The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-30
6yHENRY NEWBOLZ

NAV T ask you to destroy Inns lce
81 once and not refer to it again! we
shall understand your silence as d re-
fusal''
She weighed every phase and every
word with painful care, then tossed the
naner back to him without comment
.That meets with your approval
then?' he asked.
"On the contrary" she replied, the
whole thing is a folly, and meets with
nv disapproval; but if letter must go,
bv all means let that be the form OF II.
..you think it we'll calculated 10
achieve it's object?" asked the colonel
with a pretense of anxiety
She laughed sarcastically. He put
on a look of dismay and disappolnt-
ment.
"If YOU think it will fail" he said,
"psrhaps it would be better not TO 90
it by writing at all.
Camilla smiled, but made no answer
beyond a shrug of Indifference.
81 might put it to him in words OF
the same plain fashion" he suggested
81 have made an appointment with MIN
for II o'clock tomorrow morning, at
Great Russell street; at least, l LETT a
verbal MESA ge asking him to meet US,
and I've no doubt that he'll be there.
She looked up as though she did not
quite follow him.
81 could ask Carnac and Rabodanges
to come too" he explained, "and then
take the opportunity to bring the
scheme before him while we are all to-
gether''
She was upon the point of vehemently
rejecting this proposal, but two consid-
erations made her pause. She could not
but long to witness such a scene as the
confused route of her brother-in-law
and his allies, and she foresaw, in the
second place. that she might be able.
if present at the interview, to snow
Dick afterward that SO shameful pro-
posal had not been made to him by any
wish of hers.
At 10 the next morning the colonel
slipped from the house unobserved, and
by 10 80 he was posted at the northern
end of the street in which Dick was
lodging; his eyes were fixed on the door
of the latter's house, but he kept him
self completely out of sight.
He had not been watching three min
utes when the door opened, Dick came
out, and turned down the street in the
opposite direction
81 thought he'd be early murmured
the colonel to himself; land I don't
think there's much fear of his coming
back!''
He waited until his unconscious
quarry had disappeared round the
southern corner, and then FASTENED to
the house. He rang the bell and serv-
ant appeared.
us Captain Estcourt imp
mo, sir; he's just gone out"
DO you suppose he'll be long?'
II shouldn't think so, sir; but he didn't
say
The colonel looked troubled.
'Will you leave your name, sir?" in
quired the maid.
II Think replied the visitor, chat 1
had better go to Captain Estcourt's
room and write note for him. My bust
ness is rather important, and I can't
very well call again.
The girl opened the door wider and
showed him upstairs; placed paper and
ink before him, and waited by the door.
The colonel wrote an exact copy of the
letter he had shown to Camilla, only
adding as the place Of rendezvous mo.
J.
on Saturday morning, March 24th,' as
the time. Then he asked for sealing
wax and a taper, fastened up the let
ter with elaborate care, and handed it
to the attendant maid She placed il
on the mantelpiece and went toward the
door to show him down the stairs out
OF the house. He followed her down
lew steps, and then stopped, with an
exclamation. II have left my gloves
behind!' and he ran back before she
could offer to go for him. He returned
in an instant, but in that instant he had
broken the newly made seal, opened
the letter, folded it simply without
fastening, and tossed it careIessly down
again upon the mantel-piece.
BE sure" he said, as he passed out
that Captain Estcourt reads nv note
directly he comes home. I think YOU
said that would not be long?"
No, sir, not long, I expect" And
she closed the door behind him.
lie hurried to his own house. to find
Camilla waiting for him and the car
riage at the door.
We are late" she said: cit is inst
upon IL now"
am sorry he replied; 81 have been
round to Estcourt's rooms; he might
as well have driven down with us; but
ne was not in, and could not wait anv
longer ''''S
She made no further remark, and thew
started at once. On arriving at the
mousse they found Dick upon the door
step. camilla, who was dreading the
declslve moment more and more took
comfort at the sight of his open smile
anu frank eyes, and unconsciously put
more warmth than usual into her wei
come. The colonel. too eraotoa -.