San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-09
A WREATH OF ORANGE
BLOSS OMS.

At this moment Sir Rowland entered,
followed by Mrs. Danvers.
Rowland said his father, shave you
seen anything of Ethelr
This morningr
"Aye, my SON."
mo, indeed. In fact have not seen
her since yesterday morning"
.Nor l." said Grace.
"Gracious Heavens" cried Sir Row.
land, "where can the girl beT
my poor child" moaned Mrs. Danvers,
falling into the nearest seat.
"what has happenedT asked Rowland,
amazed beyond measure.
s.She is not in her room," said Mrs.
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-gone"
"Gone. But where would she got /"
The maid now appeared at the door,
her apron to her eyes, and in one hand
she held letter
"Havc you examined her boxes 2" asked
Sir Rowland.
Eyes 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 l found
this letter." handing it to Mrs. Danvers
at is addressed to you, madam"
he LAT
and 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 a long
tress of shining dark hair.
There could be no mistake about it; all
recognized it as Etheps.
Around it was slip of white paper,
and upon that these words:
ITO ROWLAND SAxBY,
This keep in remembrance Of me-"
Mrs. Danvers sank again into a seat
Handing the letter to Rowland, she re-
quested him to read it,
Her eyes were blinded with tears.
Rowland did as desired, and in a low
voice read as follows:
DEAR MoTHER.-Ere this letter is in your
nis i shall have left You never t. return.
en- truly, how passionately 1 love X WAND.
[R wland started, and Grace hung her head
And oh, to think n I my love was 50 totally
isnored for Or re. Why Is It that he loves her
81 well, wonler2 Well. well, that matters
not now. 1t is past. ] have taken my resolve.
Wi bout him, lifs is not w'rth having. But
not only does re not love me- hut one whom at
one time did, loves me not He scorns me be-
eau o I-but that will leave him to speak
alb mt il he thinks proper. Mother, some time
ago Rowland 9 we Or zee a wreath of orange
bios omS. In were worn ty his mother on
the day shs WIS married, and he intended
Grace to wear them On her wedding day. But
sIc Will never wear them. NCverl When
next you see me, you will find them fixed firm
ly upon the brow of your unhappy daughtcr
ETHEL
FAREWELL May Heaven have mercy upon
me-"
A deathlike silence prevailed for some
few moments broken only by the sobs Of
Mrs. Danvers and Grace.
At length Sir Rowland, rousing him
self, cried:
Rowland, quick, order the servants to
search the house, and assist yourself. l
will go and collect the keepers and we
Will search the grounds.
And search they did, and no one was
more eager than Leon, but they searched
in vain.
When night came on, unknown to Mrs.
Danvers, the lake was searched, but no,
there was no sign Of the missing Ethel.
She had vanished completely, but
wheref Attired as she was, it was GER
tain she could not have gone far.
Alasl The party at Blexley House was
suddenly plunged from happiness into
gloom and misery.
CHAPTER VII.
Another week passed away. Search
had been made in every direction for
Ethel, advertisements had been scattered
broadcast over the country, calling upon
her in endearing terms to return.
From the time Of Ethers disappearance
Mrs. Danvers had been laid upon a bed
of sickness-ay, and dying, slowly but
surely, OF broken heart.
One evening. or rather night, Sir Row
land and his son, Leon, and Grace with
her mother, and numerous guests, were
seated in the drawing room discussing
the advisability Of employing the services
Of experienced detectives. when the foot
man announced that one Of the game
keepers wished to see Mr.. Rowland al
once.
"Show him In" said Rowland.
The man hastily entered. but no sooner