Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 16, 1901, Page 24

16 THE OMAHA D AILY BEE: SUNDAY, UNE 1 Tristram A Being An Episode in a Story of An Ancient House. BY ANTH m of Freceding Chapters. Adelajde, wife of 8ir Randolph Edge of Bient Hall, eloped with Captain Fitzhubert. Bir Randolph dies in Ru resumably in time for Lady Edg Zhubert. to marry and 8o make t | Harry, legitl- mate. They learn later, however, that the date of Bft Randolph's death 'has been given Incorrectly and Harry 18 not the Fighttul helr They keep the matter secret and eventually Mrs. Fitzhubert succeeds to the barony of Tiistram of Blent and re- sides with Harry at Blent Hall, Unknown to Lady Tristram Madam Zabricka, and Mr, Jenkinson Neeld, are also In possession of ‘the secret and Madam Zabriska, with her uncle, Major Duplay, come to reside at Merrion Lodge. near Blent Hall. Harry earns from his mother that he I8 not the Fightful heir to Blent, but they determine o hold the title for Kim at any cost. To further his cause he decides to marry Jante Tver, helress to _Fairholme, but finds two rivals in Bob Broadley and Major Duplay. ‘i he Intter learns of HArry's untor tunate birth from Mina Zabriska. He in- forms him that he intends to tell Tver and they quarrel, Harry winning in a brisk tussle. Neeld becomes the guest of Iver at Fairholme. Madam Zabriska ineets eeld and they form a compact to protect interests and maintain secrecy. Tristram dles after exacting from her \ promise that Ceclly Galnsborough, ightful heiress of Blent, shull be invited to the funeral. ~ Ceclly and her father coms to Blent, but Harry fails to recelye them Later ho comes suddenly upon Cectly in ‘the garden and realizes that she ls a Trl ‘tram, the image of his mother. The en- Rakement of Harey and Junie fver 18 an: nounced, and Duplay announces his deter- mination to expogo the false position of his future son-in-law to Iver. Harry uncon- ciously falls In love with Ceeily and with- out_teiling her this acknowledges that he 8 not the legal heir, but she I8 Lady Tristram of Blent. Then he steals away from Blent by night, stopping to advisa Bob Broadley to woo and win Jante. He oes o London, where political friends of 1s mother intefest themeelves in his cise Cectly, unhappy in her new possessions, followis him to veg him to take back Blent, Harry joins 8loyd in a real estate deal and becomes a _competitor of Iver cily asks Harry to marry her so that he may return to Blent. He refuses, and then suddenly realizes that he lovek her. —Harry hests Iver In a business deal and is offered a viscounty by political friends. He the fdea of accepting a viscounty returns (0 Blent determined to begin ‘over and forget Harry CHAPTER XXIl—(Continned). Well poor Mina understood! All that the enemy thought was legible to her; all the misery that keen perceptions can some- times 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- 1ng to change her mood. She found Cecily in a melancholy so sympathetic as to in- vite an immediate outpouring of the heart Ceclly was beautiful that evening in her black frock, with Yer fair hair, her pale face and her eyes tull of tragedy. She had been writing, it appeared; ink and paper were on the table. She was very quiet, but, Mina thought, with the stiliness that fol- lows a storm. Unasked, the Imp sketched the dinner party, especlally Harry's share o it. Her despalr was laced with vitriol and she avolded a kind word about any- body. ‘Those people have got ‘We've lost him. eried. Ceclly had nothing to say; she leaned back fu a slack dreariness while Mina expatiated on this doleful text. Lacking the reinforcement of discussion the stream of Mina's lamentation began to run dry. “Oh, t's no use talking,<" she end “There it is." “I'm golng back to Blent tomorrow," Ceclly, suddenly. It was no more than Mina had expected. “Yes, we may as well," she assented, dis- mally. Ceclly rose and began to walk about. Her alr caught Mina's attention again; on this, the evening before she returned to Blent, she had something of that suppressed pas- slon which had marked her manner on the night when she determined to leave It. She eame to a stand opposite Mina. ve made up my mind. From this moment, Mina, Blent is mine. Up to now I've beld it for Harry. Now it's mine (Copyright, 1900, by A Hawkins.) Synop A life hold of him. That's the enl of It," she sald I shall go back and begin everytbing