Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-26
Continued.

Where was ne! why ulu he uOI COut
and give her her triumph? 1t was not
kind of him to keep her so long. She
walked to the window, and stood look
ing out She saw the lawn and the
bright flowers, the cleaning, restless
sea, the dark, shady woods. Beyond
these last was the church in which that
morning she had been married. Where
was Laurie, and why did he not come
Lady Station looked at the beautiful,
restless face.
Have you heard Of this sad affair,
Miss Gordon?" she inquired.
But Ethel was not in the least inter
ested.
Il have not heard of any affair, Lady
Station" she replied; but I thought
as I came through the house, there
was something unusual going on
You may well say unusual" OBJ
served Lady Station, who delighted in
little gossip. Il have never heard of
such thing in my life. If it gets into
the papers, it will ruin the Queens
Hotel"
Miss Digby. Everything of that kind
is published-and so it ought to be-"
It is not often that l am SO COM
pletely deceived" remarked Lady
Station. 1T will be wa ming to me not
to put implicit faith in any one again"
Still Ethel had not taken the least
interest in the conversation; all that
she was thinking of was Laurie, and
why he did not come
1T is quite as well, Miss Gordon, -"
pursued Lady Station, that you were
not here this morning. There has been
terrible scene. You were fortunate
to miss it, 1t will haunt me for many
long days. Poor Mr.. Nugent! 1 can
not help plying him, after ALL"
Mr.. Nugent," she said in a low
yoice-'What of him?"
1T was a terrible thing" put in
Miss Digby. I'm conceiving a dislike
for him, little knew how true my in
stinct was"
Ethel had clasped her hands so
tightly that the tender skin was
bruised, so keen was her Impotence,
so terrible her suspense
What has he done?" she asked, in
the same low voice.
Really, my dear Ethel" replied
Lady Station, 1.-The story is hardly fit
for young lady to hear. | told Miss
Digby that I considered it provdential
that you were out of the way when it
all happened"
Ethel curbed her jmpatience as we'll
as she could; her limbs trembled, and
the red marks on the white hands
deepened.
Il think she said, you may tell
me, whatever it is. l am sure to hear
of it-perhaps I had better hear it first
from you"
Lady Station looked pleased. Ethel
had tried to speak in her ordinary
voice, but she had failed; and Helen
Digby wondered at the strange sound.
1t seems, my dear" began Lady
Station, that the gentleman we have
known as Mr.. Nugent is no Nugent
after all. His name is Laurie Caring
ton. He was manager of bank in
London. What was the bank called,
Helen?"
In the profound silence, Miss Digby's
voice sounded clear and distinct.
The Anglo-Scottish Bank" she re-
Piled briefly
Yes; that was it. He was a young
man Of good family and great ability.
He was chosen as manager of this
bank. 1t was, perhaps, not quite safe
position for so young a man; but then
they trusted him implicitly"
Lady Station paused for a few min
utes; the voice was hardly human in
which Ethel said, hoarsely:
You have not told me what he has
done"
/ was coming to that, my dear"
explained Lady Station, complacently.
Mr. Carrington-to give him his
proper name-seems, from what l hear,
to have got among fast set, and to
have spent a great deal of money in
gambling. The end of it was, he ap-
9priated the bank funds-he forged
check of five thousand pounds, and
absconded with the money"
Ethel spoke no more, but from her
white lips there came a gasping sigh.
He went away with the money. and
every one thought he would try to
leave the country. The case was put
into the hands Of the detectives. and
all the seaports were carefully
watched. He was aware Of that. and.
knowing this quiet place, decided upon
coming here, intending to get across
10 France if he could. While they have
Deen searching for him in all the great
foWns-London, Liverpool. Bristol.
Hull-he has been quietly hiding here. -
Another great, gasping sigh; but the
white lips never opened to speak.
4 remember seeing in Tuesdays
Times that the police were on the
track of the forger, Laurie Darlington
and hoped soon to effect his capture.
However, it appears the paragraph was
quite correct. The detectives came
early this morning, and there was a
terrible scene"
cannot imagine INTERRUPTED
Helen Digby, why he stayed here 81
long. He might have crossed the
channel and have made his ESCAPE day:
ago, when he knew his danger. can
not think WHY he rar,,o;po5 baro >,