The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-06-08

fro BE CONTINUED. I

interest in the world whatever -
'Do you never hear people talk?"
II have heard nobody talk about.this,
but / have been away where would be
little likely to. -
why did you go away?''
because it was necessary for me to
have money | have been engaged in an
attempt to raise money by dishonest
means-an attempt which failed as dis
astrously as it deserved. 1t was my be-
lief until l came here that Annette had
indeed Voluntarily absented herself from
my abode, as she had threatened to do.
II you will ask the landlord at 40 Flood
street, he will tell you that left money
i'll his charge to be given to her if she
returned during my absence. had, /
could have, no possible i'll will for that
unfortunate girl. Neither was her life
such that she could have acquired ene-
mics. You speak in riddles. sir. Would
it be asking too much that you should
tell me the circumstances? But, no; you
will not do that, for am the man sus-
pected.
Il think circumstances warrant srs-
picion that you know more than you
will admit. Nevertheless, lest do an
injustice, Twill tell you what you ask. .
He told it. Mr.. Dye listened motion-
less till the end When it was over, he
remained silent
Have you nothing to say TO this?"
asked Maxey ''Doyou suspect nobody?"
II have nothing to say, sir. /"
'Nothing?"
mot word.
well, them" cried Maxey excitedly
there is only one course open to me. "
He was interrupted by a knock at the
door, Annette, whose eyes were not yet
free from tears, implored his attention
for moment He went into the parlor
with her.
Miss Maxey, dressed for the street,
sat in one corner of the room, apparent
ly preoccupied, though the unusual color
i'll her cheeks was evidence enough that
she was disturbed by more than ordinary
emotions The artist barely noticed her.
He was too much under the power of the
new and contending feelings that filled
his soul when Annette spoke to him to
heed anything else, for Annette opened
her heart to him and laid bare her sweet
and forgiving nature as she never had
done before And she pleaded for tho
token of his regard for her which he was
the least in the world desirous Of grant
ing. But what could he do under the spell
of her presence? How could he say "No"
even when the granting of her prayer
would allow to slip through his fingers
the first real key to the mystery of the
sea road which he felt he had ever held?
The beautiful face turned toward him so
bcscechingly, the dark eyes emphasized
her words so eloquently that he had no
power to resist
She could not forget that Mr.. Dye had
brought her up, had given her home;
that he stood to her in place of a father.
She could not bear to think of his being
prosecuted or molcsted on her account.
II he would not speak, let him remain
silent. The past was passed. Would not
Mr.. Maxey give her his promise not to
follow up that dark matter further? Mr..
Maxey did not want to- but for her sake
Mr.. Maxey would and he did.
II promise you, he said at length.
81 will detain him no longer / will
tell him that he is at liberty to go where
he pleases, and that l do it for his
daughters sake y
"Oh, no; please don't tell him that.
1t is not necessary that he should know
that interceded for him. would rath-
er not I"
Very well then, said Maxey. $50
be it, y
He left the room and dismissed Mr..
Belfry from his post in the hall
As he was holding the door open for
the sly landlord to pass out, Miss Maxey
swept by him on her way to the street,
and as she went she flashed into her
brother $ face a look of mingled pity and
contempt which made him feel decided
ly uncomfortable.
She thinks | have yielded to Annette
too readily" he reflected, land no
doubt she is right No doubt have. "
Still he could not retract his promise
now He went into the room where the
sember man still sat.
"Mr Dye. | have only one more ques-
tion to ask you. Have you told me ev-
erything which you believe it is neces-
sary for me as the guardian of Annette
to know"
Sir, have nothing more to say. "
Il have done, sir. y
Mr. Dye arose, calm and unmoved
now as he had been at first, smoothed
off his hat with his glistening sleeve,
put it upon his head and made the fol-
lowing speech:
l desire first, sir, to warn you, if you
wish to retain me, to have me arrested.
Necessity is stern law. must cat If
there is nothing for me here, l shall not
remain here do not much think, in
view of the manifold vioissitudes of life
and the uncertainties of the appellations
which control human events, that if
you let me go today it is at all probable
you will ever see me again. -
You arc at liberty to go where you
will, said Maxey If you have told
me the truth, there is no reason why
you should not. If you have lied to me.
settle it with your conscience.
He opened the door. Mr.. Dye said not
word He made a profound stage bow,
settled his hat more firmly on his head
and stalked out.
And that is the end, thought tho
artist, with some bitterness, "of my ex-
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