The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-12

wnat ln1ormatlon-wnar new service do
you require of me before I go away?"
Cora paid no attention to his altered
looks and tone, but promptly replied:
In the first place, want to know about
that girl at Roxbury. Is she being well
cared for?"
Treated like queen
-She still lives in the cottage you hired
for herr"
NO, she is with the family of Mr..
Nathan Metcalf, the owner of the cot
tage;s .,,..,
Very agreeable, I assure you. Mr.. Met
calf is an elderly man, well informed-in
fact, the oracle of the town. Then there
are his daughter and granddaughter, and
several servants"
His daughter and granddaughter, you
say"
Yes, his daughter, Mrs. Clara Denton,
is young widow, and, out of pure COM
passion, acts as companion to Mrs. Cleve-
land"
Mrs. Cleveland thought that name
had been dropped?"
True; in Rozbury she is only known
as Mildred Lester.
Lester! Why did you give her her own
maiden name?"
at was a risk, I admit; but there was
no help for it. Mrs. Denton found the
name on her linen. and besides, strangely
enough, she remembered that when she
had forgotten all else"
But will not the people around her find
out who she really fs?"
Little fear of that, the people Of Ro1-
bury are not likely to run upon any one
from Riverside"
II hope you are right. Has she quite
recovered from the effects of that feVer:"
In way-yes."
What do you mean by that?"
Il mean that she is well-as we'll ss she
will ever be, and yet she is not what she
was before that accident I"
Il suppose you have reference to hel
mind. You have already mentioned that
her memoryhas become impaired; to what
extent has she lost it?"
She has lost all recollection Of what
happened before that fearful night. Her
life, as I may say, dates from the hour
when she recovered consciousness after
the fever"
Strange, but very fortunate.
"Yes-for you"
Cora gave him o quick, searching glance.
is there any. hidden meaning in your
words, my friend?" she asked.
None whatever, assure you
1T seems to me that it is fortunate fol-
you as we'll as for myself"
'Oh, certainly"
is she happy?"
"Who2 Mrs. Cleveland2"
Miss Lester"
beg pardon. Yes, very happy"
Very happy" repeated. Cora, musinely.
Yes, and why shouldn't she be? She
has no cares to trouble her, aud remem-
bers no sorrows."
Remembers no sorrows!' Then quick
ly: But isn't she curious about the
past?"
Naturally, somewhat; but have made
up a past for her, which Mrs. Denton
communicates to her from time TO time,
as occasion calls for"
You are q remarkable man, Mr..
Slyme."
Thank you"
And now about those Fieldings, what
90 you know of them!"
They are still at their old quarters In
West Forty-seventh street. The young
man is getting on at the bank, and the
sister is slowly recovering her health"
Does Mr.. Cleveland visit there often?'
Again came that strange black look.
You ought to know as to that better
than I, Mrs. Elliston.
What do you mean, sir? know
nothing about it,"
But sIyme had already repented his
hasty speech.
Il believe" he said, rapidly, that he
goes there not oftener than once week..
Sundays usually"
Does he see The sister alone then?"
Never alone"
Are you sure?'
Quite sure"
A pause followed this assertion.
Slyme b; oke the silence by asking:
rs there anything further at this time
Mrs. Elliston?"
-One question more: you will 20 to
Roxbury before you start for Washing
toni"
Il shall be obligedto do So"
And you will see that every provision
is made for that-that unfortunate's
comfort while you are away?"
Il will see to everything"
THAT is all, then. just now"
Slyme. who had been standing all
through the interview, moved noiselessly
towarl the door. With his hand on the,
knob he paused.
What is it, Slyme?" asked Cora. look
ing up.
Were you aware that the Lelands
owned property in Roxbury?" he inquired,
in peculiar tone.
The Lelands! I knew that some men,
Der of the family owned property in Con-
L L.