there tomorrow." Mina 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 Tight; 1t'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 letter tomorrow." “On one condition? What?" “1 sald to him that he gave me Blent because 1 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 bis secret? Never! He wouldn't so much come to see me; he'd never have thought of me, he'd bave forgotten all about me, e was seeing me there. Well, seeing you anyhow.'" ‘Seelng me there—thero at Blent,” she insisted, now almost angrily. “So he'll un- derstand what I mean by the thing I've asked of bim. And he must obey." Her volce became imperious. e told him that I'm golng back, going to stay there, And live there, but that he must never, never come there. Mina started, her eyes wide open In sur- prise at this herolc measure. ever see him! Never have him at Blent!" Mina was trylug to sort out the state of thinks which would result. It pretty plain what had happened; Cecily bad felt the need of doing something; here it was. Mina'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 yourselt camc home just now, saying that we were nothiug to him! Blent's nothing 1o him now. 1It's for my own sake that I've ald he mustn't come.” “'You've begged him not to come?" “I've told him not to come,” sald Ceclly haughtily. “If it's his let him. take it. If it's mine 1 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 it | see Harry there?" She paused A moment “And if you'd thrown yourselt at a man's head and he'd refused you, would you want to have him about?" “N-no,” sald Mina, but rather hesita- tingly. S0 I've ended it: I've ended overything. 1 posted my letter just before you came in and he'll get It tomorrow. And, now, Mina, I'm going back to Blent." Sha threw hor- self {nto an armchair, leaning back In & sudden weariness after the excited emotion With which she had declared her resolve. Mina sat on the other side of the table looking ut her, and after a moment's look- ing suddenly began to sob t's too miserable,”" she declared in wrathful woc. “Why couldn’t we have said Dothing ahout it and just married you? 0, 1 hate it all, because I love you both, 1 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 stralght. It he got back to Blent now by a miracle, it would be just s bad. And | believe he's fond of you.' A scornful smile was Cecily's only sufficient answer. “And you love him." Mina's sorrow wade her forget all her fear. She sald in thi dared to say. Bever have told him he musa't come to but of Blent. W W Y HOPE, Blent. But he won't understand that—and it would make no difference if he did, I suppose! O, you Tristrams!" “Yes, 1 love him," sald Ceelly 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 the attitude that Addie 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 struggling. And I watched, how 1 watched! He 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 1 walted for it. Did you ever do that, Mina ~do yon remember?"” Mina was silent; her memories gave her no such thing as that. I waited, waited. Ab, yes, 1 couldn't believe— but 1 did belleve. I thought he felt bound in honor and I hoped—yes, I hoped—he would break his word and throw away his honor. 1 saw it coming and my heart seemed to burst as 1 waited for It You'd know, if it had ever happened to you Itke that. And at last I saw he would speak—1 saw he must speak. He came and stood by me. Suddenly he cried, ‘I can't do it.' Then my heart leaped, because 1 thought he meant he couldn't marry | Janie Iver. I looked up at him and I sup- W “That | a8 to his own that he had not torn up Ceclly's letter. He remembered its general effect so well that he wanted to read the very words again, in the seoret hope that thev wonld mn and soften his memory. met and destroyed the hope he would have responded friendly had it been there. Yet what did the letter mean? He inter- preted it as Cecily had declared he would. She could not feel mistress of Blent while be was there. And indeed he had not meant to go. |told Iver that in perfect good faith would have been in bad taste for him He ki to He 1t o | think of going—or going anything like so Whence then came this new | so0on as this Iteeting of desolation and of hurt? It was partly that he was forbidden to go by another's will or sufferance. almost say with Mina and with Cecily her- self, “This is the end of it." What then of the impressions Mina bad