Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-08

was her profile that he had seen at the win
dow. The mysterious brother Rivers migh
have been one Of the robbers-perhaps thu
one who accompanied Mrs Barker to Sal
Jose. But it was plain that the young CIR
had no completely with the actions Of ths
gang whatever might have been her com
pan!on's confederation In the prescience o
a true love he knew that she must have beer
deceived and kept in utter ignorance Of it
There was no look Of 1t in her lovely gu!lelesE
eyes; her very impulsiveness and ingenious
ness would have long since betrayed the
secret. Was it left for him, at the very out
set Of his passion, to be the one TO tell her
Could he bear to see those frank, beautiful
eyes dimmed with shame and sorrow? His
own grew moist. Another idea began tC
haunt him. Would 1t not be wiser, even
more manly for him-a man over twice heI
years-to leave her alone with her secret and
SO pass out Of her innocent young life as
chancefully as he had entered 1t? But was
it altogether chancefu? Was there not in
her innocent happiness in him a recognition
Of something In him better than he had dared
to think himself? 1t was the last conceit OF
the humility Of love.
He reached his hotel at last unresolved,
perplexed, yet singularly happy The clerk
handed him. in passing, a misunderstanding
letter, formally addressed. Without opening
1t he took 1t to his room, and, throwing him
self listlessly on chair by the window, again
room only recalled to him the mysterious
gift he had found the day before on his pill
low. He felt now with a thrill that 1t must
have been from her. How did she convey 1t
there? She would have entrusted 1t to Mrs.
Barker. The idea struck him now as dis
tastefully as 1t seemed improbable. Perhaps
she had been here herself with her compan-
ion-the convent sometimes made that con-
cession to relative or well known friend
He recalled the fact that he had seen Mrs
Do Ill k,.t1
dent Of the opening door, while he was Lean
Ing over the balustrade. She was alone then,
and had recognized his voice; and he had not
known 1t. She was out again today with the
procession. sudden idea struck him. He
glanced quickly at the letter in his hand and
hurrledly opened 1t. 1t contained only three
lines in large formal hand, but they sent
the swift blood to his cheeks.
II heard your voice today for the third
time. l want to hear 1t again. l will come
at dusk. Do not go out until then"
He sat stupefed. Was 1t madness, audacity,
or trick? He summoned the waiter. The
letter had been left by a boy from the confec-
toners SHOP in the next block. He remem-
bered 1t Of old-a resort for the young ladies'
OF the convent. Nothing was easier than con-
veyng letter in that way. He remem-
bered with a shock of disilusion and disgust
that 1t was common device of silly but in
nocent assignation. Was he to be the rdicu-
lous accomplice Of a school girls extravagant
escapade, or the deluded victim of some in
famous plot Of her infamous companion2 He
could not believe either; yet he could not
check certain revulsion Of feeling toward
her, which only moment ago he would have
believed impossible
Yet whatever were her purpose he must
prevent her coming there at any hazard.
Her visit would be the elimination of her
folly, or the success Of any plot. Even while
he was fully conscious OF the material effect
OF any scandal and exposure to her, even
while he was incensed and disillusionized at
her unexpected audaclty he was unusually
stirred with the conviction that she was
wronging herself, and that more than ever
she demanded his help and consideration.
Still she must not come. But how was he
10 prevent her? 1t wanted but an hour OF
dusk. Even II he could again penetrate the
convent on some pretext at that inaccessible
hour for visitors, the angelus, how could he
communicate with her? He might intercept
her on the way and persuade her to return
but she must be kept from entering the
hotel
He seized his hat and rushed downstairs
But here another difficulty beset him. II
was easy enough to take the ordinary road
to the convent, but would she follow that
escape? And might she not have eluded