Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-07-06
z5e MYSTERY
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"a reasonable time until YOU are able 70
tell me. I viii trust you without
question. and ia every way. but YOU
viii understand that we both owe Il
90 Miss Carney 20 do away with al
this mystery as soon as we can. 1t is
spelling her pleasure ia life and ruin
ing her property. too. and. as her
friends. we must not let IL continue
DO We can possibly put a stop to it,
"Oh. yes I know" she said. but we
mustn't stop 10 now. It's too soon. Mr..
Ware. and If Florence should learn
the truth now # would break her
heart"
Why. what do YOU mean?" I exc
claimed. You surely do not expect
me 20 believe that this affair could
affect Miss Carney in any way. do
your"
Yes she moaned. rocking back and
forth TIA her seat and speaking with
difficulty, 1T would affect her and an
Of MS here. but me- most of am. Mr..
Ware; me. most Of an When the time
comes 70 viii be easier for everybody
but nothing can be done now. or
things viii be even worse than they
are. oh. 7 do wish I could tell you
what little I know about &C. Mr.. Ware
but cannot and know that you viii
trust me for few days anyway"
I walked slowly with her back TO
the house and. when dinner time
came and she sent down her excuses.
Z learned that no one ln the house was
aware that she had been ont during
the day
Miss Carney looked pale and care
worn and said that she had spent the
best part OF the afternoon living down
and nursing a severe headache Mrs.
Randolph seemed rcticent and de-
pressed and the meal passed OF slow
~ aud without incident
When we rose from the table had
formulated a plan which. thought.
might relieve the situation somewhat
and. apprising no one of my purpose.
set out in the direction of the Widow
Bruce's cottage. 70 was ray intention
90 put the matter suuareIy before her
and ask her. not necessarily an ex-
PLANTATION OF affairs. but a friendly CO.
operation with me IN putting an end
20 the annoyances she had been caus.
ing
had not formed a bad opinion Of
the woman from her appearance. and
The new turn things had taken made me
wonder 81 She like Miss Weston. might
not have been drawn into this business
unwillinEly and in an innocence. More.
over. ] was convinced that matters
were far from being as tragic as Miss
Weston. In her hystoricaI emotion.
would have me believe. for I could not
conceive how q staid. respectable place
like Carney-Cruft could by any pos.
siblity. Doe drawn into an affair that
might not Doe satisfactorily explained
iu one way or another.
tn a word. 7 had no doubt that a
quiet. good-natured talk with Mrs
Bruce would accomplish all that
could wish. and was prepared TO or
fer her money or any other induce
ment that she might name II she
would let the matter drop ] confess
that my curiosity was greatly excited
but ! was willing 90 foreeo an knowl
( edge of the underlying facts in ia,
{ case IL the Bruce woman and the resi-
f of them would only depart and leav,
/ us In peace.
! approached the cottage from the
4 rear. coming down by short chi
through the fields. and as I turne,
the corner of the house by the opcl
sitting-room windows / heard a won
ans voice sob out:
'Oh, j must, must Mrs. Brucei
cannot live unless / do"
Mrs. Bruce made some reply In
gentle. soothing tone OF wonderful
! sweetness, and then she emerged from
the door Of the cottage with her arm
/ anecuOnately around the waist O
Annie Weston, who was weeping as {
her heart would break The two passe,
/ on down the little gravel walk towar,
/ the gate, while Mrs. Bruce continue,
20 pour words OF comfort into the ca
of the agonized girl; and turned an,
| retraced my steps 70 the house that
might be there before Miss Weston ar
! rived