gathered from Mr. Disney's dinner party? It can only be said that when people of fm- pressionable natures study others of like temperament they should not generalize from their conduct at . parties, In soclety diuners are eaten in dis- guise, sometimes intentional, some- times unconscious, but as a rule quite im- | It Harry had been uncenscious, | penetrable. it the mood had played the man, the de= ception was the more complete. He went to sce Lady Evenswood one day; she sent, expressing her desire for a talk before she fled to the country. She had much that was pleasant to say, much of the prospects of his success “And it you do, yow'll be able to think now that you've done it all off your own bat," she added. “You've found out my weaknesses, I see," he laughed. He found himself wishing | His own answer anything It was hard to realize that he could see Blent only He could found acceptance, or at least surrender. His mind had wandered back to that scene in the Long Gallerv and he had fallen to questioning about his own action. There was a new light on it and the new light showed him truth. “I must face it; it's not Blent,” he sald aloud It it were Blent, it was now Blent only as a scene, a frame, a background. When he pictured Blent Ceclly was there; If he thought of her elsewhere the picture of Blent van- ished. He was in love with ber, then, and what was the quality Lady Evenswood had praised in a lover’ Let him cultivate it how he would—and the culture would be dicult—yet it would not serve here. 1t he went to Blent against Cecily's com- mands and his own promise he could meet with nothing but rebuff. Yes, he was in love, and he recognized the impasse as fully as Mina herself, although with moro self-restraint. But he was glad to know the truth; it strengthened him and it freed him from a scorn of himself with which ha had become afficted. It was intolerable | that & man should be lovestck for a house; It was some solace to find that the house. in order to hold his affections, must hold & woman, too, “Now I know where I am,” sald Harry, He knew what he bad to meet now; he thought he knew how he would treat him- self. An unexpected ally came to his assist- Lance. He recelved a sudden summons from | Mr. Disney. He found him at work, rather weary and dishevelled. He turned to Harry and sald, without preface “We're going to arbitrate this Barililand question, on behalt of the company, you know, as well as ourselves. Another in- | stance of my weakness! Lord Murchison's Bolug out for us. He starts in a fortnight. He asked me to recommend him a secre- tary. And I want to have one in whose | letters I can place some trust. Will :" BRI f AUeay g “WE'RE GOING TO ARBITRATE GOING OUT FOR US. TRUST, WILL YOU GO?" ! (f’/ % { THIS BARIHLAND QUESTION," SAID DISNEY. HE ASKED ME TO RECOMMEND A SECRETARY AND I WANT ONE I CAN “LORD MURCHISON'S pose 1 said something. He caught me by | the arm. 1 thought he was going to kiss me, Mina. And then—then ho told me that | Blent was mine—not himself but Blent | ~that I was Lady Tristram and he--Harry othing,” he saild, ‘Harry Nothing-at- all 0, it you'd told him that!" cried Mina. “Tell him!" She smiled In superb lcm‘n.i “I'd dle 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.” Mina came and knelt down by her, caress- ing her hand. Cecily shivered a little and moved with a vague air of discomfort. “But I belleve he cares for you, whispered. ““He might have cared for me, perhaps. But Blent's between.’ Blent was between. The dificulty seemed Insuperable—at least where you wera deal- ing with Tristrams. Mina could not but acknowledge that. For Harry, having nothing to give, would take nothing. And Ceclly, having much, was thereby debarred from giving anything. Yet at this moment Mina could not cry, “Oh, you Tristrams!" any more. Her sor- row was too great and Ceclly too beautiful. She seemed ain to see Addle, and neither she nor anybody else could have been hard to Addle. She covered Cecily's hands with kisses as she knelt by her side. “‘Yes, this 1s the end,” sald Ceclly. “Now, Mina, for Blent and her ladyship!" She gave a bitter little laugh. “And goodby to Cousin Harry!" “Oh, Ceeily! “No; he shall never come to Blent." Mina CHAPTERpXXIV. After the End of All “My dear cousin—I shall faithtully obey your commands. Yours very truly, H. A. F. Triztram.” And velow—very formally ~"'The Lady Tristram of Blent.” To write it