The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-09

me at first, but aftcrward, when we
went into quiet room, 1 unmasked.
He was veXed at first that 1 and Vio-
let should come to the ball unattend-
ed as he said my father would be so
angry, which was quite true. Then
he told me that he loved me and asked
me to become his wife. 1 accepted,
and he kissed me-"
Did he speak of his first wife-of
my mother?'
Yes. He told me how dearly he
had loved her"
did he say where the marriage was
celebrated?'
NO. l never thought to ask him.
always thought there was marriage
why should not?-untl l later
heard that Lord Darlington denied
that such had taken place. But that
was after came out of the asylum"
added Miss Bull, with troubled air,
$50 it might be my fancy"
''No. 1t is true. Lord Derrington
did deny the marriage. but he now
recognizes that it tool! place. We wish
to find where
Il cannot help YOU, Mr.. Brcndon.
He told me that lie loved me. Then he
went away to get NE an ice and said
he would take me home and return
for Violet. l waited, but us he did
not appear l went to look for him. He
was gone
with your sister,
YES" said Miss Bull. clinching her
fists. Violet overheard Il part of our
conversation. She had just come down
from the box of the Marchcsa Bel
trami''-
That was where she unmasked and
Mr.. Ireland recognized her
"She must have seen me with Mr..
Fane," continued Miss Bull, taking no
notice of this interruption, so she
stole behind us and heard what we
were TO one another. Then she slipped
on her mask and followed Mr.. Nane.
She said she did not want an ice, but
that she desired to 20 home ut once
Mr.. .Nanc wanted to wait for her
For Niolct!'
"Ies. He thought that | had run
after him, and as Violet wore IL blue
domino with the spriS OF holly lie
fancicd she was J."
Il understand. So he took her
homc.'
"She said he left her at the door
and then came back to look for-for
Violet" said Miss Bull contemptuous-
ly. "She disguised her voice, and he
quite thought she was myself. But
from what Mr.. Ireland said, Mr.. Vane
saw Violet home to thc> gates of the
hotel. | waited for Il time, and as
your father did not come back | ran
home alone. Violet was in our bed
room and said that Mr.. Nanc had left
her ut the door of the ballroom and
had go1c back for me. Then the next
morning we heard of the murder. |
never knew until you told me how
Violet had managed to get Mr.. Vane
away from me-"
'Shc trcked you," said George SYM
pathizingIy.
'She tricked every one. When l
heard of your fathers death / fell
very i'll. The world became a blank
to me. When / came to myself / was
in an asylum. Then grew better and
was let out. My father died, and an
annuity was allowed to me. / heard
about Mrs. Jersey taking this house,
ana, wishing for some one to talk to
about your father, | came here, and
here l have been ever since"
"Thcn you do not know who killed
my father?"
mo" Miss Bull shook her head.
HE was struck down OH the parade
when returning to the ballroom. 1t
must have been after he saw my Sis
ter home"
"Do you think Mrs. Ward knows
the truth?'
'She might. Perhaps some one fol-
lowed, and Violet might have been
mistaken for some othcrperson. I know
there was q married woman in San
Reno deeply in love with Mr.. Vane"-
What an attractive man he must
have beenn'
ooh, he was the handsomest man in
the world" cried Miss Bull, with gen.
uine enthusiasm, "and so kind. No
wonder Eliza Stokes loved him. But he
loved no one but memo one but me.'
what did Eliza Stokes say when
she heard of his death?"
"Oh, she almost went out of her
mind! did altogether" said poor
Miss Bull, with wan smile. "And
as they found her a nuisance in the ho-
tel she went away. George Rates
went also"
"Did she marry him?'
mo. / asked her when 1 met her
here as Mrs. Jersey. She said that
she returned to England and that
Rates had been run over and killed in
the street. She then went to America
and married Mr.. Jersey. He died and
left her some money. Then she set up
this house,
$50 she said nothing of the annuity
from Lord Derrington?"
"No. 1t wasn't to her interest to do
so She could hold hnr forn11n ,uhnn