Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-02-07
MARK STILES SECRET
CONTINUED from PARE 81

lne quick. she was young and innocent.
What a gulf was fixed between them.
DO you pity me?" he faltered. Then do
something for me. Take this" He de-
tached something from his watch chain with
shaking fingers. Take this locket to 2,
Mayfair Square. Ask to see Miss Molly
neux. Tell her, for her sake. shall be a
wanderer over the face of the earth till 1
Without another word he tore at the door
bell and was gone. And while Clara gazed
stupidity after him, she was confronted
What's wrong here; miss? Someone's
shouting from the window above 20
Clara stood aside to let the man pass in.
But she said not word about the fugitive
who had just passed out to commence a
lifelong struggle that winters night, brand
ed upon his brow with the mark Of Cain.
A prettily decorated drawing room was
all ablaze with light, and amongst the
people assembled there was none handsomer
than the beautiful Fedore Molyneux, the
young hostess.
She wore simple white dress, soft and
filmy with lace. border of holly en-
circled the hem of the gown, and small
She was the life of the party-here,
there, and everywhere she fitted. Not a
huge Christmas-tree was lighted she was in
the thick of the fray. 1t was a pretty
sight to see her surrounded with the poor
little mites, who probably had never seen
Chrlstmas-tree before. For they were no
rich folks children but those drawn from
back streets and byways. Yet, for all her
and then she looked eagerly towards the
door And each time that she heard the
knocker or the door-bell her face was
bright with hope and JOY
But disappointment after disappointment
succeeded each other. Nine O'Clock struck,
then half-past, then ten. Some of the
others left by themselves, the rooms grew
empter and emptier, yet the browning joy
of Fedore's birthday-party had not yet
arrived.
Julian Horley had forgotten his promise.
He had not appeared to help her with the
Riddles party" as he had himself termed
Mrs. Molyneux noticed that the bright
face was getting gradually paler, and that a
tired weary look was clouding it. She in
sisted upon Fedore's going to bed the in
slant that the last little guest had disap-
peared.
You are tired out, my dear besides, it
is getting late. No other visitor will come
Obediently Fedore left the room and
sought her own chamber. But she did not
at once go to bed. She only took off her
pretty dress. and wrapped herself in her
warm dressing gown. Then she sat down
beside her fire to examine over and over
again little gift she had that morning re-
ceived. 1t was small gold bangleIa
costly trinket-for inscribed upon the outer
surface in tiny diamonds were the words,
"a Happy Birthday"
She knew who was the donor, though there
was no note enclosed. And tonight she
had been expecting someone to seal with
his own lips the half-promise she had
given him few days ago.
con Thursday night, Fedore, / shall ask
you very important question. These mad
been Julian's words Yet the evening had
come and gone, and he had never come at
all. What did it all mean? Something
something unexpected must have detained
him.
She started up as a sudden tn thought g;ht
flashed through her. OF course! lie was
ill-that was it-and unable to come!
But as suddenly the consolation faded
from her Had this been so, would he
not have. written, or have asked his cousin
Ferdinand to write?
She disliked Ferdinand Horley more than
she cared to allow even to herself, She
had shown him plainly many and many a
time that she would have none OF his at
tentions and she fancied there was sim
lister look upon his unpleasant face and
scornful curl of his lip the day that he
had met them at the station.
Could 1t be that he had conceived some
plot to separate her from Julian? But
then common-sense came TO her aid, and she
laughed at the idea. Why should Ferdinand
No: she would not be foolish. but get to
bed and try and sleep. Perhaps tomorrow
would see the problem solved.
she arrived in the morning-room she saw
that her mother hastily hid the paper she
held also that her voice was trhe I'M
steady when she wished her "Good-morn-
''What is IT, mother dear? No. you
can't deceive me-there is something the
matter"
instantly her intutive, sense told her it
was something connected with Julian.
my dear child, l hardly know how TO
break 1t to you-but very terrible thing
has happened. 1t concerns Julian Horiey."
| Every particle of color deserted the girls
| face She was as white as statue as she
stretched out her hand for the paper.
"He--is dead! !" she gasped.
my dear l almost wish 1t were so.
| That would be better than disgrace y
Disgrace oh, mother, mother! what is