Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-11-22
CHAPTER I.-lcontinued.l

I turned to Louise for explanation.
Though there were many callers at the
Parrish home, never had met Mr..
Crandall, nor had l even heard the
name mentioned
1t must have been Hugh Crandall, =
said Louise. Il was afraid that it was
he"
Her remark puzzled me. The only
Hugh Crandall knew anything about
was prosperous young broker whom
| never had met personally, though
had seen his name occasionally in con-
nection with exchange and club affairs.
do you mean Hugh Crandall the
broker?" asked.
Louise nodded and leaning against
my shoulder, told me OF a chapter of
the family history with which / was
wholly unfamiliar This man, it
seemed, had met her sister two years
before on steamer on which they
were returning from Europe. After
that he had been frequent visitor at
the Parrish home Katharine was very
fond of him, and he had been in high
favor both with the general and Lou
Use. Though no formal announcement
of an engagement had been made,
Crandali was looked on by every one
as Miss Farrish's most favored sutton
About three months ago, just prior to
the time when first met Louise his
visits to the house had suddenly
ceased
'T3n sure Louise explained, that
Katharine cared for him very much
She and father had a bitter quarrel
about him, though why, l never could
understand. for father had always
see.aed to like him. There was some
thi,.g strange about the way his visits
ennad. Father came home one day at
nom looking worried He called Kath-
ar.ae into the library and smut the
door. / could hear katharine pleading
with him and once or twice / heard
both their voices raised as if in. anger.
When my sister came out her eyes
ware red as if she had been weeping
She went at once to her room and did
not come down to dinner When Mr.
Crandall called that night she came
down to see him, but he stayed only
about ten minutes. He demanded an
interview with father, and father re-
fused to see him He left the house in
heat an never has been here since
For several days Katharine seemed
much depressed but she volunteered
no condolences and I hesitated to ask
her any questions. She seemed after
a while wholly to have recovered her
spirits, and | was convinced that she
had made UP her mind to let Mr. Gran
dali go out of her life"
what effect did this have on the re-
lations between your father and sis
.ter?" asked, seeking in vain for a mo-
tive that would have caused Katharine
to attempt her life.
None whatever that / could see
Through it all, except for that one aft
ernoon, Katharine's attitude toward ia
Their has been most lovable. II any
thing, it seemed to me that she was
tenderer toward him afterward than
before
do you suppose she has been meet
ing Crandall surreptitiously?
Louise quickly and Indignantly drew
herself away from me.
You don't know Katharine as do, :"
she said reprovingly, "or you never
would have said that. She is the soul
of honor. If she was going to see Hugh
she would have done so openly"
But he telephoned her today" per-
sisted.
That's so" admitted Louise. And
I think he must have done so day be
fore yesterday, too. Some one called
her and she went out just as she did
today. Generally we tell each other
where we are going, and | thought it
peculiar at the time that she said moth
ing to me-"
In deep perplexity we both sat, 81
lently bordering the mystery OF Katha-
rine's action. What could have, made
her do it? Was it, | wondered, because
her father had learned something dis
creditable about her sutton and had
forbidden him the house? Had Gran
dali been trying to persuade her to
continue to see him despite her ia
ther's wishes? Was the conflict in her
heart between love and duty too much
FOR her? Louise turned to me and laid
her hand gently on my arm.
Harding she said there is some
deep mystery behind all this that has
been creeping like black shadow
across the lives of both Katharine and
my father. In some way Hugh Gran
dali is concerned in It, l know 1t. l
EEL it. 1t is something more than mere
" the refusal of my father to permit
her to marry Crandall. have watched
hem both and | know. | have seen
snls mysterious specter lowering over
uy father. gradually crushing the very