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

7 ~ - ~ ~ -" TTT"T 10 y ~
coming, and | strobe to the curtains
and threw them back. uttering l know
not III nonsense. You can imagine
how abashed ! YVES when Mrs. Delroy
wheeled around upon me with a face
so white n distorted that / scarcely
knew her.
: "'Oh, / beg your pardon / cried,
seeing how ] had started her.
For a moment she didn't seem TO
know me.
What is it?' she asked I'm a hoarse
whisper, What has hapPcned?'
My dear Mrs. Delroy, o really
must pardon me- l repeated. I'm
awfully sorry / frightened you. 1 took
20 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 DO you do Mr.. Drysdale?'
she said. but her voice was even yet
d little tremuious. Yes, you did startle
me. Isn't it a fearful night?'
Indeed 1t u.s. l agreed. i had quite
a time getting here
You came to see Grace 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. | told my man
not to wait ] added. thinking 1t was
for that she had looked out of the win
dow. It's too bad . night to keep either
ma or beast outdoors. He's to come
back at Ill dare say Grace will put
up with me till then
She hesitated an instant, looking at
me in a way l did not understand. Just
then the maid came to the door, but
seeing me with Mrs. DtlrDy. eel away
again.
II fear she'E 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 |
think she's asleep
"'Oh, well, then I said. I won't dis
turb her. It's nothing serious, l hope?
Not at all; merely n little indispo-
sition. Shall l lot -'ou out?'
There was something i'm the last
words-a little too much eagerness.
perhaps-which arrested my attention.
They didn't sound like Mrs. Delroy, for
you know, Godfrey, she's usually the
sweetest, gentlest, most hOspitable
oma 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 var deceiv-
ing me, that she wasn't telling the
truth, that she wanted to set rid Of me.
I've got D 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?' l asked.
Mrs. Delroy SHOOK her head decid-
eddy.
I'm afraid not. It's n nervous
headache. you see. 1t will las all night
probably
4" Is she subject to nervous head.
aches?' l asked, playing for time. I'm
sorry to hear hat. She doesn't in the
least look it,
oh. no, she answered quickly.
she's not at all subject to them; but
occasionally, when she's ~overworked
herself
The sentence trailed off into moth
ingaeSS. / saw that she waSn' thinking
OF what she vas saying, and when she
glanced down into the street again, l
began to get an mixing Of this real
state OF affairs. | was a little ashamed
of the part / vas playing, but | deter
mined TO braZen it out. If Miss Croy-
don had gon out alone on a night like
this, | had a right to know it. Why
should she make a mystery OF II? What
was there in her errand that needed 10
be concealed from me?
Mrs. De!roy was looking at me anx-
iously. Finally she took the bull by
the ho.ns.
~ really must be going upstairs.
she said. You'll excuse me?'
Certainly. Is Mr.. Delroy here?'
mo; he's out of town today and
she made another movement toward
the door.
II didn't see how 1 was 6 Ding to hang
on any longer without beI.lg absolutely
rude; / gave Il UP in despair. After all,
/ could wait outside the house. Then
suddenly l realized l 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 playirg the fool-I
had no right to suspect.
And just then, Godfrey. as / glanced
out OF the window, l saw a cab dash UP
to the house and a woman get out or
1t. / knew her on the instant, and /
shouldn't care to go through another
such moment of doubt and suspicion
and agony. For IL was worse than I
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" sai Godfrey dryly. The Del
roy carriage would have been too con-
spicuous; besides, she wanted 10 keep
her errand a secret. even IRON the ser
wants"
do you mean
NO matter; go ahead with your
story, then I'll tell you mine
Drysdale was shaking convulsively.
but he managed to go on
AS I said, / saw a cab drive up n
a woman get 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, I've seen him. Edith she said.
i'm a voice that l shall never forget. Il
should have taken your advice. hould
not nave zone
"'You shall not go again. DEAR
No agreed the other. not again!
There was something in her tone
that caught her sister 5 ear.
what Is 1t. Gracey' she demanded
lercely. Tell mel
It's worse than either OF rs thought
hes dead. Edith
Drysdale paused a moment. His voice
was shaking so that he could not 30
on. He wiped his forehead mechanic
ally, with trembling hand.
Godfrey he said at last. II tell
you my W heart stood still at those
words, uttered In such a tone-tnere
was no u~istaking her meaning-and II