Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-03-14

night dI eTHudlts sue NOuiu nave
been sure to come home early this
morning"
Then what has become of herr"
said Norah.
Il can't think. my lady. Becca is
giddy and Eighty but 1 don't think
she'd stay out all night away from
her grandfather unless"
Unless what, Harman?" asked
Norah, as the woman hesitated.
Unless she'd been forced to, my
lady"
: Norah sat and thought with knit
brows. All night Becca had haunted
+, her. and she had dreaded to meet her
and to speak to her, and now the girl
had disappeared!
You have made all inquiries, sup
pose?"
Eyes, my lady. I've sent all over
f, the viuage. But there's nowhere she
could hide away from me In the val
lage, or, for the matter of that, in
/ Ferndale Becca's too well known"
| Norah rose with sigh. Much as
she would have preferred to remain
at home on the chance of Cyril's writ
+, ing or calling, she felt it her duty to
(, help Hartman in her trouble.
v"Order the pony phaeton, please"
she said you and l will drive
round and see If we can find her; and
don't be more worried than you can
help Depend upon it, she is not far
off. | expect we shall find her at
home by the time We get there
Where shall we go first? To her
grandiather's cottage, suppose?" said
Norah. You will see we shall find
kher there"
They reached the cottage, and Har-
man got out Of the phaeton. She was
away scarcely two minutes, and re.
turned shaking her head.
She's not come home, my lady,
she said, in low voice
Norah did not know what to do
next, and as she sat holding the rest
less ponies, perplexed and undecided,
Guildford Berton turned the corner of
the lane in front of them and came
toward them
He was coming along with his eyes
downcast as usual, and did not see
them until he was almost close upon
the ponies; then he started slightly
and looked up, and Norah noticed that
he looked rather paler than usual,
and haggard; but his face cleared and
frightened as he recognized her. and
he came up with a smile as he raised
his hat.
'Good-morning. Lady Norah," he
said, brightly. i am so glad to see
YOU out. | was afraid you would be
quite exhausted. What lovely
morning!" and he nodded smilingly
at Hartman, who dropped a courtesy.
Il rode over to Ferndale this morn
ing" he said, to ask after you. do
hope your headache has vanished!"
Thank you, yes" replied Norah.
gravely, and trying to decide whether
as IL he had OWNED her INDIGESTION he
said, quietly;
Is anything the matter. Lady
Norah?'
Norah forced a smile. but avoided
his eyes
| Wen yes" she said. We are look
ing for Becca South, Mr.. Berton.''
His eyes did not quail, and not a
muscle of his face WINGED as, still
smiling, he said:
Not very difficult search, is tt?
Your maid is very we'll known, is she
lnot?'
Yes, said Norah, constrainedly, for
she felt that he was thinking of last
night. and the scene between Cyril
and Becca. and that makes it difficult
Harman-her aunt-is afraid that she
did not return to Santleigh last night"
Not he responded, raising his
hrows. but there is nothing very
alarming in that, is there. Mrs Har
man? She may have stayed at Fern.
! dale"
| 'Oh, we have thought of that said
Norah, almost impatiently Guildford
! Berton's presence made the affair still
more dlstasteful to her, and she began
4
| to regret that she had not sent Har-
man alone to make inquiries.
or course he said, forgive me;
but the last person on the scene
always makes suggestions which have
occurred to others at the beginning.
When did You see her last, Mrs. Har-
man?"
When she started for the fete.
sir replied Hartman, almost inaudibly.
"Ah. yes" he murmured, glancing
+, at Norah. who sat looking straight In
front OF her or course. You
were not there yourself Mrs. Harmans
/ Well don't look SO anxious; have
no doubt We shall soon find your niece.
Let me sec" He seemed to con-
slider for a moment or two. why,
Yes. of course, the thing to do is to
find out the person who saw her last.
No doubt some one left the fete and
walked home with her.
1 He made the suggestion so cheerful