Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-10

looked across at me, and laughed
well. old fellow?" / queried, not
feeling at all In laughing mood my
self.
II was thinking about how odd II
would be IL ever should be your papa
in-law. I should be. you know, in q
way, IL you were to marry Vera"
"1-marry Verav' I exclaimed, In
amazement. Whatever has made you
think OF such thing as that?"
II beg your pardon, IL I've made a
mistake. Jack; but, upon my honor. 7
really thought you were getting at
tached to the child"
That's just It. am sttached-to
the child. But then, one doesn't think
OF marrying children"
Vera Is sixteen on New Years day"
said Gwynne. quietly putting at his
cigar. Her mother was married be-
fore she was as old as that
'oh. nonsense. Hall" I exclaimed.
sharply, SO sharply that he looked at
me in surprise.
1 could not have defined my feelings
at that moment. but know they were
extremely unpleasant. II not absolutely
painful ones.
1 felt, for all the world, as though
the meshes OF q web were tightening
round meas though I were being
drawn to a place from which there
would be no retreat save with definite
misery or infinite dishonor.
The suggestion that might marry
Vera had done this.
In the first place, I was certain Il
own unassisted mind.
Whether he knew It or not, he was
simply the mouthpiece OF Lady Ora
mont.
1t was she who had induced him to
speak like this to me.
And her motivef OF course I saw
that in q moment.
II I were married to her daughter.
or even engaged to marry her, her own
secret must needs he safe with me.
Let my suspicious be what they
might, I could never betray them, to
her peril, IL loved her child. The very
deepness of the cleme hardened me
against the woman who I conceived,
had planned It; and hence it was that
spoke so sharply.
Pray say no more about my marry
ing Vera; II is quite out OF the cues
ton. Come. aren't you about ready for
bed? am" And, I left the room
abruptly.
'Tt is quite out or the question" 4
repeated this to myself as 1 went I'D
the stairs, and was surprised to find
how keen a pang it cost me. Quite out
OF the question that should marry
Vera.
had never thought OF IL before. but
now was forced to think or II. and to
decide II could never be; realized that
my heart had passed out OF my keep
Ing. that Vera, child though she was.
had won IT.
But could never marry her; no, not
even though I could win from her an
answering love; her mothers sin must
forever stand between us. I might be
willing to make her my wife, even
though knew she was the daughter OF
murderess but she-could she marry
the man who had been the means OF
betraying her mothers crime.
Assuredly she could not and vet. I'm
my heart. felt certain that that pain
full duty would be mine. Sooner or
later 1 should have to betray Beatrice
Gramont to Sir Harold. II she were
what suspected her OF being, could
not stand by and hold my peace while
my friend gave her the shelter OF his
high and spotless name.
had drawn up the blind in my bed
room, and was standing beside the win
dow while thus unused. 1t was a Bit
terly cold night and a light snow was
".
when saw a dark figure approaching
the house. 1 opened the window very
quietly and leaned out; / had a fancy
should see Gwypue.
I thought he might have stepped out
60 finish his smoke. and returned when
1t came on to snow. But IT was not
man. IL was a woman who was coming
swiftly towards the house.
A moment OF breathless uncertainty,
and then saw IL was Lady Gramont.
She entered the house by one OF the
side windows. and closed it after her,
noiselcssly.
She came straight upstairs, and
passed on to her own room. for could
here the soft swish-swish OF her skirts
as she went by my door. Where had
she been? and upon what errand7
There was some inscrutable mystery
about this woman. could not even
dimly guess what her past had been.
With thoughts all confused and cha |
ouc. 1 undressed and got into bed; but |
had not lain there more than FIVE
minutes when a fear darted into my |
mind which made me spring up as
though had been shot.
remembered that Lady Gramont |
had come from the direction OF the |
stables. and the house OF Sir Thomas's
head groom was a lettle beyond there.
Nero was there. Had Lady Gramont's
ramble had anything to do with him? |
I turned hot all over as debated the
question. In less than five minutes I |
hac got my clothes on, and was out
or the house.
Come what might, felt must know ]
whether my dear old dog was safe The !
stables were not more than a hundred |
yards away, and Dixon's house was |
about as far again.
tore along in the darkness at a |
rapid pace, feeling wildly excited, and
yet with curious sinking at my heart. |
The snow as falling fast now-so fast |.
that the prints OF Lady Gramont's feet !
were quite covered up; but, indeed,
even If they had remained, they would 1
not have been discernible in the dark I
ness.
1 passed the stables. All was quiet !
there-not sound TO disturb the still /
ness hurried swiftly on, to Dixon's !
house hoping each moment to hear NV
faithful old Nero's bark But no: all |
continued silent-as silent as the grave