Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-09-14
CHAPTER XXI.

to give me proper attention, or too anx-
iOus to Join the stir and mirth OF the
townspeople, they all declared they knew
nothing of any Englishwoman. As l re-
turned dejectedly to my inn, l heard
lamentable voice, evidently English, be-
moaning In doubtful French. The omnf-
bus from Falaisc had just come In. and
under the lamp in the entrance OF the
archway stood .. lady before my hostess,
who was vo!ubly asserting that there
was no room left In her house. hasten
ed to the assistance OF my countrywom-
an, and the light Of the lamp falling up
ON her face revealed to me who she was.
"Airs. Fostcr"' l exclaimed. almost
shouting her name in my astonishment.
She looked ready to faint with fatigue
and dismay, and she laid her hand heav-
lily on my arm, Ms IL to save herself from
sinking to the ground.
Have you found herr" she asked. in
voluntarily.
"Not a trace Of her." answered.
Mrs Foster broke into an hystcrical
laugh, which was very quickly followed
by sobs. I had 10 great difficulty In per-
suading the lnndlady to find some accom-
mediation for her. and then l retired 10
my own room to turn over the extraordi-
nary meeting which had been the last
incident of the day.
1t required very little kcenness to come
to the conclusion that the Fosters had
obtained their information concerning
Miss Ellen Martineau 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 twenty-four
hours behind me. She had looked thor.
oughly ast0nishcd and dismayed when
she snw me there; 80 she had had no
idea that was Oh the same track. but
nothing could Inc more convincing than
this journey of hers that neither she nor
Foster really believed In Olivia's death.
That was as clear as day. But what ex.
PLANTATION could l give to myself Of those
letters, of Olivia's above all! Was 1t
possible that she had caused them to be
written, and sent to her husband! l
could not even admit such question
without a sharp sense Of disappointment
In her.
I saw Mrs. Foster early In the morn.
ing, somewhat rs trucc-bearer may meet
another on neutral ground. She was
grateful to me for my interposition In her
behalf the night before; ind rs knew
way, I was inclined to be tolerant to-
wards her. I assured her, upon my hon.
or, that I had failed In discovering any
trace Of Olivia In Noireau, and ! told
her all I had learned about the bank.
ruptcy Of Monsieur Perrier, and the scat.
tering Of the school.
''3ut why should you undertake such n
chaser" I asked; III you and Foster are
satisfied that Olivia Is dead, why should
you be running after Ellen Martineau?
You show mo the papers which seem to
prove her death. ana now I find you In
this remote part Of Normandy. evidently
In pu-s~it OF her. What does this meanT'
"Yo are doing the same thing your
SELF" Inc answered.
EYES," I replied, "bccausc l am not
satisfied. But you have proved your
conviction by becoming Richard Fosters
second wife,"
"That II the very point" she said.
shedding II few tears; las soon as ever
Mrs. Wilkinson described Ellen Marti'
neau to me, when she was talking about
her visitor who had come to inquire If
ter her, grew quite frightened lest he
should ever DO charged with marrying
me whilst she was alive. 30 I persuad-
ed him to lot me come here and make
sure OF It. though the journey costs a
great deal. and we have very little
money to spare. We did not know what
tricks olivia might do, aud It made me
very miserable to think she might be still
alive, and I In her place"
I could not but acknowledge to myself
that there was some reason In Mrs. Eos
ter's statement OF the case.
"There Is not the slightest chance OF
your finding her." I remarked.
"Isn't thereY' she asked. with an evil
CLEAN In her eyes, which l just caught
before she hid her face again In her hand
kerchief.
AT any rate" said, "yOu would have
no power over her II 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 Gun have none whatever, and he II
quite unfit to take this long journey Il
claim her. Really do not see what you
can do; and l should think your wisest
plan would be to 70 back and take care
Of him, leaving her alone. I am here e
protect her. and shall stay until set
you fairly out OF the place."
] kept no very strict watch over hel
during the day, for ! felt sure she would
find no trace of olivia In Noireau. Al
night I saw her again. She was worr
out and Respondent, and declared her
self quite ready to return to Falaise by
the omnibus ut five o'clock In the morn
ing. ! saw her off, aud 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 toll
me no had himself bought her one fo
Honfleur, aud started her fairly on hel
way home.
As for myself I had spent the day IL
making inquiries at the offices OF the loca
custom houses which stand ut every en-
trance into u town or village In France
for the gathering of trihing, vexatiou
taxes upon articles Of food and merchan
disc. At one of these had learned that
three or four weeks ago young Eng
lishwOman with little girl had passet
by on foot, each carrying u small bundle
which had not been examined. 1t wa
on tho road to Granville, which was be
tween thirty and forty miles away. From
Granville was the nearest route to tn
Channel Islands. Was 1t not possible
that Olivia had resolved to seek refug
there again? Perhaps to seek me! Nj!
heart, bowed down by the sad picture o
her and the little child leaving the tow
OH foot, beat high again ut the though
Of Olivia In Guernsey.
At Granville l learned that a yOun
lady aud u child had made the voyage t
Jareav N short Tina haforo and I wan