The record-union., 1891-05-23
CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI.
The day on which this conversation
took place was on Thursday, and Guy
had gone down to North Brighton fishing
with some military friends.
Amparo returned to her suite of rooms
rather istlessly to think Of her dear dead
mother. She had felt depressed since
Guy had left, not feeling like mingIing
with the gay crowd, although they al
ways welcomed her as an addition to
their society. Her maid had also gone
out, and so Amparo was alone with
her thoughts. She paced to and fro, and
finally passing through the dressing
to her own bedroom, with girlish fond
ImpulsiveneSs, she pressed her tear
stained cheek to Guys dressing gown as
it hung near the door. Anything belong
ing TO him, dear as he was to her, was a
comfort in her loneliness. Carelessly
CHANGING at his writing table she noticed
cablegram partially twisted up lying
on the table. Thinking it was one lately
received in regard TO their return, she
unfolded it from the twist Guy had given
it ready to light cigar with, and these
words met her eye: mo. 2. Can't meet.
angerous.-Jim.o
With the criminal story fresh in her
mind, Amparo's agonized thought was,
what has Guy to do with No. 2? Then
reading the message over again, with
low moan, she sank to the floor in a dead
faint.
After awhile she cameto herself, feeling
weak and dizzy. Recalling the message
to her mind, the idea possessed her that
Guy, her beloved, was one and the same
person as No. 2.
Mother! mother !" she moaned, "what
will do, what will / do?''
Then her native pride asserting itself
she sprang to her feet and paced the floor,
wringing her hands, and saying. in
quick, short gasps: "a murderer's wifel
criminals wife! Oh, heaven it cannot
be-" Then sobbing afresh her agony
was intense, her whole nervous system
SO wrought up with her mothers last
illness and death, she was completely I'M
strung.
They said it was jim, his friend, with
him, and this message is signed JIM"
she continued. But it will never do for
him to come and find me. l will leave
him. What right had he to deceive? L
thought be was so noble, so good. l must
not give way. l must nerve myself to
surrender love. hope, happiness. Oh,
Guy! why did you not tell me?" she
sobbed. Then hastily catching her
clothes, jewelry and money she went to
the office and ordered cab to reach the
O'Clock express to London, telling the
proprietor she had news Of the illness of
relatives in Scotland, she hurried into the
cab, and in less than hour she was on her
way TO London. Arriving there at she
engaged a steamer passage to Queens
town, Ireland. Anywhere, anywhere!'
she murmured, away from shame. dis
grace, infamy."
Safely on board the steamer she gave
way, without restraint, to her feelings.
till the stewardess. kindly soul.
brought the ships doctor to her state
room, and he gave her a composing
draught. She forgot all her sorrow in a
l1afF 20
In the meantime Guy Winthrop re-
turned from his sail. He bounded up
stairs, two steps at a time. Once inside
the rooms he called out, "Amparo! Am
paro! darling, where are your" But no
one sprang to him, no musical voice re-
sponded as OF yore. No answer, but
blank, cherries silence. Crossing to the
dressing-room, fearing, he knew not
what, he found her luggage gone Then
rushing 10 the office he tried to ask. col
lectedly as he could: what time did nv
wife leave?'' thinking in his unselfish
love for her to save remark.
''Two-thirty train, sir. Called to dying
relatives in Scotland, 1 believe"
Friends in Scotland" said Guy. Then
seeing the mans astonished questioning
look, he said "Oh! / forgot to read my
note she left" And he returned to his |
room, but no sign, no token of his loved |
one-no more than if she had vanished |
into thin air.
Hastily packing valise he took the |
midnight train to London. But, as we
know, she had left some hours before.
He advertised, in a guarded way, but |
she gave no sign. Frenzied with grief he !
travelled to Scotland, although he never |
remembered her speaking of relatives |
there. But it was useless-his quest was |
a vain one.
He never thought, for an instant. she |
had left him of her own free will.
lie sometimes thought that evil had be- |
fallen her, and that she had been led away |
under false pretense; but then he knew |
her well enough to believe in that case |
she would have left some message. He |
cabled to his partner the brief message. |
Il have lost my wife, Mr.. ThornIeigh |
at once came to the conclusion that she |
had died, and he wrote long letter full |
of sympathy and coincidence.
Guy, IN his trouble, never thought to !
1t. Too heart-broken to re- |
turn To New York, he made arrange |
lnents TO travel, taking with him good |
detective, thinking there was much more !
chance of finding her than by unaided |
efforts.
The detective asked him once if he had |
ever had words with his wife? ''Was |
women are your kittle katie. |
anyhow; never know when you have |
'em; now you got, now you ANTI he |
SAID, wisely, shaking his head that had /
grown gray in the secret service.
ButS--and here he looked at a portrait |
OF Amparo's that Guy had kept-''she |
don't look like that Sort
Guy heart was too heavy to even re- /
sent the words that Sort