Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-01-19


trusted servant who had served the
family for nearly forty years-rousing
me violently. r..r...
What is it," asked. sitting up in
my bed with a vague feeling of appre-
henslon. Has anything happened?"
Hush, hush, master Paul" she said
agitatedly. I'VE must keep 1t quiet as
long as we can. Something has hap
pened. She has gone"
MY wife?"
.Yes. when l went into her room this
morning found 1t empty and the bed
not slept in: she is not in any part OF
the house grounds. That is al! I san
tell you."
Urging her to keep the otner SER
wants in ignorance II possible. l dressed
hurriedly. 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 leay-
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-trains. Towards midday,
feyerish with anxiety, entirely bafiled,
| I returned home Calling Mrs. MUIR
| ray, begged her to get by portman-
teau ready. as was leaving at once.
Where to-what are you going to
do-teil me. Master Paul?" she plead
| cd with n shaking voice
I'm going after him." / answered
chokingly: don't bother me. wom-
an, but get my things--quick"
"Him-who's him?" .-
"Hernshaw: he left the Grange last
night"
well, we'll. sir you know your own
business best: but I think you're 60
ing on a FOOLS errand after him. I'd
look elsewhere II l were you"
l seized her hands as drowning
man would a straw.
"Elsewhere?" repeated. What do
you mean? Murray. Murray. you know.
you guess where she is. Oh. don't keep
me in suspense! If you knew what
horrible thoughts torture mel"
81 know no more than you. sir, where
she is,'' she interrupted sadly. by
elsewhere l think I meant somewhere
near 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 mistiness over her eyes
"Of course, of course" l broke in
eagerly. what a short-sighted, dull
| n
| gal! I'll start after her at once and
bring her home before the tales get
about, Murray, rely on you
"You may. sir; I'll do my best, never
fear" she said impressively, laying her
hand on my arm to detain me. But
but, Master Paul, forgive me saying
what I'm going to say. Having known
you from your cradle, and. as it were,
| playing the part of mother to you
| when your own was taken so young
Fire ahead!" burst in impatiently.
"You know you can say what you like
to me, Murray" l'' st.
Then, Master Paul" she whispered
hurriedIy, take my advice, and, before
you bring your wife home, send the
other away" ~ s-
Murray" l stammered releasing
myself. What nonsense You talk! It's
its you who are on the wrong track
now. Ed-Miss Stopford's presence
here has had nothing to do with the
unfortunate misunderstanding with my
moor wffe-how could it,"
| The old woman laughed bitterly, and
moved away, shaking her head. l pur-
sued her uneasily.
Listen to me, and I'll convince you.
Helen never knew, never even sus-
pected that II had once cared for
Miss Stopford. She believed l looked
upon her as a sister whom l was
brought up with; she never objected
to her staying here, indeed she went
at once to the General the moment the
visit was suggested; never showed the
faintest sign of-of dislike or jealousy.
Oh, do stop nodding that ridiculous
gray old head of yours" I burst out
impatiently. Say what wou mean and
have done with it."
Blind, blind, blind!" she repeated,
looking at me with plying reproach.
Your wife knew you loved Miss Edith
| the nrst DAY you met Her mere, anu,
though she has been fighting against
the MISUNDERSTANDING to deceive her.
self-it has been of no use; day after
day the truth has been burning into
her poor heart. turning her very brain
until she could bear it no longer, and
now she has fled from her pain"
"If this be true l muttered hoarse-
ly, "as sure as there is Heaven above
l had not the faintestTat least not a
reasonable or tangible suspicion of
such thing being the case. How
how should /? She-she never COM
| plained-never reproached me-"
L --x.1.-. ..I.l