The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-09-18

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ton run wild it is the simplest thing in
the world to build up a chain of supposi-
tious evidence out of fancy alone-I, for
instance, might believe you to be muir
deress, but that you know, would not
make you one"
"Can you deny it?' she burst out, at
last.
Certainly CAM" he answered.
"Do you deny it?"
"Yes-I do deny it. 1 can and will
swear that I have all my life kept my
hands from picking and stealing-au my
life''
''Then why" she demanded, "why did
YOU make plan of Oxford Place while we
were staying there?"
"Of Oxford Place-Juey!" he cried.
sWhat in Heavens name are you talking
about?"
She beat her hand impatiently upon her
knee once or twice-then turned fully to
him. ''You remember our staying at Or.
ford Placer"
sOf course [ do?"
''Then you may remember, too, that
went to a bazaar with Lady Ceesprina
and the others"
"Yes."
''And that you stayed behind-to write
letters?"
"Well?'
''Well, when came home, / sat down
on the arm OF your chair TO talk to you
and I noticed that you had been making
plan, as if you had been idly drawing in
the blotting-book. / asked you why you
had been making plan and you put me
off carelessly. Do you remember all thlS?'
mo. [ dOn't-but go on"
''Well, | thought no more OF it just
then, but down stairs during tea, Madge
Oxford asked me for an address, and when
/ went up to dress for dinner Invent to the
writing-table to write it down and then
I saw that the leaf of the blotting-boOk
had been torn Quit was gone!'
"And yet there has been no robbery at
Oxford Place." said he, half laughing.
"Shall l tell you why? Because the
Ceesprings happened not to have been at
Oxford Place since-that is why"
Upon my word, you would make an
excellent detective" he exclaimed, satiri-
cally.
ooh, Steviep' she cried, the tears rush
ing into her eyes, don't speak like that
it is too serious-too awful. And IL am
so unhappy"
He caught her eagerly in his arms.
"Julia-my love, my dearest" he cried
do let me beg and pray of you to put all
this nonsense out Of your mind-it will
ruin our happiness, my dear, we who love
one another So"
''Stevie," she said, brokenly, twill you
tell me everything about that gold-mine
that you said you had an interest IMP"
Dear child, if had been free to tell
should have told you when you asked me
about it" he answered.
81 will never breathe word to soul
I will take the most solemn oath never to
divulge q word to any living being" she
said eagerly. And if you will tell me l
will promise faithfully that l will never
mention this subject to you again as long
as live.''
He still shook his head. "You put a
dreadful temptation in my way, dearest"
he said, wistfully, 'but all the same can
not tell you. | have given my word and
cannot break it even for YOU"
"You will not?"
cit is not case of will or will not" he
answered, cit is impossible for me to tell
you. I have given you my word that I
never stole anything in my life, and that
must be enough for you. At least if it is
not l cannot help it. lam very, very sorry
but I cannot help it,"
She remained silent for q few moments,
and then she suddenly turned and looked
at him. "Stevie," she said, eff you will
answer me one question on your sacred
word of honor | will believe that | have
wronged you utterly and Vilely to-day"
II will answer you if can," he replied.
"You say that you never stole anything
in your life. Well, on your word of honor
will you assure me that you are not mixed
up with gang Of men who do steal and
who make stealing their profession, and
that you have never given these people in
formation? Answer me that question, and
on your answer I will stake my belief one
way or the other"
She was so desperately in earnest, she
looked so true and good, SO eager for his
denial that for some minutes he sat star
ing at her like one fascinated. She had
taken hold of him by the arm with both
hands in her anxiety to get at the truth,
and as she sat there she saw what the an
swer would be in the depths Of his hand
some eyes.
mo" he said at last, slowly and very
unwillingly, but as if the truth was being
wrung from him in spite of himself. 81
cannot tell you that"
For moment she still looked back into
his eyes, then her hands fell nervously
from his arm. Il knew it" she moaned,
s'I knew it!'
(Yb he continued