The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-28
che botfle Reading Circle
THE MELANCHOLY JAQUES" !

I many persons W1lle dllhe' iput ~ 10
peculiarly neat hand; 1t resembles that
of--of somebody whom l have quite
lost sight of-whom have not seen for
three years"
Whom you would like to see AGAIN."
asked Pertha, staring straight before
her at the unfinished church. which
they were now approaching.
Yes" he said, whom l would like
to sec again."
"Some one In Wachester," she sug-
gested.
"The letter only bore the local post
I mark"
Then you think that this-this per-
son, IN whom you are deeply interest
ed, IL actually living in the town."
IT think" he said, " that she wrote
those twaddling lines"
You scarcely pay her compliment,
Mr.. Davenport"
'','he Is not necessarily the author of
them" he answered. "The originators
of the thing probably desired to remain
unknown. They may have asked some
| one else to copy the verses. 1t is a
matter oH great Importance to me, tri-
vial as 1t may seem. And If you can
help me / shall be immensely indebted
to you"
Il will try" she said.
How shall l learn the result of your
efforts?" he asked.
Il suppose you-you should CALI
II am so anxious" he said, that the
affair should net be talked about. No
man cares to be made to look more
ridiculous than
"Of course" Bertha assured him, 81
shall keep my own counsel. i don't see
how / can arrive at anything without
| appearing to know that you received
the verses. / will do what l can, if
you call, say tomorrow"
what timer" he asked.
MY father comes home about g."
Then / shall get to the Hollies at
$50, If that is not too early"
| During the rest of the day Eustace
found himself frequently neglecting his
work. Sometimes his thoughts would
! fly back TO a certain incident of his
| life three years ago; az others he dwelt
upon that mornings walk with Bertha
! Larnell. Being a man of a somewhat
analytical cast of mind, he began to
! speculate over his pipe that evening as
| to why he looked forward to o'clock
| tomorrow with such pleasant expecta-
| tion. Was il because he hoped to hear
news of one who had occupied his
thoughts very much indeed for a time
Or was it because he knew he should
enjoy a tete-a-teta with Miss Larnell?
Functually at the appointed time he
! entered her drawing room. She re-
celved him with considerable cordial
ity, and, sitting down, Eustace began
to talk of the brilliant weather and
topics of purely local interest.
You haven't inquired about the sue
cess oc my detective exploits" said
Bertha, presently.
81 suppose" she remarked, there
are some anxieties too deep for words. u
"I certainly was extremely anxious
to know who copied those lines" he
said.
"Well, l have not got quite so far
as that" Bertha answered. Rome
wasn't built in day. 1 am afraid
have exercised great duplicity as II
is"
at is immensely good OF you"
That i5 the least you can say, Mr.
Davenport. But, as fact, it was rath-
er bad. I must pledge you to secrecy
before / can go any further"
"It appears that a group of girls
arranged to play off this Jest upon you
You must blame yourself You are
supposed to have shown a want of re-
ciprocity that was very disappointing
You know Alice Marsack-"
"I have met her"
"She was the leading spirit In fact
she is the author of the verses"
"Rut tha handwritinp--"
rs certainly not Alice's. We went
to school together L am committing
breach of confidence"
II am very greatly obliged to you,
he said, warmly.
you ought to be. l never betrayed
friend before"
"The exception is in my favor" hC
said, rising suddenly
"I suppose that is indigputable," she
retorted, turning away her head. But,
Bertha added hastily, Il could not sec
my way to make particular inquiry
about the handwriting without involv-
ing you. And You asked me not to dc
that"
1T would make one appear little
ridiculous" ne said.
"You are extremely sensitive" an.
swered Bertha. Besides, why should
you dread ridicule from those girls
rather than from me?'
81 don't fancy you would ridicult
me-" he said.
Don't be overconfident" she re-
torted. 1T is always dangerous. How
ever, to keep to the point: No doub
If l ask Alice she will give me the in
formation you want. But it is no
likely ! can ask her without givinl
some reasons; is it?"
81 suppose not"
"And at present" she said, II hav,
none to give"
you mean that you feel you mus
tell Miss Marsack particularly wisl
to know"
you do, don't you?" asked Bertha
He stood, with his eyes on the car
pet, a few moments in silence; thei