y
transmitted to her brokers. She came to understand the game
thoroughly, and, while it was her heyday of glorious splendor, she
played hard. She had bartered every priceless gift of nature for
gold--and she made sure that the measure she received in return was
full. Her gaze was ever upon the approaching day when those charms
would be but bitter memories; and it was her grim intention that when
it came silken ease should compensate for their loss.

Ten years passed, and the Beaubien's reign continued with undimmed
splendor. In the meantime, the wife of J. Wilton Ames had reached the
zenith of her ambitions and was the acknowledged leader in New York's
most fashionable social circle. These two women never met. But, though
the Beaubien had never sought the entree to formal society, preferring
to hold her own court, at which no women attended, she exercised a
certain control over it through her influence upon the man Ames. What
Mrs. Ames knew of the long-continued relations between her husband and
this woman was never divulged. And doubtless she was wholly satisfied
that his wealth and power afforded her the position which her heart
had craved; and, that secure, she was willing to leave him to his own
methods of obtaining diversion. But rumor was persistent, maliciously
so; and rumor declared that the list of this envied society dame was
not drawn up without the approval of her husband and the woman with
whom his leisure hours were invariably spent. Hence the hope of Mrs.
Hawley-Crowles, whose doting mate had once fawned in the perfumed wake
of the luxurious Beaubien.

Carmen, whose wishes had not been consulted, had voiced no objection
whatever to returning to the Hawley-Crowles home. Indeed, she secretly
rejoiced that an opportunity had been so easily afforded for escape
from the stifling atmosphere of the Elwin school, and for entrance
into the great world of people and affairs, where she believed the
soil prepared for the seed she would plant. That dire surprises
awaited her, of which she could not even dream, did not enter her
calculations. Secure in her quenchless faith, she gladly accepted the
proffered shelter of the Hawley-Crowles mansion, and the protection of
its worldly, scheming inmates.

In silent, wide-eyed wonder, in the days that followed, the girl
strove to accustom herself to the luxury of her surroundings, and to
the undreamed of marvels which made for physical comfort and
well-being. Each installm