The Globe-republican., 1903-06-04

are equal shall I seek you."
And without another word or look he
left the room. Trembling, we sal
where he had left Ms oppressed by we
knew not what waiting for something
we knew not what.
Suddenly a cry broke the stiffness,
so sharp, 80 distressing. the servants
came running from every part Of the
house. Agnes and I burr ed down the
hall to Harold's study, the sound hay.
Ing seemed to come from there. W,
tried the door. but found II locked.
With a nameless terror coulu not
hide, ordered 1t burst open. We
rushed in. Harold was lying across
the rug unconscious, but living, as l
\ found to nv infinite relief. No other
soul was in the room The windows
were down, the key on the inside Of the
door. Nothing was disturbed, every.
thing as usual.
Questioning of the rcryants brought
no news. Even thougu two had been
in the hall at the time Theo mad
passed through. They declared they had
seen no one. Curiously enough, though
the ground was damp from a recent
rain, there was no sign Of a footprint
nea7 the porch where he had entered
The gardener, on being questioned
vowed that no ore mad passed MIN,
though he mad been working on thal
side Of the house at y o'clock and lad
been all afternoon. 30 strange were
these accounts, Agnes ana dld not
speak Of o'lr experience 1he servants
were in a state OF ZERO where anolher
word Of mystery would nave sent them
all packing. There was nothing TO 10
but walt anxlously fer Earold 70 ex'
pam IL 10 us.
About y o'clock no slowly waKed
from his stupor, looked around rear
fully, and, seeing only me, Deckonea
feebly for me TO come Closer where
Is Theo, Aunt FAM? ne whispered
lie IS not mere, dear' shall Gull
him"
He shuddered. mo, no-l'll tell, iii
tell" he gasped. Agnes send Agnes"
She came at once. He chung to her
hand as If for strength.
"Theo Is not guilty." he whispered,
weakly. T-I-lied about hlm-I loved
you SOL thought he had played me
false in winning you when I was away.
1t was not true-what | said. | prom
lsed him | wOuld-tell-I loved YOU
loved" He sank back on the pillow.
Agnes's eyes met mine. He had seen
him. then!
1t was two days after that, accord
Inc to his wish, we sent him away with
\ faithful nurse. We never saw him
again. He Travelled far abroad, seek
Ing In vain to regain health and hap
,iness, and when news Of his death
came to me few months ago, | could
but thank God the poor, Maynard
leart had found peace at last.
The day after he left, Agnes and |
we're sitting in the same room at the
;ame time discussing for the hun
lredth time the mystery, when we
leard a commotion at the door, then
teps coming rapidly down the hall,
he door burst open and Theo stood
pon the threshold. The hug he gave
ne assured me that this was no spirit
nd the meeting between himself and
Ignes | need not tell, nor the discus
ion of his strange appearance three
avs before, which amazed and puz-
led him as much as it did us. To this
ay we have not understood 1t, and be
as never been able to explain IT, lie
elng at that time three days journey
way at London.
Il don't understand 1t, Aunt Fan"
e said. II only know thls-that after
had rushed away from you and had
fought quietly about 1t all Il had
enty of time in which to think on
lat long journey to Africa, | deter
ined to make one more fight. No
'oner did l reach port than started
lex LONE again on the next steamer,
opvto,,e 10 rat ho ok no 7 hnd hnnu In |