The National tribune., 1895-02-21

| The mysterious thing about this matter,
Miss Leighton, is this" said the young man,
sinking his voice to a whisper, have about
me at this moment $4,000 which l was to
pay to Brown & Co. this evening. 1t is care
less and irregular admit but com bination
of circumstances made it seem necessary.
And but for this letter 1 could have sworn
that only three people knew of the matter,
Mr.. Brown, my father and myself How
any one could have discovered it seems in
explicable."
stopped. An expression fitted across her
| face, which young Woodward would not
have understood if he had seen it. He was
gazing hard at the floor, but he finished her
sentence for her.
why, then, it is not only warning, but
a timely one"
Katharine rose to her feet. az am so glad
1 have done right" she said simply. "And
now, Mr.. Woodard, promise me that FOR
the present you won't go out at all in the
evening"
Horace smiled. az can hardly promise
that" he said. Especially since l am
going to escort you home directly"
| The girl thrust out her hands. "Oh, Mr.
Woodard! Dtri't think of it," she pleaded
"Sit down, Miss Leighton" said the young
man, with the air of authority dear TO
woman's heart He left the room and was
absent some minutes. "Now, Miss Leigh
ton," he began, argumentatively, when he
returned, "yOu mustn't be in the least nerv-
Gus. / have left my money where it will be
safe for the present, am well armed, and
being on my gard, as your unknown CORE
spondent says, am quite in the mood for
moonlight stroll. Though, of course" he
added, hastily" yon are tired, and I'd better
call carriage.p i@l
"Nol" said Katharine, with decision. II
am not at all afraid. / prefer to walk"
The blood famed Into her checks as if he
had insinuattd something against her
courage. Horace, looking at her with adj
miration, wondered that he had never before
realized how bewtiful she was. Tonight
| there was briYlancy in her eyes which
fairly dazzled him.
The night was cloudy and chilly. As they
walked homeward Katharine clung to his
arm with what seemed the involuntary clasp
Of protecting tenderness rather than the
clutch of timidity. To be protected by
lovely woman is q unique experience and not
| without it's charms, Horace thought. The
consciousness that his revolver was within
easy reach, the alertness of every nerve, the
knowledge that at every unusual sound the
| beautiful creature beside him thrilled with
terror for his sake, these were elements
which made that 80 minutes walk memora-
BILE in Horace Woodward's experience.
When they reached her home she looked
at him with appealing eyes "You will be
CAREFUL" she implored him. at is dreadful
to think what might happen "-and she
shuddered over the thoughts he could so
easily guess.
81 will be absolutely careful, and you
must not be alarmed on my account" he
answered, as he took her hand. "Pm CRATE
full for your kindness, Miss Leighton" As
he went his way under the flickering light
of the stIeet-lamps he was somehow con-
scious that her magnetic eyes followed
him, and that her anxious thoughts hedged
him about.
The next morning little messenger-boy
brought Katharine mssive, which was
carried to her room, rs she had not yet
risen. She recognized the handwriting by
that mysterious instinct which is loves
sixth sense, and had torn it open in mo-
ment.
DEAR Miss LEIGHTON: Under escort of n couple
| of stout policemen / delivered my package TO
Mr. Brown Inst evening. aud then went home aud
slept peacefully. As think tile matter over this
| morning 1 feel hardly less indebted to you for
kceping your counsel in the matter, than for
your prompt action and timely warning. And so
i wish to call and tell something of how CRATE
ful am. HORACE WooDARD.
When he came that afternoon he was
shocked at Katharine's appearance. The
beautiful color he had admired the evening
before had vanished. Her delicate face was
pale and wan, and there were violet rings
under her eyes "You are sick" said the
young man in dismay. This wretched
business has been too much for you"
"Ididn't sleep very well last night"
Katharine admitted. She gave a little ner-
vous laugh, then looked at him defiantly.
"How could 1 sleep, when, for all knew,
you might be lying, murdered in some dark
| alley, or, perhaps, wounded and suffering,
dying for lack of help" Her eyes dilated
yisibly as she spoke.
Heavens!" said. the young man, with
shiver. "What mercless imaginatons you
women haye"- He suddenly assumed that
| dictatOrial air which became him so well.
Miss Leighton" he said, 81 came here on
purpose to assure you OF my undying graft
| tude; but, do you know, l intend to post
pone that subject until your nerves have re-
| covered their usual tone. Please under
| stand me, Miss Leighton" he insisted with
mock authority, 'you are not to think of
this subject again till give you permis-
and then was delighted TO receive sudden
frank smile, which seemed to indicate that
his ofiicious anxiety was far from displeas-
| ing her.
In his desire to divert her, Woodland made
himself SO entertaining that he prolonged
his call unconceivably, and took his leave at
| last with profuse apologies. If a man is not
| in love, it may be safely assumed that he
has never given the subject thoughtful con-
sideraton Now that the idea had fairly
occurred to him, Horace Woodland was not
unfavorably impressed.
Anxiety for Miss Leighton's health caused
him 10 call next day to invite her to drive;
and again surprise awaited him. The
| touch OF sensitive sweetness which he had
found so enchanting the day before had ut
terly vanished, and in it's place was a saucy
| witchery Of manner not without its charm.
| The old color had come back to the girls