The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-24

NJ
HIS ENTRANCE WAS UNEXPECTED.
as q summer cloud obscures the sun
Hight. when he entered Mrs. Maynard $
3drawing-room and found himself IN
Myra Hilary's presence.
\. Ills entrance was unexpected and I'M
! announced, and he had advanced half
way across the room before the two la
dies, who were conversing together in
| low, earnest tones over their needle
| work became aware that he was there.
Then, with noticeable lack of cor
diality, they both greeted him, and Mrs
Maynard coldly invited him to be seated,
! North was sufficiently annoyed by
| this reception to be quite thrown out OF
his usual suavity for the moment.
81 fear that 1 am intcrrupting an
agreeable tete-a-tete, Mrs. Maynard"
he said stiff1y, s'but shall ask your in
| diligence long enough to communicate
to you the results of my recent trip to
| Charleston The fact thatyour own in
terests are SO closely involved therein is
my sole Justification for intruding the
matter upon you now
| s "You have secured my eager attention
in advance Mr.. North. . said Mrs. May
nary. with quiet sarcasm. as she leaned
| back idly in her chair and folded her
hands with an air Of expectancy. II
| cannot be Indifferent to a communion
ton that affects my own selfish inter
ests. Pray allow me to ask, is it the
mystery of Annie Dupont that you are
about to clear away -~.. H.
''That is. indeed. the purpose that
have in lnind,'' returned North with, an
involuntary glance toward Miss Hilary.
| 1t was the merest idle glance, yet she
sfancied that it had purpose, and she
rose at once to withdraw from the
room Mrs. Maynard hastily interposed:
I'm please remain, Miss Hilary, she
/ said. e Y on are sufficiently familiar
4 with the matter that have mentioned
I to feel an interest in this promised solu-
+ tionof the mystery. Indeed, she added,
in significant tone, turning toward
North with cold inquiry, 1T is possible
that your forthcoming revelations will
prove to have deeper personal interest
for Miss Hilary than for myself. dow
is this. Mr.. North?'' u, g.
North looked at her sharply for a mo-
ment, while Il family perceptible shade
of amusement blended with the grave,
annoyed expression on his face; then he
said, with furtiye satire: ,.-..&4
'sYour discernment astonishes me,
Mrs. Maynard! But indeed, l had no
intention of excluding Miss Hilary from
this interview. I have every reason to
believe that she will find the story of
Annie Dupont interesting, and that she
will rejoice as earnestly at the good
fortune of that young lady as do my
self, or as you will, Mrs. Maynard af-
ter time" ~ So
s.You are quite convinced then, Mr..
Nortl,'' said Mrs. Maynard, as she
tritied nervously with her dainty lace
handkerchief without looking at North,
that there is such person as Annie
Dupont, and that she is truly Mrs. Dun
kinks niece?'' ge s@iEtE
81 am quite convinced of it, Mrs.
Maynard just as sure las | am that
YOU are in this room; just as sure as l
am of my own presence here: just as
sure as II am of any other established
verify. Annie Dupont is no mere crea-
ton of fancy or rumor: she is a TACT,
an unqualified fact, and an established
fact. And facts, you know, are STUB
born tllings!' ,....,
s.Of course Mrs. Maynard resumed,
in the same cold, constrained tone,
ssyou have taken the precaution of sat
isfying yourself with indisputable
proofs of her identity, before accepting
her as the heiress?''
sob, most asslredly, have taken
every precaution of that nature. With
in the last thirty-six hours the papers
that establish her identity have all
been in my possessions"
4s:sDo you know where she is at the
present ti1ne?'
81 think may confidently assert
that do" He smiled as he spoke
looking keenly at Mrs. Maynard, who,
however, was unconscious OF the
glance.
Have you brought those papers Will
you, Mr.. North-the documentary evil
dence of which you spolSe?s
II have not brought them with me.
They are not now in my possession" 5S
Indeed! May inquire where they
.s,They are probably now in the hands
of Mrs. Dunllir,S's attorneys and eNecu-
tors, Messrs. Hunter and Ketchum, OF
New York. Z
.sHunter and Ketchum?" She repeated
the words involuntarily She was for
the moment startled out of her cold
composure; she looked up at him with
perplexed speculation. s
TITS a perfectly regular proceeding,
Mrs. Maynard, as you will presently
understand: added North. answering
the mute inquiry in her glance. but
we are losing valuable time. Allow me
to proceed without further delay to the
brief narrative of fact.
He drew out his watch as he spoke
and laid it open on the small table at