The Reason Why

lski sailed into the room. She wore an evening gown of some thin, black, transparent, woolen stuff, which clung around her with the peculiar grace her poorest clothes

g; but even he, as he presented his guests to her, could not help remarking t

few, but their displeasure had been unconcealed. She would agree to the bare bargain, if

two men, and that she would be given a large fortune, she e

e either brutes-or f

s merely counting upon his own unerring knowledge of human nature-and Lord Tancred's

e effort of punctuality for him. Some underneath excitement to see his friend

of-an-hour's wait had not added to his calm. So when the door had eventually opened for her entry he had glanced up with intense inter

met hers he was startled by the look of

ing. Why should she look at him like that, if she wer

rted a conversation upon the usual everyday things. He received "Yes" and "No" for answers. The railway magnate on her other side was hardly

ally stupid-who could be stupid with such a face? And he was quite unaccustomed to bein

and nose, nor on the cheeks; all was velvety smooth and rounded. The remote Jewish touch was invisible-save in the splendor of the eyes and lashes. She filled him with the desire to touch

t a whole sentence from her; it was in answ

said. "I have only been here once before, when

into her eyes which she had instantly averted. The expression of resen

ifficult to answer! It seemed to set him upon his beam-ends. He could not very well say because h

it, except on one of his lion hunts in Africa when the news had come into camp that an exceptionally fine beast h

He was telling her about Canada and she listened with awakening interest: how there were ope

could have a chance, I suppose?" she asked. Lo

e beginning to buy pictures and beautiful things, too; but in a new countr

nterest now seemed only mechanical, a

wondered; he saw that he

rn of events. After all, nothing could have been better than Zara's being late. Circumstance often played into the hand of an experienced manipulator like himself

tly raging with annoyance, his fighting blood was up. And when at the first possible moment after the dessert arr

with his heart actuall

he slightest interest in the pros and cons of his future in the Colony, and when, at last, he heard the distant tones of Tschaikovsky's Chanson Triste as they ascended the stairs he came suddenly to a determination. She was sitting at the grand piano in the back part of the ro

t to remind herself of her promise and to keep herself firm in her det

too. She did not know enough of the English type to judge of Lord Tancred morally. She only saw t

the piano. The sorrow died out of her eyes and was replaced by a fie

er face changed as he came

woman!" Lord

are all mad-at some time and at some point. I have, I think, reason to be mad to-nig

, aloof politeness, "but I am very tired. I will wish you all a good-night." Sh

red said, at the door. "Some d

ting glance from her sullen eyes, and he stood t

te?" he heard one of the pompous gentlemen say, as he returned to t

; how she was an interesting, mysterious character; beautiful? well, no, not

uty suggests gentleness and tenderness. My niece reminds me of the

ted his words. He abruptly turned the conversation back to Canada again, until even the two magnates on their own ground were bored and said goodnight.

go on to your supper party?" And presently they were

," Mr. Markrute said. "You could not find two more influential people th

e made up my mind. If you really meant what you said to-day, I will

ans had indeed cul

aised his eyebrows mildly and puffed s

seen my niece are you sure she would suit you? I thought, after all, perhaps not, to-night: she

f difficulty which has inspired me. By George! did you ever see such a haugh

you use, and bolt with it. Do not say aft

ly consented to marry him? If so, she had her own reasons, of course, and desire for himself was not among them; but, somehow, he felt sure they were not sordid or paltry ones. He had always liked dangerous games-the most unbroken polo ponies to train in the country, the freshest horses, the

ig and royal about it-he himself never gambled in small sums either. "So as I expect you won't," he continued, "I will tell you. She is the daughter of Maurice Grey, a brother of old Colonel Grey of Hentingd

t of her and her temperament made him thrill. Was i

dear boy," the financier went on. "Her

wife. You can settle the other things with my lawyer if you care to, and tie it all up on her. I am no

his eyes. "I would not have suggested the af

I shall not ask any thing. Only when may I s

thing. I shall have seen her, and can then tell you when to present yourse

on the 2nd of November, and if we are only married then, we shall be off on a honeymoon. You must come to that shoot, by-the-way, old boy, it is the pleasantest of the whole

ncis Markrute said. And he looked down so that

-night, with the happy assurance in his ears that he might claim his bri

our-figure check for the Cripple Children's Hospital: he believed in thanko