THE SUNDAY OEEGONIAN, PORTLAND, JUNE 9, 1901.
31
JDRX3X
Sranvsts f PrecedlRc Chapters.
Idy Adelaide, of Blent, Buoneu In her own
right and tlfe of Sir Robert Edge, Baronet,
eloped with Captain Fltihubert, formerly of
the Scots Guards. Sir Robert died In Russia,
presumably in time for Lady Adelaide and
FKxhubert to marry and make their son,
Harry, the legitimate heir to hla mother's es
tates, they descending to heirs general. The
couple learn later, however, that the date of
Sir Robert's death has been riven Incorrectly,
and that Harry Is not the rightful heir.
They keep the matter secret, and eventually
Harry, after the death of his father, come to
reside with his mother at Blent Hall. Unknown
to Lady Adelaide, a Madame Zabrlska and Mr.
Jenklnson. Tfeeld are also In possession of the
ecret. Subsequently Madame Zabrlska, with'
her uncle. Major Duplay, comes to reside at
Merrion Lodge, near Blent Hall. Harry learns
from nli mother that he la not the rightful
heir to Blent, but they determine to hold the
title. lor him at any cost. To further bis
cause, he decides to marry Janle Ivers, heiress
of Fairholme, but he finds two rivals in Bob
Broadley and Major Duplay. The latter learna
of Harrys unfortunate birth from Madam
Zabrlska. He informs Harry that he Intends
to lnffcrm Mr. Iver. the father of Janle. of the
facts,, and they have a quarrel and tussle, In
which Harry comes off victor. Keeld becomes
the guest of Iver at Fairholme. Mlna meets
Neeld, and they form a compact to protect
Harry's Interests' and maintain secrecy. Cecily
and her father come to Blent, and Harry falls
to receive them. Later he comss suddenly
upon Cecily, In the garden, and realizes that
she Is a Tristram, the Image of his mother.
The engagement of Harry Tristram and Janle
Ivers is announced, and Duplay declares hlr
Intention to expose the false position of Harry
to Janle's father. Harry falls ltr love with
Cecily, and, without acknowledging It to her.
Informs her of the true situation, and that she
Is Lady Tristram of Blent. Then he Meals
away from Blent at daylight, stopping on his
way to the station to Inform Bob Broadley of
the situation, and to advise him to woo and
win Janle Iver, who loves him. He goes to
London, where political friends of his mother
interest themselves In his case. Cecily, un
happy In her new possessions, follows him to
beg him to takd back Blent. Harry Joins Sloyd
In a real estate deal, and becomes a competitor
of Iver. Cecily asks Harry to marry her so
that he may return to Blent. He refuses, and
then suddenly realizes that he loves her. Harry
outmaneuvers Iver In a business deal. Mean
while political friends plan to have him give
a viscounty.
(Copyright, 1000, by A. H. Hawkins.)
CHAPTER XXII-Contlnued.
Harry Tristram returned from Blink
hampton In a state of intellectual satis
faction, marred by a senee of emotional
emptiness. He had been very active,
very energetic, very successful. He bad
new and cogent evidence of his power
not merely to start, but to go abead on
his own account. This was the good
side. But he discovered and tried to re
buke in himself a feeling that he had so
far wasted the time in that he had seen
nobody and nothing beautiful. He traced
it back to Blent. Yet the old life' at
Blent would not have served by itself
now. Was he to turn out so exacting
that he must have both lives before he,
or what was in him, could cry "Con
tent" ? A man will sometimes be alarmed
when he realizes what he wants a wom
an, often.
So, he came In obedience to Lady
Evenswood's summons, very confident
but rather eomber. When he arrived a
woman was there whom he did not
know. He was introduced to the .Lady
Flora LMsney and found himself re
garded with unmistakable interest and
lurking amusement. It was no effort to
remember that Mr. Disney had married
a daughter of Lord Bewdley's. That
was enough; Just as he knew all about
her, she would know all about him.
This again was in patent incongruity
with Bllnkhampton, and smelt woefully
strong of Blent. Lady Evenswood en
couraged Harry to converse with the
visitor.
''We're a little quieter," she was say
ing. "The crisis is dormant, and the
bishop's made, and Lord Hove has gone
to consult the Duke of Dexmlnster
which means a fortnight's delay any
how, and probably being told to do
nothing in the end. So I sometimes see
Robert at dinner."
"And he tells you things, and you're In
discreet about them!" said Lady Evens
wood, rebuklngly.
"I believe Robert considers me as 60rt
of anteroom to publicity. And its so
much easier to disown a wife than a
Journalist, Isn't It, Mr. Tristram?"
"Naturally. The press have to pre
tend to believe one another," he said,
smiling.
"Though how they do it, my dear,"
marveled Lady Evenswood, "la what I
don't understand."
