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ecreic r Try lYOlOUS of i r A ee airs UIEEIH copraam bh EOBB5-MERRILL GCMPAKY SYNOPSIS. Jo Codman and her sister, Loulie, are left orphans. Their property has been rwept away with the death of their fa jher and they are compelled to cast about lor some means to earn a living. Lou Je answers an advertisement of an lnva id who wants a companion. She declines ihe position. Loulie advertises for a po rtion as companion, and Mrs. Hazard replies. She offers Loulie a position as jer "secretary of frivolous affairs." Her shlef work Is to steer Mrs. Hazard's son ind daughter in the right matrimonial ath. Loulie talks baseball to Hap Haz ird and also gains the confidence of Lau ra Hazard. The Duo de Trouville is be leved to be Interested in Laura. Mrs. Hazard gives a big reception and Loulie sieets many people high in the social world. Natalie Agazzlz, to whom Hap las been paying attention, loses an em rald bracelet during the reception. She declares there is not another like it in pie world. It develops that Natalie has lost several pieces of Jewelry under sim ilar circumstances. CHAPTER Vll-Contlnued. "He went for a glass of water any how," I told her. "If Miss Agazzlz , thinks her bracelet was stolen while the was on the balcony, why ?" "Oh, t' clever lawyer could twist you all up on that, dear. If It's a point to prove he didn't take the bracelet. Thieves are usually prestl fligitators, anyhow." "What does your mother think of It?" I asked. "She thinks it's all absurd and that Natalie Is Just careless. Things do get lost sometimes. Natalie has so many bracelets on that arm she doesn't know when she loses one until she gets home and counts them. You know my mother isn't anxious to see me marry Wiuthrop; she doesn't think we'd gee one bit, on account of his always wanting to mope in a garden while I always want to flutter' about at teas and things; but she doesn't believe he's a thief." "It's quite ridiculous," I agreed. A little silence fell between us while Laura aimlessly stirred her chocolate and I took off my hat, sticking the pins back and forth into it, and that isn't conducive to the general health of spring headgear. I was thinking of that simple life Jo and I had been leading with no jewels to bother about; where the days were full to the brim of things to work out, and learn, and do. What a tidy little life it was, to be sure; tidy and comfortable and dear. "But I wish I knew," I said at last, "whether Miss Agazzlz really lost her bracelet or not." "Oh, I know she did," Laura as sured me. "Don't you worry; nothing ever came of those other lost brace lets, except bother with newspaper men and raising a still unanswered question with the insurance company. But if anybody makes it uncomfort able for Winthrop, I'll marry him whether he asks me or not. Then John will have to fight for me; and I'm sorry for any one else suspected if John takes it up." "Meaning me?" I smiled. "Goodness, no! She lost those oth er bracelets before you appeared on the Bcene." "Then His Grace ?" My heart be gan to thump as I put the question. "No, he wasn't there either. Oiir evidence, dear, if we admit the brace let was stolen, Is all against Win throp. Foolish, isn't It?" CHAPTER VIII. A Question Concerning His Grace. We had closed the subject and dis posed of it when a servant brought me a note. The handwriting was not familiar to me and I begun to cogitate about it with no Jo to hustle me. I even held It out before Laura in my efforts to guess. "Why, it's from Hap?" she ex claimed, seeing; she couldn't help it. I opened It, noting the handwriting again before I read the actual words. A woman takes a curious interest In a man's handwriting. She deduces from it, just what, it's hard to 6ay, but it usually makes or changes an opinion. "Don't blush, dear," Laura remarked cold-bloodedly as I began to read. I know I did blush then. "Am I blushing?" I asked, with wide-eyed innocence. ! "I don't see why. He merely wants me to go to the ball game." - "I hope you're going," she declared. Suddenly she turned upon me. "Loulie, I wish you'd marry Hap." I put my hand over her mouth, profoundly shocked. "Gracious!" I ejaculated. "You're so so Budden! If you don't quit ' saying your thoughts out loud in that awful way I'll I'll refuse to speak to you." "That for Natalie!" she said and ,she snapped her fingers cheerfully. "Hap's crazy." I wasn't so sure about Hap being crazy, but then Laura hadn't read the letter. I intended to show it to Mrs. i Hazard if I didn't lose my