotel on only 13 in time timeto to witness the death of or her uncle In her helplessness and poverty she Is taken laken caro care of or b by Rosa Latimer a rich end and nd vulgar woman whose generous In Instincts In- In her distress arouses Tony Masters falls In his endeavor or to induce Mrs Irs LaUmer Latimer to surrender t the tho e care of oC Felicity and Mrs rr Latimer L. after a period of ot struggle lc to induce society to forget her past moves moveR with F Felicity to Mowbray Mobray Manor near Market Harbon Harbon Har- Har bon where practices law lav and andI I then she sho visits rt ot his office Believing ln she has lias an Incurable malady malA malady mal mal- I A ady Mrs Latimer cn engages acs Plc dell to draw up her will leaving her Immense fortune to Felicity R When hon hen comes conies to the house Mr Mrs Latimer has lias exacted a 1 promise from Ton Tony Masters to visit her and she aho leaves lewes Felicity l' to toI I receive e them both Continued d From Last Sunday CHAPTER CHANTER XIII Continued XIII-Continued Continued ll R. R PLEY DELL I The Thc butler announced the guest In clear sonorous ton tones and John IJohn walked somewhat slowly into the tho room his eyes fixed on tho the slim alim girlish s figure In tn the block black lace 1 dress dress the tho girl who held her tier h head ad so eo soI I He hesitated a little as al he advanced and arid the candles that Illuminated the thc large drawing room may have dazzled led him with their brilliance for he suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly denh halted in a confused stumbling r fashion Felicity swept forward She was no longer nervous She felt the complete mistress of the situation Sho She had lost Jt her r fear her tear her dread Hl of ot meeting Pley Pley- dell for tor as she looked at him In the light cast b tont bright by over twenty candles she 81 saw that she sho ho had been mistaken In thinking that he would t treat her with the half halt contemptuous r ity that some men give to a n. Jilted sweetheart t for what she rt read 3 In to his eyes es bent on her f face his face h cc-h his Is strange uncanny uncanny un un- un- un canny ee eyes was eyes was was burning admiration admiration- a passionate homage I She Sho held out her nand hand Two years ago asro o her fingers would have hae quivered cre 1 grid and trembled as drew drow them into his tight grip but they were cre cold and nd unresponsive c tonight ht Two To years cars ago Felicity would have ha blushed Ul like e eta a rose but this evening evening- her face taco was ta icily severe seere for tor she Bhe had changed She was as no longer a sunny hearted child she sho was a girl sobered and hardened b by adversity Il a girl who had learned a great Ireat many hard lessons Mrs Latimer is It not feeling very well veil so she she- asked me to make her ox- ox to you OU She hopes to appear at r dinner Felicity a addressed Just as the Ine would have hac addressed a stran stranger er and she told herself how lean lenn and aged he looked but he lIe gave 0 lher her hand a L sudden udden squeeze and tho the pressure of ot his fingers was almost pain painful ful I E Is this all you have to 81 say to me after two years ears Felicity Are wo we to r meet as strangers grangers you ou and I 11 Have e you rou forgotten the past I r hope so She looked him coldly in tho the eyes At At least that part of oC m my past with which you ou are concerned I hope Mrs In Latimer does doeR not suspect that thal you ou are arc tho man I was once enraged en- en raged aged to for I have c never mentioned 3 jour our name to her some things are best kept a secret H Her l' l voice olce sounded a n little anxious she he leaned forward eagerly a I 1 shook his head j Mrs Latimer hasn't an nn Idea that th we ne e even een know each other Felicity Felicity- far ar lc less s that t we were ever er engaged She called caned to see ce me on some flome le legal al matter this afternoon and she sho ery very kindly asked me to dine hero tonight tso so that wo we could discuss some bu business at our leisure after dinner Wo Yo can meet as aR total strangers If It you like If It you OU dont don't want to take Mrs Irs Latimer Into your our confidence Felicity flushed I dont don't see that there thero Is any n need to tell her and yet et it might be franker She paused Used Irresolutely Better BeUer leave lelo things alone alono perhaps for tor 1 If she sho knew knew well well It would make malto your our legal leSal your legal your out business s visits hero a awk awk- lc ward t She Sho might feel leel uncomfortable about asking you rou to the house and I Ifancy Ifancy Ifancy fancy I 1 should object to meeting you ou You dont don't object though lie tried to pierce h her r with th his glowering lo eyes eyes to to subdue the girl to him as ho he hart had once subdued the child I dont don't object t to meeting you In Inthe Inthe inthe the very cry least t. t She shrugged hru ged her hersUm slim sUm white shoulders Why Wily should hould l 1 I