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THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL,: PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING,; JANUARY 21, ,1912 pV ; M ONTAMOR: GAfe Aucn.iiEa-iLt Jf .1 . J . Copyright i9n;r by The Won tyi AncR ican Cq . ; SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS tttllf OILBERT and fall friend, Charlea Daunoe, become I estranged aver the affectione ef Netta Grty. a pretty Australian girl, lh daughter of a aaeep rancher. Gilbert i irououly reported to have boen killed In a mine accident, Daunce then declare bla love for Nelta. and telle b he la th Heir ta large eaietee In neja4 When Gilbert return eud laarna of. thla, tha 8 Dbt a duel St .afterward, there appear In England a young man, knewn variously aa Chariee Daunce and ''Mr- Keberta.' Who I . . aicepiird aa Rofcert Ualldare, the heir of Lord Montamor. and : take the title and estates. Thla dlsplaoes Ranald Halldere, a nephew, . y When ftonert want ewav. ha waa an cased to hit cousin. ' Gwendolen 1-ialldart, a very beautiful young- woman. But with lima the, engagement laied and Mtae Haildara wag won by Ronald, who bad loved her from tha Bret, but whe wits nut m uoiirkl a. wajwip a hie tnualn. eineo rile- frtme ara ao materially affected, Ronald trifle to Induce owendolen to break tha eiinanemeiit. Hut wctttnolllte. While ehe had never profesaed anyiliing but dec, friendship for him and only allowed him la win her after a long courtship, ehe deoidea that, after all, ehe lovea him dearly, and will hear to toothing- but their marriage ae had been planned. An X while Ronald declare that the claimant to tha fertuna la the rightful Lord Montamor, aha perslei that h ! aa Impostor and detarmlnea to decide the matter, n her ewa mind, at a garden party which eht, Know he will attend, and at which aha cab ohtaln a good view of him. When aba Anally face him, ah teata him bv referent. ia Incidente la their llveev and particularly ta a Certain doru- nent which both had algned and which had bean depoalud 4a a caaaet. of which aaob had a key. The elalmanfa failure ' Jo recall say mamcry af theaa harden Owendolen In her 2aunrj and make up hef mind that .the pretended Chariee auno i an Imptatoyi that th real on may have Sb tnurdered, Ta further (race the movement, of the r?trned iolr. Gwendolen vlelt Netta Orey dluled a a lnl2!5 I (tunned to upon her hand I rln al.ad ilv Sw 1? kt the tlm of th.lr flg;ement7 V" Ma lr'v, bert Owandolen ha proved ta her wa aatlafutlun .v. .w. yatarna heir la f Charla D.unoe, aid' ehe iiS.noJ.ni! Ronald that. If he ahauld prove t? J? RooJrt?h25"t!. Vt part: whereupoa i Ronald afreeg ta jolBrirlth Thr It ?,?,.:. far the title and agtatea. leal (CONTINUED FROM ItASTSUNDAT) ; CHAPTER XXIII 5 r . " . , Galling Bonda "J TRAKOELT notih. when r DdlOTta. t h b. trothad fautband whosa marrtaj with, her at tha rural parish church Tiadl bMn roughly mterruptad by tha woman of whom h aardi "I married my oualn Owendolen-aha la my wlf." Nefta waa ra Havad, : 6ris6ld, rat har than overwhelmed. - In thaaa criaaa of I) fa, mamory la vividly wake&ad aa all tha ethar mrnta,lraull(a. Netta remembered that for M toen oor year hsr Itob art bad tean dead to hie old gurroundlnja and every human aout they anrl Toned. - Bba recollected that ko lona; a desertion of any wife would go far to break tha tie in tha eae of any: man. She reasoned, in a flah, that all waa not logt Tha law might neln hepj-and ber beloved. ' .. . . . ' ' '-""ut. uppogfris.'.flld, marry, her. deareet. yott deaertad ber! It aha cboosea.eha ean aet yon free at leaat. I undaratood tha maffia wa freed a woman :r' ' v5 .0" tl- .jjjl ''pi i i X . 'rfiaA jjiellll W.. , TVhy,,'.:aakad Robert. In tha bama of goodnaa- " eg. ijWr 1 l-5 I am in ber way, and aha la In minewhy eheuld a " B6-"' ' ,0 rkj&M."