The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-10-04

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rot what nonsense. You can imagine
how ahashed j was when Mrs. Delroy
wheeled around upon me with a face
so white and distorted that / scarcely
knew her.
oh, L beg YOU PARDON | cried,
seeing how i had startled her.
For a omen she didn't seem to
know me.
What is it, she asked in a hoarse
whisper. What has happenedg'
My dear Mrs. Delroy. you really
must pardon me- 1 repeated. .I'm
awfully sorry l frightened you. L took
you for your sister,
She stared at me a minute longer in
a queer way: hen her face Frightened
and she smiled and held out her hand.
Oh. how do you do Mr.. Drysdale?'
she said but her voice was ever vet
a little tremulous. Yes, you did startle
me. Isn't it a fearful night?'
II is I agreed. I had quite
a time getting here
You came to see Grace?' she asked.
with n glance owe her shoulder down
into the street.
Yes said; She's expecting me.
I've sent up my card. I told my man
not TO wait l added. thinking 1t was
for thai she had looked out of the Win
dow. It's too bad a night to keep either
ma or beas outdoors. He's to come
back at Ill dare say Grace will put
up with me till them
n hesitated All instant, looking at
me IN a way l did not understand. Just
then the maid came to the door, but
seeing me with Mrs. Delroy. went away
again.
tonight. MIR. Drysdale,' she said. at last.
She's not been feeling we'll since din
ner. She's lying down now, and l
think she's asleep
"'Oh. we'll. them 1 said. Il won't dis
turb her. It's nothing serious. l hope?'
Not at all; merely a little indispo-
sition. Shall / let lou out?'
"Ther was something in the last
words-a little too much eagerness.
pe~rhaps-whicll arrested my attention.
They didn't sound like Mrs. Delroy. for
you know, Godfrey. she's usually the
sweetest. gentlest, most hospitable
woman in the world-the very last per-
son who would think OF chasing u man
out into a storm. l ont know why it
was. but somehow the thought flashed
through my head that she was deceiv-
ing me. that she wasn't telling the
truth. that she wanted to get rid of me.
I've got a 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 a nervous
headache, o see. 1t will last all night
probably
Is h subject to nervous head.
aches?' l asked. playing for time. I'm
sorry to hear that. 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 oyerworked
herself
The sentence trailed off into moth
ngness l saw that h wasn't thinking
OF what h was saying, and when she
glanced down into the street again, 1
began to get an inkling OF the real
state of affairs. I was a little ashamed
OF the part l was playing. but l deter
mined to brazen 1t out. II Miss Croy-
don had gone out alone on a night like
this, l had a right to know it. Why
should h make a mystery Of it? What
was there in her errand thai needed to
concealed from me?
Mrs. Delroy was looking at me anx-
iously. Finally she took the bull by
the horns.
~ really must be going UPSTAIRS
she said. You'll excus me?'
Certainly. Is Mr.. Delroy here?'
No: e out Of town; today and
she a another movement toward
the door.
II didn't see how I was going to hang
on n longer without beng absolutely
rude: l gave 1t up In despair. After ali.
I could wait outside the house. Then
suddenly l realized I was acting like
q cad-I a no right to play the spy
but there Vas something back OF 1t all
some mystery-which worried and
my fancy-why should Mrs. Delroy de-
tceive me? 1 was playing the fool
had no right to suspect.
And just then. Godfrey. as I glanced
out OF the window. 1 saw a cab dash up
to the house n q oma get out Of
1t. I knew her on the instant, and I
shouldn't care to go through another
and agony. For 1t WAS worse than I
had thought. She had not used her
sisters ca~rriage-then. at least. she
would have been in the care OF a trust
ed coachman-she had hired a cab"
Yes" said Godfrey dryly. The Del
roy carriage would have been too con-
spicuous; besides. she wanted to keep
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 60 On.
~ i 06AOs i 00W u eau OEIVG up ana
. woman get u She ran up the steps.
the door opened. and Miss Croydon
came into the room. Even in the dim
light. I could pc 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.
in q voice that I shall never forget. I
should have taken your advice. I should
not have gone
You shall not 60 again. dearr
mo agreed the other. not again!'
There. was something In her tone
that caught her sisters ear.
What is-it. Grace7' she demanded
dercely. Tell met
It's worse than either OF US thought
dead, Edith"
Drysdale paused a moment. His voice
shaking so that he could not go
He wiped his forehead mechanic
ally. with trembling hand.
Godfrey" he said at last. "I tell
you my own heart stood still at those
words. uttered in such q tone-there
no mistaking he meaning-and it
a moment before I could.see clearly
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