Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-13

81 81 "
1t seas the first time ,ce had parted for an
hour.
As wished her good-b l remembered
that my own business would take some time
"If am not very punctual, you won't mind
waiting!' l saiu.
mo, l shall like it, Eustacs will be
there, and | nave so much to saw to him
SO much to ask him. Don't hurry, Julian"
fanciei that Viola wished to see Eus-
tace Grant alone, if possible in order to
persuade him, as she had trie1 to persuade
ne, that we hal only to know more of each
other to be like brothers. She could not
understand the gulf between two men who
love the same woman. | thought it was
well she should see him. He would make
clear to her the impossibility of anything
like friendship existing between u.s. Just
as l was about to bid the coachman drive
off Viola looked at me with little pout l
knew its meaning. l pa 'Sed my head
through the carriage window. My Shout
ders insured strict privacy. Then light
kiss fell upon my lips. and word OF love
passed between us. L llnger on these trivial
evidences OF affection. 1t will soon be seen
why
watched the carriage which held all l
loved join In in the broad stream of traffic
Then lighted my cigar, and, tie happiest
man in England, walked over to my solic-
itor's.
My business took even longer than | ex-
pected it would. There was much to dis
cuss. Whatstock could be settled as it stood
what should be sol Cut-who were to be
trustees-what was to nippen in thu event
OF V ola's death: was she to have power Of
appointma mt or nots A sort of questions
like this had to be ventilated. The conse-
quence was that when l glanced at my
watch found it was nearly l O'clock. l
told my solicitor l must Iefer giving in
structions for nv will until to- morrow. |
jumped into a cab and drove to Lincoln's
Inn Fie Is, No. 36, ready to make the full
est apelo yes for my unplnctuality.
went up stairs, found Mr.. Monk office,
and sent my name in to him by his clerk |
was invited to enter his private room. Mr.
Monk was busy with some pap2rs
You will find YOU frienis in the mex.
room, M. Lorraine" he said Il will JOIN
you III a moment
The clerk opened green baize door,
through VIII On passed, AMI founi myself
in another otlica. In it, however, We're no
signs OF Viola and Gran. | returned to
M, Monk, and told him they were not
there
Then they must have grown tired of
waiting for on, and have gone Tor q st roll
There Is door watch opens into the pa
sage. No doubt they went that way You
must sit down and take your turn at wait.
ing, Mr.. Lorraine"
i waited half an hour, then determined to
go in search of them 1t was impossible
had - ,1l-
down into the street and as1el the driver
OF the brougham if he had seen the lady.
yes. sir; she went by about an hour
ago with tall gentleman.
Which wayf'
81 don't know, sir. saw them hail cab
and drive off. Iddn't notice in which di
rection they went"
Why IN the world should they have taken
a cab, when the brough ham was at the door2
was very cross at the thought of Vlola's
driving about London in a cab with Eustace
Grant; but, as The brOugham was still wait
ing at No. SO it was clear that they meant
to return. After all, the best thing | could
do was to wait. As vet, not a thought of
she truth had venturei to invade nv brain.
So | waitel on the pavement outside Mr..
Monks office for at least an hour longer
SILL no sign of my wife l grew nervous
and anxious Surely some accident must
have happAnef-somethmg that obliged her
to go straight to the hotel But even then
Gran, would have come 20 let me know it.
S i'll not a thought of the dreadful truth
But where could she be!
jumged into the br ugham. and drove tn
the hotel. No; Mrs. Lorraine was not there.
drove to Miss R1ssier's Viola had
teen there IN the morning. but had left
about II 80 o'clock. did not see Mss Ros.
sitter, who, was sorry to hear. was III in
bei. As last resource. l drove to Grants
house and asked for HIM. H. was out.
Had not been home since the morning.
Quite uncertain when be would return
1t was now past O'clock Anxious and
annoyed. ] could do nothing but 20 back tn
the hoe and wait my wife's return. Still
not ID ught OF the truth.
spent the rest of the afternoon and evan
ing passing from the hotel to Miss Rossitar's
from there 10 GRANTS lodgings, and from
Grants lodgings back to the hotel Only
at one Of these three places could hone tn
find tidings OF Viola, Repeatedly as | had
called, it was not until nearly IL o'clock
that found Eustace Grant at home
Blu r. nov | was in a different mood
shall ! 'ame1 for saying that this long
and unexp' aimed absence of vio,a's in com.
pany, 1t seemed, with Grant, brought hor-
rible dread which 1 scarcely dared to
breathe to myself! The news that Grant
was at last at home lifted weight from nv
heart He would BE- able to tell me when
and where he parted with Viola No do,St
he hal message for nae which would clear
up every thing.
But although Mr. Grant was at home
the servant informed me that he would see
no one tonight l made no comment on
tins denial simply forced the door open,
and, putting the frightened servant aside,
strobe through the hall and entered the
sitting room in which Grant had, on the
night when / first met him, Intercepted
me. 1t was empty. l threw myself into
chair. and waited until some one made