The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-07

opportunity 20 confess But once
more the opportunity failed iue. Miss
Latour did rot come TO supper that
night, nor did she appear either on the
perch Of her cottage or at the hotel
Inquiries elected the reply that she had
a headache
This headache persisted for the next
two days, during which All attempts TO
see her brought forth the reply that she
was better, but begged % be excused
! went through many phases in those
two days Il is only the bare truth 20
say that straw would have turned my
course at almost any moment
The straw was not forthcomina
Marian was in seclusi0n. her uncle
seemed 10 avoid me, her brother did not
come into my sight StranEest of all.
the three foreigners vanished and in
qulry revealed the fact that they had
left TIE springs
Count Truuanof. the Russian, had
. been the first 70 leave He slipped away
the same night Miss I.arour was taken
III but went so quietly that his deuar-
. tuTe was not generally known Tor near
+ y TWenty-fOur hours Baron HorsreIn
le-t openly the first day by the evening
. stage announcing that ne had been
called back 10 Germany Sir Henry
Lascelles departed on the second morn
ing / saw him 20 and suspected moth
ms Indeed / was fool enough 10 con
SraJulaJe myself that they HAD aban-
oGued The field
On the third day Bishop L.atour sent
me note asking me 20 come to his
cottage to talk over = very serfous
matter
Astonished. but pleased. I sent word
that I would be with him at once and
followed close on the heels OF my mes
seuger.
The appearance Of the bishop shocked
me beyond expressic- In the month
. that had known h.-l he had never
appeared strong but never before had
l seen him look as old and feeble as lie
dl4 on that August day His face was
pale and drawn. and his ewes were
LlreC, with great circles beneath them
In two days he had AGED years.
10 my youthful selfishness bur
cause Tor this condition seemed posi-
Die Miss LatOuT2'' I gaspsf.
The bishop shook his head
ne IeSpollel Marian iSn't worse, at
east so far as FuOw- In fact, she
away suddenly"
6 called away Dismay Eripped me
she left no word for me2-'
The bishop nodded 'sTest She re-
Q
/ out seeing you. AMI charged me- 10 saw
mat she hoped 10 see you again some
stared at the bfzho-, v-f75I- r-,7o-ar
Volta the three foreigners the hair
/ breed messenger. all ran riot through
ny Drain- What did Il all mean .
I W nat could i all mean2 Then I drew
Z a long b-ea-h
You have more than this tn ss- -,
Deg' I questioned. confidently
dtch more Please sit down" He
waved ire to q char
sal down. and the bishop placed
hlInSelf opposite me For q moment he
studied my face IhOuEhtfuTIv- then a.
came straight 70 the point
Ny Scott he SAID. You VIII rar-
con ne Z ] seem 20 interfere with -o-1-
personal affairs Believe mo 7 Do To+
DO 50 without grave cause Do you love
The question came 50 abruptly that Il
made me gasp But in 4 moment I re
covered myself
God knows do Z cried, inpu1sfve-
y But I am not wOrthy--nOt worthy.
Tie bishop raised his hand Few men
are worthy Of a good wOuan's love" he
Zr-s.E-5-- ~ DO not question you. NJ.
Scol5- But have watched you and
idTlI1 Tor me last few weeks and
hoped-welI God knows best. and Der-
haps In HIS mercifuI providence ne NAV
VI grant my wish 20 see Marian mar
ried to q good. clean American Z he
Z
"StoDl Remember 7 am not your
EUar6l1u- You may seek forgiveness
from Aarlar-if YOU ever see her again. %
II GOOD Heavens Why shouldn't
The Bishop looked at ne with a grave
compassion
THAT is what I sent for YOU 70 tel
you" he replied You noticed the three
foTeigneTs who we're here recently2''
"Tesr'
Perhaps Marian told you something
she did she told me that they had
all asked her TO marry them She askCI
me-but 10 doubt you know what she
asked2''
The Bishop shook his head
Not definitely ne responded 'fShe
: had scarce y time TO tell ne all ] shall
/ be very. pleased Il you feel free TO tell
+ surely. She was much concerned.
She asked me what their proposals
cold mean Of course I could not
I tell her. knowing practically nothing
I OF her surroundings
! 7 believe she does care for me. but
I she would not tell me so She spoke
I Of n duty-an expected call 7 asked
her to let me meet Il With her She
would not We separated without com
ing to any clear understanding and 7
{ have not seen her since. She has not
: appeared on the grounds Has she
ben0 gone ever since
( The BISHOP bowed His questioning
/ eyes never left my face
11E- Now understand WV
/ those foreigners left so suddenly. They
Z have followed her. In heavens name.
what does It all mean2 1t looks to
me Ike ore end Of q great FurODean
/ intrigue I know little Of such things.
( and am not skilled IN dealing with
/ them. but what I can do 7 will Tell
me what YOU Ike, but accept my aid
A. I spoke the bishops face
changed The strained look UPON It
1 vanished and a certain Er-.ve peace
/ took its place
NY friend, he answered, slowly, II
/ viii be entirely frank with YOU NV
/ cravaSt- troubles have arisen from m
/ confding in people who were unworthy
I Any one can beguile me into trusting
/ them
/ sI am very certain that some. # not
all Of the foreigners who were here
are enemies Of my niece-or at least
! are enemies Of her friends Perhaps
YOU. too. may be OF them, but I think
/ not I know more Of Won than you
/ may suppose and I do not think there
/ Is any traitor blood IN you At any
rate. in my grave anxiety 7 have
/ turned TO you and 7 am going 10 trust
you"
ImpulsiveIy I thrust out my hand