The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-16

Il
trusted servant who had served the
family for nearly forty years-rousing
me violently.
What is IT." I asked, sitting up In
my bed with a vague feeling OF npprc-
hension. HAS anything ~happenod?"
Hush, hush, master Paul." she said
agitatedly, 1--WE must keep 1t quiet as
long as W can. Something has hap
pened. She has gone"
my wife?"
"Ycs, when I went into her room this
morning found It empty and the bed
not slept In; she Is no In any part oil
the house grounds. That Is all I can
tell you."
Urging her to keep the other ser
wants In Ignorance II possible. l dressed
hurrledly, and, my mind distracted
with wrath, suspicion, vague terror
and Jealousy, sought In vain for any
trace OF my unfortunate wife. She had
disappeared completely, without leav-
Ing a note or message; no one had seen
or heard her quit the house, and, after
a guarded inquiry at the station. l as
certained that she had not been OBJ
served by either guards or station
master taking any OF the morning or
latc night-trains. Towards midday,
| feycrlsh with anxiety, entirely batied,
| returned home. Calling Mrs. Muir
ray, 1 begged her to get by portman-
teau ready, as l was leaving at once.
where to--what are you going to
do-toll me, Master Paul?" she plead
ed. with a shaking voice.
"T'm going after him." l answ cred
chokingiy; don't bother me. wom-
an. but get my things-Qulck!"
"Him-who's him?"
"Hernshaw; he left the Grange last
night"
"well, we'll. sir you know your own
business best: but I think you're 60
ing on a fools errand after him. I'd
look elsewhere II I were YOU"
1 seized her hands as a drowning
man would n straw.
"Elsewhere?" l repeated. What do
you mean? Murray. Murray, you know.
you guess where she Is. Oh, don't keep
Ult III SuSltuHCs IL you hhp" ""N
horrible thoughts torture met"
81 know 70 more than you, sir. whore
she Is" she interrupted sadly. by
elsewhere l think I meant somewhere
near the sea. For the last week she's
been talking about the sea. and sea-
gulls, and rocks and things o the
kind, and complaining OF a pain In her
head and n mistiness over her eyes
"Of course. of course" I broke In
eagerly. what a short-slghted. dull
fool I've been! She's gone to Done
gal! I'll start after her at once and
bring her home before the tales get
about, Murray. I rely on you"
"You may, sir; I'll do my best. never
fear" she said impressively, laying her
hand on my arm to detain me. "But
but, Master Paul. forgive me saying
what I'm going to say. Having known
you from your cradle. and, as 1t were
playing tho part of mother to you
when your own was taken so young
-"
Fire aheadv" I burst In impatiently
"You know you can say what you like
tn me. Murray"
"Then, Master Paul." she whispered
hurriedly, take my advice. and. before
you bring your wife home. send the
other away"
Murray" l stammercd, releasing
myself. what nonsense you talk! It,
its o who are on the wrong tracl
now. Ed-Miss S~topford's presenc,
here has had nothing to do with thu
unfortunate misunderstanding with m,
: poor wife-how could it,"
The old woman laughed bitterly. ant
, moved away, shaking her head. ! pur
sued her uneaslly.
J Listen to me. and I'll convince you
Helen never knew, never even sus
pected that IL had one cared 70
, Miss Stopford. She believed I locke,
upon her as O sister whom l Sai
| brought up with; she never objected
> to her staying here. indeed she wen
at once to the General the moment tn
visit was suggested: never showed tn,
faintest sign of--of dislike or jealousy
Oh, do stop nodding that ridiculou
gray old head Of yours!" I burst GU
impatiently. Say what o mean an,
have dono with IT,"
4 Blind, blind. blind!" she repeated
. looking at me with plying reproach
"Your wife knew you loved Miss Edit
: the first day you met her here, and
though she has been fighting agains
Q the Notwithstanding to deceive her
self-it has been OF no use: day afte
day the truth has been burning int
her poor heart. turning her very brail
until she could bear 1t no longer, an
y now she has fed from her pain"
I "If this be true" ! muttered hoarse
/ ly, "as sure as there Is a Heaven abov
8 / had rot the faintest-at least not
reasonable or tanglble-susplcion O
such a thing being the cases How
how should l? She-she never com
pla~ined-never %reproached me-"
"But she loved you, Master Paul
: loved you as few men are loved b
women-even by the truest or best @