A TEMPTATION.
How a Young French Girl Un
dertook a Bit of Diplomacy.
By GWENDOLEN ADAMS.
{Copyright, 13J0. by American Press Asso
ciation.)
A ball was It) progress at the Aus
trian embassy in Paris. The host ap
proached one of his guests. Mile. Ellse
de Guillemette. a girl of twenty, offer
ed her his arm and led her to a seclud
ed spot.
"Mademoiselle," he snIJ. "would you
like to improve the deplorable financial
position of your family?"
"I certainly would, your excellency."
"In my country the government
helps those of noble blood who have
lost the wherewithal to retain their
proper station. A republic does not
It Is in iny power to help you."
The ambassador paused and looked
searchingly at the girl's face as if
wondering if he dared propose what he
had in his mind. Then, with a plunge,
he continued:
"There Is a certain state paper that
has been left in the keeping of the
American minister. It is in the imme
diate care of Mr. Ilugb nildreth, the
secretary of legation. Mr. Hildreth is
a bachelor, his mother and sister do
ing the social honors of his house. It
is In my power to secure you an invi
tation to his house. Go there, find out
where he keeps this paper, secure pos
session of il without Ills knowledge
that you have done so, copy its essen
tial features, replace It, bring the copy
to me, and I will give you 500.000
francs."
"Why does your excellency select
me for this work?" asked the aston
ished girl.
"Because you are sufficiently beauti
ful and attractive to compel any man
to love you. Love is the key we diplo
mats use to unlock state secrets."
Mile, de Guillemette was as pure a
girl as ever lived, but she was young,
•ind the wily Austrian used a process
of devil reasoning which, with n cer
tain fascination such a work had for
her, secured her to his purpose. He
Introduced Hugh Hlldreth to her, who
spent the rest of the evening In her
company, and the next day she receiv
ed from his mother a formal invitation
to visit at her son's country seat.
The Austrian ambassador gave her
certain data by which she would
"1 HAVE BEEN BEHIND THAT CURTAIN."
know it, the most important of whieh
was that it related to the "open door"
in China. Mile, de Guillemette was
received with every attention by her
hosts, and young Ilildretb was from
the first devoted to her. Indeed, so
kind were they all that she found It
Impossible to attempt to extort the
secret for which she had come.
Furthermore, she had neither that
cold, conscienceless nature required for
such a work nor diplomatic experience
to enable her to bring It to a success
ful termination. She felt that any
■word uttered with a view to lead up
to the subject of the state paper would
result In a detection of her object.
The result was that she spent a week
with the Hlldreths without having
made the slightest progress and an
nounced that she would leave the next
day.
But Mr. and Mrs. Hlldreth, Instruct
ed by Hugh, would not consent to her
departure. The poor girl would have
been glad to remain, but away from
the malign influence of her employer
the fact that she had come for a dis
honorable purpose oppressed her, and
she wished to wash her hands of
what she had undertaken. But so
pressing was the Invitation to remain
longer that she consented.
The same evening Hugh Ilildreth
led her Into his library anil fell to
asking her questions us to her family.
She told him what they had been be
fore the revolution—how her mother
had struggled to maintain at least a
respectable position and how she
longed to assist her mother, but was
powerless. Then Illldreth began to
talk of himself and Ids aspirations In
public life. Shame at the contempt
ible work she had come to his house
to accomplish prompted her to avert
her gaze and cast her eyes upon the
floor.
Her host turned the subject to liter
ature. For awhile he discussed books
and their authors. Then, going to one
of the shelves that lined the room, he
showed her a book that he said he
oeslrec especially she should read.
Then after a trifle moro of conversa
tion he left her and went upstairs.
As soon as he had gone she took
the book he had referred to from the
shelf and, sitting down With It, began
to read. It Interested her, and she
continued her perusal of It for some
time. Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Ilil
dretli bid her good night as they went
up to bed, and slie was left nlone.