"I know nothing about them," Lady
Flora deolared, "and they know noth
ing about me. They stop at my gowns,
you know, and even then they always,
confuse me with Gertrude Melrose."
"I hope that stops at the gown, too?"
observed Southend.
"The hair does it, I think. She buys
heir's at the same shop as L Now what
do I do, Mr. Tristram?"
Tou, Lady Flora? You know the
shop. Is that enough?"
"Yes, or well, no. I supplement there.
I declare I won't wait any longer for
Robert."
"He won't come now," said Lady Ev
enswood. "Is the bishop nice, my dear?"
"O, yes; quite plump and gaitery. Good
by, dear Cousin Sylvia. I wish you'd
come and see me, Mr. Tristram." Harry,
making his little bow, declared that he
would be delighted.
"I like to see young men sometimes,"
observed the lady, retreating.
The new style," Lady Evenswood
summed up, as the door closed. "And
.well, I suppose Robert likes it"
"Dlssimilla dlsslmllibus," shrugged
Southend, fixing his glasses.
'It's the only concession to aoDear-
unces he ever made," sighed Lady Ev
enswood. "She's a lady, though."
"O, yes. That's what makes it- so
funny. If she weren't "
"Yes, It would all be natural enough."
"But we've ben wastelng your time,
Mr. Tristram."
"Never less wasted since I was born,"
protested Harry, who had both enjoyed
and learned.
"No, really I think not," she agreed,
smiling. "Flora has her power."
The remark grated on him; he wanted
nothing of Flora and her power; it was
indeer rather an unfortunate introduc
tion to the business of the afternoon;
it pointed Harry's quills a Jittle. Lady
Evenswood, with a quick perception,
tried to retrieve the observation.
"But she likes people who are inde
pendent best," she went on. "So does
Robert, If it comes to that. Indeed, he
never does a Job for any one."
"Carries that too far, in my opinion,"
commented Southend. The moment for
diplomacy approached.
But when it came to the point. Lady
Evenswood suavely took the task out of
his hands. Her instinct told her that
she could do It best; he soon came to
agree. She had that delicacy which he
desired but lacked; she could claim si
lence when he must have suffered inter
ruption; she r could excuse her interfer
ence on the ground of old friendship.
Above all, she could be elusively lucid
and make herself understood without any
bluntness of statement. "If It could
be so managed that the whole miserable
accident should be blotted out and for
gotten!" she exclaimed, as though she
implored a personal favor.
"How can that be?" asked Harry. "I
was In, and I am out. Lady Evenswood."
"You're out, and your cousin's in, yes,"
Harry's eves noted the words and dwelt
on her face. "She can't be happy In
that state of affairs, either."
"Perhaps not," he admitted. "Facts
are facts, though."
"There are ways ways of- preventing
that," Southend
vaguely.
"I don't know how you'll feel about it,
but we all think you ought to consider
other things besides ydur personal pref
erences. Might I tell Mr. Disney No,
one moment, please. Our idea, I mean,
was that there mfght be a family arrange
ment A moment pl6ase, Mr. Tristram'
I don't mean by which she would lose
what she has. But If anything were to
happen "
"Nothing could," Harry restrained him
self no longer. "There ca"n be no ques
tion of It" i
"I knew you'd feel like that Just be
cause you feel like that I want to make
the other suggestion to you. I'm not
speaking Idly. I have my warrant, Mr.
Tristram. If" She was at a loss for a
moment "If you ever went back to
Blent," she continued, not satisfied, but
driven to some form of words, 'It isn't
Inevitable that you should go as Mr. Tris
tram. There are means of righting such
injustices as ours."
"I don't understand at all."
She cast a despairing glance at South
end. Southend grew weary of the diplo
macy which he had advocated. He took
Up the task with a brisk directness.
"It's like this, Harry. You remember that
the unsuccessful claimant In the Bears
dale case got a barony? That's our prece
dent But it's felt npt to go quite all
the way, because there was e doubt
there. But it is felt that In the event
of the two branches of your family be
ing united It would be proper to oblit
erate past er Incidents. And that could
be done by raising you to the peerage,
under, a new and, as we hope, a superior
title. We believe Mr. Disney would, un
der the circumstances I have suggested,
be prepared to recommend a viscounty,
and that there would prove to be no dif
ficulties id the way."
They watched him as he digested the
proposal, at last made to him in a toler
ably plain form. "You must give me
a moment to follow that out," he said,
with a smile. But he had It all clear
enough before he would allow them to
perceive that he understood. For al
though his brain made easy work of It,
his feelings demanded a pause. He was
greatly surprised, He had thought of no
such a thing. What difference would it
make?
Southend was well satisfied with the
way In which his overture was received.
