Under False Pretenses

[CONCLUDED.] Hext day , as she was sitting alone in the back parlor, Ann uncereinoniously opened the door and said with a deniure drooping of the corners of her mouth: "A gentleman to see you, Miss 1don. Shall I show him in here?" Vera sprang up, trembling with excitement. "No, no! You have made a mistake. The visitar must have asked f or your mistress. I have no acquaintances in Boston" "I think Miss Lyndon will make one exception to the sweeping assertion," interrupted a musical, well remembered voice; and thrusting the maid aside, Capt. Haxton stepped forward with outstretched hands. Vera sent one quick, frightened glance into his smiling, handsome face. If she had feit any lingering doubts as to the feelings he"inspired, they were now set forever at rest. She shrank from his touch with an irrepressible shudder of disgust. The maid had discreetly withdrawn. "The country lost all attractions for me the moment you went away," Vera's unwelcome visitor said, in a significant tone. "Pardon me for following you so Boon. The impulse was so strong upon me I could no longer resist it." The ghTs dismayed eyes flew in the direction of the door. What if Mrs. Wallingford should enter? or Herbert Falconer? This man knew who she really was. He would certainly betray her. And to have the revelation come first from his lips would be ruin. "Please go and leave me, Capt. Haxton," she cried, clasping her trembling hands. "Go at once. Indeed, indeed I cannot see you here!" "Why not? I have so niuch to 6ay to you, Vera." She did not wait to hear it, but flew past him to the door, her one desire to escape as quickly as possible from his hated presenoe. He was too late to intercept her. Livid with disappointment and rage, he could could only cali out, as she fled wildly up the staircase: "I won't be baffled like this! You must appoint some time and place when and where you are willing to grant me an interview." Vera sped on to her own room without replying. Locking the door, she flung herself on the couch, where she weptand sobbed miserably for many minutes. "O what shall I do? I can't have that man coming to Roselawn. Something tells me he is not an acquaintance of whom grandmother would approve. And just now I would not for the world do anything to offend her. At the very least, he would exposé the deception. Indeed he may have done that already!" She started up in affright at the thought; then feil back again, weeping more bitterly than ever. Her apprehensions were somewhat allayed when she stole tirnidly down stairs an hour or so later. Mrs. Walhngford greeted her just as usual. The respite was of brief duration. The old fears returned with redoubled force the next time she met Ann Briggs. The girl's marnier, with its curious blending of insolence and patronage, told her plainly that her secret was known to one inmate of the house. Of course Digby Haxton had told her; and, if so, the two were allies. "I will go to grandmother and make a full confession," she resolved. "There is no helü for it now. But not today. I feel half sick - I am not equal to the eflort." The following afternoon she was in the back parlor with Mrs. Wallingford. Vera looked pale and nervous - she had made up her mind to improve the opportunity and clear her guilty consciöncc Just as the words were trembling for utterance the door bell rang sharply. Footsteps crossed the hall. She heard voices- Herbert Falconer's and the Bweet, silvery tones of a woman. "Tbis is wholly unexpected, Mis9 Lyndon." It was Herbert who was speaking. "Aunt Wallingford had Riven you up. But, of course, she will be delighted that you chaneed your wind at the last moment." . , Vera's heart gave a fierce, frightened bound, as if it would leap out of her body. She fairly held her breath. "I was detained by the dangerous illness of a friend,"' the velvet soft voice answered. "Your cousin from Baltimore has been with oe a little over a week." "My coiu-in from Baltimore?" The inflection of surprise was very marked. "I refer to Miss Viola Lyndon. Perhaps you were hardly aware of her exBtence? It is such a long distance from Maryland to New Hampshire! And the fortúnate few generously endowed with this world's goods are rather apt to neglect pooi' relations." A cold perspiration broke out thickly upon Vera's forehead and around the corners of her mouth. She waited breathlessly for the words that would exposé the fraud, but they were not spoken. The new corner, the real Viola Lyndon, had shifted her position, and was now visible through the half open door. A proud, haughty looking lady with blonde hair and cold blue eyes. Her beautiful red lips opened to speak, but they closed again without an audible sound. An inscrutable expression crossed her fair face. Eviilently Miss 'iola Lyndon was a young lady gifted with wonderful nerves and rare self control. She entered the parlor leaning upon