Between the leaves of the volume
she read was a bit of paper evidently
Intended for a temporary bookmark.
Something was written on the paper
in pencil, and a natural curiosity
prompted her to read it. The words
were, "Behind volume 2, 'Racine.'"
The words seemed to mean some
thing. She went to the shelves, found
the works of Kacine and removed the
second volume. Passing her finger
along the wall behind where it had
Btood, she encountered a raised but
ton. Removing several more books
that stood beside the first, she saw
what she had felt—something that
looked like the button of an electric
bell. She was tempted to press it, but
dared not. fearing to ring.
While thinking it occurred to her
that this might be the entrance to a
secret space for keeping valuables—
perhaps state papers. Might not the
paper she hnd found in the volume be
a memorandum of where the cham
ber lay. Doubtless Hlldreth had In
advertently used the slip as a book
mark and forgotten to remove it.
Moved by curiosity alone, she nerved
herself to press the button. The door
of a little safe a few inches square
flew open. Within lay a paper. She
took It out and read there in pencil
on the outside, "The open door."
What she had come to do and had
not tried to do had been done for her.
Here was tlie document she required.
Ou a desk in the same room were pen.
Ink and paper. She alone of the fam
ily remained below. She might take
the paper to the desk, copy its essen
tial points, which was all her employer
required, replace it, put everything
back as she found it.and who would
be the wiser?
Another plan suggested Itself to her.
She might take the paper to her room,
copy It, steal downstairs, put it bark
in the safe and replace the books be
fore it.
Mile, de Guiilemette stood with the
I>aper in her hand, thinking of the
000,000 francs that she could gain by
taking a copy of Its contents to the
Austrian ambassador. With the money
she could place her family at least be
yond want. Her employer had told
her that such were the methods In
vogue among European diplomats; that
he would not scruple himself to obtain
the document surreptitiously; that she
would be unwise to let pass such a
means of re-establishing her family.
Then she thought of the Ilildreths—
mother, daughter, son. They had with
true American warmth taken her to
their hearts. They had pitied her for
the position she occupied of one born
to a station she could not support.
Hugh had that very eveniug told her
of his ambition. That ambition she
would shatter by stealing the contents
of an Important paper which had been
intrusted to his care. He would never
be forgiven for the leak, for he would
be considered either a fool or a knave.
She thrust the document back into
the safe, closed the door, replaced the
books before it and. taking up the
volume that had been recommended to
her, sat down all of a tremor.
"How do you like It?" said a voice
behind her.
Turning, she saw Hugh nildreth ad
vancing.
"Something is wrong with you," he
said sympathetically.
She burst Into convulsive sobbing.
"Tell me your trouble, little girl," he
added, drawing a chair up before* her.
"I am not fit to he In the home of
such kind people. Please send me
away!"
"On the contrary, yon have achieved
that which I have never achieved—
you have resisted a terrible tempta
tion. I myself ha% e been tempted and
usually succumbed. And mine was not
half the strain you have borne."
She looked at him through her tears
In astonishment. "How do you know
that I have been tempted?" she asked.
"That Austrian's methods I know
well. He would give millions for the
contents of the document you have
Just handled."
"You saw me!" She was trembling
from bead to foot
"Yes; I laid a trap for you. When
the Austrian introduced me I knew he
had a motive. I saw at once that you
were not the girl for such work, and
when you were going away without
even an attempt I determined to put
you to a severe test. I wished to see
how you would act with the object In
your hands for which you had come.
I called your attention to the volume
I wished you to read aud purposely
left a guide in It to my safe aud left
the safe unlocked. Then I went up
stairs by the main staircase and came
down by a rear one. I have been be
hind that curtain, where I could see
and not be seen. I have witnessed
your temptation and your triumph."
"You mean my degradation at hav
ing listened to such a temptation."