took him more than a mo- ment--even though he wrote first, “The commangds of the head of the house,” and destroyed that, ashamed of the sting and malice in it. To send it to the post it was the work of another moment. The third found him back at the Blinkhampton plans and elevations, Cecily's letter lying neg- lected on the table by him. After half an hour's work he stopped suddenly, reachel for the letter, tore it Into small fragments and Qung the scraps into his waste paper basket. Just about the same time Ceclly and Mina were getting into the train to return to Blent This return to Blent was epidemic; not %0 strange, perhaps, since mid-August was come and only the people stayed in town who had to. Harry met Duplay over at Blinkhampton. Duplay was to join his nlece at Merrion in about ten days, He ran aguinst Iver in the street; Iver was off to Fairholme by the afternoon frain. Mr. Neeld, he mentioned, was coming to stay with him for a couple of weeks on Friday. Even Southend, whom Harry en- countered in Whitehall, very hot and ex- hausted, cursed London and talked of a run down to Iver's Merrion—they all meant Blent. Ceclly had gone and Mina; the rest wero going there—everybody except the man who three months #go had looked to spend his life there as its master. And business will grow slack when au- tumn arrives; It is increasiugly difficult for & man to bury himself in deeds, or plans, or olevations, or calculations when every- body writes that he is taking his vacation and that the matter shall have immediate attention on his return. Harry grew ter- ribly tired of that polite formula. He wanted to bulid Blinkhampton out of hand in the months of August and September The work would have done him good sery- lce. e was seeking a narcotic. For he was In pain. It came on about a week after he had sent his curt ackuowi- edgment of Ceclly's letter, laying hold of bim, he told. himself, just because every- body was taking his holiday, and Blink- hampton would not get itself bought and s0ld and contracted for and planned and lald out and bullt. “I must take a holiday “Oh, T doubt If there's any such thing as an absolute strength or an absolute weak- ness. They're relative. What's an advan- tage In one thing is a disadvantage in an- other." “I understand,” he emiled. “My con- founded conceit may help me on in the world, but it doesn’t make me a grateful triend or a pleasant companion.” “1 belleve George Southend agrees as far s the grateful friend part of it s con- cerned. And I'm told Lord Hove does to the rest. But, then, it was only Flora Disney herself who said so.” “And what do you say?”’ *Oh, pride's tolerable in anybody, except a lover,” ehe declared. * Weell, I've known lovers too humble. I told one so once; he belleved me, went in and won.” “You gave him courage, mot pride, Mr. Tristram." ““Perhaps that's He's very likely %ot the pride by now.” He smiled at his thoughts of Bob Broadley. “And yow've settled down in the new groove?” she asked. He hesitated a moment. “Oh, nearly. Possibly there's atill a touch of the ‘Desdi- chodo' about me. His would be the only shield 1 could carry, you see.” “Stop! Well, I forgive you. You're mot often bitter about that. But you're very bitter about something, Mr. Tristram.” “I want to work, and nobody will in Au- Bus ““Oh, go down and stay at Blent. serious. You say you're proud. good way of showing good pride. stay in the very house. If you do that, 1 shall think well of you—and even better than I think now of the prospects.’ “I've not been invited." “Poor girl, she's afraid to Invite you! Write and say you're coming.” ‘She'd go away. Yes, she would. She consents to live there only on condition that I never come. She's told me 80." “I'm too old a woman to know tamily! You upset the wisdom of and I haven't time to learn new. “I'm not the least surprised. If I were in her place I should hate to have her there."” “Nonsense. In a month or two—'" “If anything's certain, it's that I never go to Blent as long as my owns 1t."” “I call it downright wicked." ““We share the crime, she and I lays down the law, I willingly obe “Willingly?” “My reason s convinced. Maybe I'm a Ifttle homesick. But your month or two will_serve the purpose there." “There's a great deal, more In this than you're telling me, Mr. Tristram." “Put everything you can imagine it and the result’s the same.” She sighed and sat for A moment in pen- sivo silence. Harry seemed to ponder, too. “I'm golng to think of nothing but my werk," he announced ‘8o many young men twenties suceeed in that mockingly. “‘What doe briska say?"’ 0, everything true. No, I'm There's & Go and your| anything shall cousin She into in their early she murmured Itttle Mine Za- that comes into her | head, 1 suppose, and very volubly.” 