The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-29

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soul revOlled, and she excluded herself from him,
and now we try 10 hide our misery.
My poor wife, through Gods mercy, thinks Of the
man only as she thinks of skeleton which
once had, and in her mind she cannot separate
one from the other. He has never been men.
toned by name in our family since lie quilted It,.
When l made my way through the drawing
room in the Henning mansion on my next WISH
Miss Henning was seated on low stool, rock,
log to and iro wilh sheet OF paper cluhp pee.
between her locked fingers aud the knee they
clasped. So absorbed WAS she in thought That
she did not notice my presence. III seemed TO
me that never had seen such change In per
sons face, nor could l have believed such d
transformation could have been possible as That
which in 4 single glance noted ID hers. she
had grown ten years older In three days Inc
confident, proud expression that even IN repose
her features had always wOrn-lhe flash that ae-
cOmpanied every motion of her eyeS-fhe curl
that had seemed part OF the tashonng OF her
upper lip-all were gone, and there sat pale
grl, blankly staring at the carpet, Win her lace
contoried as by worriment and lined as If by the
strain of Illness. Her selfeOmmand. never be-
fore TelnQulshed, was now so lar gone thal
when she saw me she sprang TO her feet as In
alarm, crumpled the paper in the aim OF her
hand, and then stood nervouSly clutehing
the back OF chair, and exhibiting hesitation,
as II appeared TO M, between falling into the
chair or by force of Will continuing TO stand.
Astonished, | so far forgot myself as 10 pause III
passing her. But managed TO salute her IN an
approach TO a natural tone and to pass into the
library. Need | say that for few minutes my
old friends on the shelves failed to hold my at
up again, and even opened and scanned them
mechanically?
What possible thing could have changed the
naughty beauty so completely and so suddenly p?
Her father came IN and delayed looking at him,
expecting him 10 show agitation and excitement.
But the tones OF his voice were full and normal.
| looked, and he was the same brtght-eyed. clear
skinned, plump and ruddy- yisaged young old
man.
Visitors made themselves heard in the drawing
roOm young lady visitors, and Mr.. Hennag eX-
| 4
volume and leaning back In my chair and cross.
ing my legs went To the Frejee Islands with u
daring traveller. The sound OF my name spoken
hurriediy and somewhat sharply brought me
back with start.
Miss Henning, pale yet, and wan looking, but
with all her wOnted haughtlness OF mlen, was
standing before me.
.Mr. Fletcher, Mr.. Swensen dslikes YOU"
al know it," i said.
sis il because you. know something OF him
thai is not known here-sOmethng he would not
wish US TO know ?'
81 do not know how he could possibly think
that" l replied. L never felt so thoroughly
under my own command before in my life. l en-
loyed the sensation.
~ have not said that he thought anything, Mr..
Fletcher"
''WeIl, do not see then how you could posi-
II do think 1t, Mr.. Fletcher, and I am not
mistaken; he hates you. and you, so far as am
able TO read demeanor, act as II you realized the
power you held over him."
"On, no. upon my word Miss Henning, beg
OF you not 10 think that. II there has been any.
thing 10 read IN my demeanor in connection with
Mr. Swensen. il has been simply That l have
known my business and minded it. Has he
spoken to you as you just spoke? Does lie say
this 2''
''Mr. Fletcher, have not come TO make ex-
plantations 10 you. MIR. Swensen has always
acted like gentleman and has inteTiered In no
ones affairs"
Excuse me, have 1 then done diiferently?''
"You are not frank; II seems 10 me that
ought 10 be met differently on The first occasion
- my b :
most peculiar. She assumed command over me.
"Wnat would you have me say, Miss lien
niHg?"
TELL me what there is against Mr.. Swensen
that you know aud that We IN this house ought
to share with you"
~ know nothing"
"NOthng?" She seemed startled.
"Of my perfect, absolute knowledge, nothing"
Then, what does il all mean?"
al have done and said nothing that means any
thing"
Miss Hennlng looked al me as though she was
completely at loss how TO act, as though she
with one breath would go away with an appear
ance OF having tIlumpled over me, with another
as though she would plead with me. Perhaps
this WAS my imagination. Al all events, just
then. Robert the porter with low cough gave
warning OF his presence.
mir. swensen, ma'am, wishes to thee you
mOtht important"
Miss Henning started at the words so that she
all but jumped. There was no imagination about
that.