"Not at all. That Austrian fiend
could start an angel on a downward
course. You are excusable for the
starting and to be commended for the
ending. I confess 1 have been uuder
the rack myself lest you should yield
If you had yielded it would have
broken my heart and I should have
regretted tempting you. As It Is, I re
joice that I did."
The De Gulllemettes, at least that
branch of tho family consisting of
Mile. Ellse de Guillemette and her
mother, were benefited some time after
this occurretiee by a marriage between
Mile. Ellse de Guillemette and the
wealthy American diplomat, Hugh Hil
dreth.
EDIBLE ROSE FRUIT.
Horticulturist In Berkeley, Cal., Pro
duces Mock Pineapple.
Hugo Lllenthal, u Berkeley (Cal.i
horticulturist, announces the discov
ery of an edible fruit from the cllmli
lng rose.
He declares that this fruit will In
course of time take the place of the
loganberry, to which It is allied.
Lllenthal succeeded In obtaining the
fruit by cross grafting. The fruit,
which he says Is nutritious and has a
flavor like a pineapple, may be eaten
either raw or cooked.
Jawala For Paraaoia.
Jeweled parasol handles will be the
rage this summer In London, but only
those of the well to do class will be
able to purchase the best variety. A
set of six detachable jeweled parasol
handles comes In leather cases BO con
structed that they may be screwed
Into any parasol stick. Those screw
handles are fitted with emeralds, ru
bles, topazes, diamonds and pearls and
are In much d*>uiand by Americans.
Ha Knew Better.
Mr. Budd—Life is full of contradic
tions. Mrs. Budd—And I say it Isn't.
THE GRITJFGIM
Story of How a Bill Was Collected
and a Bride Won.
By MRS. A. F. RANSOM.
(Copyright. 1910, by American Press Asso
ciation.]
"Greyson," said the Junior partner,
"I'd like to have you do some collect
ing today. This bill of Stephens' Is
a hard one. He's awful slow. If you
collect there's a percentage In It for
yon besides your salary."
At the Stephens factory Grey son
stated his errand to a man in charge
of the office below stairs
"Ifs against orders to pay «ut money
from this deslc," came the reply. "Mr.
Etephens settles all accounts. You'll
have to see htm."
"Where is he?" asked Greyson. So
far this tallied with the reports of pre
vious collectors.
"On the fifth floor. He'll probably
see you if you go up. There are the
stairs, or you can take the elevator.
Itun it for yourself."
Greyson remembered the elevator
and preferred the 6talrs. In a long
"PLEASE TBLIj MR WHERE TO FIND THE
FAUCET."
room at the top of the fourth flight a
man in a suit of brown duck was busy
among packing cases, account bbok in
hand. He was big and brawny, with a
neck like a bull and an iron gray beud
set square on a pair of fighting shoul
ders. At Greysoua step be shot a side
wise glance at him and deliberately
continued his marking. Not a word
was said until Greyson stood at his
side, a packing case between them.
"Mr. Stephens?" he asked cheerily.
"That's my name."
"I represent the Forbes company
and"—
Stephens straightened and pointed.
"There's the stairs, young man. They
lead down to the street, and your time
Is too valuable to be wasted here. I'll
pay thHt bill when I get ready."
Greyson Indicated a conspicuous sign
hanging on the front wall. "There's
some pretty good advice right there,
Mr. Stephens," he remarked pleasantly.
"Suppose you follow it—'Do It Now.'"
Stephens' heavy eyebrows drew to
gether at the bridge of his big nose
"I told you to get out!" he roared
"There's the elevator. Try that if
you're tired climbing the stairs. Get
out!"
"Perfectly willing to, Mr. Stephens
In fact, I'm in something of a hurry.
Got several other bills to collect this
morning and can't waste time on any
one of them. Just follow that bit of
advice and settle now."
The great fist came down with u
whack on the top of the packing <-;ise
"You insolent little whippersnupper"—-
his voice sounded like the roll of a
trombone—"l'm busy! Get out of this
or I'll put you out!"
