The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-09-12
..And DIcky carshslton," she con

"And Dicky Carshsiton." she con
cIuded, "and Jack Davenant-
The last name slipped out with ex-
aggerated carelessness. and yet Il was
whirring about In hepoor girl . head,
and had been doing 80 for tho last five
orsix hours. like an imprisoned blue
bottle In a glass
Jack Jack Jack Davenant" Was
she never 10 have another definite
thought again?
by the bye" said Mrs. Mariner, as
she rose from table. will you send a
zaesss So E Ss want her
T 70 funch here to.moff6w at f:30-the
Singletons are coming"
Ethel moved to the writing table,
blushing family. She remembered
that Mrs. Byrne was Jack Davenant,s
cousin.
''Half-past one, rccollcct," cried
her mother, as she rustlcd from the
room.
Ethel listlessly took up her pom, and
pulled sheet OF paper toward her.
twas not stamped With the address.
but she failed to notice this, and be-
gan at once
MY dear Mrs. Byrnc."
Then she stopped short and the
.buzzing in her. brain went ,.on worse
than ever.
The note got written at last, all but
tho signature, and then she began to
wonder dreamily II she should sign
herself yours, very sincerely" or
Yours afrcctionatcly.
Ethel, Ethel, r'cried her mother,
| putting her head in at7~the door, II
am going out Give mo thc>>note for
-Elorencei~I-can take it TO The post, -
P--= Guilty and hamed, =Ethel4seizea
her pen and wrote hastily, but in a
bold hand: sts@
~. Yours very sincerely
JACK DAyENANT"
Mrs. Byrne neither came to lunch
ner answered the Mariners, invita-
tionks Mrs. Mariner expressed sur
prise at this want Of courtesy, and
apoiogizcd to the Singlctons for hav-
ing no one to mcet them
Arc you sure, Ethel, you told her
the right day Flo cnce Is in town, /
know, and it is SO unlike her to be
rudc.
II think it was all right. mamma"
Ethel replied. vaguely, and never
gave anetho: thought to tho matter.
But ON the morning OF the next day.
as she was practicing her singing in
the great holland-shroudcd drawing
room. the door was aung open to adj.
nit benign and comely lady, who
advanced smilihgly towards her.
.'Mrs. Byrne!" cried Ethel, in some
surprise, getting off the music-stoof.
Mrs. Byrne established herself com
fortably in u deep arm chair, then
beckoncd the young girl mystoriously
with u well-gloyod finger: Come.
over hero, Elheln
Ethel drew a Tow stool to the others
eaad-ssst le4ssay bsat=fIs.,es--
Titled.
Mrs Byrne played little with the
clasp Of the silver-moHntcd handbag
which sho carried, from which, hav-
ing ut last succeeded in opening it,
She produced a stamp d=enYelepeA adj
dressed 10 herself. ---:-===--
''Do you know that handwritingp'
sho said hourishing it before Ethel's
astonishcd eyes.
1T is my Own; ]I=Mrete4 te=ask[
to lunch.' poor Ethel answered,
Simply, while the thought flashed
nc .o5s her mind that Mrs. Lyme had
probably gone mad.
"Rcad it, then" cried tho lady,
with an air Of isupprcs 5cd amusement
which lent color to-the notion. --5z
Ethel unfoded it quickly, then sat
,transiixcd like one who rcccivcsa sud
den and fatal injury. For before her
horsor-strickcn eyes glared these
words, in her own handwriting:
~ Ours very sincnrety,-,tAcK-nAYEN=-
ANT W
What does it mean22 she cried al
last, in n hoarse voice. for ii seemed
that some lcndish magic had been al
work
That's what | want to. know
Mrs. Byfne answered moro gently.
II received this note. tho day before
yesterday. There was no address,
and the handwriting was certainly not
Jacks. Nor is my cousin the least
likely to invite me to lunch at his
chambers So l Mrota-off TO himAat
once, and told him to drop in to din
ner If he had any thing to say to me.
Ethel hal risen to her feet, and was
standing with Il little frozen smile on
her face, but at this point she broke in
hurriedly
Ibid you show him-Mr Davenant,
the letter."
Mrs. BErne nodded. She was not a
person of delicate perceptions, and
had como hers bent on a little harm
less amusement; but somehow the
amusement was not Forthcoming.
Ethel elasped- he4-e cold hands to-
gether In u frenzy Gdespair.=She=
knew that Jack WA familiar with her
handwriting; had he not made little
criticisms, severe and tender. on the
occasional notes sef invitation which
sshe-had addressed to himP
m Jack said he knew nothing about
the note and hadn't the ghost OF an
idea what 1T meant" rst
q "Oh,. Jack, jack" cried Ethel's
heart in parcnthesis, "what must you
think of me?"
Mrs, Byrno went on: Grace. Allison
came in later. and tho mystery was