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«_M ' way responsible for the girl; t it t E b} CHAPTER XXVII.â€"(Gontinucd). Her own grew pink, whether from emotion or excitement he could not tell. He could only hope that she was less indifferent to him than before, now that Duncan had forsaken her. For he felt sure, although he know nothing defi- nite, that Duncan’s disappearance meant her freedom. Besides his eyes had been opened effectually at the hotel. She tOyed nervously with her fan, as she replied In so low a tone that he could hardly hear. “Presentlyâ€"in the aviary will be the .safest place.” He leaned back with a smile. So she would see him alone, in a safe spot. .safe from interruption! He knew that, by her otvu.rr’Wish, the aviary, a beautiâ€" + «ar‘w‘i‘d‘r‘filz'firttcuse filled with numerous birds, was never entered after dusk. ‘She was fond of her pets and wished them to be left in peace after retiring 'for the night. Therefore in giving him rendezvous there she placed herself on- tirely in his hands. She wished for no intprruption. She must guess what would happen. His heart leapt for joy. She loved him after alil In spite of the patience that had characterized him so many years he found it hard to wait until she gave the signal for the tetc-a-tete, by with- drawing from her guests with the ex- cuse that her neuralgia had returned. Lady Larkin followed her from the room. The cousins had had no oppor- tunity of exchanging confidences and now the moment for such had passed: Eileen would gladly have avoided any conversation with Duncan's sister. whose half expressed disapproval of her treatment of Sunbeam had' greatly displeased her. “Has Duncan really gone? He said nothing to me, and if so what does it mean, Eileen?" ask-ed Adele. “That his affairs do not concern me, I suppose," said Eileen with a little smile. .._..~Adele's face, grew solemn. “How can that be? You are every- thing to Duncan, and therefore, al- though you acled impulsively with re- gard to, Sunbeam, there is no reason why he should join Lord and Lady Cruse so openly. Of course he is in a I know he must feel that. butâ€""- 3 “But she is more to him than you think, Adele. I will tell you what he left for me to tell. He and I are no longer engaged. TO YOU. only. I will own that he has grossly insulted me putting this girl, Sunbeam, before me. He has chosen herâ€"But they both will taste of publicity and disgrace nev. ertheless. I mean to carry this prose- cution through if only to expose herâ€"â€" and himâ€"I mean toâ€"â€"" “But you love'biml" whispered Adele, her face full of horror. “And of course he loves you. This is mere folly, jeal- ousy even, because he is quixotic enough to think it his duty to save Sunbeam from the disgrace hanging over her. 'Surely you are exaggerating matters. My dear Eileen, think of it. .You have known him all your life." “And known, or rather guessed, that he never loved me. You have done your OR, THE CONVICT’S DAUGHTER. ________’__,____,_.____.___â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"~ . mammmmidwmm +n+n+m+n+n+nm+mmpm +- Wfi+§+fi+fi+fi+fi+§+§+fi + n+n+n+os+m fitfifitfl iti+£€+31+ c+n+o+re+n+n+n+n+o+n+ iii! She entered the aviary as selfâ€"pos- sessed as though she had no such thing as a heart, and smiled at St. Aubin. « “Well,” she exclaimed, “and you could not persuade them to return? They are still resolved to do their best for Sunbeam, I suppose?" “Just so. What is more they have already effected her releaseâ€"«on bail. She was at the hotel with them. They must have gone straight to a magis- irate." She clasped her hands. “She was there! You saw her?" she murmured. “How did they do it! I thought that they could no nothing yet, andâ€"" “With influence and money one can work wonders. Lord Cruse and Sin- clair saw Sir George Fade. They man aged everything quickly. When I got to the hotel, Lady Cruse had fetched Miss Green and she was thereâ€"andâ€"J' He hesitated, noting her sudden pal- lor. the flash of her dark eyes. “Did you speak to her?" ~ “No. She was in another room." His manner and the sudden drop in his voice awakened her latent jealousy and fear. “Was she aloneâ€"then a kind of pri- soner of state?" she queried with a nervous little laugh. He looked away from her, for the pain in her face hurt him. He longed to kiss it all away. That she could care at all hurt him nearly as much. It damped his ard-or. Then, seeing that she waited for him to sycak, he cleared his voice and mur- toured:â€" “Wii-hâ€"forgive me, Eileenâ€"401' gaoler, Sinclairâ€"I saw them as I left. She wasâ€"~" lie paused again. She had laid her hand upon his arm and held it so tight that he could have cried out with the pain. That she was conscious of the gesture was visible also. that with a sinking heart. “Go on," she whispered with stiff lips. “She Wasâ€"â€"" “In his arms," he repl‘cd, with n sir-oner