"Just waiting for my cheek," Grey
son acquiesced Imperturbably, "and I'll
be happy to oblige you. Come on aud
'I)o It Now.'"
Stephens came on. Ills 230 pounds
of bone uml muscle, backed up by his
six feet throe of height, bore down on
Greyson like n freight engine on n
handcar. But before he reached liiiu,
with lists doubled up like a pair of
battering rains, Greyson sprang nim
bly upon the case. Another leap land
ed htm aquure on the shoulders of Ste
phens, legs hugging the sides, his
hands clasping the wrists of his ad
versary and holding them fast. Ste
phens jurnyed, kicked. Jerked, doubled
and tossed, but Greyson sat as secure
on his perch as a cat on the back of n
dog.
After a struggle that landed them on
the floor and bumped Stephens' nose
till It bled Greyson rose, held out a
handkerchief toward Stephens and
said: "Please tell me where to tliul
tho faucet, and I'll got the water rendy
for you to wash up. You can't write
checks with those bands, and my time
Is limited."
"Can't, bey?" retorted Stephens, fish
lng In his pockets. Thou while one
hand held b.s uose lie produced check
book and pen from somewhere beneath
the duck jacket. In a moment he tore
the slip free and passed it to Greyaon.
"Take that and clear out," he order
ed. "Tell your firm to duplicate the
last order and hurry It up."
Greyson glanced at tho check before
folding It. It was double the amount
of the bill. So Stephens had taken to
paying cash for his orders. He
chuckled.
"We'll bare the goods over tomor
row," he said. "Many thanks for your
kindness, Mr. Stephens, and good
morning."
On the stairs he took off his coat
and shook It; then he tried to mold his
derby Into something resembling a hat.
The junldr partner looked up in sur
prise as a scratched, dirty hand held
a dirty check before him.
"What In thunder you been doing?"
he exclaimed. "Where you been?"
"Collecting," returned Greyson
"There's Stephens' check, tie wants
the last order duplicated. Where's
Jim? I want hitn to brush nie."
"You need It nil right," grinned the
other. "What happened? Get pitched
down the elevator shaft?"
: -Nope. llad a cushioned sent In tiio
front row. Mr. Stephens Is u gentfe
mnn." And Greyson started In the di
rection of the whisk broom.
That evening found him In the com
pany of a gray eyed girl. Usually they
met In the subway station on the way
home from work or they wandered
Into the parks with which the city had
surrounded Itself. But this evening
had been set apart as the one In which
her father was to be consulted regard
ing the all Important question, and It
was with more trepidation than he felt
when he faced the warlike Stephens
that he tinkled the electric bell of the
front door. She answered It In person,
and Greyson noted with satisfaction
that she, too, was In need of a nerve
strengthened
"Oh, George!" she cried softly.
"Father came home with his face all
bruised and blood on his clothes. He
must have been In soma terrible acci
dent, but when I mentioned It to him
he Just glared. Perhaps you better not
see him until next week."
Greyson held her at arm's length
and studied her face. Her name was
Stephens. What if— Then the ab
surdity of it struck him with full
force. John Stephens was reported a
millionaire. Ills rating could be found
In Bradstreet's. it wasn't likely that
his dnughter should be working for a
living as typewriter In a lawyer's of
flee and be the affianced of a twenty
dollar clerk Nevertheless he asked:
"What's your father's name and
business, Alice?"
She shook her head. "Ills name Is
John, but I don't know his business.
He's iu an office somewhere in the
city, but he never talks business with
me and has forbidden nie mentioning
him to auy one. Almost every one
thinks I'm au orphan. A little white
after mamma died he told me that he
wanted me to know what money was
worth und I must earn my clothes. He
said 1 must save a quarter of all 1
earned, and I've done It, but he's aw
fully queer about some things."
Greyson nodded. Her description
fitted his John Stephens to a nicety.
"Is he good to you?"
