The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-10-03

ana Threw them back, uttering / know
no what nonsense. You can imagine
how abashed I was when Mrs. Delroy
wheeled around upon me with a face
SO white and distorted that | scarcely
knew her.
oh. beg you pardon I cried,
seeing how had startled her.
For a momen she didn't seem to
know me.
'Wha is IT, she asked in a hoarsc
whisper. What has happened?'
MY dear Mrs. Delroy. you really
must pardon me- l repeated. Tn
awfully sorry l frightened you. l took
you for your sister
She stared at me a minute longer in
a queer way; then her face frightened
and she smiled and held out her hand.
oh, how do you do Mr.. Drysdale?'
she said, but her voice was even yet
a little tremulous. Yes, you did startle
me. Isn't 1t a fearful night
Indeed it is / agreed. 4 had quite
a time getting here
You came to see Grace she asked.
with n glance over her shoulder down
into the street.
Yes / said; she's expecting me.
I've sent up my card. l told my man
not TO wait I added. thinking it was
for that she had ooked out Of the win
dow. It's too bad a night to keep either
man or beast outdoors. He's to come
back at Ill dare say Grace will put
up with me till then
She lesitated an 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.
Il fear shell! not be able to see you
tonight. MIR. Drysdale.' she said, at last.
She's not been feeling we'll since din
ner. She's lying Town now. and l
think she's asleep
"'Oh we'll. then 1 said. 4 won't dis
turb her. It's nothing serious, hope
Not at all; merely a little indispo-
sitfon. Shall / let lou out?'
There was something in the last
words-a little too much eagerness,
perhaps-which 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 a man
out into a storm. l don't 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 me get better after a while
and come down?' / asked.
Mrs. Delroy shook her head decid-
eddy.
I'm afraid not. It's a nervous
headache, you see. 1t will last all night
probably
Is she subject to nervous head.
aches?' l asked, playing for time. I'm
sorry to hear hat. She doesn't in the
least look it,
"'Oh. no. she answered quickly,
shes not at all subject to them; but
occasionally. when she's o~verworked
herself
The sentence trailed off into Moth
ingness. l saw that she wasn't thinking
of what she was saying. and when she
glanced down into the street again. I
began to get an inkling of the real
state of affairs. 1 was a little ashamed
of the part / was playing, but i deter
mined to brazen it out. If Miss Croy-
don had gone out alone on a night like
this. I had a right to know it. Why
should she make a mystery of it? What
was there in her errand that needed to
be concealed from me?
Mrs. Delroy was looking at me anx-
iously. Finally she ook the bull by
the horns.
~ really rus be going upstairs
she said. You'll excuse me?'
Certainly. Is Mr.. Delroy here?,
mo, he's put of town today and
she made another movement toward
the door.
II didn't see how I was going to hang
on any longer without beng absolutely
rude; 1 gave it up in despair. After all,
/ could wait outside the house. Their
suddenly l realized l was acting like
a cad-l had no right to play the spy
but there was something back of 1t all
some mystery-which worried and
puzzled me. But perhaps it was only
my fancy-why should Mrs. Delroy de-
ceive me? / was playing the fool
had no right to suspect.
And just then, Godfrey, as / glanced
out Of the window, / saw a cab dash up
to the house and a woman get out OF
1t. / knew her IN the instant. and I
shouldn't care to go through another
such moment of doubt n suspicion
n agony. For 1t was worse than /
had thought. She had not used her
sisters car~riage-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 beer too con-
spicuous; besides, she wanted to keep
her errand a secret, even from the SER
wants"
DO you mean"
mo matter; go ahead with your
story. then I'll tell you mine"
Drysdale was shaking convulsively,
but he managed to so on.
I said. I saw a cab drive UP and
q woman get out. She ran UP the steps,
the door opened. and Miss Croydon
came into the room. Even In the dim
light, ! could Sc now white her race
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 " forget. !
should have taken our advice. I+should
not nave gone
You shall moi 90 again. dear!!'
No. agreed the other. not again.
There. was something In her tone
that caught her sisters ear.
What Is 1t. Grace?' she demanded
fercely. Tell met
tits worse than either OF us thought
hes dead, Edith"
Drysdale paused a moment. His voice
was shaking SO that he could not sc
On. He wiped his forehead mechanic
ally. with trembling hand.
Godfrey" he said at, last. II tell
you my own heart stood still at those
words. uttered In such q tone-there
vas no mistaking her meaning-and 4,
was a moment before I could see clearly
enough to discern Mrs. Delroy's looA
of horror as she stared up at her sis.
ter.
Not that, she cried. No o YOU
haniis. Oh, why did you go? Why die
II ..~...-A -. o