Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-04-25

Again Mrs. Smith is frightened. She
does not like to think what the result of
that confession will be. They've man
aged at last 10 find a spot where they can
live quietly and unknown. Why must
all the miserable story be brought up
again?
Miss Smith. failing to get any practi-
cal advice from her mother. thinks the
matter over quietly by herself. and by
the time she sees her admirer again she
has settled on her course of action.
She meets him in the fields that lead
10 the church.
1t is a bright summer morning, and
they pause by still, 10 look at the yell
low and red of the far stretching fields.
The Rev. Charles Grosvenor COM
mences by talking about nature, and
gradually comes down to talking about
himself-his aims and prospects in life.
Little by little the conversation slides into
the groove he wished, and in five minutes
his hand and fortune have been laid at
the feet of the lady listener.
He hadn't meant to be so abrupt; he
had meant to keep his secret little
longer, but it had slipped out accidentally
among the poetry and domestic details,
and he was very glad it was over.
Miss Smith was OF course very much
surprised. The curate had caught her
hand as his accents grew more impas-
stoned. She allowed him to retain it till
he had finished, then drew it gently
away.
Mr.. Grosvenor, she said quietly, II
will answer you fairly and frankly. Be
fore you made me such an offer you
should have ascertained to whom you
We're speaking.
What do you mean?"
"You do not know who or what am. I"
Il know that you are an angel.
Miss Smiths lips curled slightly, but
her voice trembled as she answered:
AS you have gone so far it is only
right you should know something about
me. Ny name is not Smith. That is a
false name.
"A false namei" the parson gasped.
~Dear met why do you want false
name2"
@Listen and will tell you. Did you
ever hear of terrible crime for which
two men and two women were con-
demned? 1t was called a mystery at
first. But when the facts came TO light
it was called a murder One man
starved his wife to death, and the other
people helped him. He wanted ~ marry
a younger woman. and this younger
woman was one of the accused.
Il remember the case, stammered the
curate. 1t was very awful; but don't
see what you've got to do with H.
The perspiration stood on his brow and
he began 70 mop ID with his pocket hand
kerchief He half expected 70 hear that
Miss Smith was a relative Of one Of the
criminals.
you remember. continued the girl.
speaking rapidly now and without emo
ton, that ali four were condemned g.
death. but the young girl was at the last
moment granted free pardon and al
lowed 10 return 70 the world and to her
friends.
Yes, gasped the clergyman, II re
member; but what has all this business
to do with your"
This" answered the lady whom he
had just made an offer of marriage: IL
was the girl that allowed the murdered
woman's husband to love me; | was tho
girl for whose sake the murder was COM
mitted; l was the girl who was con-
demned to be hanged by the neck and
then granted free pardoni l am
She stopped. The Rev. Charles Gros-
venor had reeled back against the stiIe
and closed his eyes.
Excuse me-" he muttered, "a little
faintness, that's all. ="
He pulled himself together, STAN
mered a little, coughed, and for a min
ute seemed at a loss what to say.
She broke the silence first.
have told you now the secret of my
life. / am here with my mother, and
here wish to unknown, forgot
ten by the world. We are bound to live
under an assumed name We should be
hooted and stoned if it were known who
we really are. VIII you keep my
secret?"
Certainly, stammered the curate
@and trust"
THAT shall keep yours. Rest assured
Of that, Mr.. Grosvenor. / will forget
that anything has happened this morn
ing beyond the ordinary interchanges of
courtesies between clergyman and par
ishioner.
She smiled and bowed and passed on.
He walked back slowly to the church,
muttering to himself. what an escape
who'd have thought it9"
=
The Rev. Charles Grosvenor is still the
curate of Chumleigh, and Miss Smith
and her mother still live at Laburnam
cottage. The parishioners, however,
notice that the visits of the clergyman
to the cottage are few and far between,
and that when he calls he is generally
accompanied by one or other Of his Aady
visitors.
And old Dame Turvey, who knows
everything about everybody and is a
great authority on village matters, as
sures every one that she can't make il
out at all, for she was quite sure the par
son was sweet in that quarter and she
quite expected that Miss Smith would
have presided at the parsonage tea table.
Something must have happened very
unexpected to break it all off, con-
clndes the worthy dame, for it was all
altered like in minute
Dame Turvey Is right for once. What
happened was very unexpected, and it
made such an impression on the Rev.
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