She laughed. "Hoarlng lions aren't
to be compared with him, but It's all
roar. 1 just pull the lion's paws around
me und snuggle up close."
Before Greyson rose the picture of a
man iu a duck suit sitting ou a floor
writing a check. He made a resolu
tion bom of sudden inspiration
"Where is he?" he asked. "Let me
6ee him now and have It over."
"In the room Just above this. And,
George, he wears Just such an emblem
as that ou your coat, it's a fraternal
society, lsu't it?"
Greyson nodded "Glad you told me;
it'll all help. Don't worry, little girl.
I'll win out."
In the hall she pointed upward.
"Right above us," she whispered. "He
spends every evening there, and some
times I'm with him, but tonight I'm
afraid."
The "Come" which Greyson received
in response to his knock was as ami
able as the growl of a grizzly.
"I thought I got rid of you this
morning!" he shouted, springing to his
feet. "What do you want now?"
Oreyson's spinal column stiffened,
and thite was need. He also took
care that the firelight shone strong
upon the fraternal pin he wore. "It
may be of some help," be thought as
be answered:
"I did not know I was to meet yon,
a!r. I came to see Alice Stepheus'
father."
"What for?" The words were hurled
at him.
"To ask his consent to our mar
riage. She has promised to be my
wife."
"She has. hey?" shot out to the ac
conipanlment of two heel whacks on
the floor. "How dared she make a
promise like that? Who let you in
here?"
"She admitted tne to the house. You
invited me In tills room. I believe
May she marry me?"
"Marry you"— Then he stopped
"Alice. Alice!" he roared in Ills deep
est trombone tones.
Slie came running In with a quick
ness which told of listening outsk! >
the door. Her father looked Into her
face: at Greyson, standing straipiu
and stiff before him. Then he broke
silence with:
"Alice, this scoundrel came Into m.v
office this morning, refused to leave
when I ordered, assaulted me, punched
my nose until It bled, sat upon me.
compelled me to do something I swore
I never would do and now has the uu
spenkable gall to ask me to let you
marry him. What do you think of It?"
The girl's eyes ilanced with merri
ment as she stepped behind him and
her arilis formed a circle round his
neck.
"Are you quite snre, father," she
asked demurely, "that he was not fol
lowing the advice you are always quot
ing, 'Find out what the other fellow
wants to do to you and then do It firs!
to him? 1 "
Stephens' voice bellowed through the
room in an elephantine laugh. Ills
hand went out In fraternal greeting
toward the man who had followed IIIH
advice. "Shake," he said, "and then
sit down. We'll talk things over."
The Ingenious Magpie.
The magpie is nothing if not ingen
ious. lie always barricades his bulky
nest with thorn so that to
plunder It is by no means au easy mat
ter, but when circumstances oblige the
"pie" to build Inn low bush or hedge,
an absence of lofty trees being a
marked feature of some uorthern lo
calities, he not only Interlaces his
home, but also tho entire bush. In a
most formidable manner. Nor does he
stop here. To "make assurance dou
ble sure" he fashions a means of exit
as well as an entrance to the castle, so
that If disturbed he can slip out by
his back door, as it were—London
Graphic.
The Woman Question.
Little WDlle—Say. paw. what la the
"woman (juesfldn?" Pa—Jt's numer
ous, my son. For example: What shall
I wear? How does my hair look In
the back? Is my hat on straight? etc
—Exchanee.
Stationary Youth.
Rich Father—M.v daughter (s too
young to get married. She Is onlj
eighteen. Impecunious Lover—l know,
sir, but 1 have waited patiently for
rears, and she doesn't seem to get any
older.
| Little Stories ?
