Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-24

Of honor. II she was going 10 see Hugh
she would have done so openly.
But he telephoned her today" per-
! sisted
That's So" admitted Louise. And
{ thisk 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 10
peculiar at the time that she said nothe
ing TO me-
In deep perplexity We both sat, 81
Iently bordering the mystery OF katha-
rine's action. What could have made
her do it? Was it. l wondered, because
her father had learned something dis,
creditable about her sutton and mad
forbidden him the house? Had Gran
dali been trying TO persuade her 10
continue to see him despite her IA
theirs wishes? Was The conflict IN her
heart between love and duty too much
for her? Louise turned 10 me and lald
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 Crau'
dali is concerned in it. ! know il.
feel II. 1t is something more than mere
" the refusal OF my father TO permit
her to marry Crandall. | have watched
them both and | know. l have seen
this mysterious specter lowering over
my father, gradually crushing the very
soul out OF him. ] have seen kath.
arines life, TOO, blighted by its con.
slant presence. Whether Katharine
lives or whether she dies, must find
out what it is. must, before 1t kills
my father. too. You'll help me, won't
your
There nave been strange wooings
and strange betrothals in loves his
tory, but never before has any man
been brought TO fuller realization Of
the depth Of wOman'S affection l0F
him or her confidence and trust in him
than | was ut this moment when LOU
Use put this question TO me. My arms
went about her and my lips met hers
in one long kiss that was pledge--a
hedge that henceforth my life, my
heart, my mind, my powers. my every
thing were hers. All my abilities would
be devoted TO clearing this mystery
that was stealing the JOY from her
years, when they should be the pleas
ATTEST. But this was no time Tor love
dalliance. The mystery must be
solved. Suicides generally left letters.
Perhaps.
Hand in hand, Louise and | went
into Katharines apartments. where
the rooms disorder still told of the
tragedy so recently enacted there. In
one corner stood little open desk.
It's contents bore evidence OF a recent
careful sorting that limited very plain
~ OF generalization, but there was no
note or letter there ! looked next on
the mantelpiece, hoping TO find among
the photographs and cotilliOn TavOrs
tnat Uttered il some clue which might
solve the mystery but there was moth
ing there, either.
Nv ava fell To the crate below.
WHARF fro burned cheerilv. Here
ooain was evidence of reconciliation
i, IN. osloc or brrrod letters and the
| charred corner OF a photograph. "A
hIacLaned bjt of naDer that had fallen
throroh the arare before II burned
courht my glance and | STONED to
| ricl; il IN, II was lust a scrap Of yell
low torn from = folded letter, with its
edges brrnod IN fragilanoss. Careful
" 7 ori.o aud T unfolded # for il
1891 ,i,a o,I,. ,biro in all thn room
49,. ,,;o,i,t ,.ioId eo,,,o oy,1ono+ion AZ