Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-03

60 81 va,
Epclyn sank into chair ana covered her
face actut her trembling hGnds
| Dinner was announced, and we waited
patiently for few minutes and impa-
tiently for good many more, until
Evelyn hurried down, apologizing for
being late, and with message from
Lady Mary that we were not to wait for
her, as she was dining upstairs in her
own room, a practice to which she seemed
rather addicted.
''And where is Aureliag' asked Ralph.
"She is not coming down to dinner
either" said Evelyn. "She has bad
headache again, and is lying down. She
asked me to tell you that she wishes par
ticularly to see you this evening, as she
is going away tomorrow, and if she is
well enough she will come down to the
morning room at O; indeed she said she
would come down anyhow"
| After Ralph's natural anxiety respect
ing his lady love had been relieved, and
he had been repeatedly assured that
nothing much was amiss, we went in to
dinner, and more lngubrious repast
never remember being present at. The
meals of the day might have been CLASH
fed thus: Breakfast, dismal; luncheon,
dismaller Tor moro dismaD; dinner, dis
mallest Tor most dis1naD There really
was no conversation. Even l, who,
without going very deep (Which 1 con-
slider is not in good taste), have some
thing to say on almost every subject
even felt myself nonplused for the
time being. Each of us in turn got out
a few constrained words and then re-
lapsed into silence.
Evelyn ate nothing, and her hand
trembled SO much when she poured out
a glass Of water that she split some on
the cloth. saw Charles was watching
her furtively, and became more and
more certain that Aurelia was right
and that Evelyn knew something about
the mystery of the night before. 1 must
and would speak to her that very even
| ing.
Bitterly cold," said Ralph, when at
last we had reached the dessert stage.
| "It is showing still, and the wind is
getting up"
In truth the wind was moaning round
the house like an uneasy spirit.
"That sound in the wind always
means snow" said Charles, evidently
| for the sake of saying something. "It
is easterly, I should think. Yes" after
pause, when another silence seemed
imminent, there goes the s o'clock
train. 1t must be quite quarter of an
hour late, though, for it has struck 8
some time. l can hear it distinctly.
The station is three miles away, and you
never hear the train unless the wind is
in the east"
"Come, Charles, not three miles-two
| miles and a hall, " put in Ralph.
ssWell, two and half from here down
to the station, but certainly three from
the station up here" replied Charles;
and SO silence was laboriously avoided
by diligent small talk, until we returned
tc the drawing room, thankful there at
least We could take up book and be 81
lent If we wished. We all did wish it, ap-
parently. Evelyn was sitting by lamp
when we came in with book before
her, her elbow on the table, shading her
face with slender, delicate hand. She
remained motionlees, her eyes fixed upon
the page, but noticed after some time
that she had never turned it over.
Charles may have read his newspaper,
but if he did it was with one eye upon
Evelyn all the time. Between watching
them both did not, as may be imagin-
ed, make much progress myself. How
was / to manage to speak to Evelyn
alone, and without Charles knowledge?
/ At last Ralph, who had gone into the
morning room, opened the drawing room
door, and put his head in.
..Aurelia has not come down yet, and
it is quarter past o. Iwish you would
run up, Evelyn, and see if she is COM
ing"
\ "She is sure to comer' replied Evelyn,
without raising her eyes, "She said she
must see you"
Ralph disappeared again, and the
books and papers were studied anew
with answering devotion. AT the end
of another ten minutes, however, the
impatient lover reappeared.
at is half-past o." he said, in an in
jured tone. do pray run up, Evelyn.
A don't think she can be coming at all.
am afraid she is worse"
Evelyn laid down her book and left
the room. Ralph sauntered back into
the morning room, where we heard him
beguiling his solitude with few chords
on the piano.
Presently Evelyn returned. She was
male even to the lips, and her voice falt
cred as she said:
"6he has not gone to bed, for there il
, light in her room; but she would moi
answer when knocked and the door il
locked"
) "All of which circumstances are moi
, sufficient to make you as white as
u ghost" said Charles. 81 think, ever
, if Aurelia has a headache, you would
bear the occurrence with fortitudo
, My dear child, you do not act so vel
off the stage as on it, There is some
thing on your mind. People don't up
, set water at dinner and refuse all foot
except pellets of pinched bread for moth
) ing. What is it?'
, Evelyn sank into chair and covered
: her face with her trembling hands.
, Eyes, l thought So" said Charles
, kneeling down by her and gently with
drawing her hands. "Come, Evelyn
1 what is it,"
al dare not say" And she turned
Q away her face and tried to disengag
her hands, but Charles held them firmly
q SIS it about what happened las
t night?" he asked. in a tone that wa
+ kind, but that evidently intended t
: have an answer.
s eyes"
. "And do You know that am sus
= pected"
]. "You, Charles7 Neyer!' she cried
starting up.
Eyes, l. Suspected by my own f,
Their. So if you know anything, Evely
r which see you do-it is your duty t
tell us, and to help us in every way yo
: can"
q ua bod LOT ~, how hopdo NOW opd ho