Dodge City times., 1890-10-10
A DARK SECRET.
The Story of a Tragic
Life Drama.
By z. NJ. DAVY.
CHAPTER v.
FAIRLY EEwrTCHED.

CHAPTER v.
FAIRLY BEwrTcHED.
An hour later, cigarette my sole com
panion, / was walking up and down
gravel path OF which I felt sure a dist an
view could be obtained from the window
of No. 80.
- / grew restless and impItient Day.
lighi was fading u fore MY rUse brough
any desired result; but at last l saw
figure coming toward me rapidly. 1t wa,
Edna Lynton. flung away my cigarette
and ra sed my hat as she came up.
She stood in front Of me-her eyes cas-
down upon tbs path. her fingers inter.
laced in pretty, halfshy, deprecat M
ing S. riking about the girl, as have sad
nothing to attract attention. But She
had soft, winning ways. little grtceful-
nes -es-if l may coin term-that stole
upon you unawares-
Mrs. Hargreave sends her compli.
men S. and will you favor her with youi
company letween s and . o'clock, Mr.
Dudle,?"
And this was spoken in the low, soft
voice that had once been such sweet
music to my ears; but now, the words
Jared.
-Edna-"I cried, impulsively. 1 was
instantly conscious of my mistake.
Il have not finished, she continued.
quie ly, still without looking at me.
Miss Hargreave also sends message. If
you have anything for her, will You give
Pc it, please, 10 me?"
My compliments to Miss Hargreave,
ana l regard her request as command.
This is the answer to the second mes
sage" took, as / spoke, a sealed en-
va lima from, rnekat hnf hafora "a
linquishiDg it, added: Miss Lynton.
tell meas favor, L entreat you TO tell
me-what has brought yOu here in this
position?'
"Best-far best to tell him. she muir
INJURED, as though parleying with herself.
Then she spoke out quite frankly:
Poverty, MIR. Dudley, brought me to it.
My fa hers annuity died with him.
thought at first of being governess, but
there are already too many governesses
in the world, SO I decided to be conf
dential maid. I came North, hoping to
be unIecognized
You have not changed your name?"
why should 1? There is no shame in
what do.
.Our fortunes-o or rather misfoItunes-
are str NICELY sim lar"
Have you been unfoltunate?" she
asked, with swift, warm sympathy, allow
ing her eyes for the first time to encounter
minc.
The day after my fathers death /
awoke 10 the fact that was beggar," l
said with little bitter laugh. I have
to work for my living, that is all. You
see now how my case resembles
yours-
"You, a beggar-I. . servant" She re-
peated the words twice. vonderinqly and
dreawily, and added, smiling sadly, But
strangers-straugers st IL.
Certainly not strangers hastened to
say. On the contrary. I propose that we
commence cur acquaintance from to-day
on q new basis that of friendship. Let
US be the best of friends"
"Impossible, Mr.. Dudley"
1t is not impossible
sTotally and utterly impossible. Is il
necessary that should explain my rea-
sons? Can you OF see for yourself that
any approach to friendship on your part
villinvclve me in inextricable difficult
ties? Even now have been imprudent
= in talking With you SO long. Your mes
sages sh ii be delivered. sir-at once"
And with that she turned away.
Standing where she left me, watched
her until she disappeared within the
house. - :. s.s....-. -
~ Poor little Ednal What hard lot was
hers, and. yet how bravely she had set
about battling with the world / nd
mired the plnck the spirit-of the girl.
1t was hitherto undiscovered trait in
her-an added charm to q character which
once l had thought the most beautiful,
most lo,able on earth.
All, Edral Why could you not return
the love l offered you in those happy days
Mt Goldhurst, No woman W II ever be to
me what You we're then. To no other can
I pour ont my hearts best love, for you
had It all-all-and scorned it,
j continued TO pace moodily up and
down the gravel path until the stars ap-
peared, and a bilIer east wind suggested
return indoors. Then, and not until
then. VIII the keen air made me shiver,
did / recol'ect the evenings engagement.
My thou hts had carried me too far away.
! went to my loom, dressed myself
with considerable care-and, when the
appointed time I'd come, knocked at the
door of No. %.
Come in, please, said voice.
] entered.
The walls we're draped with rich tapes
try. Oriental rugs covered the floor;
plants and flowers made the atmosphere
hsayy with their erfume.
Mrs. Hargreave sat in low easy chair
before blazing fire. She looked thin,
fragile and somewh t peevish as she rose
to receive me. his is very good OF you,
Mr.. Dudley" she said.
Not at all. answered. warmly, tax
ing tho comfortable chair she pointed to.
Z consider it is" she sid, oracularly.
I simply bowed again, waiting for her
to proceed.
beautiful fires they keep up in the North,
she observed, presently. Il wonder II
this struck you when you first came to
Eorthshire as much as it struck me.
Hno she been making inquiries, then,
concerning me? There was but one per
SON who could tell her anything, and that
was DIR. Gascoigne l made a mental
note of this.
Il appreciate good fires, comforts, and
Injuries of al kinds, l replied, evasive-
IL. plancing around the luxuriously ap-
pointed room.
sAre YOU musical?" she next asked,
probably noticing that my gaze dwelt for
= moment on the open piano and the heap
Of music on the floor.
lam passionatel. fond Of music.
$50 is nv daughter. That just ex.
presses it-she is passionately FOND o1
music.
.Miss Hargreave is we'll, I hope?"
.She is better, thank yon-wonderfutly
batter since We came here. But she is
verv exc table; one Of those highly strung.
imnulsiye natures that are consf ant
eource of anxiety. Her fathers death was
Terrible shock to her. She has not 10
coxered il. sometimes fear she never
sTsut the doctors-you have consulted
.ome. I supposef' asked. feeling It in
eumbent on me to say somethinE