The Portland daily press., 1898-04-29
Y WILLIAM LIE QUEUX,


WILLIAM LIE QUEOA.
| crossed the room several times with his
hands ehind his back, murmuripg to
himself in apparent discomfort, but in
tones that were undlstlnguIShable,
turned to him and said:
GAS entered, a visitor left you. Who
is he?''
Cecil Bingham. He is staying with
me for few days.
"a friendg'
"Well-yes, answered his lordship
hating, and regarding rue with no little
surprise. What do you know of him?"
At flrst | hesitated, but on reflection
resolved to explain the circumstances in
| which we had uet, and slowly related to
him how had encountered him with my
| wife in Kensington Gardens on that we'll
remembered wintry afternoon.
The Earl grew grave, and after observ-
ing that Bingham had arrived on the pre-
vious day to spend week, he for some
moments stood looking aimlessly out of
the window upon the broad park and
the great sheet of water that glistened in
the sunlight beyond. Then, muttering
something 1 could not catch, he walked
quickly back to the fireplace, and touched
the electric bell
ASK Mr.. Bingham to see me for q
moment" he exclaimed, when the man
answered the summons, and in few
minutes the Earl's guest came in with
that affected jaunty air that had caused
me to class him as cad. When he had
entered, the Earl himself walked to the
door and softly closed it. then turning
said in q hard, dry voice:
| "This, Cecil, is my secretary, Decides,
the husband of the woman known as
Ella Laing, with whom you have, T I'M
have met clandestinely on many occas
| ionsn
"What do you mean?' he cried, resent.
fully, glancing from the Earl to myself.
II know no one of that name. You are
mistaken"
There is no mistake" answered the
great statesman coldly, at the same time
linen-lined envelope of the kind used in
our Department.. From a drawer he
took one of his visitors letters, while
from the envelope he drew forth a second
letter. At a glance saw that the letter
was one of those mysterious missives
signed 'tX''that had been received by my
wife. Opening both, he placed them to-
gether and handed them to me without
| comment.
| They were in the Same hand writing.
''Do you deny having written that let
ter?" asked the Minister, sternly, at the
| same time showing him the note. BE
| made motion to take it, but suddenly
drew away his hand. His lips contracted
his face grew pale, and with gesture OF
feigned contempt he waved the Earl's
hand aside.
"Do you deny it?' repeated my chief.
He was still silent-his face sufficient
index to the agitation within him. "You
have endeavored to deceive me-" contin-
| ued the Earl. harshly. You have some
fixed purpose in accepting my invitation,
| and coming here to visit me, but YOU
were unaware that already had knowi.
| edge of facts you have endeavored SO
cunningly to conceal. 1t is useless to deny
| that you are acquainted with Decides {
wife, for he recognizes you as having
walked with her in Kensington Gardens,
| while have ascertained at last who she
really is-that her name was never Ella
Laing." He started at this announce.
ment. His lips moved, but no word es-
capped him. That the Earl should have
learned the true name and station of nv
| wife apparently Disconnected him. His
complexion was Of ashen hue; all his AFRO
gance had left him, for he saw himself
oornered. stood glaring at him f1ercely,
for was not face to face with the man
whom my wife had met times without
| number, concealing from me all motive or
duration Of her absences? Some secret had
existed between them-he was the man
| whom she apparently feared, and whose
will she had obeyed. I felt that now at
last should ascertain the truth, and
| obtain key to the strange perpiexinp
suspicion through SO many weary months.
His shifty gaze met mine; I detected a
fierce CLINT in his eyes.
"Well?" exclaimed his Lord ship, as
determined as myself upon seeking solu-
ton of the problem. CHOW that you ad-
nit these strange mysterious meetings
with Her Highness, perhaps you will
| aYnlnir thaip nhiorf .,
IL admitsnothing, he answered, in
anger, knitting his brows. Neither have
I anything to explain. ~
| "Seel" the Earl said, drawing Elias
photograph from the envelope 'Perhaps
you will recognize this picture?" and his
bony hand trent led with. suppressed ex-
citement as he placed it before him.
At sight of it my wife's strange friend
drew long breath. He was white to
the lips. Never before had I witnessed
suoh complete change in any imam in SO
| short a period. and especially curious it
| seemed when I reflected that he had been
! charged with no very serious crime.
You may allege whatever it may
please you" he said at last, with un.
affected sarcasm. "But woman's honor
is safe in my hands"
i my wife's honor!" 1 cried with fierce
Indignation, springing towards him
| threateningly. could no longer stand
| by IN silence when recollected what Ella
had said about being compelled to act
according to the will of another. She had
no doubt been under the thraI of this
overdressed dandy. ''Now that we have
met, =" exclaimed, ''you shall explain to
me, her husband"
| With quick movement he strobe for.
ward as if to escape us, but in an instant
had gripped him by the shoulder with
fierce determination, while the Earl him
self, experimenting his intention, placed
his back against the door.
"Speak l'' cried wildly, shaking him
in my anger. "You shall tell us the true
nature of the secret between you and my
wife, and prove your statement to our
satisfaction, by heaven, I'll thrash you
as cunning. cowardly curl"
| Ito be Continued.