The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-11-13
CHAPTER VII.
Continued.
By MRS. ALEXANDER.

continued.
: well" calculated Lady Gethin,
what did you fnd?"
After q little delay we were ush-
cred upstairs and were received by a
lady, who recognized Heathcote. He
left me to explain myself, which l
did as we'll as l could, though it was
not easy.
You heard a voice you recog-
nized speaking in u grounds re-
peated the lady; it must have been
either Mademoiselle Laroche, or
Mademoiselle Moppert. They we're
in the grounds just now
May I see these ladies?'
"Mademoiselle Moppert-yes; but
Mademoiselle Laroche has just driven
away. Mademoiselle Moppert has
come to replace her as French gov
erness.' / confess I lost hope as she
spoke, still / begged for an interview
with the incoming teacher, and a SER
want was sent to request her presence.
A glance at her was enough. She was
a short, stout, elderly lady, with
piercing black eyes and distinct NOUS
taches. l had to muster my best
French and apologize deliberately.
Then / begged for some information
touching Mademoiselle Laroche. How
long had she been there? About
seven months. She had been engaged
in May last, but did not come till the
middle Of June. Where had she
gone? 1t was understood she had
made an engagement to go to India,
but she was extremely reserved. No
one knew much about her except Mrs.
S~torrer, who was spending the holt
days with a friend at Cheltenham.
This was all l coull extract. Heath
cote was desperately put out by my
eccentric proceedings. / was obliged
to return with him and to give some
explanation Of my conduct. Then l
went to the cabstand, and found out
the number Of the cab, and to the
police station and commissioned a
constable to ascertain where the cab
had taken Mademoiselle L~aroche."
Il think your time and trouble
have been thrown away" said Lady
Gethin. "a fancied resemblance to
Miss Lambert's voice was but shallow
ground to build any hopes upon"
1T was not fancied," said Glynn,
leaning back and looking straight be-
fore him with fixed, dreamy eyes.
1.-THE tones struck my ear, my heart,
with instantaneous recognition. ]
cannot believe that any two people
could speak so much alike. I must
say the description doesn't tally, nor
is it possible to account for her being
in a ladies school in England; still,
that voice."
MY dear Hugh, your imagination
is so saturated with the tragic ideas
you associate with that unhappy girls
flight NEAR her disappearance
for Glynn turned sharply towards
her, that you a hardly trust your
own impressions. / wish you would
put the affair out of your head"
Excellent advice, but useless to
me. I can not forget"
rs it possible that on so short an
acquaintance you were so severely
hit?"
"Ay, in the first twenty-four hours
of u acquaintance she touched my
heart as no other woman EVER did.
And yet so miserably faithless is this
human nature of ours, there are mo-
ments when doubt plunges it's jagged
darts into me-and for a hideous mo-
ment I think it possible she may have
gone with some unknown lover, but
at any suggestion of the kind from
another the doubt vanishes. 1t only
gathers at rare intervals when l
brood alone and grow morbid. In my
saner moments l never doubt her;
but the horror of the thing-nothing
diminishes that"
1T is a terrible business alto
gether. What do you think of doing
now"
II shall go down by an early train
to Cheltenham tomorrow and see
this Mrs. Storrer. My future move
ments will depend upon what I gather
from her"
Shall you write to the father?"
Not unless I have something def
mite to report"
"You are a most unlucky fellow,
Hugh; your life is quite spoilt by this
ENHANCEMENT"
1T is my fate" said Glynn.
You will return tomorrow night,
I suppose?" said Lady Gethin.
Most probably. 1 don't fancy l
shall get any intelligence that will
send me further afeld."
You must come and tell me your
news as Don Is possible"
"Of course l shall, gladly"
After some more conversation they
parted, and Glynn, disturbed, but
scarcely hopeful, went home to snatch
what repose he could before his early
start next day.
While Glynn was making his way
to Mrs. Storrer's temporary abode
through muddy streets and a chilling
shower of sleet, Deering sat over a
glowing fire in the particular apart
ment occupied by him in his town
house. He was in London for a few
days on his way to visit a sporting
friend in Leicestershire, and was util-
izing the time by an interview with
his solicitor, who had already risen
to take leave, when behring's valet
entered and handed a card to his
master, who, glancing at it with a
frown, said:
WASk him to sit down. will see