Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-05-11

understand. Fancy accepting the man
before he asked me-" And Constance
laughed feebly.
Il believe there is something under
this" remarked Flossie. THAT was a
caddish thing to do and not like Vim
cent. He does not even like Mabel,
though she is always running after
him. And one thing l noticed tonight,
she never allowed him to speak to you
unless she was at your elbow. She
seemed afraid of what you might tell
him."
If Lady Towers noticed Mabel's eff
forts to keep the old-time lovers apart
that evening she observed them even
more clearly next day. 1t was Christ
mas eve, and real Christmas weather.
All day the snow had been falling and
the cold was piercing. No one could
go out. Mabel had perseveringly stuck
to Constance all day. Even when their
hostess asked Vincent to show Con-
stance the priests room, as the secret
chamber was called. Mabel instantly
begged leave to accompany them, al
though she was a notorious coward,
and had declined to go with the others
on previous visit. on the ground that
she hated dark and uncanny places"
For the priests room was said to be
haunted So Lady Towers decided to
make the fourth. The secret room was
in the picture gallery, and Vincent held
back the heavy sliding panel, while the
ladies stepped daintily within. holding
their skirts from the dust and cobwebs.
They had hardly made two steps for
ward when Mabel. with loud scream
of The monk! The monks ghost!"
fell heavily to the ground.
Vincent rushed to her help and the
panel sliding to, they were imprisoned
In the darkness. Mabel's screams grew
frantic.
a. MI
ed. Roland and the Aboys know where
we are. and when We don't turn up
In a reasonable time they'll soon look
US up
Not in time to save my life." moaned
Mabel. I've cut my head open in fall
ing, and I'm bleeding to DEATH"
1T does seem a bad cut" said Vim
cent in an alarmed tone. II can feel
the blood soaking my coat as l hold
her"
Mabel The ghost Of the monk came
to warn me. can't die without confess
sing. Constance. Vincent didn't give
me the scarf pin you gave him. I heard
what he said to you that day in the con-
servatory, and saw you put the but
tonhole OH his table. l took it. and I
told him you gave it to me because you
wanted the man who gave 1t to you to
understand you didn't care for him.
And 1 told you he gave it to me. L
thought he would turn to me and grow
TO love me, but he didn't. and I'm bleed
ing to death, and l can't die with a
guilty conscience. And oh. the monk!
the monk!'
Here Mabel went off in series or
piercing yells. which relieved her hear
ers' fears as to the danger of her dy-
ing from exhaustion, and speedily pro-
cured their release.
Mabel was led off by her hostess to
have her wound. which turned out to
be Il mere flesh cut, attended to. and
Vincent turned to Constance and took
both her hands in his.
rs that true, Connie?" Did you mean
to give me back my pin?"
The dark soulful eyes met his stead
lastly.
II did. and when I thought you de-
spised me. and had given it to Mabel. it
nearly broke my heart"
.And she told me you had laughed
at me. and loved another fellow. My
darling. when you We're a child you
! said. L will give you the pin back when
love you again If you had 1t still
would you give it to me now"
The love light shone in the beautiful
eyes still raised to his. and the sweet.
| tremulous voice thrilled him with a
rapture as she answered.:
II gave it back to you two years ago,
| Vincent. l would give 1t to you again
now. For 1 love you. dear"
| Aud as he clasped her to his breast
he could only murme1 In his deep joy,
My little white rosebud"