The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-03-15
CHAPTER XIII.
Mrs. Missioner's Visitor.

Mrs. Missioner's Visitor.
Mrs. Missioner, after the ball, took
IN the fagend Of bridge party anu
stayed so late that when she retufneu
to her home the east was striped WIN
dawn and the maid who had waited
IN for her was sleeping soundly IN
chair. The widow was not yet as
posed for slumber. 1t had been al
exciting night. Her fancy had Deen
stimulated so greatly by her Drlei
talk with the Swami in the ballroom
that she was unable to turn 1t from
the mysterious Oriental history OF
the Maharanee diamond. She knew
no more of the Jewels past than she
had related 70 the sage, for her nus,
band had not acquainted her with al
the details connected with his acqulsi'
tion Of It. Something in the SWamls
manner caused her to regard the stone
With more or less aversion. She pc
d gxns,t sdlsoitJt thS rdfity 81 It's record:
Fond though she was OF gems even
/. to the point of being Jewel worship
or abe was American to her finger
, tins and would shrink in terror IRON
= anv bauble that came to her stainee
= with the tiniest drop Of human blood
\ she had loved her husband In
q way: at any rate. she had always re
I. spected and admired him. 1t seeme
a impossible he would be a party t
T. wrongdoing. Yet she could not shak
# Of, sensation Of dread whenever 81
% remembered how intimately the 1ewt
10 had nestled in the SHOWS CT her throa
Il. and riya]ed the brightness Of her eye
az Gould It be she had worn gem who:
e fire was more suited to the glow OF
NJ inferno than to the Eden OF got
II. woman's loneliness?
to Drawing about her shoulders so
all warm shawl, she took seat at a WI
he dow in her boudoir and sat gazing in
lis skv mink and gray with daybres
NV irving to solve her real feelings
me regard to the recovery OF the Mana
as nee diamond. She was in the NIT
,es. # her meditation when she heard
hat faint ringing Of bell at the other
oh. If her big house. In little VIII
ysi- footman raped on the door OF
dye boudoir. 1t awakened her maid,
his the girl, her eyes swollen with sic
am annroached the widow with a c
bearing no name. but inscribed v
ne," the message: :,
you ut is important that be permit
to see you at once"
your At such an hour? Mrs. Missit
out was astonished by the request.
vhen could her early visitor be? surel!
one in her own circle OF acquaintal
npty would venture upon such liberty
the Il were question Of life or dc
ham. there was still the telephone. s.
leled cv was indicated by the attemr
using the person to see her face to
aim. Haste breathed In every word Of
yeer. scholarly scrawl. Mrs Missioner
d the not ultraconVentlonai' Dut tne ie'
the for an interview at that time OF
an hour that almost might be c
xcuse time of night-was beyond the
some- Of even her liberal views. How
curiosity conquered, as 1t has BET
raised ing in the cases Of women. Jewell
40 al. annles since the world began. an
,ower- informed her maid she would sc
aching visitor in the library.
arters She controlled her eagernes
snace. understanding Of the request,
then a theless, so we'll that when in X
,nense " way she reached the big rot
instant the main floor, the visitor was a
roe re- within 1t. He stood at a window
n fire. ing into a street and shielding
ror his self behind a curtain from
"a had plances. As his head was bare,
he had not until the second glance tn
,mhlest recognized the Swami. She W
. main. only astonisled, but startled
II from recognition. What could this n
70 his GUS student Of the occult wal
hv the her? What could possibly be
MID ny iect Of his visit to her home {
.s,ueees an hour? He was an old az
. .avad ance In . sense, but one MI