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CHAPTER I
The Heiress Project
INNER was nearly over,
and the servant, having
placed the dessert on the
table, bad wlrhurawn.
Three people were present,
b I m a f t iXIloo(I,' the
owner, under her' father's,
will, of he Ellwood cotton
mills; Joseph Ellwood, her
uncle,, and Mrs. Mltehln
son, thin, elderly
woman, who -was Damarls'
companion and chaperon.
It was Damarls herself
who. was speaking now.
She was a tall, lair girl of
IS years of age. with si
strong, pleasing fact that
was too irregular In tea
ture to b called pretty ex
actly,: and yefwaa oflen
remembered .when counte
nances' "wlthreater clalma
to beauty were- forgotten.
a a aha sDoke the earnest-
ness of her nature seemed
to show In her clear gray
Was. to be reflected, indeed, from her who epersonaltt
'.'The problem is this," she we saying, thought-
fully. "how . else can one . understand them-thetr
' point of vlew-their opinion,, for. example, of ; one a
elf?"
It -vras her uncle who answered her. Llk all the
I EUwoods, he .was tall and fair. He was thin. Wet, and
nervous In his manner, and M eyes, gray hli -niece's,
were very different from hers In the oom
plafnlng. ' resentful expression that 'they seemed 14
have. HeJ looked like a man-wittt agrndga against
fate; and one, too. who would not be tern ctupuWui
how he paid this debt he fancied owing. , 11 has,
only corns; tt live at Ardtngley House Sirica the death
'tf DamaHs" lather.' and he had succeeded in hlakthg
', the girt, whd thought well of all' the world, very
..fond of him.' but It had" been something, of a fltsAfl
;'pointmonl to hltn that she 'fcept the relni ef poer
- very steadily iri hef town Hands and would gWs him
no authority "at the rnlili. where all went ci-M H
1 her father's time", tihder tbi charge tif tha-men ha.r
had placed- In management there. Mr. Ell wood
' shrugged his. shouldera with touch of irhfatlenci
as he Ipoke hot. '
"When the 'them' In the tee,' 'hi laid. "rtfeH
' only to a et bt exttehiely noUy ' aftd Very" totiglt
. mill glrla, tha prblem. Is, .foHuhately, Pbt ne thai
i.it Is very tiecessahynet sdlve." ' "
, "Tien the 'them' in the case." tltorted amari
rrefera-latheUlirla-n-wh-wotk-trty-irhtrl-
fortune IS founded, tha problem becomes, on the coirf
trary, one It la absolutely heceasa? to solve.'. '
Her' uncle gave a iUt,v dark look aorots trie
table at Mrs. Mltehlnsoft opposite. Thstt, raUtng hit
' glass of wlhl, hi emptied It olUlckly. " v . .
.' "The fact U," said Uamajls, "t bavf lull mads
up my mlfid." . '
.... '.. .' He listened, and U teemed to him the tent of
rfieolutlon In which h tooki ooened at. his felt an
abyss into which he feared gieitiy to fall He drank
again, deeply, but his cheek remained puta, hit eyes
heavy and brotrdlng. , When he' spoke It Was in
voice hoarse and charged with Intense emotion,
"Damarls," he said, "put this wild hotlon of youfi
.. out of your'hea .'What, would youf father have
eald to Itr' !,- ; -.-'..,.,'',.,...-"
-M think he would have approved,1 laid Damari.
but rather-weakly, for she knew very-Well he Would
- .in ii y' " TT;Xr-' " ' """ ' ' j WW H HM)I' mtm mm
,o i nil- - " 1 if i
m liwlii n
y " "Tlottina; together against me, af font' ' '
It. And Mrs. MlteWneon,
bringing the cards, was mur
muring to herself j
"If I make the three of
spades and the three or
hearts turn up and tell her
the first card means secrecy
and the""secohd some ex
traordlnarlly . valuable, ob
ject, she will be sure to
show It if my guess about a
valuable-jewel In the Safe is
correct." '
Damarls wai all 1 excite
ment to begin. Mrs. Mitch
Inson herslf had not a
shred of belief In the cards
she .was far too hard and
practical for that but she
had often found them most
useful for extracting useful
Information concerning the
past and fresent from, those
to whom she was pretending
to tell the . future. Sitting
down- at & email table, she
went through a great pre-.
tense or, anuining ana ar
grounds.. A moment or two later she he!rr another j
step approaching... . , . . ,y j , t
1 "Ars you there, Joseph f. she asked again. Veering s
Into the darkness. . j
xes, I m here," came Mr. Ell wood's voice la
answer.. ;:. , ,
- "Jneri.waS a man "tere TjusTnow." she said. !
