The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-09-09

~ ~ Cil 10 nut III any paw VI
the house grounds. That is all l can
tell you"
Urging her to keep the other SER
wants in ignorance if 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 leav-
ing a 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,
.feverish with anxiety, entirely baffled,
| returned home. Calling Mrs. Muir
ray, l begged her to get by portman-
teau ready, as l was leaving at once.
Where to-what are you going to
do-tell me, Master Paul?" she plead
ed, with a shaking voice.
I'm going after him." l answered
chokingly; don't bother me, won
an, but get my things-quick!"
"Him-who's him."
"Hernshaw; he left the Grange last
night"
well well, sir you know your own
business best; but l think you're go
ing Oh a FOOLS errand after him. I'd
look elsewhere if | were you"
l seized her hands as a drowning
man would a straw.
"Elsewhere?" l 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 / 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
head and a mistiness over her eyes"
"Of course, of course" I broke in
eagerly. What a short-sighted, dull
fool I've been! She's gone to Done
gal! I'll start after her at once and
bring her home before the tales get
about, Murray, l 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!" l burst in impatiently.
"You know you can say what you like
to me, Murray"
Then, Master Paul." she whispered
hurriedly, take my advice, and, before
you bring your wife home, send the
other away"
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
poor wife-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 IL 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!" l burst out
impatiently. Say what won mean and
have done with it."
Blind, blind, blindl" she repeated
looking at me with plying reproach
your wife knew you loved Miss Edith
the first day you met her here, and
though she has been fighting against
the notwithstanding 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 fed from her pain"
"If this be true" muttered hoarse-
ly, "as sure as there is a Heaven above
| had not the faintest-at least not &
reasonable or tangible-suspicion o.
such a thing being the case. How
how should 1? She-she never com.
plained-never reproached me-"
"But she loved you, Master Paul
loved you as few men are loved b,
women-even by the truest or best o
them. You had no reasonable sus
picion of that, had you? All, no, no
And, loving you as she did, how coulC
you ever expect her not to see wha
every visitor who came to the house
every servant about the place, saw ant
commented on?"
What did they see-confount
them?" l clustered wrathfully.
Saw that you were keeping
sweetheart and a wife under one roof,
the old servant retorted bluntly; 'say
your face brighten when you lookeI
at the one, heard your voice softer
when you spoke to her; saw you pass
ing notes to one another, riding to
gether, slipping away together tel
times a day; meeting after dark, whis
pering together. All, Master Pau
Master Paul, does not your conscienc
this moment tell you what they say
and what brings the color into you
face so cruel hot this minute? Their
I've spoken out as you babe me. an