Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-14

do you think he will come this even
ing? shequeried, in strange, monotonous
voice.
i II can't tell you for certain. He may
not come here for three or four DAYS. But
there is one thing must ask of you, and
that is that you will not 90 to the Denzils
or hold any intercourse with them until he
comes"
4. II am going there tonight after dinner"
she rejoined. with sullen lowering of the
heavy white lids.
Il beg you will not do So" I said,
quickly.
/ 81 must. have promised"
Can you not break your promise?"
No, | cannot break it." and as she
spoke our eyes met, and something in hers,
look Of unutterable, hopeless misery,
made me shiver, as though cold blast had
had blown on me-
4 ''You could if you wished told her,
sharply.
"No," she said, drearily. "There are
some things we cannot do, even when we
wish to. Fate or our evil genius is too
strong for us. But / promise you one
thing, Aunt jane" with wan, CHASTITY
smile, II will not go to the Rosaries after
tonight"
"Then / suppose must be content with
that" | said, reluctantly, as she turned
and left the room.
/ rang the bell for Keziah to clear the
breakfast things, and then tried to inter-
est myself in my usual daily duties. But
there was no denying it, my heart was in
a futter, and l felt uneasy and anxious
| about Alice.
l did not see her at luncheon. She had
it sent up to her room, and she did not APP
pear again until 6 o'clock, when she had
dinner. She looked very pale and her
eyes were heavy and dark-rimmed, and
the rich black silk dress she wore added to
her somber appearance and the ghastli-
ness of her face. thought it a strange
gown for her to put on, for the night was
intensely hot and sultry, and / knew she
had several pretty white ones. However,
l wisely refrained from making any re.
mark and she volunteered no information,
so we sat opposite each other in moody
silence, trifing with our dinner and max
| ing pretense Of eating, for it was evident
neither of US had an appetite.
She rose abruptly when it was over and
left the room without saying word. /
heard her go up the stairs and into her
bedrooms, which was over the dining
room, and then l, too, got up, and walking
across the hall to the drawing room, sat
| down by the open window and began to
knit diligently, looking out every now and
| then to watch the shadows lengthen and
the stars began to twinkle in the blue
vaults of heaven.
had left the door wide open for the
heat was so great, and as the Louis Quat-
ore clock on the mantle-shelf struck eight,
saw black-robed figure come swiftly
| down the stairs, and knew it was Alice.
She paused for moment by the door, and
turned her head. Her face was startlingly,
horribly pale, and its pallor was instensifed
by the black lace mantilla thrown over her
hair and twisted round her throat.
$50 you are going," said, quietly,
| "When will you be back? Remember, Jack
may come tonight, You ought to be
here to meet him."
| She made a slight dissentient move
| ment with her head, and then turning,
walked swiftly through the hall with the
| same noiseless tread as she had descended
| the stairs with. watched her glide over
the lawn and disappear in the shadows
beyond without word more of protest.
What was the good? She was willful
and determined She would do just as she
pleased, and could not stop her. had
said as much as dared in the morning.
Only began to wish fervently Jack would
arrive and take this responsibility off my
unwilling hands.
As though in response to my silent
prayers, there was the sound of wheels
about o'clock and Jack descended from
| fly, and rushed in, ard began embracing
me ardently.
"Where is Aliceg" he asked, eagerly,
looking round, after the hugging was
over.
''She has gone to the Denzilis She
did not think you would come tonight"
l explained.
"Oh! the Denzils. Let me see-who are
they ?"
Canadian folk, she told me, from Mont
real. Rather pretty little woman, and
tall, mustached man, the Major"
| "Major Denzil? All, yes! l remember.
Brother and sister. A trife rapid, but
amusing company"
Brother and sister, You might have
knocked me down with feather! Why
had they been introduced to me as husband
and wife?
where are they living ?" he went on,
not noticing my agitation and astonish-
ment.
"At the Rosaries," I managed to reply
with tolerable steadiness.
/ "Then we will walk across and fetch
her. 1t is such little way"
EYES," | responded mechanically, pick
| ing up light shawl and throwing it over
my shoulders.
/ followed him.
The Rosaries was the next house to
mine, and our gardens were only separated
by copse or grove. When we emerged
from this, to my intense establishment, we
came face to face with Major Denzil
smoking a huge cigar, and even in my
| anxiety and distress of mind / noticed he
was not, as usual, in evening dress, but
wore gray travelling suit something SIM
liar to Jacks.
"This is my nephew, Captain Lynton,"
explained coldly. ave have come to
fetch my niece
II think we have met before" said the
Major, with some slight embarrassment
"Yes, in Canada" chimed in Jack, in
his CHEEKY tones, quite ready to shake
hands bur Denzil did no. offer his.
''Yes," he agreed. Then turning to me,
he said Mrs. Lynton has not been here
tonight, Miss Torrens, though we did
expect to have the pleasure of seeing
her"
"Not herel" gasped, aghast. "Then
| where did she 60 an hour back, when
saw her pass the drawing-room door and
come in this direction"
| THAT / cannot tell you," he replied,
quietly, meeting my eyes unhesitatingly;
but We have seen nothing of her to-
night"
Jack" i muttered, in a trembling
whisper, as | clutched his arm, "she has
been ill and out of sorts all day. WANTED
her to promise not to 60 out. Where can
she be? and instinctively my Mortified
eyes glanced toward the river.
1 L. L j L