Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-02
lConunued.)

lessly admitted the night before. He
would. she was confident, make no
use of the knowledge he had gained;
but IN other hands the clew might
be dangerous one.
Dear Colonel Severn" she wrote,
CHANGING stealthily now and again in
the dire ton Of the sleeping man, lest
he should awake and question her
what | said last night was said Inn
pulsively and without thought, 1t
might injure me irretrieyably were 1t
to become known that | had been an
actress. May rely upon your kind
ness to keep it secret? You may prob
ably imagine that the request arises
from the false pride which | disclaim-
ed last night; but !. Is not so indeed.
1 wish | could tell you all; but that is
impossible. | can only throw myself
upon your generosity and trust you
will think as we'll as you possibly
can of
Yours sincerely,
ELLEN Warde"
She slipped the note into ali en-
velope and directed it, waiting for
an opportunity 10 send 1t to its desti-
nation. This came sooner than she
expected. A man arrived from the
Abbey with basket OF flowers and
fruit; and, intercepting him as he
passed the sitting-room window, gave
him the note to take back. Then
quietly she returned to her place.
Presently Mr.. Bowyer awoke.
What were you and Mrs. Priolo
sparriBg about this morning. he
asked Miss Warde abruptly.
Ellen hesltated a moment before re-
,lying, then resolved to win him TO
er side If 1t were In her power.
''She is not very kind to me some
times. ! think she resents my being
here"
II thought as much" put in tho
old man, quietly
And latterly she has been limiting
at knowledge of-you know what |
mean"
Yes, | know, child; but surely she
Is only pretending that to alarm you!
While you were abroad she knew
nothing, | am certain and 1t is i'm
possible that she could have found
out anything in this out of the way
place. No. no; she l. ,rying to fright
EN- youthat is all
You really think soY'--eagerly,
u am nearly sure OF it. Even If by
any chance she did discover the truth,
she would not dare to make use Of IL
for fear of offending me. Besides, she
is not bad sort really, though l
suspect, like most women, she has
keen eye to the main chance"
''Oh, If that is all" cried Ellen, pas
slonately "let her mind be set at
rest! l want nothing except"
Except WHAT" he asked sharply
Il should like You to love me-" she
answered wistfully. Don't you re-
member telling me once that was
like some one very DEAR
What | told you then was true.
Your resemblance TO her made your
presence pleasure from the first;
then grew fond OF you for your own
sake | love you still; but this Illness
has changed me sadly. When these
nervous attacks come on, | am afraid
of every one; the very air seems full
Of danger
surely you are not afraid OF mef'
Not in my sane moments he an
swered, smiling, and taking her slim
white hand in his, II should rot con
oder this very formidable e'en were
d raised against me.
Instantaneously the same thought
dashed through the mind of both
how, in spite Of this, only year be
fore She had stood up TO defend her
self from suspicion Of murder, though
not actually arralgned upon the
charge.
Remorseful for having thus inadyert-
entity recalled SO painful Il memory,
III silent sympathy he pressed the
hand he still held; but, shuddering
conyulsvely. she withdrew 1t aud
walked over to the window, looking
out until she had regained some com
maud over her eountenance.
For nearly five minutes she stood
SO, her face pressed against the cool
glass, wishing With all her heart that
the past could be blotted out or by
some Lethean process forgotten,
Then she turned and suggested to
Mr. Bowyer thai she should read e
him again. He Snotioned her TO a
footstool near: ana, when Mrs Priolo
came to the door little later, and,
gently opening II, looked III, she saw
Ellen nj his feet reading aloud In
the low sweet voice which she could
not but bc aware was pleasanter to
the ear than her own strident tones,
while on her short hair the old mans
hand rested lii affecuonate caress.
No answer came 81 Ellen's note that
day. on the following morning, about
the time a messenger usually came
from the Abbey with the daily sift Of
flowers ana fruit, she went down tile
road a little way until she met the
man
Have yeu letter for me3' she
asked stepping short
NO, miss touching his hat re-