feeling of reluctance. A shiver shook her from head to foot and for a second silence fell between them. Then she laughed again. “So I suppose. Jim," she exclaimed. "i sent him. to herâ€"I sent. him to the thief. He went from me to her. For she had stolen him also." He put his arm round her quivering body and drew her gently into his em- brace. “Eileen,” he murmured, “I told you that some day you would come back to me. I did not know then that the day was so near, that my heaven was so close. Have you come, sweet, at last?" She laid her head upon his breast. “Can you take mc-â€"knowing how things are, that heâ€"I will not toil you â€"â€"I want no one to know but of course 1' YOU gueasâ€" . “I could horsewhip him now!" be ex- claimed. a gleam of anger in his eyes. “If you ask me to I will. But for the rest, what does it matter? I have al- ways wantod you, Eileen. None can love you as I can, none can worship you as I doâ€"I do not ask for love now. best for me, I own, but it is no good. That. I will wait for. Give me the right Duncan loves that girl, he means to l to‘claim you before all the world. That I congratulate you on the is all I ask." marry her. connection." - Adele grew pale. She liked Sunbeam and still believed in her innocence. But at the same time she was sufficiently woman of the world to resent Duncan‘s forsaking Eileen for a girl of such doubtful parentage. She looked anxi- ously at Eileen's scorn on her quiver- ing lips. “I cannot believe it," she murmured at the same time recalling her past tears on the subject. “It is your fancyâ€" it cannot be." Eileen tossed her head. “It is true. He chose her and left me. If he were to return and beg me to marry him I would never consent to do so. Besides Iâ€"I fancy we should not-have been happy together. It is a good thing this has happened after all. I have done my best to keep him, but failure has met me on every side. However, his bride will not be the worse for a term of imprisonment, since he seeks an alliance with- such a family." ' She turned away quickly, anxious to end the coavcrsation and also to hide the tears she could no longer keep b'uck. Duncan. had left her, and she had given him up in a moment of baflled rage when jealousy had blinded her self Control, but for all that she still loved hint, and knew that no other man could ever fill his place in her-heart. She guessed why Lord St. Aubin had looked so elated since his return, and fully? realized that he would propose to her again. And although she did not love him she meant to say yes, to accept him at once and to stop all tongues from guessing at the true story (I Duncan’s disappearance, from know- ing that she had been put aside for Sunburn. She looked up into his face. The love she had longed to read on Duncan‘s was written largely there. She knew she was his only world. And yet she felt cold and sore. Her wound stilt bled, and his lovo could never heal :‘t for her. ' ‘ “I will give you that," she whispered, “only I would like people to think Dun- can l-eft because of us. Also I want to make him soreâ€"not by your horse-whip- ping, that would tell too much ~â€" but through her. That girl must not cs- cape her punishment. The papers must proclaim her guilt, they shall both suf- fer, they owe me that. I claim your help." He look-ed seriously into her eager eyes. “But you surely would not harm the Child. If she is innocent, and I believe she is, you would notâ€"â€"â€"" “She is not innocent," she rotor.th angrily, drawing herself up, and stamp- ing her foot. “She is guilty. But even if she were not, surely she owes me something now. Duncan has left me for her. He must see that all will not he so easy for him as he thinks. Let the world know what she is, at all events. I do not ask you to do much, merely to interview reporters, to pro- claim her guilt, to help me to carry this through. Then, when allis over, I will be yours." “But, my dear, why not be mine with- out this trouble. Leave them alone, let justice take its own course, and snatch what happiness the gods may have left you, with me." She shook her head impatiently. “That or nothing, Jim. You help me to do what I wantâ€"to. punish a man who has behaved badly to meâ€"in my He realized , own wayâ€"and I‘ll marry you. 