Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-12
:'nder tie Cloud.


a friend nor even an acquaintance! she I
broke out, petulantly at last.
Not a recent loss? Then it must
have been some one very dear" He
stopped, awed by the pain and passion
in the eyes that for moment met his
own and seemed to beg his silence.
Forgive mer' he said humbly, and
dared say no more on the subject.
Il will leave it to you to say what
you think best, only let it be definite.
And now will you 60 on and join the
others? Tell Mr.. Bowyer that [ am
tired. [ dare say that he will over
take me-
II will always do what [ can for
YOU" he said, abruptly, then turned
and, walking away rapidly, left her
standing there.
1t was growing dusk, but she scarcely
noticed the lengthening shadows as
she reused herself and went IL the
house.
There were lights in all the rooms,
and as she approached a shadow
moved across the blind of her Win
dow. The gate she held escaped from
her grasp, and swung to with a creak
ing sound. The figure Immediately
disappeared She reached her room,
no one was there.
Had it been her imagination, which
saw a cause for fear at every turn, or
only the servant lighting the candles?
On this occasion her fears had not
been without foundation.
Directly she and Mr.. Bowyer had
left the house, Mrs. PriolO, slipped up
stairs, having told the maid that she
would do her work for her that even
ing. This was soon finished, and then
she was at leisure to prosecute her
! search.
She did not hope much from 1.-THE
| girl would scarcely keep anything
knowingly in her possession which
could prove anything against her; but
| if she could only obtain a cleW, it
would be easy to follow it up-a labor
of love with her.
| Her doubt of Ellen Warde had been
verified on that first night of their az
| rival, when she listened at the door,
| and had caught something of what
was said as the voices rose and fell.
She had heard nothing clearly, only
! enough to tell her, that this girl who
| had supplanted her had escaped by
| flight from the consequences of some
! crime, and was row in hiding to es-
cape the law.
If she could only discover whence she
came, where Mr.. Bowyer had met her,
| !, tol hn, hi -
| protection! Drawer after drawer was
! caefully examined; but nothing re-
Warded her eXertions. Once she
| thought she was on the threshold Of a
discovery. She had come upon a
round tin box with a patent paddock
on it; and her quick sight instantly
detected that though apparently so
securely fastened, the pin of the hinge
being loose, the box could in reality
! be opened with ease. To remove the
| pin was the work of a moment; but
the housekeeper uttered an ejaculation
of disgust as she saw its contents. 1t
was nothing but a dried bouquet, with
the lace and pale blue ribbons yet
on it.
She was destined, however, to gather
something from her stolen visit
A large portfolio stood upright
against the wall It was locked, and
she felt no hope OF being able to find
out anything from it; but as she lifted
lit she saw a paper projecting little
way beyond the leather, and as she
shook it vigorously several others
! fiTttered down. She picked them up
! eagerly The first she looked at was
photograph of Ellen Warde herself
as. 'Galatea.
i Another tOgraph-Elaine and
! Ada together, their arms interlaced
! the two golden heads touching The
resemblance was so striking that Mrs.
Prilolo comprehended the relationship
| at once. There had been a sister;
where was she now? The housekeeper
scented a mystery here, but had not
| time then to follow it up.
Several Sketches remained to be
seen-bits of scenery that were con-
temptuously put aside and designated
as ''daubs;;' then a head, only roughly
outline, of a young man of about
twenty-five, with dark eyes set rather
near together, a well-shaped nose,
| dark close-cropped hair, and a small
pointed mustache. Who was this?
But the next, the last Of the sketches,
brought a glow of satisfaction into
Mrs. Priolo's thin face. 1t was a view
of Sydney-she would have recognized
it even had the name not been written
beneath, and the date, March 9.
Why, it was the very year and month
when she herself was at Sydney! No
it was April when she arrived there,
and when she had been so strangely
deserted by her employer.
All, now she was on the scent-now
she had the clew! Ellen Warde and
Mr.. Bowyer had probably left Sydney
together-and why did they doit?
The creaking of the gate disturbed
her. Hastily slipping the sketches
back, she placed the portfolio in its old
position, and was safe in her room
before Ellen Warde had mounted the
stairs.
CHAPTER V.
Mr.. Bowyer's native air was appar-
emily not agreeing with him. The
doctor who was called in at Ellen'S
repeated request pronounced it a case
of general debility-breaking up of
the system; but Mr.. Bowyer himself
said it was liver"
Nothing else, he thought, could &C
count for the gloomy fancies which