The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-07-28

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pected have suddenly failed them, so they
want me to fill an awkward gap"
Yes, you must go; but am very sorry
Dick. Don't you remember we were to
have gone together to hear the nightin-
gales sing? However, we will go to-mor-
row. she added. "To-night l will run
only to the summer house and listen for
ten minutes. There is sure to be night
insale singing in the shrubbery.''
Mr.. Charlford and Dick both being alb.
sent, Miss Gray. with Netta and Bella,
joined Caroline and Mabel at dinner, and
they were all merry save Caroline, who
had never been merry since her accident;
but even she smiled now and then.
After dinner, when Netta and Bella
were playing a game of besique and Miss
Gray was talking to Caroline, the Win
dows being all wide open, Nab passed out
softly on to the lawn.
In happy dream she went on toward
the arbor, walking in the shadows over
the lawn. When within sight of the sum-
mer house she paused and looked up at
the sky, listening all the while for a night
ingale; but everything was strangely still.
All at once she caught sight of figure
moving along the greensward toward the
arhor.
1T must be Dick" she thought-"Dick
come here to see if l should be out! But
how early he has returned! Certainly the
Rectory people are always early
In another second she would have called
out Dick, Dick" and then her fate and
that of all belonging to her would have
been far different. But, as her lips parted
to utter her brothers name, a sudden
sharp and wellremenlbered fear shot
through her heart. and she stood still
waiting for what might happen; for she
had just distinguished another figure
that of q man-her fathers surely-creep-
ing toward the summer house.
Two men, IS there had been, not here,
but miles away, on that often--recalled
night when she and Neville had first met!
Yes, there were two men, and one Of them
was wearing a wide -brimmed hat.
With fast-throbbing heart she stood for
some moments like statue; then, whis-
pering to herself, "It is for Neyille's
sake she moved forward and paused in
the shadow of an overarching bough just
outside the entrance to the arbor.
At that instant voice came from the
summer house:
80 you were here first.
LIE WoiuS meant nOtnlnS IN themselves,
but oh, the terror with which they filled
the girl! For it was Enthusiastically her
father who uttered them, distinctly but
cautiously. A voice replied to him out of
the gloom:
First? l am always first
Great heaven-the second mans voice
she also recognized Had she not heard it
on an occasion that she could never for
get? 1t was the very man who had met
Caroline who spoke those last words-it
was the same man who had also met her
father by the pool. In that bitter moment
Mabel felt as if wounded to death; in
stinctively she OWNED that something
was about to happen which must sep
arate her from Neville
Her fathers firm denial of ever having
met anyone in the boathouse at her uncle's
or elsewhere by night or in secret rushed
to Mabefs memory as she heard AIr.
Charford speaking again while she
crouched in the shadow
BE as brief as you can, Lane" he said.
What is it you want of me?"
II cannot be brief tonight" returned
the man. II must recapituiate little. 1t
is Of no use to tell me to be brief to-
night"
Then for heavens sake do not speak
here.' cried Mr.. Charlford ''Would Won
imperil your own safety as well as mine?
You declared in the strongest terms that
you would never do anything which might
put stop to my-to Mabel's marriarer'
Don't lose your head and your temper
together, Filton," replied the other.
Speak must-where is it to be?"
Tomorrow, then, a couple OF hours
later than this in my study" returned
Mab's father, hastily. There will be less
risk there than in our meeting at an inn,
for, of course, l am known all over the
county,"
"You will let me in by the window? It
will be late" said the man.
Iou will come i'll by the side door. Paw
attention to what | am saying to you.''
said Mr.. Charlford. my family will ex
pect me to return from London by the
midnight train Tomorrow. 1t is not nv
custom TO keep any one up TO admit me-
my own key does that. Refreshments are
therefore placed ready, and every one re-
tired. Come to supper if you will, and we
will settle business definitely. Even YOU
yourself must admit the danger of these
meetings"
The other did not answer, but slided
out of the arbor, and disappeared across
the lawn
Nab stood as if petrifed In one brief
moment she had passed out of the sweet
ness Of life into the horror of death. In
the stupor which fixed her to the spot she
observed her father come to the entrance
Of the summer house and heard him call
softly after the man who had just quilted
him. But the man did not hear the call,
and her father did not repeat it.
No matter" he muttered-"no mat
ter!"-and then a sound of fearful laugh
ter reached her ears. There was such
menace distinguishable in the sound that
Mabel shuddered. Let him come at l
o'clock tomorrow; I shall be glad to see
him.
The words We're muttered in the same
tone as before, and then the speaker
moved away and was lost amid the shad-
ows Of the night. But he did not go to-
ward the house; he stole away in the
direction Of the long avenue which led
toward the high-road.
With straining eyes Mabel gazed after
the vanishing figure which had taken