Lady Evenswood was watching . Intently.
"The idea is," said Harry slowly, "I
mean I don't quite gather what It is. You
talk of my cousin, and then of a vis
county. The two go together, do they?"
"It was rather an awkward question
put as bluntly as that."
"Well, that did seem to be Mr. Dis
ney's view," said Southend.
"He was thinking of the family of the
family as a whole. I'm sure' you think
of that, too," urged Lady Evenswood.
There would never be a Tristram who did
not, she was thinking. Well, except Ad
dle, perhaps, who really thought of noth
ing. "Of course, as a thlnjr mirelv per
sonal to you, it might be Just a little
difficult" She meant and intended Harry
to understand that without the, marriage
the thing could not be done at all.
There was ground for hope; Harry hes
itatedtruth will out; even where it im
pairs the grandeur of men. The sugges
tion had Its attractions; it touched the
spring of picturesque in him which Bllnk
hampton had left rusting in idleness. It
suggested something In regard to Cecily,
too, where it was he did not reason out
very clearly at the moment. Anyhow.
what was purposed would create a new
situation and put him in a different po
sition toward her. In brief, he would
have something more on his side.
"Once he were sure the proposal was
agreeable to you" murmured Lady
Evenswood gently. She was still very
tentative about the matter, arid still
watchful of Harry.
But Southend was not cautious, or did
not read his man so well. To him the
battle seemed to be won. He was as
sured in his manner and decidedly tri
umphant as he said:
"It's a great thing to have screwed
Disney up to the Viscounty. It does away
with all difficulty about the name, you
see."
Harry looked up sharply. Had Mr.
Disney been "screwed up?" Who had
screwed him up by what warrant on
whose commission? That was enough to
make him glower and to bring back some
thing of the old-time look of suspicion
to his face. But the greater part of his
attention was engrossed by the latter half
of Southend's ill-advised bit of Jubila
tion. "The name. The difficulty about the
name?" he asked.
"If it had been a barony. Well, hers
would take precedence, of course. With
the higher degree yours will come first,
and her barony be merged "Viscount
Blentmouth, eh, Harry?" He chuckled
with glee.
"Viscount Blentmouth be hanged!"
cried Harry. He mastered himself with
an effort "I beg your pardon. Lady
Evenswood: and I'm much obliged to
you, and to you, too, Lord Southend, for
for screwing Mr. Disney up. It's not a
thing I could or should have done, or
tried to do, for myself." In spite of at
tempted calmness, his voice grew a little
louder. "I want nothing but what's my
own. If nothing's my own, well and good.
I can wait till I make it something."
"But, my dear Harry!" began the dis
comfited Southend.
Harry cut him short, breaking again
into impetuous speech.
"There's nothing between my cousin
and me. There's no question of marriage,
and never can be. And if there were"
He seemed to garner himself up for a
flight of scorn. "If there were, do you
think I'm going to save my own pride I y
saddling the family with a beastly new
viscounty?'
His tones rose in indignation on the
last sentence, as he looked from one to
the other. "Viscount Blentmouth. in
deed!" he growled.
Southend's hands were out before him In
signal of bewildered distress. Lady
Evenswood looked at Harry, then, with
a quick forward inclination of her body,
past him; and she began to laugh.
"Thank you very much; but I've been
Tristram of Blent," ended Harry, now In
a very fine fume, and feeling "he had
been much insulted.
Still looking past him, Lady Evens
wood sat laughing quietly. Even on
Southend's face came an uneasy smile,
as he, too, looked toward the door. After
a moment's furious staring at the two
Harry faced round. The door had been
softly and noiselessly opened to the ex
tent of a couple of feet A man stood
In the doorway, tugging at a ragged
beard, and with eyes twinkling under
rugged brows. Who was he and how did
he come there? Harry heard Lady Evens
wood's laughter; he heard her murmur
to herself, with an accent of pleasure,
"A beastly new viscounty!" then the man
in the doorway came a little farther in,
saying:
"That's exactly what I think about It.
Mr. Tristram. I've heard what you said,
and I agree with you. There's an end,
.then, of the beastly new viscounty! He
looked mockingly at Southend. "I've been
screwed up all for nothlrfg, It seems,"
said he.
"Why, you're"
"Let me introduce myself, Mr. Tristram.
I came to look for my wife, and my
name is Disney. I intend to keep mine,
interposed, murmuring W lSJilrlHE A
and I know better than to try and alter
yours."
"I thought It would end like this!"
cried Lady Evenswood.
"Shan't Tve say that it begins like this?"
asked Mr. Disney. His look at Harry
was a compliment.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Imp cried absolutely cried for vex
ationwhen a curt and sour note from
Southend told her the Issue. The blow
struck down her excitement and her ex
ultation. Away went all joy in her en
counter with Mr. Disney, all pride In the
skill with which she had negotiated with
the Prime Minister. The ending was piti
fuldisgusting and pitiful. She poured
out her heart's bitterness to Major Du
play, who had come to visit her.
