The Globe-republican., 1893-02-17

Yes. Edna This gentleman has con.
for you.
At the gentleman in question the wor.
dering, perturbed Edna was starin z,
peared. Now. stiff, prim, severe, his
pressed her.
1T is-it is about" Hammered
Edna.
Your past? your friends?" murmured
the principal, brokenly. Yes. Edna.
am very sorry, but your schooldays are
| over"
"Oh! Miss Chandler. don't say that! "
Edna gasped the words. She COM
pretended that the consummation so
devOutly desired by her mystihed, i'm.
But the shock of the announcement Q
realization of how sunny and happy had
been her life under the tender care of
| the school guardians sent the quick
tears to her eyes and the warm color
from her face.
Then eagerly, longingly. piteously,
J
, Was he the relative she had 80 often
dreamed of-the mysterious censor of
her fate?
You are not-my father" she began.
twisting her hands in nervous confusion.
The strange, mobile features never
changed. Staring straight ahead Of
him like some automaton, his face most
resembling that OF man in ill-health.
suffering but silent, schooled against
the betrayal Of the least emotion, he
answered sOlemnly, but not unpleas.
ingly:
Il? no. l am only your father'S
friend-his servant-his messenger"
"And-he has sent for mel"
Every word was throb of suspense
and painful uncertainty. A father!
Then she was not utterly friendless? A
father! But why had he left her loveless,
neglected, all these years?
Miss Chandler will tell you." an
swered the stranger. she recognizes
the authority by which appear"
Dear Edna, let it be smiles rather
than tears. spoke Miss Chandler. COM
ing to Edna's side and placing caress-
ing arm about her. 1T is all quickly
told. You have a father, and he has
sent for you"
But"
Il cannot tell you more. This gen.
tleman not only binds me to secrecy, or,
rather, leaves me in complete igno-
rance of the motive for ali this mys-
terry, but insists that you shall leave at
once. OF one thing be assured, how
ever. I am satisfied that you are going
into kind hands. All will be WELL This
letter Wal convince you. 1t Is from
your father. And Miss Chandler nodded
to the stranger, who handed Edna q
sealed missive.
She barely glanced at it through her
binding tears. She read only the first
few lines. beginning:
My child, there have been vital rea-
sons for my seeming neglect of you,
there are still vital reasons why sud
denly, abruptly. you must sever your
connection with your dearest friends
and hasten to me. When explain you
will know why no one must know"
Edna crumpled the unfinished missive
into her pocket at this stage. for Miss
Chandler was giving her directions to
60 to her room and pack up hurriedly.
In that apartment Beatrice Mercer
joined her. With a strange, wondering
light In her eyes, she listened to Edna's
story of the sudden summons.
"Oh! l shall surely be allowed to
write to you, to explain everything
when I find my father" sobbed Edna,
as she chung to Beatrice In a fervent
embrace. Beatrice
The scintillating eyes of the dark
beauty flashed wickedly, but the express
sion was yelled from poor Edna's tear.
blinded sight.
Il shall tell him."
That I could not bid him gOod-by;
they would not let me. Tell him 1 will
get him word as soon as l can. Oh,
this mysterious haste unnerves me!
do not even know where 1 am going.
Good-by, dear friend. Good-by, good
by"
A clinging kiss emphasized every
word. The fearful Miss Chandler waved
her q last adieu 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 Hopedale faded
from view In the distance and the We
hicle bounded forward. carrying inno-
cent Edna Deane to meet a strange.
solemn mystery.
Twilight closed in about the land
scape, as the carriage dashed across the
for the nearest railway station.
Twilight, folding its mystic shroud
about the old seminary structure, was
shut out securely from one room at |
least.
With locked doors and shades drawn,
Beatrice Mercer sat at table in her |
apartment, porting over letter, study
ing 1t. analysing it, re-reading it.
1t was the crumpled missive, half
read by the distressed Edna. How had
it come into her possession? By de-
sign, the cleaning. calculating eyes
told, for those eyes had the mask down
now, all alone by herself.
TO BE CONTINUED
Wire Nails.
1t was only a few years ago that tho