Nell of Shorne Mills

She clasped her hands and swayed to and fro for a moment.

"I see! It is your revenge. I once jilted you, and now----"

"For God's sake, don't say--don't think----No man could be so base, so

vile!" he said sternly.

She laughed.

"It is your revenge; I see it. Yes, you have scored. I will go--at once.

Open the door, please!"

There was nothing else to be done. He opened the door for her, and she

swept past him. Outside, she paused for a moment, as if she did not know

where she was, or in which direction her room lay; then she went

slowly--almost staggered--down the corridor, and, bursting into her

room, fell into a chair.

So sudden was her entrance, so tragic her collapse, that the nervous

Burden uttered a faint shriek.

"Oh, my lady! what is the matter?" she cried, her hand against her

heart.

Lady Luce sat with her chin in her hands, her eyes gleaming from her

white face, in silence for a moment; then she laughed, the laugh which

borders on hysteria.

"Congratulate me, Burden!" she said bitterly; "congratulate me! Lord

Angleford is engaged!"

Burden stared at her.

"To--to your ladyship?" she said, but doubtfully. "I do congratulate

you."

"You fool!" cried Luce savagely. "He is engaged to another woman. He has

jilted me! Oh, I think I shall go mad! Jilted me! Yes, it is that, and

no less. Oh, my head! my head!"

Burden hurried to her with the eau de Cologne, but Lady Luce pushed it

away.

"Keep out of my sight! I can't bear the sight of any human being!

Engaged! 'I am engaged to Miss Lorton!'"--she mimicked Drake's voice in

bitter mockery.

Burden started, and let the eau de Cologne bottle fall with a soft thud

to the floor.

"What--what name did your ladyship say?" she gasped, her face as white

as her mistress's, her eyes starting.

Lady Luce glared at her.

"You fool! Are you deaf? Lorton! Lorton!" she almost snarled at the

woman.

Burden stooped to pick up the bottle, but staggered and clutched a

chair, and Lady Luce watched her with half-distraught gaze.

"What is the matter with you? Why do you behave like a lunatic?" she

demanded. "Do you know this girl? Answer!"

Burden moistened her lips.

"Is it the young lady--who helped catch Ted--I mean the burglar, my

lady?" she asked hoarsely.

"I suppose so. Yes. Well? Speak out--don't keep me waiting. I'm in no

humor to be trifled with. You know her--something about her?"