The Lamar register., 1899-09-27

the lace curtains al the open window,
looking out over the lawn toward the
encircling belt of shrubbery 1t was
dark moonless summer night and late
enough now for the shrubs to show
blaekly against the pale skyline.
had quite lost the thread OF Miss
Elmslie's somewhat monotonous talk.
dreaming as | was of many things,
with pervading sense OF vague pain
and unrest new to my experience, and
due perhaps to the melancholy scenes
in which I had just taken part
Suddenly it seemed to me that
white shadow fitted across the bottom
OF the lawn toward the trees, and was
lost in the darkness Was it fancy
| wondered. looking iutently toward
the spot where the figure had disap-
peared. | was not subject to fancies
of this kind. and at once made up
my mind TO investigate the phenom
enon.
With an excuse TO Miss Elmslie.
went to the hall for my oyercoat, and,
letting myself out by side door.
made my way cautiously over tAe
grass to the spot where | had seen-or
faneied 1 had seen-the white form
appear and disappear.
There was nothing but the shadows
and the trees and the patter of the soft
falling raindrops on the green leaves.
So my eyes. keen and sure as l had
always considered them, had play I'd
me false. | turned back toward the
house, taking this time one of two or
three narrow winding paths within the
wood. My footsteps made no sound on
the damp grass-grown ground. All at
once the perfume of cigar was waited
toward me Then ] was not alone in
the darkness; somebody else had a
fancy for an evening airing-one OF
the gardeners or workmen. no doubt,
on his way from some errand at the
Hail. But the strawberries lay in the
front of the house, while the servants
offices we're all. as / knew. at the back.
And, besides. my educated senses told
me that that cigar was of the finest
quality. not likely to be smoked by
any but a connoisseur. The rector was
non-smoker. and no other net Dor
would. l knew. have the eusz The
shrubbery.
My curiosity was thoroughly reused.
and the instinct of my profession en-
listed in the discovery of the little
mystery.
Presently the sound of subdued
voices--a mans and woman's--
reached my ears. Then had not been
fancy-tricked-some assignation OF a
tender nature had lured the fitting
figure hitherward maid-servant
from the house. no doubt But the
fine Hayanay Well that was no affair
of mine; would not at all events play
the eayesdropper.
1t was in carrying out this laudable
resolve that turned into another path
Ia shorter cut to the house. as | be-
lieyed in my slight knowledge of the
place. 1t must however have brought
me nearer to the lovers. for now the
manly voice was so raised that the
subject of what appeared to be an an
CRY discussion only just missed meet
ing my ears. and sobs from the female
were distinctly audible. The course of
true love vas not running smoothly.
concluded. as | retraced my steps.
At this moment the sobs ceased and
a feminine voice took up the response,
pleading, remonstrant and l was con-
scious OF sudden shock which
brought me to standstill. The sweet,
low tones were familiar to me-they
were those OF Mona Branscombe.
Mona Branscombe, my ideal of inno-l
cence and womanly purity, my imper-
sonation of Una, keeping a clandestine
appointment at night-with her IN
cle's corpse hardly yet cold. too; hood
winking her chaperon with pretense
of illness and overwhelming grief, oh,
the shame and the pity of it! oh, the
shame and the pity,
did not stop to ask myself why the
blow should be such crushing one to
newly a doubt of the innocence and
goodness of Mona Branscombe should
seem to make the world stand still, and
plunge my whole outlook into dark
ness: l hurried blindly back to the
house, losing myself half dozen times
among the tortuous shrubbery paths
and shaking the raindrops from the
laden branches in heavy showers as
went. / had reached the terrace on
which the side door by which l had
quilted the house opened. my hand was
~. tn- nil Mt