Uily a beggar," he answered,-carelessly. i
i' .,waa not a beggar's voice," Bhe paid.
I did not-notice.51 he remarked. "VVhJ" 'flld'yoa
wish me to meet yau here?" -
"JlJ have forgotten," she answered, moodily.
On, he muttered, disconcerted. - v ,
'.Well, well. I'll be going." Bhe eald. 1 i
No, no, no!" he exclaimed quickly, falling at once
Into a panic. "Now, Just listen, to me, Hannah, will
you marry, me? ' .. ,
She kept silence, pulling nervously at a hedge
near which she was standing. v ' v
, "Will you marry me?", he asked again. K-Mjrn-iV
'S".be6'an 3 laugh, not very pleaaantly.v . .
what a queer-proposal," she said. , "It aeems,
then, you have had yttle practice since that day In
the spring how many years aero? That day when
we both, were yffung and you-dld not propoae.",-
Don't Bo back lo , the past," he said. .-All that
can..V.r helPed now. Hannah, win you marry mer
- FJ d0 yu Mlt mo?" she said. - ,. ...
' Oh Well.'1 h muit.l- haaultir
ii,l.. . -i : r . . ." . .v . -,.T"
ranging and at last dealt . Vo.t .a"",,' " "as 'n hf,r Interests
n,f fi,,.. hih .k. youso much V ahe asked abruDtlv, -
lie seemed to -spring. In the air with the shock of
, thls question,, and for a moment aha almost thought
- was.golng to run. for ;lt,A,t One she fell Into a
- fury with herself for having spoken to him at a-
moment when the darkness enabled him to hide from
her the expression of his face. , He- eald . In, a 'quick,
... agitated voice: -,- ';- :,. .:-.-...i wvAi-t:;,, v
"Never mind that; It's, more to thaWrpoae to think
snout mis csasy notion sne nas got into her head.",
out three cards which she
Invited Damarls to turn up,
"Beginning at tha left,"
she said.
'Damarls di as she told
tier and exposed the .three
of spades.
, "hat means - conceal
ment ;or Secrecy, or some
thing sudden or unexpected,
according to what tha next
rard Is," explained Mrs.'
Mitchinsoa , "A Jack ; of
hearts, for Instance, and t
should look' out for an un
expected lover, a three of
hearts- would Indicate some
.valuable hlddn object"
Damarls turned .up the
tiett card, and Mrs, Mttchln.
Soil fairly gasped as fch saw
that It - fas k the lack f
harts and not the three at
ill, Evidently phe had blun-
"If she neans it," Mrs. Mltchlnson said, slowly, - 1
"Oh. ah a mean it" h cv& ivi tmi
For ttiorrtent or two they weft silent, peering at
each., other through the darkness, and endeavoring
each td read the other's face. A , . . .
"Tee, I'll ' marry you," Mrs. Mitchinsoa satd, ab
ruptlyi "yes, Joseph, I'll marry you."
He made ho answer, and it was more by Intuition
than by the evidence of her senses that -sh-knw-he-was
shivering as with Intense cold. It Seemed to
both of them that the darkness had become noticeably
more intense In these last few minutes.
"Oh,b shs exolaljned, with an Accent of extreme
have don? . ngthjng of Ihe. kind. Ti .
na nav
id."
tne, too, f uli of A euppressed agltatWn that DamerlS,
'lie would
know he woul
. ..iiiiMlri,.-2 ,.
have been horrified, Damarls) yott
interrupted Mrs., Mitchlnsori, her
rBS orbed 'in her delightful new plan, failed to reoog
... . "Wcli. :4 perhaps he wdutd." Camaris idmitied.
grudtelnsl', "but y0U se it is different Th respon-i
eibllity la mine. 1 tfan't shuffle it off by What my
iui.(ier wuuiu uv- inoqgnt 11 us were auivfl wnen
thind a bit myielf whefi lt'l tn a food-eauss. tfell,"
we tell every one that and -we start, Just as though :
it Were true, only in PoVer Instead of going on
' board tha host, i sltj) Oft and com back up here.
