Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-06-07
CHAPTER TX.
FATE FINDS THE MAN.

Once in the drawing room, Jack Gra-
hams loquacity returned.
AS the hour of his departure from the
house drew near, Miss Bentley felt more
kindly disposed toward him.
She thanked him with charming grace
for his visit. and for the trouble he had
taken on Mrs. Harcourt's account.
No trouble at all. Miss Bentley" Jack
replied. heartily. / assure you that I have
spent the time SO pleasantly at lockwood,
that it more than compensates me for the
Journey"
While they were talking, Ada was seated
on low stool at her aunts feet. She had
weary expression on her face. which Jack
| observing, said he hoped she was not i'll, to
T which Miss Bentley replied that her niece
had slight headache.
| At this point, Mrs. Harcourt uncon-
sciously sowed more of the seeds which
were destined to produce such unexpected
results: and in this way:
Standing by the piano arranging some
music, she happened to come across Sc
lection from certain opera by French
composer. With her the opera was IA
vorite one; this led her to ask Jack Graham
If he knew anything aboutit.
He answered that he did. and began to
hum an air from it forthwith.
lio. Luz OOuAV . iCAo IuOoeaOu Woo WlOeA-
er be knew certain operetta by the same
composer.
He replied that he knew it very we'll.
Could he tell her, then, how the little comic
duet at the opening of the second net went?
He thought he could-he tried to hum it
but failed when in the middle of the mel
ody.
Jack had good ear, but he was mo- mu-
stefan.
The tune had been bothering Mrs. Har :
court for weeks, aud, to appear obliging, he
said he would try and pick up the notes on
the piano.
He tried. accordingly, iesting meaning at
his bad playing.
All this was entertaining to Mrs. Har-
court, but very uninteresting to the others;
particularly to Ada, who, hlving headache,
and being greatly fatigued, came nigh fall
ing asleep as she sat at her aunts feet list
ening to Graham's effort.
Jack, striking a false note. laughed very
| loudly, and turned his eyes from the piano
| to where Will was sitting, with jest re-
| garding the false note on his lips
The jest was never uttered. however. His
| eyes fell on Miss Wentworth's motionless
form. For a moment he gazed at her fixed
ly with pale face and trembling lips.
Will was tho only one who noted the
| CutuSo III Juek lbCoS anu u6 ulOuo huoW
the cause Of it,
Miss Wentworth" he said, impulsively
Ada opened her eyes.
"Yes, Mr.. Tryfoil, she answered.
Will asked her trivial question, keeping
| his eyes, as he asked it, on Graham's face
He saw Jack start, as though he had Just
| been awakened from some horrible dream
and then speaking few words APOLOGIZE.
cally to Mrs. Harcourt, Graham left the
! piano.
Neither Miss Bentley nor Mrs. HARBOUR
had noticed this incident-which we ma,
say began and ended in IN instant.
From that moment until that of his de-
parture, Jacks boisterous tongue gave wa,
to inexplicable silence. Previously hi
voice had drowned all the others. Now
was scarcely audible. for when he spoke NJ
| did so in an uncertain whisper.
The singular appearance OF Miss Went
worth, when in repose. had clearly pro
duced profound impression on him.
1t was manifest, too, that he was anxious
to leave Hazelwood House.
The perverted mind of this brillian
drunkard had grasped q new idea -quicl
as tho lightning's hash--one of his big
deep ideas that he was SO fond of chucklinG
over. But his thoughts were so intense
this time that they got the mastery over
him.
Three or four times. with less than an in
terval of minute between each, he looked
ut the timepece. When it pointed to 0
quarter of ten, he rose from his chair sud-
denly, and interrupted Miss Bentley, who
was speaking.
Il am always nervous about catching
trains, he explained in an embarrassed
manner, as though be expected to be con-
tradicted by some one, Il wouldn't miss
this train under any circumstances. |
really think your timeriece is SLOW, Miss
Bentley. Tryfoil. how does fellow get to
The station?'
Will said he would accompany him.
"Nonsense" cried Jack, wiki an awkward
laugh. You don't imagine shall be fright
ened of the dark roads. do your
Scarcely; but think that you will lose
your way il do not 80 With you"