Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-11-28
CHAPTER XXI.

VI XIV tAtN HINHNN WtANMAteAT VI w.
ious 10 join the stir and mlrth OF the
townapcople. they all declared they knew
nothing OF any EngiishwomHns "A ! re-
turned delertrdly 20 my tom. ! hehru
inmentable voice, evidently English, DO
moaning In doubtful French. The onini.
bus from Falaisc had just come In, aud
under the lamp Ia the entrance OF the
archway stood lady before my hostess
who was yolubly asserting that there
was no room left in her house. l hasten
cd to the assistance OF my conntrywom'
nm, aud the light OF the lamp falling up
on her face revealed TO me who she was.
"Mrs. Fosterw exclaimed, almost
shouting her name In my astonishment'
She looked ready 10 faint with fatigue
aud dlsmay, aud she laid her hand heay'
lly ON my arm, as II TO save hersei from
sinking TO the ground,
Have you found herr she asked, IN
voluntarily.
"Not trace OF her" ! answered.
Mira, Foster broke into an hysterical
laugh. which was very quickly followed
by aobs. had no great difficulty In per-
suading the lanllady 10 find some accom-
mediation for hr. and then | retired 10
my own room 10 turn over the extraordl'
nary meeting which had been the laAt
incident OF the day.
II required very little keennoss TO come
20 the conclusion that the Fosters had
obtained their Information concerning
Miss Ellen Martneau where we had got
ours, from Mrs. Wilkinson; also that Mrs.
Foster had lost no time In following up
the clue. for she was only twcnty'ionf
hours behind me- She had looked thor
oughly astonished anl dismayed when
she saw me there; 80 she had had no
idea that was on the same track. But
nothing could be more convincing than
this Journey OF hers that neither she nor
Foster really believed IN OlIyia's death.
That was aA clear as day. But what ex'
puaation could give TO myself OF those
letters, OF Oliyla's above ALI Was II
possible that she had caused them to be
written, and sent TO her husbandf |
could not even admit such question.
without a sharp sense Of disappointment
In her.
saw Mrs. Foster early in the morn.
ing. somewhat ns a trucc.bearer may meet
another ON neutral ground, She was
grateful 90 me for my Interpolation Ia her
behalf the night before; and IA ! knew
Ellen Martlneau to be safely out Of the
way, | was Inclined to be tolerant to-
wards her. assured her, upon my hon
or. that had failed In discovering any
trace OF Olivia In Noireau, and | tod
her all | had learned about the bank
ruptcy OF Monsieur Perrier, aud the scat
tering OF the school.
''But why should you undertake such q
chaser" asked; ''if you and Foster are
satisfied that Olivia is dead. why should
you be running after Ellen MartineauF
You show me the papers which seem to
prove her death, and now | hnd YOU in
this remote part of Normandy, evidently
In pursuit OF her. What does this mean y
'You are doing the same thing your
self" she answered.
Eyes" / replied, because ] am not
satisfied. But you have proved your
conviction by becoming Richard Fosters
second wife,"
"That Is the very point" she said,
shedding a few tears; "as soon ls ever
Mrs. Wilkinson described Ellen Marti-
neau to me, when she was talking about
her visitor who had come 20 inquire af-
ter her, grew quite frightened lest he
should ever be charged with marrying
me whilst she was alive. So | persuad-
cd him to let me come here and make
sure Of It, though the journey costs n
great deal, and we have very little
money 10 spare. We did not know what
tricks Olivia might do, aud II made me
very miserable to think she might be still
alive, and in her place"
| could not but acknowledge to myself
that there was some reason In Mrs. Fos-
ters statement of the case.
'There Is not the slightest chance Of
your finding her." remarked
"Isn't therew she asked with an evil
CLEAN in her eyes, which ! just caught
before she hid her face again in her hand.
kerchief.
eat any rate" said, ''you would have
no power over her IL you found her. You
could not take her back with you by
force. do not know how the French
laws would regard Fosters authority, but
You can have none whatever, and he Is
quite unfit to take this long journey to
claim her. Really do not see what you
can do and should think your wisest
plan would be to go back and take care
of him, leaving her alone. am here to
protect her, and shall stay until | see
you fairly out Of the place."
| kept no very strict watch over heI
during the day, for felt sure she would
find no trace of Olivia in Noireau. Al
night l saw her again. She was worn
out and despondent, and declared her.
self quite ready to return to Falaise by
the omnibus at five o'clock In the morn.
ing. / saw her off, and gave the driver
fee to bring me word for what town she
took her ticket at the railway station
When he returned in the evening he told
me he had himself bought her one for
HonAeur, and started her fairly on her
way home.
AS for myself had spent the day in
making inquiries at the offices Of the local
custom houses which stand at every en-
trance into town or village In France,
for the gathering of trihing, vexatious
taxes upon articles of food and merchan-
disc At one Of these had learned that,
three or four weeks ago a young Eng.
llshwoman with a little girl had passed
by on foot, each carrying small bundle,
which had not been examined. 1t was
on the road to Granville, which was be-
tween thirty and forty miles away. From
Granville was the nearest route to the
Channel Islands Was 1t not possible
that Olivia had resolved to seek refuge
there again2 Perhaps to seek me! My
heart, bowed down by the sad picture Of
her and the little child leaving the town
on foot, beat high again at the thought
OF Olivia in Guernsey.