Meanwhile, Hannah; yoU go. on td JTrahce and ttiake
' a- lit Ue- touta yourself, V posting - la various pieces
letters and postcards 1 shall have given you to
peopil ever here, so i that lby will ' all of them
think they know where I m. As tor me, I go te a
' mill and get employment, and for thres men tbi t
shall Work lust like on of h girls add live Ott
. wnat i earn, 'men i anau come noma agaiu, anu
the whole tiolnt U that h is nnt. nrt (h t dm. n hone I Shall understand thine! batter. What IS there
' aot for myself." . "dreadful about ait thatr'
- Joseph Ellwood lifted thou ha?, brooding yel ! ma7-i...ih mJm ..u, hi u nat- - -
f his and gave Jklrs, Mitchlnson on juick look thai 7,n w Bot iuav"Js- her Wiclej lt M
was almost likn bl.iw. it w mn tdLh .ma a 'Oh. soars me tha conventions." sns laUahed.
eavy,- u'nis suouen iook of .ins, it .seemed, dtecon
gtri wa sure to be earelsss somettmes, ut ins , dered lH her.manisulatloB 6f
: , never Xdirget;' , e , laid ;hls hand sofuy-tipon tha. ths tardi. '
jjt. t - .... ,. - . . ...i , . i.. . '
ne strucg nis nana against it witn sucn vio-v
lence that h bruised his khuckles. "1 must watt." ,
he mused-, "and lee "what Hannah thinks, for thougH'H
J expect 1 got rid of yoting Blafnlre tof ibod and all
last Monday, still he might and If he and Damarls
met by Any chance, I should be rulnei" Ha paused
and shuddered; "Ruined,'' ha repeated, with a Wild
gesture of j hli lifted najade;-uriless I oaa - get
chance to so arch tag lafs first But, then, aha never
forgets." - .: '' v-- - . ?--
Very gloomily, with alow Iteps'and lombsr looks,
he went back tnta tha library. - , ( w.:
said ' Damarls,. admiringly,
: mu-inr n is ins jover au v
right, o I shall , evidently o .ie
captivate some fascinating
taekler'S apprefittce. Oh,
what is the next aner;
- Bhe turned It up. Mr.
Mltchlnsort had meant it 10
b the three Of dubl. WhUh
she Intended to ten Damarls
signified a -v strong box - or
. certftd tha laiiv fnr lt hkriini ral nd k.ii..rf
and, taking example by him. she hurriedly emptlefi
the glass of wine atandlng befpr,her. Iri tones
( f moot her end quieter , than those hs had tiSsd befor
Mr, Ellwood said!
'DHmBrlsJ,giv( up this wild Idea, tt ran lead to
nothing but .mischief, . to 'there mWchief than yoi
..perhaps can well understand," he added, moodily,
- "Why, uncle, what do od mean?" Damarls asked,
, curiously. -
"I'm sure." Iri tpftinspd Mrs Mtitilninri vi it
Ellwood . froni.t he necessity of replying, "I'm sure,
nin
about these Rlrie,. hut. this las Of yours-f Mrs.
laitchlnson paused shd Bhoott hr head. "Nd," she
said, decidedly. -It's hot fleeides, ljtnar8. here
are. other wys of helping these neonle, If thai
n? v. lor instance.
tWt II
If rtu
snoke in thu Ami Vlr.t'
Damarls pushed uut-her ll-snil fti(ids';i ' lutih:
- littt-fae-o protest Ar tirttnfsr? d with the sxcltihaf,
the a. V. H. and ihe'fcSslstan, of Vfie Worthy but
a a- mm -a . . . i j a- 1 I r... , , II .. II
. ' i org oi yon mosi earnestly - .
"Oh, Unci Joseph," aha . Interrupted, "da ranfem
her 1 am not cult a child. Well, will you help met.
My mihd U fully made tap." .
H sat gloomily meditating, tt seemed id him U
was he use struggling, and ha thought he saw quits
plainly how an abyss opehd at his teat la which a
devil sat, erouehlng, walttntf to calch him When he
fell, He would have given all the warld and hia
ilfe for the courage t say ''No.w Again fi drank
ms wine, seeking an answer from it, anaV fattingl'
from it such answer as men usually find in wine,
that at' the end stingettt like a serpeflt ,bltet& Ilk
aft, adder. Ha was , aware that Mrs. MltchlnSon waS'
listening lor his reply with such a nervous intensity
that he feared she might hurst out into hysterical
creams at any moment. It la qtflte possible,.
tr angely Ar - ade,- that- mrr hal f -con sciou v
fear oi the- risk of such a Scene Influenced hli.
