The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-28

Il va getting dark and past the us-
| nal time for bringing IN the lamps when
she rose 70 put the tea-things By. She
was taking Mr.. Bowyer's cup with the
rest, when suddenly she discovered that
| IL was untastedr untouched even.
why, she began, then she suddenly
stopped.
Il came upon her In Q moment, with
terrible stunning force, what It all
meant; and, utterly despairing, incapa-
BILE Of self-defense or even indignation,
she stood there powerless.
Then Japs entered with the lights,
and the spell was broken. Hastily put
ting down the cup, which half uncon-
sciously she held still, she escaped from
the room, and did not appear again
that night
Various motives had kept Severn
from the Dover House during the fort
night which had elapsed since Mr.. Bow
yer's misadventure. For one thing, he
thought visitors would be unwelcome In
| the present strained relations Of its in
mates for another, he was busy trying
| to discover who was at the bottom OF
that strange mistake-for he could not
believe at first that what had been done
had been done with murderous intent
Knowing that his own inexperience
might injure rather than serve Miss
Warde's interest, he had telegraphed
for professional aid, and very smart
detective was sent down in answer to
the summons. He set to work at once,
but It was only after several false scents
that at last report was submitted to
the colonel which showed that he was
on the right track.
Colonel Severn sat down at once to
impart the cheering news to Elaine. or
her illness he had heard nothing, or no
thought as to what was expedient could
have kept him away; yet, though he did
not know all, he could guess something
Of what she had had to endure, and the
letter he wrote was full Of sympathy Inn
piled rather than expressed. Some in
tuitive presentment Of what was even
then occurring prompted him to add
/ postscript -
"On no account take any decisive step
without informing me. / know your
position must be very painful one;
but bear 1t only little longer. Do not,
/ implore you, be tempted q second
time to run away from your difficulties,
for am confident that in Q very short
time ell will be cleared up"
The letter fulfilled It's intention, COR
selling and strengthening her to whom it
was addressed. 1t enabled her to bear
the insults that Mrs. Priolo heaped upon
her continuously with dignity and pa
thence that drove her tormentor nearly
frantic, she believing that 1t arose from
determined resolution to hold her own
In the hope that she might ultimately
triumph, and 1t helped her to face Mr..
Bowyer again after that episode Of the
cup Of tea which had hurt and angered
her SO sorely.
Then something else occurred which,
as one nail drives out another, made
her forget the cause she already had to
feel aggrieved.
Mr.. Bowyer had been writing several
letters lately to his bankers and to
legal firm that Colonel Severn had rec
commended to him some time before:
therefore, when one morning ny drove
up to the door and a gentleman alighted,
followed by young man in plain black
clothes who carried mysterious-lo looking
blue bag, Mrs. Priolo felt no doubt con-
corning who they were and on what
business they had come.
They remained closeted with the in
valid for some time; then servant was
summoned from downstairs to af1ix her
signature to a document that she had no
hesitation In pronouncing to be will.
The housekeeper was In state OF al
most unbearable suspense. A bell rang,
and Jane ran up to answer 1t, coming
down presently with the startling intel
ligence that Mrs. Priolo and Miss Warde
were both requested to join the gentle
men in the sitting-room.
Mrs. Priolo went up at once. To her
surprise, the lawyer was waiting there
alone. He rose somewhat slowly as she
entered, not knowing quite to what
class she belonged; but, as the next mo-
ment the door reopened and Elaine came
in, he sprung forward with alacrity. and
offered her chair.
She accepted it with one Of her sweet
eeeting smiles, and looked up question
ingly, as though to ask the meaning Of
this summons.
The lawyer looked from one to the
other, trying to solve the problem OF the
strange task with which he had been in
trusted. Since he had seen Elaine 1t
seemed harder than ever to perform, and
he glanced at her apologetically and
hemmed and hawed repeatedly before
he began.
1T is Mr.. Bowyer's wish that l should
inform you of-of something he has done
this morning. Youwill, l hope, do me
the justice to remember that am acting
under instructions only under instruc-
tions.n
Whatever 1t may be, we shall not
blame you," Elaine assured him, in her