The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-12-10
CHAPTER XVIII
After Many Years.

Lett alone, maria DeldnaN ndu
summed up the situation clearly
and logically. Beyond all doubt
her sister was alive. There was
no likelihood of Louis Delahay's
return for the next two hours.
Why, then, should she not take a
cab as far as Isleworth road. 1t
was very late, of course, but then
London was a late place, ana a
midnight call no novelty.
She allowed herself to act on
the impulse of the moment and
was driven to Isleworth road. The
| locality was a respectful one, and
there were lights in good many
of the houses; but at No. II Mrs.
Delahay met with disappointment.
] The house was dark. AS Maria
rang the bell for the third time, a
! policeman came along.
"You are wasting your time
there, lady," he said. THE peo-
pie are not at home. think they
are coming back at the end of the
week"
Maria thanked the officer and
went back to the cab.
Thinking these things over now
that Walter Lance had gone, a
sudden resolve came to the woman.
She would go out at once and try
her luck at Isleworth road again.
She took no cab this time. She
knew the way. AS she walked
along she was conscious of the
fact that she was being followed.
She smiled bitterly. What had
those people to be afraid of? Did
they think she was going to run
away?
Her heart gave a leap as she
saw the lights cleaning behind
the drawn curtains at No. II. She
had only to ring once, then the
door was promptly opened by a
typical English servant.
Il think there is a lady here l
want to see" Maria stammered,
"At least she was here for some
time in the spring. You see, she
is my sister, and we have not met
for 90 years. 1t may appear
strange. but l don't even know her
name"
1t seemed to Maria that this
was a proper precaution on her
part. Though her explanation
sounded weak enough, to her
great relief she saw the servant
smile and open the door a little
wider.
THAT is all right, madam" the
servant said. 81 can see that you
are my mistress sister by the like
ness. Will you please come this
way"
| The next five minutes seemed
like an hour to Maria. Then the
door opened, and tall, dark
woman came in. The two looked
at one another for quite a minute
in absolute silence. 1t was so
strange to meet after all these
years, so sad for both to see how
the other had altered. Then Ma
ria Delahay moved forward, and
the two women kissed each other
| almost cOldly.
why did you come here?" the
| countess said. How did you
manage TO find me out? | thought
You were dead
81 thought you were dead, too,
| till the other night Maria said,
and she told the story of the cham
bermaid.
Countess Flavio appeared to be
listening in a dull, mechanical kind
of way There was no Disgusting
the fact that she was both dis
tressed and disconnected to find
herself face to face with her long
| lost sister again.
You know nothing of my his
| tory?" she asked
Not until tonight" Maria said.
81 have recently been listening to
it. | had been told that you were
dead. and | believed the story. I
was utterly ignorant of the fact
that you had had such a dreadful
time Not that | would believe
anything they say, Carlotta, BE-
cause | know what you were in
the old days. But however dreadful
your experiences have been, you,
at any rate, snatched a brief hap
piness. You married the man of
your choice. How did you manage
to escape?"
''Oh, don't ask me- Carlotta
Flavio said bitterly. ''If you only
knew everything you would see
that you were far better off in
your prison than | was in my lib
erty. But | am not going into that
now. | want to know what brings
you here this evening-why you
should come at such an incon-
venient time?"
But why Inconvenience" Mrs.
Oelahay protested. I'VE were fond
of one another in the old times,
And what more natural than
should seek out my sister at the
first opportunity? But you are
changed. Doubtless your misfOr-