San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-17

time being. Each OF us in turn got out
a few constrained words and then re-
lapsed into silence.
Evelyn ate nothing, and her hand
trembled so much when she poured out
glass of water that she split some on
the cloth. | saw Charles was watching
her furtively, and l became more and
more certain that Aurelia was right
and that Evelyn knew something about
the mystery of the night before. must
and would speak to her that very even
ing.
Bitterly cold" said Ralph, when at
last we had reached the dessert stage.
1T is showing STILL. and the wind is
getting up"
In truth the wind was moaning round
the house like an uneasy spirit.
THAT sound in the wind always
means snow" said Charles, evidently
for the sake of saying something. ut
is easterly, should think Yes" after
pause, when another silence seemed
imminent, there goes the s o'clock
train. 1t must be quite quarter of an
hour late, though, for it has struck s
some time. can hear it distinctly.
The station is three miles away, and you
never hear the train unless the wind is
in the east"
Come, Charles, not three miles-two
miles and halt" put in Ralph.
We'll, two and half from here down
to the station, but certainly three from
the station up here" replied Charles;
and so silence was laboriously avoided
by diligent small talk, until we returned
to the drawing room, thankful theIs at
least we could take up book and bs 81
lent if we wished. We all did wish it, ap-
parently Evelyn was sitting by lamp
when we came in with book before
her, her elbow on the table, shading her
face with a slender, delicate hand. She
remained motionlees, her eyes fixed upon
the page, but l noticed after some time
that she had never turned it over.
Charles may have read his newspaper,
but if he did it was with one eye upon
Evelyn all the time. Between watching
them both l did not, as may be imagin-
ed, make much progress myself. How
was | to manage to speak to Evelyn
alone, and without Charles knowledge?
At last Ralph, who had gone into the
morning room, opened the drawing room
door, and put his head in.
"Aurelia has not come down yet, and
it is quarter past 9. wish you would
run up, Evelyn, and see if she is COM
ing"
"She is sure to GOMEZ" replied Evelyn,
without raising her eyes. "She said she
must see YOU"
Ralph disappeared again, and the
books and papers were studied anew
with answering devotion. AT the end
of another ten minutes, however, the
impatient lover reappeared.
at is half-past g." he said, in an in
jured tone. DO pray run up, Evelyn.
don't think she can be coming at all. l
am afraid she is worse"
Evelyn laid down her book and left
the room. Ralph sauntered back into
the morning room, where we heard him
beguiling his solitude with a few chords
OA viz l'AtbLiO'
Presently Evelyn returned. She was
pale even to the lips, and her voice falt-
cred as she said:
"She has not gone to bed, for there is
O. light in her room; but she would not
answer when knocked and the door is
locked"
"All of which circumstances are not
sufficient to make you as white as
a ghost" said Charles. II think, even
if Aurelia has a headache, you would
bear the occurrence with fOrtitude.
My dear child, you do not act so well
off the stage as on it. There is some
thing on your mind. People don't up
set water at dinner and refuse all food
except pellets of pinched bread for moth
ing. What y it?''
Evelyn sank into chair and covered
her face with her trembling hands.
Yes, l thought So" said Charles,
kneeling down by her and gently with
drawing her hands. Come, Evelyn,
what Is it,
Il dare not say" And she turned
away her face and tried to disengage
her hands, but Charles held them firmly.
sis it about what happened last
night he asked, in a tone that was
kind, but that evidently intended to
have an answer.
YES"
"And do you know that am sus-
pected?'
you, Charles? Never!' she cried,
starting up.
DYES L Snsnected by my own IA