The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-22
copyright. 1897. by the Author.I

\ than OF him, he answered, and soon
after he left his mother and went away
to mako his preparations.
Remembering that Mrs. De Witt was
In the drawing room alone, and that he
had promised to go back to her. he turned
in as he passed the door
She was sitting by the fire and got up
as he entered She looked very serious
and distressed and spoke without any
affectation, as though the consciousness
that he was in trouble had frightened
her into being natural.
"You are in real trouble, can see. If
can help you, say so. You can trust
me, and woman's wit Ia sometimes
worth having"
II will tell you tomorrow, he said.
"Meanwhile"-
"There is no need to put off the news.
Lola has gone away. can see that
and you are blind. Where is that Tur-
rianP' r-
He started at her words and looked
earnestly at her for moment.
II will tell you tomorrow" he re-
peated. Meanwhile you must excuse
me for this evening, and tomorrow
am sorry, but must ask you to bring
your visit to a close. My wife will not
be well enough, fear, to get back, and
I myself shall be away"
why don't you trust me2" she asked
a little warmly and with suggestion
of reproach and defiance in her looks.
at Is not a case Of trust or distrust,
but tonight there is nothing to tell"
"As you will" she retorted, shrug-
cling her shoulders. "Still you can have
my advice even if you won't give me
your confidence. Find the Frenchman."
He made 10 answer, but turned and
left the room and went to the library.
Taking an old London directory, he
searched among the private inquiry
agents until he found name which be
nembered-GifFord Of Southampton
row, London. He wrote out telegram
asking him to come down at once on
an urgent matter, and this he sent by
mounted messenger to be dispatched
from town ten miles away where the
Office was open all night.
Then ho had saddle horse brought
round, and he rode off fast through the
night to Mrs. Nillyers' honse to try to
gather from her some clew to Lola's
movements.
40 he went he took up the train Of
thought which his mothers words had
suggested and Mrs. De Witt had en-
forced. Was there any connection be-
tween that scene of the morning and
Lola's fight? Had that villainous cow
ard anything to do with forcing them
apart2 By heaven, if be had-and un.
der bis breath Sir Jaffray swore a deep,
strong oath-ho should pay dearly for
1t.
But how could it possibly be SO?
If tho signs Of true and deep love
were ever shown for man, Lola had
shown them for him that day both by
word and act. Not for moment would
he distrust her-no, not if all the world
were against her to swear away her.
faith and truth and love for him.
He would find her and bring her
back. That he vowed to himself, and
the thought that no could do it COM
forted and cheered him and lifted him
in u measure above the choking flood Of
misery and regret He would hold to
that resolve-to that and to his un-
dimmed love for her.
When no reached Mrs. Villyers'
house, all was in darkness. It was late,
t,o nbp1 hol In
Till that moment he had had faint,
Pickering hope that he should find Lola
there.
But tho darkened house quenched the
hope. If she had been there, there
would have been some signs of an I'M
usual stir in the place instead Of the
unpromising darkness.
He reused the household, and when
the servants came shivering and irrita-
bio to know who it was and what was
wanted he learned that Mrs. Villyers
was from home and had been away for
two or three weeks. Asked where she
was, they gave him an address in North
Devonshire, and that was all the in
formation he gained by the long night
ride.
Then he turned his horses head
homeward, choosing the road which
would take him past Leycester Court on
his way. He was half minded to go and
rouse Beryl and find out whether Lola
had, after all, gone there or whether
she could help him in deciding in what
direction to begin his search.
When he reached the Court, however,
he found the place in darkness as COM
plete as that at Mrs. Villyers'. save
only for light from the windows Of
the sick mans room, and, feeling that
he could do no good by rousing Beryl
merely to put question to her and to
receive an answer which he knew only
too well would be that Lola had not
been near the place, Sir Jaffray turned
his horse's head again and rode straight
for the manor.
As he neared home an incident o.
CURED which excited him almost be-
You'd control.
He had ridden very hard and fast
during the greater part of tho distance,
Huu1HB Tellel al tHe SIoieuu eAeICIsc,
and quite unlike his usual habit, with
out a thought for the horse that carried
him, but when he had reached nearly
homo he noticed that his horse was
very much distressed, and he drew rein
to ease it, allowing it to walk. Then
he found it had gone lame, and, dis
mounting, he felt in the hoofs and
found stone.
Before he remounted he stood min
ute or two OH the turf by the side Of the
road to let the laboring, painting beast
get its breath Then, himself feeling
stiff, he walked along q short distance
on the turf, glad Of the change from
the saddle.
He reached in this way the outskirts
Of the Ash Tree wood, the boundary
line of his estates in that direction, aud
there was surprised to hear what sound
ed like the rustling Of light footsteps in
the wood. II was late, near midnight
or past, and no one had right to be
abroad at such an hour. ..
Probably some rascal was out pOach