Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-08-14
CHAPTER X.
~ UNSEEN WITNESS.


as that of her only and Well-belCved child.
Her grief was unbounded; yet, i'll and
wholly unpre pared though she was, super
human strength seemed given her to bear
up under the terrible affection.
The hour for the funeral arrived, and,
as was to be expected under the strange,
and even dreadful, as we'll as romantic
circumstances, the little cottage and
grounds about It, were filed with sympa-
thiZing or curious friends and neighbOrs.
The lonely widow, who now deemed
herself chIIdless, and the unhappy hus-
band, with few intimate friends, among
whom were Raym ond Fielding, his sister
Meta, Mr. Henley, and old William Raw
ley and his wife, Hannah, occupied a
little room by themselves during the serv-
ices.
In the crowded parlor, where the closed
coffin occupied a place in front of the
manteI, Oscar Slyme had taken up his
post of observation.
lie had selected the corner nearest the
head of the casket, from whence, without
running gauch risk Of being observed
himself, he could see all that passed in the
room, as we'll as note through a window
at his elbow all who entered or passed out
through the front door.
The assiduOus secretary remained until
the services were over, and the funeral
cortege had started for the picturesque
cemetery on the hillside; then, feeling
confident he had learned all his mistress
would care to know. he took an early
train for New York.
@Ah!" murmured Cora, when he had
male his report, 1T is just as expected;
that Fielding girl was we'll enough to be
at the funeral, even If she was too i'll to
be at the wedding. Pm inclined to believe
that 1 shall find it necessary to remove
her also from my path"
Oscar Slyme was watching her face in
tently, and while he did not catch her
words, fully understood. from her looks
and tone, that something displeased her
e have told you something that you
would rather not have heard?" he said,
inquiringly.
She looked up hastily, and regarded him
attentiVely for a moment.
Listen, my friend, she at length said.
1t does not please me that this WOrkin g
girl-this Meta Fielding, as you say she
Is called, should be anything more to my
husbands nephew than she is at this mo-
ment; and cannot you see that already
she and her precious bECther are sChem-
ing for the place made vacant, as they
suppose, by the death Of Mildred Les
ter?"
"Ahl It does look like it." asssnted
the private secretary.
More than that, Cora went on, basti-
ly; unless something is done, and done
speedily, they Will succeed; for being
more lonely than ever now. and full of
grief, as undo ubtedIy he is, naturally he
viii turn to them. for comfort and sym
pathy; and loving him, as I am-gure she
does, it rs very -easyrt to see how 1T will ali
end; and it doesn't please me, Mr.. SIyme
Il Eep8at-It doesn't please me at all.
The secretary looked at her curiously.
You must love or shate this man very
much, he said. with more than trace of
suspicion in his lone.
Cora raised her beautiful eyes, and
threw upon him a quick, searching
glance.
Have I net already told yen" she
said, sharply, @that he has mOrtally of
Tended me-that I will never forgive him
never, If lean prevent 1t, allow him a
single moments happiness on this earth?"
and her looks and tone convinced the
Jealous secretary of her sincerity.
+WhRtWOuld you havame dO?" he asked,
hUBably enough.
She threw herself back into the chair
fro4 whish she had risen, and resting
her head upon her hand, said, after a
moaent's hesitation:
Il don't know yet; let me think"
Taen, as if speaking TO herself:
We mustn't 3bave tbs brother @urned
out Of the f2anlz; shat was a bad move in
EUgsne's case. Ne; whatever is done now
my land must in no wise appear. Be-
sides, it wOuld do him ne good to throw
him cut of his situation; the publisher
would give nina better, as readily as ne
did the other.
mo, no; we must manage in some ether
way; and suspiciOn-WeIl,e suspicion must
be directed toward some other source.
And there's another thiRg-Slyme, are
you fis6eninE2"
Yes Mrs. Ellist0a."
Well, you must fild out if that is,
m Ers1u
that ended IN the young bri6e's supposed
death; aE1d If so, you must ind some way
to free SIS from the suspicion. don't
choose to have 1T 5est on me, at al
events"
Il don't think, ma'aEl, it cal be done.
said the secretary, slowly. And nov
with regard to the other matter; I believe
1 have q plan that viii work, and which
I am sure viii IN no wise compromise
you
-Ihen let zae hear it, by all means.
The secretary. il a difEdent AID defer
entail manner, drew hIE chair e little
nearer, and began 30 speak In a low and
rapid tone.
As he confused tbs Iady's face flushed,
and her eyes spanked with excitement
and satisfaction
Yes, yes, Siyme. she was saying;
that WSll do most admirably. You are
indeed real treasure, and IF you carry
this through as successfully as you did
the other your reward
And here she was interupted5y knock
on the library door.
Comet" she called, impatientIy, and
footman entered with a card on a silver
salTsr.
Cora glanced carelessly at the card.
and Ghens as every Testigs OF color left
her face, gasped out rather than spoke
the name of Eugene Cleveland
Cleveland" echoed Slyme, In tone
or conformation. What can he want
here at this time? he must have come
directly from the depot.
I don't know what he wants, I ana