Herbert Falconer's arm. Mrs. Walliugford barely touched the Blender gloved hand she extended. "You are Vera, I suppose?" the old lady said, coldly, her grizzled brows gathered in a frown. "I don't know what led me to invite you to Eoselawn; but, of course, you must stay, now you are here. One of the rear rooms will begood nough for you- coming f rom a I dated oíd farm house destitute of the bare comforts of Ufe. I shall instruct my housekeeper accordingly." The cold blue eyes flashed a searching glance over íhe younggirl shrinking and cowering i.i tKe elvet depths of the big arm chai; at Jira. Wallingford's side. She bit her lip. There was a moment's dead silence; then she said, sweetly: "Assign me to any room you please, grandmother. It does not Riatter." Then she glided to where poor Vera sat, her face utterly colorless with misery and dread. "Are you my Cousin Viola? It is an unexpected pleasure to meet you here." Vera lifted her wild white face in utter bewilderment. She feit sick and giddy; there was a strance rineing in her ears. What did it all mean? That Viola had suddenly made up her mind not to betray her? But why should she show such unexpected forbearance? It was very strange. Vera could never clearly recall what followed. By and by she seemed to waken out of a nightmare dream to flnd herself in her own boudoir, walking up and down in a f renzy of excitement. "What a poor pitiful coward I am!" she moaned. "Any one with a partiële of moral courage would have confessed everything the moment Viola appeared upon the scène. Now, because of my silence, I am in a worse predicament than ever. What could have been my cousin's object in keeping up the deception? O how my heart misgives me! In what a web of my owa weaving I have entangled myself." Presently a knock carne at the door. Ann Briggs stood there, grinning maliciously. "Miss Lyndon would like to see you in her room alone, please." Vera went gladly. Perhaps something could be done to set matters right. Of course that was what the summons meant. It was a small, shabbily furnished apartment, very different from Vera's elegant suite. Viola had taken several silk dresses from her trunks and flung them over the chairs and on the bed, where they glistened in rainbow beauty. Two or three jewel cases were open on the dressing table. Viola stood in the midst of all this splendor, her thin lip curling scornf ully, a vivid spot of scarlet in either cheek. "You have seen fit to borrow my name and identity," she said, haughtily, "and now I offer this finery for your acceptance. You will need it in order to keep up the cüaracter you nave assuiueu. Vera's face blanched, her eyes filled. Suddenly, with a burst of hysterical sobs, shë flung herself at lier cousin's feet. 'O forgive - forgive me!" she pleaded. "It was very wrong to deceive grandmother; but I meant no harm by it. I only wanted to teach her to love me for myself . You know how unjust her strong prejudices make her! The imposture was a sudden thought- I never expected to keep it up like this." And she briefly related the manner in which it had all come about. Viola tened attentively, a cold blaze of scorn in her beautiful blue eyes. "Of course, it was a strong teniptatain," filie said, her voice sounding strangely harsh and pitiless. "Don't think I blame you f or yielding to it. My wardrobe is at your service. As I have no ob-jections to changing identities for the present we will keep our secret and let the farce go on." Vera utter a shrill little cry. "But I donot wish it to go on! Nothing could induce me to wear anything of yours. Oh, Viola, let us go down to the parlor this minute and make a clean breast of it." Viola thrust the kneeling girl rudely from her. "Hush, you foolish child. Since you have involved me in this deception it becomes my privilege to decide what shall be done. I shall rather enjoy masquerading as the penniless country girl. It will be a new experience - give me au opportunity to learn who values me for my real self. I forbid you to make any disclosure without my permission. "Will you accept the loan of the silks and jewels?" 'No, never!" ■Asyouplease," with a shrug of her dainty shoulders. "I am not sure but tho role of sweet Bimplicity suits you best. Now the imposture has been gun, I arci resolved to keep it up, however." Vera begged, wept and pleadsd, but Viola renaained firm, declaring her wishes should be respected. She had a reason for this course. ünder her haughty coldness of demeanor lurked a vein of romance. She thought it would be so delightf ui to win Herbert Falconer's love In an assumed character; then startle him by the declaration that it was the heiress, not the poor country girl, to whose heart he had been laying eiege. The day wore slowly on. Too miserable to remain quietly in her own room, orioin the group in the parlor, Vera glided like a shadow down the starre and ?nto tho