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A DREADFUL TEMPTATION. "8
note ef warning in her tones that was distinguishable only
to hercars for whom it was intended, ‘‘ here isan old friend
wnom we all thought dead. _ Bid him welcome.”
- Kenie arose, languid, careless, pale as a ghost, yet wear-
ing a gracious smile for the eyes of the little social world
that watched her keenly.
' He took the half-extended hand in his a moment, and
powed low over it, touching it an instant to his mustached
ips.
‘*T kiss the hand that smiteg me.” he murmured in her
ear, sarcastically; then turned aside to greet Lord Dudley.
Fervent congratulations were exchanged between these
two, who had been ocean voyagers together, and who had
parted on the deck of the broken vessel, expecting to meet
again only upon the other shore of eternity.
‘*T am dying of impatience to hear how you were rescued
from’ the horrors of that terrible shipwreck,” said Lord
Dudley. ‘ ‘‘ Is the story too long to tell us to-night?” .
‘“‘Itis a long story, but it may be toldin a few words,”
said Howard. ‘‘I was tossed about forsome time, clinging
desperately to a slender spar, then picked up by a blockade
runner bound for Cuba. .
‘‘This, in turn, was captured by a Spanish war vessel. I
remained a prisoner of Spain until such time as the vessel
put into port, and I reported to our American consul in
that country. .
‘*He immediately wrote to America for the necessary
papers to prove my identity as a citizenof America. These °
elng obtained and examined, I was released, after atedious
delay, and came home as fast as wind and tide could carry
me. There, my lord, you have the whole story in a nut-
shell.”
‘‘ And avery interesting one, too, I doubt not, had it been
related in detail. I heartily rejoice that you were saved to
tell it,” said Lord Dudley, with interest.
Then he added, as if some afterthought had suddenly
struck him: ,
‘* And, Templeton, the lady—who came over in yourcare
—wwas she also saved?” ;
Templeton started, and flashed a hurried glance at Xenie.
_ She was toying with her jeweled fan, and looking away
as carelessly as if she had forgotten his existence. —
He did not know that she was listening intently to every
word,
He looked back carelessly at the nobleman.
** Yes, she was rescued with me. We clung to the spar
together. I would have lost my own life rather than that
frail and helpless girl should have perished !”
‘‘She returned with you, then?” said Lord Dudley.