The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-18

man Of sinister appearance with huge scar
on the left cheek. and her mind is filled with
vague approximations When the company have
gone, Hugh Trenaine sinks into an apoplectic
fit. The same night unknown hand pushes
into the letter box an envelop address ITO the
Tremaine family" Eleanor opens It, and to her
horror draws out sheet Of paper marked with
smudge Of blood. Next day Hugh Tremane Is
better, and Eleanor goes for walk in Ken
sington Gardens. There she is met by Hargrave
Denton, wealthy young man Of her acquafnt-
ance, who posters her with unwelcome attentions,
ending In insults when she pointedly dismisses
him. A stranger intervenes, handsome young
sight and Hargraye gets the worst Of the en-
counter.
CHAPTER lV.-contInued.
Eieanor's Champion. -
Notwithstanding her agitation the pic
ture of Hargrave PROSTATE on the ground
and evidently in no hurry to rise was clear
enough before her, and would, she was
sure, never be obliterated. It did not oc-
cur to her that the man who had present.
ed himself at such a timely moment was
in the slightest danger. 1t seemed rather
Denton's dark, evil eye-how evil they
could be she had never realized until that
moment-were filled with vengeance
against her and not against him. She de-
termined that henceforth they should be
strangers. After what had happened, he
She turned and walked slowly away
with an odd feeling that in spite Of the
unpleasant termination Of her acqualnt-
ance with Hargrave Denton she was glad
it had so ended :"
Still, his uncomfortable passion, his OBJ
scure hints, his vague threats If she re-
fused him., lowered uncomfortably in her
mind I.
TN try not to think any more about
this ridiculous affair-for it is ridiculous, +"
she said to- herself, as she slowly walked
away. "I.ove tragedies don't happen in
the nineteenth century. daresay Har-
grave Denton will do his best to forget his
humiliation as quickly as possible He
will probably reckon I shall say nothing
AS for"
She did not complete the sentence. In
deed, she hardly knew how to complete it.
The lines in her face softened, a curious
look of retrospection crept into her eyes
The truth was the man who had inter
xened was the young artist whom she had
seen SO often on the students days at the
National Gallery, and who the day before
had been among the crowd sketching the
procession. Was it more than a mere CO.
incidence that he in whom she took &c
much interest should be the one to rescue
herr - ...... :" - "
She knew nothing whatever about him,
was in ignorance even of his name, but
towards the canvas on his easel, and she
had marvelled at his dexterity in repro
rucing not merely the form and color,
but the feeling Of the original. He was
always most Industrious, and was wholly
absorbed in his work. He never had his
friends round him gossipping, he never
held sort Of levee as many did, when
there was more discussion about cycling,
lawn-tennis and golf than art.
And it was this conscientious young
PAINTER who had come to her assistance.
She wondered whether he recognized her.
Not that it mattered very much; still. 1t
would have been more satisfactory If she
could have settled the point.
Then a hot blush came into her cheeks,
and she was angry with herself-another
puzzle, for there really was no reason why
she should blush or be angry for blush
ing. ...'.'' - 81 -
She. retraced her steps toward the Ser
pentine and tried to obltterate the mem
DRY Of the disagreeable events Of that day
in the bright scene around her-the placid
stream with it's dazzling, mirror-like sur
face bathed in sunshine, the miniature
yachts-most Of them becalned in spite
Of the assiduous efforts Of the youngsters
to induce them by series of prods from
pointed sticks to spread their wings and
take tight-the hosts Of barking dogs
proud Of their courage at yenturing into
the water.
| Suddenly, in the midst Of SO much that
| was prosaic and normal, she had a strange
sensation as tho she werenbetng, followed
| She looked round almost In fear, but there
was nothing to cause her alarm, nobody
| Of whom she had the least cause to be
! afraid, not q man, woman or child who
appeared to take the slightest interest ir
| her. as.''
| Yet the nervous fancy possessed her as
|
| where the roadway was blocked will
chariots, broughams, victorias, mail phae
| tons, landaus, and not a few hanson cabs
| The foot traffic was also very dense, FOL
| the band was to play that evening ant
crowds were strolling in. She was forced
to stand still for few moments in thu
| throng.
Her head was turned slightly towards
! the park, and as if by some stronge, mag
| netic attraction her eyes suddenly becam,
fixed on those Of the horrible man whom
she believed her father was SO anxious t,
| trace.
He was in a hanson cab. The scarret
| side Of his face was partly turned toward
| her and the hooking expression was indie
| scribably hideous. His pale, stone-like
| cruel eyes were gazing into hers with
| ghoul- like leer, and. as when she frs
| saw him, he raised his hat. This tim,
there could be no doubt the salute wa
| meant for her.
Fascinated horror stricken, her menta
| faculties numbed, she could only look ant
| do nothing. The cab swiftly passed ava,
and still she was standing helpless. Sh,
| recovered herself sufficiently to thinl
what she ought to do, namely, take cal
and follow this man, but she found hersel
SO wedged in the crowd it was quite {
| minute before she was free Then tn,
opportunity was one. The cab was NJ
| longer to be seen.
| She knew not whether to feel relieved a
his disappearance or the reverse Shs
fastened quickly homewards, every nov
Land again turning her head. half expectin,
4 to meet the glance Of those cold crue
! eyes, Tho she saw nothing to alarm her
! she was thankful when she was safel,
within doors, but even there the presenc,
Of this man seemed to pursue her, and i
was some time before her heart ceased IL
throb wildly and her nerves quieted dowr
| to their normal condition
CHAPTER ".
| A Queer Customer.
| Had Eleanor been a few minutes soone,
in her resolve to give the young artist tn.
| thanks she thought We're his due sht