Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-18

z
Mary company.
II. : smiled ct the lameness Of her ex
mana ton, Il was. However. an in-
gensous evasion OF the truth. for, after
EaIl, could not deny that had known
this through several years. Old
sCourtenay. being ractically confined
& to his room, had himself suggested
#EthelWynn bearing his yonns4wife com
&pany. :ss.ssz ssss1..s
Answer ma truthfully. dearestss..fftsVas
there no fur tl1er reason ga
She paused; and in her hesitation,
detected Ii desire to deceive, even though
Il loved her so fondly.
yes. there was. She admitted at
last, bowling her head.
EXT lain it,
alas, can not It is a .secret.''
"a secret from me?''
Eyes. dear heart, she cried, clutching
my hands with wild movement = Even
from you.''
Ny face must have betrayed the an
noyahce that felt. for the next second
she FASTENED to soften her reply. say
ing:
.At present it is impossible for me to
explain. Think: Poor Mary is lying up
stairs. I can say nothins at present
!, nothing-you understand ?"
'sTlaen afterwards-after the 'burtal-you
will tell me what you know?
Until I discover the truth. I am re-
solved to maintain silence. All Z can tell
you is that the whole affair is so re-
markable and astounding that it's ex
PLANTATION will be even more bewilderins
than the tangled chain Of circumstances
Then You are actually in possession OF
the truth" l remarked With some tmpa
tlence. what use is there to deny is:s,
eat present I have suspicionsrsrave
ieEa ia nrof este
What is your theory regarding poor
Mary's death I asked, hoping to learn
something from her
Suicide. OF that there seems not
| shadow of doubt
I was wondering If she knew Of the
| dead" mans existence. Being in sister.
~ confidence with Mary, she probably
did.
did it ever strike you,'' asked, 'that
the personal appearance Of Mr.. Courte-
| nay changed very ronsidera bly, after
death? You saw the body several times
sfter the discovery. Did you notice tbs
change 90
she looked at me sharply, as though
endeavoring to discern my meaning.
u saw the .b.dy several times, and
certainly noticed a change in the fea-
lures. But surely the countenance changes
considerably If death is sudden.
Quite true answered. "But 7 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 when T had seen
him alive four hours before
We'll" she asked, Us that any cir
cun1stance likely to lead to a solution
Of the mystery? don't exactly see the
the point y
"1t may I answered, anhiguously,
ms
if she We're aware Of that most una count
able feature OF the conspiracy.
HOW" she asked.
Is But as she mad steadfastly refused to
reveal her knowledge to me, or the rea-
son Of her residence beneath's Courtenay's
roof, I myself claimed the right to be
equally vague.
We were still playing at cross-purposes:
therefore I urged her to be frank with
me. But she strenuously resisted Ill my
persuasion.
NO. With poor Mary lying dead, can
say nothing. Later when I have found
the clue for Which I am searching, will
tell you what know. TIL then 10 WORD
shall pass my lips
I knew too well that when my love
made up her mind 1t was useless to try
and turn her from her purpose. She was
no shallow, empty-hseaded girl, whose
|
/ Of the social wind, or any invention of the
taddists; her mind was SO strong and well
balanced SO that she always had the cour-
age OF her convictions. Her sister, on the
Contrary, had been one Of those giddy
women who follow every frill and
furbelow of fashion, and who take up all
the latest crazes with seriousness
worthy Of far better objects. In tenpera
nlent, in disposition, in character and in
0f min hex had f1n
act opposite of each ot1er. the one sister
<fighty and thougnt!ess, the other patient
and forbearing, with an utter disregard
tor the hollow artihcialities, of society.
But In this matter we may be OF as
sistance to each ot1er,''rI said in an en-
deayor to persuade her. AS far as I can
discern, the mystery pertains to no fewer
luat seven complete and distinct secrets.
To obtain the truth regarding one would
probably furnish the key to the whole"
Then you think that poor Mary's I'M
timely death is closely connected with the
tragedy at Kew" she asked.
"Alos.- sincerely. But do not share
your opinion as to suicide"
what? You suspect foul playa" she
cried
l nodded in the affirmative
'.You believe that poor Mary was act,-
ally n,urdered?" she exclaimed, anxious
~ s'tIaye you found marks OF violence,
then?''
no. 7 have found nothing. NY opin
ion IS formed upon surnlise.''
What surrise?"
I hesitated whether to tell her all
the. facts. that I had discovered, for j
was disappointed and annoyed that she
should still preserve q logged silence, now
that a reconciliation had been brought
about.
Well I answered. my suspicion Of
foul play is based upon logical conclu-
sions. 7 have myself been witness of one
most astonishing fact-namely, that she
was In, the habit OF meeting man at
night, and that their favorite walk vas
along the river bank.
'sWhat?" she cried, starting up in alarm,
Ill the color fading from her face. 'fTou
have actually seen them together
'I have not only seen them. but have
overheard their conversation I answer
ed, surprised at the effect my words had
produced upo her
Then you already know the truth
she cried in a wild voice that was almost
a Shrek. Forgive re-forgive me.
Ralph And throwing herself suddenly
upon her knees, she looked up into my
face imploringly. her white hands clasp
ed in an attitude Of supplication, crying
in a voice broken by emotion? Forgive
me, Ralph! Have compa ssion upon M s''
Co. so