-' ' " ' allly eeremsny in a keeper'a cottata be the barrier 0" ' tt" between ua and bapplneeet Kor that tra the mar M'E'i wanted on a charjo of murder 1'" iainae; It ia of no uia. I dare not do any mora; X rauet not rtux up my wretched, gtalned Ufa with your pure being-. Wi ehall have to part. I muat Buffer X muat reap aa I have bowo. "Huahl' Netta glanced tn dismay at the open deor. If any one should be awake and llsteninfl "Deareat, ba' calm i I know how much you have suffered I you muat not make up your mind thla way or that until tlhU trouble has passed, ; We must give thJnge time to right them selves. These worries that seem to fall from aomewhero upon one's Ufa always remind ma of a stone thrown into a pond. One must wait for tha addles and circllnga from a husband -who- had deserted her only a, few year, and you, why It waa almost a little lifetime you spent ' in the water to subside before tha water clear. I am aa a bachelor, after you forgot what you naa a one. Tea. that It tru enough, groaned Lord Montamorj "but how can any poor wretch of a man cope, with a ; woman bent on revenging her supposed wronger "Well, If aha revengea herself, tn your case she will be, -aa- Annie -said -tha-xther- 4ay apeaking ofcoolr -.'putting her nose off to punish ber face. Did you not aay that 'she, waa engaged tu marry your cousin, Captain; HaUdare, who waa already Lord Montamor aura, certain,, that If you only wait things will right xnemseivea a iitue. She atopped nhort with a "Huahl" . for she board a door open above, quick, eftergetto footsteps cross tha landing down the staircase. She had hardly seated her--aelf -nd-aaaume4 aa- nonchalant an . air aa ha eould when a tap came at the sitting room door. 'I thought you were still up." said Nuraa Ousan, entering- in anawer to Netta'a 'Come tn." "X beard befora yau arrived T1 Can aha raary,blm after aha . voices. My lord, your mothsr haa begun to move; she baa accused frott of being her hutband-at leaa.t, with out divorcing you, Which Bba can eaaily do If aha llkea7"Vi., -k:. "My God." There waa no profanity ia tha cry uttered by the unhappy man aa he turned toward Netta; It waa one of titter, touching thankfulness.' - Oh!" he faltered. Snatching hef hands and hold ing them tightly to bla breaet, "my darling, my com forter, that you should have aeerl this Way out-that you ahould be the Portia to release a poor doomed creature from this awful fatal For , If I lost you, my Netta, I could not lire I should die In despair." "Nonsense! We must not even say that horrid word, : Said Netta, neatlln&t closely ta him, tor he had opened bla arms and drawn her to bla throbbing heart eapain indeed! We must flght-flght in self-defense-fight thla aeoond, battle to be able to live together In peace, for the first battle la at an end." He jfreWhed. "Tha first-battle at an end? What do you mean r' he slowly asked. What I Bay," she returned. "Tour first battle waa t establish your identity as Robert Lord Montamor. If thla .lady liaj not dented you. If ahe had not per suaded Captain Ualldare to eat hia own worda and ta second ber In Saaertlng you Were' not Lord Mont amor, you .. would bf firmly settled In the house of Lord a, aa you told me you could not help wishing to be. Now you may triumphantly declare yourself Lord Montamor tomorrow, for your only enemy has turned and aay a you are I" . 7 . , , ' v In his perturbation, his misery after his Inter rupted wedding, arid the shock of seeing documents with his own signature which proved that Gwendolen was actually hie wife, he had forgotten that by her conduct she had Virtually withdrawn her denial of his Identity, therefore, that the caee "HaUdare vg. Paunco" Waa ended. Gwendolen'a acknowledgment of him rendered it null and void. i . . "But what good would that be without yout" He clasped her close and kissed her passionately lip, yea, brow. And every-kiss seemed to give her new life, fresh power and etrength. ' ''It need not be without me, dearest love, my own," ahe murmured, A greater happiness than she had f lit alnce her father s death seemed to have dawned -in bar soul: she fondly thought It was the preoureor of a etlll greater earthly Joy. "Bhe has only to-be persuaded to ask that that foolish marriage may be dissolved, and I am sure it will be done. I hav always heard that the laws of England are Just." . "But"-nce more he frowned. Even in his anguish his chivalry forbade his dreaming of appealing to any woman to release him especially a woman he had injured In the past. "But. my riarllnfc, who will uggaat such a course to her one of the most head strong, positive, aagreselve females