Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-09

Will Walk OVER tntre HUW, IL you Will
excuse me"
He rose ard, with q nod and smile
OF farewell, left the room George
Severn remained alone, meodily sInoR-
Ing. He understood 1T last This
was the man Elgme loved-he called
her Elaine" In his thoughts already
the name suited her so well. it became
familiar at onee--it never entered his
head to doubt that her love was re-
turned: at any time he would have
secuted the idea that it was possible
she should cherish in unrequited pas
sion.
With a .halfsmothered groan Severn
rose and flung away the cigar he had
already suffered to die out. Mad
dened by the thought that already
probably they were together, aud all
the misery OF the days during which
they had been separated forgotten in
the blissful present, he sna1chsd up
his hat and went out, with no ,le5tina-
ton in view. only with the settled
intention Of avoiding the neighhorhood
Of the Dover House.
He walked ON rapidly, his eyes fixed
upon the ground. scarcely knowing in
which direction he was going, when
suddenly. passing through narrow
lane, he stumbled, and, instinctively
looking up to see whittier be was
walking, he saw little way in front
OF him the fiutter of petticoat A
second glance showed him that the
woman was Mrs. Priolo; and some
thing in her action struck him as so
peculiar that he stood still and
watched her movements.
She was bent nearly double. creep.
ing on slowly in the shelter of hedge.
AS it was not to be supposed she was
stalking any game, the only conclusion
he could come to was that she was
playing the spy. But on whom?
In the center of a large meadow full
Of grazing cattle, under the shadow
of an oak, stood Ellen Warde and Mr..
Weare. There was nothing loyer-like
in their attitude, he could see; but
they We're talking earnestly, and evil
IDENTIFY something they did not wish to
be overheard Was the housekeeper
trying to discover their secret?
Quickly yet quietly he walked on, and
laid his hand firmly on her shoulder.
What are you doing herey'
There was suppressed scream as
the woman, rising from her bent posi-
ton, twisted her neck round to see
who was her aysailant What she
had been watching so intently would
surely be no pleasant sight to him.
'Sweethearting, she whispered
meaningly. "They have made rapid
strides in their acquaintance, if they
met for the first time yesterday"
'Whc Their they have known each
other before or not IL no business of
yours" declared the colonel sternly.
You will come with me TO the Dover
House ut once. / intend to ask Mr..
Bowyer II he allows his housekeeper
to act the spy upon his niece"
She's no more his niece than ! ami
She's"
But her eommunicatiyenessw was then
stopped at once by a gesture, and
Severn's uplifted hani pointed out the
way that she was to take.
Very well, I'm ready enough to go
If yoI like; don't want TO make mis-
chief; but, If I'm forced to speak, I'll
say out all | know about 1t"
An expression of doubt on her
hearers face encouraged her to pro-
coed.
why you don't think" she went
on boldly, that Mr. Bowyer would
keep her another moment in his house
If he heard all l could tell?"
Il think you are a very wicked
woman exclaimed Severn.
"What--for watching those two just
now? Why, all women are interested
in bit of love-making; Miss Warde
and | are good friends enough if you
will only leave us alone"
Severn bit his lip and tugged at
his dark mustaehe in deep perplexity
She might be speaking the truth--it
might injure Ellen were he to insist
upon bringing this before Mr.. Bowyer.
After all. they're doing no harm,
went ON Mrs. Priolo. She's fond of
him, no doubt, for she has kept some
flowers he gave her years ago, and
has painted picture of him, too"
silence, woman! Co" Numbered
out the colonel; then. as, cowed by his
anger, she turned obediently and
went. He too walked away in the
opposite direction. smiling bitterly to
himself.
He was half blinded now with pas
sion as he strobe along, and a jealous
fancy pictured the love-scene that
was being enacted even then. Would
1t have comforted him could he have
been an unobseived spectator of
what took place at the meeting which
circumstances had prevented from be-
ing so secret as had been undoubtedly
intended?
Elaine had arrived first, and stood
leaning against the gnarled trunk of
the old oak, waiting for the other.
She was as white as sheet and
trembling in every limb when at last
Gerald Weare arrived. Nervously she
held out her hand. The action was