Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-14
suspicious.

SUSPICIOUS.
The train from Namur numbered
heavily into the station at Melreux and
Weakened into momentary life it's sleepy
stagnation. About half a dozen passen-
gers alighted, among whom was a tall,
bronzed Englishman. His searching
glance warmed into q smile of pleasure
as he strobe hastily toward a Belgian
gentleman who rushed to greet him
with o~utstretched arms. With a string
Of questions the Belgian led the way
into the station yard, where an English
dogcart was waiting. They got in and
away they dashed in a cloud Of white
dust toward the little village Of Dur
buy. After half an hours brisk run they
ratified noisily through the village and
drew up before a pair Of massive
wrought iron gates. The house lay at
the farther end Of a short avenue Of
elms, along which they drove smartly.
As the Belgian alighted a clock chimed
unsteady.
"a quarter to H." said he. "You
will just have time to get rid Of your
travel stains before lunch"
eyes, M. Barvaux, T should like to
make myself rather more p~resentable
before meeting the ladies'" replied his
friend, Jack Hague. In less than ten
minutes he was ono more spick and
span, and as he went down stairs he
found M. Barvaux awaiting him. AS
they entered the morning room in which
lunch vas to be served they were greet
ed by a couple of ladies, whom M.
Barvaux introduced as his wife and her
niece, Mile. Richert.
The charming name Of his host
soon made Jack perfectly at home. M.
Barvaux spoke English quite fluently,
and was rather proud Of his accomplish
ment, but Jack was rather shy with his
French at first, although the kind way
in which the girl helped him over his
difficulties enabled him to get along
smoothly enough. But he found it much
more pleasant to listen than to talk, and
when Mile. Richert began to speak Of
her love for the Ardennes he instantly
became all eyes and ears.
1t was quite a jolly little luncheon
party, but amid the p~leasantness there
was something which Jack could not
understand. Ever and anon the girl ap-
peared distracted and seemed to be
watching M. Barvaux with a look Of
deep anxiety, and once when his wife
placed her arm round the girls neck af.
~fectionately Jack thought he perceived
an expression of mingled hate and fear
on the face Of the Belgian as he gazed
under his heavy eyebrows at the girl.
At first Jack put it down as merely his
fancy, but further observation convinced
him that there was something wrong.
The days sped by all too quickly.
Fishing IN the Ourthe, which ran close
by, or long rambles in the woods, gath
ering bilberries. occupied the hours Of
daylight, and in the evenings Jack sat
as though under q spell while Mile.
Richert sang dainty old French love
songs or extemporized dreamy melodies
on the piano.
But still the jarring note which had
struck Jack disturbed the pleasant har-
mony, and as day followed day his first
suspicious were confirmed and intensi-
fed. However, he could discover no in
telligible explanation Of the numberless
trivial incidents which, had not his at
tention been reused, would have entire
y escaped him. All be could be certain
about was that his host unmistakably
manifested q strange antipathy toward
his niece. This, however, did not pre-
vent Jack and the girl from becoming
close friends, and il seemed, at least to
N. Barvaux, that their friendship was
rapidly ripening into q much stronger
feeling. Jack felt that his host was dis.
pleased at the turn Of affairs, and he
was therefore not very much surprised
when NJ. Barvaux, seizing q suitable
opportunity, asked him point blank
what were his feelings toward the
young lady. He replied with perfect
frankness that he was over head and
ears in love with her.
"Ah, my FRIEND" replied N. Bar
vaux, II am very sorry for you. I
should have warned you earlier" Sink.
ing his voice to q hoarse whisper he
continued, "She is a murderess.
Jack stared at him in amakemsnt.
Had he suddenly taken leave Of his
sonsesf No, be seemed perfectly ration
q, although very agitated. In an excit-
edyoice he went on. to describe how the
girl was trying to poison him. Jack
came to the conclusion that his friend
- the victim Of . hallucination ana
received TO humor him.
But he \ - devoted 10 your wife, =
sAid he.
"YeA and that Ii why I dare not
speak. ny wife thinks Angsline IL q
angel, and IamafEAidtc " anything !,
On the NEXT evening, the lat one Of
Jacks stayt - wa6 sitting M an sasy
chair among he window Ecurtains when
suddenly he heard the soft sweep Of 5
wolnan's dress In the room. He turned
and saw . figure IN wh1tes
HAngeline. was On his lips and 10
VIZ about to spring to his test when b
~ something which turned him 10
stone. She was standing st the iide.
bo1rd with : thick green glass vial, the
contents Of which she was pouring into
~ decanter 1t wine specially reserved
1or n. Barvaux.
Hin hosts suspicions wsre. then, oor.'
reck, Oh, the horror u Ill The girl hs
lcvsd : poisdneri He could scarcely b.
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