The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-01
The Missing Man
By MARY R. p. HATCH
Copyright by Lee & Shepard
Thrilling Tale of Mystery, Dealing with Startling Phase
Influence M Double Perso


this moment as never before.
Eight years ago when a girl OF twenty
two she married Nane Hamilton. How we'll
| she recoliected the first time she met him 4!
she, the niece OF the wealthy mill-owner,
| Mr.. Carter, who had but lately come to
| Groyedale; he soon 10 have an interest
IN the same business, though he did not
She remembered that the young people
OF the village had planned TO climb one of
the peaks, the ostensible object being blue
| berries. but the real one frolic; and the
| newcomers were invited. Mr. Hamilton
was; undoubtedly, the handsomest man
| OF the party, while Constance Carter was
undenably the prettiest girl. Being both
! strangers and unacquainted with village
| matters, they naturally drifted apart from
the others, and i'm the course OF the day
| came 10 know much more OF each other
| than the rest
Constance learned that he came from
| son, ana his mother a widow.
| suspect there was never a more de-
! voted couple than mother and t. ne said
laughing, as he shipped the heads OF the
| lhsties with his climbing-staff, aud she
replied:
Il don't wonder at your devotion. I saw
your mother at church last Sunday She
was IN the Ellis pew, was she not?"
| yes, he said. his face lighting UP
WI Win pleasure, apparently, at her praise of
Such beautiful milk-white hair. and vet
she does not look DID," said Constance, re-
calling TO mind the elegant, dark-robed,
| sIenuer lady who presented so great con-
| uast TO fussy Mrs. Ellis.
:, mother Is only forty-six. but she has
| known much sorrow' said her son. and
then they talked of other things.
! IN year from their first meeting they
] were married, but this was six months after
Vane mother died, so Constance never
suIIered jealousy or estrangement as some
lmes happens on account OF a mother-in-
| law; and she always remembered the sad
gentle woman who might, had she lived
! been real mother to her
|
spring atter their marriage. and they took
place always in May. How well she recoI-
iected ner own chagrin at not being invited
10 accompany him; she, almost a bride TO
| be left while he went alone on his tripi
Worst OF ALL he never told her where he
| was going, nor his object In going. and
rovin rnat time until now II had been a
| were looked upon as business trips TO Bos-
ton, but she herself knew that he went
else eNNl Ar And he stayed from home two
out OF danger, the physicians assured him
announcer time she asked him to take her
with him and he refused. Always there
was an ar OF secrecy, {. grave abstrac-
ton, an intangible difference in his man
ner, as If called about an irksome bust
| ness.
Meanwhile, Clare and Perlev were added,
| 10 their home, and they had been happy
through the eight years of their married
NE despite the mystery of his yearly trips
For she trusted him. She was sure that
he loved her; but each time as the middle
of May approached she grew nervc;;s and
In various indirect ways tried TO hinder
his going
This year he was manifestly far from
well. Notwithstanding his declaration that
ne was as strong as horse" He was
more nervous and irritable besides being
very abSent-minded at times Then as she
had reminded him, his sleep was broken by
dreams and mutterings. Sometimes he
seemed TO be struggling with heavy loads.
of money. or of lumber. and always ready
TO be overwhelmed. Then again il was
with rutfans he seemed to struggle: and
| last night he whispered a womanss name
Lenora-Nora-a pretty namer That was
all he said, but il was a strange name
TO Constance. Perhaps II was the name of
some one he used to know
Well. there one fact manifest
thought Constance rising, Vane is not well.
and he ought not to have gone away AS
for that woman, pshaw! Doubtless Vane
was pointed out to her by some one at
the hotel as prominent citizen who could
tell her anything she might wish TO know
regarding the place. and she went out
and spoke 10 him. Her husband answered
the question, passed on. and that was all
there was of the matter. AS for the mys-
terious trips, she would not think of them
she trusted her husband thoroughly had
always done so, and should continue to do
so. She only wished he had not thought
best to go away when it looked so much
like rain.
just at that moment the sun burst out
The most unbelieving could not call the
weather IN question, but still the cloud sat
she whispered, for she was quite alone
would suspect their husbands of wrong
doing, TO go away as Vane does every year
so mysteriouSly;' and then she went slowly
downstairs to her own room, pausing on a
stair 10 listen to the chilren's voices In
the dining room. Il have them at all
events" she thought.
Going straight to her mirror she gazed
long at her own reelection, noting the clear
colorless complexion. the dark luminous
eyes, the rich brown nair with its CLEANS Of
he tai ORC ppf nj -four 81,
tangible charm which blent them all to-
gether into charming personality, her
own. She loved her husband deeply, and
was not insensibe 10 the compliment he
paid her when going away. Why did he
go. If he did not wish To? Surely business
did not demand his absence. He had no
besides. his trips were yearly. wave OF
color sped over her face and she clutched
her hands nervously.
Just then the children came rushing In,
and Ferey said. clasping her hand, Il am
glad you are pretty, mamma. l should hate
to have a homely one, shouldn't you,
Clare?"
II should get used to it In time | pre-
sumo" said the precise little maiden.
Mrs. Hamilton took them both in her
arms and Rugged them lightly for mo-
ment Then she made them tidy for school,
! but instead of letting them so off alone.
she put on street dress and went with
them.
Il will go with you little way" she
said.
20 mamma, will you? how faro asked
| Perley
Perhaps as far as the Essex House.
want 10 see Mrs. Fry. She is al work IN
the laundry this week, | hear. ! must see
her I'm regard 10 our washing"
But most or all she wished TO learn some
thing about the woman who had spoken
to her husband How she wished she mad
looked at her through the fieId-glass she
had in the tower But il had not occurred
to her at the time. AS il was, he had
only a rather vague idea that the woman
was young and pretty, and the uncomforta-
bic conviction of jealousy on her own part,
which she must try TO rid herself of speed
lily. What better way than to learn some
thing about the woman and her object in
speaking 10 her husband? She would not
ask foolish questions. but if the desired
information came to her, well and good.
ITO BE Continued Tomorrow