Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-04-23
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to him that she must nave been gone
for hours. Perhaps she had been de-
tained, and 1t would be impossible for
her to return. Still, knowing what q
passionate little person she was. and
accustomed pretty much to having her
own way, 1T would have been diff
cult matter for them to have kept her
back. Finally, he could bear the walt
ing no longer, but rose and stepped out
to the edge of the trees, looking
anxiously In the direction of the house.
1t would be really to bad If their last
meeting should be so woefully cur
tailed.
A step behind him, and. as he turned.
1t was to face Mrs. Ellison. Even in
that light he saw that her face wore an
angry expression.
What are you doing here?"
He did not answer, for the surprise
of the meeting checked his speech. She
was tall. handsome woman. and wore
an evening dress that displayed her fine
arms and bosom. In the moonlight,
with the dark trees around, she was
picture for g painter.
She was swinging garden hat back
and forth in one 1eweled hand, with an
angry gesture, then, stamping her foot,
she repeated the question::
uSh you uSdlU, SIT, what are you
doing in these grounds?''
1T may be that came to take a last
look at the house-of my friend, Mr..
Ellison" he stammered
You might have spared yourself that
Troublesome 1t Is my house and not
his" which was true. Dick knew. since
the wife had the fortune. And now.
since you have seen 1t. go!"
Yes" replied the young man. but
making no move to leave.
II know that 1t was one of the fam
lily you came to see." she continued with
rising anger. II congratulate Mr.. Eli
son on his protege. A fine guardian for
young people, truly. Sneaking in here,
like q thief In the night. to see my
daughter, who Is too young to know
better
Your daughter will never suffer at
my hands, madam" the anger rising
within him, which he dared not give
vent to.
Enough! We will not discuss that
matter. Your presence here is a suf-
hcient answer. And now insist again
on your going. Do you want me to APP
peal to the servants?"
IL will go. l will 60" murmured
poor Dick, as he moved away,
cursing his misfortune in having en-
countered this beautiful fury at such
a time. Once he looked back, only
to find that she was still standing in the
path looking after him. She doubtless
meant to remain there until she was
sure that he was on his way out Of the
park. With sigh he went on his way,
until turn of the path hid her from
sight
Then he stopped for moment to
consider. Should he not be able to re-
turn by a circuitous route to the place
where he was to wait for Grace? What
would she think II she arrived there
and found he was gone? Was 1t not
worth Drawing even the anger Of Mrs.
Ellison to try and see her again? While
he was considering the matter an ago
nized cry in woman's voice rang
happened to Grace? without mo-
ments hesitation, he dashed back over
the road he had just traversed. 1t was
only short distance before he almost
stumbled over the figure of a woman
on the ground. 1t was very dark at
that point where she lay. He stopped
and picked her up. carrying her into
eyes were closed, strange pallor on
her face. He laid her gently on the
bank at the side of the road. Had she
tainted? 1t was strange that he should
be the first one to come to the assist
ance of a woman who had been abusing
him but few moments before. Had
the excitement of that short interview
SO worked on her nerves that she had
tainted? What was to be done? 1t
was an embarrassing position for him
to be in. There was nothing that he
could do to help her. and yet help was
needed. Should he call for assistance?
There seemed to be nothing else to do;
he could not leave the poor woman
there, even If she had insulted him.
Then. as he leaned over her, hoping to
see some signs of returning conscious
ness, a shuddering feeling of terror
crept over him. There was strange
stain on the white silk waist, stain
that, as he watched, seemed to be
spreading slowly-slowly. Filled with
horror at the sight, and the conscious
ness that he was In the presence of the
Victim of a tragedy, he looked around
him with frightened eyes. Then he
turned instinctively to his hands-they
felt warm and strangely moist. With a
feeling of overcoming faintness, he
stopped hastily and began to hurriedly
clean them on the grass. 1t seemed as
lift seemed as ii the stains would
never come out.
He was rising, eager to be on his way
to the house and warn the people of
what had taken place. Then he felt a
strong hand grasping his shoulder. He
remembered trying to wrench himself
free. Then the confused sound of many
voices, the flash of lanterns and impre-
cations, in which his name was mingled,
then blow that mercifully seemed to
dispel all these distorted visions, and a
grateful oblivion that hid everything.
CHAPTER II.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE BARS.
The landlord of the Blueball inn of
IIxton was doing in corner of his
cafe one morning, modify meditating
on the dullness of business and the APP
palling temperance of the natives, when
he was startled by deep voice calling
out:
Waiter, a pint of champagne!"
Mr. Peter Bowersox was on his feet
rubbing his eyes, and wondering If the
voice was part of his dreams. Not
since he had started in business in that
too abstemious village had any one sur
prised him by such an order. He
looked expecting to find a bediamoned
traveller who had strayed into his inn
for want of Il better, but found himself
facing small, gray-bearded man, clad
in a snuff-colored suit. His hands were
red and knotted, he wore a shocking
bad hat, while his dusty and dubious
shoes showed that he had not come in
town in a carriage.
Peter thought he must have heard
wrong until the order was repeated
with the pleasing addition, Make it a
quart"
Then Mr.. Bowersox realized that he
was confronting a pleasant reality, and
not dream, and at once set down his
guest as prince travelling in disguise
TO hi I,