An Ambitious Man

in her new home when Preston Ch

st morning after his arrival, as h

wy napkin, she stepped to one side an

is good taste. Once, in listening to the boastful tales of a modern Don Juan, who was relating his gallant adventures with a handsome waiter

pkin in its place, and he was most considerat

n him. The creamy pallor of her skin, colourless save for the full red lips, the dark eyes full of unutterable longing, the aristocratic poise of

hrough the hall; but he heard a trill of song from her lips, which added to his interest and curio

siness interview. Therefore it was a matter of surprise to the young editor when he came home from his office one night, just

bear. Now I cannot endure eating alone at night. I knew it was near your hour to return, so I waited for you.

th her. He had heard much about the complicated life of this woman, and he felt a certain amount of natural curiosity in regard

ary town puzzled him. He could not imagine a woman of that order existing a whole year without an adventure; as a rule he knew that tho

r past, the Baroness had lived the life of a recl

d general in planning her campaigns. Sh

ould not live in a large city and n

without the aid of money and a fine wardrobe she was no

too, by keeping early hours and living a temperate life; and if she carefully avoided any new scandal, her past adventures would be dim in the minds of people

st agreeably; and after learning about him from the daily papers, and hearing him spoken of as a valuable acquisition to Beryngford's intellectual

ntieth birthday, the possibility of winning a young man like Preston Cheney overbalanced all other considerations in her mind. She had never been a vulgar coquette to whom all men were pre

I have felt such a pleasure in a man's presence. Not since-" But the Baroness did not allow herself to go back so far. "If there is any fruit I detest, it is dates," she often said lau

ly interested in this man. As a rule, I never believe a word men say, though I delight in their flattery all the same. It makes me feel comfortable even when I know they are lying. But I should really feel hurt if I thought Mr Cheney had not meant what he said. I don't believe he knows much about women, or about himself lower than his brain. He has

ervants were all busy, and she invited him to her private parlour for lunch every Sunday afternoon. It was during one of these chats over cake and wine that the young man spoke of Berene. The Baroness had dropped some remarks about her servants, an

ed; "she is a most unfortunate young woman to whom my heart went out in pity, and I have g

er sensation of annoyance at his heart; "why, from

the Baroness said, and then she proceeded to outline Berene's history, layin

aid. "She has a strong craving for an education, and I give her good books to read, and good advice to ponder over, and I hope in time to come she will marry some honest fellow and settle down to

wonder her eyes were sad! Better blood ran in her veins than coursed under the pink flesh of the Baroness, he would wage

rew to be a daily occurrence that he talked with her a few moments, and befo

might aid her in both ways. We need two or three more girls in our office. We need one more in the type-setting department. As The Clarion is a morning paper, and you never need Miss Dumont's services after five o'clock, she could work a few hours in the office, earn a small salary, and gain something in the way of an education also

oness. So elated was she with the agreeable references to herself, that she never suspected the young man's deep personal int

ad passed. And hour by hour, day by day, week by week, the strange influence which she had exerted on her employer, from the first moment of their

hip to the fair sex. He had during the first few months believed the Baroness to be amusing herself with his society. He had not flattered himself

the very outset of his career by any such entanglement, or by the appearance of one. He cast about for some excuse to leave the Palace, yet this would separat

bitions confronted him, and he felt abashed in his own eyes, as he realised how far away t

sperate diseases needed desperate remedies. He had been an occasional caller at the Lawrence homestead ever since he cam

eminine very deceptive, when a man makes a

ft his office at five o'clock and