Barton County democrat., 1907-07-12

90 mdu!
She leaned forward weeping bitter
ly, and / said nothing until she began
to control herself once more and
choke down her sobs in an effort to
speak again. Then ! said gently:
Don't say anything more about II
now, Miss Weston. am sure you will
do what is best, and though ! am ut
terly at a loss to know what you
mean, am, of course, willing to wait
a reasonable time until you are able to
tell me. | will trust you without
question, and in every way. but you
will understand that we both owe II
to Miss Carney to do away with all
this mystery as soon as We can. Il Is
spelling her pleasure in life and ruin
ing her property, too, and, as her
friends, we must not let II continue
If we can possibly put a stop to 1t. /"
"Oh, yes, know" she said, but we
mustn't stop it now. It's too soon, Mr..
Ware, and II Florence should learn
the truth now it would break her
heart"
Why, what do you mean?" ] eI'
claimed. you surely do not expect
me to believe that this affair could
affect Miss Carney in any way, do
you?"
Yes" she moaned, rocking back and
forth In her seat and speaking with
difficulty, 1T would affect her and all
Of US here, but me, most OF all, Mr.
Ware; me, most of all. When the time
comes il will be easier for everybody
but nothing can be done now, OF
things will be even worse than they
are. Oh, / do wish could tell you
what little | know about it, Mr.. Ware
but cannot, and know that you viii
trust me for few days anyway"
! walked slowly with her back tc
the house, and, when dinner time
came and she sent down her excuses
learned that no one in 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 lying dowr
and nursing severe headache. Mrs
Randolph seemed reticent and de
pressed and the meal passed OF slow
ly and without incident
When we rose from the table hat
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 It was my intention
to put the matter squarely before hel
and ask her, not necessarily an ex
planation of affairs, but friendly co
operation with me in putting an END
to the annoyances she had been caus
ing.
had not formed bad opinion oi
the woman from her appearance. ard
the new turn things had taken made me
wonder If she, like Miss Weston, might
not have been drawn into this business
unwillingly and In all innocence. More
over, was convinced that matter,
were far from being as tragic as Miss
Weston. in her hysterical emotion
would have me believe, for ! could moi
conceive how staid, respectable plac,
like Carney-Croft could, by any pos
sibility, be drawn into an affair thai
might not be satisfactorily explained
in one way or another.
In a word, / had no doubt that .
quiet, good-natured talk with Mrs
Bruce would accomplish all that
could wish, and ! was prepared to of
fer her money or any other induce
ment that she might name IL she
would let the matter drop. confess
that my curiosity was greatly excited
but | was willing to forego all knowl
edge Of the underlying facts in thu
case if the Bruce woman and the rest
of them would only depart and leav,
US in peace.
/ approached the cottage from tn,
rear, coming down by a short cur
through the fields, and as | turned
the corner Of the house Sy the oper
sltting'room windows ! heard a WON
ans voice sob out:
oh, / must! must, Mrs. Bruce!
cannot live unless / do!"
Mrs. Bruce made some reply in q
gentle, soothing tone Of wonderful
sweetness, and then she emerged from
the door Of the cottage with her arm
anectionately around the waist Of
Annie Weston, who was weeping as II
her heart would break. The two passed
on down the little gravel walk toward
the gate, while Mrs. Bruce continued
to pour words Of comfort into the ear
OF the agonized girl; and turned and
retraced my steps TO the house that
might be there before Miss Weston sr.
rived.
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