Free press., 1907-02-09
MARK STILES SECRET
(ContiinHed from Pare 81

4
What gulf was axed between them.
something for me- TaEe '1lIG this.. Hen He deo &c
sS1 sHched something g.g from his watch chain with
ayiaF sIs sGSsre zsr to ts iGshst isa So2 sG
| neux. Tell her. for her sake. shall be a
Wanderer over the face Of the earth till I
Without another word he tore at the door
oeIl and was gone. And while Clara gazed
With the burIy i form form of poiice@an @ G9nIr0n'eo
MIats wrong here: miss? Someone's
shouting from the window above %
cara stood aside to let the man pass in.
But she said not a word about the fugitive
VINO had just passed out to commence
ed, upon his brow with the mark of Cain.
"A prettiIy decorated drawing-room was
people assembled there was none handsomer
than the beautiful Fedore Molyneux. the
She wore a simple white dress. soft and
hlmy with lace border of holly en-
circled the hem OF the gown. and a small
She was the life of the party-here,
there. and everywhere she fitted. Not a
single juvenile was forgotten, and when the
huge Christmas-tree was lighted She was in
the thick of the fray. It was a pretty
sight to see her surrounded with the poor
Chrtstmas-tree before. For they were no
rich folks children. but those drawn from
seeming absorption in her task, every now
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
then half-past. then ten. Some of the
children were fetched away by their parents.
emptier and emptier, yet the crowning 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
..kiddies' party" as he had himself termed
Mrs. Molyneux noticed that the bright
face was getting gradually paler, and that
tired weary look was ciouding it. She in
sisted upon Fedore's going to bed the in
slant that the last little guest had disap-
You are tired out, my dear; besides, it
is getting late. No other visitor will come
Obediently Fedore left the room and
at once go to bed She only took off her
pretty dress. and wrapped herself in her
beside her nre to examine over and over
again little gift she had that morning re-
ost costly trintetwfor 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 H. lips the hal hah-pcomise pro- she had
"On Thursday night, Fedore, shall ask
you very important question" These 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 sudden thought
flashed through her. OF course! He was
But as suddenly the consolation faded
from her. Had this BEEN so, would he
not have written, have asked his cousin
Ferdinand writer
She disliked Ferdinand Horley more than
she cared to allow even to herself. She
had shown him plainly many and many
time that she would have none OF his at
tentions and she fancied there a sin
ster look upon his unpleasant face and
scornful curl of his lip the day that he
Could it be that he had conceived some
plot to separate her from Julian? But
hen common-sense came to her ala; ana shs
aorley have any spite against his cousin!
No: she would not be foolish. but get to
bed and try and sleep. Perhaps tomorrow
would see the problem solved.
She was late for breakfast, and when
the arrived in the morning-room she saw
hat her mother hastily hid the paper she
leld. also that her voice was a trihe un-
steady when she wished her "Good-morn-
ng;
ant deceive me-there is something the
natter"
Instantly her intuitive sense told her it
vas something connected with Julian.
My dear child: / hardly know how to
freak it to yOu-but very terrible thing
Every particle of color deserted the girls
ace. She was as white as statue as she
'eHe-is dead 20 she gasped.
my dear, I almost wish it were
that would be better than disgrace"
YOU mean? Read it to me@teli me|do
ot spare mel But the words are all swim
ming before me! -