'You refuse, and I won't." He sighed. After all she did not ask much. Only, to persecute a young friendless girl, instead of fighting an able man, seemed puerile to him, and even more. He did not like it. Besides what. good could it do. Sooneror lat- er things would right themselves. He started at the thought. Sooner or later things would right themselves. So, after all, what did it matter if he gave the promise she asked? “Yes. I will help you on those con- ditions," he said. “Butâ€"â€"â€"â€"" She held up a playful finger. “No reservation, Jim. I am not an evil door. I do not ask you to commit a crime." --“Nevertheless I am about to commit one nowâ€"a raid upon yrur lips," he exclaimed, with a contented laugh, as fix. seized her unresisting chin in his hands and bent his face to hers. CHAPTER XXVIII. The sun shone brightly into Holly‘s kitchen, and the canary in the window welcomed it with a song of delight. lietty looked up at the bird reproach- fully. . “How can you sing tlike that, you little flintâ€"heart?" she asked. “Have you quite forgotten Sunbeam? This wea- ther makes me miss her more, for it is her weather, when her hair shines like gold and her eyes dance like the sun rays pouring into your cage. But now. for all we know. she may be cry- ing her eyes out. God knows what trouble she may be in, and I can’t get if her to comfort her. Ah, if only Hill would come back and tell me where she is I'd go to her like a Shot. But he's changed. His heart used to be soft once; now it's tough as leather." Signing heavily, she settiod herself in her chair and picked up the morning paper, It had not. yet been opened, for Bill had not returned since the night before. That‘did not trouble her. She was used to his ways, and knew that he had probably spent the night in Gentleman, Dan's company. Also he had the pearls to dispose of. The sooan they disappeared, the east-er she would feel. The article she. was in search of when she opcncd the paper soon caught her eye. She read it. breathless. The head- ing was exciting enough: “it/fysterlous Disappw-aranc-e of Lady Cruse's Pearl-s . . Daring Burglary in Broad Day- l lght. . . .” Was Sunbeam mentioned? The words dancrd before her as she read: “. . . . The burglar himself has escaped, if he ever existed . . . His sup- posed arcnmplice, a young girl staying in the house, has been arrested.” With a loud cry fletty dimmed the paper and started up. The canary left cit staging, and hopping to the side of his cage peered down lnquisitlvely as his mistress pacod the floor. her hands clasped over her capricious bosom, the tears rolling down her checks. “I told Bill he'd get. her punished in- stead of himself. Yes, I told him so. I little knew I spoke the truth,". she- solibcft. “But she hasn't betrayed him tailor all, spite of all. think you should come to this, just for all the. world as though you really are Bill’s flesh and blood." ' She slopred before. a small photo- giaph of Sunbeam, and taking it no kisscd it with quivering lips. The girl‘s sweet face smiled back reassuringly at her. " “Oh, dcary met" exclaimed Ilctty, "of course. you'll be shut. up, sure as late, my treasure. If they let you to arrest- cd, of course they didn’t. care for you, so Sir Ralph can‘t have said anything â€"â€"-or.if he did, it's made no difference. Oh, if only he was alive! What on earth made him roll over the cliff like that. when he was going to be want-ed? Oh, my lamb, how can I save you?" Her eyes falling on the tell-tale paper, she started towards it with a low ex- clamation, and. picked it up eagerly. For of course it contained the informa- tion she had thirsted for, the name of the place Sunbeam was in. .“Brackley Park," she read slowly, half aloud. “W-hercvcr’s that? They don't say, so I‘ll be bound they‘ll know at any station. Bust-on is nearest me; I’ll get my things on and go. I'll go to her at once and tell. them all. about her, if necessary, even if Bill kills me for doing so afterwards. But I won‘t betray him. I know nothing about. those pearls, curse them! I only wish they were back where they first came from, even though, through them, I know where to find my darling. Yes, I'll go to her. They can't. blame me for hav- ingloved her, and they must see as she's been well cared for all the time. As for Bill, I daicsay I shall be back be fore him, it they don't look me up." Having arrived at that decision, she went upstairs and prepared for her journey. Before leaving her room she unlocked a drawer, then a box within it_ from which she took one or two small parcels. These she fetched in a hand-bag, with which she returned to the kitchen, and taking down the ca- nary's cage, said: ' “You shan’t starve, you little rascal, for all I’m in a hurry to see Sunbeam, though'Brackley Park may be scores of miles away. I’ll tell Mrs. Oregon to look after you, and now I’m giving you double what you deserve tomakc up for the loneliness that’s coming to you. Good-bye, sing again, and never trouble if you don’t see both your mis- tresses again." She. turned into the street. locked the User, carried the key to the neighbor who generally took care of it for her in case Bill returned during her my- lsence, and set off towards the busy thoroughfare with a-quick Wilk. Oh. my precious‘ lamb, my darlingr baby that I loved, to‘ l i t But as each step took her further afield, her heart sank more and more, whilst. the difficulties ahead cropped up again. How could she release Sunbeam now by telling what had been kept for so long? That would