Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-23

when she had resumed her outdoor
clothing, they started for the Dover
House.
On the road Colonel Severn spoke 10
her Of his life in India. OF the ad-
ventures he had there and the cam
paIgns he had been through.
She listened eagerly as lie talked. 10
hear Of the years he had spent before
she knew him was inexpressibiy inter
esting. Very seldom did he speak Of
himself: and then only as briefly as
might be; but on this day, speaking 10
the woman he loved, who was bis
friend, his tongue seemed loosened,
and every word came from his heart,
while his tones betrayed even more
than he intended
The walk was over sooner than
either wished. Severn sighed for a
pleasure ended, and Ellen shrunk back
neryously as she remembered the or
deal to come.
You are not frightened? Shall 90
in with your he asked. his hard upon
the gate.
II think 1t would be better to go
alone-he would like it better, too; but
thank you very, very much for all
your kindness"
He looked at her moment without
replying, then said
To-day Mr.. Bowyer spoke Of you as
Elaine by mistake, and the other day
| heard you called so too. Is IL your
real Manner
She bowed her head in assent.
THANK you for trusting me so far
/ ain glad / know how TO call yous In
my thoughts. The other name never
fitted, never seemed appropriate at all;
but Elalne-Elaine the lily-maid-It is
the sweetest name that woman ever
5orer
To the surprise OF every one, Mr..
Bowyer had so far recovered on the
morning after his narrow escape from
beinf, poisoned that he was able to 90
downstairs to his breakfast, and sat
by the fire In his dressing gown when
Severn was announced.
II am glad to see you looking SO
WELL began the colonel, as they shook
hands.
Then you have heard all about it,
the accident, / meanT
Not all"-meaningly. But / know
you took some poison by mistake, and
must congra tulate you on having 50
far recovered from it's effects"
1T was rather a narrow escape,
fancy You see"-with an attempt at
gayety--'l am such bag OF bones and
nerves that 1t would take less to kill
me than most men"
A slight pause, which Severn broke
by coming abruptly TO the point.
II came" he said, ito speak to you
about Miss Warder
she is In her room, | believe. Do
you wish to speak to or OF her"
II have spoken 10 her already. Have
sou not heard she left your ,house this
morning"
Try as he would, Mr.. Bowyer felt It
impossible to keep an expression Of
contentment from his face. This was
exactly what he wished her to do. To
turn a woman out OF doors was more
than he could do, were she the yeriest
wretch in creation; but, II she chose to
leave him, he was free from blame
free even from self-reproach.
II met her on the road between this
and Greathaven this morning, strug-
Cling against the wind and wet
through with the fog. | guessed some
thing Of her intentions from the bag
she was carrying, and afterward she
told me what had passed, and how
II seems absurd TO repeat-you thought
her guilty"
III she was not guilty, why did she
leave my house, questioned Mr.. Bow
yer, shrewdly.
Because your housekeeper had dis
covered secret In her past life, and
brought such pressure to bear on her"
"Impossible"-hal starting from his
chair
IT was what she told ne; and | do
not think her capable of falsehood"
Mr. Bowyer leaned back again and
looked thoughtfully into the fire
DO yeu think any man can Judge a
woman truly? The intricaeies and
contradictions of her character must
always remain mystery to him, and
he is never quite unbiased by the per
sonal attributes. perhaps attractions,
She may possess"
II think returned the colonel, de-
ciSIyely, that it is impossible to mis-
take bad woman for n pure one, or
vice versa Men are sometimes queer
mixtures OF good and evil but no
woman could do what you suspect
Miss Warde or having done unless she
were utterly abandoned; and that
warmly Il can swear Miss Warde is
not"
You are younger man than l." OBJ
served the lawyer dryly. And Yeti
don't know that it is only youth that
can be blinded by pretty face and
nlauslbility; for | too believed in her
In spite of repeated warnings, and
once against almost incontroyer'ible
evidence.
You were right then-you are