El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-29

suspected Charles.
Il know nothing for certain said.
! But you have "a suspicion?'
81 have a suspicion"
''She went to the door to see if it were
shut. and then came back. and said in a
whisper
! so have l."
Perhaps we suspect the same person."
said.
She did not answer, but fixed her dark
eyes keenly on mine. l had never no.
ticed before how dark they We're.
saw then that she knew, and that she
suspected Charles. just as Sir George had
done.
nodded.
Nothing is proved" l said.
Il dared not say even as much as this
before" she continued hurriedly. 1T is
only the widest. vaguest suspicion.
have nothing to take hold of. 1t is so
horrible to suspect any one: but
She stopped suddenly. Her quick ear
had caught the sound of a distant step
coming across the hall. In another mo-
ment Aurelia came in.
Are you there, Evelyn:" she said. 81
was looking for you, to ask where the
time table is. / want to look out my
journey for tomorrow. Ralph ought to
do it, but he is upstairs" with little
pout.
You ought not to have quarreled with
him until he had made it out for YOU"
said Evelyn. smiling. 1T is a very cross
journey. isn't it? Let me see. You are
going TO your uncle in Dublin, are not
you? You had better go to London and
start from there. 1t will be the shortest
way in the end"
The two girls laid their heads together
over the Bradshaw. Evelyn's dark, soft
hair making a charming contrast to Au-
relia's yellow curls. At last the journey
was made out and duly written down,
and post card dispatched to the uncle
in Dublin.
Have you seen Ralph anywhere"
asked Aurelia when she had finished it.
Il am afraid l was IA little tiny wee bit
cross to him this morning. and am so
sorry.''
Evelyn always seemed to stiffen when
Aurelia: talked about Ralph, and under
the pretext of putting her post card in
the letter bag for her she presently left
the room and did not return.
Aurelia sat down on the hearth rug
and held two plump little hands to the
fire. 1t was quite impossible to go on
writing to Jane while she was there, and
gave it up accordingly.
Il am glad Evelyn is gone" she said.
confidentially. DO you know why
am glad?'
l said L could not imagine.
Because" continued Aurelia. nod
ding gracefully at me. Il want to have
very. very, very serious conversation
with You, Col. Middleton"
said / should be charmed, inwardlv
wondering what that little curly heal
would consider to be serious convers:l-
ton.
Really serious. you know" continued
Aurelia. mot pretense. About that
pointing with Il pink finger at the inlaid
writing table You know | was with
Ralph when he found it out, and / arr
afraid l was "a little cross to him. only'
really it was so hard and they We're 81
lovely. and it was partly his fault. now.
wasn't it. for leaving them there? He
ought TO have been more careful"
'.Of course he ought.' L said l would
not have contradicted her for worlds.
And You know am to be married
next month. and Aunt Alice in Dublin.
VINO is getting my things. says as it is tn
be winter wedding am to be married
in a white frise velvet. and | did think
the diamonds would have looked so
lovely with it. wouldn't they"
| agreed. of course.
But l shall never be married in them
now" she said with deep sigh. And
was looking forward to the wedding 81
much. though | dare say | did tell "A
naughty little story when / said | was
not to Ralph the other night. OF course
Ralph is still left" she added, as an
but it won't be so per-
feet, will it,
l was morally certain Charles would
have To give them up, so l said. reassur-
ingly:
Perhaps Won may be married in them. |
after all
OH she said, clasping her hands to-
gether, do You really think so? Do You
know anything? | have not seen Ralph |
since to ask him about it. Do You think |
we shall really get them back
Il should not wonder"
.Oh, Col. Middleton. see you know |
You are clever. wise man. and you |
have found out something. Who is it? !
Do tell me-
"Wlll you promise not to tell any one:"
'Mayn't tell Ralph? tell him every |
thing"
We'll. you may tell Ralph because he |
knows already; but no one else, remem-
Der. The truth is we are afraid it is !
Charles /
There was long pause.
II know Evelyn thinks So" said Azure |
liza in whisper, though she tries not |
to show it, ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ssBecause WHAT