The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-07-12

4 Z
ron the night in question my
daughter and my niece both went out
also. They important engage
ments. .
Did imagine it, or did Julia Smith
turn ever so slightly in my direction,
and did the corners of her mouth
quver little?
''They''--Mrs. Smythe hesitated
and then resumed fiuently-" they
went separately and in cabs. Yes, in
separate cabs, expecting to take some
one else with them. When my niece
entered her cab she found it occupied,
but the door was shut and she was
hurried away before she could expos
tulate. She had very unpleasant
experience.
Most unpleasant" corroborated
Julia Smith.
THE man in the cab continued
Mrs. Schuyler-Smythe, was rude and
without consideration! Evidently not
gentleman / think you said, my
dear, that this fact impressed you
strongly"
Very strongly" said Julia Smith.
ITO make long story short, Mrs.
Robinson, this man was waiting for
your niece-of this we have circum~
stantial evidence
81 should like" remarked Mrs.
Robinson, ito see this evidence"
julie said Mrs. Smythe triumph
antly, show your letter .
Julia Smith produced it, and Aunt
Josephine moved closer to the light,
that she might read comfortably.
shamelessly looked over her shoulder
and read also, for on the small white
envelope addressed to miss Julie
Schuyler" I recognized Nancy's hand
writing. This is what read:
Dear Miss Schuyler-We seem to have
made some sort of a mistake, and no
doubt you are as disguised as | am. re-
turned your property to you at once G: O.
d., but what did you do with mine? I'm
quite sure you don't want it, for you
would then have an embarrassment of
riches, but would you mind telling me
what you did with it? / am quite com
Portable and well where / am, but trifle
lonely. and should be glad to hear from
you. My address is
Aunt Josephine folded the letter and
returned it to its envelope before /
could read the address. / saw she
was very angry.
1T is useless, she said, "for me to
attempt to deny that this letter came
from my niece, or to pretend that
am informed as to her whereabouts.
Quite useless affirmed Mrs.
Schuyler-Smythe, but pray believe
you have my sympathy. Every one
will soon know of her disappearance,
and, as you say, such notoriety is
very unpleasant"
She paused, having scored in her
turn, and waited for Mrs. Robinson
to speak.
To my surprise, Aunt Josephine
turned to me in quite an appealing
manner, for the first time including
me in the conversation.
"Mr Leigh"
"Ah!" interrupted Julia Smith.
1t was an involuntary exclamation,
apparently occasioned by surprise.
What did you say?" inquired Mrs.
Robinson.
Nothing" returned Julia Smith,
meekly enough.
"Mr. Leigh" resumed Mrs. Robin
son, "the excitement of the last two
days has exhausted me. am fast
becoming nervous wreck May /
request you to entertain these ladies
as long as they desire to remain in
my house? Personally, am incap-
able of further exertion and must ask
to be excused"
She inclined her head majestically
toward Mrs. Schuyler-Smythe, but the
Well Fed Grow had risen and was
walking toward the door.
IT came to do neighborly act"
she said, "but if you really do not
care to know where your niece is
stopping"
Not in the least" interrupted
Aunt Josephine, in what Nancy called
her Empress Dowager manner, but
nevertheless keeping the letter
clasped in her hand.
Julia Smith, following in the wake
of her aunt, paused suddenly and ex-
tended her hand.
my letter, please" she said, with
calm assurance.
Mrs. Robinson handed it to her
with a look that should have crushed
her utterly. Julia Smith, however,
calmly received both look and letter
and departed with final glance at
me 80 full of recognition that it
caused my pulse to quicken unpleas-
antly. felt that, whatever might
come of it, must speak to her and
find out the course she intended to
pursue.
tn he Coutinued