The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-12-20
THE woRTHINGToN ADVANCE.

He had not inquired If Mrs. Maynard
were disengaged, rather indolently talk
ing It for granted that she would be-;
and he was very much annoyed to find
that lady occupied with morning Wis
itors Mrs. Maynard was one OF the
few ladies in 4 who found it expe-
dent to hold morning receptions; and
this happened to beher day"
North felt extremely awkward on dis
covering that he had intruded purely
business call upon a social hour; but be-
fore he could excuse himself and with
draw-indced before he was able to de-
eide whether or not this would be his
better course-he was seized upon, fig
uratively, by the entire drawing-room
and retreat was impossible. Finding
that he was intimately acquainted with
everyone present, he entered with meas
urable agreeableness into the current
of small talk, inwardly hoping that
none of his friends would notice the
circumstance that neither when he first
addressed them. nor in his subsequent
conversation, did he call any of them
by name.
He seized an opportunity to speak
few words to Mrs. Maynard in private,
during the course of his call.
The conversation had turned upon a
wonderful cactus which the gardener
had just induced to bloom for the first
time. Everyone had seen it, except
North; and with the same exception
everyone was going into raptures about
it.
North Immediately became enthusi-
astic on the subject, for the cactus was
in the conservatory, beyond the reach
of the sharpest eyes or ears in the draw
ing-room.
''Mrs. Maynard" he exclaimed, turn
ing to that lady with an air of mock
appeal, my happiness depends upon
my seeing that cactus! Will you favor
me to this extent?''
With some laughing rejoinder she
led the way to the conservatory, which
opened from the drawing-room, and
moment later they stood alone in the
warm, moist, perfume-laden place,
with great banks of tropical plants,
wide-spreading palms and stately can
mas casting a delicate green twilight
around them and a soft, dreamy silence
pervading the fragrant gloom.
North duly examined the cactus and
expressed the proper degree of admira-
ton; then turning quickly to Mrs. May
nard. while his manner changed from
the superficial suavity that he had
adopted for the drawing-room to por-
tentous gravity. he said, in a low tone:
Mrs. Maynard, have something Of
great Importance to tell you. You will
be surprised perhaps disagreeably.
Shall speak now, or wait until some
other time?''
She was tearing the petals from a
great crinson-hearted rose, and she did
not look up: but the slight tremor of
the languid white fingers betrayed to
him the nervous agitation against which
her pride and will were contending
with only partial success.
''You may speak now, Mr.. North
Then, wearilyt ''Why should you wait?
1t is no worse at one time than another"
''True, Mrs. Maynard; and certainty,
how. 'cr unwelcome it may be, is al
ways more easily borne than suspense.
In one word, then-Annie Dupont has
been discovered"
The soft color in her cheeks died out
quickly in the surprise that she felt at
this announcement. and for an instant
her eyes lifted themselves to his with. a
half incredulous inquiry.
'You did not expect this, Mr. North?"
she questioned, quietly, u curious re-
serve in her manner which made him
vaguely conscious of having lost ground
with her since their last interview. The
intimation was too subtle and slight
for him to be able to seize upon it and
definitely assign q cause: but, had not
his affairs been shaping themselves SO
satisfactorily within the last few days,
it would have occasioned him infinite
uneasiness.
Expect it?' he repeated, with
short expressive laugh. ''No more than
Annie Dupont herself! I can scarcely
use stronger comparison. It's the
strangest case, Mrs. Maynard, one of
those that prove the statement that
truth is stranger than fiction. I have
not yet been able to lay my hands on
tAc uOCuIuclltS WHICH WILL prove AcI
identity, and establish her legal claims
as Mrs. Dunlzirk's niece and heir; but
that these documents exist l have proof
as clear as the MONDAY. and conf
IDENTIFY expect within the next twelve
hours to have those papers securely in
my possession"
Absently breaking off a bit of pale
Z blue heliotrope that was reaching out
temptingly toward him over the mass
of fragrant blossoms, he put it careless
ly in his buttonllole as he spoke these
last words.
''Does this proof come through the
man who called here few days ago."
inquired Mrs. Maynard with the same
reserve and in speculative tone. Her
fingers were still busy with their work
of destruction; her eyes idly watched
the great crimson petals futtering to
their death.