nerve, just to see If ehe thought I was getting i on the right track. - - We seemed destined to make a day ,of that lost bracelet of Natalie's, for . tTb'j f n1 I were Retting into the '.br. mm. vi MAY! Iflustratlons Ay V.L.EARNE5 limousine drew up at the curb and Natalie alighted. "Good morning," she drawled. "Won't you come back for a moment? I have something most Important to say." i didn't want to contradict her by saying "good afternoon," so I bowed and got out. Hap followed reluctant ly. He wanted to see the practice be fore the game. Natalie kept us in suspense until Mrs. Hazard and Laura came down, and as Laura had to dress and didn't hurry at that she appeared about the time the lat practice gong was sound ing at the ball grounds. "I suppose reporters ' were here this morning?" Natalie asked finally. "Yes," answered Mrs. Hazard.. "I saw them. It's the only way to get rid of them, but I said nothing. I sent them to you." "Thanks," she cooed with exasperat ing slowness. "I saw them." Hap began to glare through a win dow as Natalie seemed to be reflect ing what further to say, and I shiv ered with pure nervousness. "I told them, she said at last, "that the bracelet was unmistakably lost; also that I hadn't the slightest idea where I lost it. It seemed the only thing to do." "Then you really don't believe you lost it?" asked Laura. "My dear girl, it really doesn't mat ter what I think. It was the only thing to do and I did it. I might add that I had to be questioned this morn ing by a big, boorish policeman who asked me all sorts of impertinent things I didn't care to answer. I'd rather lose fifty bracelets than have to talk to him again." Hap moved In the direction of the door, and winked at me to follow, but I sat still, not knowing Just what to do. "It's hardly fair to insinuate, Na talie," Laura said. "If you think you've been robbed you ought to say so and find out who robbed you." "O-o-o-oh! The police!" Natalie gasped. "I can't find out who robbed me without answering a lot of dread ful questions, in which case I'd rather not know. I insisted that I lost the bracelet at the Abercrombies and the one at Mrs. Loring's because I didn't choose to answer them, and this must be lost, too. Otherwise, it might be awkward for Miss Codman. We must insist that the bracelet is lost." I looked at Mrs. Hazard, wondering if the implication was more or less than appeared on the surface of Na talie's speech. Laura put a protecting hand on my shoulder. "I. think, Natalie" smiled Mrs. Haz ard, "that if necessary, Miss Codman can stand any awkwardness." "I think so," I managed to sav. "Oh, dear me! I'm not accusing anybody," Natalie laughed, a mere tinkle of far-away bells. "I am trying not to. The bracelet positively was lost, and I merely thought we would, all of us, have it understood that way. The newspapers are so curious, you know, and reporters so very suspic ious and so very, very wise." "But what about the insurance peo ple?" Laura asked. "Will they take "Don't Blush, Dear," Laura Remarked Cold-Bloodedly. your word that the bracelets were lost?" "I don't see but what they will have to," replied Natalie loftily. "Is that all?" asked Hap from the doorway. "Oh, yes," cooed Natalie. "Sorry to have detained you. Won't you drop in to tea about five?" "Can't promise, Natalie," Hap an swered. "Miss Codman and I are going to the ball game; might not be out then; never know when it's going to be ten innings or more." If Natalie was surprised at his re fusal she showed it only In a little flutter of her drooping lids, . "Oh, to be sure," she replied, and I know she hadn't the slightest idea what Innings are. "But bring Miss Codman with you." bowed in acknowledgment of a cordial invitation. - She arose to go as we did and that delayed us more, for her adieu was languid, but when she and I reached the sidewalk the gray car's: engine was 6nortlng like mad, blowing off some of its owner's tem per. Hap assisted Natalie into the limou sine while I climbed into the gray car unaided. It was an awkward situa tion, and for the life of me I didn't know why. Just as Hap was-letting off the. -emergency, Natalie leaned from the limousine. "Are you going to the Sargent mu slcale tomorrow?" 