The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-08-23

QUILTING, and there were superficial
traces Of annoyance In North's face and
manner when, few moments later, he
entered Mrs. Maynard's drawing-room.
He had not inquired If Mrs. Maynard
were disengaged, rather indolently TAX
ing 1t for granted that she would be;
and he was very much annoyed to find
that lady occupied with morning Wis
itors/ Mrs. Maynard was one Of the
fewladies in X--- who found It expeA,
dent to hold morning receptions; and
this happened to beher ..day. s1,sg
North felte2t 2tte4ei5 awkward on dis.
covering that he had mtruded q purely
business call upoh D social hour; but be-
fore he could excuse himself and with
draw-indeed before he was able TO de-,
cidS\whether'or or not this would be his,
better course-he was SEIZED upon, fg-
uratively by the entire drawing-room
and retreat was impossible. Finding
that he was intimately acquainted with
everyone present, he entered with meas
urable agreeableness into the current
Of small talk, inwardly hoping that
none of his friends would notice the
circumstance that neither when he first
1 addressed them, nor IN his subsequent
conversation, did he call any of them
by names-- wa |a @
? He seized an opportunity TO speak .
few wordst TO Mrs. Maynard In private,
during the course Of his call.
The conversation had turned upon q
wonderful cactus which the gardener
had just induced TO bloom for the first
time. Everyone had seen II, except
North; and with the same exception
everyone was going into raptures about
it. Fr y ~
North immediately became enthusi-
astic on the subject, for the cactus was
in the conservatory, beyond the reach
of the sharpest eyes or ears in the draw
ing-room.
"Mrs. Maynard" )" he exclaimed, turn
ing to that lady with an air OF mock
appeal, my happiness depends upon
my seeing that cactus! VIII you favor
me to this extent2"
With some laughing rejoinder she
led the way To the conservatory, which
opened from the drawing-room, and Q
moment later they stood alone In the
warm, moist, perfume-laden place
with great banks of tropical plants
wide-spreading palms and stately can
mas casting delicate green twilight
around them and soft, dreamy silence
pervading the fragrant gloom. a.
North duly examined the cactus anC
expressed the proper degree of admira
, ton; then turning quickly to Mrs. May
nard, while his manner changed from
the superficial suavity that he had
adopted for the drawing-room to por
tentous gravity. he said, In low tone
"Mrs. Maynard, have something o
great Importance TO tell you. You viii
be surprised perhaps disagreeably
Shall speak now, or wait until som
5 other timer"
She was tearing the petals from
a great crimson-hearted rose, and she di
not look up; but the slight tremor O
3 the languid white fingers betrayed :
him the nervous agitation againstwhicI
her pride and will were contendin
0 with only partial success
"You may speak now, Mr.. North.
Then, wearily: 'Why should you wait
0 It is no worse at one time than another.
= True, Mrs. Maynard; and certainty
however unwelcome II may be, Is a
t ways more easily borne than suspense
t In one word, then--Annie Dupont ha
0 been discovered"
The soft color in her cheeks died ou
d quickly in the surprise that she felt a
h this announcement, and for an instan
her eyes lifted themselves to his with
l half incredulous inquiry.
"You did not expect this, Mr.. North2
she questioned, quietly, curious n
b serve in her manner which made hir
s vaguely conscious Of having lost groun
: with her since their last interview. Th
intimation was too subtle and sligh
l. for him to be able TO seize upon II an
h definitely assign cause; but, had nc
h his affairs been shaping themselves s
s satisfactorily within the last few day,
= II would have occasioned him infinit
r uneasiness.
Q Expect it2" he repeated. with
short expressive laugh. "No more tina
Annie Dupont herself I can scarcel
use stronger comparison. It's tn
strangest case, Mrs. Maynard, one c
those that prove the statement tina
truth is stranger than fiction. / hav
not yet been able TO lay my hands o
the documents which will prove he
identity, and establish her legal claim
as Mrs. Dunlirk's niece and heir; bu
that these documents exist have proc
as clear as the noon-day, and / conf
IDENTIFY expect within the next twely
hours to have those papers securely
my possession"
Absently breaking off q bit of pal
blue heliotrope that was reaching ou
temptingly toward him over the mas
of fragrant blossoms, he put II careless
ly in his buttonhole MS he spoke thes
last words. .itiA 81
"Does this proof come through tn
man who called hcre few days agoY
A inquired Mrs. Maynard with the sam
y reserve and in speculative tone. He
fingers were stin busy with their wor
d Of destruction; her eyes idly wat6he
g the great crimson petals futtering I
d their death. Io' "i 'p''''N 4 ~"
h "oReillyf' North smiled littl,
a with his eyes fixed in sharp but battle
3 scrutiny upon her coldly unresponsiv
I face. "Yes, through him, could tax
!, him into court to-day, with two or thre
I other persons who are equally With
o reach, and by his sworn Testimony
Q without the aid Of any docunentar