The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-10-05

to say you love me if you cannot see my
faceg'
II do not love you for your face"
eT)o you really love nc:p
'sLove you'll Lob, MaryP'
"But am so stupidF'
"You must be the cleverest Of wo-
men.
AWhyg
Because you can End something
worth loving in me.
Light the gas, sirls
First, then, one moro -. The
matches are on the mantelpiece; you
can light the gas yourself, if you viii /
wash my hands Of it.
The gas was lighted. Soon after the
middle Temple clock struck in its most
aggressive tone.
My father is dining at the Freena-
sons tavern tonight. said Mary, s'and
he is going to dress at his chambers; sol
can stay ever SO long yet--if you will
let me.
If yon stay here till ask you to go,
Mary, you may make up your mind to
leave as an old woman"
The words were scarcely out of my
mouth when I heard the outer door open.
There is a series Of four doors between
my rooms and the outer passage. A
heavy footstep sounded between the first
door and the second. Mrs. Swatnan or
her assistant imbecile had evidently neg
llected to safeguard the approach, and
here was some unknown intruder fore
ing himself In.
Mary" cried, flor heavens sake
into nay bedroom quickl'
She appreciated the urgency Of the oe-
casion and vanished like bird. Just
as the door was closing upon her in
walked her father.
Come, I'm glad to see you looking SO
much better" said he in q hearty voice.
"Why, you've quite color.
Not doubt Of it. In fact, felt as
though my face might be the tint of
tomato. Luckily Mary when she came
in had not taken of any of her things
except her sealskin jacket, and that she
had snatched up and carried away with
her when she escaped.
Thank you; yes, I'm getting better"
was my reply.
That's right. I'm very glad to hear
it. I've something to talk to you about
something think you can do for me,
when you're able to get about, which
lwin occupy you and give you what I'm
lsure viii be beneficial to you change Of
air and scene.
Then, taking chair beside the fire
{the very one in which Mary had just
been sitting), Mr.. Bruce proceeded to
unfold his plans. He must have thought
that my illness had rendered me extreme
~ hdgety, for it was wsth the greatest
difficulty that could keep still or even
|psetend 10 be listening, was on tenter-
hooks for poor Mary. The weather was
cold, and there was neither fire nor fire.
place IN my bedroom. KNEW moreover
that she would be able to distinguish
this tones Of her fathers voice; and the
discomfort and distress Of her position
worried me so much that every other
ic~.sifieration was dwarfed in the COM
+ s:son. All this, however, did not pre-
vssSt Mr.. Bruce from stating his belief
that. the marriage Of Dalrynple Bruce
and Tryphena Maddams had been sol
ennized in the county Of Berkshire and
most probably IN the vicinity of Abing-
don. At any rate the information gained
led to the inference that the ceremony in
question had taken place at one of the
churches In one of the riverside towns
Iof Berkshire. His proposal to me was
that could undertake to make thor
ough search among the parish registers,
Mr. Bruce paying all the expenses and
compensating me for my labor at the
rate of guinea and a half day.
While he was talking Mr.. Bruce had
involuntarily taken up an old wooden
glove which kept on the top Of the
coal box by the Preside to put on when
shoyeling ont Goals for the fire. It was
grimy as Mrs. Swatman's hands---the
ne plus ultra of honest dirt--and before
! noticed what he was about his fingers
were as soiled as those Of finance
agent.
"Oh, what nuisance!p exclaimed Mr..
Bruce. Dear mel I'll just step into
your bedroom and wash" He rose and
approached the door
no. nor said hurriedly, and labor
luk o1D OF uiy CLaH uuueI the lu1ueilc6
ri apject terror. -here-let me
fetch the basin in here for your
Nonsense couldn't think of troubling
you. know my way" he answered,
anaicably motioning me back to my seat
with one hand while he opened the door
with the other; and before / could say
or do anything further to prevent him
Mr.. Bruce had entered the bedroom.
II benevolent earthquake would
kindly have made a meal of me at that
moment how grateful I shnnld hnre
been. In state Of mind which ] do
not care to analyze / waited the inevi-
table explosion. A long second passed
away an everlasting minute and
there was no sign. What had happen
ed? Could Mary have contrived to hide
herself anywhere? I tried to reflect.
There was large, deep cupboard in the
room that served as a wardrobe. Surely
Mary had not had the presence of mind
to conceal herself theirs? Yet it was the
only place could think of into which
she could have retired; there was no
other solution Of the mystery. In few
minutes Mr.. Bruce returned with clean
hands and unrufded demeanor. Mani
testify he had seen nothing and s71s,,ect-