The Washington times., 1904-05-01

pened-
I drained the glass, set it down, and
laughed.
How DO you know anything has hap
pened?' 1 asked.
How 90 know? You come galop-
ing in here at this hour of the night.
with the foam on the bay shining in the
moonlight. and your own face as pale as
chalk. How do I know? Why, IT Is
written on your cheeks. in your eyes.
in your trembling hand. Cad. Thorn
ton ought to see you now"
81 don't agree with you I said, try
ing TO appear at ease. Il wouldn't like
Thornton 90 see me now. But you are
right; something has Happened. Some
thing very queer. But before 1 tell you
what. just relieve my anxious curiosity.
Who are the Lees?
"Eh?" What Lees? Plenty Of Lees
i'm Utica.
4 am not concerned with the Lees Of
Utica. 1 mean the Lees out near the
old Pawmuc Mills"
James stared at me with mis- eyes and
mouth open. denoting the greatest as
constituent
The Lees of Pawmuc Mills! What.
under heaven. have you to do with the
Lees of Pawmuc Mills?"
"Oh. WELL" said /, with ridiculous
effort to appear at ease. Il have just
been married to Beatrice Forrest, their
niece"
James sprang to his feet as though
an electric shock had sent him upward.
WHAT! Married tony God. You are
insdg
I'm not so mad as was I've been
what 1 say is true. For a short time.
at least. Beatrice Forrest is my wife"
James sat down again and stretched
himself If if he were trying to waken
from bad dream.
''But-but-I did not know you had
ever heard about Beatrice Forrest"
7 never heard OF her until about
thirty minutes or less before we were
married"
James passed his hand over his brow
helplessly.
What is this you are telling me
You are not really married to Bob For
rests daughter"
4 don't pretend to know anything
about Bob Forrest. I am married TO
Beatrice, the niece Of Parson Lee
For a whole minute he stared at me.
MY God"' 1 heard him breathe. DO
you know--did you know what you were
dong2'
Perfectly l was trying to prevent
bullet going through my head.
He leaped to his feet and began pac-
ing up and down the room, evidently
violently agitated.
You seem TO know them" l said
''she-that is-she spoke of you.
A laugh-whfch seemed at that min
ute almost sardonic-came from the lips
Of James
spoke of me, Ell. Cursed me. sup
pose!"
mot exactly. But l am not getting
any information Just calm yourself,
and remember that am in q peculiar
position. l have a wife and am asking
you who she is.
At that James sat down and laughed
! A perfect storm of violent mirth came
from him. 1t shocked and surprised me-
for. as a rule. my cousin was one OF
the most self-contained of men,
.sYou-you-a New Yorker-come W
here-for absolute rest-oh. IL is toe
much. But now look here. Before
tell you a thing. you give me your yarn
I don't believe II yet. l cannot believe
you have been so mad as to marry the
daughter Of a convicted murderer"
"A what?" I roared, now In my turn
springing to my feet.
"a convicted murderer. Bob Forrest
is serving a life sentence in Auburn
prison for the murder of Jake Brand OF
Saugucket"
/ sank quivering into my chair. Some
feeling Of horror swept over me, but
with it there came a whisper Of caution.
Caution Of what? / could not tell
The girl had chosen her own lover. AL
that remained for me to do was 10 sci
her free and let her alone.
Ny cousins hand trembled more than
mine, as he poured out two more glasses
of sherry.
Drink this and tell me-" he said
Drink! One OF us will surely collapse
Now go ahead. Tell me what devillsf
scrape you are in
1 drained the glass, pulled my shat
tered nerves together, and plunged fnt'
the tale.
began at the beginning. which fan
cied must be at the point where / had
information about the old grass-coverec
road that formerly led to Pawmuc Mills
/ left out nothing. 1 told OF my strangy
fancies concerning tragedy. / told OF
gong INTO the anu SluuyiHe
the headstones. 1 told OF finding th'
name of MARY. beloved wife of Robert
Forrest" I told of the appearance OF
the bearded man. then Of the yelled
lady
I told of my sensation of pity. which
prompted me 70 rush in and warn th'
two lovers when / saw the four horse
men coming toward the church. l told
Of the awful rage of the uncles wheI
they found me supporting the half
fainting girl. / told of the ludicroui
mistake they made OF insisting that
was Thomas Firth.
I made il clear that the girl had with
out doubt come there intending TO elop'
with the man. / remembered ever.
word in the letters and repeated them.
James sat like one in trance, Will
his eyes growing wilder as l advanced
He sat with a rightly that was painful
His steady unwavering gaze discomfort
ed me
/ went on TO tell how the parson pro
posed 10 send them away man and wife
but unfortunately got the wrong man
My efforts to escape. the manner Il
which they received the information
that / was James Stages cousin. III
whole miserable picture was presente'
TO James just as it was impressed 81
wildly on my own mind
I told how / had asked her II sh