The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-19

expression and the silly lcer, that Miss
MaXey was almost ready to declare the
relationship between thcm that OF moth
or and daughter,
Even these reflections passed like a
flash through Miss Maxcy's intuitivo
mind while she stood bewildcringly re-
turning the ticrco look of the woman
whC lad her by the wIis, Tho silence
only exasporatod tho quostionor. Hcr
nervous hold on the arm frightened, and
she said in lower but still moro in
tense voice:
''Do you hear me? Who arc you;
What do you want?"
''Do not blalnomc said Miss MaXcy
at last III avoiC9 tho clearncss and steadi-
ness of which surprised herself. "It is
not my fault that l am in this room. I
asked only to see you. Tho servant
brought mo, might almost say dragged
me, here"
"Tho IDIOT The idiot" cried thowo-
man, with moro anger, but not less sus-
picicn. This bluudcr will cost her her
place. Whom did you WISH to sco?'
''You, madam" ="
"Mo? You have chosen an odd hour
for your callr' The woman brcathed
painfully in her agitation, dropped Miss
MaXey's arm and tore open the door in
fever of haste.
"Thercp she cried. "This is not my
reception room! Hero, little fool, show
this lady down Stairs. "
The frightened servant, who appeared,
obeycd her. Ellen followed her 10 tho
floor below. As she descended tho stairs
she passed IN elderly female, with an
energetic stride, coming up. Ellen was
very suro tho newcomer went into the
chamber from which she had just come,
and she thought:
THAT is theperson, whoever she may
be, for whom / was mistaken. "
Miss Mayoy was conducted to a dainty
reception room on the first floor. The
gas was lighted, and she was lott alone
with her reflections Sho sank into a
chair. A long time, q very long time
elapsed. Sho heard many footsteps go
along tho hall outside her door before
any one sought again to turn the handle.
She listened with all her power. She
even held her breath. Tho sight she had
seen in tho chamber hadmadc so power
full an impression upon her that it al
most seemed to be before her still. she
did not understand it, but the very mys-
terry mado the possibilities so much the
moro dreadful. What was tho nature Of
the strange horror she had surprised?
Who was the fashionable woman who
had such curious acquaintancos in tho
outer wors, who sheltered such name
less enornitics under her roof?
Miss MaXoy was ayoung women who
had been protected from tho rough
breath Of tho great world from her in
fancy, to whom evil in all its greater
and moro repulsiyo forms had always
seemed unreal and dreamlillc, but yet
as she sat thcrc in that silent room her
active mind, busy with the logic Of tho
events of tho past few hours, saw before
it such possibilities Of the depth of hui
man dopravity as mado her tromblo FOR
the powers Of her own imagination.
What did itmcan? What could it moan?
Tho pretty girl who but few hours be-
foro had been riding for pleasure in her
carriage through tho city streets now
prostrate and insane? Tho ether, tho rcd
hot curling iron, tho smell of burning
flesh? Miss MaXey's mind reoled under
the fancics Of what it might mean, and
yet in the midst Of it all she was aware
Of q latent impression that nothing in
all these wild speculations was plausible
enough to be the truth.
What a hazardous, foolish thing this
following Of Mr. Dyo had proved! Was
it not an unladylikc action, and might
she not live to regret having committed
it? A vaguo fear haunted her.
Tho time camo when her reflections
wero interrupted. She heard no warning
stepin the hall outside. Tho lnob turned
quietly. The door swung noisolessly,
and sho whom she had como into the
house to SEQ came in.
The woman was exceedingly pale, and
her eyes seemed unnaturally largo.
There was slight trembling Of her
hands, but no trcmblo Of the lip She
spoke at once upon her entrance III o dis
dainful manner and steady voice.
'To whom havo tho honor of speak
ing?"
'To n lady who desires to remain url-
known. ~
Miss MaXey would not have made
that answer an hour ago, but events had
brought her to wise determination A
slight color came into the handsome
woman's face.
| '"Ihis is very oytraordinorx- What