The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-10
CHAPTER XIII.
A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL.

| AhAs
| A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL
As my tale proceeds I find myself al.
most unequal to the task before me.
shrink from it with morbid sensitiveness,
| Little did I count the cost-the pain and
humiliation record would entail
when first sat down to write the drama
of my life.
Having once begun, however, there is
no choice left. am bound in honor to
90 on and place before the reader each
link in the chain Of events that led to the
bitter end.
lido not ask any pity for myself, know.
ing full we'll that most of my misery was
wrought by my own rashness. But I do
ask you to pause before you utterly con.
denim my conduct toward my wife. Alas
| Had the misguided woman who brought
about our hasty marriage but dealt fairly
! with me all might have been different in
deed!
The morning following the episode OF
the letter George continued to appear
displeased with me. She talked with
much animation, however, to Charlie
Hawks, and arranged that he should prac.
tice archery with her. An old target had
been discovered somewhere about the
premises and my wife gave directions fol
It to be erected upon the lawn.
After breakfast I visited the stables,
leaving my wife and guest in the music
room.
When I was re-entering the house, a
groom, following me in, laid some sort OF
package on table in the hall. paused
instinctively to look at what he had left,
and without experiencing any particular
interest or curiosity saw that it was box
that had come by rail from London. 1t
was addressed Madame Dudley" in q
cramped, foreign, uneducated hand, and
Books" was written on it in conspicu-
ously large letters. .
With one idea only in my mind-that Of
giving George pleasure.-l took up the
box, Intending to carry it to her. I turned
to do so, and found myself face to face
with Edna Lynton.
7 came here in search Of that, Mr..
Dudley. Please give it to me, she said.
1T is addressed to my wife. am going
to take it to her" answered.
She looked more disconnected than the
occasion seemed to warrant and repeated:
II want-1 must have that box. Please
: give it to me"
1T is much too heavy for those small
hands to lift" And as spoke I noticed
how nervously she was twining together
the slender fingers. There was great
change in her since I saw her last; she
was looking thin and pale and very
You ars not weil?" I asked, with an
sYJfsty too real to think of hiding.
fYes, thank you, but
oh, it is useless persisting," said
hotly. II am quite determined to carry
this up myself. You are not q servant"
NO" she answered slowly, in her soft,
low voice, that seemed to hold some hid
den meaning, Il ANA friend"
There Is no mistake about your posi-
tion in this house." I fastened to say.
you are here, am assured, of your own
free will. That being so, I wish you to be
happy"
She was not pale now; lovely pink
color spread itself over her face.
Thank you," she said, with dropped
ewes. Il prefer no discussion, please. You
will let ME have that box?"
mo, Miss Lynton, will not"
And without another word left her and
proceeded to the mushroom with my by
no means light load.
But the little ruse was not successful.
George showed herself in no way molli-
fed BY my attention. Her dark eyes
elowed with delight as they rested on the
box. but to me she vouchsafed neither
word nor looks Of thanks.
"Ha! what have we here2" exclaimed
Charlie, leaning over the table. "Books2
I'll lay hundred to one they're novels,
Mrs. Dudley. Right?" he asksd. appeal
ing to my wife. She nodded. Now,
III lay odds they're French. Right
again, eh?"
How could you tell?" she asked.
This child wasn't born yesterday!
That's written by French woman" he
continued. poinr ing to the address.
My maid" said George, staring at
him in genuine amaze. THE Frenh maid
who travelled with me. She is in London.
get her to send me French novels. Mr..
Hawks, you are magicianl Jack would
not have guessed as much in q thousand
yesrs!"
Jack would not have dared" muttered
Charlie aside, thus showing he was more
| attentive observer than had supposed.
He next suggested opening the box. On
some trivial grounds-I forget what
George objected; but as she appeared so
we'll amused with her companion that she
ignored me entirely, left them to them.
selves.
They were going to practice archery to:
gether; so long as George was pleased
that was everything. But the arrival of
! the parcel marked books" puzzled mo.
| NV wife was not much of q French schol-
or. I had never seen her read French
novel. If she procured them in this way
and kept them out of sight they must be
works of nature which
Pshaw! I was out of temper or out OF
spirits, possibly both. What did it signify.
ss long Us ueorgle was amused, what she
read? She was not child. I sent round
to the stables to order my horse, believing
ride would prove an antidote to my
! morose mood.
d; While waiting walked out IN front and
lit cigarette; it was the renewal Of On old
habit which, with many others of my
bachelor days, had been almost entirely
laid aside.
A groom brought round the horse: was
about to mount when Mrs. Armstrong ap-
peared and handed me q note.
II uao oddreccad in Edna Tinton's writ.