Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-03-14
LIEUTENANT LOUISA
BvJUL/AN HAWTHORNE.


son6 appreciated tilo uIpeilCy VI Iuo OC-
casion and vanished like bird. Just
as the door was closing upon her in
walked her father.
"Come, I'm glad to see you looking SO
much better" said he in hearty voice.
"Why, you've quite color"
Not doubt of it. In fact, felt as
though my face might be the tint of
tomato. Luckily Mary when she came
in had not taken off any of her things
except her sealskin jacket, and that she
had snatched up and carried away with
her when she escaped.
"Thank you; yes, I'm getting better"
was my reply.
"That's right. I'm very glad to hear
it. I've something to talk to you about
something | think you can do for me,
when you're able to get about, which
will occupy You and give you what I'm
sure will be beneficial to you-change Of
air and scene"
Then, taking a chair beside the fire
(the very one in which Mary had just
been sitting), Mr.. Bruce proceeded to
unfold his plans He must have thought
that my illness had rendered me extreme
ly fidgety, for it was wsth the greatest
difficulty that could keep still or even
pretend to be listening. | was on tenter-
hooks for poor Mary The weather was
cold, and there was neither fire nor fire.
place in my bedroom. knew moreover
that she would be able to distinguish
the tones of her fathers voice; and the
J,.o1,,,fnr+ arl 1icfracc NJ bay y,oci tioT1
worried me SO much that every other
consideration was dwarfed in the com
parison. All this, however, did not pre-
vent Mr.. Bruce from stating his belief
that the marriage of Dalrymple Bruce
and Tryphena Maddams had been sol
emnized in the county of Berkshire and
most probably in the vicinity of Abing-
don. At any rate the information gained
led to the inference that the ceremony in
question had taken place at one of the
churches in one of the riverside towns
of Berkshire. His proposal to me was
that | could undertake to make thor
ough search among the parish registers,
Mr.. Bruce paying all the expenses and
compensating me for my labor at the
rate of guinea and half day.
While he was talking Mr.. Bruce had
involuntarily taken up an old woolen
glove which l kept on the top of the
coal box by the freside to put on when
shoveling out Goals for the fiTr. 1t was
grimy as Mrs. SwGtinan's hands--the
ne plas ultra of honest dirt-and before
l noticed what he was about his fingers
were as soiled as those of finance
agent
"Oh. what nuisance" exclaimed Mr..
Bruce. Dear mel I'll just step into
your bedroom and wash" He rose and
approached the door.
"No, no." said hurriedly, and labor
ing cut OF my chair under the influence
of abject terror. "No-here-let me
fetch the basin in here for you!"
"Nonsense--couldn't think of troubling
You. know my way" he answered,
amicably motioning me back to my seat
with one hand while he opened the door
with the other; and before l could say
or do anything further to prevent him
Mr.. Bruce had entered the bedroom.
II benevolent earthquake would
kindly have made a meal of me at that
moment how grateful ! should have
been. In a state of mind which do
not care to analyze l waited the inevi-
table explosion. A long second passed
away an everlasting minute - and
there was no sign. What had happen
ed? Could Mary have contrived to hide
herself anywhere? | tried to reflect.
There was large, deep cupboard in the
room that served as wardrobe. Surely
Mary had not had the presence of mind
to conceal herself there? Yet it was the
only place l could think of into which
she could have retired; there was no
other solution of the mystery. In few
minutes Mr.. Bruce returned with clean
hands and unruffied demeanor. Mani
! festly he had seen nothing and suspect
ed nothing. He resumed the conversa-
ton where he had left it off, and after
some further talk it was agreed that |
should start for Berkshire as soon as the
doctor would authorize me to leave the
house; first, however, calling on Mr.
Bruce to receive his written instruc-
| tions and check on account for what
ever thought | should need. Then, at
last, my benefactor took his leave, and |
hailed his departure as | should that of
the gout. FASTENED to the bedroom.
"Mary!" / called. "Maryf'
No answer. searched the cupboard.
She was not there.
looked behind the curtain in for
lorn hope that she might have hidden
herself there. No Mary. BY what magic
had she disappeared! | went down on
my hands and knees and peered under
the bed Two overland trunks and a
bootjack, but still no Mary.
| l summoned Mrs. Swatman.
"Miss Bruce-where is sha? ! de-
manded.
"Do you mean the lady, sir?"
"Yes--tho lady-Miss Bruce"
"She's gone, SIR"
II see she's gone, but how did she go"
II let her through Mr. Burnett's cham
bers, sir"
Through Mr.. Burnett's chambers" !
repeated in amazement. "How did you
| manage thatY .H