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~ the room.
Bd WILD MARGARET,
every day. Who knew that old Tortesque was -married?
We all thought him a bachelor, and yet he’d had a wife
seven years! I’llhelp youallI can. Ican’t-do less, hav-
ing given you my advice to keep the thing-a secret from
the earl. Of course, I’d rather not have anything to do
with it, but’’—he shrugged his shoulders—‘t you can’t re-
fuse anything oa man who saved your life, you know!
Have some more wine?”’ .
‘‘No, thanks; no more,’ said Lord Blair, jumping up;
“Tl take a stroll in the park. I want to think it all over.
T am to see her the day after to-morrow, to know if Iam _
to be the happiest or the most miserable of men. Ah,
Austin, if you could only see her!” | - :
‘“‘T hope I may have the honor soon,’’ he returned.
“They say that when a man marries, his wife always
hates his most intimate friend. I hope it won’t be so with
your wife, Blair, T must -confess.”’ . 7
‘Margaret is incapable of hating any one,” said Blair;
she is an angel, and angels can’t hate 1f they try! Aus-
tin, old fellow cynic and woman-hater as you are, you |
will admit- that I have some reason in my madness when
' you see the girl Llove,”’
“T dare say,.said Ambrose. ‘‘ Well, good-bye! Come
and tell me how it all goes.”
‘‘ Of course,”’ said Blair, getting his hat and stick. _
‘‘ By the way,’’ said Ambrose indolentily; ‘‘ this is quite
a secret at present, isn’t it? You have not told any one
but me that you have ever seen this young lady?”
‘‘It is quite a secret if you like to call it so,’ said Blair. ©
‘“*T have told no one.”’
“I can’t help thinking you were right,”’ said Ambrose. _
. “If I were you I would not open my lips to any one.”
Lord Blair nodded, but his face grew overcast. oo
“TI do hate all this mystery,” he said; ‘‘ but 1 suppose
you are right. What TI want to do is to take her hand
and stand: before the world and say, ‘Look here, what a
prize I have gotr ” —
“Yes; very nice of you,” said Austin Ambrose, ‘‘ butas
we concluded that it is your duty and policy to keep the
world in the dark: for the present, the best thing you can
do is to say nothing to anybody.’’
*'Yes,’’ said Blair; * very well,’’ and he strode out of
Austin Ambrose sat and listened to the firm, decided
step as it died away on the stairs, then he rose and paced
the room with slow
face set like stone. .
‘It’s risky!? he muttered at last. “It may fail, and
then— But it will-not fail! Blair is easy enough to
and measured tread, his hard, cold ° .
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