The Dickinson press., 1894-04-21
CHAPTER II.
The Secret Vault.

fasttime OH the following morning
that he asked imperiously why his
clothes had not been dispatched by tn
messenger he had sent.
He didn't wait for them, dear"
said Cicely.
Duke turned abruptly to his sister.
That's your doing. know. You in
suited the poor old beggar, and in fact
drove him out of the house,
"IEdetd, Minna did not even See him,
Duke" interpCscd his wife quickly.
"When Elizabeth went back into the
hall after giving me your message, he
lad already gone to the front door"
"And taken three spoons and a but
ter-knife out Of the plate c'baskct to re.
mind him Of his dear hicces and neph-
ew when he was lonely" chimcd in
Minna, dcmurely.
More fool Elizabeth TO leave the
plate-basket about. Give her months
warning. Cicely: we have quite enough
IDIOTS around us"
Il hope you are not going to add one
more to the number by having any
thing to do with Uncle joe" again
broke in the audacious Minna.
Certainly am. l intend to give the
poor devil another chance" said Duke,
magniliquently. It's just like you wo-
men to jump upon Il man when he's
down. 4"
"And when he steals spoons. But
of course il you don't object, it is no
business Of mine. l promise, IL that
will please you,that when he comes
again I'll fill his pockets myself. Then
he can so straight from his dear neph-
eyU'a fO his ,,ncla-''
'Minna, how can you use such ex-
pressions!''
"Well, Cicy, dear, din't think you
would know what l meant. And pray.
Duke, did your respected relative and
confidential clerk appear again ut the
office yesterday"
mo; he was too much hurt by his
reception here"
"Or by fall after converting the
spoons into liquid FORM
Duke, having finished hasty break
fast Jumped up from his chair very
angrily. His wife glanced rcpr0achful-
ly at Minna and solicitOusly at him.
In the strong morning light his face
looked haggaM and worn.
Duke Bennington was below the mid
die height, slightly built. with Il beard
less face and curly fair hair, which
gave him boyish appearance, and
made the carcworn burrows look strik-
ing and incongruous. He turned his
back upon his sister without wasting
more words upon her.
II shan't be home till late, so will
dine in town." he said to Cicely.
"Is 1t account day, dear" She asked.
"It's the first day of the account" he
answered, briefly, and a shadow SEEM
ed to fall across his face as lie looked
beyond her ut the lime-trees on the
lawn outside.
And with llasty kiss for his wife,
but no further word to either of the
ladies, he left the room. Cicely fol-
lowed him to the front door, but he
was gone before she reached it.
On the following morning Duke made
a strong effort to appear himself again;
but his face betrayed him still. and
once more he declared that business
would keep him late in the city. The
ladies avoided each other on that day
and on the next, which was settling-day
on the Stock Exchange. Each was Op-
pressed by fears which she determined
to keep to herself. but which acted
upon the other by mutual sympathy.
Duke had breakfasted early by him.
self, and had left for the city before
his wife and sister wer, down stairs
They were too miserable to eat, and
The morning hours rolled on heavily
At 4 o'clock, however, telegram came
Cicely uttered cry of delight as she
read It, and tossed it over to her sister
IN law.
"He Is in better spirits" she said, OF
he would never send such message as
that"
The telegram contained these words
"Expect me to dinner with three par
tkuIar friends of MinDa's."
"Of course, two Of them are Algy anG
Leonard. But who can be the thir(
be?" said Cicely.
'If he is not more ny particular
friend than Mr.. Harvey and Mr.. Hurs
it may be any One," remarked Minnt
haughtily. But she too, was relievet
by the tone of the message. and sh'
drew a long sigh and exchanged
glances with the other lady.
II was afraid-he was going mat
with overwork," half whispered Cicely
ly louder voice, Thought he was gOin'
to be ruined"
"Ruinedw echoed Cice1y, to whom tn
suggestion was as new as it was shock
ing.
Eyes. That is the sort of way tllos
things begin-worry, and attempts IL
economy, and irlftability, and thel
recklessness. Oh, know"
She was not sorry. that the blow
she had feared was happily ayertsi, TO
an opportunity Of rousins Cicely out o
her blindly simple belief in the immu
liability Of fortune.
There was little excitement abou
Dukes return home that evening. Cl
cely's cheeks were burning, and IN he
gray eyes there shOne an unaccust0me'
light. Minna was deeply interested ii
the third guest her brother was bring
ing. Was it another admirer, freshe
aud therefore mo:e welcome than tn
old and faithful pair, the little coqIett'
asked herself. She ran up to her room
which was in the front Of the house
and suspicion Of Cicely's that she wa
watching for the arrival Of the gentle
men was confirmed when the girl flew
downstairs, and dashing breathlessl!
into the drawing room exclaimed:
'Oh, Cicely, you will never guess; III
that old wretch, Uncle Joseph! And II
think that I've put on my newest frocl
for him! It's too horrible!"
She was tragic In her indignation
Cicely burst into laughter.
"Well. I'm sure poor Algy and Leon
ard had seen enough Of that old cream
muslin. This will renew their ardor."
She touched the folds Of soft whit
silk in which Minna, looked, with {
j. great Indian muslin scarf arrange
about her shoulders, like a little fairy
But the girl was inconsolable; she wa
protesting that she would go an
change her frock, that she could not al
ford to waste 1t on people she didn'
care about, when the gentlemen cam
In.
Duke came first, looking flushed. e1
cited, and as II scarcely master of hin
self. But there was no relief In Ii
face; he seemed strung up to a hig
"a pitch of nervous anxiety. Algy Hur
& followed. plump and placiiliy self-sati
n fled, q little too much like II very hig