Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-02-28

dSo4SA ~ NahoNS Duty lltteA IOl
his affairs been shaping themselves so
satisfactorily within the last few days,
it would have occasioned him infinite
uneasiness.
Expect it?" he repeated, with n
short expressive laugh. mo more than
Annie Dupont herself! can scarcely
use a stronger comparison. It's the
strangest case, Mrs. Maynard, one Of
those that prove the statement that
truth is stranger than fiction. 1 have
not yet been able to lay my hands on
the documents which will prove her
identity, and establish her legal claims
Us Mrs. Dunlkirlz's niece and heir; but
that these documents exist have proof
as clear as the MONDAY, and I conf
IDENTIFY expect within the next twelve
hours to have those papers securely in
my possession"
Absently breaking off bit Of pale
blue heHotrope that was reaching out
temptingly toward him over the mass
of fragrant blossoms, he put it careless
ly in his buttonhole us he spoke these
last words.
'Does this proof come through the
man who called here u few days ago?''
inquired Mrs. Maynard with the same
reserve and in speculative tone. Her
fingers We're still busy with their work
of destruction; her eyes idly watched
the great crimson petals f1uttering to
| their death
"O'Reilly?" North smiled a little,
with his eyes fixed in sharp but baffled
scrutiny upon her coldly unresponsive
face. Yes, through him. could take
him into court to-day, with two or three
other persons who are equally within
reach, and by his sworn testimony,
without the aid of any documentary
evidence whatever, establish Annie Du-
points identity so thoroughly that no
combination nor conspiracy against her
could possibly overthrow 1t; but for her
| sake prefer to wait for the corrobora-
| tive testimony that those documents
contain. There will surely be but a
few hours longer delay"
He was unconscious of the warmth in
his words and manner until he was
| awakened to the fact by the cold, sur
prised inquiry in Mrs. Maynards sud.
denly lifted eyes.
"You are singularly enthusiastic, Mr..
North" she said, slowly, holding her
gaze steadily, while North, with mo-
mentary discontinue, felt himself
| flushing little under it's cold accusa-
ton. You leave me no possible infer
ence but that your most ardent wish is
to establish this identity. May asl, If
| your sudden interest in this hitherto
unknown hcircss is purely profess
| sionai?"
| He did not, at that moment, fathom
tho suspicion in her mind, but he
/ H., a
| cameo. A curious little smile crossed
his face, then perfect inscrutability
yelled its whole expression. Mrs. May
nard, observing him with sharp intent
ness, felt all the shock of q sudden and
unexpected rcpulse. She had knocked
at door that had instantly been
double-barrcd and locked against her.
CAS- for that, Mrs, Maynard" North
rejoined. after moments pause his
manner light and jcsting, $50 long Ms
the lawyer is also man, it is not
always possible to disassociate his per
sonal and professional feelings. If they
don't untagonizc each other, they gen
orally become merged, you know"
ESPECIALLY where young and beau
tiful heircss is concerned" suggested
Mrs. Maynard, with quiet bitterness.
"Why do you think that Annie Du-
pont merits that description, Mrs. May
nard?" demanded North, teasingly.
''Wcre we speaking of Annie Du
pont?" returned Mrs. Maynard, with ;
frigidly polite stare. Your question
implies degree of sclf-consciousncss
Mr.. North But pray excuse me; can
not leave my friends any longer. have
been absent from the drawing room to-
long already. Understand me distinctly
Mr.. North" she added, facing hin
proudly for an instant with brillinn
color in her checks md defiantlight il
her dark brown eyes, Il am sinccrel.
glad to hear of Annie Dupont's good for
tune, and l congratulate you with al
my heart on having been the disinter
ested means Of bringing about thi
happy result"
North confuscdly murmured hi
thanks and turned to follow her to tn
drawing-room. He felt amused, an
noyed, and on tho whole rather disap
pointed in this interview. 1t had de
veloped absolutely nothing to his proc
teal advantages, while it had suggested
whole train Of battling speculations
and to crown all, he had harassinl
suspicion that in this passage-at-arm
with Mrs Maynard he had not fgurei
SO crcditably Us he could have desired
But he had no opportunity to indulg
his slight chagrin on this account, 70
the instant he reentered the drawing
room he received u shock that drove al
these less important matters from hi
mind for the time.
At the further end of the long draw
ing-room, talking to garrulous oil
I dowager in eyeglasses, who had evi
G IDENTIFY captured her upon her first ar
N !c!a