The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-07-07

off the moment Lord Wynmore had said
good-by, and had by this time exchanged
the wrong box for the right one. But what
did the other contain; and who could have
put it under the leaves! With an uneasy
feeling that it might belong to her father
or to Caroine's secret lover Nab, sitting
her impatience to ascertain. set out for
Crayley Hill with her uncle and Caroline.
The evening wore away slowly. Dick
was silent and thoughtful-"very unlike
his usual self" thought Nab; and she
wondered anew what he had discovered in
the box which she had found by mistake.
Was that to be fresh source of trouble!
Why did Dick look so grave, and what
could he have been doing before dinner?
Immediately the meal was ended she
made an effort to escape into the garden;
but that was not to be. Her uncle asked
her to play chess with him. and she could
only manage to get through the game pas
SADLY. Dick had disappeared, and only
came in late. He had been out to give
the dogs run. he said.
At length, after all her weary hours of
waiting, she found herself once more in
her own room, her door ajar, listening for
Dicks footsteps in the corridor. and in
about quarter of an hour he came.
Quickly and silently Nab glided out,
awaiting him near the large window,
where they could both sit in the od-fash
ioned window seat and talk unobserved.
How eagerly she greeted him. She
trembled with agitation at the bare idea Of
what Dick would say and feel. But her
brothers manner was very Disappointing
BE as quick as you can, there's dear
girl he said, 'for have something to do
tonight"
'Whatever it is, you must hear what
have to tell, Dick, or think shall lose
my senses" she cried. ''Oh, if you could
guess what l have had to suffer since last
night! But, before l say a word to you,
tell me what you found in that box l took
in by mistake
Papers" he returned laconically.
"Papers?" intcrrogated Nab. Have
YOU looked at any of them? What are
| they about?'
We'll, can hardly tell You that off
hand, Nab. l have not read them all;
they seem to be letters to man named
| Eilton, whoever he may be-
'F'ilton.' she gaspcd out. "Fiton.'
Yes, that is the name. You don't know
anything of him, surely, Nab? He ap-
pears to be an INSCRIPTIONS sort of man.
|
tones. "Oh, Dick, Dick, l fear we all
| know him! / am afraid he is our father!'
| And Nab. quite overwhelmed With the
vague terrors of the day before, clasped
her brothers arm convulsively and burst
| into tears.
The young fellow, who began to need
comfort himself, tried by fond words tc
calm her grief, beseeching her ito tell him
ALL Some minutes, however, elapsed be-
fore she had sufficiently recovered to dc
50. When at last she was able to spcal;
calmly she impaired her secret briefly.
Dick-confused, alarmed, full of trou
bic as he was-did his best to comfort her
At length, however, when they had talk
ed on till they dared stay no longer, fol
! Uncle Johns footsteps sounded in the hal
below. they settled that Nab should tel
Caroline that she had been in the boat
house when Caroline met her lover, anc
beseech her to have nothing more to dc
with him, since from what Nab had over
heard he was deceiving her with a show
of affection. Both Nab and Dick wer,
unapimous in deciding that it was best no
to tell Caroline anything of the myster.
concerning their father; but whether the.
should broach the subject to Uncle John
who was probably in the secret Dicl
could not determine so readily.
Unhappy brother and sister! For tn
first time in their lives they longed 70
their fathers home coming.
| Go be cOntinued.)