Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-04-10

became aware that, in his abstraction,
he had opened it, or, rather, the leaves
had fallen apart at the poem "Aux
Italians" which bore the marks of
much reading, the first lines being
marked lightly in pencil
At Paris it was, at the opera. there:
night,
With the wreath of pearl in her raven hair.
And the brooch ON her breast, so bright
He stopped short. A vision arose
before him; vast, crowded theater.
in blaze of brilliance, and upon the
stage . light, airy figure in white,
spangled tulle, with a lovely face.
framed in by waves of floating, dusky
hair, fitted over the boards like a
bird
Then the vision vanished, and he
was at Ruby's side in the flame-wrapred
box, tearing her away from the grasp
of death; while all the time, from the
stage near by. those mocking. dark
eyes, that lovely face with dazzling
smile-that face which never once, in
that life and death struggle, hold u look
OF pity or sympathy, or any human at.
tribute Of sorrow or regret.
Rutfling the leaves of the book under
his hand he turned carelessly to the fly
leaf.
A name had been written there-the
name of the owner.
The book had been presented to
Adele by one of her admirers. who
had written her stage name mot know.
ing any other) upon the fly leaf, and
she had subsequently erased it. with
the assistance of bit of india rubber
Arthur Wynne drew tiny magnify
ing glass from his pocket and placed il
over the name
"L-B-lle. That was what he de-
ciphered. Still the truth did not come
homo to his brain. The enormity, the
improbability of such thing was too
immense to easily take possession OF
any ones mind, even to the astute detec-
tive's.
He closed the book, and turned his
eyes upon the lovely grounds outside
the window, his heart aching with
Thoughts of the lovely girl who had
reigned there so short time before:
the petted idol of her father, queen of
the household, beautiful Ruby Law.
renee!
my darlingl Ny poor, wronged
darling! I will right your wrongs; l
will refute this awful calumny, though
the effort cost my lifev"
He stopped short. The door of the
drawing-1oom opened slowly, and
Adele stood before him.
She had returned from her drive,
and donning violet silk house-dress,
trimmed with swans down, which
made her fair face dazzingly fair, she
had hurried down to the drawing-room.
He glanced up with startled look.
| For an instant he had half believed
At to be Ruby standing there before
him, both white hands extended in
greeting, sweet smile upon her per-
feet face.
So good in you to call, Mr.. Wynne!"
she began, graciously. Mamma is
out; have just returned from nv
drive, and so took the liberty of repre-
sentlng mamma upon this OCCASION"
What could he do but murmur some
low words of fattery, which made the
color rush to her face for an instant.
and she seated herself upon a silken
couch close at his side.
A chill passed over Arthur Wynne a.
the contact.
How did he know what hand this
beautiful enchantress might have had
in Ruby's downfall?
Who was your escort this morning.
Miss Lawrence?" (he choked a little |
over that name) "who was the gentle. |
man with whom you were driving. if
it's fair question? ?"
She smiled sweetly.
;. oh, that, OF Counsel" she returned |
quickly. 1T was only Mark You see.
Mark Alleyne has been like brother
to me all my life! cannot remember
a time when did not know Mark He
has always escorted me, is always at
my command! He is-just Mark, that
is all!
And the sweet smile grew into
laugh.
1t was evident to her that Arthur
Wynne was really interested. or why
should he trouble himself to ask such q
question. And the belief was strength.
ened by Arthurs murmured observa-
lion that Mark was to be envied. and
must be very happy mani
VI course Arthur Wynne despised
himself for the part he was playing;
but it must be played. He must lose
no chance to find clue to the awful
mystery which he had sworn to un.
ravel. And he watched the fair face
beside him as cat watches a mouse.
IS he put another question:
Miss Adele. have you heard any,
.mmg? Is there any news of-of-
Miss Ruby?"
She turned away with little shives
IF disgust
"No, nonel" she replied, SO harshly
hat it made him start. Don't speak
# herP she added. hoarsely.
He arose to go.
Il will do myself the honor of callino
gain soon," he said. II would like to
zee your mother and hand over to her
he key of the room upstairs. It has
'een in my possession long enough.
ince no clue can be obtained. And /
refer returning it to her direct!D he
.dded.
Adele smiled assent. 1t was SO easv
0 see that the key was a mere pretext
0 repeat his call at the earliest possi.
lie ODpOrtunitv What a hr;rL< 80