1 like her,” eald the old lady with em- phasts *'Is there such a thing as an absolute k- ing, Lady Evenswood. What's pleasant at ono time s abominaple at another. And I'vo known Mme. Zabriska at the other time." “You were vourselt." “I thought relatively." “There may always be a substratum of triendship,” she argued, “You'll say it's something very sub! Ah, well you're human in the end. You're absslutely for- getting Blent—and you spend your time with an old woman because she can talk to you about It! Go away and arrange your Iife, and come back and tell me all about it. And if you're discontented with life, rememter that you, 100, will reach the stage of being Just told about it some day." probably at the other time we ‘should agree about the myself,” sald Harry, In a moment of seem- Ing inspiration. Where, where, where? He moment what she had never before | suffered under the sensation of having no- | ever honest with himself. 0, ot course you do, or you'd ! where whither he would naturally go—no |a litle while after this e ‘hoflu, no place to which he could return Things will come home to a man at last, strive he ever so desperately against them ~Iif the things are true and It was one night, onversation, that truth came to Harry Tristram and [ the ages | the man you go? Here help In avoiding Cecily. But what about Blinkhampton? Harry hesi- tated a moment, “I should like it, but I've contracted cer- tain obligations of a business kind at home,” he sald. “Well, It you're bound keep your word and do the work. It you find you're not, I should advise you to take this. It's a good beginning. This s Tuesday. Tell me on Saturday. Goodby.” He rang & hand bell on the table and, as his secretary entered, sald, “The Canadian papers, please. “I'm very gra‘eful to you, anyhow. “That's all right, Tristram. Goodby." There was no doubt what would be the practical way of showing gratitude. Harry went out. He left Mr. Disney's presence determined to accept the offer if Iver could spare his services for the time. He went home and wrote to Iver; the let- ter weighed all considerations save the one which really weighed with him; he put himself fairly in Iver's hands, but did not conceal his own wish; he knew that if Iver were against the idea on solid business ground he would not be affected by Harry's personal preference. But the business reasons when examined did not seem very serfous and Harry thought that he would get leave to go. He rose from his writing with a long sigh. If he received the an- swer he expected he was at the parting of the ways and he had chosen the path that led directly and finally away from Blent. An evening paper was brought to him. A tremendous headline caught his notice. “Resignation of Lord Hove! He will not arbitrate about Barillland. Will the gov- ernment break up?"' Probably not, thought Harry; and it was odd to reflect that, if Lord Hove hud got his ways Harry would have lost his herolc remedy. So great things and small touch and interest one another. It was his last struggle; he had no doubt that he could win, but the fight was very flerce. Impatient of his quiet rooms, he went out fnto the crowded streets At first he found himself envying everybody he passed, the cabman on fhis box, the rough young fellows es- caped from the factory, the man who #old matches and had no cares beyond food and a bed. But presently he forgot them all and walked among shadows. He was at Blent n spirit, sometimes with Addie Tristram, sometimes with Cecily. Half afraid of himself, he turned round and made for home again; he could not be sure of his self-control. But again he mastered that, and again paced the streets, now in a grim resolution to tire out mind and body so that these visions should have nothing to work on, and finding blank, un- responsive weariness, should go their ways and leave him in an insensible fatigue. The remedy worked well. At 8 o'clo he found himself very tired, very hungry. paradoxically composed. He turned into a little restaurant to dine. The place was crowded, and, rather