Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-23

II am AFRAID 1 m1st confess to having
been fooled. am still more afraid that Z
have done Mere Lucas a great injustice.
You have n far better knowledge of her
character than /. Do you think her capa-
BILE of deceit and trickery-ot conspiring at
the ruin of her masters"
mo, that don't. believe she's as good
as any one"
Ppm sincerely glad to hear you say SO. 1t
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 saying
nothing till had absolute facts to support
my suspicion. You have not said a word
my communications"
mo, not n word. But how about that
friend you spoke OFF,
"Ahl there again believe was all mt
fault. / believe she is no more n conspira-
tor than poor old Mere Lucas herself
find she is a cook at n restaurant in Greek
street, and so of course she is not at liberty
to come here and see Mere Lucas"
He looked terribly veXed rs he admitted
this. DO you know man named Mat
veef?" he asked abruptly.
Il think I've heard the name, but don't
know him
Hes one of the poor bessgars 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 set
of starving dogs-jealous of each other and
ready to snap ut any one who seems a little
better off than the rest. 1t is natural that
they should envy the old woman her COM
Portable position here, but it simply proves
what a treacherous, faithless lot they are
when one can circulate such ISLANDERS as
this fear l have made you very anxious.
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 hint at such n time rs this,
when real peril exists"
That's all right feel just like that.
Don't you mind telling me anything. I'd
rather know it than not if it makes me
ever so frightened. Besides it makes you
feel so light hearted and happy to find it
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-
week later told me that he should not re-
turn probably till or o'clock from the
smoking concert to which he had been in
vited babe him good night when he went
out after dinner without any feeling of
alarm.
That afternoon my dressmakcr had sent
TO say that the dress she was making for
me would be ready to try on in the even
ing. Nothing could have happened more
opportunely, for | intended to take Taras
by surprise with this beautiful velvet, and
here was the very chance needed of get
ting the important work of fitting done
without his knowing anything about it.
The moment he was gone l ran to my
room, dressed, and telling Mere Lucas
where was going--for she was in the Sc
cret--I started oft for Remington road,
where my dressmaker lived.
1t was between s and O. At that time
Lambeth road is deserted Heavy rain had
fallen in the afternoon, and such sounds as
there were seemed particularly clear The
rattle of n train over the railway bridge, a
whistle from II tug on the river behind me,
were noticeable by their distinctness; my
own footsteps as l hurried along made
quite clattCr on the wet pavement.
Struck by this fact, presently fancied l
could hear an echo to my football. Was it
that or some one following? To satisfy the
idle doubt l glanced back. just within
sight man was following. There was moth
ing in that to call for particular attention,
but when had gone another hundred yards
or so the cchoing sound arrested my wan
lering thoughts and glanced round again
The mans figure was there exactly at the
same distance 1t was odd that both should
be walking in one direction at precisely
similar pace. For the next hundred yards |
walked slower, but the following step came
no nearer, and when turned the mans fig
urc appeared to be just as far Off as before.
1t was unpleasant even to fancy that my
steps were dogSed, and turned the corner
of Lambeth road sharp with the determi-
nation to go on at a still quicker pace now
that was cut of the mans sight, but the
whistle of Il tram suggested a still better
means of avoiding annoyance, and stop
ped with the determination to ride the re-
naming distance.
Just at 1 stepped into the car the man
came running round the corner from the
Lambeth road, and rs l took my seat he
sprang on to the footboard. As he passed
the door to go up the steps the light from
within fell on his face There was no mis-
taking the yellow complexion, the sparse
black beard and high cheek bones nor the
sunk head and high shoulders.
1t was Drigo!