Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06
MARK STILES SECRET
(Continned from Pare 81

(Confinned from Psgs8)
Did you do it?" she asked. her face
Something in her voice touched him to
the quick. She was young and innocent.
| DO you pity met" be taltered. Then do
| tached something from his watch chain with
| shaking fingers Take this locket to 2.
Mayfair Square. Ask to see Miss Molly
wanderer over the face Of the earth till
| without another word he tore at the door
bell and was gone. And while Clara gazed
| stupidity after him. she was confronted
with the buriy form of policeman.
What's wrong here. miss? Someone's
shouting from the window above 2"
Clara stood aside to let the man pass in.
But she said not word about the fugitive
who had just passed out to commence a
lifelong struggle that winters night. brand
ed upon his brow with the mark of Cain.
prettily decorated drawing room was
all ablaze with light, and amongst the
than the beautiful Fedore MoIyneux. the
She wore a simple white dress, soft and
tse hsm Of ToSp ana n0 sma
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. 1t was pretty
sight to see her surrounded with the poor
Christmas-tree before. For they were no
rich folks children, but those drawn from
back streets and byways. Yet, for all her
and then she looked eagerly towards the
door. And each time that she heard the
knocker or the door-belI her face was
bright with hope and Joy.
But disappointment after disappointment
| succeeded each other. Nine o'clock struck.
| then half-past, then ten. Some of the
children were fetched away by their parents.
others left by themselves, the rooms grew
emptier and emptier, yet the browning 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
it,
face was getting gradually paler, and that
tired weary look was clouding it. She in
sisted upon Fedore's going to bed the in
slant that the last little guest had disap-
peared
sYou 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 did not
at once go to bed. She only took of her
pretty dress, and wrapped herself sh Il. IN do nep
beside her fire to examine over and over
again little gift she had that morning re-
ceived. II was a small gold BANGLE
costly trinket-for inscribed upon the outer
surface in tiny diamonds were the words,
"A Happy Birthday"
She knew who was the donor, though there
had been expecting someone to seal with
his own lips the half-promise she had
given him few days ago.
ION Thursday night. Fedore. l shall ask
tvox imD0rtaut TneSe
been Julian's words. Yet the evening had
come and gone, and he had never come at
all. What did 1t all mean? something,
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. or have asked his cousin
She disliked Ferdinand Horley more than
she cared to allow even to herself. She
had shown him plainly many and many a
tentions, and she fancied there was sim
lister look upon his unpleasant face and a
scornful curl of his lip the day that he
had met them at the station.
Could IL be that he had conceived some
plot to separate her from Julian? But
then common-sense came to her aid. and sne
laughed at the idea. Why should Ferdinana
Horley have any spite against his cousin!
No: she would not be foolish. but get 10
bed and try and sleep. Perhaps tomorrow
would see the problem solved
She was late for breakfast. and when
she arrived in the morning-room she saw
that her mother hastily hid the paper she
held. also that her voice was a tribe un-
steady when she wished her "Good-morn-
ing" -
can't deceive me-there is something the
matter"
Instantly her intuitive sense told her IL
was something connected with Julian.
my dear child. hardly know how to
break 1t to you-but q very terrible thing
has happened. 1t concerns Julian Horiey"
Every particle of color deserted the girls
face She was MS white as a statue as she
stretched out her hand for the paper.
HE'S dead!" she gasped.
"My dear, I almost wish 1t were 80.
That would be better than disgrace y!
Disgrace! Oh. mother, mother! what is
il you mean? Read it to me-tell me-do
not spare me! But the words are all swim
ming before mel"
: Poor little Fedore sank into chair and
hid her face In her hands. She was tremb-
ling like an aspen-leaf, her mind was
vainly trying to grasp the matter. Julian
disgraced 1t seemed so utterly impossible.
Listen. my child. and try to calm your
self II Is best you should know ALL II
will save you In the end"