Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18

face toward me, all rosy with
bushes and wearing that sweet look which
l had known so well in the happy days
III you wish It, Ralph" she faltered, I'VE
will forget that any breach between us has
ever existed. l desire nothing else, for
as you wen know, love no one else but
yourself. l have been foolish, ] know.
ought to have explained the girlish ro-
mantle affection l once entertained for
that man who sfterward married Mary. In
those days he was my ideal. Why, l can
not tell. Girls in their teens have strange
caprices, and that was mine. Just as
schoolboys fall violently in love with mar
ried women, so are schoolgirls sometimes
attracted toward aged men. People won
der when they hear Of May and December
marriages. but they are not always from
mercenary motives, as Is popularity sup
posed. Nevertheless l acted wrongly in
not telling you the truth from the hrst.
1t is myself who is to blame"
So much she said, though with many a
pause and with so keen a selt-reproach in
her tone that / could hardly bear to hear
her, when l interrupted:
There is blame on both sides. Let us
forget about 1t ALL" and l bent until my
lips met hers and we sealed our compact
with a long, ~clinging caress.
Yes. dear heart. Let us forget IT," she
whispered. I'VE have both suffered-both
Of u.s." and I felt her arms tighten about
my neck. "Oh, how you must have hated
mel"
NO" l declared. 81 never hated you.
l was mystifed and suspicious, because l
felt assured that you knew the truth re-
garding the tragedy at Kew and remained
silent"
She looked into my eyes as though she
would read my soul.
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. I have been seek
ing for 1t through all these months, but
without success"
Cannot we act in accord in this matter,
dearest? May l not be acquainted with
the facts which, with your intimate knowl-
edge OF the Courtenay household. you were
fully acquainted with at the time Of the
tragedy" l urged.
mo, Ralph" >she replied. shaking her
head, and at the same time pressing my
hand. 81 cannot yet tell you anything"
Then you have no confidence in me?" I
asked r~eproachfully.
at is not a question of confidence, but
one of honor" she replied.
But you will at least satisfy my curl
osity upon one point" l exclaimed. "You
will tell me the reason you lived beneath
Courtenay's roof7'
You know the reason we'll. He was an
invalid and I u-npt Hhora 10 loo, AEnrr
company"
/ smiled at the lameness of her explana-
ton. 1t was, however, an ingenious
evasion of the truth, for, after all, 1 could
not deny that ! had known this through
several years. Old Courtenay, being prac-
tically confined to his room, had himself
suggester Ethelwynn bearing his young wife
company.
Answer me truthfully. dearest. Was
there no further reason?"
She paused, and in her hesitation de-
tected a desire to deceive, even though l
loved her so fondly.
Eyes there was." she admitted at last,
bowling her head.
Explain it."
Alas! l cannot. 1t is a secret"
"a secret from me?"
"Yes, dear hearth" she cried, clutching
my hands with a wild movement Even
from you"
My face must have betrayed the annoy
ance that / felt, for the next second she
fastened to soften her reply, saying;
AT present it is impossible for me to
explain. Think! Poor Mary is lying up
stairs. l can say nothing at present
nothing-you understand"
Then afterward-after the burial-you
will tell me what you know"
Until l discover the truth / am resolved
to maintain silence. All / can tell you is
that the whole affair is so remarkable and
astounding that its explanation will be even
more bewildering than the tangled chain
of circumstances" \
Then you are actually in possession OF
the truth" l remarked with some i'm
patience. What use is there to deny it?'
AT present I nave suspicions-grave
ones. That is ALL" she protested.
What is your theory regarding poor
Mary's deathT" 1 asked, hoping to learn
something from her.
Suicide. or that there seems not q
shadow OF doubt"
1 was wondering IL she knew Of tbs
dead" mans existence. Being in ~sisterly
confidence with Mary. she probably did.
did 1t ever strike you," I asked. that
the personal appearance Of Mr.. Courtnay
changed very considerably after death,
You saw the body several times after thu
discovery. Did you notice the change?"
She looked at me sharply, as though en-.
deavoring to discern my meaning.
II saw the body several times and GER
tainly noticed a change in the features
But surely the countenance changes con
siderably II death is sudden ?"
quite true" l answered. "But I recoI
lect that in making the post morton 81
Bernard remarked upon the unusual change
He seemed to have grown fully ten year
older than when / had seen him alive fou
hours before"
We'll" she asked, as that any circum
stance likely to lead to a solution of tn
mystery? ! don't exactly see the point
ut may" I answered ambiguously, puz
zled at her manner and wondering is sh
were aware Of that most unaccountabl
feature OF the conspiracy.
How" she asked.
! But as she had steadfastly refused to re
| veal her knowledge to me, or the reason Z
her residence beneath Courtenay's roof,
myself claimed the right to be equal
? vague.
We were stlll playing at cross purpose
I therefore I urged her to be frank with m,
S But she strenuously resisted all my Per
susion.
80 ww.