Y "v*
I'* g i
«' "=* of ?
r • • Ul • • {t
si Big People. |
irCrAlrCT<iirCrCrCrCra<rCjft<ra<(r<riz<}-CrCra-Cril
this country
* recently of
Field Marshal Lord
Kitchener of the
British army re
calls a good story
once visited the In
dian frontier de
fenses to inspect a
new fort and was
astonished to find
lord kitchener. tliaY it had been so
placed as to be commanded by a near
by hill. The officer who had chosen
the site was present with the party,
and Kitchener called him forward. In
stead of the outburst that the staff ex
pected, however, the general merely
held out his hand and said:
"I congratulate you, colonel. What
a capital place for a fort! But when
do you begin to remove the hill?"
John D. Rockefeller Is growing old.
He Is now close to Reventy-two, and
his very latest photo, shown here, gives
one some idea of how it ages a man to
have so much money that he has to
sit up lilghta devising ways to dispose
of It to the best advantage. Along
with Mr. Rockefeller's latest photo
comes his latest story.
"As quick wltted a man as I ever
knew," he said recently, "was one of
jp":
, I ft.. ■>*»/ ",t
-■ <•" '
/OHM D. ROCKEFELLER TODAY.
enr drivers—Timothy—back in the busi
ness' early days. We liked to keep
our teams looking nice, and so we In
stituted an annual prize for neatness.
"Timothy seemed certain of this
prize, and when midyear inspection
came sure enough his splendid work
left nothing to be desired.
"But as the Inspector took one last
look around Just as he had made up
his mind to give the prise to Timothy
he frowned, for his eye had fallen
upon a cobweb In a corner of the gray
mare's stall.
"Timothy saw the Inspector's face
change nnd saw the cause of the
change, and he spoke up briskly:
"'I keep that there web there, boss,"
he said, 'to catch tiles. The way they
torment the mare Is sumpln' tierce.'"
A new movement that Is attracting
considerable attention In this country
HENHt w! BOSK.
has recently beeu Introduced by Henry
W. Itose, a newspaper wan from Ox
ford. England. It is an educational
effort designed to benefit mankind by
giving instruction In certain lines
which have hitherto been but little
touched upon. Mr. Rose's hobby is the
training of boys, ahfi the undercurrent
of the whole Idea Is to teach the rising
generation trie value and need of phys
ical purity.
The moveir -it is known as the B ty
io w plan. -ue first syllable lu the
Dames of o American poets Bryant
and Lowe have been taken for a
name. SI . Rose alms to establish
branches a. over the country.
Uaelasa.
Wlfey (red hot)— Don't try any era
•lon with me, fair! Where have you
beeb? Hub (lnandlbly)—M'dear, lyha's
abuse? If I ansh'cr your q'ues'un you
will ques'un my ansh'er.—Boston Tran
script.
A Mean Suggestion.
Pierrot—The only way for n man to
understand women Is to get married,
rierette —And study the ways of his
wife, eh? Pierrot—No. Listen to
what she tells him about the other
women.
91 THE OTHER
SIDE OFTHE WALL
The Secret That Disclosed Itself
to Miss Hargraves.
By VIRGINIA LEILA WENTZ.
ICopyrlght, 1910. by American Press Asso
ciation. J
When Miss Hargraves had driven
home in her brougham from the art
exhibit she was utterly weary. She
aaked her nurse. Miss Brown, to tele
phone for Dr. Imbrie.
"Pulse quite regular, temperature
normal." remarked r>r. Imbrie dryly.
It was an hour later, and he had made
the required examination. "My dear
lady," he added briskly, pulling on his
left hand glove, "as I told you at the
time of my last visit, you no longer
require my professional services. Miss
Brown Is remaining more as compan
ion than as nurse. What you need"—
"Yes, yes," interposed Miss Har
graves with an eager upward Inflec
tion; "what I need"—
—'is to get out of yourself."
"Ah, that's precisely what I tried to
do directly niter luncheon when I
THK UIltL STOOD DEFOKB AN EASEL
drove down to the art exhibit." Here
she mentioned some well known gal
leries. "Do you know they have a
really wonderful collection there and
unusually well bung?"
"Half as many pictures would have
hung easier, and a good score of those
already hung could be spared," re
turned linbrle brusquely.
