By Wit of Woman

n an even more violent tone that I should tell him all I knew, I had t

sion and undoing, I fainted. At least I fell back in my chair seemingly unconscious, and should have fallen on

remedies to apply. He chafed and slapped my hands, without thinking to take off my gloves; he called for cold water which the soldier servant brought in, and bathed

r, I opened my eyes, rolled them about wildly, began to sob again, sat up

w how really anxious and self-reproachful he was. But I had forged an effective weapon; and

. He can at best cheat or bribe; while a woman can do all three

k coherently; and during the incoherent inte

Oh, how silly you must

o violent," he said. "I am

. But she told me you were a very

ld you?

cried, as he started in amazement. "Oh, don't look so cross. I d

said, quickly. "Wha

ou're kind and good, or dear Gareth would never be your daughter. She said horrible things of you. That you'd ruined her father and imprisoned him; and much more. But of course she would say anything. She was jealous of

ng only to punctuate it with inane giggles and glances o

mbre face. At the mention of my father and his imprisonment, he caught his breath and started back so violently that he stumb

water I asked for; and when he had put down th

onel von Dreschler's

s, of c

ed into his tangled beard. "It is he who ha

d he want to do that for? Besides, how

ore. Can you tell me where to fi

way off, of course; but it's just the loveliest town and well worth a

d do you know Colo

wo years and more, that horrid little red-haired t

full charged with renewed suspicion. But I was giggling and trying t

d. "Can you tell me anything abo

It must be quite six months ago-yes, because, I h

he asked, grow

nna; I can't remember where it was, but I hav

-she spe

uld have been quite happy if only she

ouldn'

ouldn't let her

to speak plainly, Miss Gilmore. D

we thought. Oh, don't look lik

n. "Tell me, please," he m

away with him." I said

question. It came in a low, tense, hus

head and w

n dares to hint shame of my child--

ve Gareth dearly, and would say no shame of her. If I can hel

ronged her, may I burn in hell if I do not make his life the penalty." The

new my symptoms of hysterics. This time I was not going to get well enoug

ould see me again, I told him that if he would come that afternoon to

anned my next step. It was to be a bold one; but the crisis called

ing with an attendant and his look chanced to be in my direction. He stared as if trying to recollect me, then he bowed. I responded, but he passed on; and I conclu

d'Artelle's frie

ing whether to be glad or

a few step

ly, if y

ng to speak to you alone, Miss Gilmore. Shall we walk here?" and we turned into a side

kept staring at me with a directness which,

e?" he asked, as we reached a se

st," I agreed;

ry singular of me," he

and he frowned at the irrelevant flippancy. "I am a studen

you some questi

difficult to frame. You

xpectedly that I did smile. "It is perfec

e old days he had talked a lo

ste of your life and its opport

d this one at any rate. I have been thinking about you e

asked p

it up. Because your name is Chri

"Two days ago your brother not only doubted the Christabel, but wished to give

tongue. You're so like her, you see, and yet so unlike, that--" he

yself, thank you," I declar

o. It's perfect

his means?" I put the

nk. But I don't care. I'm long pa

might be a glorious thing for a man i

imed, with the self-satisfaction of a cynic. "I sup

arply that he gave a start and glan

can't live without it now, and I don't want to try. What does i

e ashamed t

en, at one time, when I first began; but not now. Besides,

intention o

p you to talk about this. I don't quite know why I did stop you now;

lmost pathetic and i

know. You reminded me so much of-of another Christabel of the name you mentioned, Christabel

t is not an A

ew York years ago. Lord, what long yea

tive of that na

you had

hy

uldn't have been any good, would it? And yet-" he sighed-"yet I

ut w

and looked quizzically at me. "I w

n love with

st. Coming from me it must have so

hat's a question I can't answer, and you oughtn't to ask. But life's much too stupid f

d very much like to be your f

uld like to be the friend of the Duke Ladislas' el

humbug," I

ours. No clever people do anything without one, and they both

repeated, catch

ette and Gustav are in my life. You've spotted it, of course. It saves a heap of trouble to have some one to think for you. You mayn't believe

ith so much energ

e. But I'm right. I hate taking trouble. Of course I kno

ings do

d at me, paused, and then shook his head slowly. "You don'

erstand one thing-why the elder son should think his chi

it. I'm not surprised Gustav warned me against you. But he needn't. I shouldn't let you worry me into things. I

to General von Er

know;" and he laughed again. "And he

is, years ago; and I went to her th

so clever as they think. She hasn't any influence with

t is that b

nergy died out in another weary look and wave of the hand. He waited and then asked.

ot say I

t want me to do s

hy

ht do something

e to do that

l of unselfish people willing to do thi

t you wish

ends in Ameri

es

hat other girl-the one you're l

no doubt

ike to hear

now what your life is an

ade hi

t his hand to his eyes, and sat hunched up in silence. P

, it might have hurt

make me think; and I

hen, she would scar

ost as if--I beg your pardon. But for a moment I believe I was almost fool enough to feel something. No, no; d

to fumble in his pocket. He glanced at me rather shamefacedly, a

esn't matter," he said

very much," I de

e making ready to open i

ake it if sh

" and he heave

here, and then yo

t I?" and he partly

his arm. "For h

s of hell to m

life of hell

mus

ded again, and held ou

uld tor

or your

earching. "It's no good; I can't,"

and forced him to meet my eyes. "For her sak

te you if y

e looked each into the other'

and. I threw it down and ground it and the pellets to powder with my heel. He watched

he beginning-but

ter go now, before I

s and of her when the

an't resist it. I can't. Good-bye. I lik

gh and a smile, he lif