Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-08-24

what we've got TO do Ia 10 make him
hand II over. But"--hreaklng of in his
rapid explanation told you all this
In the letter gave you this evening"
Didn't you read IN Bless my soul
You haven't dropped ltT'-as ! rum
mayed frultlessly In one pocket after
another. "You haven't lost III"
tits not here! No, / did not read II,
Stay-I may have left It In the draw
ing-room; walt here whilst see, will
be back directly"
Mrs. Heathcote and Miss ElmslIe had
not yet retired. Lights were full on In
the drawlng-room, contrary to the vlr'
tuous early habits OF the household,
and the two ladies' were seated side by
side ON couch by the fire, discussing
over aud over again the wonderful sur
prise OF the evening.
What Is III" asked Mrs. Heathcotc,
rising to assist my search. "A letter.
No, there ia no letter here, Eliza must
have seen II II II had been left on the
tea-table, and she never takes letters
or papers away-the Rector has
trained her too we'll for that, No It is
certainly not here. hope II was not
important, But you will be sure to
find II upstairs or in the study, Have
you looked there?"
Wlddrlngton was awaiting me impa-
tlently when returned,
ut Is gone" admitted ruefully. 81
came straight from the garden to the
drawlng-room, and from there here, |
must have dropped It,"
Then the whole things blown
ruined" cried the man, clapplng on his
hat, and making for the door. There's
not minute to DO lost"
My letter was gone-,here was no
doubt about It, A second and calmer
search through my pockets confirmed
the fact. had entirely forgotten the
paper attaching no Importance TO II at
the moment regarding II as simply
ruse on the detectives part to attract
my attention; and subsequent events
had entirely driven tho whole circum-
stance out Of my mind. had doubt
less dropped tho misslve-with all Its
important reyelatlon-in the garden or
hall.
opened the window of my bed
room, which looked over the lawn and
garden path by which | had returned
to the house. A mans fgure--Wid'
drlngton's-wa just vanishing through
the gate. lie had evidently been
searching over the ground, so that no
efforts OF mine were needed, I won
dered what success he had had. Proba-
bly, he found the missing letter, and all
fear OF miscarriage to his plans was
over.
l sat up late into the night, writing
and reading. Sleep, In the tumult OF
my mind, was out OF the question l
had to think over and realize the Won
derful and blissful change which had
come into my life. Mona, my peerless
treasure, was mine-my own. And the
cloud which had overshadowed her
even in my most loyal thought-had
dimmed the rapturous Joy of my be-
trothal.
l had almost forgotten Wlddrlngton
in the floodtlde of my happiness, but,
when I descended to the breakfast
room the next morning, was abruptly
recalled to the subject OF last nights
interview. On my plate lay n note
marked-"Dellvere by hand" 1t
contained only these words
Gone. Disappeared last night. Let
ter not found"
Later In the day the detectives In
telllgence was confirmed by the Rector.
Mr.. Charles Branscombe had gone
from Forest Lea, leaving no address
behind him. The two or three female
servants remaining In charge either
knew or would tell nothing, Charlie
had always fascinating influence on
their class and set; as Warrington had
said, there was something Of feudal
devotion In their loyalty to him, They
no doubt thought his case a hard one,
and they would not betray him,
Mr.. Heathcote's new groom had also
disappeared summoned to London by
the dangerous illness OF his father, the
household believed.
To be continued,