Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-10-30

RiTl, urcSSeu Dkt tue HOtHeE, IN Ueep
black, with very brilliant eyes and
profusion of jet black curls.
Some one to see your brother"
She came halfway down the stairs,
pushed back her curls with one hand
and looked at me with her wonderful
eyes. Even then her beauty struck me
as stood gazing at her.
'Perley Is not at home" she said,
hurriedly. HE has gone away. We
do not know when he will return"
Evidently this mother and daughter
were in the secret of Mattison's viii
iany and doing their best to screen
him from its consequence. My heart
bled for both of them; but it was no
time to indulge in sentimental pity.
Speaking as briefly as l could, told
them it was my duty to compel them
to remain were they were while
searched the house.
Mrs. Madison sat down pale aud
trembling. Her daughter colored
( high.
Mother" she said, "why do you
stand by and listen TO such slandersP
/ 1t is falsep Let this man search the
house If he will; my brother is as in
nocent as | ami!
No opposition was offered to my
search. 1t was entirely fruitless, how
ever; there was no where any trace of
the missing bird. Nevertheless, re-
solved to remain there quietly, for
day or two, to see what Il little waiting
might bring forth.
The same afternoon Clara Madison
came in as sat by the window, keep
ing IA silent watch on all round.
mir, Meredith" she said, softly.
mother thinks / have been rude to
yon. She says it was not your fault,
personally, that you were sent here on
such mistaken errand- land, perhaps.
she is right. ! am sorry If have hurt
your feelings"
The pretty,penitent way in which she
spoke quite won my heart. and few
questions on my part seemed to unlock
the hidden recesses of her confidence.
She talked at first shyly but after
ward with more assurance of herself,
her absent brother and her mother,
giving me thousand little family de-
tails which | almost dreaded to hear.
This twilight talk was one of the
picasantest episodes of my by no
means universally pleasant life, and |
was not a little annoyed when il was
broken in upon by the arrival of the
con>tablcs from K, who were to
watch through the night.
At the sound Of their footsteps,
Clara rose up, and sat down again.
confused and frightened
"Oh. Mr.. Meredith. those men,"
BE easy, Miss Mattison," | said
you shall in no way be annoyed by
them. Your privacy shall not he
broken in upon, believe me-"
Il know am silly" faltered Clara,
but OH it seems so dreadfulm
My orders to the men were simple
and succinct. | stationed them as
seemed best to me, and then returned
to spend the evening with Miss Matti-
son. And when was mt length left
alone | could not help thinking-God
forgive mellow much more winning
and graceful she was than poor Kitty
Elton.
At last answer came to my report
TO Mr.. Clenner. 1t was short and to
the purpose"
read the missive with a pang.
Clara Mattison's cheek deeencd In
color rs | announced my departure t.
her.
You have been far kinder than we
dared to hope, Mr.. Meredith" she
said. nc held her hand in mine
You will think of me sometimes,
Clarapn
The reader will easily perceive from
this how our intimacy had progressed.
She smiled, hung her head, and. tax
ing pair of scissors from the table,
severed one bright, black curl from
the abundant tresses that hung over
her forehead.
Keep this. Mr.. Meredith, in men,
DRY of me-"
Was foolish to press the jetty ring.
let to my lips ere laid it closely
against my h"arlP Clara evidently
thought was, for she laughed, but did
not seem displcased.
Mr.. Cleuner appeared to be good
deal annoyed when got back to town
rather IN unreasonable thing on his
part, for | certainly did all that man
could do under the circumstances.
I'VE have been mistaken all the
way through, il seems he said biting
his lip. ''Stramge-very strange. /
never was mistaken before in my cal
culations. Well, we must try again"
went to Kitty Elton's that night.
She received me with Il sweet, shy
sadness of welcome, that should have
made me the happiest man in the
world; but it did not. Clara Matti-
sons dark beauty seemed To stand be-
tween me and her like n visible bar
ricr, When ! took my leave Their,
were tears in her ewes.
kitty you are CRYING"
Because you are changed. Edward.
You do not love me as well as you
| did,
kitty, what nonSenSe!f
was vexed with her simply because
| knew the accusation was true. But
! kissed her once more, aud took my
leave, moody aud dissatisfied.
When | reached the office next morn
ing Mr.. Clenncr was not there.
: He has gone to =" said MY
fellow detective; "he went last night"
! 10 K-Pr
/ | was seriously annoyed. Did Mr..
; Clenner doubt the accuracy OF my re-
ports? Or did he imagine that was
unable to institute thorough AMI
complete investigation of the premises?
4 Its very strange" unused aloud.
Jones laughed.
"Well," he said, you know Clenner
has strange way of doing things.
Depend upon it, he has good reasons
! for his conduct"
/ was sitting at my desk two days
subsequently,. when the door glided
noiselessly open and Clenner himscl
entered.
/ You are back again, sir? And what
luck?'
! The best"
You don't mean to say you've got
him."
Il do mean to say it, Edward Mere
: dith. knew could not be entirely
/ mistaken. Perlcy Mattison is in the
next room-half an hour from now he
will he in prison.
! Where did you apprehcnd him?'
/ .'At hnnp in his n,nthar'S hnusc -