6he asked me. "I don't think bo," I answered. "I don't go anywhere unless it's neces sary." "Oh, forgive me!" she begged, and the footman closed the door. Hap exploded as the limousine moved away, and I was awfully angry. She knew I was not going to the mu sicale. The cat! "I wonder if I ought to apologize for her?" Hap wanted to know. He gave the throttle a yank, and I was so angry I didn't care, if the old engine burst. "Are you engaged to her?" I asked. "I am not," he replied. "Oh!" I tried to put a world of meaning into It. "I have no "wish to be de trep." "You are not de trop," he replied. "Who told you I was engaged to, her?" "No one," I admitted; "but Bhe gave me the impression just then." , He jerked on his gloves and we started. We were both terribly seri ous, tragic even you see, we were both young in spite of. the perfec tion of the early summer's day, the green grass, the bright sun; and I was sure birds were singing in the trees if we could only have heard them above the hum of the engine. "May I laugh?" I asked suddenly. "It seems to be the only thing to do." i "You may laugh or swear, just as you prefer!" We both shrieked; as I said, we were both very young. "Pshaw; what's the use?" he asked. "The world is young yet and the ball game only commencing. Well, I gues every man has to make a fool of himself once over an older woman. I am cured. Will you forgive me?" "Forgive you?" I echoed. "Why, I don't eee what I have to do with it." "No? I thought perhaps you would." I didn't answer. I know when a man is trying to make love to me even when I pretend I don't. I didn't an swer because I was afraid' of getting beyond my depth. I wasn't sure just how far I was to go with him before I snapped it off; and there was that look In his eyes again that I wasn't able , to take care of. When I came home after the most wonderful game of baseball I had ever witnessed and the score was awful at that, fourteen to nine I found a telephone call from Jo. I rang her up. "I've been thinking of that lost bracelet and the duke," Bhe said. "Do you remember the Due d'Aubigny, who went to jail for jewel robberies the first year we were in Paris?" "Can't remember, Jo." "Well, I do now. I don't see how I forgot him. He was about the clever est thief the nobility ever produced. His methods were simple. He Just took things; a jewel simply disap peared. His victims were rich Ameri cans principally, who were bo highly flattered by his society that they didn't dare expose him." , I held on to the receiver as if I feared she would run away before 6he finished, .and my heart was thumping so I had to moisten my Hps to frame my question. "He went to Jail, did you say, Jo?" "Yes, finally. I don't remember for how long, but that was four years ago." "But the name? Of course even a duke can change his name, but how about the Almanach de Gotha and an cestors back to the eleventh century? Did you ever see him?" I was all a tremble anft It seemed a year before she answered. "Yes, at the races at Auteuil. Phil Dempsey pointed him out to me. It was hardly a month later that he was arrested." "What what did he look like?" "Tall and fair, with a saber cut across his cheek." "No, dear," I answered. "This duke 13 small and dark, and I think perhaps the nearest he ever got to a saber was in the audience at a romantic play." i She laughed and said good-by, and I hung up the receiver with a vague sense of disappointment. CHAPTER IX. At Lone Oak. A month later I looked out upon Lone Oak, the Hazard's country place, and the lone oak tree which gave the place its name, and I found it good. From my windows I could see beyond the wide expanse of closely-cropped lawn a miniature forest of native firs, and through the tops of these, a glimpse of the sea, with its white sails of boats; and the tang of salt air was always in one's nostrils. Below me was a succession of terraces, some what Italian, brilliant with flowers, all rowed out so nicely and precisely they looked Dutch; and the house, covered with climbing roses, was Eng lish; but something about the ensem ble was so distinctly American itl didn't jar one bit. My rooms were in a wing of the houee which had been built on, Laura told me, when her father needed a larger gallery for the paintings he had collected than was afforded by the the southwest breeze the family had promptly taken Dossession. Mrs. Haz. ard was next to me this time with a small corridor be 'ween while Laura was at one corner, Hap at the other. on the lap back, then John Crownin shield; and Natalie, who was to be with us all summer, was almost op posite me. Laura took me on a tour of inspec tion through the house. It had all Borts of curious step-ups here and step-oowns there, nooks at unex pected places, where an architect's fancy, had seemed" to run riot, and. while charming, was most confusing. I couldn't always find my jway back to the wing. "May