Middletown transcript., 1904-08-20

She packed up her luggage, and de-
parted as suddenly as she had come. and
almost as mysteriously but at Ladyswell
and the Castle there were loneliness and
sorrow.
"Surely Jack is tile most inconsequent
fellow under the sunp' cried Jacks
mother, few days after Mrs. Yalancy's
sudden departure. "Just look at the
telegram he has sent me ! Letter incom-
prehensible-am returning by next mail.
Is the boy mad ?"-and she looked at
Doctor Gem for enlightenment.
"I'm afraid Pm as much in the dark
as yourself" the Doctor replied. I'VE
must wait until his return. What was
there in your letter which he could not
understand Pr
"Nothing l only told him how much
we liked Mrs. yalancy, and that / meant
to keep her here until he came home.
He surely couldn't misunderstand that r.
'Not unless the lady deceived us all, /"
the Doctor ventured to remark.
Mrs. Adaire grew almost angry With
him however for allowing such a sus-
| picion to arise in his mind. She was
fobIiged however to acknowledge that
there was one curious fact about her
fascinating guest. Since her departure
she had written only the briefest of notes
and in them she had given no address.
Fred Osterly too had vanished, and more
than once Clara had come through the
woodlands to make inquiries about him.
The year advanced. There was great
JOY at Iadyswell, for Jacks return was
now only few days off. Moreover,
there was another great event impending.
Lily Adaire had made up her mind to
secure to herself the constant service
of her devoted doctor. At Christmas
she was to marry Robert Gem.
Gas that dear creature will of course
soon be my daughter, can bear to think
of parting with my Lily" the affectionate
mother sid tearfuily. 81 could not have
sanctioned such thing if it had not been
for Jacks engagement to Mrs. Valancy."
"But," said Ethel, Nyou have rot
heard from her for some time ?''
"True but she has been so occupied
with her dreadful business, YOU know /;
and she is SO good-never alludes to our
future relationship-opiy promises TO
come back to us soon p
"When your son returns?' asked Ethel
in a steady tone.
Mrs. Adaire nodded ; and Ethel Darcy
went home through the woods With set
face and eyes hard and dry.
She had reached the stile where the
woman who filled her thoughts had first
met Mrs. Adaire, and she paused, be-
cause tall figure was approaching rap
idly along the road. Her heart leaped
as the figure drew nearer and she reeog-
nized it as that of Jack Adaire. At the
stile he too paused, ard the two who
had become boy-and-girl lovers when
the Baronet brought his second wife and
her only child home to the Castle stood
face to face That was long before, and
in the girls heart there were thoughts
of the other woman who now stood
between them. The man however was
just the same as he had been in 1he
past years. He sprang over the stile,
and the next moment his. arms were
round the slender girl and his lips upon
her pale cheek.
ethel Is it indeed you, my dar-
ling?" he cried ''To think of my luck
I'm always in luck ! Of all people under
the sun, you were the one most wanted
to see; and knew couldn't leave my
mother to-day. How pale YOU are, dear |!
Have you been i'll? Ethel, have you
not word for your old Jack?
The girl was trembling violently and
was as white as her own pretty gown.
She gently disengaged herself from his
embrace, and stood before him with
downcast eyes.
81 don't think they expect you to-
day." she faltered. >''Your mother"
He drew back and stood against the
stile, looking at her wonderingly.
"Ethel, what is wrong?" he cried.
"Why have you so changed to ME ?"
Moving nearer to her, he touched her
hand. 81 could almost fancy you were
not glad to see me-" he said, in tone
Of annoyance.
"Of course l am glad TO see you but
it is all. Oh, can't say more To-
morrow"
"But want to know to-day why my
dearest girl is SO cold with me. want
to know why she is not as glad to see
me as l am to see her. What is wrong,
Ethel Surely you will not refuse to
answer me?
Her cheeks glowed as she replied
'Aunt Belle will explain, if you your
self do not understand"
lie caught her as she tried to slip past
him, and an expression OF intense amuse.
ment came into his eyes.
"Mother wrote me some nonsense about
old Valancy," he said. SIT is not pos
sible you mean that ?'
81 do mean Mrs. yalancy," the girl
replied, vaiEly endeavoring to release
her arm but he only held her faster.
Ethel, you can't be serious? p lie
exclaimed, with merriment in his eyes.
"a dear old soul, who must be Older
than my mother Why, good Heaven,
you couldn't believe such thing p
for Ethel was gazing into his face with
an expression of amazement.
| "Old ?' she gasped., "You are jestiDgI
You should not--"-and the tears
! gathered under her lashes.
"Why, my dearest girl,' lie cried,