Dodge City times., 1890-11-14

and Edna had gone upstairs. Nothing
more would be required, l said, and sat
down to wait till believed all the house.
hold had gone to bed. We kept early
hours ut the Grange; it was little moro
than IL O'Clock when, every sound ap-
parently silenced, l crossed the hall and
prepared for action.
Some lights were still left burning, but,
concluding that the music-room would
probably be in darkness, / carried lamp
with me thither and proceeded direct 70
the writing table at which my wife had
sat when she wrote the evening before to
Gascoigne. / lit the two candles on the
table, placing the lamp between them.
opened the blotting- book. 1t was
new one. turnel over some spotless
pages until caDe to one ON which we're
few ink marks. Tearing this out held
it close to the light, the wrong side to-
ward me.
Come, I want you"
Great powersl Ny wife, then, had =
secret understanding with this man-this
man whom she had SO emphstically said
she hated. I had a right to know the ns-
ture Of that understanding. George her.
self could not ask; for, alas! had sl.
ready discovered she did not hesitate to
utter falsehood when it suited her.
placed the piece of tell-tale blotting-
paper in my pocket-book, extinguished
the lights. and made my way in hot haste
upstairs. Ny idea was to send to Mrs.
Arrived ut the door of the housekeeper's
apartments, knocked. Mrs. Armstrong
opened the door Immediately. She Was
dressed as had usually seen her.
You, sirl" she exclaimed in some dis.
may.
Yes, but I must see Miss Lynton at
once: Do you hear? Can you help mes"
obeyed, and found myself where
had never been before, namely, in Mrs.
Armstrong; "parlor."
was scarcely prepared, however. to be
brought SO suddenly face to face with
Edna Lynton, and felt more disconnected
than care to own when saw her stand
ing by the fire. She looked ethereal, all
in white. A long, loose, white wrapper,
with some swan-down about it, was
thrown over the muslin dress she had
worn at dinner.
There can be no necessity for you tc
go away. Please stay. she said. as Mrs
Armstrong was preparing to quit the
room. The woman hesitated, but signed
to her imperatively to 60.
This is strange conduct, Mr.. Dudley.
Will you explqin it. quickly2" asked Edna.
and as she spoke she shivered, though not
with cold.
have come to learn the secret-about
my wife. said, assuming a sternness
that, alas! by no means expressed my
true feelings.
She turned paler and trembled. Clasp
ing her hands together on the msntel-
piece, she laid her pretty head upon them
and gazed for q few moments into the
fire. Then she raised her eyes to mine
quite suddenly, thus taking me entirely
by surprise. A faint tinge of color came
into her face; a smile, sweet and tremu-
lous, lowered on her lips.
You are mistaken" she said, simply
and earnestly, still without removing
her eyes from mine.
"How?"
You are entirely mistaken" she re.
pested more firmly. She seemed to be
gaining strength and confidence as she
looked at me- will you not trust me!
Will you not take my word for it?"
There is secret, I persisted, avert.
ing my gaze.
What has led you to suppose so?"
Many circumstances. But tonight /
overheard, by chance. few words spoken
by yourself and George in the drawing
room"
She started from the position she ha6
held SO long End came q step nearer to
me. dared not trust myself to meet her
gaze.
You overheard few words Of which
you misconstrued the meaning, she said
quietly; and grant you they were open
to misconstruction."
viii you explain them?"
Suppose refuse?"
In that case / start for Leicestershire
tomorrow morning-to find out what it
was you come to tell me the night befor.
my marriage.
Has time so entirely obliterated all
memory of that night that you even ior-
get my last request-to believe all nv Ill
situations false?"
Il have forgotten nothing; would to
heaven could"
'Trifles light as air are to the Jealous
combinations strong as holy writ she
quoted, in her sweet, beguiling voice.
I am not Jealous" exclaimed, hotly
Then let me sui stitute suspicious
of whom should be jealous?" askei,
with pointed meaning in my tone. ct
DIR. Gascoigne, for example?"
She laughed. 1t struck me as scarcely
natural, that little silvery laugh.
-Perhaps-with more reasOn-of your
friend, Mr.. Hawks. with whom you left
your wife alone all day. Are you aware
how your friend amused himself-ind
her? No? Mr.. Hawks has handsome
pair of dueling pistols-toys, he ca Is
them. He has been teaching Mrs. Dudley
to shoot with them"
This is altogether beside the question,
Miss Lynton. 1t remains for you to de-
eId rh or II 80 fn-
Leicesiershire tomorrow. I await that
decision now.
Mr.. Dudley, she said, speaking slow
ly and with the utmost composure Of
manner, If you are bent on this journey
l have no power to stop you. But-you
know best how You will account to-your
wife for taking such a STEP"
L have thought over all that an
swered, impatiently. Hawks is leaving
in the morning. go with him, and shall
be absent three days"
And nothing that can say will deter
you?"
Yes. If you tell me-"
1 have nothing to tell you" She
spoke with studied coldness, and, draw
ing her warm, white wrap closer round
her, she made a slight gesture Of dis
missal with her hand md turned away.
"Edna!" cried, "Ednal Have yon no
pity for me?" And rash fool, mailman
that l was, l attempted to seize her hand.
But the next moment l drew back re-
buked, before the look Of mute tender.
ness and love that shone out of her dear
eyes. l could have fallen on my knees to
ask to be forgiven.
Go on" she gasped. And without
another word or glance left the room
had vowed not to see my wife again
until the mystery was solved 1t was i'm
possible, however, to act up to this de-
termination without exciting her sus-
picions. Going TO her door. therefore. ]
opened it softly and looked in. She
slept. This was we'll. I would not dis
turb her slumbers. Closing the door
noiselessly as had opened It, I sought
my own dressing room, where spent the
night.
TTo BE CONTINUED
His FOrethOught Came Afterwarl.