Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-07


life. 1 feel simply wretched."
DO not say that. my dear young
lady. You have health, and youth, and
many blessings
No doubt, replied Dora scOrnfully;
but I have lost the chief of my bless
ings"
You mean Mr.. Allen?' said the old
lady in an embarrassed tone.
Yes, / do, Mrs. Tice. And since he
has left me, l do not see why l should
not accept the attentions of Mr.. Lam
pert Joad The wretched old man wor-
ships the ground l walk on.
of course, you are jesting.' said
Mrs. Tice. with an uneasy smile, but
1 see that Mr. Joad admires you. More S
the pity.
why more's the pity?"
"Well. you see, miss, he will not rel
ish your rebuffing him for his imperti-
hence and he is likely TO prove a dan
gerOus enemy.
"Pshaw. He can do me no harm.
Il am not sure of that, miss He
knows a great deal about Mr.. Eder-
monts past life
Dora turned round, and looked sharp
IVY at the comely. withered face. Is
there anything in the past life of Mr..
EdermOnt likely 10 be harmful to me-?
Yes said Mrs. Tice deliberately,
there is
And do YOU know what il isl"
Yes, miss. / know what it is, and so
does Mr. Allen. 1t was a knowledge Of
the past that sent him up TO London.
Since he returned we have talked over
the matter, and we have both cOnclud-
ed that it is best to hold our tongues.
But if Mr.. Joad knows the secret, and
YOU rebuff him. he may not be wise
enough TO keep silent
Il am glad TO hear YOU say so,' cried
Dora with animation. Since | can
learn the secret from no one else, I'll
see if a rebuff can loosen Mr.. Joad S ton
que.
IF YOU are wise you will let well
alone. warned Mrs. Tice, feeling that
she had said too much.
Dora crossed the room, and stood
with her hands behind her back, look
ing Indignantly at the old woman. Up
ON my word. it is a shame," she said in
a low voice. Il am apparently sur
rounded by pitfalls on all sides, yet no
one viii tell me how 10 avoid them.
IF YOU remain quiet. you won't fall
into them" replied Mrs. Tice with
nod.
Quiet" cried Dora. frowning
Good Heavens. how can l remain
quiet when l see my life falling to
ruins? No. no, no., she stamped her
foot defantly. Il must act, l must in
Qure. l must know, what all these mys-
terieS mean,
You will never arrive at that knowl-
edge. Miss Carew.
I'm not so sure of that, Mrs. TiCe.
Remember your hint about that Great
ure. I'll wiring it out of him. if l can't
ont Of any one else. Mrs. Tice'-Dora
flung herself on her Knees before the
hOusekeeper-"di you know Mr.. Elder
mont before he came TO the Red
House,
Yes. Miss Carew; / can admit that
much. knew Mr.. Edermont.'
Was that when you were Aliens
nurse?"
Yes. Miss Carew.'
In the service of Aliens parents?'
Il was in the service of DR.. and Mrs.
Scott replied Mrs. Tice composedly;
pray don't ask me any more questions.
Miss Carew, for 1 cannot answer them.
You will not. YOU mean, said Dora,
rising: never mind / have found out
something from the little you have told
me.
Mrs. Dice looked up quickly. I'm
possible" she said anXiOusly; Il have
revealed nothing.
"Oh, / can put two and two together,
af Hon
told me that his parents lived in Christ
church. HanJs-that his father and
mother are buried there. Now. if you
know Mr.. EdermOnt while you were
nursing Allen, Mr. Edermont must
have lived or have been on a visit at
Christchurch. Consequently if l go
down to Christchurch l shall learn
something of Mr.. EdermOnts past life.
Mrs. Tice fell into the skillfully laid
trap. You won't find that the name
OF Edermont is known in those parts,
she said. without thinking.
Precisely said Dora, cOOlly Ed
ermont is a raise name. l have suS-
pected that for some time. Thank
YOU. Mrs. Tice. for admitting il. l
have learnt so much from you; Mr..
Joad will tell me the rest.
Mr. JOad may or may not, said
Mrs Tice. dOubtfully; do not go too
much by what l am saying, Miss Ca
rev. You have a skilful and crafty
person 10 deal with
Are YOU talking of Yourself?
by no means; l am neither skiltu
nor crafty. 1 allude 10 Mr.. Joad.
You seem to be we'll acquainted
.:+L bi- .boractpr. Mrs Ticp Did Won
know him al Christchurch?
No. my dear / never saw the man
until [ came hereto this house But
7 have ewes i'm my head. and I can see
that he is singularly deceittuL
.perhaps-but not harmless.
Mrs Tice shook her head with pursed-
nm Inns. "I disagree with YOU. The ad-
der is harmless so long as it isnt trod-
dem upon. Tread upon Mr.. load, my
dear Young lady. and he will-bite. ~
To emphasize the last word Mrs.
Tice snapped of a piece OF thread, and
looked mo at Dora with sharp nod.
T,yidentIv load had failed to impress
her favOrably.
81 have no doubt YOU are right said
Dora. after reflection; he would be
dangerous if he got the chance. but l
don't see where his opportunity for mis-
chief comes in. ,-,,
Neither do I. Miss CareW. buI ne IL
watch for one. YOU mark my words.
Dora did not reply 10 TINS remark
rs she was of the same oplnon herseIl'
She was thinking about Carver re-
mark tOuching,a past romance OF Eder-
nonts and of her own statement 10