Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-08-06
"Joan," he said, abruptly, show did you
come to engage that woman as house
keeper?"
CHAPTER NNIII.

AAO NOAAc W AAoMSA Az
Il did not engage her at ALL said at
last. ut was Sir Ralph"
Then he turned and looked at me, and
something in his face sent the blood flying
to my own.
"Oh!' he said significantly. perhaps
that accounts for it,
Accounts for what?" faltered.
"For her familiarity" he said, "and
the correspondence"
Correspondence" gasped, turning
cold and faint.
"Yes," he said. "a few moments ago
constantly is passing me in one of the cor
ridors. For housekeeper she seems
singularly ubiquitous person. But TO re-
turn. As she passed me her dress brush
ed against me; she hurried into one of the
rooms, and half curiously-looked back.
As l did so, saw lying on the carpet a
picked it up. Here''-and he took some
me-'here it is
to Sir Ralph.
For q moment l stared stupidity at the
packet, turning it round and round. Then
l looked up.
This" said, sis not her writing"
"She dropped it-that 1 swear" he
cried, impetuously. Even if it is not,
bands letter!"
~ will ask him. said, calmly. rising
and putting the letter on Il table close be-
side me. II can't say" continued, that
ever liked Mrs. March; but Sir Ralph
| e 4. yzl,, J:~t, IA
we'll connected, believe. AS far as the
performance of her duties goes, she is adj
mirable, and it seems foolish TO harbor
prejudiccs."
Il think" he said, dryly, Sin this case
prejudices are cXcusab!e."
was silent. felt deeply annoyed that
Yorke, of all people, should discover a
flaw in my husbands perfections, but,
even at this time, my trust refused to be
shaken. felt convinced that explanation
would be easy to him, however impossible
it might look to me.
Yorke made u little impatient move
ment as Darby returned. rose and
brought cut the child's lesson books.
II must ask you to leave us now"
| said. DUTY has to be attended to some
times"
/ lie !eII Iue room SlleullS.
The child took her books and sat down
on her own low stool, and began to read
the strange raised letters as fluently as
if she could see the characters she had
learned to trace by touch.
paid no heed to her. My eyes turned
persistently to that letter. and l Won
dcred if Sir Ralph would tell me it's con.
tents. kept Darby with me till close
~, Dali
would be home then, and at last l Sent
her with a message, requesting him tt
come to me in the Doudoir. He came sool
after. l saw how surprised he looked. but
l merely rose, and took the letter anG
handed it to him.
4 "It dropped out of the housekeeper'.
pocket" said. .'It does not look to me-
like her writing. If-if it is, should
like to know what she has to write to yor
that she cannot say to me-
He looked perplexed. He turned the
letter over and over as had done. Their
he tore its envelope and began to read. L
was very brief communication. so briet
that one rapid glance seemed to take it in
but dark flush rose to his brow, and hi
crushed the paper in his strong grasp
Then he turned to me. as, pale and tren
bling, stood there.
II will do you the justice" he said, "t1
suppose you We're ignorant of the content.
of this-production. But at all events
you shall judge for yourself of the re
suit"
He rang the bell. The foatman answer
ed it.
"Ask Mrs. March to come here" h,
said.
clasped my hands with sudden joy.
"Oh,' cried. II hope you are going t.
send her away. I have always disliket
her"
: He looked at me with such flame O.
anger in his eyes as had never dreamed
could light their kindly depths.
"Have you?" he said. Perhaps 70,
had good cause"
Then the door opened, and Mrs. Marcel
entered. As her eyes fell ON us both sh,
) started. and the color left her cheeks. Si
Ralph motioned to her to close the doc
and come forward. Then he drew him
self up. Not even the anger of his fac,
could detract from its dignity.
Mrs. March" he said, II received 20,
into this house less as dependent thar
a friend. had learned the circumstance
, which had weighted your life with trou
bic, and when you pleaded with me lis
tened only too readily. Since you har,
been here can safely affirm that yo,
have met with nothing but kindness ant
consideration from Lady Ferrers as wei
as from myself. simply put the facts t,
you as they stand. Now will ask 20,
how you have repaid me? l could sc,
from the first that you did not like IN,
l wife, but did not see also that the hint.
and insinuations and Misrepresentation
so often made to me were based upol
= dislike. am not clever man wher,
women are concerned. don't pretend I,
understand them. But now things hav,
reached climax. What do you mean b,
} writing me this letter."
He held it out as he spoke-held it 81
that she could see for herself the writin,
, and contents. AS watched her, saw
J her whole face change, her lips draw
themselves into thin, white line; the lool
In her eyes was the look of tigerish a1ft
. relentless spirit.
"It is not my writing" she hissed
: "though" short laugh-"no doub