The Dickinson press., 1895-04-20

1ulS letler Sne scaled ana OepOSlteO
IN the post-bag, after which she went
upstairs to Katherine's room, and,
without a single sign of conscious guilt
Iron her c~Ountenance, entered into
conversation. with that unsuspictous
woman.
The whole Of the next day she watch
ed and waited for some recognition Of
her intelligence. until about 4 O'Clock,
when she received nm oninous-looking
red-colored envelope, which contained q
Geographic dispatch from Sir Mark to
the effect that he would reach Tyne
Royal about 5 or 9 o'clock on the fol.
lowing evening.
This telegram Mrs. Charters dropped
INTO her pocket, and said nothing about
It until the next morning at breakfast,
when
Catherine" she said, slowly, "some-
hing tells me that Mark will be here to-
lay!'
"Oh, Harriet" poor Lady Warrenne
exclaimed, setting down her teacup and
turning so pale that Mrs. Charters was
fairly frightened.
Now, Katherine, do not be silly"
she said, hurriedly rising and pouring
some eau-de-Cologne upon a handker-
chief, which she applied to Katherine's
::orehead. "There is nothing so very ap-
palling in what I have said, I am sure,
to make you look so white and scared.
He IS only your husband, after all,
gou know; though really one would
imagine from your manner that he was
d modern Bluebeard Mt the very least
Dr. a wolf in sleeps clothing-or any
thing else equally unpleasant. Look
here; II you faint. my dear, you will
be sorry for 1t, as I protest I will elope
with your son and heir before you have
time to recover and carry him Oft to
Nova Scotia"
Eyes, I wrote to him." that lady ad-
mitted, herOically, going down on her
knees beside Katherinc's chair, and he.
ginning to feel slightly repentnnt, not
to say Observation-Disclosures tri.
dlnphant, nevcrtheless-as she watched
the others face. LAS you would not.
you know, I did; and n very good thing
200. Now, Katherine, you will cheer up,
will you not. and try to look your pref
test and sweetest, and put on the
most enchanting dress in your ward
robe. so that when this inhuman Blue
beard does arrive he may be turned
from his murderOus designs by the
extreme beauty of his wife and cllild?'
With such-like idle talk did Mrs. Char
.eris strive to beguile away all the inter.
ninable hours of that most interminable
lay, giving Katherine small tim" to
think Of anything beyond the passing
moment, by lowering over her With it.
! tie gay words and nonscnsical speeches,
that somehow did succeed in dis$ipatinS
the minutes with wonderful r anillty-
minutes that would have been insup'
portable if endured in solitude OF sill
ence.
AS the evening drew on and the day
tight faded, lamps were brought to the
sitting-roonl, whore Lady Warrenne
sat, dressed with more than her ordi-
nary care, and looking calmly lovely,
though she could have counted each
beat Of her throbbing heart. Opposite
to her sat Harriet. ~endeavorins, With
all her might to keep up the desultory
conversation, that. in spite of all her
eXcrtiuns, babe fair to come to an un-
timely end.
Half-past five. chimed out the dimin-
utive clock ON the c~himney-piece. with
la vivacity that considerably startled
both the listeners, but scarcely had the
last silvery stroke died away when
Mrs. Charteris's heart o precipitate-
ly to her mouth, as distinctly on the
distant gravel she discerned the sound
Of carriage wheels. She rose at once,
but with the most cOlnmendable self
possession.
II will be back in one minute, Kathe-
rine," she said, carelessly, with her
usual pleasant smile, and went out OF
the room calmly enough, closing the
door behind her.
But, having once performed this task,
she ran swiftly and breathlessly down
the broad staircas.. and through the
long, silent hall, to the door, which she
opened herself for Sir Mark Warrcnne.
katherine" was all the young man
could say, nervously catching both her
hands.
ut is all right; I have told her; she
is expecting you.". Mrs. Charters gasp
ed, disconnectedly, almost sobbing with
excitement and delight. "She is in the
blue room. Go to Ter"
How shall I ever thank yon?" War.
renne answered, kissing her warmly III
the intense gratitude of his heart-au
unexpected proceeding that first astun'
ished and then amused Mrs. Charters
lo.u.d measures: Int. before she had
time to offer auy comment, the baron
ct had run W. stairs without encoun
tering anyone. and opened the door o.
the apartment where his wife wa
waiting to receive him..
Katherine had risen. and when HI
entered was holding on firmly to thu
back Of a chair, looking beautiful, bu
with a face as white as death. Sh'
. gave a little low, sudden cry when she
! ! saw him, and held out her arms. Si1
Mark caught her.
"My darling!-my darling" he muir
, INJURED, brokeply.