"So you have seen the collection V
In her Interest Miss Hargraves had
risen on one elbow, allowing the point
lace to fall away prettily from her
forearm. Here was a pretext to spin
out the Interview. Ob, luckj "What
did you think of 'Driving the Cows to
Pasture" by Mauve? They say It has
a money value of $3,000. Of course
It's finely executed, but"—
"A picture of cows always sells
well," vouchsafed Imbrle. "even when
not done by an artist of repute. The
majority of people take to cows and
sheep."
"Well," she laughed frankly, "may
be you like Henner better. He has
three portraits"—
"Too much blue in his skin," cut In
Imbrle decisively. Ills keen. Inven
torying glance lilt upon a small paint
ing hung over the cabinet. "That fly
Ing figure there, with the misty dra
[>ery—a I'urvls de Chavannes, Isn't It?"
nodding with appreciation toward the
canvas.
"Yes; Ills best period," nssented tbe
lady, marveling ut luilirie's exhibition
of sure artistie knowledge. "1 never
knew before that you were Interested
in art. 1 '
"No?" lie smiled, one of bis rare.
Illuminating smiles, which had nil the
surprise of n spring day In it. The
ticking of the watch In his pocket was
distinctly audible. lie seemed hover
ing on the edge of a confidence, then:
"I had once hoped to do something In
the world of art myself, but the need
of Immediate financial returns made
It impossible."
There was nctually « note of senti
ment In Imbrie's deep voice. Why.
she had eupjxised htm to be as devoid
of sentiment and emotion as the gran
lte bowlders of his native state.
_"ln_the_ last three fears." he coti :
tlnued. "how many famous pictures
have been exhibited in those same gal
leries we were speaking of? On only
the other side of the wall, where they
have hung, perhaps some little woman
has been wielding brush and pencil,
working, watching, waiting till she,
too, shall come to her own. A little
money—comparatively very little; a
few friends—two, or even one—aud the
way would have been easier, shorter
and surer."
To Miss Hargraves' chagrin the con
fidential tone vanished almost as quick
ly as It came. Dr. Imbrle extended his
hand, "Good afternoon. Miss Har
graves, and remember that you shall
try to get out of yourself and your ac
customed environments Is tny only
prescription."
After her physician had gone Miss
Hargraves ordered her brougham
again and dressed for a later after
noon drive. "N'o, tny dear," she said
In answer to a slight remonstrance
from Miss Brown; "he said I needed
plenty of oxygen."
Presently she bade the coachman
drlre to hor florist's. Selecting dofeni
of exquisite yellow roses—all he had
in his place—she asked for satin rltoon
to match the petals. This she tied,
with nice deliberation, In a knot pe
culiarly of her own devising. Hand
ing the florist her card, she gave him
Dr. imbrie's address.
• ••••••
The next day Miss Hargraves stop
ped In the galleries again to have a
last look at her favorite among the
collection, a translucent, delicate land
scape of Corot's. Slowly sho made her
way about the three small rooms, mov
ing with the throng, which talked loud
anil t'.i.- ; < ; »n
"On the other sU> of the wall—on
the other s;<lo of the wall"— Some
how, as slie watched ilie tiny scarlet
cap of the shepherd lad lentiing
against the tree trunk, that phrase of
linbrle's Hashed a cross her. And 'lie
little womai,. watching, working, wait
ing there— who knew? Perhaps, after
all. It might not be entirely a hypo
thetieal case? Certainly, In speaking
of It, there had come Into Imbrie's
voice a quality hitherto unsuspected.
And If by any possibility she, Harriet
Hargraves, might aid this struggling
worker, who could tell how It might
ingratiate her with—well, how It might
serve her purpose? The whim held
her.
When the janitor of the udjoinlng,
building, whose first floor was let to
tailor and the second to a milliner. In- .
formed Miss Margraves that there was
—that there actually was—an artist op
something on the top floor, that lady
smiled at her own Sherlock Holmes
work.
