Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-10-26

matter upon you now"
"You have secured my eager attention
in advance, MIR. North" said Mrs. May
nary, with quiet sarcasm, as she leaned
back idly in her chair and folded her
hands with an air Of expectancy. 81
cannot be Indifferent 10 a communica-
ton that affects my own selfish inter
ests. Pray allow me TO ask, Is 1t the
mystery Of Annie Dupont that you are
about 10 clear nway2"
THAT Ia, indeed, the purpose that !
have in mind" returned North, with an
involuntary glance toward Miss Hilary.
II was the mcrcst idle glance, yet she
fancicd that 1t had purpose, and She
rose at once 10 withdraw from the
room. Mrs Maynard hastily intcrposed;
please remain, Miss Hilary she
said. "You are sufficiently familiar
with the matter that ! have mentioned
10 feel an interest in this promised solu.
ton Of the mystery. Indeed, =" she added,
In significant tone, turning toward
North with cold inquiry, lit Is possible
that your forthcoming revelations will
prove 10 have deeper personal interest
FOR Miss Hilary than for myself How
Is this, Mr.. North?'
North looked at her sharply for mo-
mcnt, while family pcrccptiblc shade
Of amusement blended with the grave,
annoyed expression on his face; then hc
said, with furtivc satire:
"Your disccrnmcnt astonishes me,
Mrs. Maynard But indeed, | had no
intention of excluding Miss Hilary from
this interview. have every reason 10
believe that she will find the story Of
Annie Dupont interesting, and that she
will rejoice rs earnestly ut the good
fortune Of that young lady rs do my.
self, or as You will, Mrs Maynard, NJ.
ter time"
lyon are quite convinced then, Mr..
North" said Mrs. Maynard, as she
trihcd ncrvously with her dainty lace
handkerchief without looking ut North,
"that there Is such person as Annie
Dupont, and that she is truly Mrs. Dun
dr,t's niece"
81 am quito convinced OF II. Mrs
Maynard. just AS sure rs | am that
you are in this room; just as sure as |
am Of my own presence here; just az
sure AS am Of any other established
verify Annie Dupont Is no mere crea-
ton Of fancy or rumor; she Is fact,
an unqualified fact, and an established
fact And facts, you know, are stub
born things!'
"Of coursc" Mrs. Maynard resumed,
i'm the same cold, constrained tone,
'yon have taken the prccaution Of sat
isfying yourself with indisputablo
proofs Of her identity, before accepting
her a. the heircs,?'
ooh. most assurclly, | have taken
every prccaution Of that nature. With.
in the last thrty-six hours the paper,
that establish her identity have ali
been In my possession
"Do You know where she Is at the
present timc?'
~ think may confidently assert
that | do" tie smiled as he spoke,
lool,ing kcenly at Mrs, Maynard, who,
however, was unconscious of the
glance.
Have you brought those papers with
you, Mr. North the documentary evil
dcncc Of which you spoSo2'
- have not brought them with me.
! They are not now In my possession
"lndeed! May inquire where they
arc?"
They ARE probably now In the hand
/ Of Mrs. DunlSirlS's attorneys and cXctu-
| tors Mcssrs. Hunter and Ketchum, OF
Now York"
"lluntcr and Ketchum?" She repcatc
the words involuntnrily. She was ~
the moment startled out Of her col,
nonposurc; she looked up ut him Will
perploNed speculation.
ITS perfectly regular proceeding
Mrs, Maynard, rs you win presently
understand" added North, auswcriu,
the mute inquiry In her glance. "liu
we are losing valuable time, Allow M,
to proceed without further delay to tn,
brief narrative Of fact
lie drew out his watch MS he spol;,
and laid 1t open ON the small table II
his elbow. lie had the air Of II man de
termincd TO accomplish set tasl, with
in given time The ladies' waited
each composed In outward micn, for hi
recitgl
ut was Ia Baltimore, you rccollcct
Mrs. Maynard" hc began, addressing
himself directly to that lady, "tha
Hamilton u upunt's death occurred. H.
was a perfect stranger In that city
having gone thither in search of en-
ployment, leaving his wife and child II
Charleston. This latter fact, by tn
way, corrccts mistaken impression u
mine, had always supposed that Mrs
Dupont also died in Baltimore, and tina
In order to discover any truce of Ami
the search must commence In that city
This sumo idea was doubtless whu
baillcd Mrs. Dunkirl's detectives. The
q persistcntly sought in Baltimore for tn
child, following up one false clew aftc
another, on the theory that II she wer
living NJ oil that was the place to fin
70 her, As u matter Of fact, neither Mr.
! Dupont nor the child was IN Baltimor
. at the time Of Hamilton Dupont's dealt
although the published accounts Of II
I affair gave the impression that the
were there.
AS you yourself told me, Mrs. Ma.
nard, the poor young wife died 500
+ after Of broken heart; and little Al
s ME, thus cast upon the cold charities
II the world, found refuge and loving ear
in an orphan asylum in that city, 81
l. was received and registered there
II her own name, as | discovered u fc
l. days since ON searching the records
II the institution The date of this rcgi
y try do not recall II at the momeu
?, but | have memorandum of II som
r where-corresponds exactly with Il
S. date furnished me through anoth
/. source; and thus It affords most sat