Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-02-08
MARK STILES SECRET
fcontinaed from Page 81

Something IN her voice toucneu MIN y
the quick. She was young and innocent
What q gulf was fixed between them.
'.Do you pity me?" he faltered. "Then dc
something for me. Take this - He de-
shaking fingers take this locket to 2
Mayfair Square. Ask to see Miss Molly
neux. Tell her, for her sake. | shall be
wanderer over the face of the earth till
die"
without another word he tore at the door
bell and was gone. And while Clara. gazed
stupidity after him, she was confronted
whats wrong here, miss? Someone
shouting from the window above J"
Clara stood aside to let the man pass IN
But she said not word about the IugltlFe
who had just passed out to commence a
lifelong struggle that winters night, prano-
ed upon his brow with the mark OF Cain.
prettily decorated drawing-room was
all abIaze with light, and amongst the
people assembled there was none handsomer
than the beautiful Fedore Molyneux, the
young hostess.
filmy with lace border of holly en-
circled the hem of the gown, and small
wreath her golden hair
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. pr nooy
little mites. who probably had never seen a
Christmas-tree before. For they were no
rich folks children, but those drawn from ON
back streets and byWays. Yet, Tor all her
seeming absorption in her task, every now
and then she looked eagerly towards me
door And each time that she heard the
knocker or the door-bell her race was
bright with hope and joy.
But disappointment after disappointment
succeeded each other. Nine o'clock struck,
then half-past, then ten. some OF a ene
oI,sJ or We
others left by themselves, the rooms grew
emptier and emptier, yet the browning Joy
of Fedore's birthday party mad 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 cloudlng IT, She IN
sisted upon Fedore's going to bed the IN
slant that the last little guest had dlsap-
you are tired out, my dear besides, it
is getting late No other visitor Will come
now"
Obediently Fedore left the room and
sought her own chamber. But she dld not
at once go to bed. She only took on ner
warm dressing-gown. Then she sat down
beside her fire to examine over and over
again a little gift she had that morning re-
ceived. 1t was small gold bangle
costly trinket-for inscribed upon the outer
surface in tiny diamonds were the words,
"A Happy Birthday. 4nuo
She knew who was the donor thougn lne ,re
was no note enclosed. And tonight she
had been expecting someone to sea- WIN WIN
his own lips the half-promise she had
given him III. Few ,,e Gays E ago shall ask
you very important question. Inese nad
been Julian's words. Yet the evening hau
come and gone, and he had never come az
all. What did it all mean? something
oyoo+hinp rnexnected must have detained
She started up as a sudden thought
flashed through her or course o ne was
But as suddenly the consolation faded
from her. Had this been so, would ne
not have written. or have asked MS cousin
She disliked Ferdinand Horley more IMAM naln
she cared to allow even to herSeH. ohe
had shown him plainly many and many a
time that she would have none OF his at
tentions and she fancied there was a SIN
lister look upon his unpleasant face ana a
scornful curl of his lip the day that ne
had met them at the station.
Could it be that he had conceived some
plot to separate her from Julian? But
then common-sense came to her ana, ana sue
laughed at the idea. Why should Ferdlnand
HorIey-haye any spite against his cousin?
Mo- 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, ana "nen
she arrived in the morning-room she saw
that her mother hastily hid the paper she
held. also that her voice was a trife UNI
steady when she wished her "Good-morn-
ing" ~
can't deceive me-there is something the
matter" =.
Instantly her intuitive sense told her it
was something connected with Julian.
ssMy dear child, I hardly know how to
break it to you-but very terrible thing
has happened. 1t concerns Julian Horley
Every particle of color deserted the girls
face She was as white as a statue as she
stretched out her hand for the paper.
"He-is dead" she gasped
'My DEAR almost wish it were SO.