The Eddy current., 1899-03-25


family for nearly forty years rouslng
me violently.
What Is lt?' asked. sitting up In
my bed with a vague feeling OF appre-
hension. Has anything hahpened7"
Hush hush. master Paul" she said
agliatedly, I'VE must keep Il quiet az
long as we can. Something has hap
poned. She has gone"
My wlfc?"
Yes, whom ! went Into her room this
morning ! found It empty aud the bed
not slept in she Is not In any part OF
the house grounds That ls all can
tell you"
Urging her to keep the other SER
wants In ignorance II possible, 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 note or message; no one had seen
or heard her quit the house. and. after
a guarded inquiry at the station, as
certained that she had not been OBJ
served by either guards or station
master taking any of the morning or
late night-tralns Towards midday
feverlsh with anxiety. entirely bahled
! returned home Calling Mrs Muir
ray. begged her TO get by portman-
tcau ready. as / was leaving NJ once
Where to-what are you going TO
do-tell me. Master Paul?" she plead
el with a shaking voice.
I'm going after him." answered
choknEly: don't bother me. wom-
an but get my things -qulck!"
Him who's him?"
"iIernshaw he left the Grange last
night"
We'll we'll. slr you know your own
business best; but ! think you're go-
ing on a FOOLS crrand after him. ia
look elsewhere n were YOU"
seized her hands as drowning
man would straw
"Elsewherc?" repeated, what DO
you mean? Murray, Murray you know.
you guess whore she ls Oh don't keep
me IN SUSPENSE II you knew what
horrible thoughts torture met"
II know no mare than you. sir, where
she is" she interrupted sadly "By
elsewhere think meant some where
ucar 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 pain In her
head and n mlstlness over her eyes. q"
"Of course. Of course" broke IN
eagerly what short-slghted dull
fool Two boon She's gone TO Done
gall TIL start after her at once and
bring her homo before the tales get
about. Murray, / rely on you-"
You may, sir; I'll do my best, never
fear she said lmpressiyely, laying her
hand on my arm to dotain me. But
but. Master Paul. forgive me saying
what I'm going TO say. Having known
YOU from your cradle. and. as Il were.
playing the part OF mother 10 you
when your own was taken 80 young
-"
Fire ahead" burst In impatlently.
you know you can say what you like
To me. Murray"
Then. Master Paul" she whispered
hurrlodly take my advice, and before
you bring your wife home send the
other away"
Murray" I stammered, releasing
myself what nonsense you taxi It's
Its you who are on the wrong track
nov. "a Miss stopfords presence
here has had LJthlng to do with the
unfortunate misunderstanding with my
| poor wife how could it7'
The old woman laughed bitterly. and
moved away. shaking her head pur-
/ sued her uneasily.
Listen TO me. and i'il convince you
Helen never knew. never even sus.
pected that II had once cared foT
Miss stopiord, She believed looked
upon her as a sister whom wai
brought up with; she never objected
20 her staying here. indeed she went
at once TO the General the moment the
visit was suggested; never showed th,
falntest sign of-of dislike or Jealousy
oh. DO stop nodding that ridiculous
] NIMF MlN NNHN VI aNHfHf NHANh NH
impatlently. Say what wou mean aht
have done with a."
Blind hllnd. hllndi" she repeated
looking at me With plying reproaoh
your wife knew you loved Miss Edith
the first day you met her here, and
though she has been fighting agalna
the knowledge trying 10 deceive her
self "a has been OF no use; day afteI
day the truth has been burning int
her poor heart. turning her very braiI
until she could bear II no longer an'
now she has lied from her pain"
"lf this be- true" muitered hoarse
ly. "as sure as there is Heaven aboyl
had not the faintest-at least not
reasonable or tangible suspicion o
such thing belng the case. How
how should ~ She she never com
planned never reproachod me
"But she loved you, Master Paul
loved you az few men are loved b.
women even by the truest or best o
/ Al