"I'm tired of the whole thing, and I
hate the Trlstrams," she declared.
"It always comes to that in time, Mlna,
wheh you mix yourself up In people's af
fairs. "Wasn't It through you that I began
to do it?"
The Major declined to argue the ques
tion, one of some perplexity, perhaps.
"Well, I've got plenty to do in London.
Let's give up .Merrion and take rooms
here."
"Give up Merrion?" She was startled.
But the reasons she assigned were pru
dential. "I've taken it till October, and
I can't afford to. Besides, what's the use
of being here in August?"
"You won't drop it yet, you see." The
reasons did not deceive Duplay.
"I don't think I ought to desert Cecily.
I suppose she'll go back to Blent. O,
what an exasperating man he is."
"I think Harry Tristram as much of a
fool as you do," Duplay said. "If he'd
taken It he could have made a good match,
anyhow, even If he didn't get Lady Tris
tram." "Cecily's Just as bad. She's drawn Into
her shell. You don't know that way of
hers of theirs, I suppose it Is, bother
them. She's treating everybody and every
thing as if they didn't exist."
"She'll go back to Blent, I suppose?"
"Well, she must. Somebody must have
It"
"If It's going begging, call on me," said
the Major equably. He was In a better
humor with the world than he had been
for a long while; his connection with Iver
promised well. But Mlna sniffed scorn
fully; she was in no mood for Idealists.
Cecily had been told about the scheme
and Its lamentable end. Her attitude was
one of entire unconcern. What was it to
her If Harry were made a Viscount, a
Duke, or the Popo? What was anything
to her? She was going back to her father
at Blent. The only animation she dis
played was In resenting the reminder,
and, Indeed, denying the fact that she had
ever been other than absolutely happy
and contented at Blent. Mina pressed the'
point and Cecily then declared that now,
at any rate, her conscience was at rest.
She had tried to do what was right at
what sacrifice Mlna knew. Now perhaps
Mlna could sympathize with her, and
could understand the sort of way in which
Cousin Harry received attempts to help
him. On this point they drew together
again.
"You must come back to Merrion, dear,"
urged Cecily.
Mlna, who never meant to do anything
else, embraced her friend and affection
ately consented. It is always pleasant
RAZORS USED BY ANCIENT CARTHAGINIANS.
''''" ' ' j1 i ' ' 'In i 'i i i I . ' ii
Excavations at the ancient site of Carthage have brought to light queer-looking razors
used during the time when the Punic metropolis contended with R6me for the mastery of
the world. The razors are about seven Inches long each. The blades are ornamented with
allegorical designs.
to do on entreaty what we might be
driven to do unasked.
Good-by had to be said to Lady Evens-
wood. That lady was very cneeriui aooui
Harry. She was. hardly with any disguise,
on admirer of his conduct, and said that
wood. That lady was very cheerful about
undoubtedly he had made a very favora- hear the 'chief thinks Trlstram'U train
ble Impression on Robert. She seemed to on."
make little of the desperate condition of ( ,"Do what?" asked Mina absently, look
affairs as regarded Cecily. She was think- t lng across at Harry. Harry was quite
lng of Harry's career, and that seemed to J lively, and deep In conversation with his
her very promising. V whatever ne tries
I think he'll succeed in," she said. That
was not enough for Mlna. He must try
Mlna's things those she had set her heart!
on before she could be content. "But
you never brought Cecily to see me,"
Lady Evenswood complained. "And I'm
Just going away now."
That was It, Mina decided. Lady Evens-
wood had not seen Cecily. She had ap
proached the Tristram puzzle from one
side only, and had perceived but one as
pect of it. She did not understand that it
was complex and double-headed. It was
neither. Harry nor Cecily, but Harry and
Cecily.
"And Flora Disney has quite taken him
up," Lady Evenswood pursued. "George
tells be he's been to lunch there twice.
George is a terrible gossip."
"What does Lady Flora Disney want
with him?"
"Weil, my dear, are you going to turn
round and say you don't understand why
he interests women?"
"I don't see why he should Interest
Lady Flora." Mina had already made
up her mind that she hated that sort of
woman. It was bad enough to have cap
tured Mr. Disney; must the Insatiate
creature draw into her net Harry Tris
tram also?"
"And of course he's flattered. Any
young man would be."
"I don't think he's Improved since he
left Blent."
"Country folks always say that about
their young men when they come to
town," smiled Lady Evenswood. "He'3
learning his world, my dear. And he
seems very sensible. He hasn't Inherited
poor Addle's wlldness."
