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jfjtf Lambert
Mystery.
By MRS. ALEXANDER.
- v . CHAPTER IV. I
Continued.
"I have not bad a good time of It
since you were away. Glynn. I have
been on the brink of ruin through the
treachery of a man 1 thought a friend.
But I hope to get oyer It. I think
i’ll get over It, and whatever happen*
Elsie's little fortune Is out of harm’s
way. I made sure of that. She need
never starve. ’"
"Very prudent and proper,” re
turned Glynn. "But I earnestly hope
you will escape the loss you mention.
Been bitten by a bubble company!”
"No! It’s a long story; I’ll tell It
to you some day, and you’ll Judge
for yourself; but not now, not now.
Ah! you are a bright chap, Glynn,
strong and steady. If you had a lit
tle capital, now, you’d get along first
rate.”
Gljnn did not answer his conjec
tures’ as to bls (Glynn’s) financial po
sition; he felt terribly disappointed
that Lambert had made no confession
of tangible difficulties, and yet be
was brimful of some trouble which
he could not bring himself to confess.
At dinner, some hours later, he ei
ther was more cheerful or assumed
a livelier aspect for his daughter’s
benefit. She seemed to accept the
Improvement as real, and the evening
went quickly. With the help of mu
sic and conversation Lambert toward
the end seemed to forget his troubles
and was more like himself. At part
ing Elsie gave Glynn an eloquent
glance expressive of thanks, of mu
tual understanding, which sent him
away charmed, restless —longing for
their next Interview, yet full of dread
for the future.
The next day as he was leaving
his hotel he ran against Deerlng, who
was coming In. "I am off to Vichy
to-day,” he said. ”1 thought I should
Just let you know. I ought to have
gone a week ago, but I met some peo
ple that amused me; Lady Harriet
Beauchamp and Wedderburn you
know them, I suppose? Shall I find
you here when I return?”
’’That depends upon the length of
your visit.”
“Oh. about a fortnight.”
"I shall hardly stay so long."
"Good-bye, then. Don’t forget
Denham in August. Lady Prances
will be delighted to see you.”
The very atmosphere seemed light
er and brighter to Glynn when Leer
ing was safe away. Lambert wag
visibly relieved, and his daughter re
flected her father’s mood.
These were delightful days. The
quiet harmony of the present made
Glynn regardless of the future.
There were moments when his hes
itation disappeared, and Glynn was
almost resolved to make Elsie his
wife If she would have him; but that
vague cloud of mystery was a bad ac
companiment for married life.
It was about ten days after Glynn's
return, and he was debating In his
own mind tho prudence and advisa
bility of a retreat while he had still
some command of his own will. Din
ner was over In Lambert’s pretty
salla a manger. Elsie ha! left her
father and his friend to talk and
smoke for the laay, comfortable half
hour which succeeds the evening
meal.
"Miss Lambert is looking quite
herself again,” said Glynn, his Imag
ination too full of her to resist
speech.
’’She la," returned her father.
"That Is because I am brighter; but
I am not out of the wood yet—not
yet.” He was silent for a moment or
two, puffing vigorously while he
thought. "Ay!—many an anxious
thought she costs me. I'd give a
good deal—all I possess, life Itself,
to know she was safe and In better
hands than mine. Glynn,, lam going
to prove the confidence I have In
you. We are men of the world, Bnd
can talk to each other without fear
of misunderstanding."
“It’s coming at last," thought
Glynn. "You may be sure that any
thing you like to tell Is safe with
me,” he said aloud.
”1 know It.” He rose, lifted the cur
tain which hung across the doorway
leading to Elsie’s little study, as
sured himself It was unoccupied and
the outer door shut. Then he re
sumed his seat, and placing his arms
on the table leaned toward Glynn, and
began In a low voice, which, as he
plunged deeper Into his subject, grew
clearer and louder. “Look here, now,
I don’t see why. when I am In Rome,
I shouldn't do as Rome does. I know
you’ll meet me In my own spirit. If
you like what I am going to propose,
well and good; If not, there’s no
harm done. First of all I suppose
I am right In concluding you are not
married—that you are free and Inde
pendent!"
“I am,” said Glynn, greatly sur
prised.
"Then what do you say to settling
yourself? Yon are old enough. You
are six of and thirty, I guess.
Now, If you are so disposed, I’d die
happy If I sMw you married to my
Elsie.”
• Glynh started at this bold proposi
tion; yet dating at the eager eyes,
the earnest face, the slight nervous
twitch In the Ups which had Just ut
tered It, he felt strangely moved.
"Don't answer all at once,” con
tinued Lambert; "I calculate there’s
a goodtsh bit more to be said on the
subject. I know this sort of thing
Isn’t our fashion, but'l am too un
easy about —ah! about the future, to
wait for the chance of my Jewel meet
ing the right man, and life Is uncer
tain —mine especially. I wouldn’t
give her to you empty handed,
either.”
