The Dickinson press., 1893-06-03
CHAPTER II-Contiuued.

She barely glanced at 1t through her
plinding tears. She read only the first
,ew lines, beginning:
My child, there have been vital rea-
IONS for my seeming neglect of you,
here are still vital reasons why sud-
lenly, abruptly, you must sever your
connection with your dearest friends
md hasten to me. When explain you
will know why no one must know"
Edna crumplcd the unfinished mis-
,ive into her pocket at this stage, for
Miss Chandler was giving her dlrec-
lions to go to her room and pack up
1urricdly.
In that apartment Beatrice Mercer
Joined her. With strange, wonder
ny light in her eyes, she listened to
Edna's story cf the sudden summons.
"Oh! l shall surely be allowed to
write to you, to explain everything
when find my father" sobbed Edna,
Is she clung to Beatrice in a fervent
embrace. "Beatrice-Raymond?"
The scintilla,ins eyes of the dark
,eauty flashed wickedly. but the e1-
preston was veiled from poor Edna's
;ear-blinded sight
Il shall tell linn"
''That I could not bid him goodbye;
hey would not let me. Tell him will
get him word as soon as l can. On,
his mysterious haste unnerves me! l
10 not even know where l am going.
Goodbye, dear friend. Goodbye, good
BYE"
A clinging kiss emphasized every
word. The fearful Miss Chandler waved
Ter Il last adie,l from the door. Her
;omber companion helped her into the
carriage, and the wheels grinding down
the soft road seemed to be tearing her
very hcart-strings. as Hcnedale faded
from view in the distance and the vehi-
bounded forward carrying innocent
Edna Deane to meet Il strange, solemn
mystery.
Twilight closed i'll about the land
,capc, as the carriage dashed across
the country for the nearest railway
station. Twilight. folding its mystic
;hroud about the old seminary struc-
talre, was shut out securely from one
room ut least.
With locked doors and shades drawn,
Beatrice Mercer sat at Il table In her
apartment, porins over Il letter, study
ng it, analyzing it, re-rcading it.
1t was the crumpled mtssive. half
eead by the distressed Edna. How had
It come into her possession? BY de-
sign, tho cleaning, calculating eyes
told, for those eyes had the mask down
low, all alone by herself.
One hour went by-two. The supper
,ell rang but Beatrice never left hel
task. She was writing now. A singl
Tar feature of chirography, hers, II
seems, for she wrote with coarse pen
IL Il bold, masculine hand, and the1
With IL fine one in delicate Italian char
acterS.
She manipulated the two letters, 81
lissimilar in appearance, folded them
placed them in an envelope, CAREFUL!
added the representations, and then
stamping the envelopes, put on he
cloak and hat and stole from her room
Down the dark hall, through the from
portals, out into the road, and town
wards she sped. AT the village post
office she paused to drop the letter int
the box there, and faint CLEAN of
lamp near by showed the address plain
ly-"Mr Raymond Marshall"
"Done!' she murmured breathlessly
as she hurried homewards. "Circum
stances. accident, all in my favor.
could not have endured the confidence
that broke my heart, much Longer
Edna will never write, her fathers le
ter tells me why. She will never Sc
!. her old friends again. Raymond Ma
. shall will forget her in time-I will L
his friend. his consoler, and then"
n The dark eyes glistened, the fair fac
n was sentient with vivid emotion. Thel
All. balm for the hungry heart, love Il
l. the starved soul, peace for the sci
e torture, for word and feature betraye
e the secret of Il woman who could su
e fer, conceal, and plot as well, to co
e summate the hopes dictated by hatre
le jealousy and love!