"Ye3, he has. But It only comes out
now and then. When It does"
"It won't come out with Flora," Lady
Evenswood interrupted reassuringly.
But another thing was to happen before
Mlna went back to the valley of the
Blent; a fearful, delightful thing. An as
tonishing missive came a card Inviting
her to dine with Mr. and Lady Flora
Disney. She gasped as she read 11; hd
Lady Flora ever Indulged In the samo
expression of feeling, it would have been
when she was asked to send it. Gasping
still, Mlna telegraphed for her best frock
and all the jeweled tokens of affection
which survived to testify to Adolf Zabrls
ka's love. It was in Itself an Infinitely
great occasion, destined always to loom
large in memory; but it proved to have
a bearing on the Tristram problem, too.
For Harry was there. He sat on the
hostess left; on her other side was hand
some Lord Hove, very resplendent in full
dress, starred and ribboned. Several of
the men were like that there was some
function later on, Mina learned from an
easy-mannered youth .who sat by her and
seemed bored with the party. Disney
came In late, In his usual indifferently
fitting morning clothes, snatching an hour
from the house, In the strongest contrast
to the fair sumptuousness of his wife.
He took a vacant chair two places from
Mlna and nodded at . her In a friendly
way. They were at a round table, and
there were only a dozen there. The easy
mannered youth told her all about them,
Including several things which it Is to be
hoped were not true; he seemed to view
them from an altitude of good-humored
contempt. Mina discovered afterward
that he was a cousin of Lady Flora's, and
occupied a position in Messrs. Couts'
bank. He chuckled once, remarking:
"Flora's talking to Tristram all the
time Instead of being pleasant to Tommy
Hove. Fact is, she hates Tommy, and
she'd be glad If the chief would give him
the boot. But the chief doesn't want to,
because Tommy's well in at court, and
the chief Isn't."
"Why does Lady Flora hate Lord Hove?
He's very'handsomej'
"Think so? Well. I see so many fellows
i,a,,i,A,i
I "e that' that I m begirfn n to hate 'em
I Llke he sweet girl, don't you know? I
Hostess.
"Well, they might nut him In the house.
and so on, you know. See that woman
next but three? That's Gertude Melrose;
spends more on clothes than any woman
In London,, and she's only got 900 a year.
Queer?" He smiled as he consumed an
almond.
"She" must get Into debt,' said Mina,
gazing at the clothes of inexplicable or
igin. "Gettin In Isn't the mystery,"-remarked
the youth. "It's the gettin out, Madam
er Zabrlska." He had taken "a swift
glance at Mina's card.
Mlna looked around. "Is It in this room
they have the councils?" she asked.
"Cabinets? Don't know. Downstairs
somewhere, I believe, anyhow." He
smothered u yawn. "Queer thing, that
about Tristram, you know. If everything
was known, you know, I shouldn't won
der If a lot of other fellows found them
selves" '
He was Interrupted, fortunately, per
haps, In 'these speculations, by a ques
tion frqm his other neighbor. Mlna was
left alone for some minutes, and set to
work to observe the scene. She was toler
ably at ease now. Harry saw her sitting
silent and smiled across at her while he
listened to Lady Flora. The smile seemed
to come from a great way off. The longer
she sat there the more that Impression
grew. The sense of difference and dis
tance troubled her. She thought of Cecily
alone at home, and grew more troubled
still. She felt absurd, too, because she
had been trying to help Harry. If that
had to be done, she supposed Lady Flora
would do It now. The idea was bitter.
She turned her head by chance and
found Mr. Disney silent, too, and looking
at her. The next moment he spoke to
the easy-mannered youth.
"Well, Theo, what's the world saying
and dolng"
"Same as last year, cousin Robert," an
swered Theo, cheerfully. "Government's
a, year older, of course."
In an Instant Mina was pleased; she de
tected an unexpected but pleasant friend
ship between Mr. Disney and the youth.
She credited Disney with more humanity
the humor necessary she knew he had
and liked him even better.
"The drawing-rooms have kicked us out
already, I suppose?"
"Oh, yes, rather. But the bank's not
sure."
"Good. That's something. Banks
against drawing-rooms for me, Madame
Zabrlsza. He brought her Into the con
versation almost with tact, he must have
bad a strong wish to make her comforta
ble. "That's right," announced Theo. "I
should say you're all right in the country,
too. Crops been pretty good, you know,
and now the rain's comln' down nicely."
"Well, I ordered It." said Mr. Disney.
"Takln' all the credit you can get," ob
served Theo. "Like the man who carved
his name on the knife before he stabbed
his mother-in-law."
"What did "he do that for?" cried Mina.
A guffaw from Disney qulto amazed her.