have nothing to do with the pearls and the burglary, there- fore it could alter nothing new Sun beam was in the hands of the police. Besides, without. Sir Ralph and Bill to back her up, would her word be taken? Might. not they all say the fate was a hoax? And even if Lady Cruse did believe her, what. good would she do? For if Lady Cruse cared for Sun- beam ever so little, the girl would not have been arrested. Also, it was pos- sible that Lady Cruse knew everything after all, and hated Sunbeam-was ashamed of herâ€"would thank no one for repeating the tale. She slackencd her pace and looked feat-fully around at the crowded pave meats. She felt tired and bewildered, also full of despair. She. had actually thought of betraying Bill, for that is what her intention amounted to, seen in broad daylight. She would have to mention him anyhow, and the. hue and cry would sound for him at once, even if she kept back her knowledge of his Visit." to Brackley and his theft. of the pearls. She was an old fool to have thought of it. Luckily she had come back to her senses in time. She would go home and try to forget about Sunbeam, or when Bill came back ask him to save the child. How he was to do that she could not tell. But. he was full of re- Cnurse, and would find a way. He would not give himle up, of course; but. than she did not wish him to. She had reached the turning into Euston Motion, and paused, looking through the gateways with wondering eyes. The flow of vehicles coming and going through was ceaseless. She scanned the faces of the occupants stupidly. If only she could see some one who could help both of those she loved. She laughed at the thought. low could she expect help from any oneâ€"she, a oonviet'cx sister and a we- tnan witl'iout acquain‘ances? The noise of the traffic was making her silly; the sooner she got out of it the better. She turned away, not without a lurk- ing wish to creep within and ask where Brackley Park was. But then some one might overhear her, and thus, oven indirectly, find a clue to Bill. ‘Vith that his guilt could not be doubted. How stupid she lad been to imagine she could go there without betraying ham She sprang nervously back from the curb as a hens-om jerked up and a young man jumped to the ground, ex- clauning2~ “Why, Mrs. Green, I have found you at lasil" And. before she could realize whether she was glad or sorry to meet him, her hands were clasped by Duncan Sin- clair. “Mr. Sinchiirl" she gasped, remember" lug her wish tor hpr w-trh a little thrill of delight, though at. the some tune She also recalled her past suspicions of him and her subsequent. deception towards him with regard to Sunbeam's disap- pearance. “Why, sir, who would have thought of our meeting here, andâ€"â€"â€"" “Who indeed!" echoed Sinclair. “And yet I’ve searched hiin and low for you." Her eyes scanned his face eagerly. What did he mean? A sullenncss chased the smile from her lips. ' ‘ “GOING, we can't talk here, and I've heaps to ask you. My tune’s my own, and I daresay you are in no hurry," continued Sinclair. “There's a. quiet little hotel over there; come in and have somethii‘ig while we talk of old times, andâ€"â€"~" She drew back her face frigid. “Ii'ideed, I’ve plenty to do. Sun- beam at home expecting nib, andâ€"~â€"â€"” “Then I'll take you back in this han- som. What's the address?" She hesitated, crimsoning painfully. Ills honest. eyes pierced to her soul. She felt. a sudden inexplicable shame for doubting him. ' , “I would rather not drive," she stam- mercd. “I’m nervous of hansoms ever since I read of the Mystery of a fian- sem Cab. "l vowed I'd never rlido in one, nor in a four-wheeler either," she added hurriedly, as she saw him glanc- in-g back as though in searoh of‘on_e. . A smile flickered across his face as he dismissed the hansom and took her arm imporiously. - ‘Miss Green, I assure you I'm neither detective nor rogue," he murmured in her astonished ear; “I'm merely your friend, and Sunbeam's.” Her heart lenpt to her mouth. and tears moistened her eyes. “Blitrâ€"â€"-" she him to lead her unresistlngly. go home. andâ€"H “It is about. Sunbeam I want to speak to you," be interrupted, his eyes resting kindly on her hot troubled face; “I come [mm her to you.” She gasped in astonishment. He come from Sunbeam? What could he meant? Sunbeam was at Brackley Hall with Lady Cruse; what had he to do with tliem‘?â€"â€"unless Bill was right and he was a detective. Iler knees shook violently beneath her, and she leaned heavily on his arm. The street with its prey walled houses and soothing ineving mass of humanity swam‘ round bewildcririgly. Nor could she recover though-t nor senses until she found hath sclf half reclining on a couch in a (pilot room, with Sinclair holding a glass to her lips. ~~ She drunk tihirsiily. then looked up at him with V‘.’i,lll(]i‘.l'-fin‘?