shamefacedly (as is the national way), he sat down at a small table opposite a girl in a light blouse and @& very big hat, who was eating risotto and drinking lager beer. She assumed an air of exaggerated primness and gentility keeping her eyes down toward her plate and putting very small quantities into her mouth at a time. Glad of distraction Harry watched with amusement. At last she glanced up stealthily “A fine evening," on his chop “Very seasonable,’ mincing tone, but suddenly she broke off to exclaim in a volce and accent more natural and strenuous, “Good gracious, I've seen you before, haven't 17’ “I'm not aware that I ever honor,” sald Harry Well, I know your face, anyhow." She was looking at him and searching her mem ory. “You're not at the halls, are you?" “No, I'm not at the halls.” “Well, T do know your face. Why, I've seen your face in the papers. I shall get it In a minute, now. Don't you tell me. She studied him with determination Harry ate away in contented amusement “Yes, you're the man who—why, yes, you're Tristram!" “‘That's right. I'm Tristram' “Well, to think of that' Meeting vou! Well, 1 shall have something to tell the he sald, as he started she began, In a had the yes sirls. Why, a friend of mine wrote down to | of the way of recelving letiers or mews- | |1 wanted somebody | daresay . SEARL) Most Rellable Specialist eanes of Men. STRICTURE Cured with a new Home treatment. No pain, no detention from business URINARY: idoey and Bladder Troubles Weak Back, Burning Urin Frequency of Urinating, Urine High Col- ored or with milky sediment on standing SYPHILIS [ “iidui poison thoroughly cleansed from the system. Soon every sgn and symptom disappears completely and forever. No “BREAKING OUT' of the disease on the skin or face. 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(He had been a lord, even if he were now a builder.) You did the straight thing in the end.” “What?" asked Harry, a litle startled. “Well, some did say, as yow'd known it all along. Oh, I don't y 80. Some did Harry began to laugh. “It doesn't mat- ter, does it, it I did the straight thing in the end?” “I'm sure as I shouldn’t blame you if you had been a bit tempted. I know what that 1s. Well, sir, I'll say good evening.” Good evening, miss, and thank you very much," said Harry, rising as she rose. His manner had its old touch of lordliness. His friends criticised that sometimes; this young lady evidently approved. “You've no cause to thank me, with an admiring look “Yes, I have. As it happened, I believe to remind me that I had done the straight thing in the end, and I'm much obliged to you fof doing it.” “Well, I shall have something to tell the girls!"” she sald again in wondering tones, as she nodded to him and turned slowly away. Harry was comforted. The stress of his pain was past. He sat on over his simple meal In a leisurely, comfortable fashion. He gained his rooms. A letter lay walit- ing for him on the table. He opened it and found that it was from Mina Zabriska “We are back re," she wrote. “I am staying at Blent till my uncle comes down. 1 must write and goodby to you. I we shall never meet again, or merely by chance. I am very unhappy about it all, but with two people like Cecily and you nothing clse could have happened 1 see that now, and I'm not going to try to interfere any more. I shan't ask you to forgive me for interfering, because you've made the results quite enough punishment for anything I did wrong. And now Cecily goes about looking just like you—hard and proud and grim; and she's hegun to move things about and alter arrangments at Blent. That's what brings it home to me most of all. (‘And to me,’ Interposed Harry, as he read). If I was the sort of woman you think me, 1 should go on writ- ing to you. But I shan't write again. 1 am going to stay at Merrion through the winter, and since you won't come here, this 18 the last of me for a long time, anyhow. 0, you Tristrams! Goodby “MINA ZABRISKA." | said Harry. “She's a | very good sort. And &ha seems about right. It's the end of everything.” He paused and looked round. “Except of ¢ rooms—and my work—and, well, life at large, you know.” He laughed in the sud- den realization of how much was left after there was an end of all—life to be lived, work to be done, enjoyments to be won. “But I don’t belle he sald to himself, slowly smiling, “that I* should ever have come to understand that or to fulfil it un- less I had—what did the girl say? done the stralght thing in the end and come out of Blent. Well, old Blent, goodby.” He crum oncluded e leaned your liv- she into the building trade,” he an- She 50 said she say “Poor little Imp! | amble excited Httl | you have Dr. SEARLES & SEARLES OMAHA, NEB. 