Jewel was expecting her lover that evening, and he came promptly. She thought she had never seen him so handsome, his brown eyes were so bright, his cheeks glowing with feverish color.
Artfully he led her on to talk of her past life, and at last said, curiously:
"Do you know, dear Jewel, that you have never told me the name of your birthplace?"
"It was Springville, Georgia," she replied, without a suspicion of the anxiety with which he awaited her reply.
But when he talked on indifferent subjects awhile, he took leave, and the next day she was astonished to receive a short note from him, bidding her a hasty adieu, as he had been called away from the city for a few days on a matter of business.
"He has followed her—he has gone to Washington to be near Azalia Brooke!" she exclaimed, angrily; and her eyes blazed with such intense jealous fury that she seemed on the point of going mad. A terrible purpose began to form in her mind.
[CHAPTER XLII.]
Jewel ordered her carriage, dressed hastily, and was driven to the residence of Mrs. Meredith.
That lady and her daughters were sitting cozily in their warm, luxurious morning-room, each engaged in a fascinating piece of fancy work, when Jewel was shown into the room.