The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-28

After detailing 80 account, F-'lce
went on to say. or r..Gner to ask, wneth-
ed Mr.. HartWell would take pains to
learn without doubt what beard Ham,
ilton wore two years ago during his
customary May journey-if he had long
long whiskers in addition to a mus
tache. Also, Bruce desired to know
the exact date when Hamilton left
Grovedale, whether it was as early as
the 10th, for it now appeared that Ash
ley came to Valparaiso the 18th.
Mr.. Hastings. on the receipt of this
letter from the detective, was much
perplexed. How could he gain the de-
sired knowledge without going to Mrs.
Hamilton herself. Mr.. Hastings was
straightforward man. To approach
her with subterfuge or concealments
was so repugnant that he would not
entertain the idea for mo-
ment. He made various futile
inquiries. and finally decided to call
upon Mrs. Hamilton and plainly state
the case to her. asking at the same
time for the Information, If she chose
to give it.
He did so, though not without ex-
IRENE reluctance. Mrs. Hamilton re-
ceived him in a polite. if somewhat
distant, manner, and after a few COM
monplaces Mr.. Hastings preached the
object of his call.
But please do not consider my re-
quest to be in the least imperative.
There is no coercion about it. If you
choose to answer my questions l
should feel greatly obliged. But If
you would rather not, you have only
to say So"
You are very kind, Mr.. Hastings, 3"
returned Constance, bending her fair
face, upon which the shadow of a
great grief plainly lay. But l will
answer you truly and readily, for the
truth can hurt no one. Vane never
wore whiskers, and can tell you, by
consulting my diary for 1887, the very
day he went away"
She arose from her seat, approached
the writing desk, which stood in the
same room, and took from a till pile
of old diaries. Choosing the right one,
she sat down again and turned to the
records of May
''Vane and 1 took a long drive to-
day. The weather was perfect, and
Vane complimented me, or rather my
new hat; said it was most becom-
ing, was the record for May 1.
Only a commonplace entry, but it
gave Constance a start to read it, for
she remembered the day well, how
happy they were. But she turned an
other leaf resolutely, then still another,
and handed the book to Mr.. Hastings,
pointing to the sentence, "Vane went
away earlier this year than usual. I
tried to coax him not to go until next
week, but to no purpose"
The date was the 9th of May.
THANK you, Mrs. Hamilton" said
Mr.. Hastings, handing her the book;
but his hand was quite unsteady as he
did so.
us that what you wished to know?"
she asked.
Moves" he said, greatly depress-
ed.
Mr.. Hastings had refrained from
making known to Mrs. Hamilton the
contents of Bruce's letter relating to
Ashley, and he said nothing now. She
evidently hoped he would tell her more,
but could not bring herself to ask
him, for. she thought, IF there were
any good news he would tell me, and
if there is nothing but bad I could not
bear it now, 1 have had so much o
Vane! Vanei"
This was her hearts cry, but out
wardly she was calm until Mr. Hast
ings went away. Then she sat down
overwhelmed with a nameless dread
What misery, what misery was hers!
If the newspapers spoke true, what
was she but a deserted wife, the wife
of a bank defaulter, who had forsak-
en- her for another womanl If it was
not as was believed, then Vane was
detained somewhere against his will,
either by force or by severe illness,
or he was dead. Dead with the clods
of opprobium on his confined form!
They might never be lifted never
while she lived, while the children
lived, and they would have to suffer
shame, unmerited, of having had a
father who abused the confidence of a
trusting community. Could she bear
it to know this were really true of
him? could she bear it to know he
were dead?
"Oh, I don't know, 1 don't know!"
moaned Constance. People live
through so much, and 1 am so strong!'
She held up her hand to the light
and saw a glimmer through it. But
I don't want to die. 1 hope God will
let me live for the children's sake,
and If l might know years from now,
say when 1 am quite an old woman,
that Vane was good and true, even
| though he died far away, l would not
murmur. l could bear separation,
death, anything, but to know Vane
was a bad man."