The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-24

IeI WhlAe uIebh lOOkeu BuOhL~llAe n
the shadows
In little summer house at the fur
thest limits Of the garden, bitter tears
rose into her eyes as she thought Of
her own lneapaclty, her own enforced
idleness. Suddenly a voice at her ell
bow startled her. Some one thrust a
note into her hand, with the words:
VIII you give me your answer to-
morrow, or shall wait for It now?"
Taken unawares. and anxious to hide
the trace of her recent tears, Muriel
stammered hastily, Tomorrow? No;
the day after" and the next moment
she was alone again. Bewildered, she
/ turned the note over In her hand.
There was no address upon It. She
| rose hurriedly and FASTENED to the
door Of the summer house. A mans
| figure evidently that of a gentleman,
was disappearing out of the garden
gate on to the high road. It was too
late to recall him.
She opened his note mechanically.
In the dim light it was difficult to
trace the writing, but a second glance
left no room for doubt.
THE Societies Office, Stellenbosch.
ITO Mrs. de la F.:
Have you procured the dispatch
case carried by the officer, J. B., yet?
If so, the bearer of this is to be trust
ed; give it to him. If you have not
yet secured it, tell him when to see
you again. 81. x. de W."
Muriel drew her breath sharply. She
sat motionless, her brain busy. She
realized at once that she had been
mistaken for somebody in the pay of
the Beers; a plot was Matching, and
She
At that moment she heard foot
steps hurrying down the pathway She
thrust the note in the bosom of her
dress. Suppose the messenger had
discovered his mistake, and was re-
turning? Her heart beat wildly. With
sudden resolve Muriel had made up
her mind. The summer house had an
inner room, to which a small doorway
gave admittance. Opening the door she
plunged into the darkness. Holding
her breath, she peered through the
half-open door, not daring to close 1t
for fear of making a noise A man
entered the summer house. A quick
sigh of relief escaped Muriels lips. 1t
was not the messenger. She glanced
at the mans face; then started back
in horror. She recognized him as a
man she had frequently seen in the
hotel; but his eyes were now blood
shot, his expression villa, his manner
distraught
John Beresford (for it was he) drew
a revolver from his coat and raised
it against himself
Muriel waited no longer. With &
little cry she flung open the door and
threw herself upon the man. The re-
volver fell from his hand.
ooh! stop, stop!" she cried "You
! can't know what you are doing"
John Beresford stared at her as
though she were a ghost He stood
motionless, his arms hanging Imply by
his side, his wild eyes searching hel
own
Cant l help your whispered MI
riel, gently, all the sympathy of hel
nature going out toward him. pleas,
let me try"
Help l am beyond help" echoed
the man, struggling with the words
Leave me, for PHYS sake, Mrs. Molly
neux." There is only one way out 0
this"
How do you know my name?
asked Muriel, in surprise.
> "Molyneux was an old pal of mine,
answered the other. He would NO
= speak to me now"
A sudden inspiration flashed acros
y MuriePs brain. What is your name?
i she asked.
IT John Beresford. For PHYS SAX
/ leave me"
Your initials are j. B., then? Hay
10 you-are the dispatches"
How do you know about that?
;, said John Beresford, raising his hea
!" with a CLEAN of hope in his eyes. "NC
. a soul but myself and the thief know
that it was stolen from me within Il
u last "a hours"
~
Mrs. de la Fame glided down Il
= footpath leading toward the summ
~ house. She was dressed in white.
she drew near she caught the sour
of voices, and walked slowly past Il
doorway.
=. She gave a little dry cough whC
- she recognized John Beresford and M
~. riel Molyneux.
h. She seemed annoyed to find the SUI