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

her up and restrain her impatience whilst
she explained how she had circumvented
Minna. and when he turned round Miss
Latimer gone.
Flora drew back instinctively when she
saw his face. and he just lifted his hat
and strobe past her, the branches snap
ping and cracking as he dashed through
them, and made his impetuous way out
into the road. He thought Miss Latimer
would hurry home. and he should soon be
up with her. But. though she did return
to the Hall, it was not by the road. but by
shorter route through the wood, anu so
he did not come up with her. But when he
asked the footman If she was in the house
James said she was talking to gentle
man in the drawing room. who had been
waiting for her nearly an hour.
Dick went to his denz then. which COM
manded the drawing-room door, and ne
waited patiently for one hour by the clock
Then the door opposite opened, and ne
heard Miss Latimer's voice
IF you stay here forever" she said, IT
will make no difference. / would rather die
than go with you.'
Her companion answered something In
low voice Dick did not catch, but he heard
Miss Latimers reply.
Il have given you my reasons. and now
you can take what steps you like. Only 1t
is no use attempting to see MIR. Graham to-
night, he will only be home to dinner. You
had better get bed in the village, and re-
turn tomorrow morning. L will show you
the way
She led the way out, and as soon as they
had disappeared into the shrubbery Dick
followed. He had just had glimpse of the
mans face, and he did not like its express
sion. He could hear their voices on in
front, one passionate and pleading, the
other cold and firm And he might even
have caught what they said. perhaps, if he
had allowed himself to listen. But he pre-
ferred to hear the truth from Miss Lati-
mer.
As soon as they were out of the shrub
berry Dick had to keep at greater distance.
for fear of being seen; but he did not lose
single movement of the pair, and even
knew that the man gazed all the while
with hungry, haggard, passionate eyes into
the girls still, set face. A terrible sus-
picion of the truth began TO dawn upon
Dick, and turn him cold and sick, as they
paused on the border of the lake, and Miss
Latimer pointed out the path the other was
to take.
Dick clenched his hands when he saw
the man try to kiss her, but Miss Latimer
pushed him back fiercely, and her eyes
blazed.
Never again, so help me heaven.' he
heard her say, in a loud angry voice. when
suddenly her companion locked his lean
sinewy arms round her slender figure,
caught her off the ground, and leapt into
the lake.
They had risen to the surface once be-
fore Dick could reach the bank, and the
man was holding her fast still against his
breast, whilst his laugh of triumph rang
out over the water.
"Mine-mine in death!' he shrieked, and
they both sank again.
Dick threw off his coat ard plunged in
after them The second time they rose he
saw that Miss Latimer had ceased TO
struggle because she had tainted, but he
could not reach her, and had to wait for
the last chance. He seized her hair as
she came up for the third time, and made
an effort to wrench her out of the mans
arms. But Trey held her as i'm wise, and
Dick had no alternative at last but to stun
the miserable creature by a blow on the
temple. His grasp relaxed then and he sank
but he sank alone, and Dick swan TO
land with his unconscious burden as fast
as he could
Fortunately, one of the undergraduates
had seen what was going on. and had hur-
ried to the rescue, otherwise Dick might
have had some difficulty i'm struggling up
the bank. AS it was he had to resign his
precious charge to Benson for half min
ute, though his jealous arms EMBODIED her
tightly again the moment he was on land.
and he started off running, with her white
face pillowed on his breast.
He met his mother on the lawn. and ex-
planned what had happened in a few words
she is not Dead he said; "she has only
tainted but she needs your care, mother
1 will take her straight up to her own
ROOM"
Stop exclaimed Mrs. Graham. inno-
Gently, land let me lead the way. You
won't know where to co.
Dick smiled grimly he followed be-
hind. She ought to have been wiser. but
women have curious talent for self-de-
ception, and only believe what they want
to believe a rule.
the big white bed, and if his lips touched
hers before he left her to his mothers
ministrations. he did not mind who saw
He had never really cared who knew that
he loved Miss Latimer, and had only hid
den his feelings for the latters sake.
But Mrs. Graham was too pre-occupied
to notice anything. She was giving orders
right and left, and in a pleasant hustle
when Dick went out. She was good AMI
kind, If somewhat narrow-minded, and
Miss Latimer's utter helplesness was az
appeal to all that was best in her-ber
motherly instincts.
When the poor girl opened her sad eyes
presently, Mrs. Graham's arms was
around her neck. But some one tapped at
the door at this moment, and she went
to open it, finding Dick there with a tum-
blerful of hot brandy and water, which he
begged her agitatedly to make her patient
drink. and then he was gone.
As Mrs. Graham helped the poor girl to
remove her wet garments she saw that
she wore a wedding ring suspended by
thin gold chain about her neck, under her
clothes, but, though she guessed the truth
then, she made no effort to force her conf