New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-01

|
| On, yes! know all that answered the wife |;
| but am frightened. ion't like it, tell you. I
sn Ont think she is most likely to be an escaped
alone 6rst, at any rate"
.. "All ,rghtr cried her spouse. 3Ycu wait here
MT the foot OF the steps; Charlie and will 60 and
see about his mysterious friend.
me lady rose, and with renewed agitation began
10 retera1e her inc0herent apologies. The moment
at me; and passing swiftly behind me, whispered,
| by Jove. know her"
However astonishing these words were. saw that
81 have been told" said he, politely interrupting
her, the the, outline of your difficulty, madam. and
il you will say how can best serve you shall be
She Lesiatei. then said q / really have no time
to think si what would be best am deeply obliged
| Tor short time, and then let me leave by your
front door that is all | need to ask of you"
rs YOU like y tha s' stay ceptainy ~ ,ong
tinued he after little hesitation "but are you not
thsLare you not related to TIE Reverend-well, to
! the late Rector OF Detingdon, in Kent r.
it was now her turn to be astonished and may
| add, alarmed "Yesn was the prompt reply ahow.
how do Won know met To think that should have
| chanced III this extraordinary way upon the house,
and be seeking the protection of. perhaps-I hope
friend Of my late dear fathers; Is it sor
cannot exactly claim that privilege" he said
but 1t IS none the less astonishing. this conci-
dencc: In l mean that should know you; but you
She dropped back into tho chair from which she
| had risen again in her excitement, and, hiding her
face in her handkerchief. began to sob In minute
| she recovered herself and severed "Yes I was
married. aud that Is the cause.-The of all my
| trouble. Ii was the man married who recognized
| and pursued me this evening and to escape from
whom TOOK refuge in your garden. But cannot
90 INTO these mlseries," she went after pause
only, now you know who am. sir. you should be
perhaps ! might have guessed thus much if
had come TO think about it," said our host 1" for
should tell you that am aware you had disappeared
some time ago; and had been sought for far and
wide IN vain"
| She seemed somewhat to have subdued her agita-
ton now. andanswercd Well sir, rs say. Iwould
rather not speak further on this point. | think, if
you would kindly let me go out by your front door.
could get away unseen now" Once more she rose.
| But before co. she said. "may ask to whom
| am indebted for shelter under such very peculiar
| snch inexcusable circumstances | owe You q
thousand apologies aud. if you knew all, am sure
you would not regrct-you would forgive my in
"Oh" said my friend. you would not probably
| know my name II told you but cannot yet you
cab, or rather. can not see you to one for our
| road Is blocked. You will have to walk TO Mazda
Vale If you really wish to 60 and can be Of no
"Thank you no." she said moving toward the
| door. will walk NV sisters garb is all the pro-
lection need. except from one beng IN the whole
world. Some day. sir, perhaps you vii! know moro
-as-as you appear to know so much already of me-
though how you should puzzles me- but, II you will
| not tell me your name
"Oh" he interrupted here is my card I had
no desire to make a secret of that. but you won't
know the name. think" he added. rs he took from
| the same time, do you mind telling ne to what
sisterhood you belongT
She hesitated 1t is but fair. I own" she said
presently. but can trust You not to betray me to
/ to him. rs suppose you know hmT
"You may trust me- said my friend; make your
mind easy about that. .ncver saw your husband
| in my life"
With this he opened the dining room door. and led
the way through.the hal She followed. and after
telling him the order OF her sisterhood. poured ont,
| amidst renewed agitation, many moro apolog es aud
thanks. of which came IN for my share, until we
all three reached ,he front door. Then. without
another word she fled down the steps and vanished
| into the night.
"Well.' exclaimed my host as we returned, that
about q; nnny start should THINK as ever
r. Yes indeed should think IL was" said his wife,
whom we found at tho dnng-room door; heard
| every word that passed, William, as | stood ON the
! steps what does IL all mean y
| "Whnt IL all means" he slid-with m emphasis
on the all -" can't tell you, hut part of il per
| haps can only | want some soda water or some
| thing 10 drink first and 80 must you. Maud. my
| little csvcsdroppcr How dared you listen madam
| How did you know wha, you might not .ha ve
| heAri-some horrible secret, perhaps y and he
ON l don't want anything Ito eat or to drink
she said. 4" till have heard more abnnt this mys-
! terious woman. Who IL she. William Z"
| hut before william would say another word. he
insisted on refreshing himself, and tautalzingly,
continued to urge us 10 do the same At last we all
sat down. the lady in a fever of anticipation, we
| two men lighted fresh cigars.
| =" IL seems 10 me. began my Trend lcisuIely.
| "that we need not have gone 10 the play. II this
sort of drama was To be enacted in our own house.
! Upon my word II was very dramatic. and really an
Yes. yes get on" said his wife impaticntlv; do
| tell us what you know. You are too tantazlng'
My friend lwho, | should have said. is n solicitor
recommended: " It's not n long story: II Ii only
the prologue as il were but it rs all know. Per-
| hAps the play will develop into acts and tableaus
| we have certainly had one Tonight.
| About seven years ago had to see client
/ Hay auIo nm thp Dt az Tsp
we went 20 church. In the rectoTs pow there sat
one of the most amazingly pretty girls u was ever
my luck To behold. so beautiful. indeed was she.
that | shall never forget her face. rs proved to-
| night for our mysterious visitor was none other
! than the Same beautiful creature not the less
! beautiful now. am inclined 10 think. despite the
! sorrow which she has evidently passed through
having left its mark IL suits her sly lie OF face YOU
need not frown. Mandl. | knew her again N.
siantly. and Il was never SO astonshed in my life
| Well my client told me she was the rectoTs only
child. and n year two later he happened farther
| o. tell me that her father was dead. and that she
was married, he feared 10 great scamp who had
| an eye mainly 10 her property. which was consider
| able, and which she had full CONTROL sun
| later on lOnly just before we were married. Maud;
! my client said he had heard that thus beautiful
creature had left her husband, and was nowhere to
be heard ola mysterious disappearance. IN fact
| Some people said he had made away with her Tor
| the sake of her money, which no has also by tlls
time made away with. expect. Al any rate, she
could never be found never was found; as lar a.
| know-eyery bitW
a most lame and impotent conclusion" ex-
| claimed tho listeners in one breath but rs the
story-tel knew no more rs he again and again
ecarcd there nothing left for us but to go TO
| bed. which we did accordingly soon atterward,
| Mistress Maud with small show OF petulance
| The drama has developed into one or two acts
with several tableaus. but none 50 strong as us
opening situation. common fault wuh many pay y,
| | am afraid. | disappear from the stage AFTER th9
| prologue; therefore, Ike many actors. go f0upd
and take my seat tho front OF the mouse TIL the
curtain finally falls Briefly let me describe what
goes rs it comes to my knowledge while sitting
| rs may say, III my private box:
Three days only have elapsed between the pro-