alive? I can not even If I would, disgrace mvoelf by asking mercy from one to whom 1 owed affection, which I never for one instant gave." "I will tell you who will," she quietly replied: "Cap tain Haildara. You have told me how good he was. how, although he lost his title, his estates, when he recognised you, he did it, without a second thought because he was true, honest, Junt. When he hears of of us, he will help us. I am sure he will. How? By persuading Miss HaUdare to apply for a divorce." . "How can a man never really married playing at wedding a woman th the Scottish fashion so lightly that avert when his memory began to return he forgot what he had done-bp divorced? It Is a farce!" he bit terly tried, H'But atop, don't speak; f think If Ronald oould make -Owendolen -merciful instead of - revengeful he might apply to have that absurdity annulled. But, oh. Netta. I feel hopeless, helpleae, as if we were doomed ll three of us!" y H groaned and shuddered. That look which Netta d learned to know-ao-waU-durina -the alma when father was sick unto death, and Robert had lingered to be with her when ha ought to have been on his home ward journey to resume the title which devolved upon him kt the death of Lord Montamor, deepened Into a tragic expression of despair in hia eyes, upon his drawn features, tttia watched him as hie eye became fixed Rnd Beamed to start out of his head, as his jaw fell, as e looked like one suddenly confronted with a horrible unawalted doom. . -v..- i;-. Robert." ehe said at last In ber alarm at that Im rnovabla atara, The low cry rouaed him. He shuddered, I prang tip, and as It were, pushed away some Invisible, tangible presence from him, "My Godj , I am haunted, Netta, ! am haunted!" he (arCdly -cried, turning to ber. "I ace hateful, awful is develonlnar avmrjtoma whloh Point to a chanaa. The doctor wiahed to ba called ahould these appear. Shall I wake the aervants and send for him." "No. Wa can go, can we notT" eaid Netta eagerly. "I say we because you do not know your way across the heath, Robert and I do." , Hastily Netta pinned on her garden hat and they aped along tha road, he and she In the moonlight. The doctor waa wakeful after his eidtlng "call" to Lady . Montamor. Very aoon all three were back at the villa. Lord Montamor opening the door with hia latch key. "You had better both be there, I think, If ahe re gain consciousness." he told them; so Netta and Robert crept after him Into the room where the patient lay, moving, aa one awakening from a deep sleep. Doctor Sanderson's cool touch upon Lady Mont amor's wriet seamed to arrest her returning attention. She suddenly opened her eyes, gave blra a dased stare, then her eyea turned from hlro to Robert, who stood anxiously watching her at the side of the bed. Then she smiled. "My son!" she murmured, and with an effort etretobed out her hands. He seated him self by. her, and with a depth of emotion which sur prised himself, stooped and kissed those withered hands, murmuring tender words of filial affection. Meanwhile, Netta held the light for the doctor to mix a draught, while the nurse discreetly turned her back upon the sick mother and her son, and busied her ; self with some detail; until Doctor Sanderson bad ad ministered th draught and leaving directions with her, beckoned Lord Montamor -and Netta to follow hint "You are my patient Miss Bayers, so X have o alter native but to order you to bed," he smilingly a id. "Tha most favorable turn has been taken. Lady Montamor) need only now be carefully watched and tended to be, X quite believe, completely restored to health. And you, my lord? You have left your motor at the innf Might. 