The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-06
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- COPYRIGHT. ioos. BY C. MCCLURE. Co.

one of honor she replied.
But you will at least satisfy my GU
riosity upon one point exclaimed. you
will tell me the reason you lived beneath |
Courtenays roof?
''YDu know the reason we'll. He was an !
invalid, and I went there to keep Mary
company
smiled at the lameness Of her explana-
ton. 1t was, however, an ingenious eva
sion of the truth, for after ALL could not
deny that had known this through sew
eral years. Old Courtenay, being prac-
tically confined to his room, had himself
suggested EthelWynn bearing his young
wife COMPANY. ".
Answer ma, truthfully, dearest. Was
there no further reason?"
She paused; and in her hesitation de-
tected a desire to deceive, even though
loved her so fondy.
Yes. Their was" she admitted at last,
bowling her head. E.t s.E@ o..
Explain it.'' e..t E*s .salGs. ls~- -. 90
ALAS! cannot. 1t is secret"
"A secret from me?"
Eyes, dear hearth she cried, clutching
my hands with wild movement Even
from you.'' '.' -
My face must have betrayed the annoy
ance felt, for the next second she has
tened to soften her reply, saying:
AT present it Is impossible for me to
explain. Think! Poor Mary is lying up
stairs. can say nothing at present
nothing-you understand
''Then decentralization the burial
you will tell me what you know?'
Until I discover the truth am re-
solved to maintain silence. All can tell
You is, the whole affair is so remarkable
and astounding that it's explanation will
be even n6Dre bewildering than the tan
| gled chain of circumstances
"Then you are actually in possession Of
10 r orlyo xryifL
thence. What use is there to deny t?''
! AT present I have suspicions-grave
ones. That is ALL" she protested.
What is you theory regarding poor
Mary's death?" I bsked, hoping to learn
something from her.
Suicide. Of that there, seems not a
| shadow Of doubt"
! I was wondering if she knew of the
dead mans existence. Being in sister
ly confidence with Mary she probably did.
| Did it ever strike you,''I asked, that
the personal appearance of Mr.. Courtenay
changed very considerably after death?
You saw the body several times after the
discovery: Did you notice the changer
| She looked at me sharply as though en-
deavoring to discern my meaning.
Il saw the body several times. ant
certainly noticed a change in. the features
But surely the countenance changes con
siderably if death is sudden?'
"Quite true" I answered. But recol
lect that in making the postmortem S
change. He seemed to have grown full!
ten years older than when 1 had seen hin
alive four hours before
"Well,'' she asked lis that any circum
stance likely to lead to a solution of tn
mystery? I don't exactly see the point.
1T may" I answered aynhiguously
puzzled at her manner and wondering
ra 0f "a 011rof
able feature of the. conspiracy. ..>
"How?' she asked. l:... ..t.>
But as she had steadfastly refused to re
veal her knowledge1 to me, or, the reason
Of her residence beneath Collrtelay's root
myself claimed the right to be equall
vague ''F: =r' -
We were still playing at cross-purposes
therefore urged her to be frank will
me. But she strenuously resisted all m,
persuasion.
mo. With poor Mary lying dead ca,
say nothing. Later, when I have fount
the clue for which am searching, + viii
tell you what I know Till then no wore
shall pass my lips"
knDw too we'll that when my love mad
up her mind it was useless to try an
turn her from her purpose. She was n
; shallow, empty headed girl, whose opin
, ion could be turned by any breath Of tn
; social wind or any invention Of the fad
dists; her mind was so strong and well
: balanced that she always had the cour
, age of her own convictions. Her sister, o
! the contrary, had been one of those gidd
: women who follow every frill and furbelo'
: of fashion. and who take UP all the 1ates
= crazes with seriousness worthy Of ia
= better objects. In temperament in dis
4 position, in character, and in strength
v mind they had been the exact opposite
I ! each other; the sister Eighty an
= thoughtless the other patient and forbeal
= ing with an utter disregard for the hollo
artificialities of society. s.-."
Y But in this matter we may be of as
e sistance to each other I said, In an en-
e deaVor to persuade her AS 1ar as ca
discover, the mystery contains no fewe
! than seven complete and distinct secrets
4 To obtain the truth regarding one woul
- probably furnish the key to the whole
p "Then you think that poor Mary's ur
!. timely death is closely connected with tn
= tragedy at Kew" she asked. -. 80
- Most certainly. But I do not sha1
your opinion as to suicide. T.
-. What? You suspect foul play?' 81
n I nodded in the affirmative.
X "You believe that poor Mary was az
y tually murdered?" she exclaimed, anx
ously. 'Have you found marks
d. violence, then?''
n mo. I have found nothing. My opinic
g is formed upon surmlse,' ST.. ---.-.
le what surmise?'' >.
I I hesitated whether to, tell her all tt
l. facts that had discovered, for. we
81 disappointed and annoyed that she shou
ID still perceive logged silence now that
j. reconciliation had been brought about.
IS We'll" I answered, after a pause, m
e. suspicion Of foul play is based upon log
70 cal conclusions have myself been wi
lie ness Of one most astonishing fact-nam
n ~, that she was in, the habit of meetir
"a certain man clandestinely at night, ar
- that their favorite walk was along tt
- river bank
~ 'What!' she cried, starting up in alarr
-, all the color fading from her face. "Yc
" have actually seen them together?"
IT have not only seen them, but ], hay
a | overheard their conversations,
in answered. surprised at the effect n
If words had produced upon her.
5"Then you already know the truth
is she cried. in wild voice that was almo
os shrek Forgive me-forgive m
III Ralph! And throwing herself sudden
upon her knees she looked up into my IA
re imploringly, her white hands clasped
tn an attitude of supplication, crying in
ut voice broken by emotion Forgive m
I'd Ralph! Have compassion upon rne!' az
she burst into a flood Of tears which
H. caress nor tender effort .of mine cou
Sc stem.
e. adored her with passionate NADINE
"a that was beyond control. She was,
she had ever been, my ideal-my all in a
le And yet the mystery surrounding her W,
4 still impenetrable; an enigma that gre
m more complicated and more impossible