The morning call., 1891-10-25

in distress, have l been in any way to
blame? [ hope not; it would make me mis-
cradle. l would have suffered anything
rather
save in being so good, so beautiful. We
must, however, never meet again, | added,
taking my courage in both hands, for you
are married, and, rs heaven hears me, wish
you, Mrs. Meredith, every happiness. Bnt
l love you, and must to my dying dayP'
unable to control my emotion, took
her hand; then, as she returned the pres
sure, and | hurried away, | heard her muir
muir with sob:
ION, am so, so sorry!
And did you ever see her husband.
Dlck?"
Never! As much as L could l tried to
avoid the house. / began to wish Mrs.
Meredith would leave; but when, week
ago. | found that the house was let and she
had gone to England, [ was in despair. L
haied Dublin, and 500, Meg, came over
here" he added, springing to his feet.
Mind. dear, not word of this even to
Laura, who might feel bound to share con-
fidence with her future husband"
II will not, Dick, dear" answered Meg,
who when her handsome, solderly brother
went striding quickly off among the trees.
did not follow him, knowing he wished to
! be alone.
Poor, poor, dear old Dick" she reflected.
tears in her bright eyes; most other din
| cHltiPs might be got over, but 20 love lady
married already can't, Well" she added,
| bear, but perhaps it's for the best after all.
| Papa who thinks so much of his son making
| a good match, would never, I'm sure, have
consented to that one. How depressing
| the afternoon seems to have grown-I shall
| 60 and find Laura and Horace.
AS she quilted the trees she perceived the
| two sea Ell in the TOSe-garden, but at the
| same moment they got up and sauntered
| aepuss the lawn to the house. Meg llstlessly
| followed in their wake. dreamiiy watching
their. happiness. and comparing it with
| Dicks.
Abruptly she stopped; her foot had struck
against some hard substance, sending 10 fly
! ing before her. 1t was a pocket-book-Hor-
! ace WaltOn'S-and the conclusion had burst
| 1t open Meg stopped to pick 1t up, but re-
NAMED transfixed by the sight of carte-de-
visite, that with some letters had fallen out.
"Nhat a beautiful facep' she exclaimed,
! invOuntarily, lifting it. ITS lovely 1
wonder who it is? I'll ask"
She stopped, and read beneath the Wig
| nette: " From Amy, to dear. dear Horace"
never heard Horace mention any one of
! that name. Perhaps l ought not to have
! looked; but l could not help 1t, it was lying
! before my eyes. Very mysterious very, for
gentlemen to carry such portraits. l Won
| der if Laura has seen it?"
While speaking she had been restoring
| the articles to the pocket-book. One was a
! letter in a lady'S writing, and As she put it
in, before she was aware she had read there
| words:
! will wait for you by the stile in the pine God
| at half past on Thursday evening.
Yours dearest, with my whole affection,
AMY.
Meg dropped down sitting on the grass.
| \ sense of something wrong came upon her
| What did it all mean? VINO was Amy,
! u norrrait HOT91a Kant and whO adj
/ dressed him-Laura's betrUthed-in such
terms The pine wood? That of course,
must be the pine wood near DeYor. Why,
! yes; this, too, was Thursday, and Horace,
! who had never done such a thing before, had
refused dining at the court to-day.
| "Oh, there's something wrong, there must
! be-" Thought Meg. excitedly. "Shall | tell
| Laura OF Dick? No. I'll brighten or distress
| no one until I'm more sure 1 have cause.
! But I'll not look at the pocket book any
| more-now il would indeed be dishOnoratl lie.
| Yet he'll be searching for II. and | can't give
| it him. No, for that would put Horace on
4 guorI and ! must discover the truth. for
! perhaps Laura'S future happiness may de-
/ pend on it.
Meg finally decided to place the book
among the long grass, under the seat upon
! which Horace and her sister ha1been sitting
! Then she stole away to her room. Entering.
| she happened to approach the window which
! looked upon the rnSe-garden. There she
/ saw Horace Walton walking down the path,
| CHANGING eagerly from side 10 side. Meg
| caught a slim pse of his face-ii was anxious,
| she fancIed pale.
Reaching the seat he soon found the
| pocket book, and after throwing a hurried
! glance round put 1t in his pocket as lie came
| SauntArlng Da X.
It's mystery" said puzzled Meg. If
| Amy IS in the pine wood this evening I'll be
there too.