The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-02-20

bosom forbade her to change her tactics.
The end of it was a desperate quarrel
between Constance and Theresa. and
Constance's hasty departure from
Shrubland in lage. On her part
Theresa vowed that she would never
have that deeeitful girl in her home
again.
Ali right!% Ernest had said; "if
you don't care about it don't"
But Theresa's jealousy once aroused
was not to be quieted by any such pre-
lenses as these. It was all very well
for Ernest to say SO, but his saying so
did not deceive her. Having once
thrown her influence over Ernest. Con-
stance she knew would not be satisfied
to resign her power so easily. She
didn't doubt but that Constance would
in some way or other contrive to see
him, and this morning paper had given
her clue to the means she had adopted.
Very well. Theresa. too, will be at
Victoria at IL noon.
The carriage had just returned from
taking Ernest to the station; it should
also convey her to the next train for
London. She would have sufficient
time to reach the trysting place by noon.
Victoria station, however, is rather a
wide, open place, not adapted for con-
cealment How should she so disguise
herself that she might witness the meet
ing unJbservede Then she remembered
that her Aunt Blake, who had been a
widow for couple of years, had left
behind her a widows cap, bonnet and
veil, having the opportunity of visit
to her niece to resume the ordinary cos
tune of womanhood.
Bonnets are not formidable things
nowadays; and Theresa put her aunt's
weeds. with a black Grape shawl, into a
travelling bag. She put on a black
dress with a white shawl over it, and
her usual travelling bonnet, that she
might not give rise to surmise at her
sudden assumption of mourning, end
then started off.
The clock showed five minutes to
twelve when she arrived at Victoria.
She hurried off to tho ladies' waiting
room, donned her bonnet, cap, shawl
and veil, and came out upon the plat.
form q demure widow.
Sure enough Ernest was there. walk
ing up and down. She gave a kind of
guilty start as he passed her, and he
looked rather hard al the young widow
with the nice trim figure.
"So.a she thought, that is the way
you look at young women when / am
not byPn
The next turn that she took she
started as she saw approaching her
from the opp )site side of the platform
the very double of herself. Black dress,
black Grape shawl, widows bonnet and
everything! She thought at the first
moment that there was a mirror oppo-
site her, and that she saw her own re-
tiected image But it was not so. The
lady threw up her veil and revealed the
features of Constance Brown. It was
only for q moment, and then she drew
her veil closely over Ler face, and max
ing slight gesture, as it seemed, of
caution, she made her way to the book
ing office, went UP to the porter, and
asked, in clear, loud voice when the
train started for Brighton.
Theresa glided into the Office by the
opposite door. The pretended widow
was waiting for her turn at the ticket
hatch. With the quickness of thought
Theresa ran up to the barrier. Agenial-
looking old gentleman was taking his
ticket
might / ask you, sir. to get me a
ticket for Brighton ?"
Most certainly, madam" said the
Old gentleman.
She grasped the ticket and hurried on
the departure platform, giving as she
went the same signal with her hand
that she had seen her double make Just
before.
Yes, he had recognized the signal and
followed her.
The train was just ready-to start, and
she hastily jumped in first-class car
riage. A gentleman jumped in after
her.
g Faithless fellow" she thought.
Constance, said a tremulous voice
at her side" dearest Constance.
You wretch ~ cried Theresa, sud-
denly unveiling.
But this effect was not what she an
ticipated. 1t was not her husband at
ali; it was Captain Potter, late of the
Plungers.
1t is now necessary to revert to the
proceedings OF Mr.. Black to account for
his presence on the scene.
Ernest had intended to take the news
paper up to town with him, having
been interested in an article he had not
tine to finish. But having with his
customary earelessness, left it behind
him, he bought another at the station,
and then the advertisement caught his
eye-" Constance to Ernest" Yes, he
knew what it meant.
Ernest Black ard Ernest Potter had
been schoolfellows and cronies in early
days; but their friendship had long
since decayed. Potter was reckless
spendthrift, who had been obliged to
leave the Plungers and sell his commits
sion, swamped with innumerable debts.
He had been an old friend of the
Browns, too, and Constance had for
merlys been infatuated with him; but
her father, who was a very violent,
self-willed old fellow, swore that she
should never marry such a scamp.
Constance had a nice little fortune ol
her own, and she had just come of age,
SO that if she persisted in throwing her
selfand her fortune away, there was nc
help for it. Still Ernest thought it was
his duty to stop it if he could. He fat
tered himself that he had some influence
over Constance: and if he couldn't pui
an end to the affair altogether, he might
yet prevail upon her to have all hel
money carefully tied up.
The advertisement meant an elope'
ment, Ernest thought-a clandestint
! marriage, and the sacrifice of a girl'l
| future to a worthless scamp. He would
be there, too, to save her if he could
At all events he found himself on th,
platform of Victoria station at noon
All! there was Captain Potter, as he ex
pected, stalking up and down, evidentl,
expecting somebody. Ernest didn't TAX
any note of. him; and Potter seemed
anxious on his part to avoid any recog
nition. But there was no Constance
! He kept. however, a sharp lookout OF
the captain, and, all of sudden b
noticed that his eyes lit up-and, turn
! ing quickly round. Ernest saw lady il
deep mourning pass into the booking
Office.
! Potter now took up position clos
i by the wicket that opened to the depar
/ ture platform, where the man stood tha
! punched holes in the tickets PRESENT.
! a lady in black rushed raoidly past
Ernest followed her few PAGES to as
| s,rehimselfit was not constance Brown
I No; the lady was of different carriag
and Egure from Constance more lik
his own wife, he said, with q jealou
pang that he laughed at himself the mex
moment for feeling. Whoever it was
she jumped into the carriage, and th
captain after her. The guard whistle,
off the train and Ernest turned away
- that % no 4 1,a<,. 80 ~, -, e Z