The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-05-19
CONTINUED
CHAPTER Y.
WHAT Consequences ENsuED.

A day or two afterwarl the architect
of the new opera house, discovering that
nothing in the way of business required
his immediate attention in New York.
came to the conclusion that he would do
we'll to go away from 1t for II while.
Since he began TO practice his profession
he had never had u deliberate vacation.
But man VINO had just designed and
built new opera house-the best in the
world-could afford to take rest, even
were there no other ground for doing so.
Bellinghan, at all events, packed his
trunk and took passage on the Arizona
bound for the Old World, and betoo',
himself to an ancient, abandoned, lovely
little town on the southern coast of Ire
land.
II was one of the loveliest. least known
and most secluded retreats in Europe.
The gray and ruinous houses were over.
grown with soft green moss, the steep
and narrow streets were made beautiful
with tender rims of grass The warm
breezes brought thither by the Gulf
stream gave to December and January
the gentle geniality of an English spring.
The sparse inhabitants were u far de-
scended race of fishermen, still bearing
in their dark complexions and vigorous
forms the traces of their handsome Span
ish ancestry.
At the inn, in addition to II most Ell
gaging landlady and couple of en-
tremely pretty daughters, Bellingham
encountered to his agreeable surprise an
American artist. Hclwise by name.
whom he had known years ago in New
York This lonely man of genius was,
1t appeared, in the habit of spending the
winter months here, transferring to can
vas the matchless wealth of color and
character which met him at every turn.
He was of grave, kindly, meditatjve
nature, but brimming over in certain
moods with wit and philosophy and the
fruits of years of penetrating and amused
observation of human character and
life. Bellingham and he suited each
other well and We're soon conversing
with the frankness and cordiality of a
friendship long in allegiance but never
forgotten. Bellingham inquired whether
there We're any other countrymen of
theirs in the town.
ut is like the region Irving tells of in
The Adalantado of the Seven Cities,'"
Helwise replied: lit has been lost for
ages, and nobody knows We're it is ex-
! cept myself. Thpt is, such was the case
until about three weeks ago. But last
month two mysterious strangers made
their appearance, and have betrayed
some symptoms of intending to stay I
should have had them expelled. for
consider this place to be my peculiar
and inalienable property, had | not
found them entertaining ms "a study, and
admirably disposed to keep themselves
to themselves. d have never spoken to
the lady at all
sob! Husband and wife, are theyy"
apparently that is jurt what they
aTe not. No, I'dont mean to insinuate
and l don't believe-that they ought TO
be. should suppose tlndy might be
brother and sister, only they are of DIFF
IDENTIFY an American, and the lady,
though she speaks English perfectly
well, evidently is not. She is probably
four or five years older than he, and has
a certain air OF experience. She is de-
cidedly handsome, and has what they
call distinguished manners: that is, she
makes You perceive that they are man
ners, though very good ores. She has
rented that large house on the top of the
hill"
"she or they?'
"She. He has llisroom here, and turns
up every night at 10o'clocli. They spend
the day together; he is undoubtedly
in love with her, and she Geems to be
anything but indifferent to him. You
Gee il isn't an ordinary affair. Here
they are, buried from the world beyond
discovery, and they might 1--we as they
liked; and yet they--or she al any rate
prefer to conduct themselves in this
anomalous fashion. There issome mys-
terry in 1t, my dear Geoffrey-some deep.
dark, inscrutable mystery! They are
known respectively as Mr.. Edwardes
and Mrs Peters, but have an idea they
call each other something else. Ono
theory OF mine about them was that she
was younger sister of his mother; his
father, you know, might have married
. foreign woman. In that case she
would be his aunt and the mystery
| would be solved; but, as l said before,
they are plainly in love, and nephews
and aunts neither fall in love nor marry,
80 far as my experience goes. Come.
you are fresh from the States; can You
guess?"
81 guess not" said Bellingham; and
the conversation took another turn.
Suddenly Helwise, who had been look
ing toward the southern approach to the
terrace on which they were standing,
said in a low voice: There come the