The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-08-01
THE DIARY OF ANNE
RODWAY.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER II.
CONTINUED.

CHAPTER IL.
CONTINUED.
May LIST. On getting indoor last
night, the FIRST thing I did, after strik.
ing a light, was to take the ragged era.
vat of the candles and smooth it out
on the table. I then took the end that
had been in poor Mary's hand out Of
my writing.desk, and smoothed tha.
out too. It matched the torn side oi
the cravat exactly. 1put them togeth.
er, aud satisfied myself that there was
not doubt of it.
Not once did I close my eyes that
night. A kind Of fever got possession
Of me--a vehement yearning to 60 on
from this first discovery and find out
more, no matter what the risk might be.
The crsvat now really became, to my
mind, the clue that I thought I saw in
my dream-the clue that I was resolv.
ed to follow. I determined to 60 to
Mrs. Horlick this evening on my re.
turn from work.
I found the News easily. A crook :.
backed dwarf of = maa was lounging at
tho corner Of it. smoking his pipe
Not liking his l'oks. I did not enquire
of him whore Mrs. Horl,ck lived, but
went down the News till I met with a
woman, aud asked her. She directed
to the right number. I knocked at
the door, and Mrs. Horlick herself
lean, illtempered, miserable looking
woman-answered it. I told her at
once that I had come to ask what her
terms were for chariDg. She stared at
me for a moment, then answered my
question civilly enough.
"You looked surprised at 4 stranger
like me finding you out" I said. II
first came to hear Ct you last night
from relation Of yours, in rather an
odd way" And I told her all that had
happened in the ch.ndler's shop, bring
ing in the bundle Of rags, and the cir.
cumstauee Of my carrying home the
candles in tho old torn oravat, as often
a. possible.
cts the 6rst time Two heard o1
anything belonging to him turning on,
any use," SAID Mrs. Horliek, bitter.
y.
"What, the spoilt OLD neck-handker.
chef belonged TO your husband, did
it p said at q venture.
"Yes; 1 pitched his rotten rag Of 4
neck Handkerchief into the bundle along
with the rest; and 1 wish I could have
pitched him iu after it." said Mrs. Hor
lick. "I'd sell him cheap At any rag
shop. There he stands, smoking biz
pipe At the end Of the News, out Of
work for weeks past, the idlest hump
backed pin in all London -
She pointed to the man whom I had
passed on entering the News. Ny
cheeks began to burn and my knees tt
trembls ; for I knew that in tracing
the oravat TO its owner I was advancing
= step towards = fresh discovery
I wished Mrs. horlick good even
ing, and said l would write and men
ton the day On which I wanted her.
What 1 had jaat been told pu
thought into my mind that I was afrait
to follow out. I have heard peopl,
talk Of being light.headed, and I fel
as 1 have heard them say they felt
when I retraced my steps up the News
My head got giddy, and my eyes seem
ed able to see nothing but the figure O.
the little crook. back man still smokin,
his pipe in his former place. I ooul'
see nothing but that; { could think Q
nothing but the mark Of the blow o.
my poor lost Mary's temple I know
that I must have been light-headed
for ~ came close to the crook -backe,
man, I stopped without meaning it
The minute before, there had been o.
idea in mo Of speaking to him. di'
not know him to speak to him. dit
not know how to speak, or IN what way
it would be safest to begin. And yet
the moment I came face to face will
him something out Of myself seemed Il
stay me, and to make me speak, with
out considering beforehand, withou
thinking Of consequences, without
knowing, I may almost say, what word
I was uttering till the instant whsl
they rose to my lips.
"Wheo your old neck.tie was torn
did you know that one end Of it weu'
to the rsg-shop and the other fell int
my hands?" I said these bold word
to him suddenly, and, as it seemed
without my own vii! taken any part il
them.
He started, stared, changed color
I4e was too much amazed BY . sudde,
speaking to find an answer for me-
When he did open bis lips twas to 60!
rather to himself than me:
"You're not the girl"
"No," I said, With strange ehoak
ing At my heart. "1'm her friend
By this time he had recovered hi
surprise. and he seemed to be axar
that he had let out more than b
ought.
"You may be anybody's friend yo'
like."s he said brutally, 80. long 4
you don't come jabbering nonsens
here. I don't know you, I don't IN
dsr,taad your jokes" He turue