A FRIEND INDEED.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6018, 8 December 1890, Page 4

A FRIEND INDEED.

[BY MAJOR ALFRED R. CALHOUN.]

CHAPTER X. SUB TBAI , TOE CHABLKa NOBTON IS SET. Wilson Oliver soon convinced Charles Norton that his mistake in supposing, that Bert Reeves had bcon in his private office ■wee entirely duo to tho perfection of Loo Park's disguise. "You must not ask rao about this," said Wilson. "Aβ soon as 1 am ready to toll why I havo started Loo on his track I will explain all Charlos had unbounded faith in his friend, and he dropped the subject. The next morning—it was a beautiful day in middle June—he said good-byo to his mother and started for northern Maine by way of New York city. Ho hiid just taken his seat in tho car when he heard the rustle of a dress, and looking up, he saw a young lady in a wellfitting travelling coeturm; taking the seat at the other side of tho aisle.

It did not need a second glanco to convince him that this was tho lady whom ho hud so often noticed iv the pow dirpctly in frout of that occupied b/ himself and his mother.

Ho had never heard tho beautiful stranger's name, and he was again wondering •who she could be, when his attention was attracted to a stout, military-looking man, ■with cloie-cropped jrray hair and a pointed white moustaaho, who took tho seat directly in front. This man was the " Count de la Montaigne,'' whom Charles had never soon before.

Tho man looked aboot tho car in the consequential way poculiar to many foreigners, but there was nothing in hia manner to indicate that he bad ever eeon Bello Jerome before.

Tho rar was so little crowded that nearly every passenger had a separate sont. Tho train was out of the depot, over the Schuylkill, and flying away through tho beautiful farming country to the north-east of the city, when Charles noticed that, tho Tonng lady across the aisle was making a bard but inoileetual effort to raise the window at her side.

With innate gallantry, Charles wont to her assistance, and as ho pushed tho Bash, ho asked :

" Shall I raise it all tho way ':'' " If you pleaso, sir," sho replied, in deep, rich contralto tones.

Ho adjusted the window as she wished it and as he turned to go back to his sestt he oould not but look into the wonderful eyes, and the color came to his cheeks as he saw her graceful inclination of the head, and heard her saying: " You are very Jdad, sir. lam sorry to havo troubled you." : Courtesy demanded somo comment; so ho raised hie hat, and said, as he backwd oui : " It is no trouble, I aseuro you." Back in hia seat again, and, although ho tried to think of something else, be could not banish tho eyes nor tho voice from hia memory. He did not dare to look at her again, though more than onoo he felt certain that she was looking on him. " I have seen her before, but who;is she F" he asked hiinnelf.

Hβ could find no answer to his own question, but he felt convinced that she was a brilliant, well-bred lady. Now, as on many other occasions when ho had seen her, sho brought Bert Reovos to hia mind iv a very (Unagreeable way. .Both had dark hair und eyes, both wero etrikiijar looking, but beyond thi« he could sea no resemblance, and co he attributed the suggestion of Bert Rcoves to his owu disordered imagination. He tried to iuterost himself in a magazine —tho young lady appeared to bo absorbed in the samo way—but ho could not fasten hie attention, not even on the illustrations. Without any other incident, they reached Now York, and crossed the river on the eatno ferry-boitt. The young lady carried n dainty handsatchel, and Charles reasoned that she had other baggage, from tho fact thuc she gave the expressman, who had come through tho train for that purpose, her chuck, and he ioard her say to him : " The Hotel Geneva."

The young lady was alone, and seomed to know »o one. but even on tho ferry-boat she sat opposite to Charles, and "till continued her wading. Thoy loft the boat and came up to tho lonir line of baokmen, wno shouted « ucl motioned with their whips as tho passengers passed out. Like one who knowa just whero sho is aoiaa Belle Joromo kept ahead of Charles till they oaino to West street, which, as usual at that time of day, was crowded with interlocked wagons, and as slippery as lo< lt tries tho norvee of a cool, strong man to cross this street; and a woman, oven if not nurvoue, iiudu it almout impodtible. 80110 Jerome burned on, und vriie it third of the way over whan eho found a huge pair of horses looking down oil her. Bhe started buck with an exclamation of alarii • her foot caught in the nearest cur track, nod she full heimly backward. Charles saw the danger and sprung forward, but he was too late to save her Quickly he lifted her up and carried her back to the sidewalk, her head fal ing over on his shouldor as if the were dosd. She had fainted; bee Pt°sed e y e Baud palo face showed that. The surging crowds spoko worde of pity, and Charles heard the stout military iaan saying , with a French accent: "lion dare no persong who knows ze lady and can her to ze hotel takes' CLarles did not know tho lady, but he knew something of her. .. It wiu not tho time for introductions, if such were possible, it was a question of humanity not of acquaintanceship. Ho recalled that ho hud heard the young lady tolling tho baggtige mau to send her tr"nk to tho Hotel Geneva, aud ho reasoned that this was her destination. Ho stated the fact hurriedly to the Frenchman, and added ; ~.,,, " If you will go with me, sir, I will take the lady to the Hotel Goneva and call in a d °For reply Count do la Montaigno nodded, and turning quickly, called a cab Charles was in the act of lifting in the injured woman, vbon a policeman appeared on the scone. , The oflieor demanded to know what was up, and, on being told, lie was about to eummonan ambulance to toko tho young lady to tbo Chambers Street Hospital, when she recovered sufficiently toy : « To the Hotel Geneva. These gentlemen will kindly eeo me there." The officer could not object to this. Charles placed his burden on the back eeat and was hesitating about taking a plaeo beside her when tho Frenchman sprang in and took a seat in front. Charles sat down besida 80110 Jerome, and tbo instant the curriagu darted off a-'am tho Muting raturnod and if he had not held her in his strong arms, she would have fallen forward. It was certainly a trying situation, and as the carriage rattled past the crowds of poople he in bin heart that tbo blinds were down. i-t.ii He had to submit to keeping her head on hie shoulder, aud he was forced to sapport her with his loft arm ; while tho If reuebman looked on t»s impassively us if this wero a matter of ovory-day occurrence with himself. , ~ BelJo Jerome's fuco was very pnls and her eyes closed, but tho weakness did not affect the deep carnation of her lips, nor tho rogular but heavy breathing. " Hotel Geneva !" shouted the driver, as he opened the door befuro a cosy littlo hotel on a side street, not far from Union Square. Belle Jeromo was now conscious, but she leaned heavily on the two men who eupport<jd her into tbo house.

iTO BK CONTINUED.!