Dodge City times., 1890-11-07
CHAPTER XIII.
A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL.

link in the chain of events that led to thu
bitter end.
do not ask any pity for myself, know
ing full we'll that most of my misery wal
wrought by my own rashness. But de-
ask you to pause before you utterly con.
denim my conduct toward my wife. Alas
Hal the misguided woman who brought
about our hasty marriage but dealt fairly
with me all might have been different in.
deed!
The morning following the episode Of
the letter George continued to appear
displeased with me. She talked with
much animation, however, to Charlie
Hawks, and arranged that he should prac-
been discovered somewhere about the
premises and my wife gave directions fol
it to be erected upon the lawn.
After breakfast l visited the stables,
leaving my wife and guest in the music
room.
When I was re-entering the house, 9
! groom, following me in, laid some sort OF
package on table in the hall. paused
instinctively to look at what he had left,
and without experiencing any particular
| interest or curiosity saw that it was a box
that had come by rail from London. 1t
was addres led Madame Dudley" in q
| cramped, foreign, uneducated hand, and
| Books" was written on it in conspicu-
ously large letters.
With one idea only in my mind-that of
| giving George pleasure-I took up the
box, intending to carry it to her. turned
! to do SO, and found myself face to face
with Edna Lynton.
Il came here in search Of that, Mr..
Dudley. Please give it to me, she said.
1t is addressed to my wife. am going
to take it to her, ! answered.
She looked more disconnected than the
occasion seemed to warrant and repeated:
Il want-I must have that box. Please
give it to me"
1T is much too heavy for those small
hands to lift" And az spoke noticed
how nervously she was twining together
the slender fingers. There was q great
was looking thin and pale and very
fragile.
You are not well?" asked. with an
anxiety too real to think of hiding.
Yes, thank you, but"
-Oh, it is useless persisting," I said
hotly. Il am quite determined to carry
this up myself. You are not a servant"
NO, she answered slowly, in her soft,
low voice, that seemed to hold some hid
den meaning, Il ana friend"
There is no mistake about your posi-
ton in this house." I hastened to say.
You are here, am assured, of your own
free will. That being SO, wish you to be
happy"
She was not pale now; a lovely pink
color spread itself over her face.
Thank you," she said, with dropped
eyes. Il prefer no discussion, please. You
will let me have that box?"
NO, Miss Lynton, will not.
And without another word l left her and
proceeded to the MUSHROOM with my by
no means light load.
But the little ruse was not successful.
George showed herself in no way molli-
fed by my attention. Her dark eyes
glowed with delight as they rested on the
box, but to me she youchsafed neither
word nor looks Ct thanks.
"Ha! what have We here2" exclaimed
Charlie, leaning over the table. "Booksf
I'll lay a hundred to one they're novels,
Mrs. Dudley Right?" he asked, appeal
ing to my wife. She nodded. SNow,
I'll lay odds they're French. Right
again, eh?"
How could you tell?" she asked.
This child wasn't born yesterday!
That's written by French woman" he
| continued. pointing to the address.
My maid" said Georgie, staring at
him in genuine amaze. The Frenh maid
who travelled with me. She is in London.
get her to send me French novels Mr..
Hawks, you are . magician! Jack would
not have guessed Is much in q thousand
years!"
Jack would not have dared" muttered
Charlie aside, thus showing he Was a more
attentive observer than had supposed.
He next suggested opening the box. On
| some trivial grounds- forget what
George objected; but as she appeared SO
well amused with her companion that she
ignored me entirely, left them to them
selves.
They we're going to practice archery to-
gether; so long as Georaie was pleased
that was everything. But the arrival Of
the parcel marked books" puzzled me-
My wife was not much of French schol-
ar. had never seen her read q French
novel; If she procured them in this way
and kept them out of sight they must be
works of Q nature which
Pshaw! l was out of temper or out Of
spirits, possibly both. What did it signify
| as long as George was amused, what she
read2 She WAS not o child. / sent round
to the stables to order my horse, believing
. ride would prove an antidote to my
morose mood.
While waiting 1 walked out in front and
lit a cigarette; it was the renewal of an old
habit which, with many others of my
bachelor days, had been almost entirely
| laid aside.
A groom brought round the horse; was
about to mount when Mrs. Armstrong sp-
peared and handed me . note.
1t was addressed in Edna Linton'e wit.
ing-Iknew that instantly-and the words
it contained, written with pencil in ap-
| parent haste. were these:
Mrs. Dudley wishes me to join the din
ner party this evening. What shall
| do? Please tell the bearer Yes or No. p"
I looked at the stolid features of the
housekeeper, who had brought the note,
wondering how much intelligence might
| dwell beneath that stern exterior, but
might as well have tried to see through .
! stone wall.
, Tell Miss Lynton-' But there 1
stopped.
An emphatic NO" struggled for utter
ance, but made no sound Had I said
that word the whole tenor Of the future
would have been changed-much evil
| Of the rarely INDUCED in cigarette were
stealing over my senses. took another
Whit. and said: Say to Miss Lynton-
Yes Most certainly Yes, repeated
by way Of making the assurance doubly
sure. then sprang into the saddle and was
| gone.
Ny evil temper had vanished; my spir-
- rose like magic. felt exultant, with
out assigning . cause; reckless, without
inquiring Of what
Aftsr putting many miles bstween me
end Lengdale Grange I drew rein in .
ssqusstsred lana, assured myself Was
unobeeeved, and took from my breast
pockst IT, lifaae penoiled note. A smile
! oaDe to NJ Hp4, sun-rsy seemed to
i vasD ~ 1oaEt . IpD-Feod z hsldths
EBeee el.ay ~ - I'D tsashel ~