Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-09

Idu ilau no opportunity OI SSIIiHS
hold of otto. or of any one who could
tell him who she was. Otto came
straight toward him.
Il want to introduce you to Miss
Lansdowne." said he
Lansdowne. The name was quite
unfamiliar TO Clifford But as soon
rs he was introduced the puzzle came
To pieces.
Il wanted so much 10 know you,
Mr. King" said the girl. who was
pleasant. unaffected and iable-look-
ins. Il can see you don't know me.
and Yet | know you very we'll"
That is not quite fair" said Clif-
ford. Il do remember your face per.
fectiy well; it is your name only
which is unfamiliar TO lac. l am Ger
tain | have never spoken to you i'll
my life; you may be sure | should
rot have forgotten K | mad
Il live near Stroam." said Miss
Lansdowne.
Clifford started. and his face cloud.
ed.
Il have often seen you ABOUT there
went on the girl. land l know init
ma:ely more than one Of your friends
there"
Il have no friends there now" said
Clifford. with sudden change to
grave bitterness in his voice and man.
ner.
We'll. YOU had friends there ut one
time. | think. Miss Bostal and her
father, the Colonel. would, I am sure
ne rather hurt to know that you no
longer reckoned them rs your friends"
The Bostals. Oh. yes" answered
Clifford. indifferently. II know them,
but Miss Bostal would hardly reckon
me as friend. / lost my place in her
esteem. if ever had any. by walking
from Courtstairs 10 Stroam on a Sun
day in tourists suit
Miss Lansdowne smiled.
''She is an odd little creature" she
said. but she has very good heart
TO hear her depiore the disappearance
OF Il young girl whom she was fond
of and kind to-" and Miss Lansdowne
looked steadily away from Clifford as
she spoke. no one could doubt the
depth of her feelings"
Clifford was silent for few mo-
ments. Then he glanced at the face
Of the girl beside him. saw that it in
vited confidence. and guessed that her
last words had been carefully chosen.
You mean that Miss Claris has dis
appeared?"
haA nj oh r
SUPPOSE" she asked, with i pretense
of Indifference.
''Of course"
And that nobody knows more than
this-that she and her uncle have gone
away:"
Clifford answered. with scarcely
pretense on his side of concealing tho
emotion he felt:
Il went down TO the place myself.
saw the house shut IN. deserted. and
found that nobody could tell ME more
than this-that George Claris had gone
mad, and that he was III an asylum:
and that his niece had gone away ut
the same time. If you can tell me
anything more. l shall be very gratn-
full to you
Il don't know any more than you d.
One can only guess--or repeat he
guesses of Others
We'll. let ME he3r the guesSeS."
They say-people think-that the
girl has been shut up. too
In an asylum" asked Clifford
hardly able to control his voice.
Yes"
Il don't believe it, said he. hoarse-
ly.
We'll. isn't it better than believing
anything else?''
Electromagnetic she is a thief. "a"
Clifford could not go on.
do you know what happened on
that morning when George Claris was
found mad:" asked Miss Lansdowne.
abruptly.
The woman at the nearest cottage
told me the story" lie answered,
shortly.
Did she tell you" Miss Lansdowne
hesitated-''that Miss Claris tainted
when they told her what had hap
pened TO her uncle. ard that they
found under her pillow-a canvas bag
containing the money collected for
some shipwrecked sailors the night be-
fore:"
Cliffords face changed
NO" said he at once. in the tone o.
q man who has made up his mind on
some weighty point. they did not
tell me that
1t is true. though After that, who
could doubt the girls guilt
II could said Clifford. quietly.
And one other personalities Bostal
And you are both equally unreason-
able
To be Continued