The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-30

AFTERNOON. be asked II Taras was at home,
but instead of going directly up to the
| workshop he came in to see me- After ex.
changing the customary civilities in his or.
dinary tone of voice he raised his finger
with significant glance, crossed the room
and opened the door softly, but with such
| celebrity that had Mere Lucas been caves
dropping he would certainly have discov-
cred her Hossopdin listening attitude
| for few seoqfds then closing the door
noiselessly hej1furned to his seat with a
shrug and fsok of vexation in his face
Nothing has happeneds" he asked as he
| seated himself near me.
"Nothing-to him."
'"ro any one elses" he asked sharply.
Nothing Of any Importance" 5--
Mere Lucas betrayed no signs of irrita
tion when he went out last night?"
shook my head.
She was just the same as she always Is
just. If there had been any difference,
must have seen It,"
"She did not go down stairs in the night,
you Think"
After Taras went up put my door wide
open and kept light burning all night
No one could pass my door without my
knowing it"
Your vigilance may have warned her
On the other hand"- He broke off, and
nursing his knee sank his chin in his
hand, knitting his brows in thought Sud
denly raising his head and turning to me,
he said:
II am afraid l must confess to having
been fooled. I am still more afraid that !
have done Mere Lucas q great injustice
You have far better knowledge of her
character than |. Do you think her capa.
BILE Of deceit and trlckery-of conspiring at
the ruin of her master2"
mo, that don't. believe she's as good
as any one."
Pm sincerely glad to hear you say SO. II
! seemed unlikely to me; that is why felt
it necessary to say nothing on the subject
to Taras"
He'd never have believed you"
"That was another reason for saving
nothing till had absolute facts TO support
my suspicion. You have not said a word
to him or her either, I hope, with respect to
| my communicationp
mo, not word. But how about that
friend you spoke Off"
"Ahl there again believe I was all at
fault. l believe she is no more a conspira.
tor than poor old Mere Lucas herself.
find she is cook at a restaurant in Greek
bbrtct, anu SO Ot COiFSe Sno Is not at liberty
to come here and see Mere Lucas"
He looked terribly vexed as he admitted
this DO you know man named Mat.
yeef" he asked abruptly.
81 think I've heard the name, but don't
know him.
Hes one of the poor beggars who come
to sponge on Taras. 1t was he who put this
precious nonsense into my head. The fact
is. the lower class of nihilists are like a set
of starving dogs-jealous of each other and
ready to snap at any one who seems a little
better off than tho rest. 1t is natural that
they should envy the old woman her com
Portable position here, but it simply proves
what treacherous, faithless lot they are
when ono can circulate such ISLANDERS as
this. fear have made you very anxious
l hope you will forgive me. For the sake
of Taras, whose life is so dear to us, and of
such enormous importance to the welfare
of his country, one cannot afford to turn
deaf ear to any bint at such time as this,
when real peril exists"
"That's all right. | feel just like that.
Don't you mind telling mo anything. I'd
rather know it than not il it makes me
ever SO frightened. Besides 1t makes you
feel so light hearted and happy to find Ii
Isn't true that you can't be vexed by what's
past"
"You cannot have better philosophy or
better feeling than that, said he, shaking
my hand kindly as he rose.
The feeling Of relief, now that had no
longer any serious reason to regard Mere
Lucas with mistrust or look for the devel.
opment Of some sinister design afforded me
such happiness that almost forgot the ex-
istence Of danger, and when Taras about
week later told me that he should not re-
turn probably till 9 or 8 o'clock from the
smoking concert to which he had been in
vited bade him good night when he went
out after dinner without any feeling of