The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-02-15
MARK STILES SECRET
Continued from Page 81

Something in her voice touched him to
the quick She was young and innocent.
do you pity me?" he faltered. Then do
something for me. Take this! !" He de-
tached something from his watch chain with
shaking fingers. Take this locket to 2.
neux Tell her, for her sake, shall be a
wanderer over the face of the earth till I
die"
Without another word he tore at the door
bell and was gone. And while Clara gazed
stupidity after him, she was confronted
with the burly form of policeman.
What's wrong here miss? Someone's
shouting from the window above J"
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
people assembled there was none handsomer
than the beautiful Fedore Molyneux, the
She wore simple white Dress. soft and
flmy with lace. A border of holly en-
circled the hem Of the gown, and small
wreath her golden ~ hair: ~. ...,u ,.u.
there, and everywhere she fitted. Not a
single Juvenile was forgotten, and when the
huge Christmas-tree was lighted she was In
sight to see her surrounded with the poor
little mites. who probably had never seen a
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-bell 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
Riddles party" as he had himself termed
Mrs. Molyneux noticed that the bright
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
You are tired out, my dear besides, it
is getting late. No other visitor Will come
obediently Fedore left the room and
sought her own chamber. But she did not
at once 20 to bed. She only took off her
pretty dress, and wrapped herself in her
warm dressing-gown. Then she sat down
beside her fire to examine over and over
again a little gift she had that morning re-
ceived. It was a small gold bangle-a
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
was no note enclosed. And tonight she
had been expecting someone to seal with
his own lips the half-promise she had
given him. few days ago.
"On Thursday night, Fedore, l shall ask
YOU very important question" These had
been Julian's words. Yet the evening had
come and gone, and he had never come at
ALL What did 1t all mean? Something
something unexpected must have detained
him. n.
dashed Sne through her. OF course He was
ill-that was it--and unable to come
But as suddenly the consolation o,nr,d tau ee
not have written or have asked his cousin
Ferdinand to write?
She disliked Ferdinand Horley more than
had shown him plainly many and many a
time that she would have. none Of his at
tentions, and she fancied there was SIN
lister look upon his unpleasant face and a
scornful curl of his lip the day that ne
had met them at the station.
Could II be that he had conceived some
plot to separate her from julian But
then common-sense came to ner ara, ana sns
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 wnen
she arrived in the morning-room she saw
that her mother hastily hid the paper she
held. also that her voice was trine un-
steady when she wished her "Good-morn-
ing" ~. -,
can't deceive me-there is something the
matter" =.
Instantly her intuitiye sense told her II
,,as sonathIn0 connected with Julian.
"Mv dear child, l hardly know how to
break II 10 you-but a very terrible thing
has happened. It concerns Julian Horley;
Every particle Of color deserted the girls
face She was as white as a statue as she
stretched out her hand for the paper.
HE'S dead :" she gasped.
my dear, almost wish 1t were 50.
That would be better than disgrace =.