The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-07-14
CHAPTER vIIL-CoNr1NUEp.
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''It was not of ghosts 1 was think
ing" she would tell you, "that night
was awake. could not sleep. The
hall was large and strange to me. The
cot was narrow. Twas restless. l was
thinking of the child Ninctte. and how
she must have missed me, when of a
sudden l felt a cold wave sweep over
my face and saw a white figure Gid
ing noiselessly across the hall and turn
towards the steps. / covered my head
| with the blankets, chilled but not
| frightened. Celeste BougereauX is not
a coward. When looked again, there
| was nothing to be seen but the cold
pale moonlight streaming through the
uncurtained dormer window upon the
bare floor of the hall. The next morn
ing, Mrs. John LorimeE was not to be
found. l told no one of that visitation
from the White Cliffs ghost. Bah! the
provincials, they would have had no
faith in it or in me. But have seen
what have seen"
| One portion of Celeste Bougereaux' S
story was irrefragable. 1t was on the
morning after she slept on the cot in the
hall that Johns wife was not to be
found On the desk in her room were
lying three sealed envelopes. The
fourth one she evidently had taken
away with her.
One of the envelopes was addressed to
her husband. To him she said:
Il married you for Ninette's sake,
leave you for your own. You may be a
trifle shocked at this violent rending of
the feeble chain that links us together,
but / fancy you will be infinitely
obliged to me in the long run. Consult
some of your lawyer friends and see
how the knot can be united legally, for
would not have you lose the full fruits
of this sacrifice by reason of obstacles
in the path Of your marrying again
more felicitously next time, will hope.
have no intention of making away
with myself
Another of the envelopes was ad-
dressed to Celeste. To her she said:
''As soon as you have read this, ask
Mr.. Lorimer to send you and the child
to Glenburnie. Take with you her
trunk and the envelope addressed to
Miss Fairbanks, which l leave with
this. Be good to Ninette, and stay with
her; it will be to your interest"
The third envelope was addressed to
Miss Fairbanks. To her she said:
Il am not conducting my project in
the way had planned before coming to
White Cliffs. But, after all. we are the
merest puppets in the hands of fate.
had meant my little Ninette should win
her own way with you before I made
for her the startling claims of kinship
She is Sibley Fairbanks daughter-his
only child, born in holy wedloclz. Her
mother and father did not live together
happily. He deserted her: she had to
make her own support. As all of the
papers were in his possession, 1t may be
some time yet before the child's Legal
claim upon you or upon your father car
be established. She Is the, child of my
only sister-a younger sister, to whom
was idolatrously attached. John Lori
mer's suit for my hand carried no weigh,
with it until he accidentally mentioned
the fact of having the Fairbanks, o.
Glenburnie, as neighbors I meant Il
have kept Ninette myself until hel
claim upon her grandfather had beer
made so clear that he would gladly hav'
recognized it, but it has been ordered
otherwise. If your first impulse SHOULD
be to order Celeste, the child.s nurse, t,
leave your prceence and take the chile
with her, stop and deliberate twice be
fore you send your brother Sibley,s in
FAINT daughter adrift in an unfriendl,
world. Until I procure the proofs o
what say, you must take my simpl
assertion. Every word in this letter i
absolutely true"