The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-09
EY WlLllANl LE QuEUx,
COPYRIGHTED. 1897. BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUx-

when mas len2tut5ieu anu uecpo'iOo oAc-A
it has now formed barrier lnsarmoun
table %,
"What does Nelly IS death concern uss'
he asked at was tragic and mysterious,
certainly; nevertheless, it surely does not
prevent our marriage.
Fer an instant she glanced sharply at
him, then lowering her gaze, answered
dryly- 49,,
'sIhen why refer to itl'
because the mystery has never been
solveo. - she said, in a tone which sur
prised him.
.Where the police have failed WIS can
scarcely hope to be successful, y he OBJ
served. Yet the harsh strained voice in
which she had spoken puzzled him. More
than once it had occurred to him that
Lame had never satisfactorily explained
where she had been on that well-r 5mem-
bered evening, yet loving her so we'll, he
had always dismissed any suspicion as
wild and utterly unfounded Neverthe-
less, her statements to several persons re-
garding her actions on that evening had
varied considerably, and he could not
conceal the truth from himself hat for
reason unaccountable she had successfully
hidden some matter which might be OF
greatest Importance.
stDo you think the truth will ever come
oot3' she inquired, her eyes still down.
cast.
ssIt may" he answered, watching her
narrowly. "The unexpected often hap
pens. +"
fOf COURSE she agreed, with faint
smile. ssBut the police have obtained no
further clue, have theyf" she asked in
eagerness.
mot that Pm aware of, hs answered
fLiane,'' he said at last, turning
to wards her with calm seri ms look, II
fomehow cannot help doubling that you
are acting altogether straightforward TO-
wards me. -
straightforward she echoed, glanc
ing at him with u look half of suspicion,
half of surprise. ~ don't understand
you"
IT mean thai You refuse to tell me the
reason you are bound to marry this man
YOU have met, he blurted forth. You
are concealing the truth. "
ssOnly becausi. / am forced to do SO,
she answered mechanically. Alb, you
do not Know all, George, or you would
not upbraid me, she added brokenly.
"Why not tell mes Then might assist
YOU"
"No, alas, you cannot assist me, she
answered in forlorn, hopeless voice, with
head bent and her gaze fixed blankly upon
the ground sIf you wish to be merclful
towards me leave here; return to London,
and TO get everything. While you re-
main my terrible secret Expresses me
with greater weight, because / know that
have lost forever all love and hope
that the Judgment of heaven has fallen
upon me.
"Why, dearest?'' he CRIED elbow is
it you speak SO Strangely Then in an
instant rememb ering her curious words
when they had met at Monte Carlo, he
added, "Anyone would believe that you
had committed some fearful crime.
She misunderstanding at him with lips
compressed, but uttering no response.
Her face was that of one upon whose con-
science was some guilty secret.
"Come" he said presently, in kind,
persuasive tone. "1ell me why poor
Neily's death is barrier to our happi-
ness"
"No,n she answered, "I cannot Have
I not already told you that my secret is
inviolable?'
uYou refusep''
She nodded, her breast heaving AMI
falling.
'sEvery detail of that terrible affair is
still as vivid in my recollection as if 1T
occurred but yesterday, he said. "Untii
quite recently have always believed that
the assassin stole the brooch she was wear
ing; but / am now confident that it was
stolen between the time / discovered the
body and returned with assistance from
the village
She held her breath. but only for
"What causes you to think thisp's she
Inquired.
Der that the brooch was still at her throat
when found her lying in the road. Yet
when / returned it was missing. The
assassin was not the thief. I"
ssThat has been my theory all along"
she said.
He noticed the effect his words pro-
duced upon her, and was puzzled.
"You have never explained to me,
Lame, the reason you did not keep your
appointment with me on that evening"
he said, gravely. eff you had been at
would most probably have been saved
II was prevented from meeting you,
she answered vaguely, after a seconds
hesitation.
'sYou have already told me that. What
prevented you9'
"a curious combination of circum-
stances"
'sWhat were they?"
81 started out to meet you, but was pre-
vented from SO DOING"
SBy whom?'
"By a friend.n
"Or was it an enemy?'' he suggested.
Her statement did not coincide with the
fact that she had written to him postpon-
ing their meeting
II do not know" she replied. "When
we parted it was long asst the hour we
had arranged, SO / returned home.'
tNelly must at that moment have been
lying dead,'' he observed. "Haye you
any idea what took her to that spot of all
other 81
''None whatever Liane replied SEX
cept that, unaware of our appointment,
she met someons there. "
"You think she met there t he person
who afterwards shot her?'
That is my BELIEF
Then If you know nothing further re-
garding the mysterious affair why should
it prevent our marriageT' he asked, re-
garding her intently.
1T is not only that, she replied quick
ly, "but there is further reason"
AWhat is it? Surely l may know?" he
urged. "You will not send me away in
doubt and ignorance when you know 1
love you so well?''
81 mot tell you," she answered,
painting.
9tThen shall not leave you and How
you TO become this mans wife may n4s
victim" he exclaimed passionatel5.
6fxT f1~,1 L. !