The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-04
OUT
THE JAWS OF DEATH
CONTINUED
HAPPIER XXVL
Me RINn TILE ENn

kindlyfeeling rapidly expanded into genu-
ine friendship He liked to talk about his
sweetheart and he found me an attentive
and sympathetic listener. / wanted to
know all about Judith Bell. was eager to
sound the depth Of their mutual attach
ment and ascertain the probable outcome
of this love affair. The aspect of Kavanagh's
plan for kidnapping Gordon was consider
ably altered by its bearing upon Judith.
We had agreed that Gordon himself would
willingly accept the part assigned him. But
these arguments seemed to lose their force
now that another was concerned. Knowing
how should feel the loss of Tsras, could
not be Indifferent to the anxiety and pain
to be inflicted on Gordon's sweetheart, even
though that anxiety might end so soon
But for all that | never wavered in the de-
termination to play out my part. No con-
sideration Of friends or self could turn me
from my purpose.
Gordon saw kavanagh frequently, but he
had little TO report except that the detec-
tives were closely watching Rudersdorf,
who as yet had not left the neighborhood
of Shadwell, where he had taken lodgings.
Whether this was true or not had no
means OF knowing for Kavanagh still kept
away, though week had passed since our
last interview. The suspense of these days
was hard to bear, but incidentally learned
fact from Gordon, which explained and
excused his postponing the final act to the
last moment possible.
"Do you see Miss Bell very ofteni"
asked Gordon one day.
Not half so often l should like to,
assure you," he replied, and then, rather in
consequently, as 1t seemed to me. he added,
"you see, she's such brick of girl"
NTs thnt any reason yhv yOu shou1d mt
see her if she's engaged to your"
"Well, that's provisional sort of affair,
you know. 1t all depends on the success
of the pottery, hang it, though Of course
it's bound to succeed. You see, the old
colonel has stuck all his capital into the
concern. 1t wasn't much, to be sure, but
it's all he has. Well, if he gets jolly good
income out of it, Judith will be my wife.
If he doesn't-well THEREAFTER pulling his
beard reflectively for a minute In silence
'well, then we shall be married all the
same, only it will be a deuce of bother"
II don't think quite understand"
TITS like this, mademoiselle, don't mind
telling you, because you are the last one in
the world that would betray the confidence
of friend. The fact is poor old Bells had
rough time of it, and through trusting
one confounded kind friend aud backing
pAAi7 ioi ohvehSi iiteo BOV lutO
such muddle that / doubt if he would
have ESQ year to live upon II all his pro-
cious bonds and securities and shares were
put in the market and realized. Well, YOU
know, he doesn't know that, and heaven
forbid 1t should ever come to his ears. 1t
shan't If l can have "A hand in cooking his
accounts, you may be sure. But the deuce
OF it is the old boys rs proud us IIucifer,
and 1t would just break his heart II be
found out one day that he was snbsisting
on any ones generosity-a sort of pensioner,
don't you know. And-well, that's how 1t
is, don't you see"
mo, don't quite How does that affect
your marriage with Miss Bell7"
why, Judith knows how matters stand,
though the colonel doesn't. You ladies are
such a lot sharper than we at seeing right
into things She knows that II this last
venture OF her poor old dads breaks down,
he must learn the truth. and-well, she's
got bit of the colonel's pride In her
straight back, too, bless herl and she won't
marry me before she is certain that am
not to be saddled with her father. It's con-
founded nonsense Of course-we're bound
to marry because we couldn'tloye anybody
else-but honor her for it, you know. She
is a brick"
But still, il you love each other, 1t seems
natural that you should want to see each
other sometimes, even II you can't marry"
said, thinking ofynras.
"Oh, we do sometimes, but not every day
mot even once a week. 1t isn't practical
Bile, because, don't you know Judith isn't
exactly free. Knowing the critical state OF
their pecuniary resources, she took an en-
gagement as nursery goyerness; that will
show you what a capital sort OF girl she Ia.
This is quite betwesn you and me, for the
colonel, with his awfully narrow ideas
about class and that sort Of thing, would be
Mortified at the notion of his daughter earn
ing her living"
"But how Is 1t kept a secret from himf"
"Oh, that's easy enoughl He supposes
that she is staying at Sydenham on a visit
with Mrs. Ravansgb, who is an old friend.n
Mrs. Kavanaghl' exclaimed in aston
fshment.
Mrs Charles Kavanagh-Barry Kaya-
nagh's sister-inlaw," he explained.
Il did not know that he had any relar
tives living in London"
THAT'S not a bit surprising. Kayanagh,s
such an awfully rum, taciturn fellow in
some matters. You never know what he
feels or thinks or knows or does or any
thing about him. l must have known him
a couple OF years and with some degree of
intimacy before | discovered and then By
accident that his mother was living"
"Is she living nowi"
"oh, dear, yes She resides with the fam
fly at Sydenham. It's odd, isn't itf Ono
would think he had no one dearer to him
than Taras and me, 1t seems SO natural to
talk about people you love, and believe
Barry's most devoted son and brother. l
know he spends couple of days week at
Sydenham. suppose it's the logical out
come of his confounded rationalism"
After hearing this | could not expect that
kavanagh would take the final step one
moment before Rudersdorf's patience had
been stretched to the utmost limit.
One morning, 1t must have been tho 9th
of November, Taras, looking at the paper.
said: There's to be a large display Of fire.
works at the Crystal palace tonight. Shall
We go and sec it'"
aeceded joyfully to the proposal.
"Then I'll knock off at lunchtime," said
he, going to the window and looking out,
1--WE may as well take advantage OF this
sunny day. We may not get many more,
To my oversensitive ear there was some
thing terribly prophetic in that phrase, and
indeed there seemed to be touch Of sad.
ness in his voice as II some sorrowful prog
nostic were passing through his mind
looked forward to our spending the
afternoon and evening together alone, but
Taras, finding Gordon with me when he
came down from his work, asked him to
stay to lunch and go with us, doubtless
thinking to add to my pleasure. Gordon
accepted the invitation with vexatious
alacrity. hated him for coming between
me and Taras, but my yexation wore of
before VIC reached the palace
| had never been there before, and the
beauty of the grounds. the flowers and
creeping plants in the building and the
music charmed my senses and quite re-
stored my good temper. Gordon was par
ticularly good humored and lively, and his
mirth was infectious; the solemn diners
and severely correct walters seemed quite
scandalized by our gayety at dinner.
We saw the fireworks from the unpa.