I put a smudge on the wall?" I asked Laura one day when she final ly had guided me aright. "Heavens, no!" she exclaimed. "You'll spoil the fun. It's awfully sim ple when you get used to it." She tried to show me Just how the wing Joined the house, that our floor was half a story higher on account of the picture gallery above being a story and a half, or something of the sort, and the whole business having to fit the roof line; consequently we always had to come up half-way or down half-way, , according to which floor we were on. Goodness! I know now how you do it, but I've never real ly understood bow I do do It. She led me back into the house proper and pushed open the doors to several suites, telling me who was ' to be where for the summer. We came to the end of the main hallway, and 6he wriggled an expressive forefinger. "Sh-h-h-h! This is to be the duke's," she said, for Mrs. Hazard had man aged to jerk him from the water "Are You Engaged to Her?" I Asked. much to the chagrin of the other an glers, especially Mrs. Henry Dyke man. "It's really two suites, but we hope It will look like one. I hope he won't keep the man with the gold lace stationed outside the door. I don't believe our American humor could quite stand that." We laughed and tip-toed in. I was curiously interested in the dainty blue, and white furnishings which were to be the background of a really truly duke for the summer. I passed through a succession of rooms until I came to one with an unbroken view, of the ocean. I parted the curtains and looked out. "Why, there's our wing again," I exclaimed. "My window." ' . "Now, don't you go making eyes at His Grace, Loulie," she admonished "I suppose, really, those rooms of yours should be- Natalie's, since Hap I turned my back on her, fearful of those thoughts ehe said out loud. i suppose you Know, sne con tinued to my back, "I hear that gravel on your window every' morning?" "I don't see how you could do oth erwise," I retorted. "I don't see why everybody in the neighborhood doesn't hear it." "Natalie doesn't," she laughed, "but perhaps she doesn't want to hear it, sJTTce Hap " "I suppose you know," I Interrupt ed, "that I only get up to stop the racket. He beats me every morning every morning. I've been thinking he might let me win once to encourage me, but it's a fair field and no quarter With him." "Gracious, Loulie, that's the greatest compliment he can pay you. You play awfully good tennis. I've been watching." "I thought so once," I admitted, "but I've discovered that I do everything fairly and nothing well. The trouble with me, and I'm just finding it out, is that I have generalized and not, specialized. I think Miss Agazzlz was rather cross at me for the muddle I made of her no trumps last night." "She couldn't have done any better herself. You couldn't help it If John had fifteen of a suit, and got in." "She plays a rattling good game," I defended, "and I'm sorry I have to help her lose her money." "And her future husband as well," she taunted. "Nothing of the kind." I denied. "He was never engaged to her. He told me so." "So! You're that far along." She smiled mysteriously. "We are not any far along," I smiled back cheerfully. "Really, truly, cross my heart. If you are so wise you might see that if I have designs upon anybody It Is Charlie Ayer." That was a jab. I knew it went home from the way she turned suddenly and looked at me. "You can't mean it. Loulie?" She regarded me questioningly, but I kept smiling In a vague sort of way. I had to get In that pace-making stunt "Haven't you noticed that I encoui age him?" "Yes," she replied, "and it's a shami to flirt with him. He's such a good sort and 60 deadly 6erlous. He's go ing to make some girl a good, gaddy, rattle-brained husband." "That's exactly what I think." I laughed. v "But you, dear" She paused, dis mayed. "I refuse to believe it. I want you in the family, anyhow. Be sides, Charlie is hanging around my elbow. I'll refuse to give him up." She fell bo easily into the trapl How very wise Mrs. Hazard was, to be sure. "I thought you wanted Mr. Abbott?" I said. "I haven't decided." "'It's a shame to flirt with him,'" I quoted. " 'He's such a good sort, and"' "Oh, Loulie, shut up," she laughed. "You know he hasn't a6ked me." "Well, then, we could fight for Char He," I went on. "All right, we will fight for him," she answered, "but I feel desperately sorry for Hap." . We went out through a den which, she explained to me, was . a sort of sublimated card-room where the men might play poker when the lights were out, and the