The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-03-14
MYSTERIOUS
MISS DACRES
By Mrs. Schuyler Crowninshield.
Copyright 1901, by j. b. Lppincott Co.
CHAPTER yI.-CoSTINuED.

| stopped and picked up handker-
chief that had fallen by the bedside
1t was a mans handkerchief of good
ly size. 1t still held the nauseating
fumes, though lifeless, of that dead
ly, Supplying medium, ether. [
could not mistake it, | had been
obliged by the doctors to use it TOO
often in TIE judges last illness.
You poor child" | said, bending
over her. my tears raining down fast
upon the counterpane. How could
have distrusted you? So you were
the victim inned against, not
SHINING. My poor little Amaranthe!"
She smiled stupidity and nestled
down on the pillow, my hand UNDER
meath her check
'How was it that I heard voices
in your room last night?" l asked.
'How was it?"
Il cannot. tell you" She smiled
again, and opened her blue eyes a
little way, looking into mine, but
closing them almost at once, as if
the light hurt them.
But you must know, dear child.
1t was before you came out into the
hall"
Not in my room," she said, ''per-
haps in-in-there," she weakly mo-
toned towards Mr.. Beldon's cham
Der.
"But l heard them. I was at your
door. | heard them myself"
You were listening at my door?"
This she said with much of her or
binary spirit. you were" and
then, seeing, perhaps, look of sur
prise in my face, she broke down,
crying: ooh, dear Wibby! Dear,
dear Wibby! l will tell you all, all
the hateful truth. 1 had hoped for
dear daddy's sake that l might be
spared it, but | Wilt will" Here
she drew herself upward in the bed,
caught my hand and held it close
over her eyes with both of hers.
Don't make me say more than I
must, dear Wildly, don't! [ loved
dear daddy, / loved him sol" Here
she fell to sobbing again, and cried
with her, not knowing why. After
while she lay quiet, but still sob
bling slowly and YEARLY. "Now lis
ten she said-"listen! l was talk
ing. There was a man in my room
last night. Yes, Wildly, man, here
in my ROOM"
Il knew it," said L. 81 heard him
talking. ! saw him go in.'
You saw him come in?"
Yes, through the Window
And where were you, may | ask?"
She eyed me with cold scrutiny
that had little in it of the child Amar-
anthe.
l then gave her the history of my
wretched night, and of my leaning
out of the parlor window, and of
what | saw, of what l had heard.
1T is all true,' said she, and
sighed. "Oh dear, dear me! Poor
me! / thought that l had found a
place at last where they would not
pursue me, but no place is secret
enough. Now, dear Wildly, 1 am GO
ing to make clean breast of it, as
daddy used to say" 1 drew a chair
to the side of the bed, and sat there
looking into her wan face.
Don't look at me, Wildly dear,
don't! l can't bear it! Turn your
eyes away. There! that is better!
Now listen! l shall make it as short
as possible, for it is hateful story"
She raised herself on her pillows
again and looked downward, playing
with her fingers. She spoke very
fast, but the words are burned in on
my brain.
You must know, then, dear Wib-
by" she began, that daddy did not
always do as he should. He gambled,
as | told you. We had less and less
money. Sometimes he would come
home with great deal. Then we
lived well, and he bought me lovely
clothes. Then, when it was gone,