The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-24
CHAPTER III.

strolled out to Drumsleigh Gardens little
before luncheon time. The dear girl was ex-
pectinG me anxiously. Her first greeting was
all that 1 could DESIRE but In a moment or two
she drew back and gazed at me anxiously.
Robert" she said. how ill. how strange
you look. What is the matterf"
With an effort smiled. but In the mirror
opposite saw it was q CHASTITY failure.
muttered something about work. travelling all
night. and so on. but we'll knew that she saw
q change come over me- had felt it AS my
eyes rested on her I knew at once what
was the likeness I had seen in the face
OF the murdered girl. It was like
ness to Lauretta. SO strong that 1 only
wondered now l had not recognized 1t at
the very first instant Every feature WAS the
same: all that clear. finely cut beauty that
filed my heart with pride whenever glanced
at Lauretta had belonged to the other girl. too:
even the marked eyebrow arch and the curl
ing upper lip were identical. only Laurcttas
hair was a golden brown. while the murdered
girls was very fair. No doubt the difference
OF expression had led me astray and averted
my recognition OF the likeness. Still. now
ing else it occupied my mind so painfully.
and we both. In spite Of ourselves. grew I'M
easy and constrained.
Lauretta told me that her uncle was not
we'll: he did not leave the library. but We
should take luncheon there with him.
struggled to conquer my dismay and dis
tress at the likeness that oppressed me 80.
and began asking her about our wedding,
pointing out how pleasant it would be to be
married before the London season began and
to enjoy it together. and that. as Easter fell
late. the recess would be Just the right time
for the short trip which was all we intended to
all khn,
could think OF. and hoped to forget all my
recent unpleasant experiences in such a pleas
urable subject. But Lauretta would not give
me any answer: she seemed even to DO dis
turbed and said. hurredly: she did not
know, must speak to her uncle"
Now as our wedding had only been put or
till the spring to please her wretched old
uncle and as had his definite promise that it
should take place then. did not understand
this. was beginning q warm demonstration
when tho servant entered to announce that
luncheon was served in tho library. and we
were obliged to go down stairs.
Mr.. Payne had aged very much since had
last seen him. He was not in the least n typi-
| cal American. being very small and neat. with
n stoop in his shoulders. and skull cap on his
| head which caused casual observer to say
how much he rescmbled Dean Stanley.
He received mo with an air OF gloom. replied
| but briefly to my INQUIRIES after his! health.
and when wo sat down to luncheon made.no
effort to converse tke reas =. 6eh'nG
aS ss the head YrS
three.quarters. and that horrible likeness
struck me more and more; Il siekened me; i
%eaz st ess eoa make
with Mr. Payne; but toward the end Of our
few words with him after luncheon. expecting.
suddeny su!P,se re- fss sai with spr
m ~ 5 psrap may iee
and his voice died off into an inarticulato
mumb and he took no further notice OF mo.
no more. and when we were alone again she
told me that her uncle had been strangely
moody,a and uneasy for several days. and she
happy, that / very shortly took my leave.
suppose the mere passage OF tinn' since my
night experience had done something to re-
ferry street, meditating on all these things.
took a sudden resolution.
would as least to
taken place. and Il. as I felt sure now In the
Know bad d dTeam aad oq
My arm smarted uncomfortably enough at
this very moment to remind me that could
hardly have been dreaming: but, all the same.
would not let INDIGESTION set In again, and
strobe Quickly along Princess street toward
Arrived there asked for the station mas
| ters private office and was conducted toll by
bidding me to come In. and Ientered.. The
man, with dark, eyes and a long white beard.
EasRess and sad Is Station Nc s msstsl
! MIR. O. uresumeT