The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-01
The Secret of
Lonesome Cove
NJ SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS.
illustrations by f.
Copyright 1914 by The Bobbs Company.

| 'T am a friend OF Francis sedg-
wick's."
I The warm blood flushed her cheeks
rose-color. and died away. Her lips
auivered. So much of mute helpless
misery did her face show that kents
embarrassment vanished.
/ TRY to believe me-" he said ear
restly, when 1 tell you that ! wish
only to save both of you misunder-
standing and suffering" he added.
at is too late" she said hopelessly.
Forgive me, but that is foolish.
Your mind has been led astray. Sedg-
wick IS absolutely blameless."
Please she begged in a half
whisper, II can't listen. I mustn't
listen. / have tried to make myself
believe that he acted in self-defense,
But. even so, don't you see, II must
stand forever between us?"
Now. what cock-and- bull story has
Alexander Blair told herr" Kent de-
manded of his mind. How much
does she know, or how little?"
The Jar and forward lurch of the
car before him brought him out Of
his reverie.
Can see you IN Boston?" he
asked hurriedly.
She shook her head. mot now. I
can see no one. And, remember, ] do
not even know you"
Kent cast about rapidly in his mind
as he walked along with the car. for
some one who might be common &C
quaintance. He mentioned the name
Of a very great psychologist at Har-
ward. do you know him ?" he asked.
Yes. He is my mothers half
brother"
And my valued friend" he cried.
"a TN, 70 M %
was almost running now beside the
window.
Yes" she assented. IF you insist
But l will hear no word of-of your
friend"
II understand. Agreed" called
Kent Tomorrow morning. then"
And he walked, whistling a melan-
cholious theme. to the platform. An
other whistle answered his, 1t was
that Of his train, disappearing around
the curve mile down the track.
Belated, but elated, Kent after some
inquiries, reached his destination by
an intricate exchange OF trolley lines,
and went direct to Cambridge. He
found his friend, one of the finest and
profoundest philosophers of his time.
sitting in a closed house over game
of that form of solitaire appropriately
denominated 'Tdio's Delight"
Very soothing to the mind" muir
INJURED the professor, after welcoming
his guest. $50 many matters turn out
wrong in this world that one finds re-
lief in a problem which usually turns
out right
I've a little problem OF my own
which may or may not turn out right
said Kent, land j want your help"
ut Is long since you have done me
/ the honor TO consult me-" said the old
scholar. smiling. mot, indeed. since
the instance Of the cabinet member
who was obsessed with maniacal
/ hatred of apples"
| without you, / should never have
so much as approached the solution OF
Mr.. Carolan's recall" returned Kent.
But this present affair calls for aid,
not advice"
/ Either Is equally at your service"
replied the philosopher courteously.
/ Kent outlined the case to him.
You Sec" he said. there Is an OBJ
vious connection between the unknown
body on the beach and the Blair trag-
edy."
Poor Marjorie!" exclaimed the old
man. For her marriage I blame my
self. largely. When Marjorie Dor
rance was left an orphan. / was her
nearest relative OF an age and posi-
ton such as to constitute moral
claim of guardianship. She visiteo
here when she was eighteen; came like
a flood OF sunlight into this house, A
beautiful vivid girl, half-child, half
woman; with a beautiful vivid mind.
For her mothers sake, If not for her
own, / should have watched over her.
and warded her against the danger of
an advantageous marriage, such as is
always imminent in the set which she
entered. All, well. I live among the
dust and cobwebs of my own dim in
Iterests--and when returned from one
of my Journeys into the past, found
that Marjorie was engaged to that
wretched creature. Now he is dead.
Let be. l have seen little of her in
late years. God grant the life with
him has not crushed out OF her all
her sweetness and happiness"
while / am not Judge of women"
said Kent judic!ally. II should ven
ture to aver that It hasn't But about
calling on her-my being a stranger
you see--and in the first days Of her
widowhood-social conventions. and
that sort OF thing
The old scholar made a sweeping
gesture of surprising swiftness, sug-
costing anonymously the possession OF
great muscular power. The cards flew
far and wide from the stand.
Mist and moonshine. my dear sir!
Moonshine and mist. Marjorie Is one
OF those rare human beings who deal
honestly with themselves. Her hus-
bands death can be nothing but q
welcome release. She feels no grief;
she Will pretend to none. Not even to
herself. / will take you to her to-
morrow"
blair ill-treated herr" asked Kent
"Oh, ill-treatment! That is a wide
term. / believe that the poor weak
ling did his best to keep faith and
honor. But ropes of mud are strong.
Those with which he had bound him
self drew him resistlessly back to the
sewers. Hers was but a marriage of
glamour, at best. And, at the first
scent of foulness in her nostrils. 1t be-
came only marriage Of law. Society
does her the Justice to believe her
faithful to him, and praises the de-