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A DREADFUL TEMPTATION. 8D
‘Lora is perfectly happy, I believe,” was the confident
answer.
‘‘Ah, Lam very glad. Her story has been as romantic
asanovel. Iam pleased to hear that it has ended in the
‘same happy fashion.”
Then she turned.to Mrs. St. John.
‘‘Xenie, I expect you were surprised to find me here this
morning. You must have thought——”
She paused here, a little disconcerted by the steady fire
of the proud, dark eyes that gravely regarded her.
‘Ah, well,” she resumed in amoment, witha little laugh,
“‘Thave been sadly vexed with you, Xenie. Who could
help it?’ I had been so proud of you, and hoped such great
things for you, I could hardly bear it whenI learned to
what length your passion had carried you.”
‘She paused in sheer pity as she saw the blush of shame
flashing suddenly into those white cheeks.
‘‘ Well, never mind,” she continued, with a significant
smile. ‘‘ Allis not lost yet. We will not recall the past.
But I wish to talk to your mother. Won’t you gather a
bunch of your beautiful roses for me, dear, while we have
our little chat?”
Glad of an excuse for leaving the room, Xenie turned.
away, followed by a smile of blended triumph and cunning
from her maneuvering aunt.
She ran down the marble steps at one side of the house
that led into the beautiful rose-garden that lay glowing
and blushing under the balmy sky of June.
Running down the graveled path, she stopped short very
suddenly, and a low cry escaped her lips:
,‘‘ Howard Templeton!”
CHAPTER XXVII.
A GENTLEMAN, standing alone beside a marble fountain,
turns with a start and looks at her. His face is handsome,
eager, agitated. - .
‘Mrs. St. John,” hesays; then a strange constraint seems
to fall upon both. They remain standing still and regard-
ing each other in painful silence.
It is the first time they have met since the day of her ter-
‘ rible humiliation, more than two months ago. In the pas-
sionate war they waged he had been the victor. One would
think that he would meet her now with words of exulta-
tion. .
Yet he is silent, and a dark-red flush creeps slowly up his
temples, while his handsome blue eyes regard her with a
strange intentness. —
To the ‘day of his death he remembers her as she looks
14262. 25KE whens