Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-03-16
"a DEAD PAST
BY MRS LOvETT ~
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CHAPTER XVIII.
BY MRS. LOvETT CAMERON

CHAPTER XVIII.
Felicia sat alone in the inn sitting
room at Smackton. Miss Grantley and
Gertrude had taken fly after breakfast
and gone out for a drive together. They
had been rather mysterious over the
business.
There was a knock at the door, and
the old waiter popped in his rough white
head sideways:
Yes, SIR" he said, half turning back
to somebody behind him, ''the lady Is in.
A gentleman, ma'am, to see you"
He threw wide open the door, and
somebody, tall and slight, clad in long
overcoat, came out from the gloom of
the passage without into the gathering
twilight of the sitting room. For mo-
ment she peered at him, not seeing who
1t was; then suddenly she recognized
him, and her heart beat wildly.
Mr.. Raikes. Is it you?"
He took her proffered. hand and shook
1t warmly, murmuring some half con-
fused words of greeting.
How on earth did you come here?
What brings you to Smackton? And how
did you learn that l was hereT'
81 was travelling north. | heard ac-
cidentally from fellow passenger in
the same carriage that you were staying
here"
Il am very glad to see you," she an
swered, heartily, and with perfect self
composure, for women act these scenes
much better than men do, and she would
not have betrayed her agitation for an
empire.
How well she looks" thought Edgar,
"and how beaming; it is easy to see that
she is perfectly content" Aloud he said:
'Do you know who my fellow traveller
turned out to be?"
Il cannot imagine" she replied.
Mrs. Talbot's husband. He is down
stairs in the coffee room. They told
him his wife was out; he has come here
to look after her.
Felicia laughed. The situation was
really delightful.
What a piece of good luck" she cried
gayly. Il never heard of his turning up
appropriately in his life before. If only
he will take her away, for she is a thorn
In my side"
How well you look. need not ask
you how you are. And your husband, he
is quite well, l hope?"
Felicia started. MY husbandw she
repeated, in a strange voice of wonder
Ing bewilderment. What on earth do
you meanT
He looked at her with a surprisde and
startled face. Il mean Sir Roy" he
said stammeringly.
"Sir Roy is my cousin, Mr.. Raikes;
not my husband.'
ptt
you not, when | left England? l was
told of tit was for that that l went
away, and you yourself would not bid
me stay; and when heard it l thought
that | understood your meaning. Surely,
surely l could not have made so terri
BILE a mistake."
ut was no mistake. l was engaged
to Roy for one month. Perhaps, had
you not gone away-however, our en-
gagement was broken off"
81 never heard of it," he said breath
lessly. Il believed that you were mar
ried. But tell me why-why was it
broken off 2"
Il never meant to marry him. Some
day, perhaps, if you care to hear the
eluci1aton of the mystery, l will explain
1t all to you; 1t is long story. To be-
gin with, did not love him." she stam-
mered slowly, with downcast eyes, Then
there was a pause. rs not that enough?"
"Felicia," he said, below his breath.
"Will you ever marry anybody?"
perhaps l ever love any
body"
"Will you then ever learn to love
anybody"
IF anybody cares to inquire, well
then, perhaps l will tell him."