1 offer yqu a bedroom for tonight? One is always kept ready In case of a sudden visitor." . Presently Lord Montamor and the doctor left tha villa together, and Netta, after a whispered conversa tion outside Lady Montamor's room with the gratified Nuree Susan, who took an altogether abstract interest' In her patients, and waa, "in high feather" at Lady " Montatnor's Improvement retired to reet. She slept soundly. The relief of improved condi tions hardly hoped for Is one well known to all those who are undergoing ordeals, domestic or otherwise. . When the entrance of Annie with her tea awakened her 2! "In ?h- m ilr-.l221noJVe5.w,, ; u on t interfere) "till you have beard my varalon S;Jn-?,f IS.I1:,.4 .hAdi!! tha ridiculous affair. ' If I had only; remembered f.JI.. kt..h.. fi.. t: i... i... . ' ... ci, ,t aiineiore i anouia noi pe . ..,hiimi iiku uveii tier oie companion r t m. and object in life, the day before either Charles her uevunco or J i in uuueri naa come XO live in the ad CHAPTER XX1Y Drus ex Maching ' . ' i a. '' v ONALD HALLDARB sat gloomily !n his Btudy., he called his breakfast room half gunroom. half library. His untasted breakfast waa before him. He had not slept. He had no appetlto for food, for last ; night he had been summoned by Gwen dolen to hear the whole truth how she had married Robert In a mutual fit of youthful passion while they were staging together in Scotland, and how at last tier certainty that "the pretender" waa Robert and ho other bad driven ber to interrupt bla marriage with "the squatter's daughter from Australia." Ha reoajled the Interview how, in his first bitterness,' bo bad reproached her with a lingering affection for the lover of her youth, and how she had biased with wrath. ; Bba bad never looked handsomer, a grander creature, than when, facing "blm in sc6rn, she had Bald, " ir he - were to ba killed If I did not acknowledge the wretched He, I would not do it!" at Use same time, when. In his passion of mingled anger and love, lie would have em braced her, daring him to touch her. "It I ware a man," aba had disdainfully cried, "any wife, no matter how alight her matrimonial tie might be, would be ae eeored to me aa a vestal of old to tha men f their time, or aa a professed nun to a Catholic!" And, like tha man In scripture, he had "gone away aorrowful." - Tha blow to find bow complete Owendolen considered their mutual alienation to be had dazed him, paralysed hia thinking ' powers for the actual moment Only during tha ailent watches of the night, lying wake ful, an Idea bad eome to him.. Why should this slen derest of slsnder ties between Owendolen and Robert, whose cerebral accident bad led to complete oblivion of It, remain, when, in the court dfVoted to suah matri monial legalities, it would be a mere matter f form to set it aside? '?,'v ! "I believe she loves me," he waa sorrowfully musing, aa he almost unconsciously contemplated that undis turbed breakfast table. "It Is only her crupul6uB idea of what la proper and pure that la between us. Then proud Gwendolen In a dlvoroe courtl Itnpossiblsr" Arriving at that mental cul-de-aa f6r perhaps the tenth or twelfth time, ha waa Interrupted by tha entrance of bla man, with the news that Votd Mont amor wished to bob bias on urgent business which . would not wait. ' i .Wherw ln reply td bla "brin. hlr4 In," be, ,wlth i hope leaping up In hia heart rose to welcome Lord , Montamor, his spirits fell gome what, seeing , the , baffled bridegroom ao theory and self-eonfident . ,L.r "Have you heard tha newa how my mother haa had a stroke But she Is getting better, thank God!" exclaimed Robert as, In anticipation of future Joys, ha wrung hia cousin's limp hand., Certainly, : Ronald dlamally felt thla waa Do disconsolate bridegroom, tha hero of an Interrupted wedding! "I say. 'thank . Ood,' old boy, for If my mother failed ma the Lord only knows bow I ahould persuade everybody that X am myself!" .. v. . . "You have Gwendolen now," aald Ronald, reproach- ' fully. "Under the circumstances, that maana ail. motto ahould be Tacetr,r " 7 " 'S9,m., Mie" ni, d'sBfaoing myself!" cried ...'Oh, you know, thenr Robert, face fell. That Sw.ivUtoetnflueJlceUJh1h U IB just what 1 cams about old fallow. Do prove tha !k2i,y, i-12?ii.n,Ka fhf? ' t hVi. .f'.?1 .men Old adage, 'FeUow feeling makes us wondrous kind" VSStJttt atlwlf 1 th6 '"ntaat ana persuaae uwenaoien to listen to nsr Petter Belt 'r.rkVr' u ihi w-.:'..m. ... - ' " , ... - ' " - J ,. u u VUUT haa been no more to ma than your houaekeeper, who opened the doon thinking me anything but what X amrano"nyifig to geenimi' tertoir to summon ytstfr raifl;' Ronald gave a gulp. ' He leaned forward and gripped Rabert'a hand. - ' . . " "you have finished oft my last atom of a scruple, t am yours, to do what you please, and when you please," ba cried, "rolly-chlldish folly ought to ba Quashed, should be Quashed.' and without publicity publicity for such a trifle as this gams of play of youra and your coueln'B should be able to ba annlhUatad with a stroke of tha pen!" . e- e e . e e ;.'S It was soma little time before, Ronald could" per suade hia beloved to embark upon a publlo method of righting her wrongs. When Bba "listened to reason," as ba called it she became mora ber old, proud self. 