The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-06-06
BY wILKIE [

Don't see no visitors answered the
large maiden. "'Toother one tried 1t
and had to go away. You go, too"
"'T'other one?" | repeated. Another
visitor? And when did he call?"
Better than an hour ago."
WAS there nobody with hir17s
mo. Don't see no visitors. He went.
o go. too"
Just as she repeated that ~exasperat-
ing formula of words. a door opened
at the end OF the passage. My voice
had evidently reached the ears Of
somebody in the back parlor. Who the
person was I could not see, but I heard
the rustic of a woman's dress, My sit
uation was growing desperate, my sus-
picions We're aroused-I determined to
risk everything-and l called softly in
the direction of the open door, "Alicia!"
a voice answered, Good heavensi
Frank 1t was her voice. She had
recognized mine. I pushed past the
big servant; in two steps / was at the
end OF the PASSAGE; in one more I was
in the back parlor.
Frank" h said, drawing her head
back. What is 1t? How did you find
out? For merey's sake what does it
mean?"
1T means, love, that I've come to
take care of o for the rest of your
life and mine, If you will only let me.
Don't tremble-there's nothing to be
afraid of Only compose. yourself, and.
I'll tell you why I am here In this
strange disguise. Come, come, Aliciai
don't look like that at me. You
called me Frank just now, for the
first time. Would you have done that,
If you had disliked me or forgotten
me?"
Where is Mrs. Baggs?" I asked first.
Mrs. Baggs was the housekeeper.
Alicia pointed to the closed folding
doors. I'm the front parlor; asleep on
the sofa"
Have you any suspicion who the
stranger was who called more than an
hour ago?' aH e ef
None. The servant told him we
saw no visitors, and he went away,
without leaving his name"
Now, Alicia" 1 said, as lightly as
1 could, 81 have the highest possible
opinion of your courage, good sense.
and s~elf-control; and 1 shall expect
you to keep up o u reputation in my
eyes, while you are listening to what
1 have to tell you"
Saying these words. I took her b,
the hand and made her sit close by
| me; then, breaking it to her as gentl,
I and gradually as possible, I told he
all that had happened at the red-bricl
I house since the evening when she lef
the dinner-table, and we exchange
our parting look at the dining-roon
l door.
, 1t was almost as great a trial to ms
to speak as it was to her to hear. She
suffered so violently, felt such evident
misery of shame and terror, while ]
was relating the strange events which
had occurred in her absence, that
once or twice stopped in alarm. and
almost repented my boldness in telling
her the truth. However, fair-dealing
with her, cruel a 1t might seem at
the time, vas the best and safest
course for the future.
1 was not much easier in my mind,
now that the trial of breaking my bad
news to Alicia was over. That stranger
who had called at the house an hour
before me weighed on my spirits. 1t
could not have been DR.. Dulcifer. He
would have gained admission. Gould
it be the Bow street runner, or Screw?
1 had lost sight of them, it is true,
but had they lost sight of me?
Alicia's grief gradually exhausted
itself. She feebly raised her head, and,
turning it away from me, hid her face.
1 saw that she was not fit for talking
yet, n begged her to go upstairs
to the drawing-room and lie down a
little.
Time was now of terrible Importance
to us-I gently led her to the door.