Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-11-20
$50 lUTEEY PURE

and as M.ss Hastings drew near she
recogniz ] Ralph's voice He was
speaking excitedly
"You are silly 10 take ON so, he was
saying. Hendricks and his gang may
search till doomsday and never know
the truth. have fixed that Montoastle
will help"
Miss Hastings paused The carpet
had mufiied her footsteps They did not
know she was near
81 never had such an awful feeling
In my life. said Miss Benton. 'Oh. I
"You have too much Of your fathers
stubbornness to be moved by any argu-
ment, so / shall not make myself ridic-
ulous by persisting in trying to bring
you to your senses No young man OF
any true feeling would allow young
lady TO remain hers under such circum-
stances.
He hinted TO me only half an hour
ago that it might be well for me 10 go
70 you," answered Miss Hastings, "but
I told him it was my desire to remain
with bis sister, at least till some one
could take my place as her companion
II shall write your father at once.
said Mr. Hastings If he should come
over, presume
II should not leave here now IL all
can't stand it any longer! IL will kill
mel
"Boshl Look nt me. The papers are
even going over my record and limiting
that did it, and yet defy
"Hushl Somebody will hear you, ;"
cautioned Alice. and the door was sud-
denly closed Miss Hastings retreated,
white and quivering, to the library and
sat down again. She covered her face
with her hands and tried TO reflect. No;
she would never entertain that thought
Ralph Benton was her ideal, her con-
ception Of all that was manly and noble
in man II might seem 10 others that
he was guilty, but she would never be-
lieve it. And yet how strangely he had
acted when he came down from bis
room juss before the body had been
found! And then the words which she
had Just verheard-what could he have
meant?
Miss Hastings happened to glance in
TO large pier glass which reflected
part Of the ball in the direction Of Alice
Benton's seom and saw Ralph ap-
preaching IL was the first time she
had caught his face in repose since the
murder, and the sight Of it shocked her
inexpressibly he was white and hag-
gard. and his eyes were beginning TO
be bloodshot
He came into the library. started
slightly on seeing her and then ad
vanced, with smile.
II am so sorry for you, dear Julia,
he said tenderly 1T is not often that
q fellow gets MS fiancee into sucn an
awkward situation as this. As rule
the great troubles come after marriage,
not before. -
Your trouble is mine. It would be
Just AS great If we were separated. " the
girl returned sadly
He nodded aud turned his face from
her. She fancied his lip was quivering.
do you know what the pauers are
limiting at, Julia--I mean about me?"
he asked without looking at her.
my uncle was here just now and
told me, " answered the girl.
~ am glad you are aware Of that
ANYWAY" Ralph said II could not
consent to allow you TO remain unless
you knew it. "
Nothing on earth could make me
think you were guilty Of such a crime,
said Miss Hastings. "and | intend to
stand by you. y"
He sat down by her and took her
hand in his.
Il saw your uncle drive up, and |
knew what he came for" said lie,
'and il you had deserted me | should
have given up could stand good
deal. but to lose you now, in additi IN
to all the rest, would be more thai /
could bear Really. am in earnest.
Miss Hastings covered her face with
her hands and heaved deep sigh. le
was thinking of the words she lad
overheard just moment before. she
v anted 10 ask him if he were not keep
irg back something from her, but such
a question would imply lack OF faith
H. him, and she remained silent Steps
IRE heard in the hall Some men car
=, ing lirge bouquets and wreaths of
G Iwers we're reflected in the pier glass
a. they passed TO the drawing room TO
lay them on the coffin Ralph followed
her glance to the mirror.
Poor old man. he said II have
not yet realized that he is really dead.
Sister acts as if she did not either. We
shall miss the dear old governor in
spite of all the rows.
The power Of articulation seemed to
have left Miss Hastings She tried to
speak. She attributed the failure to her
mental condition.
Poor Aunt Martial" sighed Ralph,
releasing her hand. 1T will kill her,
I'm afraid. II you only knew her, you'd
understand She is peculiar, but she
has been mother to sister and me and
has already suffered too much. J"
"Does she knowy' asked Miss Has
tings. finding her voice at last HAS
she heard?'
mot yet replied Ralph. II tele-
graphed d. Gibson at the sanitarium
to keep the papers from her. ! hope he
will be cautious 1t is on her account
that we are SO particular. but"-he re-
6ected a moment--'I forgot You don't
understand. Some day ! shall tell you
the whole gloomy story. We've have
our skeleton, you see
"All families have them, observed
the girl wonderingly
"Ours is one, however, that can be
done away with by plentiful use OF
common sense. and sister and are do
ing all we can in that direction. II has
been uphill work, and now IL will be
harder than ever.
lTo n CONTINUED