Morris tribune., 1896-05-20

foliage and had their thoughts filed
with the memory Of another kind oi
loneliness
One afternoon, while passing the chill.
dren's play ground, Mrs. Ketelle caused
the coachman to stop his horses in order
that she might watch the little creatures
at their games, for nothing pleased hel
more than the spectacle of children hav.
ing good time.
After remaining few minutes, she
was about to give the order to move on,
when her attention was attracted to d
gentleman who was standing with his
back partly turned towards her in foot
path that here approached the carriage
way. He was tall and well made; he
wore q thin cape ulster of dark tweed
and black felt hat with curved brim
Ia sort of fashionable modification OF
the picturesque. Tyrolese headgear. OF
his face she could see only the outline OF
the cheek and brow; he had mustache
and short. closely cut beard.
Why was it that the sight Of this man
produced so strange and powerful an
impression upon her? She asked herself
this question. but could give no satisfac-
tory answer. Surely he was not an ac-
quaintance of hers! And yet there was
something about him that not only ar
rested her gaze but sent thrill to her
heart, as if particles of ice and fire were
being driven through it. Her hands be-
came cold and her teeth chartered, and
yet her cheeks were burning and drops
stood on her forehead.
The gentleman turned slowly to re-
sumo his walk. AS his face came more
fully into view Mrs. Ketelle caught her
breath with sharp sound, and her fin
gers grasped the frame Of the door con-
vulsively She could not cry out; her
lips were parched and her tongue dry.
But her whole soul went out to him
through her eyes. Was it a dream? Was
he phantom? Could she be deceived by
some marvellous resemblance? Oh, would
he pass on without seeing her and vanish
foreverl
He had, in fact, walked on several
PAGES, and in another minute he would
be out of reach. But either accident or
one of those mysterious mental impress
sions which many persons have expert
enced in some epoch of their lives caused
him suddenly to pause, turn about, and
look directly at the face in the carriage
window. Their eyes met for moment;
then the woman covered her face with
her hands, and sank back in her seat
with breathless cry of terror, bewilder-
ment and intolerable joy.
The gentleman, who also seemed pale
and agitated, came over to the road and
laid his hand on the carriage door.
"Drive onr' he said to the coachman,
and with the words he entered the car
rage and closed the door after him.
Then he pulled down the shades over the
windows. The, coachman spoke to his
horses, and they moved on.
This episode had taken place in a
short space of time. and with very little
visible manifestation of feeling on either
side Nevertheless, it had not entirely
escaped observation. Two men had
been sauntering along the path side by
side, apparently willing away the hour
or two that separated them from dinner.
One of them was tall, slender, graceful
fellow, with sharp but well nodded feat
ures, black hair and mustache, and a
pair of restless black eyes. He was
dressed quietly, in dark colors, and yet
there was certain jauntiness in his APP
pearance that suggested the sporting
man or the sharper. His companion
was considerably older man, and his
face was of much coarser cast; his
clothes were new, but fitted him i'll. and
he wore flashy necktie and watch
chain. His small gray eyes had noted
the little occurrence above described,
and as the carriage rolled away he
nudged his friend with his elbow.
''Well, what now" said the latter.
Ibid you see that?"
"What?'
well, your wits are wool gathering,
it seems. Did you see that fellow get
into that carriage?"
what carriages"
.'That carriage that was standing here
just now with the lady in it. Why,
what's got into you, Horrie? Don't you
know who she WASP
'.No, don't. How should I?"s
"Well, you might find it money in
your pocket some day, that's all Swell
women like that don't drive out alone in
the park for nothing, reckon! And
may be, rather than have their husbands
know what they're after. they might see
their way to paying an obliging person
a consideration to keep his mouthtshut.
''Oh, stuff! That business is played
out. The swells are on to- it, and the
first word that's said they ring the bell
for the police. don't want any of that
in mine, thank you! And if you want
any one to believe you know all the ladies
that drive in the park in their own
you must find some greener
hand than | am"
Il know who she was, just the same,
retorted the other she's the girl that
married that fellow Ketelle, a month
ago"
'.She2-the sister of that He stop
ped.
THE sister Of Jerrold Nolen! You re-
him if | amt mistaken" said