Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03

frankly, for 1 consider that 1t is my duty
to face the worst"
Really 1 exclaimed. looking straight
at her after a moments reflection. ITO
speak candidly l failed to detect anything
radically wrong In your daughters de-
meanor"
But did you notice, doctor, how ex-
tremely nervous she is; how in her eyes
how blank is her mind upon every subject
but the great calamity that has befallen
her?"
Il must really confess that these things
Were not apparent to me-" | answered Il
watched her carefully. but beyond the facts
that she is greatly unnerved by the trag-
edy, and that she is mourning deeply for
her dead husband, l can discover nothing
abnormal"
You are not of opinion, then, that her
mind is growing unbalanced by the stran?"
Not in the least" l treasured her. 1.-The
symptoms she betrays are but natural in
a woman of her nervous, highly-strung
temperament"
But she. unfortunately, grieves too
much" remarked the old lady with a sigh.
His name is upon her lips at every hour
In the day. I've tried to distract her and
urged her to accompany me abroad for a
time. but all TO no purpose. She won't hear
of II"
1 alone knew the reason of her refusal
In conspiracy with her dead husband 1t
was impossible to be apart from him for
long together. The undue accumulation of
her daughters feigned grief had alarmed
the old lady-and justly so. Now that 1
recollected. her conduct at table on the
previous night was remarkable having re-
gard to the true facts OF the case. l con-
fess l had myself been entirely deceived
into believing that her sorrow at Henry
Courtenays death was unbounded In every
detail her acting was perfect. being bound
TO attract sympathy among her friends and
arouse interest among strangers. | longed
TO explain 10 the quiet, charming old lady
what i had seen during my midnight ram
bic, but such a course was as yet impos-
sib!e. Indeed, II l made a plain statement
such as | have given in the foregoing
pages. surely no one would believe me- But
every man has his romance, and this was
mine.
Unable TO reveal Mary's secret. I was
compelled reluctantly to take leave of her
mother. who accompanied me out to where
the trap was in waiting.
Il scarcely know. doctor, how to thank
you sufficiently" the dear old lady said as
took her hand. What you have told me
treasures me. OF late l have been ex-
tremely anxious. as you may imagine"
You need feel no anxiety" / declared.
shes nervous and run down-thats all.
Take her away for change, IL possible.
But If she refuses don't force her. Quiet Is
the chief medicine in her case. Goodbye"
She pressed my hand again In grateful
acknowledgment, and then l mounted into
the conveyance and was driven to the sta
ton.
On the journey back to town 1 pondered
NnS ana deeply. Or verify, my short
Visit to Neneford had been fraught with
good results and l was contemplating
seeking Amber Jevons at the earliest pos
sibie moment and relating to him my as
founding discovery. The fact that old
Courtenay was still living absolutely sur
passed my comprehension. To endeavor to
form any theory, or to try and account for
the bewildering phenomenon, was utterly
useless. l had seen him and had over
heard his words. l could surely believe my
eyes and ears And there it ended. The
why and wherefore put aside for the pres
ent remembering Mary's promise to him
10 come to town and have an interview
with me.
Surely that meeting ought to be most
Interesting one. I awaited It with the most
Intense anxiety, and yet in fear. lest
might be led by her clever imposture to
blurt out what / knew. / felt myself on
the eve of making startling revelation;
and my expectations were realized to the
full, as the further portion Of my strange
romance will show.
know that many narratives have been
written detailing remarkable and almost
inconceivable Vaccinations of those who
have stained their hands with crime but
! honestly believe that the extraordinary
features of my own life-romance are as
arrange as. IL not stranger than. any hith-
erto recorded. Even my worst enemy
could not dub me egotistical, 1 think: and
surely the facts have set down here are
plain and unvarnished, without any at
lempt at misleading the reader into believ-
!n8 that which IL untrue. Mine Is a plain
chronicle Of q chain Of extraordinary cir
Sumstances which led to an amazing de-
Aouement.
From Kings Cross to Guys il q consid-