The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-10-18

| hOSer.
But for the fact that Jack, for pruden-
tial reasons, had talked of all other sub.
iects before his departure save the one
they were interested in, they might have
learned that which would have fallen like
bomb between them.
The detective was more communicative,
for his heart warmed to the widow as tho
one to whom he owed his life. He was q
| Russian by adoption, but in reality was q
born Englishman, which accounted for
| his speaking the 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 a
plotter against the life Of the Czar, the
fact never leaked out that each of them
had in mind a far different parsonage.
| Thus the terrible mistake was allowed
| to become deeper, and the characters in
| our story drifted along as the stern de-
crec 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 a glove, but this did not seem so
singular to the lady, for the fact re-
mained that every time she had met
Roger Darrell he had had gloves on; SO
she did not think it worth while to men,
tion this part of the story to Carol, Sec
ing that it confirmed the detectives
ideas rather than disputed them.
Though she had only seen Roger few
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 a 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 sure 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
were 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 Darrell, was pacing his
library like Gagged animal, groaning now
and then and showing every evidence of
distress and despair.
Try as he would, he found il impossi-
BILE to think of Carol without allowing
his mind to dwell on love, and he was
Froy In rr,it bo l.
had gone through.
He had promised to be friend to the
girl he loved, and though this was easy
to say, yet when it came to attempting it
he found he had before him the most
difficult task of his life.
The detective gained in strength so
rapidly that in few days more he hoped
to leave those who had stood so nobly by
him, and start upon his trail Of ven
geanco.
When 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-
tween them upon the very subject In
which she was just then most Interested.
Her sympathies and motherly love were
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 know 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
of suffering that was sad to contemplate.
1t would seem that the tide of pain and
sorrow that afflicted these two innocent
women had reached it's flood, but this
was not so.
There yet remained in store for them
ordeals that would try their courage and
even the new bonds of love that linked
them together.
Singularly enough, two incidents hap
pened on the same day that struck home
to their hearts, and it actually seemed as
though some unseen fate was moving on,
bearing them with it and gradually WIDEN
ing the chasm that separated them from
those they loved.
Though Roger Darrell had not yet made |
aration from Carol, the widow knew he |
would soon come, and hence she was con-
tinually on the lookout for him. She had |
promised her child not to say anything to
him, leaving the whole matter to her, and |
when she came to think about 1t she real
lied that it was best.
He came at last.
The day was lovely one, with the
birds singing among the trees, and all |
nature looking beautiful. From the far
southwest bank of clouds was rising, |
and soon change would come over all |
this landscape, for storm was brewing. |
Up the forest aisle came Roger, head
ing strait for the old mill. His face was
pale and set, as though he had conquered |
in his battle, and yet none knew better
than he how weak human nature was
when the hour of temptation came.
Tho little lady saw him coming, and
while she spoke to him pleasantly, her
eyes were watching his face. She saw
the traces of anguish there, such as never
rested upon the countenance of guilt,
and when he had gone to seek Carol, after
her directions, she gave utterance to her
thoughts aloud.
'Ifthat is the face OF guilt, then my
judgment of character is at fault Place
Roger Darrell before me and should
have declared him the most honorable of
men, noble and generous. Yet how the
man bellies his looks. If all is true, then
vii