Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17

palling to me as to you And knowing that
somewhere among the dead mans papers
should fall into abe hands Of the police and
tnereDy connect me With the crime. 1t was
rear that my final letter should be discov-
cred that gave my actions the appearance
took both her hands in mine, and fixing
my gaze straight into those dear eyes
wherein the love-look shone-that look by
which man is able to read a woman's
neart-l asked her question.
"Ethelwynn." said, calmly and serious
~, we love each other. I know I've been
suspicious without cause and cruel In my
neglect nevertheless the separation has
to me life without you is Impossible. You.
oaruns, are the only woman who has en-
tered my life, I have championed no wo-
man man save yourself; by no ties have been
pouno 10 any woman in this world. This
would have you believe. for it Is the truth
God Is my Witness"
She made me no answer. Her tiny hands
,, IN my grasp, and she bowed her
nead SO that l could not see her face.
= VIII You not forgive, dearest?" I urged
the great longing to speak out my mind
had overcome me, and having eased myself
OF my burden stood awaiting her response.
VIII you not be mine again. as In the old
Gays pefore this chain of tragedy fell upon
your house?"
Again she hesitated for several minutes
Then, OF sudden she lifted her tear-st ain
ana wearing that sweet look which l had
known so well In the happy days bygone.
II you wish 1t, Ralph" she faltered, I'VE
VIII forget that any breach between us has
ever existed 1 desire nothing else, for as
you well know, love no one else but your
self have been foolish, I know. 1 ought
to have explained the girlish romantic aftec-
ton l once entertained for that man who
a1terWard married Mary. In those days he
was my Ideal. Why, I cannot tell. Girls
IN their teens have strange caprices, and
tnat was mine. Just as school boys fall
violently in love with married women so
are school girls sometimes attracted toward
aged men, People wonder when they hear
OF May and December marriages, but they
are not always from mercenary motives, as
is popularity supposed. Nevertheless 1 acted
wrongly in not telling you the truth from
the first. 1t is myself who is to blame"
80 much she said, though with many
pause and with so keen a self-reproach In
her tone that / could hardly bear to hear
her, when l interrupted:
There is blame on both sides. Let US
forget it all" and l. bent until my lips met
hers and we sealed our compact with long,
clinging caress.
Yes, dear heart. Let us forget IT," she
whispered. I'VE have both suffered-bot1
of u.s." and felt her arms tighten about
my neck. oh, how you must have hated
mel"
mo" I declared. 'I never hated you l
was mystif1ed and suspicious, because ielt
assured that you knew the truth regarding
the tragedy at Kew and remained SILENT
She looked into my eyes as though she
would read my soul.
p unfortunately" she answered IT am not
aware of the truth"
But you are in possession Of certain
strange facts-eh?"
That l am in possession of facts that
lead me to certain conclusions is the truth.
But the clue is wanting. 1 have been seek
Ing for it through all these months but
without successes
Cannot we act in accord in this matter,
dearest? May not be acquainted with the
facts which, with your intimate knowledge
of the Courtenay household, you were fully
acquainted with at the time Of the trag-
edy?"' l urged.
mo, Ralph" she replied, shaking her
head, and at the same time pressing my
hand. Il cannot yet tell you anything"
Then you have confidence in me?'
I asked reproachfully.
1T is not question Of confidence, but
one Of honor" she replied.
But you will at least satisfy my curios-
ity upon one point I exclaimed. "You
will tell me the reason you lived beneath
Courtenay's roof"
You know the reason we'll. He was an
invalid, and I went there to keep Mary
company" ~
I smiled at the lameness of her expiana-
ton. 1t was, however, an ingenious evasion
Of the truth, for, after all, could not deny
that 1 had known this through several
years. Old Courtenay, being practically
confined to his room, had himself suggest
ed Ethelwynn bearing his young wife COM
pany.
Answer me truthfully. dearest. Was
there no further reason?"
She paused; and in her hesitation I de-
tected a desire to deceive, even though I
loved her so fondly.
Eyes, there was she admitted at last
bowling her head.
Explain it,
ALAS! 1 cannot. 1t is a secret"
"A secret from me?'
Eyes, dear heart!" she cried, cIutching
my hands with wild movement. Even
from YOU
My face must have betrayed the annoy
ance that l felt, for the next second she
fastened to soften her reply, saying:
"At present 1t Is impossible for me to
explain. Think! Poor Mary is lying up
stairs. 1 can say nothing at present-noth-
ing-you understand
Then afterward-after the burial-you
will tell me what you known"
Until 1 discover the truth I am resolved
to maintain silence. All 1 can tell you Is
that the whole affair Is so remarkable and
astounding that it's explanation will be even
more bewilderng than the tangled chain
of circumstances"
'"Then you actually in possession Of
the truth" l remarked with some impa-
thence. What use is there to deny it?''
'At present I have susp,cions-grave ones
That is ALL" she protested.
What Is your theory regarding poor
Marys death? I asked, 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 sisterly
confidence with Mary she probably did.
Did it ever strike you,'' 1 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
81 saw the body several times, and GER
tanly noticed change in the features. But
surely the countenance changes consider
ably IL death is sudden"
"Quite true" I answered. But recol-
lect that in making the post-mortem Sir
Bernard remarked upon the unusual change
He seemed to have grown fully ten years
older than whenFI had seen him alive four
hours before" Z.
WELL" she asked, "is that any circum-
stance likely to lead to solution of the
mystery? 1 don't exactly see the point
ut NAV" / answered, ambiguously, puz-
zled at her manner and wondering If she
were aware of that most unaccountable
feature of the. conspiracy
..How?" she asked. s1e511s
But as she had .steadfastly refused to re-
veal her knowledge to me, or the reason Of
her residence beneath Courtenay's roof,
myself claimed the right to be equally
vague 80 nc a.
We were still playing at cross-purposes;
T ,,r1o6 her tn he MI 1uitl, mo