Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-08-23

saw that she recognized me; and some


slight attention IN regard to the window
sash led us into conversation.
She replied to my inquiry that Mrs.
Dixon had not returned home when she
left there on Tuesday, but she expected
to find her arrived, her sisters children
being now so much better.
She said this so sweetly, and was such
pleasant, ladylike young woman, that
essayed to make myself agreeable by
sapiently remarking upon the prevalence
of measles and whooping- cough, and
hoping that her little one had escaped the
epidemic.
At this she gave me a quick, inquir-
ing glance and blushed.
81 mean the little fellow that you had
in your arms when / saw you. l sup
posed it was yours, as the lady called you
her sons wife"
A swift, laughing glance lighted her
face.
''That was a mistake. Mrs. Landon's
daughter-in-law had just stepped out
and left the little boy with me-"
1t was now my turn to feel embar-
rassed, though this was almost swallowed
up in an unaccountable sense of salts
faction at finding that my companion was
not "Tom's wife"
''Pray excuse my absurd mistakew
said. 'It was only because Mrs. Ian
don told me that she would send her
sons wife, and you came"
She laughed, and we chatted on quite
pleasantly, until at Greenville she left
the cars.
1t was not strange that should on the
following day have suggested to Mr..
Holden the advisability of my going to
Greenville to inquire again of Mrs. Dixon
in regard to Miss Brookes, of whom she
might have received information since
my first interview with her.
1t was little more than an hours ride.
and pleasant excursion for a summers
evening.
On ringing at the door of Mrs. Dixon's
house it was, to my qualification, opened
by my fair travelling companion of the
day previous, and was sure that she
blushed at the-to her-unexpected
meeting.
Mrs. Dixon had not yet returned, she
said, though they were expecting her by
the next train, which would be due in
fifteen minutes, if | did not object to
waiting.
Then she showed me into the parlor;
and fearing that she was about to leave
me there, essayed to detain her by en-
tering into business talk.
"My business with Mrs. Dixon is of
rather a peculiar nature" | remarked.
''She has relative-a Miss Emma
Brookes-whose whereabouts we are very
anxious to discover.
She looked up with an expression of
surprise.
emma Brookes?" she said doubt
fully.
Eyes; who lived for some years with
Mrs. Royal. May I inquire whether you
know the lady9"
81 ought to know her." she replied,
quite gravely. Il am Emma Brookes."
She was not more surprised than my
self. What a stupid idiot l had beenl
If had only when l first saw her put the
inquiry which had Just spoken, how
easily the matter would have been set
tledl
But instead l had been racing about
the country in search of Emma Brookes,
and even travelled in company with her,
and never found means to ascertain her
identity.
1 had to explain to her now about Mrs.
Royals death and Dequest to herself.
She had heard of her friends death,
she said, day or two before that of her
father, and in consequence, instead of
returning to her former home, had gone
to Mrs. Dixon's house, only to find that
lady absent. There she had awaited her
return, only running up once to New
York on some business.
Thus ended my amateur detective
work. When returned | informed Mr..
Holden that l had at length found Miss
Emma Brookes.
He actually complimented me, and
limited at promotion to the second clerks
desk.
I returned to Greenville next day, and
brought down Miss Brookes to our Office,