Little Nobody

t his master had been "making a night of it," in the slang phrase that prevails among gay fellows. So, when he awakene

ois, why did y

me no instructi

w, you rascal!" irascibly. "Now, hurry up,

etite failing in his eagerness to get at Van Zandt. On his way to the hotel he dropped in at the clu

t Eliot had not yet returned. Since he had dined, at eight o'clock last evening, he had

ered at thought of the blood b

ght after the accident. Great heavens! what mystery is here? Is he dead, the brave lad? and have th

that beautiful fiend's-to the home of the woman who had so

morning-robe garnished with yards on yards of creamy laces and la

Trevor's next week. Are you going? Perhaps you

faded at the scowl he

Van Zandt?" he blu

he dramatic stage. Her puzzled air, the wonderin

tle wonder. "How should I know? I assure y

t night? Did Remond kill him here, at your door, where I

yes f

hat carried off poor Remond's bri

e Lorraine," sternly. "Tell me-did Remond

r handsome head, and

ing desperately, I ran in, locked my door, and went to bed.

peep out of the w

not want to see or hear! I put my head

you had caused all the

, in love with her, and a splendid parti. But the little rebel pouted, flirted, and held him at bay till he was wild with love and jealousy. She was romantic. I proposed that he run off with her and win her heart by a coup d

protestingly, and with an air of the complete

r bargain in the garden was overheard," sternly. "Do you know what you have brought upon your head, traitress? Social ostracism and complete disgrace! The Jockey Club th

faintly, dropped her face in he

defy him, but this softer mood confounde

ence a few minutes, fidgeting

or tears unless they are tear

her hands with a

y did not hear all. Remond was to marry the girl, I swear it! Poor little motherless lamb! do you think I woul

udden, inimitable grace

protector, I-I am so poor," weeping, "I have lost so heavily at play that there is a mortgage on my home, and I could not keep the girl much longer; I must retrench my expenses. Yet only

liar she was! Doubt began to invade his m

ve that your infamous plot went no further than the trying to force that helpless child into a hated union. Even that was infamy enough.

zing his hand and pressing passionate kisses u

about Van Zandt and Remond. I can not find either one, and I fear

he knew nothing, had heard nothing

ot. I just ran in and went to bed. I did not want to

not deceiving me,

ll the saints

or my missing friend," he sai

t his arm

caused all this trouble? By Heaven, Carmontelle, if harm come

, bewilderly, and she

he was a villain. Well, I put the child out to nurse, and made an honest marriage. Then the woman followed me with the child, and I had to invent a

her silently a moment, then C

t child. Your last claim is made in order to support a claim for her return to you. The pretext will not avail you. The little

gasped, white w

wered, coldly, and strod

er, had scorned, defied her; Van Zandt knew her guilt and despised her; worst of all, the little scap

rmontelle had slammed together, and rushed after him. He was just entering

you further. Do not shake your head," wi

salon. She turned her shining eyes upon hi

akened when you saw

he r

ead fiercely with o

n my hands. You must find Remond. I gave

he stammered,

vials long ago from an old hag in the East as a curiosity, you see. One drug was to

sely; and in a frightened,

hout the othe

he hissed

ched the end of their journey. How could I know you would take the girl from him and hide her?

e truth?" he

and the ange

rom him and rushed out again, leaped

d, to the det

down at his destination. Fortunately the familiar face of the most skillful detective in

ained what he wanted done. He must find Remond at once-

rishly. "Tell him not to fail to bring wit

al, inspired not only by love for his profession, but genuine anxiety and grief over the

mind full of Little Nobo

he co

anxiety over his little charge, and d

t, wildly. "Oh, it can not be true! I shall find her awake and waiting for

verishly to

er, f

ed, in a conc

d for fast driving, and your speed would b

ce he could to the moderate pace of the horses. It seemed hours, although it was but thirty minutes, b

eager that he did not notice the solemn, sympathetic look with which the man

sed the greatest dismay. She crossed her

onsieur, you hav

nd paused, unable to proceed further. Somethin

peech, too, seemed to fail her. She regarded

horror that bound him hand and foot. A terrible f

thought, he ga

e is

he good nun, piously. She advanced and touched him compassiona

ale, frightened

rly; and with a holy compassion i

n, she slee

shrieked, and she

es

reeled so unsteadily; but he threw out one hand and caught the back

o l

er eyes, the go

made every effort to arouse her, but all in vain. She sunk deeper and deeper into le

questione

rs ago," s

ons of the wicked woman who had caused the death of that sweet young girl. As it was, he stood bef

he one, he feared and dreaded, had been murdered by Remond in his fur

bitter thoughts; "she lies in the chapel.

te before the altar, mumbling over the prayers for the dead, and an old, white-haired priest in flowing robes bent over his book. Carmontelle saw none of these. He had eyes for nothing but that black-draped c

ce, so faultlessly molded, and so beautiful even in the strange pallor of death, with the dar

end, save for him who stood beside her now, his face pale and moved, as he looked upon her lying like a broken lily in her coffin, with the strange, weird

hat were crossed over a white lily the nuns had lovingly placed there. Alas! they were icy cold! His hope fled. "Too late

n; the old priest, with his head bent over his book, lost not a word. It was a romance from that wicked outer world from

s walk as

nds as s

overheard betra

e mazes of the

eliness that smi

ith fair words,

a jest; madd

ng friend

e poured out the moving story, clasped her long,

el, heartless woman!" she exclaimed. "

ing hand pressed upon the chill, pulseless one of the nameless dead girl; and in the years