Little Falls herald., 1901-03-22
CHAPTER XVIII.

OcnluQ the mouse.
CHAPTER XVIII. -:
When the major reached Lyndhurst
that evening it was six o'clock. Talley
met him at the steps of the veranda.
'Well,'' said the young man buoy
antly, the semidarkness preventing
him from observing the disturbed
countenance of his employer; ''well,
major, have you seen the market re-
ports?"
NO; I haven't had time to-day; T.
I-whereis my wi Where is Blanche ?"
The young man beamed and rubbed
his hands together.
''Then you don't know that the G..
N. & w. has taken jump and is now
actually worth two for one?"
rs that so? Where did you say she
WASP" looking UP towards the un-
lighted window of Blanche's room.
II am afraid you don't realize that
you have made a fortune out of this
deal, major" said Talley, crestfallen.
"Oh, yes; am glad, of course" said
Goddard, absently. 'But, inpatient
ly, Il want to see Blanche at once!"
"She was walking in the garden on
the other side of the house few min
utes ago." answered the private secre-
tary. Il beg your pardon; I was so
glad to be able to bring you good
news, I wanted to ask if you would
advise selling now. The prospect is
glorious for an additional rise. The
stock is on boom. Even my little
investment has turned out more
money than I ever hoped to-
But the major was not listening.
He turned his tortured face away, and
was striding through the dusk to-
wards the garden in the rear. Near
the old granite fountain in the center
of the garden he saw tall. darkly-
clad figure moving slowly to and fro.
1t was the object of his quest. Her
head was bare, but she wore fur
cape, the high collar Of which encom-
passed. her head except a triangular
opening where her sweet face ap-
peared.
"Oh, it is you," she cried, his hur-
ried step causing her to turn sudden
ly, and she moved towards him
quickly, her gloved hands out
stretched. II have something very
important to tell you. I started to
drive to the station to meet YOU"
II have something to say frst," he
said, taking her hands.
THyl>o% ~.
She had noticed the strident quality
in his voice.
He released her hands, his action.
born in the sudden realization of his
unworthiness to treat her with famil-
iarity. He glanced over his shoulder
at the house, as if fearing interruption.
Lets walk down towards the
wood" he said, II have an awful con-
fession to make. When you have
heard it you will despise me. You
will wish you had never seen me. You
will think me devil incarnate."
AS Blanche moved on by his side
she had a suffocating sensation in her
throat, and she unbuttoned her cape
and threw it further back on her
shoulders. She saw something of vast
import had happened; she knew that
by the awful alteration in his face and
manner. He bore every evidence of
being utterly crushed.
''Mr. Tal1ey said he had gone into
speculation" was her first thought,
'and he has lost my fortune"
Nothing you can confess could
make me love you one jot less,. my
dear husband" she managed to say.
''You have made me so happy that I
would thank God for you if 1 were
beggar."
They paused and stood facing each
other within ten yards of the edge of
the wood, which lay so dense, dark
and mysterious along the lower part
OF the garden. But on consoling him
she put her arms round his neck II
40 love you so much--so very much,"
she murmured.
But he took her hands down. "You
must listen.to me-" he said, firmly, his
handsome, face. drawn, as from some
great physical pain. "Oh, my God,
help me!'' x>.. 81, %r r. :.
The thorns Of . spreading rosebush
had caught her cape and pulled it
from her shoulders. It lay on the turf
few yards away. .s ID. 5@:...: Z:
'.Please get it for me" she said. II
am little cold" |.s.3% -. d. III s&>,s
He want back 1er it. and was just
stoopiag 10 pick it mp when he heard
the sharp ringing report Of re
volysr, and saw Hash Of light IN the
edge of the wood. 5 s.
Its Jeanne!" he thought, and
then he heard Blanche scream. Ir @. .3..
u Run, ,runl' he eried out TO hss.
but she sespsd 10 muoh startled tp=