Harry looked across with a surprised
air; he seemed to wonder that she should
be enjoying herself. Mlna was annoyed
and set herself to be merry; a glance
from Lady Flora converted vexation into
rage. She turned back to Theo; some
how Mr. Disney had taught her how to
like him often a valuable lesson. If peo
ple woujd keep their eyes open for It
"Everybody else I've met has been hor
ribly afc-aid of Mr. Disney," she said In a
half whisper.
"Oh, you aren't In a funk of a man
who's smacked your head?"
That seemed a better paradox than
most. Mina nodded approvingly.
"What does the bank say about BarllL
land, Theo?" called Disney. Lord Hove
paused in the act of drinking a glass of
wine.
"Well, they're just wonderln' who's
goih to do the kickin'," said Theo.
"And who's going to take It?" Disney
seemed much amused. Lord Hove had
turned a little pink. Mina had a vague
sense that serious things were being joked
about. Harry had turned from his hostess
and was listening.
"That's what It 'comes to," concluded
Theo.
Disney glanced around, smiling grimly.
Everybody had become silent; Barlllland
had produced the question on which Lord
Hove was supposed to be restive. Disney
laughed and looked at his wife. She rose
from .the table. Mr. Disney had either
learned what he wanted, or had finished
amusing himself. Mlna did not know
which; no more, oddly enough, did Lord
Hove.
Mr. Disney was by the door, saying
good-by to the ladles; he would not be
coming to the drawing-room. He stopped
Mlna, who went out last, just before his
wife.
"We've done all we could, Madam Za
brlsza," he said. "We must .leave him
alone, eh?"
"I'm afraid so. You've been very kind,
Mr. Disney."
"Better as it Is, I fancy. Now, then.
Flora!" At this peremptory summons,
Lady Flora left Theo, by whom she had
halted, and followed Mlna through the
doori
Two of the women left directly. The
other two went off Into a corner. Her
hostess sat down and talked to her. Lady
Flora was not distant, and did not make
Mina feel an outsider. The fault was the
other way. She was confidential and
about Harry. She assumed an intlmacy
with him equal, or more than equal, to
j Mlna's own. ane even torn anna things
about mm. ne saia "we tnougnt hlra
an enormous acquisition and hoped to see
a great deal of him.
"And I suppose the cousin Is quite '
A gentle motion of Lady Flora's fan was
left to define Cecily more exactly, and
proved fully up to the task.
"She's the most fascinating creature I
ever saw!" cried Mlna. - - - - - .
"Rescued out of Chelsea, wasnjt she?''
asked Lady Flora. "Poor thing! One's
so sorry for her. When her mourning's
over we must get her out. I do hope
she's something like Mr. Tristram.",
"I think she's ever so much nicer than
Mr. Tristram." Mina would have shrunk
from stating this upon oath.
"He Interests me enormously, and It's
so seldom I like Roberl's young men."
So he was to be Robert's young man,
too. The thing grw worse and worse.
Almost she hated her Idol. Mr. Disney.
Peisonal jealousy and jealousy for Cecily
blinded her to his merits, much more to
the gracious cordiality which his wife was
now showing.
"Yes, I'm sure we shall make something
of Harry Tristram."
"He doesn't like .things done for him,"
Mlna "declared. She meant to show how
very well she knew him, and spoke with
an air of authority.
"Oh, of course, it won't look like that,
Madame Zabrlska."
Now, the Imp's efforts had looked like
that Just like it. She chafed under con
scious inferiority; Lady Flora had smiled
at being thought to need such a reminder.
Able to endure no more, the Imp declared
that she must go back to Cecily.
"Oh, poor girl; I quite forgot her!
You're going back to Blent with her, I
suppose? Do come and see us when
you're In town again." Was there or was
thero not the slightest sigh as she turned
away, a sigh that speaks of duty nobly
done? Even toward Robert's caprices,
even to the oldest people, Lady Flora
prided herself on a becoming bearing.
And in the end this little Madame Za
brlska had rather amused her; she was
funny with her air of ownership about
Harry Tristram.
Well, poor Mlna understood! All that
the enemy thought was legible to her;
all the misery that keen perceptions can
sometimes bring, was sure to be hers.
She' had spent the most notable evening
of her life, and she got into her cab a
miserable woman.
When she reached home there was noth
ing to change her mood. ? She found
Cecily in a melancholy so sympathetic
as to invite an immediate outpouring of
the heart. Cecily was beautiful that even
ing, In her black frock, with her fair
hair, her pale face, and her eyes full of
tragedy. She had been writing, it ap
peared; ink and paper were on the table.
She was very quiet, but, Mlna thought,
with tho stillness that follows a storm.
Unasked, the Imp sketched tho dinner
party, especially Harry's share In it Her
despair was laced with vitriol, and she
avoided a kind word about anybody.
