The Amethyst Box

ere never lacking. As we stepped down into the great hall we hear

air. "We shall run less risk o

irls are? It would be a great relief

rself to be inveigled into joining t

rawing-room. He remained in the b

and so brilliantly lighted that every nook stood revealed. On a divan near the center was a lady conversing with two gentlemen. Her back was toward me, but I had no difficulty in recognizin

tains of the window in which he had secreted himself. As I joined him a young man, who was to act as usher, sauntered from behind one of the great pillars forming a colon

rip Sinclair sei

Beaton?"

didn't you r

a very st

ht of him rec

N

breakfast-table y

w

he related for the delectat

s my turn

't mean-

more like a veritable adventure than a

to have surprised one moonlit night standing on the verge of the c

de it seem so tragic and preposterou

s and swiftly moving feet suggested nothing but joy and hilarity. Which was the dream? This sce

the vision he encountered a woman. It was a wraith, you remember, a dream-m

eply. "He did not wish to injure, but to warn

ar

he had been seen and her intentions recognized, she would beware of such attempts in the future. He is a k

N

dge where his thoughts were. Probably you

ow up ourselves unnecessarily! I saw them both a moment ago, and nothi

drew me towa

the party, notably the husband and the brother of the lady of the house, and to their use the room wa

e found that this same fire made all the light there was in the room. Both gas-jets had been put out and the rich

mstrong must have gone elsewhere to

I saw no one. However, at the other end of the large room there stood a screen near one of the many lounges, and I was on the point of approaching this place of

ilbertine is tall, but not tall enoug

ere was one just behind Sincla

a near-by chair. I knew what he was thinking. Gilbertine was taller

his case was more serious than mine. The b

inches than you think. With this under her feet, she could reac

ne wool-gathering. We shall have to take others into our confidence." Here his voice fell to a whis

t a word might raise suspicion, and that

had come from b

ispered. "Some one is ov

im, and together we rounded the screen and came upon the recumbent figure

eing turned out," grumbled Sinc

was the

ting the sleeping

lying here for some

air s

e slept," I pursued. "I have often h

to wake him," s

awing back, as the heavy figure stirre

ted, backing politely away.

eyed us with sleepy indifference for a moment, then rose ponderously to his feet and

ed; his smooth, if hesitating tones,

acking his brains for words with which to pro

by Miss Camerden." (How hard it was for me to use her name in this conn

ery polite but unmeaning smile. Evidently he had not

rward, but almost immediately pausing again and giving us rather a curious look. "Some one was in the room. I remember it now. It was just before the warmth and glow of t

d not look bac

ray?" I s

-fashioned bows. This, I doubt not, wa

rray wear whi

Sinclair, coming

omnolence I felt creeping over me, I caught a glimpse of her skirt as she passed out of the room.

promptu dissertation on one of the subjects I knew to be dear to the heart of the bookworm before me, and kept it up, too, till I saw by his brightening eye and suddenly freed manner that he had forgotten the insignificant episode of a minute ago, never in all probability to recall it aga

of his figure approaching from a small side passage in company with the butler, Dutton. His face, as he stepped into the full light of the open hall, showed discomposure, but not the extreme distress I

look, then hi

d to me. Then turning to Dutton he nonchalantly remarked. "It must be

ost something when I saw her come out of the libra

reast. In the hum to which all sounds had sunk, I heard Sinclair'

Mr. Armstrong went int

e gas when I saw Miss Camerden slip in and almost immediately

hy and not Gilbertine whom he had seen leaving th

ght; but Mr. Armstrong's eye m

ly out of consideration for me; that he did not really believe it. "At all events," he went on, "we can not prove an

rothy perceives that I wish to approach her she has but to lift her eyes

hen; only, this matter must be settled first. I could never go through the farce of s

then. Insist on a momen

ame place again at ten. Do I look fit to enter among t

. Approaching matrimony has

nd looked beautiful. Ordinarily she was a little pale, but not even Gilbertine, with her sumptuous coloring, showed a warmer cheek than she, as, resting f

urple box which was the cause of my horror lay somewhere concealed amid the airy puffs and ruffles that rose and fell so rapidly over her heaving breast. Could her eye rest on mine, even in this cold and perfunctory manner, if the drop which could separate us for ever lay concealed over her heart? She knew that I loved her. From the first hour we met in her aunt's forbidding parlor in Thirty-sixth Street, she had recognized my passion, however perfectly I had succeeded in concealing it from others. Inexperienced as she was in thos

with so calm a look if she were meditating an act which must infallibly plunge me into misery." Yet I was not satisfied t

the next waltz w

ectly and she drew back in

," said she, her hand rising in

reupon she flushed vividly and seemed more than

and look at the ocean. It is glorious to-night. I will not keep you long

f frightened. "I can not leave the drawing-room-d

wis

y mu

my heart sink and dreaded les

, bowing ceremoniously as I became assured that we were

Her hand went ag

r in spite of herself, I whispered: "If I leave you now will yo

hing but encouraging, she answer

hat of a friend who was passing, she was soon in the whirl again and dancing