grounds just as twilight was deepening into night. She had only been there a few minutes, walking restlessly up and down, with the ruffled hair pushed back from her hot forehead, when a man suddenly confronted her, starting up from beside the path. "Capt. Haxton!" she cried, involuntarily, and stopped short, as if turned to ice. "Hush, Vei-a," he said, almost in a whisper, glancing apprehensively toward the house. "I have been watching for this opportunity since yesterday. It was only out of respect for your wishes that I refrained from asking for you at the door. You must know why I persist in coming here." Vera put both hands to her side, but answered not a word. "I love you better than ever, my darling, and wish to renew my offer of marriage. That beast of a dog cannot now come between us to stem the torrent of tender words I would pour into youx ear" He stopped hort. This time his eloquence was interrupted by a more formidable adveraary tlian Bruno even. Eerbert Falconer carne suddenly round an abrupt curve in the path. He recognized Vera's companion and 6tood still, staring at him in breathless astonishment a moment. He had turned quite palé and his breath carne quickly. "You!" he uttered at last, in the deep tones oí concentrated fury. "What are you doing here, fellow?" Capt. Haxton was visibly dfecomposed. "I came to pay my respects to Miss Lyndon, who ís au old friend," he said, attempting an air of easy assurance. Herbert glanced searchingly from one to the other. Even his lips were white. "May I ask where you made Miss Lyndon's acquaintance?" "In Baltimore - last winter," Haxton answered, coolly. Vora tried to sneak - exposé the able falsehood; but her stiffened tongue refused to perfora its office. Herbert's eyes flashed dangerously. Suddenly he strode forward and seized the gallant captain by the collar. "You hound! You unscrupulous adventurerl Leave these grounds instantly, and never show your face here again or it will be worse for you!" One swing of his powerful arm, and Digby Haxton was sprawling in the dust. He picked himself up, muttering curses under his breath, and beat a hasty retreat. Vera trernbled so she could scarcely stand. The stern pallor of Herbert Falconer's face as she stole a quick glance up at it quite terrified her. "Shun that man as you would a leper," he said, in a hard, cold voice. "He is not fit to stand in your presence." Vera attempted to speak, but sobs choked her utterances. She submitted passively as he drew her hand within his arm and led her back to the house. She could not even confess how grateful she feit to him for putting an end to the unpleasant interview. "I trust you will choose your friends more carefuüy in future," were his parting words, as he left her at the door. Vera gained her own room, ana nung herself prone upon the floor. "I wish I were dead!" she sobbed, despairingly. "1 believe he thinks I really care for that wretchl O this is the bitterest blow of all! Capt. Haxton knows of the deception, and something tells me he will take advantage of it." She was right, though the next two or three days went by uneventfully. U ader happier circumstances she would have been amused at Mrs. Wallingford's supercilious treatment of Viola under the impression that she was the ious country girl. INOtmng v 101a sam ui did found favor in the bigoted old lady's sight. But Vera carried too heavy a heart under the surplice folds of her muslin bodice to enjoy the ludicrous side of the little subterfuge. The marked deference with which Herbert treated her cousin did not help to lighten her spirits. He rode and walked with her, they sang duets together and seemed on the most friendly terms; but the young man had seldom a pleaeant word for poor Vera. "I see how it is all going to end," she pondered miserably. "The truth will come out, Mr. Falconer wiü marry Viola, and I must go back to poor mamma with grandmother more violently prejudiced than ever. Oh, I wish 1 hadn't come!" She shrewdly suspected Viola"s motive in keeping her secret, and that made her more unhappy than anything else. One morning, half a dozen words she overheard while passing the open door of the music room, where Viola sat at the piano with Herbert standing close beside her chair, caused her to pause involuntarily. "I am ai'raid my cousin is a deceitful, designing creature." It was Viola's soft, Bilvery sweet voice. "One of the maids tells me sne is in tne nauiv ui mccw: lover, a low, disreputable fellow, secretly in the grounds. And I might make Btül more damaging disclosures concernjug „er - only the time has not come when I feel tree to teil all I have found out." Vera did not linger to hear the response. One disparaging word from his lips would fail like a blow upon her heart. That same afternoon Ann brought lier a sealed letter. It was from Capt. Haxton, making an appointment to meet him in a public square half a inile