answer wnen ne repuea, nurneujy:
M
rather convfnlr)al vipai' of the parish appeared t ' I arid if you are really determined-
her tame beyond expression. ' A , .. . . , , : -, Dsmarls clapped har hands loyf
A rain her unci heloAd hlrftt in tin mm
and hollow deck were becoming (lushed with th
drink he was taking. Ah abstemious man by habit i
and preference, hewfti not used to so intich wine,
end ft was beglnnb have .ffect. H kept hi
heavy, brooding Lgaa upontth tshie, and the Jls .
composure andlhe stress h showed 'and the ati a- :
-tlon of Mrs. . MHchlno's .manner were so marked-
that Damariacould hot help being ponseloua of tha
leturbanc of their mltide. Kfhe looked from on ta
cr " "iiu Kina, HTTeciionate eye
". n.iv... ..c aw.,., u u, . i. . . . u w.. & a .
"Uf course,- deaf, you are your own tnUtreSs,
1 if you are really determined" .. . j
usmaris ciappea per nana joyruiiy. . . , w
'That a dear, kind uncle .Joseph," She- criea.
"feut have you cofisldered all th diiflculties Jn
tha way" he asked. "About hera, for example, fin,
are to well known you would ba recognized." ,
"Oh.". Damarls attswsred, ''of course, I shall ga ta
CHAPTER II
A peep Fati
-fUl. MlTCHINSON, glancing back as aha en-
. tared the drawing room with Damarls noticed
that Mr. Ellwood had not returned to his
wine. Bh guessed' wher ha had aoha. and
wrinkled her brow with renewed effort t Imagine
what a might b that draw him to that aafa la tha
study aa tha flame of the oandla attracts tha flutterint
. moth. ;!.. ..,.,.. ,-r': :v4', ;.;? v;',-. .,.-:, (:..: ;
r "Thera mut be aomathing, r she thttiid, soma
secret-yet t don't beliave oh, t beg your pardon, '
my dear,", aha added aloud, realising suddenly that
Damarls Vas speaking to her. "I am afraid I waa
not listening. tVhat were you eaylngr'
"Only outthe-raoU at dinner,1 tiamarli
answered. , "Did you think it Was too ealir
. "I didn't hotice." Mrs. Mltehlnson Slammersd, eon
f used at the contrast between this simple question
and the dark mystery of her own thoughts,- "No, I
did not notice at all,
., VP?88 'L 411 r,htt thett," rntised bamansi
"only thought perhaps it was that mads Uncla
' ' '-- ! 'fflft
- ".':-: f I I! :.f.,,:..' til- ;,,"V"
II. t'V I
v y .i v r. r a-'( .a eLF ' a i t. :.. a
l 1 -
Chest bf Bom kind, but in- trpm.-t-nr Yvn-ncrl, wttinnr m oUxvnf in ai-r,o IHr WfttUt. maAn-m
iTHTtZ rZ, : v ' ' of. the eight, toward tho tennii wuf t -"
4 algdlfled marriage. '' " .
"Clme, this is getting serious she said, laughing.
"1 lea t ahall have to be careful."
i ' "La tia try again, said Mrs. Mitohlnson, aston
ished and even, a little-alarmed at such clumsiness
. ai fha eould -not remember ever to have shown
before Ifl .manipulating her cards. -
She ahUiSsd the pack well, and by way of making,
certain that the three cards that had been already
eippsed should not turn up again, she slipped them
unobeerved Into her ' lap. V ,, :...,,.;...-,.--""
"KoW thoose," she said, holding the cards out In
Such a Wax that Damarls was almost forced, to take
itha end Mrs. Mltchlnaon Jntendeov
anger, "rod wera always uch a eeWard, Joseph; what
is there to be afraid of now?" - '
"Why, "hothlngl whit should thera br h returned
" with chattering teeth. ,
"What, Indeed?" she echoed; "what. Indeed? Joseph,
what la there In Damarls safer .. . ..,. .'J.
"I'll tell you when we are married," he said.
