Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-28

tiehe4S upon tile grass DeSlOe Ltle pain !
Went past the house and continued on
ward by the riverside, passing at once
into the deep shadow of the alders which
eHectual!y concealed me.
The pair We're walking at the same slow
deliberate pace beneath the high hedge
on the further side OF the meadow, evil
IDENTIFY intending to rejoin the riverpath
some distance further up. This gave me
an opportunity to get on il front of
them and seized it without delay; for
i was anxious to obtain another view
Of the face Of the man whom l had be-
lieved for months to be In his grave
Keeping In the shadow OF the trees
and bushes that overhung the stream,
l sped onward for ten minutes or more.
until / came to the boundary OF the
great pasture, passing through the swing
gate by which ] felt confident that they
must also pass. turned to look before
leaving the meadow. and could just dis
;inguish their figures. They had turned
at right angles. and as I had expected
were walking in my direction.
l went forward again. and after some
hurried search discovered q spot close
TO the path where concealnaent behind a
great old willow seemed possible, SO at
that coiga of vantage ] waited breath
lessly for their approach. The roaring
Of the waters behind would. l feared.
prevent any OF their words from reach
ing me, nevertheless waited anNiously.
A great barn owl tapped lazily past,
hooting weirdly as it went, then all ma
ture became still again. save the dull
sound Of the tumbling food. Amber
Jevons, had he been with me. would no
doubt have acted differently. But it
must be remembered that I was the
lnerest tyro in the unravelling Of mys-
terry whereas with him it was Kind
OF natural occupation. And yet would
ne believe me when I told him that
had actually seen the dead man walk
ing there with his wife?
l was compelled TO admit within myself
that such q statement from the lips Of
any man would be received with in
credulity. Indeed, had such a thing been
related to me, should have put the
narrator down as either liar or luna
tic.
At last they came. I remained motion
less. standing il the shadow and not
daring 10 breathe. Ny eyes were fixed
upon him my ears strained to catch
every sound.
He said something to her. What it was
] could not gather. Then he pushed open
the creaking gate to let her pass. Across
the moons face had drifteo white heecy
cloud: therefore the light was not so
brilliant as half an hour before. Still
I could see his features almost as plain
y
penning my strange adventure, and
could recognize every lineament and
popularity OF his countenance.
Having passed through the gate. he
took her uneIored hand with an air Of
an o!d-fa shioned gallantry and raised 1t
to his lips. She laughed nerrily in rapt-
urous content and then slowly, very
slowly, they strolled alons the path that
ran within three feet of where ] stood
My heart 1eapt with excitement. Their
voices sounded above the rushing Of the
waters and they were lingering as
though unwilling to walk further.
"Ethelwynn has told me-" he was say
ing. 81 can't make out the reason OF
his GOODNESS to her Poor girl! she seems
utterly heartbToken."
"He suspects his wife replied
But what ground has he for suspi-
cion?''
talking Of myself!
They had matted quite close to where
] was, and in that low roar had raised
their voices so that ! could distinguish
every word.
We'll" remarked his wife, 'the whole
affair was mysterious. that you must adj
nit. With his friend, man named Je-
vons, he has been eIldeavoring to solve
the problem
"a curse on Amber Jevons:" he blurt-
ed forth in anger, as though ne were wen
acquainted with my friend.
"It between them they managed to get
at the truth it would be very awkward,
she said.
mo fear Of that" he laughed, in full
confidence. "a man once dead and bu-
ried, with a coroner's verdict upon him,
is not easily believed to be alive and
well. No. my dear: rest assured that
these men will never get at our secret
never"
I smiled within myself. How little did
he dream that the man of whom he mad
been speaking was actually overhesring
| his words!
s'But Ethelwynn. in order &c regain her
place in the doctors heart, may betray
U.s." his wife remarked. obviously.
..she dare not" was the reply. From
her we have nothing whatever to tear.
AS long as you keep UP the appearance
of deep mourning, are discreet in all
yo,,r actions. and exercise proper eau
ton on the occasions when we meet. our
secret must remain hidden from all
But I am doubtful OF Ethelwynn. "A
woman as fondly in love with man as
she is with Ralph is apt to throw olscre-
ton to the winds" the woman observed
tRecollect that the breach between them
&c an orr account, and that a woro
| from her could expose the whole thing.
| and ct the same time bring back to her
! the man for whose lost love she is PIN
| ing It is because OF that ! am IN con-
slant fear
Your apprehensions are utterly
| sroundless" he declared, in a decisive
voice. Shes the only other person III
| the secret besides ourselves but to betray
| US would be fatal to her"
"She may consider that she has mace
| sufficient self-sacrifice?
Then all the greater reason why she
| should remain Silent She has her repu-
tation to lose by divulgins.
! BY his argument she appeared only hall
| convinced. for 1 saw upon her brow a
| heavy, thoughtful expression, similar to
! that / had noticed when sitting opposite
| her at dinner. The reason OF her con-
| slant pre-occupation was that she feared
/ her sister might give me tne clue TO her
| secret.
That a remarkable conspiracy had been
| In progress VAS now made quite plain;
| and further-one very valuable fact had
! sscertained was that EthelWynn was the
! only other person who knew the truth
| and yet dared not reveal it.
This man who stood before me was old
Mr. Courtenay without doubt. That
| being so, who could have been the un.
| fortunate man who had been struck te
the heart so mysteriously?
So strange and complicated We're al! the
/ circumstances, and 50 cleverly had the
| chief actors in the drama arranged It's
| details, that Courtenay himself was con
i 49,. - l. {,c,,t y