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

Rather e difficult task to make the
tragic occurrence at Kew appear fnno-
! cent" he observed. But you're really
wonder woman. Mary. The way you've
acted your part in this affair is simply
| marvellous. You've deceived every one.
even that old potterer, Sir Bernard him
SELF
"I've done it for your sake was her
response "I made promise and I've
kept It. Up to the present we are safe,
but we cannot take too many precautions.
| We have enemies and scandal-seekers OH
every side
81 admit that" he replied, rather i'm
patiently thought. If you think It a
wise course you had better lose no time
in placing Ethelwynn's innocence before
her lover. You will see him in the morn
ing. 7 suppose?"
Probably not. He leaves by the eight
O'Clock train,'' she said. when my plans
! are matured I will call upon him In Lon
| dom
land If any woman can deceive him
YOU can Mary" he laughed. ..In these
! widows weeds Of yours you could deceive
| the very devil himself
| Mrs. Courtenay's airy talk of deception
| threw an entirely fresh light upon her
| character. Hitherto. I had held her in
! considerable esteem as woman who,
being bored to death by the eccentricities
! Of her invalid husband, had sought dis
+; traction with her friends in town, but
| nevertheless honest and devoted to the
! man she had welded. But these words
of hers caused considerable doubt to
arise within my mind That she had been
devoted to her husbands interest was
proved by the clever inposture she was
| practicing: indeed it seemed to me very
much as # those frequent visits to town
! had been at the dead" mans suggestion
/ and with his entire consent But the
| more reflected upon the extraordinary
details OF the tragedy and its astounding
denouenent, the more hopeless and mad
dening became the problem.
II shall probably so to town to-mor-
row." she exclaimed. after smiling at his
declaration, Where are you in hiding
just now!"
In Birmingham. A large town is safer
than village. I return by the five o'clock
train, and so again into close conceal
| ment.''
But you know people in Birmingham.
don't you? We stayed there once with
some people called Tremlett, recollect.''
"Ah, yes" lie laughed But I'm care
full to avoid them. The district in which
live is far removed from them. Be
| sides. I never. by any chance, go out by
day. I'm essentially nocturnal roam
err
"And when shall we meet again?'
"By appointment in the usual way"
cat the usual place." she asked.
There. can be no better, I think. It
| does not take you from home, and I an
! quite unknown down here
eff any Of the villagers ever met US
| they might talk, and declare that ! met
| a secret lover" she laughed.
'if you are ever recognized. which I
| don't anticipate is probable. we can at
once change our place Of meeting. At
| present there is no necessity for chang
ing it.
! Then in the meantime will exercise
! my woman's diplomacy to effect peace
| between Ethelwynn and the DOCTOR" She
| said 'It is the only way by which we
| can obtain security
! FOR the life of me can't discern the
! reason OF his GOODNESS towards her." re-
marked my dead" patient
"He suspects her.
! "Of what?"
Suspects the truth She has told me
| so.''
Old Henry Courtenay grunted In dis
satisfaction.
Hasn't she tried to convince him to
! the contrary?' he asked. II was always
under the impression that she could twist
him round her flnger-so hopelessly was
$50 she could before this unfortunate
he In love with her.
affair"
And now that he suspects the truth
he's disinclined to have any more to 40
with her-eh? Well.'' he added, after
all, it's only natural. She's not. SO
devilish clever as you. Mary. otherWise,
| she would never have allowed herself to
! fall beneath suspicion. She must nave
| somehow Numbered
Tomorrow I shall go to town she
! said. in q reflective voice. NO time
should be lost in effecting the reconcilia-
| ton between them
| "You are right he declared. sou
| should commence at once. Call and tax
with him. He believes SO entirely IN
| YOU. But promise me one thng-namely,
| that YOU will not go to Ethelwynn," he
urged.
.eWhy not?'
because it is quite unnecessary" he
answered tyou are not good friends;
| therefore your influence upon the doctor
| should be hidden one. She will pc
! lieve that he has returned to ner or MS
| own free will; and hence our position
4! will be rendered the stronger. Act diplo-
| rnatically. If she believes that you are
F! interesting yourself in her affairs it may
| anger her.
e"Then you suggest that I should call
upon the doctor in secret and try and
influence him in her favor without her
being aware Of it?''
Exactly. After the reconciliation is
effected you may tell her. At present,
I however it IS not wise to show our hand
! By YOUR visit to the doctor you may, be
! able to obtain from him how much ne
! knows, and what are his suspicious one
| thing is certain. that with all his shreWc-
| ness he doesn't dream the truth.
! ..yvho would? she asked with smile
| ..If the story were told nobody would
believe It,
chats Just it! The incredulity of the
| whole affair is what places US in such
| position CT security; for as long as lie
low and you continue to act the part OF
the interesting widow nobody can possibly
get at the truth.
81 think I've acted my part well up t.
the present" she said. ssand hope tc
/ continue to do so. To influence the doc.
tor will be a difficult task. ! fear. But
/ I'll do my utmost. because see that D!
the reconciliation Ethelwynn's lips woule
be sealed.
! "Act with discretion. my dear" urged
the old man "But rem en1ber that Boyf
;s not a. man to be trif1ed W1th-anc
as for that acursed friend OF his Am
! bier Jevons. he possesses the ingenuity
1 If the verv King of Darkness himself:
"Never fear she laughed. conndently
an cave it to me-leave all to me-.
And the,, agreeing that it was tir1e
they went back they turned. retracec
their steps. and passing through the
/ small gate into the meadow were sooI