The Dickinson press., 1893-07-22
CHAPTER xy-c"n,inuc,n

She did NOT try To comprehend how
all that had tr,ll>pircd had come to
pass. The "nr gi:lrimg fa''' confronted
aud appalled, nrr She had arrived at
llopc,lalr lu Srr her lover vol another.
No excuse Of time. cf absence could
con,l"nr such >nccdy transfer of aifcc-
1iull. He WAS shallow hearted. diSlo!al,
inSinrrr". and Size. Beatrice, Il Srhrm-
Ing siren.
"Mprrv. child. how white and fright
cnod YOU look. l:,,:. newer milnl.
Ti,;,"l heaven. ynu have come h!rk.
John has h,a II So lon"> 'mr for alothcr
sight of YOU. ;,unm,' fac. tl,at he
haS,:'t cat. slept "r smiled since You
Went away.
chat WAS MIS- Hla!l IS CHEEKY well
come. and il watm 'd and colntort'd
iii" homeless Wandered.
They a>trl IL, Gu. StionS. but III"
keen nulI'.ly eye OF the tarlnr:'s wife
seemed lo in.u.iirrv lax in Il tue
conception or Il >hl"W'l @llrsS uf tile
true Slllr uf altlir>. and wllllout az
tllally inIr,l,lins on Edna $ grief. she
spoke many Il ,Tlivl. effective Wr:tl OF
runSuI:lliun tried ,u lead her guest $
thoughts lu olll"r themes. rs the days
w"ll by.
Thus ii was that in less than a week
l.'ila had settled Town intp Il life
peaceful. nappy. illl.,>ci'l,ahly ST.. only
wh, Ii that dark shadow "f the past
haunted her like Il pail
Ter new friends mad talked plainly
to her. They lik'nl Irl; she nllrd Il
dead daughters place in ln'ir hearts.
Sill. WAS welcome to remain With them
as IL guest or i,lupt:.u cllil us long as
She chose.
'rh, little household duties she ell
gagged in busted her thoughts. She SAW
Il nnw mission in lif,, in making the
declining years of these TWO friends
happy with her presence, her ::iu and
her smiles.
In'lulg%nt Easmc.' JJhn brought her
News dresses. trained his best pony for
h"r us. in riding and driving. and i'll
sisted ,llar Sh" Try to WOO back tine
ros,s to her VAN checks by Il scalnpcr
oNur the mnurS and down tllc river
path every day.
The first fierce snow of autumn had
Ilellcd beneath the warm s.ln. and No
y, Mhcr seemed like May. only for the
red fallen leaves and the crisp, Drle-
ing air.
one afternoon Edna set forth in the
little phacton for Il drive over the hills.
The gentle pony answered to the light
est direction of the lines; the carriage
dog, Bruno, trottrd placidly behind.
She could think in these peaceful
drives. and there was Il somber salts
faction in broodling once in Il while over
the past.
This especial day Edna prolonged her
ll.Il
drove clear To and beyond the next vii
llgc. and only realized that she would
have difficulty in reaching home again
before dusk. when she looked up from
Il sad rrvcrir to lind that the short
aft, moon was waning fast.
The sight of IL flaming bush of va
rirty quite rare in the vicinity of the
Blake farm attracted ner attention,
however, and she al;ghtrl from the
phacton.
Mrs. Blake had Il hobby of pressing
pretty leaves, and Edna remembered
that she particularly treasured this va
rirty Here they seemed to grow i'll
profuSion. and She decided to gather
quite an armfml of th"m.
She kept wandering through the lit
tie wooded stretch where they grew,
allurrd by the distant sight OF still
prrttirr cnmp of bushes. until, fairly
loaded. she looked up, intent Oil re
tracing her way to the Dhacton.
Dear" she uttered with Il little start,
"whcre is the road:''
She penetrated the brambly jungle
in two directions With no success, not
ing with II slight thrill Of dismay that
dusk was fast approaching.
Where was the road, the phacton
and Bruno? Once she called the name
of the latter. but she decided she must
be quite a distance from the spot she
| had started from. for the usual prompt
appearance of the faithful animal il
response to such Il call was lacking.
Throwing down her leaves she raI
through the bushes straight ahead
came to Il high stone wall, and catch
ing sight of the towers of Il prcten1ious
structure beyond it. lined the moss
covered barrier until she came to /;
broken gate SGT in the wall.
All was silent and forbidding abou
the old structure. but there was evi
drlicu of occupancy i'll the curtaine(
windows and She fancied she cadSl
the glimmcr of :: dress on the liWl
some distance AWAY.
II will find some ono about the hOuS
and inquire my way to the road, re
tlcctel Edna. timorouSly.
She picked her way across an uneven
i'll kept garden. once SO nearly falling
into Il trap with great extending jaws
evidently set for tElmps or thieves
that she shook With apprchcnsive tel
ror.
"Oh. there is a lady. l see her now
l will ask her. Mercy"
On the verge of some pit or eXcav:
ton in the garden. Edna wavere(
tried to draw back, and then, losin
her balance, pllmged forward.
She fell fully fifteen feet. Her hea
grlZed the board side of the pit. an
half stunned her. Dimly realizing tll;'
the hole, covered over With hr;lliche:
WAS Il trap for intrlldcrs. she locke
blankly up 1T the top with Il shuddcl
comprehendnig that she could neve
scale the steep.
Help. help. help
Thrice the cry rang out. with all tn
strength of her bell-like voice.
Hopefully Edna looked up as tn
branches overhead were parted.
WHO is there?" spoke Il woman
voice.
Il have fallen here" cried Edn:
please help me. Mercy! it canno
be-"
Her gasping ejaculation died to
hollow. frightened murmnr as sll
peered at the face that looked dow
upon her
For its fair, false owner was-Bea1
rice Mercer.
CHAPTER XVI.
Missing.
When Edna Dcane glanced into IL,
room at the Hopctiale hotel where til
marriage ceremony between the ma
She loved and the woman who ha
so cruelty deceived her was takil
place" one member only of the cotcr
, there had caught sight of her Viii,
! stricken face.
I.urcd on by the deft manipulate
of DIR. Simms and Beatrice Mere,