regard you as aR an n utter stranger er An utter tutor stranger laughed hoir hoarsely cl And youve you've never ne been out of my thoughts day n and night for tor these last t two tO O years Ive I've Ivor r longed for ou j-ou I you longed He throw threw such passionate feeling Into the the- words that Felicity stared at him In fn dumb amazement Had ul John really loved her all tho the time she sho asked herself hersel Had he ho broken with her two years cars ago moro more for Cor her sake alc than his own read signs of ot softening In her pale face and ho pressed closer to her side Ilia IU own countenance was livid Felicity doubt tho the whole world he whispered but never nC doubt m my love Ho How can I believe In you ou Sh she answered slowly You rou gave o me up Because I was a poor man an and afraid of or poverty po for tor your our sake sake afraid 31 afraid of or dragging you U down but Ive I've been loyal to you ou Felicity I haven't looked at t another woman Youve You've been my dream dream my my star Ho He made a queer husky noise In his throat Ills His face was twitching and Felicity experienced a a. sudden sense of revulsion almost revulsion almost of or fear feat Why h are are- ro you talking to mo me like liko this tonight h t 7 she slip demanded nervously ncr 1 1 u. u V. V ten t every thing is 15 over beta UC cen u.- u. uen u en ended d But things are not over oyer ho answered an an- Ills voice olce had grown rown quite fierce his queer eyes blazed We e simply port parted d two years urs ago owing to our mutual lack Inck of means There was no quarrel we simply had to bow how our heads to circumstances Ho He paused a second and drew a deep breath My t prospects are Improving Felicity I II II II I- I I was Just thinking of ot trying tring to come como Into touch with you ou again My business bust busi ness flees Is looking up up-I up I may shortly bo ho able to afford to marry She flushed She did not want John love so love so better to tell this strange man so at nt once I wouldn't I now I marry you ou now couldn't He lie gripped her fiercely b by her left leU wrist so wrist so fiercely that his nails bit Into her flesh Not marr marry me But you OU are arc mine I tell you you mine mine Your life Ufe belongs to me me-I me I saved Ea It The Tho door opened as spoke and the butler hutler ma made mado e his hie slow and dignified appearance He Ile carried a salvor on which a tel telegram InyA layA layA lay Iny A tel telegram for you rou miss Felicity opened the colored buff en en- She felt quito certain that tho the wire came carne from Tony and aurl sho she was right t Give m my apologies to Mrs Mr LaUmer Latimer Cannot go o over o to dinner Hope to turn up about nine TO TONY Y She read rc the words slowly She Sho was certain as she read them that Ton Tonys Tony's s people had raised objections to hi his hisa dining at Mowbray Manor and she ho doubted she doubted she doubted vcr very much much much-It If ho he ic would appear later on In the evening even cven- inS inS' ng an and m meanwhile she was as faced by bythe bythe bythe the prospect of a tete tete-a-tete dinner with John Plo doll She turned hastily to the butler Mr Ir Ml Masters tara Is unavoidably prevented pro pro- vented from dining dining- here tonight so sowe sowo wo we 0 need not wait walt an any longer longor Dinner can be served at once Tho The butler bowed and removed his presence waited till the door had closed behind the sleek man servant then he looked triumphantly at Fe Fe- The stars In their cour courses cs fight for tor forme forme me mc he muttered the stars st In their courses courso CHAPTER XIV r felt Celt like liko a woman in a adream adream af F f dream as she 15 sat Bt In tho huge dining room at Mowbray Manor anor and antI ma mado o a n. sorry pretense of or eating her dinner for how could she sho endure to eat cat or drink while John sat opposite to her het watching her with his hla strange strang-e. uncanny eyes his eyes his gray rny eye and his green eye ec The silent watchful men servants ants offered silver dishes to this In vain aln Felicity mere merely I played with fth her food and Pley declined course COUrto after course They kept up a n. laborious laborious labori labori- ou ous and vcr very stilted conversation for forthe forthe the benefit of ot the servants ser but Felicity Felicity Fe Fe- c constantly contradicted herself and laughed ngu vaguely ly at odd moments He drank dronk a good deal of or wino wine though and by degrees the tho wine warmed his blood and a flush lush came over his face His Hili eyes glistened He raised his voice once or twice and gesticulated freely with his hie thin hands Felicity oared gazed at ot him stupidly Had she been in lo love with this man two years oars ago ao It seemed Incredible for forone forone one thing ho was so 50 much older than herself and ho looked queer that queer that was the anI only word for tor it It queer queer Do you OU rea read a n great deal Miss 1156 Harwood liar Har- wood Do you OU stud