The National tribune., 1890-04-17
CHAPTER VII.

she returned 10 the paTlQr- The clock on the
uantcFiecr showed the hour TO be 1890 Her
celoquy with her father had disturbed her
dreaaiully. What could he the meaning oi
Cara absenceg Was ever such an extraOr-
binary Circumstance! How, in what manner,
was she 70 obtain the key 10 the strange euig-
ma which had cast its wizard spell into her
lifeg
She walked about the parlor. adjusting things
here and there as they had become displaced in
the day : occupation OF tie room. Arranging her
muslr-rack. She necessarily came UPON her
lovers iavurite songs. To practice his accom-
panimeHts WAS one Of her sweetest joys;
second 70 none, indeed. except that Of playing
them while be sang. Yes here they al were
"GOod-hy. Sweetheart +" My Queen" the pas
Bi0nate aiT of Eansi 10 Marguerite in Tie Gar
oen, aisd dozen Others; all equally breathing
the most soulful love. answering devotion
uDchauElnE ndelity. Ever. as Willard poured
forth their GielOaiUus phrases ia has syupa-
tAetIc baritone voice. were Ais eyes fixed upon
her whom he cezseiessly aT0Wed 10 be tlle sole
mistress o. Lis heart, his destiny The only
subject ln dispute between them Was which
loved sire 5l0zty
The iuFlbest thought from the mind OF Abb
Rali was 90 assoeiaIe willard CHAPMAN ia any
manner whatsoever wIth Cara Romaiue's alb
benre- Undoubtedly Tie Pildy little thing had
taken advantage or ilrr uutiug 10 70 OF some
question she Was not on visiting terms with
Enynne wb0asoevcr in or near Thebe, Had
G5e even taken the trouble to 20 20 the American
House aHd deliver the letter as instructed ?
THIS was matter OF great uncertainty in A bi-
gals mind; aud it was not the least of her
annogancts 70 fancy that the private missive To
her AiAancea husband, which she had pcnned
l0r his Information only, might now be rs an
oPen book to Clara's disrrIsulz5le male rela-
GFes.
= An amateur detective" Ia, ha! She laugh
&C sOstiF, spite 0f beg distress of mind. Vel.
that vas qHrer idea o! her fathers.
Sic opened the front door and looked On aud
down. Not a human being was IN sight.
Ihcslans were. 70 = man, IN company with Hor-
peas AZ Igs45
An AHATEUR DETBcTIFK!"
Was i queer idea Of her iaihcr's2 Was il not
rather good idea, come to think or itT
knitted IaB O'sbanteT. a waterproof cloak.
Were lying Oh the hail table. Soflly-aimost
holding her breath 50 as not 10 awaken bnr
fsther-sbc drew them On. Softly, slowly.
lDch by inch, sHe shut the hail door behind
her. and hurried down the street
Whether Or not her father lad spoken eeri-
ousiy when be said that she had his consent 10
assume the part a an amateur detective Size
knew that he would never have PERMITTED her
togo alone into the street after nighlftU Rut
al
tue situation tAzi sleep was an imposs ibility 10
her and every waking hour a torture. Her
purpose wa " 20 boldly To The American House
End ask ioE " lizard Chapman. She could haf.fIy
believe be Was sill iB the village, for II be lad
been she fclt sure be Wol!d have made another
effort 10 see her. If Clara had delivered the
letter and he had gone, As size, Abigail. had told
him 70 do, certainly he would have written "a
her. 5he lad frequently told him that her
father Deger opened her letters, aA be had strict
1deas concerning the right 10 privacy Of all
adults IN their correspondence.
she arrived in front Of the American Honsa
and stood on tie sidewalk opposite Ia tbe
oiilee Of the hotel the lights were Burning
brightly, and there was considerable movement
oi going and coming. The old bus Was stand.
1ng ln Tie vacant lot adjoining the hotel. not
yet attached to the lean horses whose taek
eFcgy micn gAlt was 70 draw tie vehicle and IT,
passengers hreugh spiHncy's Wood. The in
hab.lau8 oi the village Of Ihcbes and lis ont.
lying farms were az il entranced in sIumber
save fog tAls little show Of animation az lie
hotel.
TWice did Abigail essay a venture across the
street with the intention Of walking info fl,e
Office aud inquiring for her friend but eacb
tune she was deferred by seeing the door swing
open and stTaH2e man come ont. She dreaded
10 lace tie looks Of surprise which she kneyg
must be Ecr portion as the result Of sueh a
curious action. 1t occurred 10 her IS very nos.
EIbie thai - Lie various men she lad seen ri VA.
nous times on duty about the American Housf
some, u not all, would recoeuize her at once
although Sic had no personal acquaintance
WIN any 0nc Of them. What would the resi-.
dents Of Jhcbcs' Corners think II they knew
las they surely would that Andrew Morton,
Daughter had come 10 public inu al night e
make inquiries about
A EoUNG TRAVELLING EALEgsANf
with heavy heart she turned to retrao,
her steps homewards. or verify her ey
plOlis as an amateur detective had come Ia ,
IniserabIc conclusion at the very outset 81,
1eit berscl! 10 be but pasiiianimous creature
and yet hOw could she nerve herself Ia f.c,
those iecring clerks and casual PASSENGER,
through tic Viiiagef No, it was irnnossibie
The lights 10 the Office threw their rays ave,
the sidewalk just in front Of the b0ase b1t
not elsewhere. The night was dark one and
rain began 10 fall. Drawing her waterproot
cloak closely shout her form, she crossed the
street, and she did so observed the door ~
the ladies' entrance TO the hotel was omen
though there was no lights there. When ex.
netiy Ia iinc OF the door she saw that a woman
WIS standing at it-a bFawny redhaaded
woman, leaning against the d00IiaInb and hum.
ming tone, whose words were tincLured wifi
ttTOug HlbeTuiaH accent