Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-05-11

spirit near me, to guard and protect. IL
is pleasant thought, Doctor, though
ven may laugh at it as the silly conccit
of poor gill" "
l was dcte:Miacd not TO get off the
track whiah had cen sta, ted.
"Did you know, Mis- Lconore, that
Theodore has been lowering around this
house for the last week or twO?"
She hid her eyes with her hand.
"Yes; l knew it," family.
"What did he seek?"
can interview.
"With whom?"
"With me-"
All! now we were getting closer to the
rock-bottom facts.
Why should he seek an interview with
her unless he had right to, either as a
lover or something Dcarer--her husband.
This latter was thought that had not
come to ne before.
1t gave me something of shock.
Hcsitating no longer, | put the question
"Miss Leonore, who is Theodore?"
She raised her great black eyes to
mine in half-dazcd way, and fancied
| could see something of Tain there.
"Don't you know? ! cannot tell you
dare not tell you, Doctor 1t would be
dispcasing to him"
| came very near uttering something
disrespectful to the dead physician, but
caught myself in tine.
"Leonorc, in solving mystery it is
essential that should know this thing.
Believe me, for your own sake tell me
what relation this man Theodore bears
toward YOU and DR.. Seabury."
81 cannot tell yOu," she said, sadly.
"FOr the same reason you spoke OF
before?"
eyes. I know his wishes in this mat
ter. Some day you will know all. 1t is
not for me TO reveal it. Doctor, you
have been kind to me- Forgive me, but
my lips are sealed by a promise-a VOW.
That ended it, but ] was just as fully
determined to discover the truth as
when had started upon this tack.
There were more ways than one OF
accomplishing a thing. Her words had
made me believe moro firmly than ever
that Theodore must be her husband.
Perhaps he had done something in the
past and had been kicked out by her
angry guardian.
This would account for many things;
yes, even Che writing on the back of the
photograph, for if Scabury had grown
10 fear for his life at the hands Of this
man he could well ascribe it all to
LeOnOre.
I was beginning to build up quite a
pretty theory that would soon rival that
Of the old detective.
Then we should see whose castle fell
first
Having reason to know how set a
woman could be in her way, | did not
attempt to change Leonore's mind.
She believed she was right. | could
find other ways of learning the truth.
So talked with her on different sub
iects for short time, until ] made her
forget her late fears.
All the time | was reading her. 1t was
q pleasure to me to watch the light come
and go in her eyes, and note the blush
upon her cheeks.
| was not so practical as Mr.. Ketcham,
who let nothing influence him.
After spending quite a pleasant hall
hour, | arose to withdraw.
In passing through the hall, felt sure
that saw the form of Mr.. Ketcham al
the head of the stairs, but did not pay
any attention TO the fact.
Possibly he had come back to the
house for more evidence. While he was
winding the spool, l was just as indus
triously slipping it loose, and between US
it seemed simply question OF time OF
endurance when something musthappen.
When l left LeOnore, my mind was
made up. My next endeavor would be
to find Theodore himself.
From him perhaps l might learn the
truth.
There seemed to be no clue to his
place of residence, as he had received his
letter through the general delivery at
the postoffice.
took it out again to look at it.
Then my eye was attracted by some
thing that seemed to have escaped it or
my previous examination.