"Come," .she exclaimed; "you must oh, what Is
this?" she broke off to exclaim with quick fear. -
In moving she had struck her foot against a small
leathern bag, which seemed - to contain Something
heavy. .Mr. Ellwood stooped and picked it up,--'
,""TVhartrltTr"sKe TskedTTuriousiy. ' 7 ',
"A bag," he said, and than opening It, gave a sharp
exclamation of surprise. ;'"-":;y, ' " .-..".,'.-'
it held a number of. tools, soma familiar. and oom-
monplaca, soma of a strange and sinister shape, others
But Damarls, Independent as' ever, chose another,
and Mrs. Mitohlnson, seeking refuge in the card
sharper's customary device whan ha has failed to
"forqe" tbs card ha wishes taken, dropped them all
together on the table, as if by . accident. Nearly all - the meaning of which could not be mistaken. , With
of them fell on their faces, but two were exposed.
th jack and the eight of hearts, while the card
Mrs. Mltehlnson turned away and sat down at tha' Damarls held was the two of spades.
dm mill In on of the big towni-ojdham, for
Sxamnle aoma Diaci ilka that"
"But how will you get employment If It ana
khowi who you are?" Mrs. Mltehlnson asked.,
un, , tne cotton traat is so dubv jus' now,-
: ItfltTmU nnmturiA. "that Will ha nufta S. Mr.
"vf Xrful di"u('a e said, "because v fl h aw fs always telling roe WS can't fet ehough
ISZrtrSJl-JV&ft rouH Ba ,"traa.Ma,:.. t
o.M-aal4 her uncle, quickly, 'lt lil rnot that
A little discomfort, a little rdughtnV it, never hurt
any , one jat-thla U--ffsraliMnl fdea Of yours li
too fanciful, , too. theatriea -life, Damarls. ' Is real
.not" romantic and theatrical, a young peep's ilk
you are apt to imagine h vcvi xe
' "No," agreed Mrs. MltchlBSott, "yor idea, Camaris.:
is really not practlcablei it I; nof the sort Of thin
- - : . i iiEam ui any one carry
hands. : Of course, it am not an fexoerL but I can
hlanftge one loom very well, and there la hardly a
tiillt anywhere that 1 not Wanting mora hands,- It
there, uncle?" ., . .
"No, that's true enough." ha agreed. . '
."The enly difficulty," Damarls mused, "is . balng
aura of doing away with all risk of being discov
ered. If any one found ma out, it woutd spoil it all.
unoie. I shall hav to look to you to help me to
destroy every single tracs of my Identity.".
"Ah." hn said. .With a Start an violent that he
tag out such a thlagr except, of course newsnana ' upset-his wifla glass, Which he had filled once again,
feportere and people Ilk that who cannot heln them-' Damarl Jumped p quickly, fearing tha split
selves. No, no; one does hot do that kind of thin" liquid would spoil her drees, and theh, glancing at
in real ilfe." uu rl Ulln Mrs. Mltehlnson. She auarirested retirlnc to- tha draw-
"Oh," retorted Damarls, scornfully, "I'm not rota In g .room. Mr. EHwood opened the door for them.
; to spend the whole of my existence paying afternoon ana as they were gplng out Mrs. Mltehlnson appeared
, cans, -wnicn l suppose is what you mLn hv V-Vt t nesuate ana oraw oacK
rtano. . Bhe was an expert musician, but this evening
ha did. not Seem in tha mood.. Aftar airlkfn a nti
ar two, she turned round and aaldi
"Damarls, are you really In earnest avr this
fcotloa of going ta work among tha mill glrlsf J ,
; , "Yes,'' DaniaJlS answered, seriously, "j think It
I la necessary for me to get to understand. Suppose
poor people cams to ma and said, There la one God
for us all, but while -you live in luxury wt starve.'
what should I say to justify myself?" ' ' '
-'f111 Damarls, what an Idea," exclaimed Mrs.
Mitohihsoni hat extraordinary things you do iy.
Of course. It's very sweet of you to think so much
about th poor, but as the dear vicar says, there
must always be rich and poor. Iff quit necessary.
x oniy wuu x uau your money, ana aaaeo, after A
moment' pause, and for the life of her, beneath her
.smiles and sweetness, she could not help her envy
peeping out, like a viper from a basket of flowers.
4 Damarls gave her a quick and rather troubled
look, and for a moment was afraid. Startled, she
wonaerea n sne . knew Mrs. Mltehlnson and alt her
thoughts so intimately as she supposed, and for just
that one moment she seemed to glimpse dark and
a. moment. Mr. Rllwnnd
life.: Besldea no one but you two need know looked :at her. and. It seemed a sudden fear had come
"tblR-tDOttt It."- ' : ' ,. ;
" Once again her uncle and Mrs " Mltehlnson "
exchanged a swift and secr-et glance across the tahu
. and thi. time It was the ''man who shudder". .
"Why. how strange," said .-Damarls; "haw very
Strange those two should turn up again? And the two -of
spades means 'tonight,' does It not?" ' .