«d eyes. (To te Continued.) “I must I know you are very kind, stammered, allowing , - does not. exist." .'____._._____._____ illNESS (it THE CZARINA â€". MELANGIIOLIA AND COMPLETE NER- VOUS BREAKDO‘VN. Strain of Life at Russian Court Too Much for Her â€" Iler Tastes are Domestic. The (leaf-inn has disappeared from pubic view for some time past, says the Russian correspondent for the New York Journal. At first it was intimato cd, that she was suffering from the ef- fects of a particularly stubborn case of influenza. But when her seclusion be- came prolonged it was found impos- sible to conceal any longer the real state of affairs, and it was reluctantly admitted that. she was far too ill to take any part in the festivities of the St I‘câ€"ixrsburg season; that her malady. though not dangerous to life, was likely to prove of lengthy duration, and that it. was mental rather than physical, consisting of pronounced melancholic. and of a. coin-plate nervous breakdown. When one recalls to mind all that the Empress has had to endure since she went to Russia as a bride, it is not astonishing that her nerves should have given way. Iler alliance to the Czar was unpopular with the people in the first place. For it was known through- out Russia that. she had entertained the strongest kind of seruples about aban- doning the Protestant Church, in which she had been reared, for the orthodox Greek rite, and it was reported that her conversion was not sincere. FOLLOWED BY ILL-LUCK. Then, too, her marriage may be said to have coincided with the death of her father-in-law, and when she came to Russia as a bride it was to a land not cf rejoicing but of mourning. The tragedy which marred the festi- vitics of the coronation at. Moscow, costing the lives of thousands of poor people, was likewise a shock to her, and, moreover, served to associate her in the eyes of the Russians with misforâ€" tune and illâ€"luck. ‘ .'i‘he many disappohitmenls whichsho suffered herself and to which she and jectsd the nation, before finally giving birth th:co‘years ago to an heir to the throne, were construed by the masses in her husband’s dominion as a token of divine displeasure. liar orderly German and English ideal â€"â€"she had been to a great, extent brought up by her grandmother, Queen Victoria (.i Englandâ€"«caused her to rebel against nmch that she found at the Russian court, which served to antagonizenot :only its members, but: even the princes and princesses of the royal family against her. Politically, too, she found herself in conflict not only with her husband's Ministers, but likewise with her rela- tives. For she encouraged him in all his pregresdve and liberal leanings, which were strongly disapproved by the various grand dukes and grand duclmsses, n'iost. of them champion-s of rcactimi and of unimpaired autocracy. And she has now the mortification of seeing that her policy has proved a failure, and that, her political advice to her husband is popularly regarded as in a measure responsible for the chaotic conditions that have prevailed for the last. two years in the domin- ions of the Czar. FEARED ASSASSINATION. Finally, there has been the perpetu- al and over haunting dread of the as- sassinu-tlou of her husband and of her little ones. She‘has seen. her brother- in-law, Grand Duke Sergius, literally blown to pieces, seams of her husband's Ministers, court officials and trusted generals of his entourage laid low by assassins. while time and again would- Le regicides have been found and cap- tured among those of their retainers in whom she and the Emperor have re- posed the greatest confidence, and upon whom they had lmtowed the utmost- favor and even affection. All this is surely enough to shatter" the nervous system of a keenly sensiâ€" tive. high strung, warm hearted, and brilliant women such as the Czarina, whose only moments of happiness have been when alone with her husband and children, and whose appearance at other times, especially at court func- tions and in public, has always been characterized by a look of mingled shy- Wifi and intense seriousness, trained," approaching almost to mournfulness. >14 .[UST \VIIAT THEY \VANTED. “Well, brothers,” said the sombre- visaged man, rising in their midst, “this is my first attendance, but I am a Socialist. almost by nature, and I think i can understai'nl, from the previous speakers. what you want. In the first place, you want. a realm where every- ,n one has to be good by law. | “We do! we do!” cried half-adomn llong-haircd young men in tui'n~(b0wn Collars. The speaker contained: “W here food and clothing give no trouble, and money “That's it! That's what we want." “\Vi’iere everyone goes to worship on Sunday, and regular hours are kept, wrek in. Work out." “Yes. that’s it!" 1 “Well, i myself have just come from ,. such a placeâ€"â€"-" “Where? What’s it called?" “it’s a place called prison," he. said, and resumed his seat. _ A4 AAA‘A“