The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-03-03

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her. AMI she went out Just as she did
to-day 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, silent
" pondering the mystery Of Katharine's
action. What could have made her do
III Was II, | wondered, because her
father had learned something discredit-
able about her sutton and had forbidden
ing to persuade her to continue to see
him despite her fathers 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 Crandall is
concerned in II. | know il. l feel it.
IL IS something more than merely the
refusal OF my father to permit her to
marry Crandall. l have watched them
both and l know / have seen this
mysterious specter lowering over my
father, gradually crushing the very soul
out of him. | have seen Katharine's
life, too. blighted by its constant pres
ence. Whether Katharine lives :. or
whether she dies, | must find out what
It is. | must. before it kills my father,
too: You'll help me, won't you'll"
There have been strange wooings and
strange berothals in loves history, but
never before has ry man been brought
70 fuller realization of the depth OF a
womans affection for him or her con-
tdence and trust in him than | was at
TINS moment when Louise put this guess
ton to me. My arms went about her
and my lips met hers in one long kiss
that was a pledge pledge that hence
forthktny life, my heart, my mind, my
powers. my everything were hers. All
my abilities would be devoted to clear
ing this mystery that was stealing the
10Y from her years. when they should
be tl0pleasantest. But this was no time
for loA. dalliance The mystery must
be solved. Suicides generally left let
ters. Perhaps
Hand in hand, Louise and went into
katharine's apartments, where the
rooms disorder still told Of the tragedy
so recently enacted there. In one cor
ner stood little open desk. Its con-
tents bore evidence Of recent care
ful sorting that limited very plainly of
generalization, but there was no note or
letter there. ] looked next on the man
telpiece, hoping to find among the
. photographs and cotillion favors that
Uttered II some ciew which might Solve
the mystery but shere was nothing
there, either.
My eye fell to the CRATE below, where
hire burned cheerily. Here again was
evidence OF premeditation in the ashes
OF burned letters and the charred cor
ner OF photograph A blackened bit
OF paper that had fallen through the
crate before It burned caught my glance
and | stopped to pick II up. 1t was
Just scrap OF yellow, torn from fold
ed letter. with its edges burned to
fragileness. Carefully Louise and / un-
folded II, for il seemed the only thing
IN all the room that might yield some
explanation. As we pored over the
meaningless fragments Of sentences, an
exclamation OF horror came from the
doorway. Looking up We saw the tall
form OF Gen. Parrish tottering on the
sill
Clad in a dressing jacket, his white
hair IN wild disorder, he pointed with
accusing hnger at the yellow scrap of
paper in my hand, Never in mortal face
have seen such terror as saw in his.
His eyes, dilated, seemed bullying from
their sockets. His countenance was
white as chalk His Jaw had dropped
IN the paralysis of terror. From his
throat came horrible mumblings, as he
tried to speak and could not.
Louise and sprang to his side, but
with almost maniacal strength he shook
us of and, with finger still pointing to
the yellow scrap / had let fall to the
floor he managed to gasp:
That yellow letter. Where did"
Before he could finish the sentence he
fell stricken to the floor, his voice chok-
ing. his eyes glazing, paralyzed by some
hidden terror--we knew not what.