Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-10-29

"Welcome to my homer said the
count, meeting her as she entered. But
you already know it better than you
know me. | hope you will not disap-
prove my alterations"
what you have done is sure to be
right" she answered, "but you are mis-
taken in thinking | know the house.
This is my first visit to it"
Really the very frst.' said the count,
retaining her hand a moment in his and
looking in her eyes. "Well, / am glad.
/ had supposed you were here at the
time your husband met his death; but /
was wrongY'
You were misinformed."
$50 much the better. You will have
no painful associations to contend with.
But, pardon me, am l indiscreet in
speaking frankly of these things?" He
had led her into a small room off the
hall, where a clear fire was burning
softly in the CRATE and where they were
alone. sit is my impression" he went
on, "that You are not as other women;
You have a strength and elevation that
despise the common frivolities of your
sex; and though you are too proud to
wish to appear eccentric, yet in your
heart You think your own thoughts and
live your owl life. You are a rebel and
a hereto in the garb of orthodoxy. You
are not offended?' he added, smiling.
you please me immensely" she re-
Piled. Il like to be told about myself,
aud l dare say You are quite right about
me. But l never studied my own char
acter-I have no talent in that way-and
L really don't know whether l am Just
like other people or not. If seeing very
few people can make me peculiar, l
ought to be So"
My experience observed the
count, after a pause, has made me pre-
fer the realities of life to n shows.
When | asked you to come here and help
me | feared you would refuse. Most
women would have done so, because they
are either fools who do not think or cow
ards who dread critics. Your husband
was murdered in this house three years
ago tonight. Even to this day it is un-
known who struck the blow"
mo, count, | must correct You there
~internosed she, slightly disturbed, for the
counts manner was strangely emphatic,
and the topic upon which he had fallen
was not. after all, an attractive one.
There was no doubt about who com
United the crime. There was no mys-
terry"
mo? And was tue true criminal pun
ished!'
Yes; so far as the jury was con-
cerned. But he did not live to serve out
his But, really, my dear SIR" she
broke off, laughing. 1--WE must not spend
our valuable time discussing these
things. 1t viii not help our guests TO
enjoy themselves"
Il viii say, however, what was in my
mind, rejoined he, regarding her gravely.
II hope to have the honor of knowing
Jon better, madame; but no friendship
can be secure which is liable to the OPEN
ing OF skeleton closets. | wish to have
your assurance that you have no secret
horror OF TINS place on account of what
was done here? You do not fear to see
specterss You do not scent blood in the
arrf In q word, madame, you are not
superstitious-you do not believe that
the influences of an evil deed are TO be
fsit more in one place than another?
Ina the ghost of your husband, or of
the man who was condemned as his
murderer. Is nor likely to confront Won
IN this house than anywhere elsega
why do you say thesethings to me.
"a de Lisles she asked, leaning back
In her hair and regarding him between
ner narrowed eyeiids. do you think il
Is quite e~onsiderates lam not of a bys-
ter1c temperament, but if / have any
nerves, you are not taking the best
means to soothe them; and what has my
late husband 10 do with our acuna;nt.
auce or with this dinners Lam NOT an.
perstitious; l don't believe in ghosts. lac
cepted your Invitation TO come here be.
cause | wanted to come, I wanted 10
greet the frst guests who came to Harry
I-snts konse. At the time of his death
Re ~as planning q reception here. aud il
2 nag taken Place ! should have been
.ae asstsees our marriage, as you maj
nase neArd, Was q secret one. had feIi
lor 2 long tina tho injustice of NV uosi.
non. and locked forward very eagerly
% that reception in our " house as :
public recognition aud acceptance. In.
stead OF that / was forced to ten my
own story IN . courtronaa.
was more Of . disgrace than n vim.
dcalion. Now, sitter years have nassed
and l have kept TO myseif. yesar reauess
appeafed b me ID toe light of a long ae.
layed opportunity. Society 49, -