"Why, Lambert, you take my
breath away! In the first place, I
don’t fancy Miss Lambert ever wast
ed a thought on me, except as to how
far I might be of use to you.”
"I know that; lam sure of it. If
I thought she was in love with you
I don’t think I could speak out like
this. No, love hasn't come into her
heart yet, and you are too much a
high-minded gentleman to try and
rouse It; but she could love well;
and look here, I have saved up and
Invested nearly five thousand pounds
—l’ll make It five full—that would
be a nice lift to whatever business
you are In. You see how I trust you.
I don’t care If you have a struggle;
Elsie Is no foolish, extravagant doll.”
“Pray hear me,” Interrupted Glyun
with difficulty; “so charming a crea
ture as your daughter wants no make
weight to recommend her; she would
be a treasure In herself to any man
of taste and feeling. But I do not
wish or Intend to marry for a consid
erable time to come,” he continued,
with Increasing firmness, quite deter
mined not to yield to the suggestion
of another what he denied to the pas
sionate craving of hlB own heart. "As
you say, we are men of the world,
and can discuss such a question cool
ly and fairly without, on my part,
the smallest Infringement of the
warm respect and regard 1 feel for
Miss Lambert. There are circum
stances—reasons on which It la un
necessary to dilate—which forbid my
entertaining your flattering and at
tractive proposition."
"Suppose I guess what they are,”
said Lambert, eagerly rolling up a
Cigarette, and scattering his shreds of
tobacco as he did so, "You'rs a bit
of a swell, I calculate; yon are
among a desperate set of respectable
city bosses. Hear me now; I’m not
thin skinned. I know I’m not the
sort that would go down with them,
and you know 1 was a queer lot once.
Well, If you take my Elsie, I'll go
right away; I’ll never ask to trouble
you or her. What matter what be
comes of ms If she is safe?—oh, God!
safe with an honorable, kind man.
who would give her a peaceful home.
Ay, Elsie, I love you well enough
never to see your sweet face If I
could earn peace and security for
you!”
‘‘And do you think she would love
a husband who could part her from
such a father as you are?” asked
Glynn, deeply touched.
’’But she should never know,”
eagerly; "I’d Just go away on busi
ness, and stay away, and she'd for
get; she would always have a kind
thoaght for me, but the new love
would fill her heart; and If you tried
to win her she'd love you, I am sure
she would! Now, can’t It be, Glynn?
—can't It?”
"No. It Is with deepest reluctance
I Bay It. If I can in any way serve
you or her, command me; but unfor
tunately for myself this cannot be.”
There was a short expressive si
lence; then Lambert 4 said. In an al
tered tone: "Anyhow, there is no
harm done; I am sure you’ve some
good reason, and we’ll not bo the
worse friends because w can be
nothing nearer.”
"Certainly not; and for my part I
have a higher esteem for you than I
ever had before; I trust, however,
that you have no serious cause for
uneasiness about your daughter. If
her little fortune Is secured, these
are too prosaic times for daring and
villainous lovers, murderous conspir
ators, or other dramatic dangers.”
"Ay, civilisation Is Just deep
enough to hide the devils that work
underneath It. I had one or two
things to tell a son-in-law that, may
be, I had better keep to myself now.”
“I sincerely hope that you will not
look on me as the less warm a friend
because I cannot unfortunately fall
In with your views; you do not wish
me to absent myself?”
“Far from It,” Interrupted Lam
bert. “Be true to me—be true to
her; maybe by and by you'll have o
good wife that might befriend my
girl; she has no one In the world be
longing to her but myself, and I be
gin to fear I am a broken reed."
"My marriage Is a remote contin
gency,'' said Glynn. “Were you In
London, I could Introduce Miss Lam
bert to a somewhat peculiar but kind
hearted woman, a connection of
who would most probably be Inter
ested In her—l was going to say
charmed with her, only It U hard to
answer for the Impression one wom
an may make upon another.”
"Everything is hard,” remarked
Lambert moodily, as if to himself.
"Well, let us forget this fruitless
palaver, and be as we were. I am
quite sure you are ready to do me a
good turn if you can—lf—Ah! I
hear Elsie singing. Come along, let
us forget our troubles for a bit over
a game of baccarat.”
But Glynn did not attend to bis
cards, his head was la a whirl. He
was Infinitely touched by the uncon
sciousness of the songstrees, who re
ceived them with the soft composure
peculiar to her, which had In It so
much womanly dignity. How little
she dreamed that the man whr
thrilled tr her touch, who drank in
the bones of her voice greedily, had
refused to share hit life with her —
had rejected the chance of winning
her, for Glynn acknowledged there
was a "con” as well as a "pro” In
the case. He had survived the age at
which men think they have but to
ask and they must receive.
"Oh, Mr. Glynn," said Elsie, sud
denly turning to him, "Madame Da
villlers begs you to take a ticket for
a ball which Is to be given at the
Louvre Hotel, for the benefit of an
orphanage under the direction of Sis
ters of St. Vincent de Paul. Madame
is one of the committee."
"I shall be very happy. Are you
going?”
