New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
MRS. KEATS BRADFORD.
XVIII.
NOT IN THE WOODS.

nv them if her sister were there. she heard hel
dog begin TO bark welcome The noise woulc
rouse her mother if she not already reused
She FASTENED in Mrs MCGEE from hel
rocker by the fire and showed decided tendencies
toward an embrace OF welcome. Rowena warded
her off with indignation She smclled hot whiskey
in the room. Marmaduke, IS has been limited
though he knew how many times few drops OF
the liquor had been put in cup of tea until
the tea was more whiskey than it was tea, could
not tell what he knew.
Has she come home?" asked Rowena hur-
riedy.
"Oh. no. was the answer, but she'll be comm
presently"
Has mother wanted anything"
She called once went to her and she asked
where you were"
And what did you tell her.
THAT you jest felt like little horseback ride
Wasn't that right"
Roweua groaned. She heard her mothers little
hand-ben now.
"You wasn't wanting me to tell her Sarah
Kimball was lost, was you?" Indignantly inquired
~ Mrs. MCGEE.
But the other made no reply. She walked into
the parlor Mrs futile had raised herself on her
elbow and was gazing with strained eyes at the door
through which her daughter entered
What does all this mean, Rowena?" she asked
TREMENDOUSLY And Mis- McGee's been at my
wbiskey. She Jest scented the room when she
come in.
Rowera Immediately took up the subject of
Mrs MCGEE, and dwelt upon it. Her mother
tried to listen but at last she broke in sharply :
But what does it all mean? Where've you
benz"
There was no way but to answer the question
The woman sank back on her pillow. Her
&C. n,fl
the latter felt as if she could not bear it.
She knelt down by the bed and flung an arm
over the form lying there.
oh, mother" she whispered, don't, don't
look so"
But where do you think she is ~ was the
shrill question.
IL don't know. can't guess Mr.. Townshend
and all the rest mentioned the woods lie
spoke of Noahs Island" Rowena was almost
beside herself in her perplexity. She put her
face down beside her mothers on the pillow.
"Noahs Island cried Mrs. Tuttie with the
utmost contempt! "Roweny, them letters Why
don't you tell who she got acquainted with in
Boston,"
Il have told you all knew was the reply.
Them lettersl" repeated Mrs. futile.
Then she began to cough and could not speak
again for some time When the par0Xysm was
over she looked up pathetcally into the eyes
looking down at her. She tried to smile.
Whatever happens Roweny," she said, :" l
sba'n't blame you none"
At this the daughters face quivered. 1t was
all she could do to keep from breaking down
utterly
Sometimes I think was too much taken up
with my work, she said with effort
Il sha'nt blame you none" repeated Mrs.
Tuttle "Now I'll try to be patient. You 20
m telegraph, m / wish you'd put that whiskey
bottle where that woman can't find it. NJ let
the little dog come in here. He's kind of company.
l love to know he's at the foot of the bed. 1t
does me sight of good. And Roweny. don't you
90 to blamin' yourself. / know you, n know
Sarah Kimball."
1t was plain that Mrs Tuttle's old self
governing her now for the time She tried not
TO show how she suffered in her anxiety. When
she was left alone she turned her head restlessly
on her pillow muttering Them etters'
If she only had the strength, she thought she
would 90 and examine Sarah Kimball's room
hoping 10 learn where the letters had come from.
Meanwhile Rowcna started out again. She
knew that express train stopped at Merrill,
which was the station beyond Middle Village.
1t stopped between and 5, and she could
telegraph from there. She would not have much
more than time. She began 10 compose her mes
else to whom she could apply in the absence of
Miss Phillips. She felt that she could not leave
her mother again immediately or she would have
gone to Boston herself. But what should she do
there more than Mrs. Sears could do for her?
After all, the message resolved itself into this
one request:
Can you learn if Mr. Robert Soule is in town
at the Vendome elsewhere; and il he is mar
ried? Will explain"
When Mrs Appleton Sears received this mes
sage in her room long before she was ready TO 90
down 10 breakfast she had feeling as If Mrs.
Keats Bradford must have become suddenly in
sane, and was positive that Mrs. Bradford could
not explain, though she said she would do So
But she did not wait for her breakfast. She
ordered her carriage, TO the utmost disgust of the
coachman, and having swallowed cup Of coffee
she went upon her Grand. driving straight to the
Vendome. 1t only within the week that vi
SOule had been presented TO her at friends re-
ception. She pleased with him. as most
women were. She meant TO apply at the fountain
head now As an elderly lady, and as Caroline
Appleton Sears, she could do anything.
She shown into of the parlors. She
asked if Mr. Soule were still there. Yes Was
he-was he alone? Certainly. He had not left
his room yet. 1t not yet o'clock. lie
rarely came down before 10, or later Had She
any message?
Mrs Sears wrote on her card that she hoped
Mr. Soule would pardon her for disturbing him,
but she must see him for five minutes.
The servant departed The lady sat down 10
wait. She told herself that she felt like de
tective. and that she really would like TO know
what Mrs. Bradford had meant. She had heard
of bogus kilograms -horrible phrase Perhaps
this was Of them, and she was acting upon
il. STILL she felt herself growing more and more
interested. And il was distinct satisfaction 10
do favor for Mrs. Bradford.
After while She began to become rather in
dignant that she should be kept waiting. The
gentleman could at least send down word.
In moment more, however, the servant entered
it was her own card that Yves on the salver he