The Princeton union., 1901-03-28
Blanche stood, her hand on the door

81 must confess that avoided him."
answered the intruder. "If you will
let me pass you, will go downstairs;
but l want to explain.-I cannot have
you think" ~. - =
81 don't think I am afraid of YOU"
said Blanche, strangely Gained by his
manner and tone of voice. II know
that detectives sometimes resort to
bold methods" - r.. -. ~,
"But l am not professional detec-
tive" said the man, as he picked up
his hat, which had fallen to the floor
"As l said, I am seeking Information
that concerns me alone. If you wish
you may call your manservant, and he
may be near while I try to explain my
presence here. You have a perfect
right to hand me over to the police,
and if you are generous enough to let
me go, should want to repay you by
perfect frankness on my part. Be-
sides, if am right in my suspicious,
have most important revelation to
make to the owner of this house." -
"You interest me in spite of my
$ SELF" said Blanche. But perhaps we
ought to go down to the drawing
ROOM
'lou are quite right acquiesced
the stranger, and, with a deferential
bow, he passed Blanche on the thresh-
old of the chamber and descended the
stairs. Of his own accord he turned
into the drawing-room. Our heroine
followed and paused near the door
way. She felt perfectly secure, with
out knowing why.
you are?' he said, with an apologetic
infection of voice. "Are you related
to Maj. Goddard?"
II am his wife" said Blanche. SIM
ply.
what? Oh, no! Surely not!"
II have not misinformed you," said
Blanche.
His face had fallen
"Then I have made an awful mis-
take" he said,. ''and owe you and
the major thousand apologies. I
hope you will pardon me. I have been
following a false clew, and yet" He
seemed to have his first opinion forti-
fed by memory, ''and yet I can't see
how can be off the track so badly.
It would undo me entirely. Surely
you did not have a millinery estab-
ishment on Fifth avenue up to the
time of your MARRIAGE
"No,' said Blanche, with start;
perhaps you are thinking of Maj.
Goddard's first wife.
HAS he been married twice?" cried
the stranger. why, only two months
ago"
'Mrs Goddard aied-or was drowned
about two months ago.
~"My God!' he shrank back as if she
had struck him in the face. Dead ?
Is she dead!'
eyes, she is dead"
"When-how-oh, my God! Was
her-was she called Jeanne?"
eyes; that was her name"
For moment he stared. His color
had gone, and he looked as if he were
about to fall.
"Please-please explain"
Blanche complied with his request
in few words
"Then have been hunting down a
dead woman. May God have mercy
on me-
"Was she "a relative Of began
Blanche.
She was my wife"
Your wife,"
Yes; the most misguided woman on
earth. My name is Dugdale-Henry
Dugdale. She was all ever had, and
she deserted me-"
He sat down and covered his face
with his hands. Blanche softly closed
the door and took a seat opposite him.
Il see-l begin to comprehend" she
said, in gentle, tentative voice..
Dugdale looked up. The impress of
his fingers was on his face.
DO you know anything Of her
past?' he questioned.
Not thing; she kept it even from
her-from Maj. Goddard. I think she
refused, for some reason, to reveal her
past life to him.
"When l met her. began the
stranger, with a sigh, she was the
most beautiful woman that had ever
seen. It was in Denver, where we
Doth lived. She was the daughter of
French dancing master. She was
courted by every man who met her.
She could have married wealth with
out limit, but she loved me. She left
proofs that she loved me when she
ran away, leaving our child in a con-
vent. I was away at the time. l
met with misfortune. She was ambi-
tlous-she had always wanted to lead
society; her mother before her had
been that way. She left me when I
went away to the California gold
fields. She had no faith in nv ven
ture; but I succeeded. It is a weak
thing to confess, but was searching
for her to take the poor woman back
to our child and my home. But I am
too late, you see; too late!"
"Then,' said Blanche, 81 am the
only legal wife my husband has ever
had. That is true, is it not?''
Eyes, you are right; and"I suppose
It is only nat1,ra1 fo,> yo,, to