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The colonel's pre- interest in Harry; the reaction of struggle on him; he was courteously but not keenly attentive “It is not agreeablo to me to speak of my brother to Mr. Tristram. Doubtless we should differ i we discussed his char- acter and conduct. It is not necessary.' “Is Sir Randolph Edge concerned in what to say to n asked Harry. am sorry he is. Another ern shec you, “Yes, 1 person s con to say also.’ You are, represent even a of course, aware my family? member of you ought to Tristram “One moment. that 1 no longer Legally, I'm not ft. It is possible that address yourself to Lady cousin—or to her lawyers. “I bLave to speak to you. of Comte @’Albreville Mr. Tristram?" “Yes, I've heard meeting her in Paris.' ‘You are aware that later—after he parted from Lady Tristram—my brother went to Russia, where he had business in- terests?" “I bave very good reason to know that." Harry smiled at Mr. Neeld, who had ap- parently got all he could out of his papers and was sitting quiet and upright in an cager attention “What I am about to say is known, I be- love, to myself alone—and to Neeld here, to whom I told it tonight While my brother was In Russia he d by the comtesse. She pald him a visit—secretly, 1 need hardly add She passed under the namo of Mme. Valfier and resided in the house adjoining Randolph's When he tell 11l he had just completed the sale of one of his Russian properties. She was a brilliant woman he died, by the way, two or three years but extravagant and fond of money preyailed on my brother the price of this property as im was consider- able—about Harry possible | Is known the name to my mother epeak of was Joir uko her The to promise n gift od. Hor t on the r no seemed to be some pled up Mina's letter and flung It into the grate The maid servant opened the door. gentlemen to see you, sir," she safd 0, say I'm busy—'" he began “We must please,” insisted Mr. Jenkinson Neeld with unusual firmness. Hi turned to the man with him, saving: “‘Here is Mr. Tristram, Colonel Edge.” CHAPTER XXV There's the Lady There was nothing very remarkable about Colonel Wilmot Edge. He slightly built, trim man, but his trimness was not distinetively military. Ho might been anything save that just now the tan on his face witnessed to an out-of-door | life. His manner wag cold, his method of | speech lelsurely and method) At first | sight Harry saw nothing in him to modity | the belief in which he had wn #p that the Edges was an race unable to appreciate Tristr worthy with them. 1 colonel rather grudgingly turned Neeld for of the visit Neeld had fussed himself into a ready and had drawn sheets of paper covered with typewriting from his pocket He spread them out, smoothed them down cleared his throat and answered Harry's look by a glance Edge. Mr, Neeld was in a fidget, a fidget of importance and ex pectancy “You “that “Two see you was a much less to ms, the | and an explanation | to mate chalr 1 Mr seat al will no or know," sald ary matter call on you, Mr. Tristram, sider this Interview purely business kind. 1 have just Fdge gravely has led me You must con- | as of returned to | England. For two months I have been out | i sons for the inter View This a certain day tlon Imparted comtesse her money was to be paid 1 speak now to elf. ecrecy In gold—on from informa subscquently by the was given under a promis. which 1 have kept hitherto, but now find myself compelled in honesty to break here can duty, Edge,” Mr I think none. My {llness discussed the with the te The in P burg. He could not hope to be well ¢ to go there. At ugkestion a paper, authorizing pay her or to an ag money being this naturally She It n be no question of what | Neeld put in brather matter during his e money was payable ers nough her he nt tc ade to nt appointed by her. The destined for her ultimately, eemed the best arrangement and end for it fact the ti ame Quite s he and 1t bankbaok mey or a went | a1l would be settled tion would Randolph ted given t not of Harr welght was but It is then M warse SUgE con 100, erial. T