Mrs. Mitchinson's hands trembled .violently as aha
gathered the cards together again,- A curlou .fear '
and senae of dread oppressed her, for to make sure
that the Jack and the eight should not turn up she
had them safe In her lap; and yet, there they were,,
staring at her from the table.. Then quit suddenly
the explanation flashed -upon her. . The cards had ;
last been used for bexlque, and evidently they bad
not beeh properly sorted afterward. -. All the earn,
she remained disturbed and agitated to such a degree
that Damarls could not help noticing It.
"Why,-you don't really believe. In th cards, do ;
you?" she asked.'. ''"'"',
"No, no," said Mrs. Mltehlnson; "it's all nonense.
of course, but I think we've had enough for one
Bl8As she "spoke she rose abruptly, forgetting all .
about the three cards still In her lap. Naturally, -aa
she got up they fluttered to the ground, and as it
chanced ail of them fell face upward;
",,h lnnUI'' Mxnlaimed Damaris. -in amaxement. for
unknown deptha in her companion. Mrs.' Mltehlnson those very three cards she had Just seen, as she sup
Saw this look of Damarls'. and was furious - with posedr gathered into the pack-Mrs. Mltehlnson' held
"Are vou cold, uncle?" Dnninrl. UJ
(v'The evenlngeems chilly," he answered, drinking
fit has .appeared, to me oppressive," Mrs. Mltehln
son remarked, her breast heavinsr as thoue-h it wr
only with difficulty that , she breithedi K 11 were
- , "I have . been thinking," Damarls continued 1 "I
have ; my plane all ready." ; She looked at them in
t A 1 a . ...
, J-ier vincie enaaea nis eyes witn his hand. He
feared what her clear gaet might have power to
read there. He said, as if he pleaded for his life
,nd Indeed and truth he felt there w much more
that bung upon her decision;
."D.Vn(Lrl9v I be -of yu mo9t earnestly to give up
tbisldea X beg of you more earnestly than I can
... beW Mrs. Mltehlnson, hurriedly. ,
T dislike it so 'much." She began to sob.- and she
produced her handkerchief. "Damarls," she stam-
jnoiBa, u i8 insiai - man reaitrn en bwv t
shall feel It my duty. '
ijn, nonsenaarv. crwa- jDamaris.
rou Phe looked from one to the otheVin i wltUa - .A moment later her voice audible. ; Jesting
.Jvaj-, "Why, how tragic you both a?. OiaP would ' 5n-,i1JS8rhlrar wltbIamTU ' they antarad tha
i niniv i was susrHrestinar tne most aent. vw .wkjiiw.
upon- him of what she might say.
, ""Listen, Just listen," she . whispered to him, In
great agitation; la tne gin maa?"
."Hush, hush," he muttered back,
' Her hand closed upon his arm with convulsive
force. . : .,
"Wd you hear what she said 7" she whispered
again; "did you hear what she ts&ld Just now about
destroying every trace of her identity? Why does
she say such things?" Mra Mltehlnson muttered,
palely.
"Control yourself, control yourself, Hannah." he
answered; "for heaven's Sake, Hannah, control your '
self." . . -
"What are you two lingering and whispering
about?" Damarls' fresh young voice called gayly to
them. "Plotting together against me, are yon?"
They fell apart In terror -for a moment of horrid
panic, almost believing Damarls had heard some
thing of what they had Said. .
.. "1 am. coming, dear: I am coming," Mra. Mltehln
son called In answer, by a great effort making her
voice sound fairly natural. In whisper she added
iiurrledly to her companionr ' Meet me In the tennis
court at 10 tonight don't fall' Bhje a &d e d.Ji'i th, lan s -paeslon
as he seemed to hesitate; and with agesture
that had in it more than a note of threat she' sped
tXi-Ui-IJ a,uu vviuuui, . 4
'us, unheard of idea possible, instead of Just doinr fci1 Ia .La ttot .'turn to h!
f for three months what heap of 'otberi T do "l therf lf? hJwhaAe.nj'nSugn' " Hs
lives. Plenty of these rirls spend all their liv.i ill?-n1r-ar0.nl tl)ere. ajnon
, u' ii., iu- ouse,ck mj uuing me same for
threa months ' . . ..
Neither of .them answered her. Her. unci niled
his plass he 'had again emptied. Mrs. Mltehlnson
seemed to he endeavoring to control herself.