'She waa willing to ba divorced freed from the sllrht hackle of the Scottish episode. But aba waa not willing to be talked about "I am afraid we. ail of us. have been such food (or gossip that we are shelved, dearest!" be lightly returned. "We are stale uninteresting! Nothing leas than a good old murder case would- reauacitata peo- ple'a interest In our affairs. Why do you startf X assure you there will be no duels between myself and poor old Robert We are fast friends we mean to aaa each other through, even it tha doing would lead ua through the typical fire and water" "I wish that man had never been born!" Inter rupted ahe, bitterly. However. Ronald had sufficient power over ber emotions to "bring her to reason," aa he, termed It Next day he accompanied her to the family lawyer. The whole affair of tha rash Scotch marriage waa gone Into, and tha train of legalities necessary to free Gwendolen from Robert and Robert from Gwendolen, was aet in motion. Then came a comparative lull. Ta Gwendolen, who felt as if that tie to the man aha suspected of foul play during bla Australian exile branded her heart and. soul. It seemed aa It the lawyers never would move. But at last the ease was down for hearing. In which Gwendolen Haildara, otherwise; by reason ot that bygone Scottish marriage, the Countess Montamor, sued for nullity of that union, contracted years before with -W cousin, Robert Haildara, " now Lord Montamor. CH AFIER XXy , Release-anL Arrest T B USUAL, tha eolicitors on both Bides did not make their clients dance attendance at the courta - of Justice until , their ' presence waa actually required. One morning Gwendolen, seated at the breakfast table with the faithful Miss purnford, received a telegram bidding her to be at her solicitor's offices in an hour the case would be on dur ing the morning. .. t " .-, .,- ' rWhat a mercy!" aha devoutly exclaimed although she paled to the lips. "Oh, Durhpie my release is In sight don't you think Bo?" ,. - "My dearest girl, I am sura I hope so," returned Miss Durnford cautiously. "But when people' come to my age they have ' learned . not to think thla or that They only "hope and trust." , ..' "oont damp my spirits of-you will have me ool a tie which, after all, was similar, ta the blown bubble) of a allly child? f ... "X waa mad," aha told relf, as she' vaguely Watched! . tha.atream'of people women, men-of the crowd pabe lng and repassing; bewlgged and black-gowned bar - nsters 'putlng- Quickly, along, briefs In band, ' either alone, or ln Intimate conversation with ' a brotbai . counsel; clerks with brief-bags, nondescript parsonages whoeeemed bant on badgering the stalwart , constables guarding tha doors. ; ?'I was mad!" she bitterly thought. t "but . X , waa sa young!" '-Ck $ , :A ; a ; HoW many nave not adduced that plea in roltlgaUon of their wild vagarisl Gwendolen's sad eyes watched v tha passing figurea In searoh ot tha youth which per petrates mad follies,. But hot one simple girl or tool- Ish youth thronged that gallery, j Tha moving crowd waa a typical assemblage of tha world worn and world stained, There were graceful woman, men with tha hall mark of publlo achool, and college. But the women - bad evidently ; made . themselvea acquainted with th - "make-up box" essential ta those who figure behind tha rootllghte of the atage proper, gind the stage whereon real life plays Its dramas, 'and the men looked blase. conceited, self-assertive, and all ' of one unattractive v - - pattern,-, Whloh successfully' veiled, any originality they', might havey burled deep in their attenuated minds. ' "And I am. to be Ilk theee!', Gwendolen bitterly 1 thougba "Oh) wb 4ld J . not,; die. .lunbomT,; Why is ' anybody ' boml ' It is such an awful . responsibility