Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-08

|
start at shadows.
Think he rcjoined, with heartiness
which brought conviction home to me.
II am sure Of it. You may depend upon
1t that Master Clarence, or the man you
take for Master Clarence, who no doubt
was the other soldier seen with the scoun-
drel this morning, found him hurt late in
the evening. Then, seeing him In that
state, he put him in the porch for shelter,
either because he could not get him to
Arnheim at once or because he did not
wish to give the alarm before he had made
his arrangements for netting your party"
sigh Of relief. but what of Master Clar-
encef"
WELL" the old man said, ''let rs get
home first. We will talk Of him after
ward"
felt he had more in his mind than ap.
peared, and obeyed, growing ashamed
now of my panic and looking forward
with no very pleasant feelings to hearing
the story narrated. But when we reached
the house and found Master BERTHE and
the duchess in the parlor waiting for us
they rose startled at sight Of my face-he
babe me leave that out, but tell the rest
of the story.
complied, describing how had seen
Dymphna meet Clarence and what I had
observed to pass between them. The as
constituent of my hearers may be i'm
| agined. THE point is very simple, said
our host coolly when had in the face Of
many EXPLANATIONS and some incredulity,
completed the tale. 1T is just this! The
woman certainly was not Dymphna. In
the first place, she would not be out at
| night In the second place, what could
she know of your Clarence, an English
man and stranger? In the third place. I
will warrant she has been in her room all
| the evening. Then IL Master Francis was
mistaken in tho woman, may he not have
| been mistaken in tho man? That Is the
point"
NO." said boldly. II only saw her
back. / saw his face"
.tCertainly that is something" Master
Ljudstrom admitted reluctantly.
| But how many times had you seen him
hefores" put in my lady very pertinently.
| "Only once"
| In answer to that could do no moro
than give further assurance Of my certain
! ty on the point. 1T was the man saw
in tho boat at Greenwich, declared pos
| itively why should imagine it!"
| "All the same, trust you have" she
rejoined, for IL it was indeed that arch
scoundrel we are undone.''
| imagination plays us queer tricks
sometimes" Master Lindstrom said, with
| smile of much meaning, ''but colpe,
lad, will ask Dymphna, though think
| it useless to do so, for whether you arc
| right OF wrong as to your friend will an
| swer for it you are wrong as to my daugh-
| ter"
He was rising to 90 from them for the
purpose when Mistress Anne opened the
door and came in. She looked somewhat
startled at finding us all in conclave. II
thought I heard your voices" she cx-
planned timidly, standing between us and
the door, II could not sleep"
She looked indeed as If that were So
Her eyes were very bright, and there was
| a bright spot of crimson in each check.
What is it?'' she went on abruptly, look
ing hard ut me and shutting her lips tight
ly. There was so much to explain that no
| one had taken it in hand to begin.
1t is just this, !" the duchess said, open.
IAg her mouth, with n snap. Have you
been with Dymphna all the time:''
''Yes, OF course, =" was the prompt an
swer.
"What is she doing:''
'Doing?' Mistress Ammo repeated in
surprise. ''Shc is asleep"
HAS she been out since niphtfall?" the
duchess continued. "Out Of : room: Or
out of the house?''
"Out! Certainly not. Before she fell
asleep she was in no state to &C out, as
you know, though hope she will be all
right when she awakes. Who says she has
been olt?" Anne added sharply. She
looked ut me with a challenge in her eyes,
as much as to say, as it you!'
II am satisfied said, that was
mistaken as to Mistress Dymphna But 1
am Just as sure as before that l saw Clar-
ence."
"Clarence," Mistress Anne repeated,
starting violently and the color for an in
slant fleeing from her checks. She eat
down on the nearest seat.
You need not be afraid, Anne" my
lady said, smiling. She had n wonderfully
high courage herself. II think Master
Francis was mistaken, though he is SO
certain about 1t. ~
But where-where did he see him?'
the girl asked. She still trembled. Once
more had to tell the tale, Mistress Anne,
as was natural, listening to it with the
liveliest emotions. And this timo SO much
IF the ghost story had TO be introduced,
for she pressed me closely as to where /
had left Clarence and why had let him
go that my assurances got less crcdence
| IMAM ever.
Il think see how it is, she said, with
saucy scorn that hurt me not a little.
Master Carcy's nerves arc in much the
same state tonight as Dymphna's. He
! thought he saw a ghost, and he did not.
He thought he saw Dymphna, and he did
not. And he thought no saw Master Char
ence, and he did not.''
Not so fast, child!" cried the duchess
sharply, seeing INC vince Your tongue
runs too freely. No one has had better
proofs Of Master Carey's courage-for
which l will answer myself-than we
haye!"
"Then he should not say things about
Dymphna" the young lady retorted, her
foot tapping the floor and the red spots
back in her checks. such rubbish
never heard!"
ITO he ccntinued.)
The Bottom of the Sea
, Yields no pearl that can exceed in
| 80 md oil M