Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-11-15
THE STRANGER.

Ai,hss Moarnc snd were bosom friends,
although she was m heircss. with the ~
nowned Mearne diamonds TO set on her
bonny face, whereas my father was only
ourAts in charge and had half dozen
sisters and brothers.
But Althoa coaxcd father ~ mo share
her govcrnessos and mastcrs and when
Sir Edwin gave n grand ball TO celebrate
her eighteenth birthday sho Insisted upon
my being present and managed, In her
own graceful way, % give INC drcss for
the ocoasisn.
She was standing beside Sir Edwin, ~.
rcivinR her gussis--a vision NJ white lace
and flashing diamonds. And, as they
passed her, people whispered:
"Ah. size Il wearing the diamonds, and
they ho.umo her almost as well a. they did
poor Lady Mcarnc"
The mon were all ruylng about her, but
II was easy enough to sco that Harry Brit
talns fate was sealed from tho first mo.
ment that ho set eyes upon hls old play
mate In all tho magnifccnco Of her ball
rom array.
Harry owned tho adjoining estate, and
II was an open sucrct that Sir Edwin was
anxious for n match between his daughter
and tho young squire " Brltialn's Rest
ilc asked mo to dance that he might
have tho pleasure Of talking about her.
"im't sho lovely, Gwcny Thcrn-ln0k
ut her now, spinning round with that dark
haired fellow tho bcst dancer IN the rpom.
No wonder she doesn't cnru much about
mc-I'm n clumsy dnnocr--chF'
My aching fcot horu witness TO the fact,
but shook my head.
"You do very well, Harry. by the bye
who Il Althcn's partner
"wlllard brought him, hc said, land
ing me triumphnntly by the side u my
ohnpcrun. 81 say, Gwen, dyo think she
give mo ono nowf'
watched Althca shake her head and
send him away looking ~ downcnst that
felt out of patience with her and took a
violent dislike TO tho dark haired stranger
who stood smiling by her side.
II must have been nm hour later that I
found myself alone ON tho deserted terrace
with my friend.
Come, Gwonny," shc said, "the world
l. ut supper, but we have souls above Ices
and champagne. have promised TO show
Mr.. Wynno tho Lake by moonlight, and
you must come with me"
Just then Mr.. wynnc tho dark haired
stranger. came mp with n light wrap over
his arm and looked oddly disconnected at
tho vision u two white dresses instead Of
one. IL was very awkward.
Gwen introduced me, stlll holding my
arm, and We ran down tho steps and
plunged Into the shrubbery walk that led
TO the lake. Alihca shiycrcd
This l. too ocrlci" sho cried. Gwen,
shall wo turn hackY
"No, no, Mr.. wynno murmurod, bend.
ing over Althca, "lin mcrulfuli | have
looked forward 90 this all tho evening
and since you promised to show mo the
lake yourself"
81 heard footsicp" she cried. "Somc
one else bent on sccins tho lake perhaps.
Let Us walt aud make up party"
"Footstcpsi Nonscnsol" exclaimed Mr.
Nynno with au Understandable change In
his voice, you must be- mistaken. Come
Oh, sayi come ont"
We were nearly Mt tho end Of tho path.
and Rloam OF moonlight fell full upon
his face, all white and distorted from some
oyorpowcring anxiety.
"Althea" cried. "Takc carni IIo"-
As l spoke u dark ilgurc glidcd ont ~
tho bushes, and q rough hand was laid on
my mouth.
''S,ow that, missl 'Taln't no good
a-trying 60 ,crocch. What two ON en-,
Jlmf which Is tho lucky birdy
Mr.. Wynnc made some incohcrcnt reply
He was restraining Althoa with one hand
and fumbllng Awkwardly over tho clnsr
OF tho necklace that flashed In tho moon,
light. could hear her stliod shricl.s and
SEQ her determined resistance, aud my
heart died within mo at the thought oi
what might happen n tho Villains pa.
tienco gave way
And while tho words were still on his
lips some ono toro his hands from her
white throat and dealt him q crashing
blow that stretched him, unconscious, at
her feet
II was Harry Brittaini
run, Althcal RUM" he cried.
My oaptor sprang forward with % growl
Of rage, but Harry was rcady Tor him, and
Althca and chung 20 each other during
the desperate struggle that onsuod aud
screamed for help until the frightened
guests ilooked down frum tho tcrmco above.
They found two men stretched un tho
ground, one gruaninR, with u ley doubled
beneath him, tho other insoniblc.
Aud Harry was knooling beside Althca,
putting back tho dishc,olcd hair with nm
almost womnnly touch aud revealing the
diamonds still sparkling ON her neck.
The police were very rcady To convince
Mr.. Willard that tho pleasant acquaintance
whom ho had brought with him to thu
ball at Acarno Towers was none other
than Herbert Symcs, tho noted burglar,
and that the whole thing frum beginning
20 end had been "a carefully devised
plant" And Althoa was equally ready
10 reconsider her opinion OF Harry.
"llo can't dance" sho said, "And he
san't mako pretty speeches, hut he has
tiskcd HIS llfo for me, and 1 love him,
Swonl'-Forgct Mo Not.