Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-16
CHAPTER XVII.
1T Don't Hear"

The afternoon passed without further de-
velopments. Mr.. Harper, who had his own
imperative engagements, left the evening
train for New York, promising to return
the next day in case his presence seemed
indispensable to his cnent
That clients final word to him had been
an injunction to keep eye on Georgian S
so-called brother and to report how he had
been affected by the news from Sitford.
and when, in the lull following the law
yers departure, Mr.. Ransom sat down in
his room to look his own position resolute-
ly in the face, this brother and his possible
connection with the confusing and unha INV
incidents Of this last fatal week regained
that prominent place in his thoughts which
the doubts engendered by the unusual char
acter of these incidents had for a while
dispelled.
What had been the hold of this strange
and uncongenial man on Georgian? And
was his temperance at the same time with
that of supposedly long deceased sister
simply coincidence so startling as to ap-
pear unreal?
He had not seen Anitra again and did not
propose to, unless the meeting came about
in natural way and without any show, of
desire on his part If any suspicion had
been awakened in the house by his pecu-
be speedily dissipated by the careful way
in which he now held to his role of de.
spairing husband whose only interest in the
girl left on his hands was the dutifuI ono
of a reluctant brother-in-law, who do,bts
the kindly feelings of his strange and I'M
welcome charge
The landlady, with a delicacy he highly
appreciated, cared for the young girl With
out making her conspicuous by any undue
attention. No tidings had come in of anv
discovery In the mill stream or in the river
into which it ran, and there being nothing
with which to feed gossip the townsfoII,
who had gathered about the hotel porces
gradually began to dispense, till only a
rev or the most persistent remained to
keep up conversation till midnight
Finally these too left and the house sank
into quiet, quiet which remained un-
broken all night; for everybody, even poor
Mr.. Ransom, slept
He was up, however, with the first beam
entering his room. How could he tell hut
That news of a definite and encourag cling
nature awaited him? Some one might have
come in early from town or river All
search had not been abandoned. There
were certain persistent ones who had eona
as far as Beardsley's. Some of these might
have returned. He would hasten down and
see. But 1t was only to find the office
empty, and, though the household pres
emily awoke and the great front door was
thrown open to all Corners no eager strap
gler came rushing in with the tidings he
At 1890 the representative of the comfy
police called on Mr.. Ransom, but with
small result. Shortly after his departnre
the mail came in and with 1t the New York
papers. These he read with ayidity. Rut
they added nothing to his knowledge Geor-
CLANS death was accepted as a fact. and the
peculiarities Of their history since their
unfortunate wedding day were laid bare
with but little consideration for his feelings
or the good name of his bride With
eorer heart .han ever, he flung the papers
from MIN and went out to gather strength
In the open air.
There was a corner of the veranda into
which he had never ventured. It was likely
to be solitary one at this hour. and
thfther he now went But a shock awaited
him there. lady was pacing it's stin damp
boards A lady who did not turn her head
at his STEP but whom he instantly reeoe-
nized from her dress, and willfui but not
ungraceful bearing, as her whom he was
determined y call, may recognize, as Ami
ira Hazen.
His judgment counseled retreat, but the
fascination OF her presence held him. and in
that moment of hesitation she turned to-
ward him and flight became impossible.
It was the first opportunity he had had
OF observing her features in broad daylight.
The effect r--~ a confused one She was
Georgian and she was not Georgian Her
skin was decidedly darker, her eyes more
hlstrous, her bearing less polished and at
the same time more impassioned. She was
not 80 tall or quite SO elegantly propor-
tioned;-or was II her ride method Of dress
ing her hair and the awkward cut of her
clothes which made the difference He could
slider her Anitra, and excellent as his rea-
sons were tor ooing 20, the swelling of his
heart az 10 met her eye reused again the
Old doubt and gave - unnatural tone to