The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-06-21
early thus far, Mrs. Maynardq Dc


awaited her response.
Mrs Maynard was again restlessly
pacing the floor with head slightly
bowed and hands clasped listlessly be-
fore her One moment of silence in
tervened between North's question and
her answer; then, turning and looking
gravely at him, she said;
"Thus far think understand you,
Mr. North, but confess there Is some
thing beyond your words that ] cannot
quite divine. am in no mood for pene-
trating mysteries when they touch
upon matter of such vital Importance;
but will endeavor to comprehend your
meaning so far as you will trouble your
self to render it Ineligible to me-"
She turned from him with the words
and continued her slow pacing. North
reflected gravely upon her answer;
then, failing to make anything satisfac-
tory of it, he fastened his meditated
coup d'etat.
"Thank you, Mrs. Maynard" he said,
calmly. "That is all can possibly
ask. Now, venture to predict that
you would have no difficulty whatever
in convincing the court, Hunter and
KetOhum, and the public generally,
that the latter hypothesis is correct
that the entire responsibility of this
forgery rests upon myself. Very good;
suppose, then, that you consent to
adopt this measure, which is certainly
open to you, and I agree to close my
lips and make no sign; or, to make mat
ters pleasanter all around, take myself
off suddenly to Europe. In such case
your first step will be to move at once
in an investigation"
North spoke slowly and distinctly,
realizing all the daring of this venture,
all the disastrous consequences of a
false move. He was nerved for any re-
suit, prepared for an adroit change of
base If Mrs. Maynard's countenance or
manner should warn him that he had
gone too far in his assumptions. He
had hardly expected this; yet he was
not prepared for the overwhelming
confirmation that his suspicious now re-
ceived.
While he was speaking those last
words he saw sudden quiver seize her
whole frame as If a powerful electric
current had passed through her; the
delicate white hands that had been so
listlessly relaxed were interlaced now
In q convulsive clasp that caused their
sparkling rings to send out quivering
rays of light; she turned so white that
even her lips were perfectly colorless.
Breaking off abruptly in her restless
pacing, she turned to North with pas
sionate eagerness and seemed to be on
the point of addressing him, of utter
| ing some vehement demand. The white
! lips parted, but as il the look that she
encountered from his steady gray eyes,
the conscious power of mystery that
like an invisible atmosphere surrounded
him, had frozen the words ere they were
uttered, the protest, demand, appeal
whatever it was that had so nearly
forced itself passionately upon him
died on her lips, and only faint, quiv-
ering sigh escaped them. Then she
sank down in chair, still white as
death; all her cold self-possession, all
her magnificent hauteur replaced by a
look of pitiful despair. II ever n proud
woman's heart could break, then surely
in that moment Mrs. Maynard must
have felt the bitterness Of that ex-
pericacc.
Was 1t fear? Was 1t remorse? Or
what was the emotion that had thus
strangely unnerved her? North could
only speculate; the certainty lay beyond
his present reach.
A death-like silence fell upon the
room. II became oppressive to North
he finally spoke again, his low voice
ringing out on the stiffness in clear de.
cisive tones:
"Mrs. Maynard, will you act upon
my suggestion? win you heed my
earnest wish and advice? You do moi
know, you cannot realize, all that may
be at stake, or you would not hesitate
for one moment. am not advising you
at random; have viewed the case from
every possible standpoint, and can see
no other course for you to take. For
myself shall offer no defense. I am
prepared to face whatever consequences
have incurred. Already our own law
yers suspect us; to-morrow-this very
day-the truth may all become known.
There is little time for you to act; your
resolution must be taken at once. VIII
you promise that you will do as have
advised?"
There was no trace of lightness or
moclSery in his manner now; so intense
ly interested was he in the result OF
this last bold venture that an earnest
ness quite different from anything that
he had yet exhibited made his manner
seem almost as tragical as Mrs. May
nard's.
She started TO her feet, the color
flushing wildly over her white face; a
singular light, half defiant, half tender,
but full Of suppressed excitement, came
into the beautiful brown eyes; certain
impulsiveness, which under ordinary cir
cumstances was only half suggested in
her manner, seemed TO take possession
of her. She looked for moment as II
suddenly lifted from the depths of de-
spairing grief TO the heights Of a sub
lime daring, sacrifice, self-abandonment.
North rose quickly. He had dim
sense Of impending danger, confused
intention Of quelling the storm that he
had evoked, before 1t could break upon
his head. But fate kindly interposed
In his behalf.
There was the sound Of some one at