study tho the lives of ot fair women dead and gone g and brave reckless men mon I am nm fond of ot dh digging ln Into old world chronicles myself I find medieval medlE history particularly In In- In Felicity shook her head She Sho simply Coul couldn't nt go on talking Everything g was gradually getting f so o unreal it Was so w to he be sitting at nt the thc same e table with John Pled it seemed as asIf If It the whole Incident had been planned d b hy by Fate Fate Fate-at as if it Felicity her herself had had d nothing to do o with It Two empty emPt chairs and two carefully careful aid places place mocked her her tho the seats In which Rosa and Ton Tony ought to tn b be e sitting Sitting the tho places laid for tor them thom at table but Just when the saor savory was heln Being handed round a slight r.-h r. t flutter and excitement outside the dining room door the door the hum of 01 feminine voices proclaimed tho advent of Rosa and Fe Fo licit drew drow a deep breath of or relief C. C forshe for Cor she had been dreading being left leCt alone Y I T with an any longer Rosa galled failed into the tho room The paint had been washed from her face and anda a liberal dusting of ot powder Intensified her unusual pallor She certainly looked Ill iii She Sho was dressed sed In ht a very elaborate 1 blue luc silk tea tea- tea gown own plentifully trimmed with creamy tinted lace lace and as u usual ual she wore a quantity of Jewelry Do forgive me mc Mr Ir Rosa held up two plump hands I feel fecI quite ashamed of oC myself not having 1 been een able to appear at dinner but I turned faint you faint you know Im I'm not an any too strong strong and and I felt so ill In I was wa obliged to lie llo down down In in fact tact Ive I've only just got up She Sho poured the th broken disconnected sentences out gazing hard at John thinking what a n. clover or man he looked and pleased to see soo so eo re respectable ro- ro a guest at her board I only hop hope you OU are arc feeling better bettor now advanced to greet greot his hostess and he hc offered his arm to lead her to the tho table Ills His manner ex expressed expressed ex- ex pressed the tho deepest concern for her sudden Hudden attack his eyes were full of or profound sympathy I trust you rou did not rise HBO on my account ho a added or or that you are arc putting yourself out ot to entertain mo me Miss Harwood told mo me there was wae Just a chance that you might feel eol well enough to come como downstairs Oh Im I'm much 1 better etter now Rosa Rosl RoslIn In In- In cheerfully She settled herself herself her her- self briskly at nt the tho head hea of ot the table Im going to drink a glass of ot port with you both oth I hope Miss Harwood has been looking after you OU well well that that youve youe you ve made n a good dinner She Sho wa was frankl frankly ul vulgar nr and ob- ob lv a U woman roman of the tho people but her kindness and her evident d desire to be hospitable helped to redeem her and SHe sac looked var very beaming t nI and beneficent as she sat at tho the head of tho bl big table table table-a a rIch woman whom It would be wise to flatter and MISS II Harwood E has looked after me splendidly idly made Felicity a little bow bow bow- a bow bo she barely acknowledged thon thon od-thon then lie ho raised his glass lass and sipped some port meditatively Uvel Drink up your our wine Mr 11 Rosa nos smiled encouragingly at ot her gun guest t. t Theres plenty plent more where that comes from She reste l her plump elbows on the table She liked to patronize but Just Justat at that moment tho the butler entered the room and announced that Mr Masters ha had arrived and Rosa sat up sharply In her chair Where have you ou shown Mr Mastors Mastors Mas- Mas tors Into the drawing room maam all rl right ht Rosa Hosn sank back In her seat and drummed her fingers slowly on 00 tho the J polished surface of tho the table You go o Into the drawing room and mcl zoo see him Felicity she commanded I bit of business business busi busl- Mr r and have ha a n. ness neRg to transact together PO so o wo we ma may maybe maybe be some ionic time lIme before wo we join you OU but butI I dont don't sup oso Ton mind much She lau laughed g sod heartily hearthY but l' l Felicity flushed d up and left tho the room hurriedly more mora annoyed wi with h Rosa Latimer than she Bho could say for tor wh why should her hor friend find and patroness mal make e ea a joke Joko of ot Tonys Tony's devotion devotion and and before John of ot all people In tho the world worM Felicity doesn't like being teM teased d about Young Masters Rosa smiled Rood good y at nt as at the thedoor thedoor door dour closed behind her Did J you ou see lee how red she Bhe got I certainly noticed that Mss MIss Harwood Harwood Har liar wood flushed spoke In low strained tones tone Ho He had turned a yellowish gray and he plucked at his hla beard A wild and hardly to be restrained Jealousy of oC lon Tony Masters Musters had como come over him him him-a a fear teal |