"Those people have got hold of him.
We've lost him. That's the end of It,"
she cried.
Cecily had nothing to say; she leaned,
back in a slack dreariness while Mlna
expatiated on this doleful text. Lacking
the reinforcement of discussion, the
stream of Mlna's lamentation begun to
run dry.
"Oh, It's no use talking," she ended.
"Thero it is."
"I'm going back to Blent tomorrow,"
said Cecily, suddenly.
It was no more than Mlna had ex
pected. "Yes, we may as well," she as
sented, dismally.
Cecily arose and began to walk about.
Her air caught Mlna's attention again;
on this, the evening before she returned
to Blent, she had something of that sup
pressed passion which had marked her
manner on the night when she determined
to leave it She came to a stand opposite
Mina.
"I've made up my mind. From this
moment, Mlna, Blent Is mine. Up to now
I've held it for Harryt Now It's mine.
I shall go l?ack and begin everything there
tomorrow."
Mlna felt the tragedy; the inevitable
was being accepted.
"I've written to cousin Harry. I've told
him what I mean to do. He must think
it right; It's the only thing he's left
me to do. But I've told him I can do it
only on one condition. He'll have my let
ter tomorrow."
"On one condition? What?"
"I said to him that he gave me Blent
because I was there, because he saw me
there in the middle of It all. That's true
If I'd stayed here would he ever have
told hl3 secret? Never! He wouldn't so
much as come to see me; he'd never have
thought of me; he'd have forgotten al
about me. It was seein me there."
"Well, seeing you, anyhow."
"Seeing me where there at Blent," she
insisted, now almost angrily. "So he'll
understand what I mean by the thing I've
asked of him. And he must obey." Hr
voice became imperious. "I've told him
that I'm going back, going to stay there,
and live there, but that he must never,
never come there."
Mlna started, her eyes wide open In sur
prise at this heroic measure.
"Never see him! Never have him at
Blent!" Mina was trying to sort out the
state of things which would result. It
was pretty plain what had happened;
Cecily had felt the need of doing some
thing; here It was. Mlna's sympathies,
quick to move, darted out to Harry.
"Think what it'll mean to him never to
see Blent!" she cried.
"To him? Nothing, nothing. Why,
you yourself came home Just now. say
ing that we were nothing to him. Blcnt's
nothing to him now. It's for my own
sake that I've said he mustn't come."
"You've begged him not to come?"
"I've told him not to come," said Cecily,
haughtily. "If It's his let him take It. If
it's mine I can choose who shall come
there. Don't you see, don't you see? How
can I ever cheat myself Into thinking it's
mine by right if I see Harry there?" She
paused a moment. "And if you'd thrown
yourself at a man's head and he'd refused
you, would you want to have him about?"
"N-no," said Mina, but rather hesitat
ingly. "So I've ended It; I've ended everything.
I posted my letter Just before you came
In, and he'll get It tomorrow. And now,
Mina, I'm going back to Blent." She
threw herself Into an armchair, leaning
back in a sudden weariness after the ex
cited emotion with which she had de
clared her resolve. Mina sat on tho other
side of the table looking at her, and after
a moment's looking suddenly began to
sob.
"It's too miserable," she declared In
wrathful woe. "Why couldn't we have
said nothing about It and Just married
you? Oh, I hate it all because I love you
both. I know people think I'm in love
with him, but I'm not It's both of you.
it's the whole thing; and now it never,
never can go straight. If he got back
Blent now by a miracle, it would be jU3t
as bad. And I believe he s fond of you."
A scornful smile was Cecily's only but
sufficient answer.
"And you love him." Mlna's sorrow
made her forget all fear. She said In
this moment what she had never before
dared to say. "O, of course you do, or
you'd ne.'er have told him he mustn't
come to Blent But he won't understand
that and It would make no difference
if he did, I suppose! O, you Trlstrams!"
"Yes, I love him," said Cecily. "That
evening In the long gallery the evening
when he gave me Blent do you know
what I thought?" She spoke low and
quickly, lying back quite still, In tht
attitude hat Addle Tristram had once
made her own. ''I watched him and I
saw that he had something to say, and
yet wouldn't say It I saw he was strug
gling. And watched, how I watched!
Ho was engaged to Janle Iver he had
told me that. But he didn't love her
yes, he told me that, too. But there was
something else, I saw It, I had come to
love him then already O. I think as
soon as I saw him at Blent. And I
waited for it Did you ever do that,
Mina do you remember?"
Mlna was silent; her memories gavo
her no such thing as that.
"I waited, waited, I couldn't believe
Ah. yes. but I did believe. I thought
he felt bound In honor and I hoped yes.
I hoped he would break his word and
throw away his honor. I saw it com
ing and my heart seemed to burst as I
waited for it. You'd know If it had
ever happened to you like that And at
last I saw he would speak I saw he
must speak. He came and stood by me.
