The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-31

my own personal inclinations IN the
matter, called upon me most impera.
lively to clear up this mystery prompt
ly and at any cost, l was still con-
WINGED that Miss Weston's share in
the affair was entirely unexpected BY
her and due to no wilful act Of her
own, and the pathetic appeal In her
eyes when handed her Mrs. Bruce's
letter was enough to make mo pre-
present at least.
1t was beginning to grow dark as
turned to go back to the house and,
when about half way up the ghost
walk" as we had jokingly named the
path that led to the river, saw Miss
Weston coming slowly toward me- She
must have heard my step at the same
instant and, looking up, she fastened
to my side and laid her hand on my
arm while her bosom rose and fell, her
eyes filled with tears, and her form
trembled with suppressed emotion.
"Oh, Mr.. Ware" she whispered,
you were so good this morning not to
foolish of them to send it in that way,
right through the mail, though there
was only chance that anyone but q
servant would have seen 1t. You won't
tell of It, Mr.. Ware? l know you
won't" she sobbed softly. II beg Of
you, Mr.. Ware; beg Of you, do not
speak of it for few days at least,
prfii <~I =.
done"
led her to seat by the side Of the
path and tried to calm her with reas.
surfing words. but her nervousness
seemed only to increase.
II cannot tell you now what know
about it all" she went on, wiping away
the tears that flowed freely down her
face. ooh. it's too terrible even to think
of. and vet no one has done any
wrong. You must trust me implicitly,
Mr.. Ware. and the time may come
when | can tell you everything. But
not now. I even know very little about
it myself, and that little chills the very
blood in my veins. May God forgive
me-" she murmured; 1T is all my
fault, and yet | have done no wrong
You must believe that, Mr. Ware, as
you would believe your own senses,
and trust me in everything, or shall
go mad!"
She leaned forward weeping bitter.
ly, and ! said nothing until she began
to control herself once more and
choke down her sobs in an effort to
speak again. Then I said gently:
Don't say anything more about it
now. Miss Weston. ! am sure you will
do what is best. and though am ut
terly at a loss to know what you
mean, am, of course. willing to wait
a reasonable time until you are able to
tell me. will trust you without
question:; and In every way. but you
will understand that we both owe It
to Miss Carney to do away with all
this mystery as soon as we can. It Is
spelling her pleasure in life and ruin
ing her property, too, and, as her
friends. we must not let 1t continue
If we can possibly put stop to It,"
"Oh. yes, know" she said, but we
mustn't stop 1t now. It's too soon, Mr..
Ware, and If Florence should learn
the truth now it would break her
heart"
Why, what do you mean?" I ex.
claimed. you surely do not expect
me to believe that this affair could
affect Miss Carney in any way, do
you?"
Yes" she moaned, rocking back and
forth In her seat and speaking with
difficulty, lit would affect her and all
Of us here. but me, most of all, Mr..
Ware; me. most of all. When the time
comes it will be easier for everybody,
but nothing can be done now, or
things will be even worse than they
are. Oh. do wish l could tell you
what little know about 1t, Mr.. Ware,
but | cannot. and know that you will
trust me for few days anyway"
I walked slowly with her back to
the house. and, when dinner time
came and she sent down her excuses.
| learned that no one in the house was
aware that she had been ont during
the day.
Miss Carney looked pale and care
worn and said that she had spent the
best part Of the afternoon lying down
and nursing severe headache. Mrs.
Randolph seemed reticent and de-
pressed and the meal passed of slow.
ly and without incident.
When we rose from the table had
formulated a plan which, Thought,
might relieve the situation somewhat
and, apprising no one Of my purpose,
set out in the direction of the Widow
Bruce's cottage It was my intention
to put the matter squarely before her
and ask her, not necessarily an exIe
PLANTATION of affairs, but a friendly CO.
operation with me in putting an end
to the annoyances she had been caus-
ing.
had not formed bad opinion Of
the woman from her appearance, and
the new turn things had taken made mo
wonder II she, like Miss Weston, might
not have been drawn into this business
unwillingly and In all innocence. More.