The Portland daily press., 1898-04-09
CIIdIJUB q
BEYOND RECALL.

| DE KUN IOLCAiI
! "Really your question is q curious one, -
I exclaimed smiling, although inwardly
[ resented her intrusion upon my affairs.
''Do not think 1 intended to be unduly
inquisitive,' my youthful hostess said
quickly fdgeting with her golden bangle
whercon tiny bell tinkled unsteady
as she moved and glanciug up at me
with her.dark, bright eyes.
ELLA S past can concern no one except
herself" 1 observed, rather puzzled
There was a strange, half-suspicious ex.
preston in her face that had not al
| first noticed.
eff you intend to marry her it concerns
| you also, does il not?'' she asked in 6
quiet, grave voice.
Yes, of COURSE I answered. "But
how do YOU know intend.to marry her?'
81 have heard SO, and have seen you
together" she answered rather evasively
"Well, let us come to the point at
once" l said, still smiling and feigning
to be amused. ''Tell me what objection
there is to her. Why do you inquire about
her past?''
regarding me calmly increasing my mis-
| trust.
| Gin what way?" I inquired. l had
known Mrs. Laing and Ella for over a
year, ssand certainly nothing | had learnt
| rega riding their antecedents had excited
my suspicion. The Yorkshire Laings are
county family, and Edward Laing,
Elias father, had been tho head of the
great shipping firm that has its headouar-
| tiers in Hull, and is well known in the
North Sea and Atlantic trades. At his
death the concern was turned into COM
pany, and Mrs. Laing and her daughter
! had travelled for nearly three years, re-
turning to London shortly before I met
| them. The statement that Elias past
/ !. MO- Qvfa n
ling, Therefore 1 added, when you make
an allegation really think it is only fair
that you should substantiate it. -
She shrugged her shoulders with for
eign nlannerism that was charming, ex-
claiming in her broken English,
| "Ah, you understand me not, M'sieur.
! I speak not your language with polite
ness. Well. it is, oh, SO very difficult ="
EDO you tell me that Ella Laing is not
what she represents herself to be?" 1 in.
quired engerly. ~
m 'sieur if he knows of her past. NJ sieur
was once good to me, very good forget
never those who to me are generous.
"But your words contain hidden
meaning l said, dropping into French,
hoping thereby to induce her to place my
mind at rest.
answered with, volubility. "You love
her; you have offered her marriage-the
woman who is your most bitter foe r
'sWhat do you mean? That Ella Is my
enemy?" cried dismayed.
Her full red lips parted in silvery
pal Of laughter, displaying an even set
of pearly teeth, as throwing back her
handsome head she exclaimed:
nAh. / expected it would cause you
pain to learn the truth. Yet, after all,
is it not best to know now, instead OF
hereafter9''
I'm what way is she my enemy?" I
asked, bending forward to her and trans
fixing her with my eyes.
She remained silent, merely giving her
shoulders slight shrug, signing the
while.
ga moment ago you told me that be-
cause once performed you service you
intended to render me one in return.
Come, tell me the TRUTH, !" urged.
Again she sighed, but at last said;
''Ibe truth has already been forced upon
you, I should think
s'By the death of your friend Dudley
Ogle," she replied, in half whisper, the
strange look of almost murderous hatred
again showing in her eyes.
"Well' - said, 81 can see nothing in
that tragic incident to lead me to any
conclusion that Ella is my enemy"
Glove is blind, of course. she an
swered, rather contemptuously. Your
blindness extends apparently even to the
theft of the important dispatch entrusted
to your care.
Her words amazed me, for with the ex-
ception of Lord Warnham, the Marquis
OF Maybury. and Frayling at Scotland
Yard, no living person knew Of the THEFT
of the secret convention.
Chow, pray, are you aware that any