Suddenly he cried, 'I can't do it Then
my heart leaped, because I thought he
meant he couldn't marry Janle Iver.
I looked up at him and I suppose I said
something. He caught me by the arm.
I thought he was going to kiss me,
Mlna. And then then he told me that
Blent was mine not himself, but Blent
that I was Lady Tristram, and he
Harry Nothing," he said, "Harry Noth-ing-at-all."
"O, If you'd told him that!" cried
Mina.
"Tell him!" she smiled in superb scorn.
"I d die before I told him. I could go and
offer myself to him just because he didn't
know. And he'll never know now. Only
now, you can understand that Blent is
Ah, that it's all bitterness to me! And
you know now why he must never come.
Yes, It all ends now."
Mlna came and' knelt down by her.
caressing her hand. Cecily shivered a
little and moved with a vague air of dis
comfort "But I bellave he cares 'for" you," Mlna
whispered.
"He might have cared for me, perhaps.
But Blent's between."
(To be continued.
THE PALATIAL
Not a darlc office in the building;
ubsolntely fireproof electric light
and artesian waterj perfect 8 ri.nl ta
tlon and thorough ventilation. Ele
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Rooms
AINSLIE. DR. GEOnOE. Physician.. ..603-003
ANDERSON. GUSTAV, Attorney-at-taw...612
ASSOCIATED PRESS: E. L. Powell. Mgr..80fl
AUSTEN, F. C. Manager for Oregon and
Washington Bankers' Life Association, of
Des Moines, la 502-503
BANKERS' LIFE ASSOCIATION. OF DES
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BAYNTUN. GEO. R., Manager for Chas.
Scrlbner's Sons 51S
BEALS. EDWARD A.. Forecast OtUcIal U.
S. Weather Bureau 010
BENJAMIN. R. W., Dentist 314
BINSW ANGER, DR. O. S.. Phys. & Sur.410-11
BROCK. AVILBUR F., Circulator Orego-
nlan 501
BROWS. MYRA, M. D 313-314
BRUERE. DR. G. E.. Physician 412-413-414
BUSTEED. RICHARD '. 303
CANNING. M. J G02-CU3
CAUKIN, G. E.. District Agent. Travelers
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CARDWELL, DR. J. R 500
CHURCHILL, MRS. E. J 710-T17
COFFEY. DR. R. C. Phys. and Surgeon.. .700
COLUMBIA TELEPHONE COMPANY
G04-C0r-COt5-CO7-tJ13-tll4-013
CORNELIUS. C. W.. Phys. and Surgeon...20i;
COVER. F. C. Cashier Equitable Life .Wl
COLLIER. P. F., Publisher; S. P. McOuire.
Manager 415
DAY. J G. & I. N 318
DAVIS. NAPOLEON. President Columbia
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DICKSON. DR. J. F.. Physician 713-714
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EVENING TELEGRAM 325 Alder street
FENTON, J. D., Phjslclan and Surff... .500-510
FENTON. DR. HICKS C. Eye and Ear.. ..511
FENTON, MATTHEW F.. Dentist 600
GALVANI. W. H., Engineer and Draughts
man ......000
GAVIN, A., President Oregon Camera Club
214-215-210-217
GEARY. DR. EDWARD P.. Physician and
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GIESY, A. J., Thyslclan and Surgeon.. 700-710
GILLESPY. SHERWOOD, General Agent
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GOLDMAN. WILLIAM, Manager Manhat
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GRANT, FRANK S.. Attorney-at-Law 01T
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HAMMOND. A. B 310
HOLLISTER. DR. O. C, Phys. & Surg.504-500
IDLEMAN. C. M., Attorney-at-Law.. 410-17-18
JOHNSON. W. C 315-310-31T
KADY, MARK T.. Supervisor- of Agents
Mutual Reserve Fund Life Ass'n 604-003
LAMONT, JOHN, Vlce-Presjdent and Gen
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L1TTLEFIELD, H. It., Phys, and Surgeon.200
MACKAY, DR. A. E., Phys. and Surg.. 711-713
MANHATTAN LIFE INSURANCE CO., of
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MARTIN, J. L. & CO. Timber .tandSy 601
McCOY, NEWTON, Attorney-at-Law'., 715
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McGINN, HENRY E., Attorney-at-Law..311-13
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METT, HENRY v....,.v..21S
MILLER. DR. HERBERT C. Dentist and
Oral Surgeon 608-600
MOSSMAN. DR. E. P.. Dehllst 312-313-314
MUTUAL RESERVE FUND LIFE ASS'N;
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MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO..tof New
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NICHOLAS. HORACE 13., Atfy-at-Law.-.715
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