Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-10
PREFERRED BY FATE
BY EMMA S. soUTHwORTH.
Copyright lsss. by Laird < Ls&

The widow was his attendant, for Carol could not stay in the house, such was the tumult of her thoughts in regard to Roger.
 But for the fact that Jack, for pruden- tial reasons, had talked of all other sub 1ects before his departure save tho one they were interested in, they might have learned that which would have fallen like a bomb between them.
 The detective was moro communicative, for his heart warmed to the widow as the one to whom he owed his life. He was Russian by adoption. but in reality was born Englishman, which accounted for his speaking tho language so properly.
 While he entertained the little lady with long stories of the American adventurer's doings in Russia, and how, falling under the ban, 1t was discovered that he was plotter against the life of the Car, the fact never leaked out that each of them had in mind far different parsonage.
 Thus the terrible mistake was allowed to become deeper, and the characters in our story drifted along as the stern de- cree of fate willed.
 He had mentioned to the widow the fact that the adventurer's hand had been branded when he was sent to Siberia, so that he was now compelled to always wear Q glove, but this did not seem so singular to the lady, for the fact re- mained that every time she had met Roger Darrel he had had gloves on; so she did not think 1t worth while to men, tion this part of the story to Carol, seo- ing that 1t confirmed the detective's ideas rather than disputed them.
 ,rb oh hoI faxxy times. she had been wonderfully i'm pressed by his manner and looks, and she had made up her mind that If these terrible charges against him proved true she would never trust man again, no matter what his reputation might be.
 Poor, broken-hearted Carol wandered out each day, waiting for that dread in- terview which was suro to come, and yet which seemed unaccountably delayed.
 What had become of Roger?
 He had said he would still be her friend, and yet to all appearances he had deserted her. Could it be he had made the alarming discovery that his secrets wero no longer hidden from them, and that he dared not face them? Perish the thought
 At the very time when these misty ideas were passing in review through the wearied and troubled brain of Carol Richmond. the object of her thoughts, poor Roger Darrel. was pacing his library like a caged animal, grooming now and then and showing every evidence of distress and despair.
 Try as he would, he found it impossi- ble to think of Carol without allowing his mind to dwell on love, and he was nearly frantic with the continued fight he had gone through.
 He had promised to be friend to tho girl he loved, and though this was easy to say, yet when 1t came to attempting it he found he had before him the most difficult task of his life.
 Tho detective gained in strength so rapidly that in few days moro he hoped to leave those who had stood so nobly by him, and start upon his trail of ven- geance.
 Whom the little widow came to know him she found that he was most agree able person, but his profession made him reserved, and this acted as barrier be- l tween them upon the very subject Tn which she was just then most interested. Her sympathies and motherly love were l of course all enlisted in behalf of her child, and she was in arms against the | man who, to all appearances, had caused such suffering to come upon Carol.
 She saw that the young girl had lost all interest in life, and her heart was sore within her, for she knew of no remedy | for disease like this. Carol was con- stituted very like her mother. possessing the same pride and firmness, so that in all probability there lay before her life 1 of suffering that was sad to contemplate.
 It would seem that the tide of pain and sorrow that afflicted these two innocent women had reached its flood, but this was not so.
 There yet remained in store for them ordeals that would try their courage and even the now bonds of love that linked them together.
 Singularly enough, two incidents hap pened on the same day that struck home to their hearts, and 1t actually seemed as though some unseen fate was moving on bearing them with 1t and gradually widen ing the chasm that separated them from those they loved.
 Though Roger Darrel had not yet made his appearance since the time of his sep aration from Carol, the widow knew he would soon come, and hence she was con tinually on the lookout for him. She hat promised her child not to say anything t< him. leaving the whole matter to her, ant whom she came to think about it she real ized that 1t was best.
 He came at last.
 The day was lovely one, with th' birds singing among the trees, and al nature looking beautiful. From the ia southwest bank of clouds was rising and soon a change would come over al this landscape, for storm was brewing Up the forest aisle came Roger, head
 ing strait for the old mill. Ills face wa
 pale and set, as though he had conquere'
 in his battle, and yet none knew bette
 than he how weak human nature wa
 when the hour of temptation came. The little lady saw him coming, an
 while she spoke to him pleasantly, he
 eyes were watching his face. She ga,
 the traces of anguish there, such as neve | rootad ,,nOn the conntanonna of 0,,ilt