te . bring children mto the world, that tn)r rnarvei la that :. anybody caa ba found "to 10' itir', f.j,i V-!v-'-:ri- --'-'vl-';t ' . Aa Intgrrupter. ot Such mournful reflections earn -, Mr. Hale, bustling, Important ,;- v"WUl you kindly comet" ha suggested. So ah and ' bar companion followed bhn, past the awing door. Into, tha oourt where, tn a brief glance around, dwanilolea t perceived the majesty of the law . In tha parsons of a apeotgoled, grim old Judge enthroned under a canopy, some personages of lesser Importance seated at Inter- , vala Just below him, and an array of barrister tn wigs ana gawB factor :tha guprema authority, j ? - " There waa an important buah. a silence whlck . Beamed to Gwendolen, whose firat experience of law courta 'Was this, to detract front ths likeness of tha , oourt to a small theater. Bhe and Miss Durnford wars placed tn aeats ab,ova those occupied by tha barristers, by Mr. Hale. The tiers ef seats sloped. Ilka theater stalls. To the left the reporters occu pied a curtained corner. Then Owendolen suddenly . . saw the man aha bad once loved anA eapoused, who" had been mad with love after their companionship on the lonely Scottish hills, mad enough t. bind her to bin) for Ufa without thought of anything but bla passion, and who bad then left bar, without a word without even'' a message-to disappear and not only forsake bar, but. family and friends,' until of. late, when .sought attar to take bit Aaad father's place. - She gave him a long,-steady look, which be either All not aee or pretended hot to aee. Then ahe heard hef case stated by her cflunsM. ; "j llawai'ir.Kr'CV man of treat natural talent tar ,.. klm f A' aa well as a akllled lawyer; and. added to; the many giita which bad . aided. bU up.ward caretr, he pos-. - sesseA a mellifluous, persuasive voice. In slow but convincing phrases ha told Gwendolen's etory, Hs , depleted ber aa the Innocent vglrL full of fresb. . delight In Ufa " upon her emancipation from th ' schoolroom, meeting her . cousin Robert first as a, grown-up maiden, he being an emdtlonal. Imperious youth. Deprecating tha mistaken Idea ot throwing; . two young people together, alona." in romantic sur roundings, with no let ler hindrance, such as work' or "any j other , occupation aa a drag upon their impulses, he blamed neither young man nor maiden for a spontaneous he dared even aay spurious lovs affair, whloh culminated tn the foolish pseud mart -riage, the annulment of which he waa Bow demand ing In the bub of ths pseudo' wife, whose - union , with ths pseudo ' busbasd bad .never been eoneum-1 .'mated.''.':' After detailing the circumstances tha taking refuge during a storm in a keeper's cottage, the marriage by declaration before a witness the sliver casket waa pro duced and solemnly opened. The " little" Btbla" ln which -Robert HaUdare- and"" Gwendolen HaUdare had written their rtamea and declared themselves man and wife before a witaees aroused great Interest In court Persons In the pobllo gallery leaned over or craned their necks In their . endeavor to sea the book, tha Intertwined looks of hair, even . the velvet-lined Interior of th casket Gwendolen, as she stood, white to the lips with the publicity which to ber meant degradation, beautiful. If stern, in ber tremendous effort to subdue all natural feeling and be a stoic, felt all eyes focused upon ber, aa aha said "yea" to the various auggestlona of her counsel. It was ber hour of supreme agony. But duty duty to . Robert whe loved Netta, duty to Ronald, whom ahe loved even aa he loved her sup ported her. She retained complete self-possession, and, -when she etepped down from -the witness box, flit calm enough to follow the rest of the case as If it had bad nothing to do with herself personally.' The case was soon at an end, as there was no op position on the part ot the respondent Robert Lord Montamor, now . recognised ae such by Owendolen, who bad been the only important antagonlat to hlaa pretensions, was a manly, Interesting witness, aa ha' briefly submitted to examination by.hls own legal representative. A few words from , the Judge, and , Gwendolen waa a free woman. She hardly Understood or appreciated the fact aa Mr. Hale, after escorting -her -out of court shook hands with ber and congratu lated her on having "won her case." Hair dased by tthe, unexpected rapidity ; ot the law, which aha bad r learned to believe waa a slow-moving moral machine, ' ) her attention waa arrested en leaving the oourt by a crowd assembling about and around the man from whosa claim upon her she Wag, eft actually freed. "Xrfokl" she said to Mr. Hale, , who was, prattling j. In her ear she hardly understood what he aald. "There f Is poor Robert being hire tied by a lot of people! Oh. , look! There-is a policeman! What can It ber v "I Will see," said thetold lawyer; and he ran off so nimbly that Gwendolen, little suspecting that tha crowd meant what it did mean, laughed In her new ; feeling af emancipation.- "What a shame! How horrid! Why do they allow People' to be eo rude?" he was Baying to Mies Durn- 5 ford,' when,- to her amassment the crowa parted, a ?v carriage drew up, and ahe eaw Robert onoe her lover. now her repudiated spouse, entering It with av stalwart looking man in plain clothes and a coiietaple m the blue uniform. - "Pumple,, something la ' wrongl' the stammered. ' clutching at Mlsa XJurnford. "What shall we dot "What can wej g i : : whence aald., ,l don't want you to look too T lbeautituf liJi?9 Ut' Hal0. H will explain Miss Jiauau.ro, bui just oeauiuui enougb to prejudice joinins "run." anerwara snannnr Quarter with .h Ureys; the days before both men, perhaps, she had often thought, because f propinquity alone, had fallen In love with her, had become active rivals. "Nurse Busan Is Just agoin' to bed, ma'am, and : left word that her la'shlp was adoih' splendid' aald Annie reassuringly, as she noted her young mistress' sudden pallor and evident distress, "tio you've no call, ma'am, ae X did hexpect to call rny lady.' for to worrit yourself, The hother nurse eeems a real good ' sort She's 'ad her orekn8 in the kitchen, and 'as rgone on duty,' they call it, for all the world like the sojers, ' o, has t did say, you've downright ho call to worrit As aoon as Netta was dressed she went to th sick ' room, and waa allowed a glimpse of Lady Montamor " In a calm alumber. While ehe wAs etlll at breakfast ' sne aw nw imiovra come oriSKiy in at the gate. 1 -before I should not be here worrvlnar you now met Owendolen once aa a child with her hair down r oacK. i remeniDerea mat. dui innumf . acquaintance with each other ended there. What I clean forgot waa that gome .yeara 'later I was Invited to stay, together With her, at a shooting box lt Scotland. We were the only young unmarried people, , and went walking , and flahing, and propinquity - cru w ipunaw, vpvnianvuua passion youtniUI luua "1 don't remember anything of all that, but 1 take, -...vV... - 0 '. loi your word for It. Dumple." said Gwendolen, and riSit ' un uSutff KVl&V ing for her maid she ordered her 4o prepare her Laet xclted-looklng throng amartest mournins: costume and the 7 fnfJ.Z? , Montamor and when, on art match. . 1 . - ' H"W w When Miss luriiford, who always looked the duenna, but who epent the shortest., time cosslble over, , a. in your favor.' "Nothlnar but be Oulat khd nal1i ... ... turned Miss Durnford. "You Hit down here, .and X M llli. VVI 1 at M eSM4 atla-.Jt1ar ?t j. 1 - VI. ... . evervihinsr. 'But Just as Miaa Durnford annfc th, m rim. tAevat'A tharM Vt iaua -. i- ' . looxea pais and arrave-nnt felt at ease when he saw aSsembllna- ahm, r rrlvinar at tha .nnt man wnwin ne recognnea ag a government deteotlve ' ' a I in company with an inspector Tn uniform speaking" :V with XnrA Mnnlnmni. egna tnamnsiaa ...a...Z . l' gesttons made by Mlsa Ulldare and- others crossed ' - his mind, to his discomfiture. i ,... , . , . ' i - the atalrcaae looklns. m Dumni. .;:T,r 'wn1 " , lnapectorr he had asked, nearlng V ; ; fttiurlne- her-a lovelv. e-lrl ah. "wahv h.-k handsomer than ahe had ever seen her. evn IhZT 2 hi'.'"1 .w?"r?:."ra mpniamor Btqod, silent pallid, ; marrlags. for if 1 were hot Irrevocably bound to her; l'.lVtJ MI Dumfofd-, .RUVrrth ... -m - -,- -, -, :t r. v. - rmt who anan to da Vounw naaalan which am tn lir., , toilette, Was awaiting, her former DUDll below tn . day, Bhe had given me a ring; had satd. 