Connecticut western news., 1893-08-10
A GHOST OF THE PAST.

couples go For one thing, Sir Robert was 30-something, and when you are 30-something gravity comes. But he was very much in love with his young wife. He handed her out of the family omnibus carefully, and the very prettiest ankle and the tiniest shoe peeped out for moment as she stepped down before oneof the big hotels on Trafalgar square. As she tripped up the broad, carpeted stairs to her room there was look of great happiness in her eyes.
 "And is my dear girl quite happy" said Sir Robert. Young Lady Lisburn -she was tall and pleasant looking turned to him affectionately.
 "Your dear girl," she said, ''has had her worries in her life. She had one big worry" "How bigp"
 Lady Lisburn widened her arms to give an idea of the size
 But it's all over now. and am very, very happy" ---..
 Perhaps" said Sir Robert, perhaps the dear girl will tell me all about it some day"
 "She may-some day." said the young bride, flushing. "Just now she is so contented that she doesn't want even to think about it."
 The next morning they went off to the Engadine. It was two months later when they returned, trunks and port manteaus plastered all over with square and circular labels-Hotel Bellevue and Hotel Beau Rivage and lot of others. Both Sir Robert and Lady Lisburn look ed very jolly and well.
 There were letters waiting for Lady Lisburn. She read them in her bed room. AS she saw the writing on one of the envelopes she grew red and then very white. She perused the letter again and again, with hands trembling and face that looked into the mirror with frightened look. Then she turned off the electric light and sank on her knees and sobbed. They staid in town for some days. They drove out good deal. visit ing, but young Lady Lisburn looked i'll and out of sorts and scarcely spoke to her husband. He seemed to be repelled by her coldness. Once or twice Lady Lisburn tried to rouse herself, but the look of worry quickly came back, and her husband, placid and even as he was could not help feeling disturbed.
 One evening in the latter part of the week Lady Lisburn was sitting at the open window of their room, her face resting on her hand, looking out into the square and seeing nothing. A page boy entered with a foreign message. She opened it, read the type written words and crumpled quickly kl~a Lo.. Dolz came in.
 ''I want to say something to you, Rob- ert," she said in 8 shaky voice. He came over to her. q want to go away from you for a few weeks"
 "A few weeks?' he repeated blankly. "A few weeks. Unless you want me to be a miserable woman all my life, | you must let me do this. Let me go, | and when 1 come back shall be quite | jolly. and l shall love you more than ever, and we"-
 My dear," said Sir Robert, ''you are | perfectly unreasonablel You are not yourself"
 "Unfortunately am," interposed the | young wife sadly. | such preposterous thing. Now, love, | just you go to bed early tonight and have good rest, and you'll be all right in the morning"
 "If you don't let me go, Robert, l | shall never be able to rest again. l shall be nothing but curse to you and misery to myself for all my life Do let me go."
 My dear love-" said Sir Robert. ris- ing with very decided air" If you absolutely refuse to tell me the motive for your disappearance, absolutely re- fuse to let you go."
 "Then I-then must go without your permission" She said this without de- fiance and in the humblest way.
 Sir Robert went down stairs and stood at the hotel door for a few minutes smoking his cigar rather quickly. Then he turned and went to the telephone room and looked in the book and rang up Lady Lisburn, white and set of face, returned to her room and prepared for her journey.
 It was a surprise to Sir Robert to find in the hall not 10 minutes later the man for whom he had telephoned. He was a burly, scarlet faced man, and he gave his card to Sir Robert with an awkward fat bow:
 ! THOMAS BEsTER
 Fayre, sweeyer & Co.,, Inquiry Agents.
 Come into this room, Mr.-Mr Bes ! ter"
 MT. Bester wiped his boots with par ticular care.
 'sYou'd like something to drink per haps"
 Mir. Bester pulled his waistcoat down and coughed slightly and said that he didn't know as drop of whisky would do him any particular harm. At any rate, he said (he said this with the air oi a man prepared for any experiment ir the interest of science) he'd try.
 Sir Robert ordered large whisky and gave instructions that he was to bt told when Lady Lisburn left the hotel.
 "We need not hurry until that hap pens," said Sir Robert. He explained te MT. Bester what was required.
 There was to be no fuss insisted Sil Robert, and no interference. All tha' Bester had to do was to follow Lady Lisburn, and if she was in any danger to wire Sir Robert at once, and himsel take such steps as he might think were neco ssary.
 That's the way" said Mir. Bester with appreciation; take things calmly Much better in the long run. l ough to know. I've been at it in the yar( and out of the yard 30 year come mex Feb'uary."
 Il suppose you have had some inter eating cases to deal with" remarked 6il kahsst politely.