Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-10-23
THE
LITTLE WAIP,
A Story Of Absorbing Interest
BY BERNARD HERBERT.
CHAPTER XIV.

sATANELIA.
While the events narrated in the pre
ceding chapters had been transpiring
silence and mourning had reigned il
the quiet house of the Arnims up il
Harlem.
Poor Rupert had returned from hi
unsatisfactory interview with Detec
tive Bancker at police headquarters
utterly Frustrated with doubt ant
grief.
1t had all been terrific blow to
man of his sensitive, high-strun.
nature, and at first it seemed more THAI
he could bear.
lie had fallen hopelessly, madly il
love with little Oracle, he had believed
her as pure as the angels and accord
mgly had trusted her as he would trusi
no other living woman save his own be
loved mother.
The thought that tortured him was
that il little Oracle were innocent O
all wrong and had trusted in his pro
lection, why had she fled from him i,
the night like a guilty creature; WHY
had she not sent him some word of he,
Whereabouts, if she had repented of hel
nasty action so that he might go and
bring her home again? But no WORD
had come from her; she had vouch
safed no explanation, and though hi
fought like tiger with himself to re
press the suspicion that assailed him
1T would take form in spite of him: i
haunted him like some grewsome spec
ter.
Consequently, when he reached the
little home after his fruitless search in
Mulberry street, he went straight up tc
his room, locked the door and in the
desolation of his heart he flung himself
upon the bed-to try to plan how he
should shape his future course.
And Mrs Arnim was wise enough to
leave him to himself.
All day long she went about heI
household duties silently, and it was
not until the dusk of evening had closed
IN that Rupert sought her of his OWL
free will where she sat in her accus
toned chair by the window of the de
serted studio, sewing
She raised her eyes as he came into
the room and welcomed him with
fond smile. He approached, and foI
some minutes stood beside her looking
out at the darkening street.
He was sadly changed, poor lad: he
was as pallid as the dead. but very
calm. At last it was he who broke the
oppressive silence.
"Mother!"
well, my boy?"
Have you no pity for me-.
Her kindly eyes filled with tears
and her voice was full of reproach as
she answered:
"Oh, Rupert My heart is breaking
for You in your trouble, and 1 have
done nothing but pray the good Lord
to help you. But have not intruded
upon you because knew you would
seek me when you wanted such com.
Tort as / can give"
He stopped and kissed the upturned
brow where the soft, wavy, brown hal,
showed signs of the tell-tale silver.
well, she has gone foreverl" he
said, sadly, raising himself and turning
his face to the window again to conceal
any passing trace of emotion that might
De imprinted there.
You have heard no tidings of her?'
"Oh, yes; have heard her denounced
rs murderess; i have been informed
1t police headquarters that she is in
custody"
Then 1T is better that she has gone
forever, Rupert" came the reioinde,
tone of firm conviction.
He shuddered from head to foot al
he words, but commanded himself.
am not prepared to believe all
that | hear, he said, sternly; az shall
regard her as an Innocent injured girl
until the contrary is provedw
hen you mean to waste your time
IN following up a case, the results OF
which may bring you only further mis-
cry 2"
mol | feel sure that if she is cleared |
pf the shadow of crime shat | shall |
know It, No, cannot afford, for your
cake as well as my own, to waste an
other hour. / am going to work at
'nce, Mother, ! shall attempt 10 paint
10 more Madonnas. In nv present
frame of mind, / mink L should suc-
iced better with the other description
u something dark, brilliant,
atally beautiful, sort of Satanella. .
Ready to humor his extravagant
ancy, Mrs. Arnim replied:
1T might be a good plan; but have
on an idea for such face?"
u left an advertisement for such
lodei as came uptown. / may Get
. answer and have to go to work to-
borrow
line sooner the better, Rupert. :
II was no idle fancy, no creation Of
sordered mind which suggested this I