Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-01-27

fore. and she had rather wondered
sometimes why Grace had never asked
her to come up; now, the reason was
explained. They entered a large sunny
room, arranged half as bedroom and
half as sitting-room; there was win
dow at either end, and thick red velvet
curtains divided the room in two.
Mary Leprimaudier was sitting in
front of window with a book on her
lap; she was not reading it. but gazing
straight before her out of the window.
She was even prettier than Grace, and
there was a striking likeness between
the two sisters; but her appearance was
spoi.t by her untidiness. Her hair
hung down her back in thick curly
masses, and did not look as if il had
been brushed that day, and her collar
was undone. She turned round as the
two girls entered the room; but, beyond
i fixing searching glance upon her WIS.,
| i1or for a few seconds. took no further
notice of them.
Poor thing!" whispered Annette TO
Grace, and then she went up to the OBJ
| ject of her pity, and made some remarks
TO her about the book Oh her lap. But
| try as she would. Mary Leprimaudier
remained dumb.
Grace fingered a minute in the room
after Annette went out. and as she
| joined her in the passage a loud, iron
| zeal laugh burst from the room behind
| them. Annette turned round involun-
tariiy, and there stood poor mad Mary
in the doorway, looking wildly at her,
and laughing loudly.
Grace Gid not refer to her sister again.
and after Annette had had tea she made
an excuse and went home much earlier
| than usual. She was haunted by that
suilen-looking figure sitting gazing
| into space, and by that laugh. Every
time she thought of it she shuddered.
Once or twice after that visit Annette
saw the poor mad girl, and on one of
| her good days, when she was talking
| seEsibly, Grace sent note round to An
nette asking her to come and have tea
with them in Mary's room.
Annette quite enjoyed it. Mary sang
and played. and talked nationally, and
Grace was more full of fun than usual
| her manner having lost all trace of nerv-
| BUSINESS. Grace walked home with An
nette. and as she said goodnight to her.
| she added: Come round in the morn
ing, and bring my book if you have fin.
;shed it," and, calling Max. turned
| tomewards.
The following morning Annette
walked over to return the book. AS a
rule Max came bounding out to meet
her; but this morning he was not al his
usual place. Some bits of straw lay on
the neat gravel path. Annette looked
up. The blinds were drawn down.
With a chill dread at her heart she
pulled the bell. 1t changed loudly with
an eerie sound through a deserted
| house.
Annette walked round to the back
and looked in at the dining-room win
dow, the only one in which the blind
was not lowered. The room was empty.
except of the bare articles of furniture
and a little straw. The Leprimaudiers
had flown 1t was nine days wonder
in the village, but Annette kept the
knowledge of Mary's existence to her
self, and not until ten years later did
she ever hear the slightest tidings OF
the sisters.
Annette was sitting in big London
studio one evening ten years later. She
was married now to "a famous artist,
and was waiting for him to come in.
Il heard some startling news to-day"
were the first words he said, as he
kissed her. 81 saw photograph of
Mary Leprimaudier. L recognized it
from your sketch of her"
Where did you see it?" cried his
wife
;. I'm the Black Museum at Scotland
Yard. Her real name was Mary Coms-
ems. She disappeared ten years ago.
and was wanted for the murder of the
man she. was engaged to. He was shot
in the back at his own front door as he
was returning home after dining with
a woman his fiancee was jealous Of
Then that madness was only
feigned," cried Annette. WAS she
caught?" she added, anxiously.
mo, neither she nor her sister has
ever been heard of from that day to
this."-St. Pauls.