The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-12-25
A WREATH OF ORANGE
BLOSSOMS.

breakfast, Grace came hurriedly into the
sitting-room in which Rowland was seat
ed. She looked scared and excited.
What is it, my deari" asked Rowland,
rising and folding her in his arms.
why, Rowland, what should you
thinki 1 cannot hnd my wreath"
"Your WREATH Why, is it not in the
boxT'
mo, the box is empty"
"StrAngei Well, you must have mis-
laid it,"
mo, indeed; that would be impossible,
for previous TO my accident it was in the
box, and 1 placed it in my trunk and
locked it."
"Are you suref'
'-Oh, quite. recollect that showed
IT to Ethel, and after that 1 put it away
again"
"Well, that is most extraordinary. How
on earth could it have vsnishedf Did
you lock your trunkf But there, no ono
would take such thing as wreath Of
orange blossoms. 1t is, putting it in the
words Of the advertisements, of no value
except to the owner Had you not better
question the servantsT
al will, little later on, but 1 don't
think it will be Of much use Surely none
Of them would tamper with such . thing.
i"
At this moment Sir Rowland entered,
followed by Mrs. Dsnvers.
Rowland" said his father, shave you
seen anything Of Ethell"
This morning7"
"Aye, my son"
"No, indeed. In fact 1 have not seen
her since yesterday morning"
"Nor l." said Grace.
"Gracious Heavens!" cried Sir Row
land, "where can the girl be Z"
MY poor childT moaned Mrs. DAnvers,
falling into the nearest seat.
"what has happenedf" asked Rowland,
amazed beyond measure.
''She is not in her ROOM" said Mrs.
I Danvers, "and her bed has not been
/ touched.
..Surely you are mistaken cried Grace,
turning very pale.
mo, no. There is no mistake, she has
gone-gonew
"Goue But where would she got I"
The maid now appeared at the door,
her apron to her eyes, and in one hand
she held letter.
"Have you examined her boxes 2" asked
Sir Rowland.
Yes sir. But there are no dresses
missing Everything is in the same
place as put them yesterday morning,
after assisting her to put on her white
satin But in one Of the boxes 1 found
this letter." handing it to Mrs. Danvers
1T is addressed to you, madam"
Mrs. Danvers eagerly took the letter
md tore it open.
All bent over her, and suddenly Grace
and Rowland uttered cries of astonish-
ment.
And well they might, for the first thing
Mrs. Danvers brought forth was long
tress of shining dark hair.
There could be no mistake about it all
recognized it as Ethers.
! Around it was a slip of white paper,
and upon that these words:
ITO ROWLAND SAXBY,
This keep in remembrance OF me-"
Mrs. Danvers sank again into seat
Handing the letter to Rowland, she re-
quested him to read it.
Her eyes were blinded with tesrs.
Rowland did as desired, and in . Low
voice read as follows:
DEAR MorHER.-Ere this letter is in your
hands shall have left you never to return
Alb, mel You, and you alone, knew how We.
1TuIy row ssh, d. nIIDs Dv' hr bsaS
And oh, to think hat my love was 50 totaill
ignored for Grace Why is it that he love. ne,
not now. 1t is past ] have taken my reso We
Without him, lifs Is not worth having. Blu
not only does he not love me, but one whom Il
one time did, loves mo not He scOrne me be
cause I-but that 1 will leave him 10 spesl
ago Rowland gave Grace a wreath OF orange
blossoms. They were worn by mis- mother oi
the day she was married, aud be INTENDS
! Grace to wear them on her wedding day. Blu
she will never wear them. NeverI Whe
next you see me- you will find them liked trrr
ErHEI-
"FaroweuI May Heaven have mercy uPo
deathlike silence prevailed for som
few moments, broken only by the sobs c
Mrs. Dsnvers and Grace.
At length Sir Rowland, rousing him
self, cried:
"Rowland, quick, order the servants
search the house, and assist yourself.
viii go and collect the keepers and "
will search the grounds"
And search they did, and no one va
more eager than Leon, but they searche
) in vain.
} When night came on, unknown to Mr.
) Danvers, the lake WAS searched, but u
; there was no sign of the missing Ethel.
She had vanished completely, bl
: where7 Attired as she was, it was ceI
: tain she could not have gone far.
Alas! The party at BleIley House w'
r suddenly plunged from happiness In
D gloom and misery.
. CHAPTER VII.
Another week passed away. SearC
had been made in every direction 4
Ethel, advertisements had been scAtter'
, broadcast over the country, calling up'
her in endearing terms to return.
> From the time Of Ethers disappearan
! Mrs Danvers had been laid upon b'
4. of sickness-ay, and dying, slowly b
surely, of a broken heart.
One evening, or rather night, Sir Ro'
! land and his son, Leon, and Grace Wi
her mother, and numerous guests, we
!. seated in the drawing room discussil
: the advisability of employing the servic
:. of experienced detectives. when the foC
man announced that one OF the gam
Z keepers wished to see Mr.. Rowland
once.
''Show him in," said Rowland
The man hastily entered. but no soon
had he done so, than the gun he was CO
|. rying dropped with loud thud to t
y floor. He was violently agitated. a
u looked around at the guests with frigi