"Yes'm," In response to a low pitch- •
ed question, "you're likely to find her i
at home; she's a'most always workin'.
Anyhow, you'll be sure to find her
mother, who's an Invalid and never
goes out."
it was ihe mother. Indeed, wha
opened the door and ushered her vis.
itor into the tiny front studio.
The girl stood before an easel work
ing rapidly, a ragged, picturesque
street urchin of the Latin race posing
as her model. She was absorbed in
her work, and It was more than good.
Miss Uargrnves came and stood quiet
ly beside h»r, drawing a long breath
and watching with Interest the sura,
strong touch of the brush.
"There!" cried the girl, allowing her
model to relax and turning with u
gracious l|ttle smile upon her culler.
"I beg your pardon." She laid her
palette on her color box, and Miss liar
graves saw the dark ring around her
thumb where she had held It so long
She was a slightly built little thing,
with an exquisite, orchid-like face of
that transparent pallor through which,
the Are of the spirit burns like a pure
flame. She had soft brown hair that
waved capriciously, and her wide,
earnest eyes were of the deepest gray.
Miss Hargraves dropped her pend
ent lorgnett", which she had brought
to bear upon her young hostess, witU
a half sigh of satisfaction. Ah, yes;
this girl that stood before her In the
homely apron was not only an artist,
but a lady. So she need not hesitate;
•he could proceed with her hastily
Inspired project.
"My dear," she said after the girl
had pushed forward a crude green
burlap covered chair with the courtesy
of a grande dame, "word of your tal
ent reached me—we won't say just
how. At this particular momeut don't
tease me to tell. And It has occurred
to me that I might be able to throw n
little profitable pleasure your way.
You've never been to Italy—no? Well,
It would help a lot Now. I'm going
to take a Mediterranean cruise myself,
next month, snd If you'd like"—
Miss Hargraves broke oft suddenly
and lifted her lorgnette again. Tt was
no word which Interrupted her sen
tence, but a carious, fleeting littla
smile In the great gray eyes, elusive a*
a will-o'-the-wisp. Such a smile had
played no part In the fancy picture
she had drawn.
The girl dropped her black lashes for
an appreciable fraction of a seconi
and clasped her slim hands, which lay
idly In her lap. Then, with a glrllßh.
pretty gesture, half shy, half proud,
she raised the left hand with the right,
and, looking at the only ring she wore,
a telltale solitaire, she said in a voice
whose keynote was spring:
"Italy 7 That's where we are going,
he and I—that Is, you see. Tin to be
married next month. It's a secret aa
yet, isn't it, mother? But," turning to
, her visitor again. "I tell you because!
I don't want you to think I'm ungrate
ful for your kind offer. Indeed, lt'a
most awfully sweet and kind. Theffr
was a time—not so lung ago either—
when It would have overcome me witU
its beauty, when it would have been
to me as n miracle, but now this other
miracle has come, aiul everything
else— Oh. I never knew before how
wonderful life is!"
Miss llari;raves rose shortly.
"Well. I wish you happiness," sha
said, holdln;; out her gloviil hand with
languid Interest. The girl's sentimen
tal youth Jarred mi her nerves. "And
I'll tell your frici d who Is Interested
In the galleries nest door that, you
won't be long 'on the other side of the
wall.'"
"Why, yea," laughed the girl, push-*,
leg back a rebellious curl; "tell him
if you like, since I haven't mentioned
my fiance's name. But for the life of
ma I can't imagine who this good
friend is. I have so few friends. Life
has been such an uphill"—
But on her way to the door Miaa.
Hargraves had 6topped short before tv
green burlap covered table.
There, in a vase, was a huge bunch
of yellow roses—roses tied together
with a familiarly devised knot of satin
ribbon the color of their petals!
Miss Ilargraves' lorgnette dropped
clattering down and struck against
the burlap cover.
siffinn
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