YES" said she; ''say that l said yes"
There was my moment OF triumph. / arose
ana stood by her, and my tone and words were
exactly sulFed to an hO1est and kindly Intention
1 inwardy thanked heaven that The proud beauty
did not as she might rebuke or rep5l me, but
seemed 10 understand my purpose.
''One Of the many things have heard but do
not Know about tie man. said /, lis that he has
within few days procured money with which
20 invest IN what his accompllces think win be
profitable speculation. That speculation is to be
a wedding with rlch young woman"
TIP"
AS she spoke there was violent clang at the
doorb bell, which was followed by loud voices,
the loudest ana highest of which was woman's.
Miss Henning moved as If 10 go and see what oc-
one moment" said l. You can Judge
whether what L nave heard is true, ana so you
can also weigh this, that have heard that that
marriage cannot be-under the law"
The uproar gave place to the voices of men.
Have you heard what he really is ?"
Yes"
Then that. at least, is true"
Tile voices were nearer than before. There
was something Earring In their tone. Miss Hem
ming and | went into The drawing-room. MIR.
Swenseu was there, with his face the color OF
chalk, pretending TO look at picture HIS back
was toward the roughlooking men In the open
doorway. Two OF three young women stood as
II rlyeed to the floor, staring al The men. AT The
same instant-it was all IN an instaut-the
wretched woman who had called herself Ella
She walked straight 10 Swensen, and, looking
first at him and then al the TWO strangers, said
a. Here he is, as told you"
The men advanced. Swensen TUNED his
blauched face toward Them.
We want You. Lafarge," said one OF the men +;
eve are oihcers.'
"You are making a mistake" said Swensen,
speaking somehow down his chest. My name
Is not Lafarge."
THAT'S ali right, young feller," spoke one of
the detectives, In a low, firm voice. don't make
a kick, we've got onto you; come along"
ION, tbs is some mistake" said Miss Hen
ming. 1--WE can youch for his being Mr. Sven
SON."
"We're onto him. as Jest told him." said the
detective, land we are responsible for all mis-
takes"
"ThIs woman has annoyed me several times. f."
tons. Let me know at what court and at what
hour TO present myself ana give my word I'll
be there"
This woman" said the outcast. with a sheer
ing emphasis on the words. "bas made no other
accusation than that you are Alfred Laiarge, and
you can't disproYe that"
.'Come, young feller we aint agoin' to take
board and lodging here. We're on business.
Come along"
"Tell him who you are, Rudolph. Let this
farce 90 no farther" said Miss Hennng
What's tile charger" said Swensen.
Come along" SAID the detective, swinging a
pair of handouts so that they jingied. you'll
fnd out what II Is. No use talking OF such things
in peoples pari0rs."
.'Get my hat, Robert" said Swensen. Tie ne
gro disappeared.
"What does this mean, Beatrce?" Mr.. Hen
ming asked.
Tell him, Rudolph"
The guilty man was silent
hen, | Will. for surely The time for It has
come. lie is the Count Norberg OF Sweden,''
said the girl confidently, land his reason Tor as
suming his mothers name, 'Swensen,' he has ex-
planned satisfactorily to me-"
Excuse me, young lady," said the spokesman
OF The detectives with politeuess sarcasticaly
simulated, but IT'S for little affair conHecie ed
with the Count NOrberg that we want him.
lSwensOn stdrted.l The Count Is dead; Lelarge
we found done ii. It's for The murder OF Count
Norberg tnat the Swedish Government has po-
iitely requested any one that knows him as we
do for to perform this here disagrceable duty"
Robert came In aud handed Swensen his hat
Miss Henning reeled anu fell in a chair.
"Murder!' said Mr.. Henning in loud whisper.
Miss Ella Palmer laughed aloud SO that for
once my blood ran cold.
Swensen walked toward the detectives with
two steps then wheeled and with bound reached
the library and with another the broad sill OF the
window in Tie western end OF that ROOM This
window looked down upon square of pavement
hemmed IN on its four sides by kitchen win
dow, projection of the house. fence separating
It from the next yard, and the end wall Of the
family stable.
Both detectives bounded after him. He
strained and tugged at the window. 1t had a
catch that he did not see. He bent himself then
Strengthened up and with desperate strength
tore away the iGch-thick top bar of the lower
sash. A. il gave way he sipped and stood uDOn