Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-06-01
CHAPTER II-Contiuued.

She barely glanced at 1t through her
olinding tears. She read only the first
Few lines. beginning:
MY child. there have been vital res-
sons for my seeming neglect of you.
here are still vital reasons why sud-
aenly, abruptly. YOU must sever your
connection with your dearest friends
md hasten to me. When l explain you
will know why no one must hnow-'
Edna cr,lmDled the unfinished mis-
five into her pocket at this stage. for
Miss Chandler was giving her direc-
lions to go to her room and pack up
aurriedly.
In that apartment Beatrice Mercer
Joined her. With Il strange. wonder
ng light in her eyes. she listened to
Ednas story ri the sudden summons.
"Oh! l shall surely be allowed to
write to you, to explain everything
when find my father sobbed Edna,
Us she chung to Beatrice in a fervent
embrace. Observation-Disclosures"
The scintiliat ting eyes of the dark
beauty flashed wickedly. but the ex-
preston was yelled from poor Edna's
.ear-blinded sight
"rhat I could not bid him goodbye;
hey would not let me. Tell him l will
get him word as soon as / can. Oh.
this mysterious haste umnerves me.
10 not even know where l am going.
3ood-bye, dear friend. Goodbye, good
oye.'
4 clinging kiss emphasized every
word. The fearful Miss Chandler waved
aer last adinu from the door. Her
somber companion helped her into the
carriage. and the wheels grinding down
the soft road seemed to be tearing her
very heart-strings. as Honodale faded
from view in the distance and the vehi
bounded forward. carrying innocent
Edna Deane to meet Il strange, solemn
mystery.
Twilight closed in about the land
scape. us the carriage dashed across
the country for the nearest railway
station. Twilight. folding its mystic
Shroud about The old seminary struc-
ture. was SHUT out securely from one
room at least.
With locked doors and shades drawn.
Beatrice Mercer sat at a table in her
apartment. porting over a letter, study
ng it, analyzing it, rc-rcading it.
1t was the crumpleu mssive. half
cead by the distressed Edna. How had
& come into her possession: BY de-
sign, the cleaning. calculating eyes
told, for those eyes had the mask down
aow, all alone by herself.
One hour Went by-two. The supper
oell rang. but Beatrice never left her
task. She was writing now A SnSu-
lar feature of clirogmphy. hers, it
seems. for she wrote with Il coarse pen,
IL Il bold. masculine hand. and then
with Il fine one in delicate Italian char
acters.
She manipulated the two letters. SO
1issilnilar in appearance. folded them.
placed them in an envelope, carefully
added the representations, and then.
stamping the envelopes, put on her
cloak and hat and stole from her room.
Down the dark hall. through the front
portals, out into the road, and town
wards she sped. At the village post
office she paused to drop the letter into
the box there. and a faint CLEAN of
lamp near by showed the address plain
ly-"Mr Raymond Marshall"
Done" she murmured breathlessly,
as she hurried homewards. "Circum-
stances. accident, all in my favor. I
could not have endured the condolences
that broke my heart. much longer.
Edna will never write. her fathers let
ter tells me why. She will never see
her old friends again. Raymond Mar
shall will forget her in time-I will be
his friend. his CONSIDER. and thcn---
The dark eyes glistened. the fair face
was sentient with vivid emotion. Then
All! balm for the hungry heart. love for
the starved soul, peace for the self
torture, for word and feature betrayed
the secret of Il woman who could Suf-
fer, conceal, and plot as well. to con-
summate the hopes dictated by hatred,
jealousy and love.