Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-10-04

ttttlfl dlOullu UPON mt WIN a ittt
so white and distorted that / scarcely
knew her.
oh, l beg your pardon l cried,
seeing how I had startled her.
FOR a moment she didn't seem TO
know me.
What is IT, she asked In n hoarse
whisper. What has happened?'
My dear Mrs. Delroy, you really
must pardon me-, | repeated. I'm
awfully sorry 1 frightened you. 1 took
O for your sister
She stared at me a mInute longer in
a queer way; then her face frightened
and she smiled and held out her hand.
"'Oh. how 90 you do Mr.. Drysdale?'
she said. but her voice was even yet
a little tremulouS. Yes. you did startle
me. Isn't II a fearful night?'
Indeed it Is I agreed. L had quite
a time getting here.
You came TO see GTace?' she asked.
with a glance over her shoulder down
into the street.
Yes I said: she's expecting me.
I've sent UP my card. / old my man
not 10 wait / added, thinking It was
for that she a looked out OF the win
dow, It's TOO bad . night 10 keep either
man or beast outdoors. He's TO come
back at Ill dare say Grace viii put
Up with me till then
She hasitated an instant, looking at
me in "A way | did not understand. Just
then the maid came to the door, but
seeing me with Mrs. Delroy. went awa
again.
- fear shel! not be able TO see you
tonight, Mr.. DrySdale,' she said. at last.
She's not been feeling well since din
ner. She's lying down now, and I
think she's asleep
oh, well. then I said. 4 won't dis
turb her. It's nothing serious, / hope?
"'Not at all; merely n little indispo-
sition. Shall l let -'ou out?'
There was something in the last
words-a little too much eagerness,
perhaps-which arrested my attention.
They didn't sound like Mrs. De!roy, for
you know, Godfrey, she's usually the
sweetest, C2utleSt. most hOspitable
woman in the world-the very last per
son who would think Of chasing a man
out into a storm. / don't know why it
was, but somehow the thought flashed
through my head that she was deceiv-
ing me, that she wasn't telling the
truth, that she wanted TO set rid Of me.
I've got o streak OF obstinacy in me
that took fire IN a moment.
Isn't there a chance that Miss
Croydon may get better after a while
and come down? / asked.
Mrs. Delroy SHOOK her head decid-
eddy.
LIN dltdiu IlDl. lis a iltl : CIlN
headache, you see. It will last all night
probably
rs she subject to nervous head.
aches?' / asked, playing for time. I'm
sorry to hear that. She doesn't in the
least Loo, it,
oh, no. she answered quickly,
she's not at all subject to them; but
occasionally, when she's overworked
herself
,.~Lo eor.,,o +ro;,oa orr in+o ~otL
ingaess. / saw that she wasn't thinking
OF what she was saying, and when she
glanced down into the street as ain, /
began to get an mixing Of the real
state OF affairs. / was a little ashamed
OF the part I was playing. but | deter
mined TO brazan ii out, II Miss Croy-
don had gone out alone on a night like
this, | had a right TO know il. Why
should she make mystery OF II? What
was there in her GRAND that needed to
be concealed from me?
Mrs. De!roy was looking at me anX-
iously. Finally she took the bull by
The horns.
~ really must be going upstairs
she said. You'll xcu me?'
Certainly. Is Mr.. Delroy here?'
"'No; he's out of town today and
she made another movement toward
the door.
i ulQIl l see HOW i vas Is Dix 10 ndilR
on any longer without bel.Ig absolutely
rude; / gave II up in despair. After all.
/ could wait outside the house. Then
suddenly | realized | was acting like
a cad-I had no right to play the spy
but there was something back OF it all
some myStery-which worried and
puzzled me. But perhaps IL was only
my fancy-why should MRS. Delroy de-
ceive me? / was playing the fool-I
had no right to suspect.
And just then. Godfrey. as | glanced
out OF the window, | saw a cab dash UP
to the house and a woman get out OF
It. | knew her on the instant, and
shouldn't care to go through another
such mi Of doubt and suspicion
: and agony. For II was worse than /
had thought. She had not used her
sisters carriage-then, at least. she
would have been in the care OF a trust
ed coachman-she had hired a cab"
Yes" said Godfrey dryly. The Del
roy carriage would have been too con-
! spicuous: besides, she wanted 10 keep
/ her errand a secret, wen from the SER
wants"
DO you mean
mo matter: go ahead with your
story, then I'll tell you mine"
Drysdale was shaking convulsively.
but he managed to go on
AS | said. l saw a cab drive up and
a woman get OUT. She ran up the steps.
the door opened. and Miss Croydon
came into the room. Even In the dim
light, / could Sc how white her face
was.
"'Grace!' cried Mrs. Delroy. stepping
forward at sight OF her. 'Grace!'
Miss Croydon turned to her and held
out her arms.
Yes. Ive seen him. Edith she said,
in a voice that / shall never forget. i
should have taken o u advice. i should
not have zone
You shall not go again. dear!
No agreed the other. rot again!
: There was something in her tone
that caught her sister s ear.
What is IL. Grace she demanded
lercely. Tel met
It's worse than either OF Us though,
he's dead. Edith"
Drysda.e paused a moment. His voice
was shaking so that he could not 80
on. He wiped his forehead mechanic
rally. with trembling hand
Godfrey" he said at last. II tel
you my own heart stood still at those
wcr1s, uttered In such a tone-tnerg
was no II issaking her meaning-and IL
was a momeat before | could see clearly
enough TO discern Mrs. Delroy's look
of horror as she stared up at her sis
ter.
| mo that she cried. Not on your
hAn1Hf oh n Ia 49,. -A0 N.Y.. 81