session very ma was in poi of this authorit brother's | briet ness toc he before the day he presented the ed Harry ame on wl authority And got the 1l the money precisely the cour she sented Colonel Edge Harry took a walk room and returned to the “I'm sensible of coming here today,” he a up and wn arthrug your kindness Iu said, “and your the very without cutting COGKROAGHES, “ATS, M'GE ard all other vermin eat Stearns’ Electric Rat and Roach Paste my | you, igned | person when | ich the | Debility and all Reflex Complications cases and Weaknesses VARICOCELE its result rvous Debllity—and are you you lack your old-time energy and ambition? There 18 a derangement of the sensie even though it gives you no trouble at pres- it mind, rack your nervous system, une existence. Why not be cured before It is CURED. We have vet to see the case of You 1sands of cases whero the ordinary physielan Electric Delts, ete., will never cure. pain or loss of time, onsultation Free, Treatment by mail, Call or nddress 110 8. 14th 8¢, HRS. SEARLES & SEARLES, OMAMA, WATER BUGS, CROTON BUGS, s one ingredient dries up their It has been in general use in houses, stores, hotels, factories, offices, public buildings, etc., for 25 yrs. 25 cents a box at Drugglsts and Grocers or sent direct prepatd. STEARNS’ ELECTRIC PASTE CO. Chicago, Dr, Burkhart's Wonderful Offer IPOUND. suffering Are you from tired, langutad feeling? If %0, you are in need of Dr. Burkhart's Vegetable Compound, the most fumous spring and summer medicine, re- nouned throughout the universe as a great | blood medicine DR. W. §. BURKHART, Cincinnati, 0. conduct is that of a man of honor. But at this point I'll stop you, please. I'm aware that prima facle the law would pronounce me to be Sir Randolph's son. That has al ways been disclaimed on our side and could casily be disproved on yours. I have noth- ing to do with Sir Randolph Edge or his property. The colonel lstened unmoved. “In any case you would have nothing to do with my brother's property,” he ri marked. “He left a will by which I constituted sole legatee.'" “Then if sho robbed anybody she robbed you? “Certainly; and three years came nd told me so." “Then how in the world does it concern me?" cried Harry impatiently. “You put your finger on the spot, Mr. Tristram, but you took it off again. You | said presented the authority all the later she , yes. The authority would he re- voked by his death. At least 1 suppo there's no question of that. Did she get at them before they heard of the death?" This money was payable on June 22— the 10th as 1t's reckoned In Russia—but we needn’t trouble about that. As you and Neeld are both aware, on the 15th my brother fell into a collapse which was mis- taken for death the 18th ferring to the p ing Josial Mme. do Kries ‘From that “Yes, * murmured Neeld, r per before him, and read- Iderton’s account of what had told him at Heldelberg ttack he rallied temporari), but not until his death had been reported. I am not the man to forget that circume ane id Harry. The report of his death was, of course, contradicted immediately. The doctor at tending him saw to that Naturally; and I suppose the comterse would see to it, too." | { | " ““And the only importance that the acour- rence of the 18th has for us at present is according to the comtesse's story, it to the doctor the course which his prompting, as ehe declared, and with his nonivance, afterward My brother, having rallled from collapse, kept up the fght a little 1t was, however, plain to the could Itve but & very short this. My brother condition to transact busines Incapable of ecuring to her amy by testamentary disposition, even had wished to de Her only chance was the mone tor the property. This she W her w with the doctor's help, ¢ \though my brother should de before 1t fell due, and the authority she held should thereby lose its legal validity, ou mean thut they determined to carry a frav necossary? “precis 1 must remind you that my brother unothing of this. He was al- together understanding anything about it In y briet now, but [ am still i that vou should fully understand, | Al that 1'm saying to you s beyond ques- | tion and can be proved at any time by tak. | Ing evidence on the spot; it s easily avafle able.” i that suggested she, o cortainly adopted. | his first while | doetor Ime longer that Thie not in ¢ he mtosso knew and was benefit £ he ven (To Be Coutinued.) A