away. "Do not think to escape me," the letter said. "I love you so well I am resolved to make yon my wife in spite of all position. What else can you cío airer involving yourself in such a predicamento If you tai] to be at the place designated, I shall deern it my duty to proceed at once to Roselawn, and make Mts. WaUingford acquainted with certain facts of which shois now ignorant." Vera read the letter twice over. She had grown first red, then pale. Suddenly her resol ve was taken. She rang a sharp peal at the bell that brought theubiquitous Ann in hot haste. Sinee Capt. Haxtoni3 such afriend of yours. you may bo willing to tako a message to him," she said, calmly, though witli flashing eyes. "Teil him I dislike him so intensely nothing could induce me to become tus wite. lie niaue a miatake in resorting to threats to accomp .ish his purpose. Bid bini Uo his worst. Ihe sooner the whole truth is known the better." Ann looked disconcerted for a moment. Such plain speaking was unexpected. Butsheonly nodded her head, smiled exasperatingly and withdrew. Afterward, Vera locked the door and sat down and cried as if her heart would break. Another day dawned and the imposture had not been exposed. Of course Capt. Haxton's was an idlo threat. He dared not show his face again at Roselawn. Oh, for the moral courage to teil Mrs. Wallingford all! But alas! poor Vera remeinbered baring heard her grandmother say she could never forgive or trust a person who had once deceived her. How could she confront her with the huiniliating confession after that? "There is but one course left me," she sobbed. "I wil! go home without saying good-by to any one, and leave a letter for grandmother explaining everything." Hardly had she made this decisión ' when EÏie discovered that one of her bracelete was missing- stolen, beyond a doubt. She distinctly remembered having laid it caref ully away in ite case the evening before. Her mother's treasure- one of the precious pair that matched the pearl broochl "Who can have taken it?" she gasped. "O what a misfortune! I cannot go without it. Poor mamma's heart would be broken." Just then one of the maids- not Ann, but another- appeared at the door. "Will you please come to Mrs. Wallingford's dressing room, miss? At once! Something has happened." Wondering at the message and the girl's troubled face, Vera hastened to comply with the request. Mrs. Wallingford was pacing excitedly about the room. Viola sat in a low rocker, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining with an unnatural luster. "I have been robbedl" the eider lady exclaimed, turning guddenly upon Vera, as the latter entered. "I put five hundred dollars in my desk yesterday, and now it is gone! You were present at the time, and must recall the f act." Vera thought of the bracelet. and feil back white and trembling, as if panic stricken. "I- I- yes- that is" Her stammering tongue suddenly grew stilL Viola was staring at her with a cold, steely gaze that fairly transfixed her. "See! her confusión betrays her!" the vindictive beauty murmured audibly. "I knew she was guilty of the theft." Vera sickened with amazement, horroi and aneer. But in a moment she had recovered herself sufficiently to epeak. Her cousin's meaning was only too evident. "What do y ou mean? How dare you suspect me of such a crime? A professional thief must have entered the house. I, too, have been robbed." "Of what?" "A pearl bracelet that belongs to my mother." Mrs. Wallingford started. With ashy face and hueless lips she crossed to the rifled desk in one corner, lifted the lid and took up a gleaming ornament. "Isthisití "Yes. Oh, I am so glad you found it!" Vera sprang forward with a glad cry and seized the bracelet, actually kissing it in her joy and relief. All at once she became aware that her grandmother was glaring at her with a fixed, stony expression. "The bracelet was in the same drawer where I kept the money. How carne it there?' "Let mespeak," cried Viola, excitedly, rising from her chair. "It would be wicked longer to hold my peace and screen euch a hardened wreteh. Grandmother, that girl has basely deceived von! She is Vera Lyndon- I am Viola! I let the farce go on because I pitied her. She is poor, and, of course, wishes to better her condition. Her only hope was to win your love; then you would forgive everything. But she does not deserve the consideration I have shown her. Look at herí fióte that guUtyflush! She dare make no enial." Mrs. Wallingford took a quick step toward the trembling girl, her hand menacingly uplifted. "Speak! One word. Is the accusation true or false?" "I am Vera Lyndon," the poor soul faltereil, involuntarily clasping her hands. "I did notintend to deceive you in the first place, but Mr. Falconer made the mistake, and I suffered it to pass uncorrected. Urandmotner. n you míe all I have suffered, you would freely forgive the imposture. As for the missing nioney"_ "No more- uot another syllable! 