Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-09-07

Lamp oct II Lgelyn's hand. Before had
tiln. u r.Inlls.rate on the liberty that
he was taxing We were all three IN the
roon.
Il was empty,
In one clyner stood a box half packed.
with various articles of clothing lying
BY il. On the dressing table was a
whole medley Of little feminine kmck-
knacks. with a candlestick in the midst
the deal wick still smoking IN the socket
and accounting for the disappearance OF
the light few minutes before. The fre
had gone ont. but ON chair by IL was
laid "A little black lace evening gown.
evidently put ont 10 be worn, while over
the fender dainty pair of silk stockings
had been hung, and two diminutiNe
black satin shoes were waiting on the
Learthrug. The whole aspect of the
room spoke of a sudden AMI precipitate
flight.
"Boltedr' said Charles, when he had
recovered his breath. And 81 the mys-
terry is ont M last! might have known
there was a woman at the bottom or II.
Unpremelitated, though" he continued,
looking round. ''5he meant 10 have
gone tomorrow, but your recognition of
that paper frightened her, though she
turned it off well t. gain time. No fool
that. She only hui an hour, and she
male the mos of il, and got off, no
doubt. while we were at dinner by the
s:O2 London train. which is the last to-
night. and after the telegraph Office was
closed, too. She knew nothing could be
done till tomorrow. She has more wits
than | gave her credit for."
81 distrusted her before, though | had
no reason for it, but Inever thought she
was gone" said Evelyn, trembling vio-
lentlv. and still looking round the room.
Il knew it," said Charles, "from the
moment | saw the light through the
kevhole. \ keyhole with a key III 1t
would not have shown half the amount
of light through it: and locked door
without key in it Is safe to have been
| locked from the outside. Had she a
maid with herr"
NO" replied Evelyn, "she used to
/ come to me. next door, when she wanted
/
knew | did not like her, though | tried
| not To show 1t.
"Well. we have seen the last of her,
or | am much mistaken" said Charles.
And now" he added, COMPRISING his
lips, Il suppose l must go and tell
Ralph"
"Oh, Ralph. Ralph" gasped Evelyn,
with sudden sob. "And he was So
fond of her.
And so you distrusted her before,
Evelyn. And why did you not mention
that fact little sooner
without any reason for II: And
when Ralph-oh, couldn't! couldn't
said the girl, crimsoning.
Charles gazed intently at her as she
turned away, pressing her hands tightly
together, and evidently struggling with
some sudden emotion for which there
really was no apparent reason. She was
overweight, suppose; and indeed the
exertion of breaking in the door had
been rather too much for Charles, too
for, now that the excitement was over
his hand shook SO much that he had to
put down the lamp, and even his voice
trembled little as he said:
Il don't think Ralph is very much tC
be pitied. He has had narrow escape.
Don't come down again either OF
you," he continued moment later il
his usual voice. Il had better 90 and
get it over at once. He will be wonder
ing what has become of us if | wair
much longer Evelyn, good night. Coco
night, Middleton. If it is too early fol
You to go to bed you will find fire il
the smoking room
babe Evelyn good night and followed
) Charles down the corridor He replaced
} the lamp wis hand that was stead!
enough now and went slowly across the
| picture gallery, The way to my room
led me through it also. lnvoluntarily
: stopped at the head of the great carvet
| staircase which led into the hall, an(
watched him going down, step by step
with tagging tread From the morning
room came the distant sound of piano
: and mans voice singing to it, singin!
!, softly, as though no Nemesis We're ap
preaching; singing slowly, as if Their
t were time enough and to spare, Blu
r Nemesis had reached the bottom Of tn
| staircase; Nemesis with a heavy ste]
D was going across the silent hall-wa
S even now opening the door of the morn
t ing room. The door was gently close,
e again, and then, in the middle Of a bar
the music stopped.
/ fro RE CONTINTED,l