Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-30

Gus. Coughs demeanor that evening
down at Sydenham was decidedly that
of a guilty man. Yet, he being my
friend, l refused to hold him in sus-
picion. Where was he now?
If he had really escaped the vigilance
of those two men who had found him
hidden at Costerworth why had he not
communicated with me-
Even in that very small fact was
mystery inexplicable.
From Elfrida l could gather nothing
further | released that hand the con
tact of which caused my heart to beat
quickly, and stood looking at that beau
tiful but troubled countenance with the
downcast brown eyes. not knowing what
to believe. What could l think? What
would YOU. my reader. to whom l am
here making this hearts confession,
have thought?
visited me there l questioned her
further. but she seemed TO have chanseo
her mind She had now resolved not 10
act as she first intended.
NV chief thought was of Granny.
Was he guilty? -,
she extended toward him a friendli
moss it was true. Nevertheless. she dlh
not deny his guilt. She had merely re-
piled that she was not his judge.
That hour was, indeed. a most mo
mentous one in my career. I loved this
wo,nan-ay loved her as l mad never
loved any woman in all my life. She held
me in her power. She possessed my wei
soul. -. Che n. a
heen attracted by-perhaps, 1ndeed, loVeu-
that man whose disreputaDie past Slie
had succeeded in unVeling-,Iat mo" of
whom she dared not denounce oeeau ~, "a
this 'disgrace1ul cha S &c AGAINST
make and sustain successfully asai'is'
her. -, lot; .,a look
ing into her dear fathomless eyes. d si'e'
l,xAH fri III.
her to consider me heI II
devoted friend. ;soa IN
1T will. Mr.. Ralston,' she promised III
. falterine voice, dropping her eyes 10
the floor. o,, have
called here to see me:
She hesitated, searching lof an
"Recause-wen. because | Wlshed 10
warn Won against Garshore.
IT had already been warned SAD;
with an incredulous smile. boush hau
warned me- .h.. WON
an9a she asked, looking at me quickly;
The emphasi she placed upon those ma
words tthat woman" was rather curious
l thought. . 80, ,,e,, 7
urged. "who was the woman who-w W,
died so suddenly in Radcliffe Gardens
"Nho was she? How do l know she
asked blankly, her face growing paleT. =,
.Rut you were witness OF tne tiaSeuS.
cried. Have you not admitted that
Miss Maynard"
II haye-I've admitted nothing, she as,
sarted onickly. you have misunderstood
my words" opt 7
:.rhen nardon me-" / said. But l
wished only to ask you a questloii. 1ou
have told me many things in strict con
fidence TODAY. May / not know the lden-
titv of the dead woman l asked her'
looking straight into her face.
She started and averted my gaze BY
that I saw her intention to preserve some
secret from me.
II am unfortunately in ignorance" she
answered.
Have you ever heard of Lydia Pop
escu in connection with Garshore?'
asked.
'.Yes-the name is familiar. Indeed. l
believed the woman now dead to be Lydia.
But she apparently was mott she said.
You believed her to be LYDIA l cried.
.Then you were imposed upon
Tell me. Mr.. Ralston-tell me who she
really was.
/ was compelled to admit my ignorance,
whereupon she smiled incredulouSly.
BY this conversation one fact was eS-
tablished. She had been misled regard
ing the identity of the woman who had
died by means secret that doctors
and analysts had been baffled, the woman