"Yes, that is, if my father can
■pare me.” She rose as she spoke
and turned toward Lambert, who was
sitting in an attitude of deep dejec
tion, his cards lying on the table be
side him.
"Dearest,’’ said Elsie, stealing to
his side, and laying her cool white
hand on his brow, “does your head
ache?"
"No, no, not much;” then with a
sudden Impulse, "you love your dad,
then, though he Is a rugged old
cuss?"
Elsie smiled, an exquisitely tender
smile. "So well, that nothing and
no one could make up for the want
of him.”
Glynn was struck with her words.
Could she by any possibility have
overheard her father's proposal, and
his refusal? Such an Idea was ap
palling. But no, It was quite Impos
sible.
s, * CHAPTER V. " < s
Vanished.
Glynn was far from being satisfied
with his own decision. Elsie's face,
her eyes, the quiet grace of her figure
and movements, were perpetually be
fore him. If Elsie loved him. then
he would dare all things; but she did
not. It would be bettor for her, as
well as for him. to leave her in the
tranquility of lndlfferenfce than to
awaken an Interest that could only
lead to trouble. So as It was Friday,
Glynn determined to go Madame Da
vllllers’ In tho evening, for the result
of his wise cogitations was a burning
desire to meet Miss Lambert to as
sure himself of her Indifference.
Elsie greeted him with a bright,
amused smile, as though his presence
suggested some droll Idea.
"I don’t see your father here to
night,” said Glynn.
"He has been called rather sud
denly to Dunkerque," she replied,
"but will return on Monday. Hu,
seemed in better spirits, and I think
the change will do him good."
“I hope so, especially as you reflect
his moods. You are looking more
like yourself than when I first re
turned.”
“Ah, 1 was very miserable then.
But one reason why I feel so much
brighter is that my father ha* prom
ised I shall go for a few months to
Mrs. Kcllett, to my old home. Wood
burn, and then we shall give up our
etage here.”
"And how will you bear the seclu
sion—the change from Parisian gay
etles?” looking earnestly into her
eyes, and wondering what motive un
derlay this sudden change.
“I shall like it very much; I should
like anything that would secure
peace."
Then he felt obliged to offer his
congratulations to Mademoiselle An
toinette, after which M. Le Vleomte
was Introduced, and It seemed to him
that half the evening was over before
he managed to return to Elsie.
"Are you going to sing to-night?"
“No; these gentlemen and Mad
ame d'ltalla will give us far better
music than I can."
“Not in my opinion; your singing
goes straight to my heart."
Elsie smiled and looked at her fan,
Glynn felt almost Irresistibly Im
pelled to tell her how charming she
was, but he did resist.
"I suppose I must not call while
your father Is absent." he resumed;
"and I have found some delightful
volumes lh Tauchnlt*. which I should
like to give you.”
"Can you not send them?" she
asked, looking at him with laughing
eyes. ”1 want books very much; no
one gives me books but you.”
"Then I must bring them myself."
“Why not? I shall be very glad
to see you; so will Madame Weber."
"Thank you! May I come to-mor
row?"
"To-morrow? No; to-morrow I go
with Antoinette to vistt the good la
dies able to tell me when we can go
to England."
"But you will return to Paris!”
“I do not know; nothing is cer
tain.”
“I hope you will promise certainly
to dance with me at this ball."
"Shall you be here when It takes
place?”
"Yes, certainly; nothing shall pre
vent me from being present."
A faint color flickered over Elsie’s
cheek, as If this resolution Implied
a personal compliment, and an
amused smile parted her Ups.
"Then you like dancing!”
"That depends. At any rate I
want to dance the first dance with
you at your first ball.”
Elsie laughed. "Very good.”
"And I suppose you are fond of
dancing?”
”1 love It,” earnestly.
“Does your friend Vincent dance
well?”
To be Continued.
A GREAT
REDUCTION PRICE
IN
CLOTHING
AT
J.Tom Smiths,
Maysville, Ga.
When in market this fall I purchased two large bills
i
of Clothing, one for this place and one for Cornelia,
thinking I would get into the new store room being built
at Cornelia for me before the Clothing could be made;
it is still unfinished, and as my present store there has no
room for Clothing I have to bring both stocks here. Con
sequently, I’m going to cut my profit off to unload these
goods. So if you are going to buy Clothing this fall you
will do yourself an injustice if you buy without seeing
mine. These suits are not made of mercerized cotton
mixed fabrics, but wool, and not made by sweat-shop
workmanship, but by tailors of long years experience.
It’s not necessary for me to waste time writing
about these goods. When you see them you will
be convinced this is the place to buy Clothing.
For instance,
$17.50 TO $20.00 SUITS
I SELL
FOR $15.00
$13.50 to $15.00 suits, I sell for SIO.OO. Don’t take
my word but come and see for yourself. Our daily
sales on this line goes to show that rrty prices suit
the short crop and low price cotton. Yours truly,
J. T. SMITH.
MAYSVILLE, GEORGIA.