'With thla 0'ay jj! i2. P,S. hr he saw ring i . tnee . wea,- ana tnat set me thinking t':'w wi and there waa no getting out of It, I knew very we my lamer wouia noi neien te our engagement for a moment. He waa perfectly rabid, on the subject of th marriage of cousins; fndeedr he barred all rela tive candidates for mutual matrimony. X had that Wild feeling for her which a young fellow who nag uvea etraignt ooes nav rpr, pernaps, the very flret girl that comae his way, 60, one day. when a .... . ,. -.c' v, r ne noun up. irenioimc. bo various. o majiv had Jr.?.". mlJr.Zr,&?i-J'Z been, Holeert'snasds: .during - 'Mb abandonment of om neeel itormot Van hart h.h.rlan: i . - . . anuiner inac sne never Knew ' keeper B cottage, I took th bull by . the horna. ; f wABLt?.1.ti't;' IffilSa tei'SST. thf room- na- ? ? deoraratlon before the keeper s wlfi. ws her in his arms, kissed her with tender earnestness, she felt overjoyed. ', ; "I am eo thankful," he ad, when she told him the nurse expressed themselves dellgtited with their pa tienra Improvement. "For, Netta. beloved, I am off to see Ronald, to persuade him to influence Owendolen to Wrote our-namee and declared our marrtaara In little oMUlble we offered her a guinea for, She took that guinea.. The keeper'e wife wrote hers, and that little Bible, together with our hair bltg tied together with silk ere the content of that much ?Pp.,.i-t'l.mJi.eh':'l ?L m?iWJl. t annulled, human being csri cut Vhls Oordlan knot, can free 4ft v-.'. w.w ,1, ,, (uuri, 1 Hiieii,. i, aira nr. u nntn i,w,nnti en ann m ftvnn T i - . " ui !, urn., ii me ciuo, -.'.iitf ".! . , ."it" - unneid in, n.inuriauu ttpjrreu, ana, alter seeing his r"tieit, was ahie t aSRiir him he might be absent all dav, ir neceaiy. 0, In lews thaft an hour ha was speeding to town. , , , did mot intrude rii Don her sllenna with an rm..v. they motored to the old lawyer's otflces. a atones throw from tha Lavs Courts., . , 1 Gwendolen mounted the few steps from the hand pome entrance to Mr. Halt'B special office silently, fol- lowed by her companion. Bhe felt unable toepeak. , it wea not only tha anxiety to free herself from the mle erebl shackles , Which - bound her, but a deep, vesus .dread of Rotiert, Lord Montamor . which 1 seemed to paralyse tnoufc-iu an leeung. cne entered Mr. Hale'sj room like an automaton. She met the white-haired 01a man, sa ne . ouaiiea smiles, like, a creature and blood..-. She- followe acrose a quiet square,, winaing stairways, ai In a darker corridor, dows, stone everywhere, swing doors, the entrances to tne various courts ' guaraea ty gooa-numored-ionkinc. iv The Inanflctnr drew .him aalria. "if. . i.k I'm aftaid, alr," , he said, ..Then he whlspered In his ear: "So you see, Blr, there was nothing left to do but to arrest., him." 'x -v ' ; " "But how-under what ' namef' asked Mr,' "Hale, hreathleeely. ; He Was not a lawyer' for nothing. He . had, had unpleasant suspicions, which, aa it was not part of his role to entertain them, he dismissed in hie - own mind ag -frivolous-and -vesatlous. - "Whatcan - uviu iuii(iiiur hits ouni iu jumiiir an arreiti' -r Ann' t unhw anvtiiln nhAiit tfnnf.mn. , of TtoVa'X' W tbalns.r A him like x somnambulist-' a." lo,.?It "...'? L. G- V of justice. ,uP gzl zvrxiz v;.70; ? v-wi.a"ouiJt,- mg ciMBtrHto passages, until . iri.i .vr",w: V-" .V.'u;;"11 lishted d mly bv mull oned win '" ""' "'" - """'- !.a"'.T. :." ?-''. a---e'a v, .' vraiiLru : uu ui mi kq ut uuiuci . - .. .. ana niw rvnriiai '.. " ...... 4 " t . ine vanoue ewuna guaraeu ny gooa-numorra-ionKins;. gased blankly at ,hlm and ahtxilf his unoonaerned constables, he found bar and Miss Durn nean. "tlh." r he arroaned. "how deceived vou ara. Nothing In this world would persuade Gwendolen td have anything ta da with th .only authority which can rid you of eaoh "Other the divorce court Judge, Aiej aaata le a , amViss B11i-ja "What a strange pla .' Whispered Mian Durnford. Gwandolen nodded What bad ehe don, ah asked herself, t find herself bare, auing for th rupture of . "My , uoai-' exciaimeo tne ; om man,- norrifled and that waa the news which he had t Convey to Gwen dolen Gwendolen, who lied identified the ar rented man. .Tames Gilbert, as her cousin, Robert Ualldare, Lord Montamor J - '(CONCLUDED NEXT fSUNPAlr) " i