1 refuse to listen to you!" and Mrs. Wallingford biought her clenched fist down upon tlie table with a burst of rage. "You are your unworthy mother s own child! Go- leave ray house instantly, or I will have you taken in charge! Never show your false face here again." Qui rering with excitement the angry woman swept past into tlie private sitting room and locked the door. Viola' blonde face wore a look of malicious exultation. "Your hopes of inheriting your grandmother's wealth are f orever blasted. You had better return to your country home at once; spend your remaining days in obscurity." Vera made no response. The blow had dazed and almost stunned her. Mechanically, like one in a midnight dream, she put on lier wraps in the hall, and, waiting for nothing else, left the house. She could not remain another moment where such worda had been spoken to her- where she was bo cruelly suspected. The Btreete were full of bustling, happy Ufe. Vera walked a long distance, her head in a giddy whirL On coming to her senses elie found herself in a wholly unfamiliarquarterof the city- a shabby, dirty stveet, where forlorn tenement houses frowned at each other across the way. Presently a man emerged from one of the dark, noisome alleys, who uttered an exultant cry as he caught sight of her. . , "Well níet, my dear!" he exclaunetf, hurrying up. Vera uttered a terrified cry. It was Capt. Haxton. "Let me go!" she panted, etruggling to release herself from the flrm grip he fastened upon her arm. "How dare you speak to me? I hate you!" "Not bo fast, my dear," laughed the wretch. "You are scarely in a situation to put on Buch high and mighty airs. I could hazard a shrewd guess as to what has occurred. See here, Vera, I am really very fond of you. I have quite a sum of money here," slapping his breast pocket. "Five hundred dollars, to be frank. I am on my way to New York. Only come with me, and 111 make you my wife within an hour after we reach our destination." .... "You wretch! So you are the thiefl I wil! scream for help." Rut there was no need. Though she had heard no sound of hurrying footsteps, a tall, strong figure suddenly appeared beside her, and an arm shot out from the elbow in a well directed blow that laid her persecutor sprawling on the pavement. "Coine this way," said Herbeit Falconer"a welcome voice; and the half fainting girl feit herself drawn forcibly toward a more reputable neighborhood. "Never mind that f ellow, or his ill gotten gains. We are well rid of him at any price. Do you know, I once feared that you cared for him?" Vera's lip quivered. "How could you think that- the ardly wretch!" ■"(. matter. I know better now." Vira could only look up at him in grateful wonder, she was so perplexed. It had all come about so suddenly and unexpectedly. "Where - are you- taking me?" she faltered at length, as her companion halted to hail an empty cab. "Back to Roselawn." "Oh, no, no! I can't go tliere. You dont know" "I am not so blind as you think me," he interrupted, a mischievous twinkle in his handsome eyes. "I retumed from a walk ten minutes after you left the house, to find it in a terrible uproar. You had stolen five hundred dollars and fled, your loving cousin declared. I went straight to Ann Briggs and frightened a full confession from her lipa. She let Haxton into the house and put thebracelet where it was found. Of course the wretches meant to throw suspicion upon you- leave you to bear the infamy of the crime. But I had been on the alert for sorne time, and saw through their little game. Vera, you have given me a long chase, and it is a wonder I found you at all." "Vera!" she repeated, in a Btartled tone. "You know that secret, toof Falconer laughed merrily. "Certainly. I have known all along which was the country girl! You would never have thought of attempting the imposture if I hadn't put it into your head. I must bear the blame of that. Don't tremble so, darling," elipping his arm about her waist. "There is nothing tofear. You have accomplished your purpose. Aunt Wallingford has learned to love you tenderly- she told me so. And now she is waiting to welcome you home again." Vera's heart gave a wild throb of gladness, but she trembled more than ever. Thatone word, "darling," coming f rom his lips, was almost too much for her. When the happy young couple made their appearance at Roselawn, an hour later, Viola saw at a glance how mattere Btood between them. While Mrs. Wallingford was laughing and crying over them, utterly broken down for once in her life, she stole away and began packing her trunk with an envious heart. Today pretty Mrs. Lyndon is an honored inmate of the luxurious city home where her daughter reigns as mistress. Mrs. Wallingford has so thoroughly conquered pride and prejudice she would be at a loss to teil which of the two she loves best. THE END.