Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

garden. with yew hedges trimmed fantas-
tically as in the days of wigs and patches
l had snatched a weekend several times
to be old Mrs Mivart's guest, therefore, l
knew the picturesque old place well, and
was entertained by it's many charms
Soon after o'clock that afternoon I de-
seconded from the train at the roadside sta
ton. and mounting into the dogcart was
driven across the hill to the manor. In the
hall the sweet -fac ed. silver haired old lady,
in her neat black and white cap, greeted
me- holding both my hands and pressing
them for moment apparently unable to
utter word. I had expected to find her
unwell: but on the contrary, she seemed
as active as usual notwithstanding the
senie decay which I knew had already
| laid it's hand heavily upon her.
You are good to come to me, doctor.
! How can I thank you sufficiently she
| managed to exclaim at last, leading me In
| to the drawing room. long, old-fashioned
| APARTMENT. with low ceiling supported by
| black oak beams. and quaint diamond
| paned windows at each end.
| "We1l?" I inquired when she had seated
| herself. and with the evening light upon
| her face. saw how blanched and anxious
J she was.
| II want to consult you, doctor. upon a
| very serious and confidential matter" she
| began. leaning forward. her thin white
| hands clasped in her lap. I'VE have not
| net since the terrible blow fell upon US
| the death of poor Mary's husband
| at must have been a great blow to
| you" ] said sympathetically for I liked
| the old lady. and realized how she had suf-
| fered
YES. but to poor Mary most of ALL" she
said They were so happy together. and
| she was so devoted to him."
This was scarcely the truth but mothers
| are often deceived as to their daughters
domestic felicity. wife is always prone
| to hide her sorrows from her parents as
| far as possible. Therefore the old lady had
I haa t1a .r 49,
ton.
yes I agreed. at was tragic and
terrible thing. The mystery is quite un-
solved"
ITO me. the police are worse than use
less she said. in her slow. weak voice.
They don't seem to have exerted them
| selves in the least after tina. utterly use
| less inquest with its futile verdict. AS far
| as l can gather. not one single point has
| been cleared up"
NO said. Not ONE
And my poor Mary" exclaimed old Mrs.
| Mivart "she is beside herself with grief
| 1t would"
Where is Mrs Courtenay?" asked.
: Here. She's been back with me for over
month. 1t was to see her. speak with
her. and give me an opinion. that 1 asked
you to come down"
rs she unwell?'
II really don't know what ails her. She
talks of her husband necessarily. calls him
! by name. and sometimes behaves SO
| strangely that l have once or twice been
| much alarmed"
| Her statement startled me- had no idea
| that the young widow had taken the old
| gentleman's death so much to heart AS
far as had been able to Judge. 1t seemed
very much as though she had every desire
/ to regain her freedom from a matrimonial
bond that CALLED her. That she was grief
stricken over his death showed that /
had entirely misjudsed her character.
| rs she at home now?" I asked.
| "Yes. in her own sitting room-the room
| we used as schoo! room when the girls
| were at home. Sometimes she mopes there
| all day. only speaking at meals. At others
| she takes her dressing bag and goes away
| for two or three days-just as the fancy
takes her. She absolutely declines to have
| a maid"
You mean that she's just little-well,
| eccentric" I remarked. seriously.
! Yes, doctor" answered the old lady in a
strange voice. quite unusual to her and
| fixing her eyes upon me. ITO tell the
| truth. fear that her mind is slowly giving
| way"
| l remained silent, thinking deeply; and
| as did not reply. she added:
You will meet her at dinner. shall not
let her know You are here. Then you can
| judge for yourself"
| The situation was becoming more COM
| plicated. Since the conclusion Of the In
| quest i had seen nothing of the widow
She had stayed several days with Ethel
| wynn at the HeEnikers', then had visited
her aunt near Bath. That was all / knew
| Of her movements. for. truth to tell, held
her In some contempt for her siday pleas
| ure-seeking during her husbands illness
Surely a woman who had single spark OF
affection for the man she had married could
not go out each night to theaters and sup
per parties, leaving him to the care of his
| man and a nurse. That one fact alone
proved that her professions Of love had
been hollow and false.
While the twilight fell sat in that Ions
somber old room that breathed an air of 8
century past. chatting with old Mrs Mi.