Middletown transcript., 1903-10-03
A Charade and Its Ending
MARGOT MAUDE

Addie from Monica. but she looked at
it blindly, taking in no word of its con-
tents, for, though she bent over it, all
her senses were really strained i'll watch
ing for Mr.. Dellwyn's first movement.
He too was opening his letters, and
Charlie was teasing one Of his cousins
about missive which was plainly ad.
dressed in a mans handwriting. Sud-
denly Adde'S eyes caught one sentence
in the open letter before her-'Mother is
seriously ILL., The girls heart gave a
sickening throb. She felt cold and faint,
but, determined to know the worst, she
read through the note.
Darling Addie-Words won't say how
sorry / am to have such bad news for
you, but mother is seriously i'll. She
must have got chill the day before
yesterday, but she seemed all right until
last night, when l got frightened. She
looked so ill, that l insisted on sending
for doctor. He seems anxious about
her, and of course am frightened and
nervous. 1t seems such shame to bring
you home again already, but know that
you would not wish me to keep back
the truth. The doctor looked very grave
and said that mother was alarmingly
weak. She told me not to write, but all
the time / know she is longing for you
| don't know what to do. l want you
quite as much as mother does. The re-
sponsibility frightens me, but" Here
the letter broke off Monica had evil
IDENTIFY been called away, and the last
words were added hurriedly, do come,
Addie, as soon as you can, in case it
should be too late.' "MoNICA."
Too late! All thoughts of the mock
marriage or Of Chesteron faded from
Adde'S mind-only the one great fact
of her mothers illness remained. She
was utterly blind to her surroundings.
She longed to get up and say that she
must 60. But there seemed to be some
restraining force which not only kept
her motionless but silent. At last she
raised her head stiffiy and slowly to find
that Mr.. Dellywyn was speaking to her,
and that Charles kindly eyes were anx-
iously fixed on her face.
Aren't You well? asked Mr.. Dellwyn.
You would rather wait?
Addie, cried Nita, what is it, dear?
You are as white as the tablecloth.
I-have had bad news, replied her
friend hoarsely. | must go home at
once, dear. Mother is ill-perhaps dy.
ing
Oh, Addie! How dreadful for you!
am sorry! Nita went to her and put
her arm round her friends shoulders
caressinglv.
must 60 at once, said Addie fever
ishly. When is the next train, Nita!
Not until two o'clock. You can't
possibly 60 before then. What is the
matter with your mother, dear?
l don't know. Monica doesn't say.
Mother is very delicate, and has prob
ably taken cold.
l am sorry, said Mr.. Dellwyn sympa-
thetically. You shall 60 by the next
train. Charlie, ring and tell Jsfferies.
Now, my dear, l hardly like to trouble
you about this other affair now, but, if
you are compelled to leave us so soon,
the thing ought to be definitely ar
ranged.
What thing? inquired Addie, gazing
at him blankly.
Your-marriage.
Oh-that! The subject was evidently
distasteful to the girl, who turned away
her eyes and thought of the absent Ches-
teron with angry dislike.
Is the matter settled? she asked.
Yes-come into my study for few
minutes, Miss Delahay. Nita will give
orders about your packing, and you still
have nearly the whole morning at your
disposal
Addie followed him meekly, but she
felt perfectly Indifferent about the whole
affair. If her mother were dying, what
mattered anything?
You must be very anxious about the
lawyers decision, began Mr.. Dellwyn
gravely, when he had settled the girl
in the most comfortable chair in his
study.
Yes, she responded gravely. l was
anxious, but now-I can only think of
my mother. feel as if | did not care
what happened
And yet it must make great difference
to you whether you are tied to Mr..
Chesteron for life or not.
Yes--of course. Have you-is it all
arranged, Mr.. Dellwyn?
Yes. We have taken the best advice
We could get.
And the decision?
Is-that you are legally married to
Chesteron.
Impossible! exclaimed Addie.
Not is true.
Can't it be set aside?
No. answered Mr.. Dellwyn dully.
Neither of US can ever marry anyone
else because of this? The thought of
Chesteron's cousin had come into Adde'S
mind.
The tie is binding on botll
That sounds like sentence of penal
servitnde, remarked the girl, with ner-
yous fippancy. Mr.. Dellwyn, l can't
believeh! Can nothing be done?
am afraid not. Manderton processes
to be certain that you meant marriage
at the time whatever you say now, and
his opinion is shared by several others
who were present.
How can they Judge? They don't
know us.
The less they know the more certain
they are. Even the ring favors their
idea. 1t seems such a strange coinci-
dence, and there is no date to prove that
it was his mothers ring, as Chesteron
asserts; besides her name was Coralie.
Coralie! He said it was Aline! The
inscription OH the ring is "A. to A.
Exactly. He says his father always
called her Aline. But i'm his birth GER