San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-03

rretting impatiently at enforced inactiv-
ity until in the afternoon, 10 his i'm
meDse relief, Beryl LEICESTER came.
She was looking worn and anxious with
her nursing, but was In higher spirits,
because her father had rallied and was
much better.
She had heard nothing Of what had
at the manor house, having
been shut up close In the sickroom, and
she had come over to carry a stage fur
Their the task which her knowledge
about Lola had imposed on her.
Sir Jaffray welcomed her cordially.
She was just the cool headed, resource
fol counselor he wanted, whose ready
woman's wit would probably do as
much to help him In unraveling this
problem Of a woman's acts MS any one
else.
lyon are more welcome today. Beryl,
than any woman l could possibly see
save one, he said, "and who that is
you'll guess readily enough II you know
the news"
The girl flushed very slightly at the
words, for old times sake.
What neTs' You look as though it
were i'll news"
1T is the worst 1t could be-" She
saw on looking closer into his face as
he spoke that he was haggard and i'll
Tell me. Is Lola with you at the
Court2'
"At the Court" exclaimed Beryl,
starting In surprise.
There is no need to answer" said
Sir Jaffray despondingly. 81 had q last
faint Pickering. wild hope that, after
all. she might be with you or that you
might know something Of her. Would
to God you did She has gone from
here, run away-been driven away,
rather, by some means which it battles
Us all to understand.
He paused a moment, and the sur
prise, mingled with the whirl Of con-
fusion which her own knowledge Of the
inner facts produced in her thoughts,
shocked and frightened Beryl till she
could not trust herself to speak.
Sir Jaffray did not notice anything
more than that she was much affected
by the news, and after a moments
break he continued:
"She did not come to dinner yester-
day, leaving word that she had gone
to You at LEICESTER Court-you wrote to
her in the afternoon, you know, asking
her-and I was acting on sort Of i'm
pulse when I rode to the Court last
night to see II she was there. When I
got back, this letter was waiting for
me. Read it."
He gave Beryl the letter. and the
girl read 1t carefully and slowly through
twice, and knowing what she did the
misery and suffering in which it had
been written seemed to strike right to
her own heart.
"It is the saddest letter I have ever
read. Poor Lolar' she said as she re-
turned it to him and noticed how he
seemed to be eagerly expecting some
opinion.
The letter had touched her keenly and
reused to vibration every chord Of sym
pathy in her nature. 1t had. moreover,
strengthened resolve she had already
made-to hold her peace absolutely as
to all she knew. Lola's piteous prayer
that Jaffray might never know the truth
should be held In absolute regard by
her. Not word should pass her lips.
Lola had solved the difficulty in her
own way, and II only she and the
Frenchman could disappear altogether
IL might be the best way out of maze
which had offered to Beryl no key.
1t seemed to her that Lola, finding
herself In the midst Of difficulties from
which there was no escape, and which
were closing fast round her, had accept
ed the inevitable and had chosen flight
as the only alternative.
"Can you help me with suggestion,
Beryli" asked Sir Jaffray after long
silence In which he had seen the girl
was thinking closely.
''There Is evidently some influence
driving her to this deed. Have you no
idea what that can be?" she asked in
reply.
"None whatever. My mother seems
to think that there may be some connec-
ton with the fact that the Frenchman,
Turrian, and had a quarrel yesterday,
and he left" And he described briefly
the facts.
Beryl listened closely.
1t helped to make the problem much
oIaa~a, e. har The EraoohDaD bad avi
IDENTIFY told Lola what Beryl had told
IkA.I
- a M