.' Jt will b quite easy' Damarls went on. "I
Mr. Ellwood did hot return to his wine.' Perhaps
o went, insteaa, into
moment latere Into a
pamarls' father, had been . accustomed during his
lifetime to - use. as. a study and business room.
.Damans uno.it in tne same way. for she was by no to getNthe cards,"
: rif!.'.0l.ehlr t&W&S&l. the conduct of the great "Oh do, dol" cried pt
, WW. . ,1.1 3, , wu. ' ' ' ' . ' . : ' . ' , .
v"'u ui tuin i uum biooq a Dig sate, a
herself and afraid of the Involuntary hint she had
dronDed of tha envv consuming hnr hnnrt TJnf
Bhe quite understood how black and ominous those
depths of envy were that she had, for there are few
of us who have the courage to know ourselves; but
phe wished Damarls to trust her thoroughly and '
believe in her utterly. . ' Bhe , said quietly, though,
rather quickly: ' .
"Vou- see, what is troubling mo la that I am so
afraid you won't be able to stand It," It's different
for the mill girls;. they are used to It; but though
It is sweet of you to think of trying, Damarls, I
don't think you will find It possible to put up with
tt for long." ' -' . - ' 'r. r-.'-,.-
"For three- months," c Damarls answered, with.
look of quiet resolution.
' Mrs. Mltehlnson turned back to the piano and let
her fingers .stray Idly over the keys. As she played
It seemed to her the very muslo sang the words
"Three months," "Three months," over and over
again without ceasing. For in three months so much'
may happen so much and then there was the great
safe in the study. What now, could it contaia that
made Mr. Ellwood look at it so strangely? A great
sum of money he thought ha might obtain? Hardly
likely that. Damarls was too businesslike to keep
money locked up In a safe when It might be employed -in
her mills. Perhaps some -wonderful Jewel; some
great diamond? Mrs. Mitchinson's eyes glittered and
the chord she was striking rang out triumphantly,
almost, she believed, she had solved the problem at
last. It would be so . like Damarls, with her odd
notions, to have some great gem, some wonderful
Jowel, locked up In the safe, kept, hidden, and never
them was a small dark lantern, and Mr. Ellwood ex
claimed: .
, -t "Why, it's a burglar's outfit; om fellow must hava
hidden it there In the hedge." i
' '"Oh,' 'cried Mrs. Mltehlnson, "that Would-b' that
..old man. I saw.'- Let us give an alarm at once.1 .
"Nonsense," he said, sharply; "that old man was
no. burglar. I know him; at least I have seen hlra
before. Besides, would a burglar go begging at the
kitchen door so that every one could see him and
: recognise him again?" f r "
. "Well, let us tell them in the house,''-aaid Mrs.
Mltehlnson, who was a gOdd deal frightened. . "See,
pamarls Is still up. Let us go In at once." ."-
"And have every one veonderlng what W were
doing out in the tennis court together at this time of
night?" Mr. Ellwood Asked impatiently.- "No, thank
you. The bag has evidently been hidden here for the
night. We will leave It here now, and In the morning
I will'stroll put, as I often do, and find It."
-' "But wlir that be safe ?T Mra Mitohlnson asked.
. ' . paicr ixtau i ininwe iijaaius ycvinr t-tjv. 419 n ii- u
swered. "Even If I am wrong, a burglar won't do
' mtirh - harm In- AMInrlnv 'Hoii. Th nt a lltlt f if
silver won't hurt Damarls., Vou can take car to lock
. your door." - -
- ("Well,"' said Mrs.- Mltehlnson, only" half 'convinced,"
though as unwilling as her companion to run the
risk of bauslng any gobalp. .
'"I'll unchain Pluto? too," Mr, Ellwood continued.
"Why has Damarls gone to bed so early?"
v Mrs,-Mltehlnson laughed, though a little uneasily,
and then told him of the incident of the cards.
"So she went off to make Bure of falsifying their
prophecy?" observed Mr. Ellwood; "well, she Is cer
tainly sare enougn ai leasi, uniess our ourgiar wakes
even spoken about. As she played on an Idea formed
Itself in her mind."' , ...-.,, -.-
"Damarls," she said, turning round, you may
think me-as slllv.as ever you like, but I am going
amarls: "oh. hoxr 1rtlTf,T'
Several times Mrs. Mltehlnson had amused herself
fithtlv in her hands, and yet here they were flutter
In g to: tha ground as it coming from vacancy. Th
girl oould not resist a touch of Superstitious fear as
ahe saw them lying there once again, . the three of
spades and the Jaek and eight of hearts:
"Tha cards are evidently determined that you are
to see your future "husband tonight," said Mrs. Mitoh
lnson, with an uneasy laugh. '..-.,.
