Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-10-30

NJ NAAA fSi1SNA @-~ AHt@N' - 49,
trle, by an oversight. She could neve
have noticed that the piece of pai'er
wrapped round the crescent was peculiar
in amy way, or she would not have left
it on the table among the others. Size
turned it off we'll when Evelyn recog-
nized it, and made the most of her time.
She was within an ace of success, but
| fate was against her. And Carr lost no
time either, for that matter, for | have
since found out that the telegram she
| sent was to Birmingham, where he was
no doubt hiding, bidding him meet
| her i'll London earlier than had been
arranged. OF course he set off for the
scene of the accident directly he heard
of it, having received no further COM
munication from her. We only arrived
ten minutes before him. For my part !
admired her more than I ever did be-
| fore when the truth about her came out.
| considered her to be Il pink-and-wtite
| nonenity, without an idea beyond q neat
adjustment of peasl powder, and then
| found that she possessed brains enough
to outwit two minds Of nc moan caliber.
namely, yours, Middleton. and my own.
Evelyn wa this only person who had the
slightest suspicion Of her, and that hard
| ly amounted to more than an instinct,
for she owned that she had no reason to
| show for it"
Il wonder Lady Mary was so coIn-
| pletely taken in by her to start with,"l
said.
Il don't" replied Charles. Il have
ever heard of elderly men being taken
III by Young ones. Besides, suspicious
own nearest relatives, especially their
progressing neplews, and then lay
themselves open to be taken in by entire
Strangers. She wanted to get Ralph
married. and she took a fancy to this
giGl. who was laying herself out to be
taken d fancy To. In short she trusted
to her w Judgment, and it failed
her. as usual. | wrote very kindly
to her from abroad, telling her how sin
cereiy l sy1npathized with her in her
distress at finding how entirely her
Judgment had been at fault; how la
mentally she had been deceived from
first to last, and how mucl. trouble she
had been the innocent means of bring
ing on tie family. have had no reply.
Dear Aunt Mary! That reminds me
chat size il in London now, and | think a
call from me and q personal expression
Of sy1G .tny might give her pleasure"
Al he rose to take his leave.
/ rad let Charles go without contradict
ing u Word he had said, because, unfort-
unatelE, | was not in a position to do SO.
As | have said before, | am not given to
suspecting a friend, even though appear
ances may be against him, and | still be
lIeyed in Cars innocence, though | must
own that | was sorry that he never an
swered any of the numerous letters ]
wrote to him, or ever came to see me in
London, as l had particularly asked him
to do. OF conrse | lid not believe that
he was married to Aurelia, for it WAS
only Oh the word Of a stranger and a po-
lice inspector, while | knew from his own
lips that he was engaged to a countrywo-
man Of his oVn However, be that how it
may, my own rooted conviction at the
time, which has remained mistaken ever
since. is that in some way he became
aware that he was unjustly suspected,
and being. like all Americans, of a sensi
tive nature, he retired to his native land.
Anyhow, l have never seen or heard any
thing of him since. I am aware that Jane
holds a different opinion, but Their
Charles had prejudiced her against him,
so much SO that it has ended by becom-
ing a subject on which we do not n
verse together.
l saw Charles again a few months
later, on a sultry night in July. Twas
leaving town the next day to be present
at Ralph's wedding, and Jane'and Iwere
talking it over toward 10 o'clock-the
first cool time in the day-when he
walked in. He looked pale and faded as
he sat GtUwfn e1ssElIE~ny u at t- tbs open
window and stroked the cat, which was
taking the air on the sill. He said that
he felt the heat, and he certainly looked
very much knocked up. I do not feel
heat myself, l am glad to say.
Il am going abroad Tomorrow he
said, after a few remarks on other sub
jects. 1T is not merely a question of
pleasure, though | shall be glad to be out
Of London, but I have of late become an
object Of such increasing interest to
those who possess my autograph that /
have decided on taking change Of air for
a time
you mean to say you are not go
ing down ID Stoke Moreton for Ralphs
wedding?' exclaimed. Il thought we
should have Travelled together, as we
once did six months ago"
Il can't CO." said Charles, almost
sharply. I have told Ralph So"
lam sure he will be very much dis
appointed, and Evelyn, too, and the
wedding being from her uncle's house,
as she has &c home of her own, will
make your absence all the more
marked"
1T must be marked then, but the
young people will survive it, and Aunt
Mary viii be thankful. She has mo-
spoken to me since | made that little call
upon her in the spring. When l pass
her carriage in the Row she looks the
other way"
Il am glad Ralph has consoled him
SELF" I said. "A good and charming
woman like Evelyn and nice steady
fellow like Ralph are bound to be happy
together"
Yes" said Charles, II suppose they
are. She deserves to be happy. She al.
ways liked Ralph, and he is a good fel-
low. The model young men make all
the running nowadays. Ii novels the
good woman always marries the cape.
grace, but it docs not seem to be the case
in real life"
anyhow, not i'll this instance" 1 re-
marked cheerftllly.
>, NO, not in this instance, as you sc
justly observe" he replied, with a pass
ing CLEAN Of amusement in his restless
tired eyes. And now" producing {
: small packet, las | am not going myself
| want to give my wedding present t.
the bride into your charge. Perhaps yor
will take it down tomorrow and give il
into her own hands with my bes'
wishes"
Might we see it frst?:" said Jane, witt
all a woman's curiosity, evidently scent
ing a Jewel case from afar.
Charles ~unwrapped a small morocco
case and, touching e spring. showed thu
3 diamond crescent, beautifully reset ant
, polished. blazing on its red satin couch
Ralph said l should have it, and HI
sent it ME ONE time since" he said
turning it in his hand; 'but it seems ,