rattle of chips would disturb no one. The outer door of the den opened upon a corridor abutting the wing with steps leading down to our floor and up to the pic ture gallery. We went up. I was amazed at the size of the gal lery and the number of pictures It contained. Men were upon ladders removing the winter coverings and revealing old masters. I felt as if I had stepped into a corner of the Louvre, or come upon a slice of the National Gallery. "Why, I never quite comprehended this!" I said to Laura. "Have the newspapers.ever had anything to say about this?" "Qh, yes," she replied, "but there's nothing actually remarkable here, just good things. Some are unknown, some are even disputed, although my father wanted them and bought them. This Velasquez, for instance; looks bad enough to be real, doesn't It? Father always said it wasn't and be lieved It was. I really don't know much about pictures." "I wonder your mother dare leave these things here In the country with only a caretaker," I remarked. "Oh, there's no possible danger. she replied, "except from fire, and ol course they're heavily insured. Jen kins carries an arsenal around with him and wouldn't hesitate to shoot if any one looked suspicious. The na tives here don't believe that about the value." "But thieves?" I suggested. "Art thieves? Perhaps you'd never know it until you came back in the sum mer." "We did worry once, but It's been so long ago now. Of course, since father died the fame of these pictures has rather died, too. They are Just here to his memory. Isn't that Greuze a beauty? It always distresses me to think that such an artist starved in a garret." We made only a cursory tour, of the gallery, for many Df the pictures were still covered and I could come back again as often as I wished Laura wanted me to see Winthrop's farm, anyhow. Another week and my peaceful rest in the bosom of the fam- ily would be over. Mrs. Hazard would assemble her cabinet, and I was secretary of Frivolous Affairs. I'd commence on the polish, the stick, the doctor and the adjustable peg, with only time between stunts to change my clothes. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Bitterness In an Epitaph. Mason and Dixon's line Is fast bee-owing a memory, but here and there are to bo found evidences of the once bitter hatred which prevailed in the days of the Civil war. George W. Kerdolff, who before en tering the insurance business spent much time in the south, tells this story of an epitaph rudely carved on a block of sandstone yet to be seen in a Louisiana parish: When the slogan of the south was "On to Washington," and the youth of the Confederacy had shouldered their muskets for the front, leaving only the older folks and women and chil dren at home, a band of Union sol diers came into Louisiana. Sighting the enemy, the aged men,' assisted by the women, gathered together their scant supply of firearms and planned resistance. As the Federal forces came up a narrow lanethe southern ers opened fire with such deadly effect that the invaders retreated, leaving one of their number dead upon the field of battle. ... The victors burled the fallen foe, and over his grave, to this day, one may read the roughly chiseled epi taph: "The Yankee bands with bloody hands came southward to divide our lands. This lonely and deserted spot is all this old Yankee got." Kan sas City Journal. Hints to Brides. If a wife or prospective bride wishes to have a happy married life, 6he may rest assured that her desires will b gratified if she bears in mind th following "don'ts:" Don't marry a man for a living, but for love. Don't overdress, or the re verse. Common sense is better than style. Never, when married, get th Idea that the way to run a house la to run away from it, or that it is right to lecture your "neighbors on how tc bring up their children, while you ar neglecting your own. Don't nag. Nothing Is so likely ta send your husband cut. of the hojs MlMnONAL SIMSOIOOL LESSON (By E. O. SELLERS, Director of Even ing Department, The Moody Bible In stitute of Chicago.) LESSON FOR JUNE 1. JOSEPH TESTS HIS BRETHREN. LESSON lEXT-Gen. 44:4-17. GOLDEN TEXT-"Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.'' James 5:16, R. V. Last week we beheld Joseph gazing: for the first time upon his brothers. While we witnessed his joy, at the same time we noted another Btrong trait of character, viz., that of self restraint In that lesson we studied briefly the fear and the suspicion of the guilty brothers and at the close we left them with feigned merriment (for their