The Portland daily press., 1898-04-04

Chapter XII.
BECK's PROPHECY.

BECK'S PROPHECY.
"Harkr' gasped Ella, turning to me.
pale in alarm. E'What is that man cry
inq? Listenl'
Again the hoarse voice broke the silence,
clear, distinct, ominous:
s'A ar declared against England Spe-
shall T. his crying being followed by the
sound of hurrying feet as people rushea
from their houses, purchased copies OF
the paper at exorbitant prices, and
eagerly devoured the amazing news.
''Surely it must be some absurd story
that the papers have got hold of, " Ella
exclaimed a few moments later, when,
after again watching the excitement
below. she returned and stood beside my
chair. ''The idea of war against us is
absolutely absurd. You Foreign Office
psoDle would have known if such were
actually the case. Evening papers are
SO eften full of exaggerated reports, con-
tradicted next morning. that one ceases to
believe in them.
al have every reason unfortunately, to
believe in the truth of this sudden declara-
tion of war, =" I answered, gloomily, scarce
knowing what l said.
s.You believe it's true ~ she cried.
Chow do you know? Has Russia &C
tuaily da red to challenge us?''
''Ycs, - I replied. 'But how were you
aware that Russia was our enemy?
She started and held her breath. Her
attitude was that of one who had uncon-
aciously betrayed herself.
t'I-I-merely guessed it," she answered
lamsIy. with forced smile a moment
later. s'I'ye been reading the papers
lately"
''The papers have given no hint of the
impending complication, l answered alb
ruptly, removing the cigarette from my
lips and looking ap at her keenly.
''But I read SOMETHING the other day
hat md rq m q
had combined with the object of attacking
England in the near future.
did not answer. l could only gaze at
her. amazed at the calm circumstantial
manner in which shiB lied That she had
some knowledge of the political situation
of what character Er extent L knew not
was certain, for otlaer WORD S she had let
drop in unguarded moments had once or
twice aroused within me increasing sus
picjon. When 1 reflected upon her alarm
on hearing the strident cry OF the news
man. l was compelled to admit that her
fears were not genuine. The questions
she put to me regarding the relative
strengths of England and Russia, and the
probable course of events, were naive
enough, but they were uttered, knew.
with a view to disarm any suspicion L
might entertain.
At last wearied OF her eternal mas
uuerade. reused myself, tossed away my
dead cigarette, and, declaring that in the
circumstances my presence at the Foreign
Office was imperative, suddenly said
s'You asked me to come here this even
ing because you had something particular
to say to me, Ella. You have not yet
referred to it, "
81 wanted to ask you a question:, she
exclaimed in low tone, slowly moving
towards me and bending until she placed
her arm tenderly around my neck.
swell, what is it?"
For moment she remained silent in
hesitation but at last spoke in that
harsh, strained voice that had so fire.
quently puzzled me of late.
81 know you have investigated DGdIey's
llelon she said "And I wanted
80 know whether you discovered among
5hern some scraps of paper bearing simi-
.4tions of your own handwriting.
regarded her in surprise; her question
amazed me. In her eyes l noticed a look
Of intense earnestness and appeal for sym
psthy.
'Well, what if [ have?'' inquired.
''If you have, they will, know, be re-
xarded By you as evidence that Dudley
was forger."
"IThat is what [ believe him to have
been,' said with bitterness.
You Judge him wrongly" she replied
quite calmly, her face nevertheless as
white as the simply made dinner gown
she wore 81 have already seen those
Ibid not Dudley trace my writing?"
He never did, - she replied. Gas his
SO is dishonour cast upon his memory.
''Then you allege that he was the vic
tim OF conspiracy" I exclaimed, sur
prised.
speak I shall prove it, and by so doing
remove from myself the suspicion now
resting upon me- She spoke earnestly,
with an intense ring in her voice that
told me she now uttered the tEuta.
For what reason was it desilod to imi
tate my hsndwritingf' | asked, pressing
her hand tenderiy. "Come, tell me,
Ella
I'll reallv don't know she replied
GAN am aware is that yort writing
was most carefully traced and initiated,
and for that purpose TWO of your letters
to lne were stolen"
sfBy whom?''
.fI have never been able to discover. +"
At that moment our conversation was
interrupted by a voice crying, "Here,
Decides Have you seen this alarming
newsf' and turning I saw Beck standing
beside the tall, amber-shaded lamp in the
drawing room, pale pink newssheet in
his hand. Rising quickly L re-enteTed
the room, and walking over to him, fol-
lowed by Ella. took the newspaper, and
devoured the dozen lines of loaded type
placed beneath the bold, alarming mead
lines.
My well-beloved was peering over my
shoulder as, in breathless eagerness,
read that, according to Reuters cores
pondent at st. Petersburg the "Novoe
VreTnya' had that afternoon issued a
special edition containing the amazing
statement that Russia would. in the
course of a few hours, formally declare
5gar against England. and that this fact
was zorro 3orated by the issue of tele-
graphic orders to the commanders of
military districts as preliminary to
general mobilization of the forces. This
announcement was similar to that of our
secret agent in st. Petersburg, with the
additional facts that the greatest activity
had commenced in the War Office and Ad-
1niralty, and that the Gar had, in conse-
ouence abandoned his visit to Odessa
which he was about to undertake that
day.
1.-THE outlook is certainly most alarm
lng,' [ observed, handing on the paper
80 Ella.
''It's extraordinary % cried Beck, in
tensely excited, as became a patriotic