Damarls laughed, too, and yet also with a touch
01 uneasiness apparent n
tha three cards up, and
wov th met them out O
thi. . volume of Brownings noema
"Of course. It's all nonsense,?, she said, "but as
If a 10 o'clock and I'm rather tired. I'll go straight
up to bed Just to make all safe. I've no taste for
meeting my future husband quit s suddenly or
quite so late at night ! For once," she added, laugh
ing, "we'll prove the cards wrong' . . .
She eald good-night and went away, and Mrs.
Mitohlnson threw a shawl over, her head and walked
to the window. -,: --'!.-'-.:'':t:y-i
"Strang about those eards," eh mused, "Non
sense, of course, but I never made .such a muddle
before In my life. - . &
She stood hesitating at the window, which reached
to the ground and opened Ilk a door. Then, passing
through it.-she crept in the darkness, like another
shadow of the night toward the tennis court, .
"is that yo,u. Joseph?" she asked, seeing another hmn times when she had found her unnia hnrtj
wucuw . . lu, n.iu " mv. ui-ua lie, TUUBir unpamr.
"But he cannot oossibly know." ahe refier.tert .
the uneasiness his manner had once or, twice caused her
uirs, ju.iLcninsuu, wuu w u-o ov
ened about tha has: of tools.
' Still sulklng together they went back toward the
house..- - N-1. ' - " ,
Some hours afterward, long after all in the great
house had retired to bed, Damarls was awakened from
a sound slumber by a noise In the Study, which was
the room beneath hers. ,
In a -moment she was sitting up In bed, wide awake '
, Bhe thought she heard the Bound repeated, ana In an- '
-other moment she was up and dressing quickly, her t&c '
pale aa death as she remembered what it was the great
safe in the study held. . . . , ;: ', w ' .
"Wbp can It be?" she asked herself. ' "A burglarf"
She was about to ring her, bell that communlcatecf with '
her maid's room, and then a new Idea came to her and
made her pause. She would not confess even to herspif
Wlia- m, ,i,ff uiwu,m no, nuu yo( Lucre CoriaimV 'hfiii'
in . . -""w.,".r.""v' " " "'i a mr bbio. a ana uamans i
tell verv one that you and I, Hannah" she. smiled w " f l.An 7Ji SJ".tv'j,AI,proacM,,' it.Damarls,jj who had t?Kat,- euperaUtUn-.4iW--theWc
Mrs, MHrhinson s she. spokAliawZaraeini believed In them. So now, vour pa
tr)Tftrlnf t5ur -1nJrrance.o be turaed away with an with, ber head full of the exciting, romantic Idea she , lady."-
I Unn't " I lev. ... ..,.' l. - . . m. .. .. " nu icuncpiveu. biio wb qum ueugiueu l ina iui', jura
- 1 "T" u luunoreu. mougn - gestion af seeing what th cards i had to aay about
and Damarls by tr:
7!na!t
to tell fortunes by cards, and
A atranee voice mumbled something: and there
shuffled away a man of whose face she Just had a
glimpse, It waa that of a very ld man, for the hair
and beard were white as snow, though he seemed
to hold himself upright enough and to walk with a
strong step. ','....
"Who are you?" she ' called, seeing that ha was a
stranger. "Wat do you want? ; What are Tou doing
here?n ' '
no harm, iaay," tn -man answered in a whining,
conMU
now becama sufflclently strong to make her withdraw he
fingers from the bell and decide to see for herself -,
She opened a drawer of her bureau and took from It1
a small revolver, the use of which she well understood
Then she went toward the door with her Urm ami
noiseless step, and aa she went she paused to glance at
a photograph of an old, - white-haired man that hums '
iliatory -voice, "I'va Just, been to beg a bite at.i-J.'lJobody. must Itivow.. tltt-4Mu-are-cwd,-nrhe"ferT
WtchewewancV-ttow'-I'm BOlngriaay, teKglng and went out of the room, her determination fixed the I "
-wood If you don't like telling little ftba.
pardon humbly and hoping there's no offense,
Mrs. 'Mltehlnson looked distrustfully after htm as
ba vanished In thr gloom, toward th entrance to th(
she would give ur her life Itself rather than .r;..
that secret of the safe, which belonged alone to her and
to one other. .
. '. (CONTINUED IraXT SUNDAY.) "1 ,' ' ,
Je