The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-08-23
XyrxrgydYy3xMy

Holmes examined it for some time
and then folding 1t carefully up, he
placed it in his pocketbook.
'fThis promises to be most interest
ing and unusual case" said he YOU
gave me few particulars in your let
ter, Mr. Hilton Cubitt, but should
be very much Obliged if you would
| kindly go over it all again for the ben
eft of my friend DR. Watson"
I'm not much Of a story teller" said
our visitor. aervously clasping and un
clasping his great, strong hands. You
will Just ask me anything that don't
make clear, I'll begin at the time of
my marriage last year. but I want to
say first OF all that, though I'm not IL
rich man. my people have been at Rid
| ing Thorpe for matter of five centu-
ries, and there is no better known fam
| lily In the county Of Norfolk. Last year
| came up to London for the jubilee.
and [ stopped at a boarding house in
| Russell square, because Parker, the
vicar of our parish. was staying in 1t.
tThere was an American young lady
there-Patrck was the name-Else
Patrick. In some way we became
friends, until before my month was up
I was as much in love as man could
be. We were quietly married at reg
istry office. and we returned to Nor
folk welded couple. You'll think it
very mad, MIR. Holmes, that man Of
"a good old family should marry wife
in this fashion, knowing nothing OF her
past or OF her people. but il you saw
her and knew her it would help you to
understand.
"She was very straight about it. was
Elsie. can't say that she did not give
me every chance of getting out Of it if
wished to do So I have had some
very disagreeabIe associations in my
life,' said she, I wish to forget all
about them. would rather never al
Jude to the past, for it is very painful!
to me. II you take me, Hilton, you will
take woman who has nothing that
she need be personally ashamed of, but
you will have to be content with my
word for it and to allow me to be silent
as to all that passed up to the time
when I became yours. II these condi,
lions are too hard, then go back to Nor
folk and leave me to the lonely life in
which you found me- 1t was only the
day before our wedding that she said
those very words to me. told her that
was content to take her on her own
terms, and | have been as good as my
word.
swell. we have been married now for
a year and very happy we have been
But about month ago, at the end o:
June, I saw for the first time signs OF
trouble. One day my wife received a
letter from America saw the Amer
lean stamp. She turned deadly white
read the letter and threw it into the
fire. She made no allusion to it after
ward, and made none, for promise
is a promise. but she has never known
an easy hour from that moment. There
is always look Of fear upon her face
"a look as if she were waiting and ex
pectlng. She would do better to trust
me. She would find that was her best
friend. But until she speaks I can SAY
nothing. Mind you. she is truthful
woman, Mr.. Holmes, and whatever
trouble there may have been in he,
past life it has been no fault of hers
I am only a simple Norfolk squire, bu
there is not man in England VIII.
ranks his family honor more hight,
than I do. She knows 1T we'll, and sh,
knew it well before she married me
She would never bring any stain upot
1t; of that / am sure.
Well now come to the queer par
Of my story. About week ago-i
was the Tuesday of last week. fount
on one of the window stills number o
absurd little dancing figures like thes
upon the paper. They were scrawlet
} with chalk. l thought that 1t was th,
stable boy who had drawn them, bu
The lad swore he knew nothing abou
. 1t. Anyhow. they had come there dun
Ing the night l had them washed ou1
and ! only mentioned the matter to IN