The Mineral argus., 1884-10-23

spell over the scene; broken az Last'
however, by little scream from Madge-
what is it, 1 heard something
moving. Is it abogeyor Cousin BabF
cousin BabF And Trever, indlg-
nant lest Bah should have been listen
ing. went through the portieres into the
painting room, the moon, as 1t were,
followed him.
"No one to be seen-on into the gar
den he passed. Barbara was II her
/ room; he could see the reflection of her
form on the drawn blind. Instead OF
returning to the spot where he had left
Madge he walked down the garden and
called her to come to him. "The night
was so beautiful, the moo so bright,
he said, sit was better there than in
doors"
From the garden they stroIled into
an adjoining wood, along a pathway
leading to the village where Miss
Craigie dwelt. The vicar was her un-
Gle, and she was on a visit there for a
while. Nor did they come back to
Trevor's cottage that evening; on the
contrary he went into the vicarage and
stayed talking to the vicar till past 10
o'clock.
dOW ne 6uOulQ tel OdA IhaA AC
was absolutely engaged to Madge
| Craigie puzzled him not a little during
his walk home, and probably would
have engrossd him even more had not
his thoughts been diverted from
it by almost a feeling of annoyance
that his Madge should be on friendly
terms with the half brother whose very
name was never mentioned In Heath
field Cottage.
When he reached home all was silent
as the grave; the glass door leading
from the sitting-room TO the garden was
aiar, as Miss Craigie had left it when
she Joined him, the lamp was still burn
ing on the writing table, everything
was as she had left it. No-the draw
was still wide open, but the papers had
! been touched. He noticed it at q glance;
those which had attracted Madge Graf
gie's attention, with Wilfrid Lanes
name on them, we're gone.
Pearly drops burst forth on Trevor's
brow as he perceived it, and staggering
into the seat which Madge had but re-
Gently quilted, he remained there for a
time immovable. What did she know
of Wilfrid Lane was the question he
asked himself over and owe again.
Were tine details of this mans shame
full past known:to her-had she aught to
do with them? Could it be possible that
she had made the excuse Of sending
him away In search of bogles, while she
possessed herself of letters and docu-
ments inculpating Wilfrid Lane? No
no-the thought was madness.
Yet the papers were gone, and that
they did inculpate Wilfrid Lane very
heavily there was little doubt, since
more than one of them was a forgery OF
his half brothers name, and it was by
the holding of them that Trevor sue
oeeded in keeping the vaurien out OF
England. and his own hearth and home
in peace.
Cousin Barbara's warnings against
Miss Craigie rose like spectres into his
mind. and would not be chased away,
let him struggle as r~esolutely as he
would. Madge and none other had
been in that room, and the papers were
gone-the case was conclusive. And he
had promised to marry this woman
What should he dol GO to her as o o as
possible, accuse her straightforwardly OF
the theft, demand the return ofthe stolen
1 DdDGIHs anu NlCn bPAAh NO Ah-0C 80
ever from his heart.
That was the decision he arrived al
while he sat gazing at he open drawer,
and the clock struck four before he at
tempted to go to bed.
To bed, but not to sleep; and when he
met Cousin Barbara at breakfast he
looked pale and haggard, and was very
silent, while Bah grumbled away in hel
usual style over the thousand and one
petty annoyances which she managed tC
find at every turn.
At last Trevor rose and took up his
hat.
"Going out, Trevor, instead of tt
work?"
He leaned over her and kissed her
cay, only for a little while, dear cousin
| I shall soon be back, and we will have
some long hours together in the painting
room"
"Yes-silent hours, while you ar
dreaming of that Miss Craigie's false
b~switching face. You'll rue it, Trevor
you'll rue it, as I'm a living woman.
/. "He was gone, but her words followed
him all through the woods; seemed tx
be echoing through the leaves.
In the vicarage garden stood Madge
fresh and pure and lovely looking, in tn
t daintest of blue musIins. She kisseC
her hand to him when from some dis
, tcnce she perceived him, and he scarce
ly returned the salutation as coldly a
e he intended, for at the sight of he
more than half Of his suspicious seemed
g to disappear.
Her love a sham, her kisses but t