Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-10

81 will" she said, and then, tremb.
ling and clutchlng at his sleeve, "but
promise it will make no difference to
your love-"
And Mr.. Fletcher promised. He was
not an ELUSIVE sort Of man; perhaps he
was not capable of exhibiting deep
feeling, even if he felt it; and perhaps
even he could not help feeling that a
little more enthusiasm, little more
sottness and warmth in his tones would
have consoled her and comforted her
and made her almost happy Anyhow,
he bent down and kissed her two or
three times with more gentleness than
he had hitherto shown.
Not now" she whispered; 81 cannot
tell you now. See, they are turning
everyone out of the deck saloons. We
ought to go below; cannot stay on deck
so late.
when will you tell me?" he asked.
Tomorrow" and she left him and
lifted below, and along the long CORR.
dor and into her stateroom, where she
mad to restrain her sobs, lest they should
be noticed by the old French lady who
shared it with her. There was little
real solitude for the SOLITARY Girl" on
board the Arcadia, least of all in her
cabin, for the old French lady suffered
from insomnia, and when she did sleep
talked Of deceased husband, or to him,
with many CALCULATIONS of "AIon Dieu!"
and Intermittent snores.
II was late the following morning
when Mr.. Fletcher saw Miss Hamilton
come on deck, and brought his chair
and sat beside her.
What should we have done without
my spare chair?" he said: 1--WE should
never have been uninterrupted for five
minutes together"
Perhaps 1t would have been better
50" she answered, but her eyes belied
| her words.
why say SOP he asked. "Isten.
Edith" tit was the first time he had
used her Christian name, and it came
out rather loudly with a rush3 you
said you had something to tell me, some
| thing which | ought to know. swear
TO You 1t shall make no difference, but [
| think there ought to be no secrets be-
tween US. | suppose" he added, look
ing ut her as ii watching the effect of
ms words, iii is something some relation
OF yours has done, some ancestor, which
you fancy would stop me from marry
Ing you"
81 did not know had said so much"
she said. How quick witted you are.
1t makes it 50 much easier"
He nodded and touched her hand en-
couragingly.
You have heard Of the London and
Wessex investment Trust Company"
she went on.
saw something in the papers obout
their being reported to be in difficulties"
lie replied, something about the defal-
cations of the secretary. He must have
been arrested the day we sailed. Tread
1t in telegram in an Irish paper some
| one brought on board at Queenstown"
Poor man" She said; 81 did not know
that"
Do you know him :" he asked. elias
he anything to do with your"
Nothing. He is innocent"
beg your PARDON" he said, "but |
don't quite see what he has to do with
US, then. don't quite understand"
She bent toward him over the arm of
her chair, speaking almost in q whisper.
III it were only dark--if had only told
you yesterday with your arms around
me" she said. But he made no reply.
and she went on. "My father is the
Chairman of the company" She
paused.and as If he thought himself ex-
pected to say something, he put in his
dry, steady tone, 81 had a notion the
name was Renshaw or some such name"
:" llenshawe," she said, correcting him,
I'VE called ourselves Hamilton because
the initial was on all our boxes. NV
father is Mr.. Henshawe-you have
heard his name in the city--he was re-
ported to have got into difficulties, |
don't know how-was he not?"
Mr.. Fletcher shrugged his shoulders.
is that any reason why should not
marry your he asked.
"Alr Fletcher"
sack" he interpolatcd.
Jack" she said, twill you ever LET
me call you Jack when you know all, /
wonder? | wonder, dwelling upon il as
have done, what people would think
CT it and me. Jack, it is true all the
samc-my father is the man."
Mr.. Fletcher nodded. HE has robbed
the company" he said. 81 guessed thai
soon after you began. Is that all Z"
"All " she said, "alll Is not that
enough? Do you not turn from ma
loathe me, spurn me? No, it is not ali.
far from it. We are escaping from ins.
tice, from penal servitude, but we ara
going, and know it, to live in luxury
for time at least in some new home"
"How?"
we have here with us money, bonds,
securities of all sorts, the property of
the company, enough to make us rich
for life. My father is frightened now,
but he IS not sorry for what he has
done. l connot betray him, |, his
daughter, can | ?"
Mr.. Fletcher shrugged his sauare
shoulders. I'll suppose not" he said,
"but don't quite see his game. He's
got the cash, know, but the bonds can
be traced by any one having tine books
of the company"
"What are the books?" she asked,
and went on answering her own cues
ton, Are they big volumes with ciasps
apd strong bindings-ledgers, account
books ?h
"Yes," he said, "that kind of thinr.n
There is father" she said, glancing
aft to where Mr.. Henshawe was settling
into scat. Fancy if he knew what
we were talking about, fancy fine knew
had spoken about about him as | have
to you. He would kill me if he Thought
lever dreamed of doing such a thing"
"You are very much afraid of him ?"
She shudiered II love my father, [
suppose love him, | cannot respect,
perhaps fear him." she snid vaguely
Il loved my mother, hut she is dead.
Do men always grow tired of their
wives when they have been married 20
years and longer and the wife has bad
health, and is afraid of them. Shall
you hate me in 20 years? Perhaps you
do NOW or Won will L. | rnt To fnnr I'm y