Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-06-03

interruption. RI so beg you to be
as explicit AZ possible The cirtum-
stances are serious enough for per
feet candOr on your part"
took quick resolve. | would an
pear to throw discretion to the winds.
to contide 10 him what men usually
hold sacred to risk my reputation rs
gentleman, rather than incur a sus-
picion which might Involve others
more than It did myself.
II will give you an account of my
self" said 1. Il did love Adelaide once.
or thought 80. but my feelings chang
ed. A great temptation came into, my
life. Carmel returned from school aud
you know her beauty. her fascinn.
tiOn. A week In her presence and mar
riage with Adelaide became impossible
But how evade itY I knew only the
towards way-to lure this inexperi.
enced young girl fresh from school.
into q runaway match. This evening
! had set as the limit of my endurance
of the intolprabl situation. During a
minute OF solitude preceding the din
ner at Miss Cunlberland's house on the
hill ! wrote a few lines to her sister,
urging her TO trust me with her fate
and meet me at the statiOn In time for
the 10:30 train. meant to carry her
at once to r.. where had friend in
the ministry who would at once unite
us In marriage. ! was very peremp-
tory, for my nerves were giving way
under the secret strain to which they
had been subjected for so long. and she
herself was looking worn with her own
silent and uncommunicated conflict.
ITO write this note was easy. but to
deliver 1t involved difficulties. Miss
Cumberland's eyes seemed to be more
upon me than usual. Mine were oblig-
ed to respond. and Carmel. seeing this.
kept hers on her plate or on the one
other person seated at the table. her
brother Arthur. But the opportunity
came as we all rose and passed togeth.
er into the drawing room. Carmel fell
into place at my side. and slipped the
note into her hand. She had not ex-
pected 1t. and l fear that the action
was observed. for when l took my
leave OF Miss Cumberland shortly aft
er was struck by her expression.
had never seen such q look on her face
before, nor can conceive of one pre-
senttng more extraordinary contrast
to the few and commonplace words
with which she bade mesgood evening.
II neither knew Adelaide nor did I
know the girl whose love l had so
overestimated- She failed me. DIR.
Perry. was met at the station not
BY herself. but by letter-a few bur-
ried lines given me by an unknown
man-in which she stated that l had
asked too much OF her-that she could
not 80 wrong her sister who had
brought her up and done everything
for her since her mother died. have
not that letter now or would show
1t to you. In my raging disappoint-
ment I tore It up on the place where
received 1t and threw the pieces away.
! had staked my whole future on one
desperate throw, and had lost II 1
had had pistol I stopped. warned
by an easy movement ON the part Of
the man ! addressed that ] had better
not dllate too much upon my feelings.
] pulled myself together and proceed
ed TO tinish my story with greater di.
rectness.
81 did not leave the station till the
1880 train had gone. II was from
sheer preoccupution of mind that l
4 drove this way instead of straight out
| nv Mn Qraboll a % Ao I hnA th ha
bend in the road where you get your
first sight Of the buildings ! saw q
thin streak of smoke rising from one
of its chimneys. and. anxious as to Its
meaning. ! drove in"-
"Wait. Mr.. Ranelagh. I am sorry to
interrupt you. but by which gate did
you enterT
"By the lower one"
"Was II showing at this timer
"Not yet II was just before the
clouds rushed upon the moon. could
see everything quite plainly"
My companion nodded. and | went
breathiessly on. Any question of his
staggered me. ] was ignorant Of the
facts at his command was not able
to conjecture by what chance or al
whose suggestion the police had raid
ed the place and discovered the trag'
edy which had given point to thal
raid ! continued. but ! omitted al
mention Of the most serious part OF
! my adventure nothing Of my VI
, sion OF Carmel or the terrible concIu
sions which her presence there ha
+ awakened.
r There is no more to say" ! conclud
. ed Il know nothing. II is all
, phantasmagoii TO me- with no NOR
meaning than nightmare. She 4
dead-I know that-but beyond tha
all lis doubt-coDfusion. can neither
understand nor explain"
i