Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-01
THE HOUSE BY THE LOCK
By MRS. C. L. WILLIAMSON,
huhor Barnsomers sThe Woman Grey "Fortunes
Sport s.Lady Mary of the Dark House., &c., &c.,
Copyright.
Continued from Last Weekly

I Glad to hear from you.-Fifth Avenue
Hotel"
One more blow aimed at my theory!
But | refuse to be knocked down by it.
For Karine's sake, for my own sake,
| would follow my convictions across
the sea, and never rest until had set
tied all doubhts for myself.
1t was then Friday. In five minutes
after reading this kind and apparently
conclusive cablegram, l had resolved
that on the following day, Saturday,
would sail for New York.
wrench that | arrived at this almost
desperate decision, for | stood between
two fires, either one of which might
reduce my hopes to ashes.
Going to America meant leaving Kar-
inc Cunningham, at this critical juno
ture, to the mercy of the enemy. l had
offered her friendship, and such pro-
lection as l could give, against those
who were bent on forcing her inclina-
tons; and with look in her sweet
eyes, and soft culver in her voice
which l could never forget, she asked
me not to go away" If l went and
any harm should come to her during
my absence l could never forgive my
self, never again know a moments
peace of mind. And yet-if | stayed,
what was there to hope for either of
US? | had shot all my arrows, and they
had glanced off, blunted, from Wild
reds apparently invulnerable armor.
| had lost the chance of gaining assist
ance from the police, so far as | could
see. and unless some miracle should
suddenly come to pass, | should be
obliged to stand by while Karine Cum
ningham gave her unwilling self to
Wildred.
Whatever her secret reason for con-
! senting to do so might be, she had
plainly let me understand that she
1UtdHG " mai y OhO liAohs uAAASS' wv
especially interviewed in her behalf.
There was no hope that she would let
me save her by carrying her away. 1
had not even the slightest reason to
suppose that she cared for me, save as
friend. in the midst of what other
wise she had said would be friendless-
ness.
My hands were bound, therefore, so
long as Carson Wildred was able to
hold up his guilty head before the
world and pass himself off as blame
less member of society.
Between the horns of this dilemma
and Heaven knows they were sharp
enough could only choose the one on
which Karine and | seemed less likely
to be torn; and, therefore, it was that
l elected to go to America.
l did not feel that l could bear to
leave without word to her. How
could l tell in what light my absence
might be made to appear? From the
vague hints she had dropped as to her
relations with Sir Walter and Lady
Tressidy, | hardly considered that it
would be safe to write to her. Such a
letter as | must send, should l write at
all, if read by eyes for which it was not
intended, might bring Karine into SER
ious trouble. 1t was true that Lady
Tressidy had appeared to be inclined
towards friendliness with me, but she
then had no suspicious of my attitude
to Karine
would go down into the country and
call upon Lady Tressidy and Miss Cum
ningham, 1 resolved; and if l had no
opportunity of speaking with my beau
tiful girl in private, l would contrive
to slip into her own hand note pre-
viously prepared.
My decisions, when made, are usually
soon acted upon. Within a couple of
| hours after receiving the inspectors
letter and the message from New York
my passage was engaged for the follow
ing day. A curious mood was upon
me as I began my preparations. Hard
ly more than fortnight ago l had been
congratulating myself on the prospect
of considerable stay in London. My
ideal existence had for the moment
been an utterly aimless one. | was sat
cd with excitement and what is popu-
larly called adventure" and had only
wanted to rest and amuse myself.
had meant to be man about town I'M
til should again tire of the life, drift
ing agreeabIy here and there, taking
pleasure as it came, troubling myself
little either about other peoples af-
fairs or Sy own.
And this was the result of my plan.
There seemed a certain unreality about
it all. l felt like the puppet of circum-
stances, or one who moved through
strange mazes, half conscious that he
merely dreams.
By two o'clock everything was ar
ranged for my departure on Saturday,
| and l was at Waterloo, taking my
ticket for Haslemere, which was the
station nearest to Sir Walter Tres