Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-10-10
Miss Croydon engaged to bs ~,

Satu DTySoaIo n,lSklly, at last.
Godfrey silently held out his hand
and gave his companions fingers a
warm pressure.
Now go on" he said.
II was shown into the library"
continued the other. while the maid
took up my card. The room was in
darkness. save for the light of the fire.
me windows. you know. look out upon
the street. Instead Of sitting down. |
wandered toward them and In O. mo
ment ga someone standing behind the
curtains. My first thouHht-don't laugh
at me-was that 1t was Miss Croydon
looking for me. for she knew that I was
coming. and l strobe to the curtains
and threw them back. uttering / know
not what nonsense. You can imagine
how abashed 1 was when Mrs. Delroy
wheeled around upon me with a face
30 white n distorted that scarcely
knew her.
"'Oh. I beg Dur pardon cried,
seeing how 1 had startled her.
For n moment h didn't seem to
know me.
What is it, she asked in a oar
whigper. What has happened
u pardon me- repeated. I'm
awfully sorry I frightened you. took
you for your sister
She stared at me a n longer in
a queer way: then her face frightened
and she smiled and held IL her hand.
oh. how do Ssn 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 1t is.' 1 agreed. L had quite
a time getting here
You came to see Grace she asked.
with a glance over her shoulder down
into the street.
"'Yes.' 1 said: she's expecting me.
I've sent up my card. 1 told my man
not to wait added. thinking 1t was
for that she had looked 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 TIL them
She heNtated an instant. looking at
me in a way I did not understand. Just
b maid came to the door. but
seeing me with Mrs. Delroy, went away
again.
II fear she'll! not be able to see YOU
tonight. Mr.. Drysdale,' she said. at last.
Shes not been feeling we'll since din
ner. She's lying down now. and i
think he's asleep
"'Oh. we'll. then 1 said. L won't dis
turo her. It's nothing serious. 1 hopeo'
Not at all; merely a little indispo-
sition. Shall I let you out?'
There RAJ something in the last
words-a little too much eagerness.
perhapstwhich arrested my attention.
They didn't sound like Mrs. Delroy. for
know. Godfrey. she's usually the
gentlest. most hospitable
woman In the world-the very last per-
son who would think of chasing a man
out Into a storm. I don't know why it
was. but somehow the thought flashed
tnrough my head that h was deceiv-
ing me. that she wasn't telling the
that h wanted to get rid Of me.
I've got a streak Of obstinacy in me
that took hre In a moment.
Isn't there a chance that Miss
croydon may get better after a while
and come DOWN. I 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 she subject to nervous head.
aches? I 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 overworked
herself
THE sentence trailed of into moth
ingness. saw h a she wasn't thinking
OF VIA h was saying, and when she
glanced down into the street again. I
began to get an inkling Of the real
state Of affairs. I was a little ashamed
OF the part I was playing. but 1 deter
mined to brazen 1t out. II Miss Croy-
oon had gone out alone on a night like
this l had q right to know 1t. Why
should h 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 took the bull by
the horns.
u really be going upstairs.'
she said. You'll excuse me?'
Certainly. IL Mr.. Delroy here?'
No: he's ou of Town today and
she made another movement toward
the doo..
Il didn't see how I was going to hang
n longer without being absolutely
rude: I rave 1t up In despair. After eli.
l could wait outside the house. Then
suddenly I realized 1 was acting like
q caa-l had no right to play the spy
but there was something back Of It all
mystery-which worried and
pushed me. But perhaps 1t was only
fancy-why should Nrs. Delroy de-
ceave me? l vas playing the fool
had no right to suspect.
And just then. Godfrey. a. I glanced
NJ OF h window. I saw . cab dash up
70 the house and . woman get out Of
II. knew her on the instant, and I
shouldn't care to 20 through another
such moment Of doubt and suspicion
and agony. For 1t va worse than I
had thought. She had not used her
sisters carriage-then. At least, che
would have been In the care Of q trust
cd coachman-she had hired q cab"
YES" said Godfrey dryly. Tho Del
roy carriage would have been too con.
spicuous: besides. she wanted to keen
her errand . secret. even from the SER
DO you mean"
No matter: 60 ahead with your
story. then I'll tell you mine"
but he managed to 20 On.
~ said. I saw Q cab drive up end
womAn get out. She ran up the STEPS,