Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-07
THE CHORD
Observation-Disclosures.

ST was evident that she did not
love him. and yet it was announc-
ed that she was to marry him.
was only Il guest in the house. but the
affair troubled me and sought long
and earnestly for an explanation Of it.
SO far as | could judge. Mary had a
distinct aversion to Ralph Weston
nevertheless he seemed to DONNA te
her life. She feared him, but for some
reason chose to keep secret the cause
of that fear. | could see her almost
shrink from him when he called, but
she dared not refuse to see him or
break the engagement, which her
father had sanctioned.
What was the secret OF his power?
/ asked myself. Why did she not go
to her father-easy-g going, blind old
Mark Tottenham-and tell him she
could not marry this man? could see
no reason why she should sacrifice
herself. Her father was wealthy and
Weston was not. Surely the latter
made such marriage imperative.
On the contrary. my observation
led me to believe that Mr.. Tottenham
thought he was acting for the best IN
terests of his daughter. He liked
WestOn--who could be extremely en-
tertaining when he wished. although
usually rather taciturn-but there was
nothing to Indicate that he had his
heart scE on the match.
Yet Mary shuddered when her ac-
cepted sutton called. then greeted him
with a show of cordalty, and went
blindly with him to the little reception
room. from which from time to time
strains of music were waited
Weston was musician of no mean
ability, and occasionally entertained
lis all with selections on the piano,
but the Gtful way in which he played
when they were alone together i'm
pressed me as rather strange.
He seldom played selection
through in those circumstances. but
seemed to run over the keys idly, inn
promising. or giving few bars from
one air and then Il few from another
Once when he was doing this
thought | heard Il wild, pleading cry
of "Oh! don't" and then Il half-SmotlI-
cred shrek. and when he played for
us all the frightened look in Mary's
eyes was enough to haunt man for
life. Apparently. however, was tho
only one who noticed it.
Finally, Overstepping even the lrb-
erty accorded to an old friend, spoke
freely to her. | told her it was plain
she did not love him. and asked her
why she did not go frankly to her
father tell him SO and break the en-
gagement. The bare suggestion seemed
she answered.:
Il dare mott dare not. He'd kill
me"
xiii you" | exclaimed. Nonsense.
Your father has only your welfare ut
heart and"
"NO-no; not my father" she inter-
rupted. Il mean Mr. Weston. He has
the keynote"
The keynote. | was more mystified
than ever, but she gave me no chance
to ask for an explanation She hur-
ried away. as if already alarmed Mt
what she had said. yet it seemed to
me that she regarded me after that MS
one who was more In her confidence
than others and to whom she might
look for protection from some impend-
ing evil.
Still | could not understand what
she meant by the keynote" and she
avoided the subject as If it were
fraught with great personal danger.
When asked her to explain she trem-
bled and shook her head.
mo one would believe me-" she sail.
ut Is so strange, SO weird. And he
would kill me. He has threatened to
and l know he would"
Your nerves are overwrought," l
replied. UNLESS l mlsTtldge the man,
he would not know one end Of re-
volver from the other and this is not
the age for that sort Of thing"
But you don't understand" she In
sisted, laying her hand on my arm
as If that gave her confidence. but new