hearts were at unrest) seek- ing to put on a bold front, if perchance their fears were groundless. It was doubtless Joseph's plan to retain pos session of his brother Benjamin and let the others go (v. 2). In his present joy and love for his brother Joseph seems to have forgotten for a moment the aged father. Gladness Shattered. "As soon as the morning was light,"1 the very earliest possible moment, the brothers departed, and who can say but that it was with a sense of relief that they were once more well out of the city and on the road homeward? I. The Plotting, vv. 4-13. However, all of their gladness' and exultation was shattered swiftly and suddenly when Joseph's steward overtook them and charged them not only with In gratitude, but worse Btlll of purloining the cup of Joseph, who was "even as Pharaoh" (v. 18). It is easy for is to picture the consternation that filled them when after their protested Inno cence the cup was discovered in Ben jamin's sack, and with what shame and fear they must have retraced their steps. We cannot read into this story any Idea that the brothers had any knowledge of the cup being In Benjamin's sack, and therefore they must have considered - him, upon cir cumstantial evidence, as being guilty, and having made such a strong pro testation (v. 9) that they were in volved in his guilt. They were, there fore, in a place of great danger and difficulty. Involved In Web. Again, as last week, we do net blink at Joseph's deception and we need to- remember that divination (vv. 5, 14) was later strictly forbidden in the law, Deut. 18:10-12. It is prob able, however, that Joseph . did not practice that art. The profuse self defense of these brothers (v. 8) in em phasizing their honesty may, in the light of their history, be questioned The return of the money was more to avoid trouble than because j of con scientious scruples. A proper regard for the events of their former visit ought to have cautioned them against undue protestations or any thought less promises in thi3 instance. As it was, they involved themselves in a. web from which they were unable to . extricate themselves. Of course the steward knew of their Innocence, but notice how he prolongs their anxiety by beginning with the eldest and going through each sack, till he reaches that of Benjamin (v. 12). Now it was their turn to rend their clothes (y. 13); deception has. been practiced upon them even as they had practiced it upon Jacob. II. Pleading, vv. 14-17, and the bal ance of the chapter. Whether or not Joseph foresaw the result of his plan,, a remarkable thing happened. Though, in all probability these men Judged Benjamin guilty yet they at once de cided to stand by him, both for his- own and for Jacob's sake. They there by revealed the fact that a change had taken place or. else was beginning to work itself out in their lives. Joseph, was waiting for them as though in the 'main he had all the details worked out In his own mind. Yesterday feasting: and making merry, today with abject, servile fear they are on their faces, before Joseph protesting their inno cence and through the mouth of Judah. pleading for Benjamin. We need to remember that it was Judah who sav ed the life of Joseph by advising his sale Into slavery, and it was Judah who undertook to be responsible for Benjamin when they began this pres ent Journey. This is not the last time they were on their faces before Jo seph (50:18), even bo the day of con fession before our Joseph is coming, Phil, 2:10, 11. They are called upon to give an account of their deeds, even -bo must we give an account of our stewardship and of our acts, 2 Cor 5:10. Judah's plea is a fine bit of logic and an appeal to compassion. His, words indicate tLut he knew that all of the difficulties were the outcome of' their own sin, vv. 16, 29 and 42:21, 28. God always finds out our iniquities but blessed is that man whose sin ia covered by the "robe of his righteous ness." This new attitude 6f these. men as voiced by Judah is a remark able Illustration of what the grace of God can do in the character of a man. Judah's sin, chapter 38, is a' type or that danger ever present to God's, children. One ought to study this entire chap ter in order properly to teach this les son. "The story is one that is full of dramatic power, but do not- let the telling of it beso vivid as to exclude the fundamental lesson.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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May 30, 1913, edition 1
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