Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-12-08
''I received no letter from vow

I'll uV lelltI HUH YOU.
"But, Miss Kingsley, you--you an
swered it. You told me not to mention
the subject again. and you are annoyed
because l have insisted on reminding
you of that letter. But l only want to
explain why wrote it. All Paris was
connecting your name with that of the
Count, and there were persistent ru-
mors that you were to become his wife.
1t was common talk that your father
had set his heart on the match, and no.
body seemed to question your willing
ness to become countess. The rumOrs
and the gossip had a most depressing
effect upon me. l think you know, Miss
Kingsley, what my own hopes We're.
had loved you for n year. although
had made no confession. l could not
believed that you cared for the Count.
or that you would sacrifice yourself for
title. even to please your father. But
the anxiety and suspense became so in
tolerable that resolved to end the I'M
certainty and learn my own fate. Ow.
Ing to your fathers espionage l was
unable to find an opportunity to speak
with you alone. So wrote that letter,
cOnfesslng my love, begging the right
to put an end to the rumors concerning
you and the Count, telling you how
anxiously l should what for an answer,
and assuring you that If my offer were
rejected l would leave Paris and Eu-
rope and never annoy you again."
81 never received the letter." she said,
softly, without looking up.
Never received it! Then how do you
explain the answer" he demanded.
81 wrote that note-yes; but not in
answer to any communication from
you. 1t was not intended for you. l
do not know how it came into your pos
session. You will see that the upper
part of the sheet has been carefully cut
off. On the detached part was the
name of the person to whom 1t was ad-
dressed"
She raised her eyes, and he saw that
there were tears in them, but before he
could speak she asked: did you send
your letter to me by post or by messen-
ger"
"Why, sent 1t by Tomasso, the little
Italian, whom l often employed in that
way"
"And he brought you the answer"
"Certainly."
"Ah.I think l understand 1t now" she
said, her expression showing the light
of sudden conviction. "Tomasso, as
we afterward learned. was In the pay
of this Co,pt. who employed him to spy
on the movements of people whom he
desired to leep under surveillance. 1t
was he, am now sure. who intercepted
your letter and sent back to you this
note. His object was to get you out OF
the way. The note was originally adj
dressed to him-in reply to his third
proposal Of marriage-and he cut of
his own name and sent 1t to you.'
Camperton listened like one in a
trance. Then he cried out sharply:
"Do you mean to say you are not en-
gagged to the COUNT"
Engaged! Why, hate him! He is
wicked. designing man. Papa himself
Is convinced Of that now. 1t was on
his account-to get rid of his persistent
attentions-that prevailed upon papa
to take me home before we had finished
our travels. o, Jack-Mr. Camperton!
how could you believe such thing Of
meT'
Ten minutes later, when they were
released from their Imprisonment In
the elevator, they parted with the I'M
Outstanding that they were to meet in
the Kingsleys' parlor within an hour.
And there was a vacant seat at the club
Companion.
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