Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-02-11

sometimes why uEuCc 4ldu AcNcE OSkeO
her to come up; now. the reason was
explained. They entered Il large sunny
room, arranged half as a bedroom and
half as sitting-room; there was Il VIM
dow ut either end, and thick red velvet
curtains divided the room in two.
Mary Leprimaudier was sitting in
front of IL window with book OH 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 striking likeness between
the two sisters; but her appearance was
spoilt by her untidiness. Her hair
hung down her back in thick curly
masses, and did not look as # it had
been brushed that day, and her collar
was undone. She turned round as the
two girls entered the room; but, beyond
fixing searching glance upon her Wis
itor for few seconds, took no further
notice of them. ..-...~l-- ...s.,g... ;.
''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 on her lap. But
try as she would. Mary Leprimaaldier
remained dumb.
Grace fingered i minute in the room
after Annette went out, and as she
Joined. her in the passage a loud, iron
ical laugh burst from the room behind
them. Annette turned round involun-
tarily, and there stood poor mad Mary
in the doorway, looking wildly at her,
and laughing loudly.
Grace did not refer to her sis ter again.
and after Annette had had tea she made
an excuse and went home much earlier
than usual. She was haunted by that
sullen-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 OH one of
her good days, when she was talking
sensibly, Grace sent note round to An
nettc 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 nerve
BUSINESS. Grace walked home with AM
she added: 'Comc round in the morn
ing, and bring my book if you have fin
;shcd it," and. calling Max: turned
homewards.
The following morning Annette
walked over to return the book. As Il
rule Max came bounding out to meet
her; but this morning he was not at 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 :: deserted
house.
Annette walked round to the back
and looked in at the dining-room win
dow, the only one in which the blind
~as not lowered. The room was empty,
except Of the bare articles Of furniture
and little straw. The Leprimaudiers
in the village, but Annette kept the
knowledge of Mary's existence to her
self. aud not until ten years later did
she ever hear the slightest t;dings Of
the sisters.
Annette was sitting in big London
studio one evening ten years later. She
was married now to famous artist,
and was waiting for him to come in.
II heard some startling news to-day"
were the first words he said, as he
kissed her. Il saw a photograph of
Mary Leprilna 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 Cous-
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 h"
was returning home after dining with
4 woman his tiancee was jealous Of"
Then that madness was only
feigned." cried Annette. "Was she
caught" she added, anxiously.
NO. neither she nor her sister has
ever been heard of from that day to
this. st. Pauls.