Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-01

surprise cross her face. and she glanc-
ed inquiringly at Mabel. who answered
w III II reassuring nod. As soon as
could get an opportunity | took Col.
Armitage aside, and whispered to him;
For heavens sake. Armitage. l am
mad? That is the girl" He shook
me impat emily by the shoulder and
said: ''Pon my my word. Bruce. |
begin to think you are. That is one IF
the incest girls know. She is engag
eel To Lovett. OF the-th, and they are
TO be married soon after Easter For
goodness sake don't go and brighten
her by staring like Il deaths head"
II can't take her down To dinner"
| said. Il should be sure to make a
fool of myself somehow.
Very we'll" he rejoined. 'you can
take in Mabel and will arrange it. :"
So it was. but though 1 was some
way from Miss IIildyard. / couldn't
help watching her and picturing how
differently had first seen her face l
longed to coniide in Mabel. but Col
Armitage's Injunction silenced me; and
she, with gentle tact, forebore to re-
mark my evident disturbance, and talk
ed easily on Indifferent subjects till l
Indeed, so charming was she that at
last the demon Of superstition was sue
cessfully exercised. and / could talk
and laugh like any body else.
After dinner even ventured TO ac-
cost Miss HIldyard, whom | found very
agreeable, with nothing in the least
supernatural about her; so once more |
made up my mind was the victim of
1. ~ 4
resolved TO think of it no more. Well
time passed; | was obliged To say
goodby to my kind friends with much
regret Ohough il was tempered by a
whispered assurance from Mabel that
might come and see her in London)
and returned to my duties.
One day soon after my return l was
driving down st. James Street in a
hanson with my young brother. when
| discerned IA figure in the distance
walking before Us which seemed fa-
miliar. The back was only visible. but
somehow l knew that tall figure those
broad shoulders. that alert regular
stride.
AS we passed he turned his face to-
ward us. and good heavens. it was he.
my guide that terrible night at Medli-
colt | could not be mistaken in those
features, those eyes. though they had
lost the wild, hunted look / remember
ed so we'll
Was / awake or dreaming?
l stopped the cab. to my brother 8
intense surprise, jumped out. with
what intention | hardly knew. and
rapidly followed him. He turned up
King street and went into house.
opening the door with latch-key and
shutting it behind him | remain ed
hcsitating-what should 10 next? [
decided on ring NJ the bell; it was
answered by decoreas- looking ser.
want.
"What is the name of that gentle :
man who has just gone IN here''
mir. Lovett. sir. of the-th. was
the reply. felt stunned. Surely this
was more than coincidence!
The servant locked donbtfully AT me
Want 10 see him. sjr?" y 10"
stammered. quite uuable To make up
my mind. Fortunately at this move
meat my hanson. which had followed
me, came up, and jumped IN. leaving
the man gazing after me. At that
moment. in his opin on | was clearly
"a su table patient for Colnrv Hatch!
Now. what shall do? Shall call
on Mr.. Love,t and speak to him. or
shall | warn Mss Hldvard? What
proof had what ght. perfect
stranger, TO interfere W TN the private
concerns of two people whom | had
never met never even heard the name
of before?
Besides. after all. what had | to tellp
The dream Of "A disordered magma
ton! | should only be laughed at for
my pains and treated with incredulity.
But, again. ought | to keep such an
extraordinary occurrence from the
knowledge OF the two prime pal actors?
thought over this question til my
brain reeled. and finding at last that
every one to whom | dared confide
either treated the facts rs Impossible
or laughed me to scorn at the notion
IF thinking seriously of believing such
n wildly imaginary case-I decided to
let things take their course, and be
guided by circumstances.
week or two passed. | had seen
Mabel several times, add at last had
ventured on asking her that question
on which all my happiness depended.
need not describe here my JOY at re-
ceivng the reply longed for from the
sweetest lips that ever breathed.
implored for Il short engagement. and
her mother being tender hearted old
lady promised l should not have to
wait long. and our marriage was
settled to take place as soon after
Easter as possible.
In the meantime ! waited as patient
ly as might be, spending my time be-
tween business in London and flying
visits to friends for hunting etc. un-
ill a week before the dav that / felt
sure would secure my fe-long hapyi-
ness.
One morning 1 received note from
some friends in the Isle Of Wright
asking me to come down for ball at
Ryde. As had nothing particularly
to do. and Mabel was away on a visit,
accepted the invitation and went
down the same day.
found my friends had taken rooms
in the hotel and were large and
livelv Marty I'm tine eyeniuU tho