The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18

me the truth" observed Mrs. Graham.
graveiy but with decision.
II wished her to do so; but she said you
would not take me n you knew; you had
led such sheltered happy life yourself.
you would not understand my temptation
or my excuse But viii XIII myself rather
than go back to my husband. IL was terri
bic before; now"--and she flushed GRIM
son from neck to brow-sft would be an In
tolerable degradation
Mrs. Graham wondered why II should be
worse now than before. but then she did
not know the poor girls secret. Dick could
have enlightened her perhaps
Mrs. Graham hesitated for a few Sec
onds when the other had finished. She was
rather a narrow-minded woman. and had
old-fashioned notions. as Lady Eastwood
politely said. but she was true woman.
and her heart warmed 10 the poor girl who
was worse than motherless. and at last the
kiss came which was awaited so anxiously.
and came heartily.
MY poor child, l do understand" she
said. land we will take care of you"
Thank you, dear Mrs. Graham. for your
goodness. 1t will always be a comfort 10
remember" Mildred answered. "but must
hide myself again now he knows where I
annie hired detectives 10 trace me-
well. We shall see when you are better"
observed Mrs. Graham. who needed 10 con-
suit her husband. but before she had time
Dick. who was laying wait for her on the
landing. opened her eyes to a good many
things that had not been 'dreamt of in her
philosophy"
They had had the lake dragged and found
Mr.. Lopax's body, Mr.. Graham himself
experimenting the operations. but Dick
had not cared u be there. The others
death would not lie on his conscience. and
anyhow he would not have hesitated even
IL il had been any other woman that Lo-
max was dragging down with him TO her
death. That the latter was mad at the
time he never doubted. aud subsequent in
formation confirmed his impression. Neither
did he doubt that Mrs. Urquhart knew OF
this hereditary tendency and concealed it
from her daughter in her desperate anxiety
for the match. and he wondered that any
woman with a heart in her body could
have left her child in such unsafe hands.
Before she slept that night Mildred was
told that she was widow. She had faint
ed as her husband seized hold OF her and
remembered nothing afterwards. therefore
she was mercifully spared the pain OF
knowing exactly how his end came about.
and Dick would never tell her. Her hus-
bands alterations of cruelty and passion
ate fondness had made Mildred's life a
burden indeed. and she did not take the
tone that she was overcome with grief at
his death. But that she was greatly
shocked and even panied there could be no
doubt, and when Mrs. Graham went In To
see her the next morning she found she
had put on her wedding ring again, and
had very red eyes. as IL she had been cry
ing a good deal. She had such a bad. few
erish cold In consequence Of her immersion
that for several days she was confined to
her bed and the doctor had to be sent for.
but Mr.. Graham attended to everything.
and Mr.. Lomax was buried amidst his own
people at Burstead. When Mildred was
able to leave her room Dicks furlough was
over and Norman had joined his ship.
which she was glad Of for various reasonss
but every day the former had sent her
bouquets of her favorite flowers, and she
liked him the better that he had not
spoken of the future when she was such a
newly-made widow.
She was a rich one, too, for Mrs. Urqu-
hart had looked well after her daughters
intercsts-but this Dick did not know. lie
had loved Mildred when she was poor
gave him her hand and all her heart a
year later she knew that she received even
more than she gave, and looked forward
hopefully to a future which was TO be q
direct contrast to the past.