Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-08-30
CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII
It was late one evening-while Olive
Dumbarton and her daughter were in the
drawing-room, when Valerius Gabraitl
was announced. Both started at sound
of his name, and, looking up, kept thcir
eyes fixed on him with something of sur
prise in their expression, for even in
that first glance they saw how changed
was the man before them from him who
had parted from them little more than q
week before.
he freshness and buoyancy which had
been his chief characteristics had given
place to an expression of pain and anx-
| iety; his prominent blue eyes, which had
ever sparkled with pleasure, we're now
clouded BY grief; lines were for the first
time visible in his face, that sedulous
care of his personal appearance which
formerly gave the impression of elegance
was now conspicuous by its absence, and
he looked every year of his age.
"Oiive! he exclaimed, grasping her
extended hand in both his own
u knew you would come back, and
| am glad you have" she said.
"Of course I returned the moment I
heard of-of this terrible affair."" he re-
piled.
Il sent TELEGRAM to Paris the day
after it happened"
Il had left by then. 1t was in Brin-
dist first read of his death. You can
imagine the shock 1 received. 1 have
hardly slept since. Then l came back as
soon as could, and only reached town
couple of hours ago"
i suppose you have heard ALP"
All that the newspapers could tell
me"
about the Coroner's Court and the
verdict" she said, in troubled voice.
Yes, yes" he answered, struggling
with his emotion. ''It's terrible to think
that you should suffer thus-you who
would not injure any living thing; you
have already endured so much"
Tell me, Valerius," she said in hest
tating voice, did you at first, even for
moment, think I was guilty? -
"You guilty." he cried out. Never,
never! I knew you were innocent"
1T makes me almost happy to hear
you say so, TO know that my friends
don't believe me guilty. You are aware,
of course, that circumstances are all
against me?"
$50 gather But let me hear all"
There is little to tell that you have
not already read" she began by saying,
and she went over the details of the
case which were ever present in her
mind, dwelling on the narrow compass
which surrounded the case, and seemed
to fasten the guilt upon her.
"Then there's no absolute clewF''
mot that / know of, at least" Olive
Dunbarton replied
Except the knife" suggested Yer
onica.
''The knife?" Valerius repeated, turn
ing toward the girl
a had forgotten that Olive remarked.
"Mackworth, the detective, hopes it may
help him to discover the owner"
But is there nothing else to go upon?"
he asked.
Nothing at present" Olive answered,
and something in the sound of her voice
and in the expression of her face be-
trayed the depths of that despair to which
at moments she was driven.
"Ah, Olive" he said suddenly and We
femently, as if carried away by an If
resistible impulse, eff you had listened to
me long ago, how much pain might you
and have been spared; how much hap
piness might we have known?"
"Valerius,' she exclaimed, reproact-
fully.
Forgive me- I don't know what
am saying tonight. l did not mean to
blame you now, least of all, when you
suffer most. / cannot control myself to-
night, but will leave you at once. God
knows have no desire to add to your
vexations. Goodnight"
Goodnight" she replied, holding out
her hand.
As he took it in his own a culver
passed through his frame. He turned
from her almost abruptly, but before he
reached the door Veronica entered and
said:
doctor Quave cannot come tonight,
mother"
VERY well, dear"
"But Quinton is here" Veronica said,
somewhat shyly, land says he would like
to see you, mother"
"In the dining-room.
"Ask him to come here You remem-
Der Quinton Quave," Olive said to her
cousin as Veronica quilted the room.
"Yes, very we'll"
'TIe has taken his degrees and gives
great promise of being very clever
doctor. He and his parents have been
most kind to me since-since-tha ter
rible night"
Valerius remembered that Dr. Quave
and his son were among the first who
had come upon the scene of the tragedy,
and he felt interested in seeing the young
man, with whom, on his entering the
room, he shook hands.
(To be continued,)