The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-05-12
Northport's
Mystery
Chance Aided In Solving 1t.
Bv DACMAR

She came to Northport alone and
unanno1lnced. an entire stranger to
everybody. She boarded at Mrs.
Polk +. and it was thought that when
fall came she would go away, as did
the few other city jewellers who
were able to get summer accommo-
dations in the conservative old
town. But when fall came she
bought a pretty cottage on a quiet
street.
The first thing Mrs. Wrcst did
after going into the house was to
hire Cornelia Bangs, partly as q
servant, partly as companion. Cor
nelia was a peculiar old soul, but
respectable and a good worker. and
the position Mrs. Wrest offered
must have been a real godsend.
Of course all the ladies in the
neighborhood went to call upon the
new resident. She received them
g%racious]v and served them with tea
and cakes made in Cornclias best
STYLE. But she told :hem nothing
that they had come to hear. and
they went away with their curiosity
completely haf11ed. Who was Mrs.
Wrest? Whence had she come:
Was she widow or d%ivorcee? They
we're at liberty to con ecture what
hey chose. but they could lind out
nothing positively.
Cornclia Bangs. being provorhlal-
lv close mouthcd. was as impenc-
trable as her mistress. She didn't
know. That was the answer She
made to all queries.
1t was evident that Mrs. Wrest
mcart to live very quietly and cared
very little for social doings. Most
# her time she passed in reading
" playing upon her violin or doing
little kindnesses for the sick and
needy.
Mrs. Wrest attended all the serv-
.ces of the church, although she had
presented no letter for membership.
She dressed always very beautiful in
black. but she wore no iewelry save
a large pearl brooch, which Mrs.
Hay, the jewelers. wife, said was
| the finest Of the kind she had ever
seen.
No other woman in Northport
had such a way of wearing her
clothes, of carrying herself. Of tilt
ing her chin.
And no other woman was as beau
tiful. If she had not been heanti-
full there would not have been SC
much said or thought about her.
She had a calm, pale face, sur
rounded with dark hair as with a
frame. Her eyes also worc dark. in
scrutable in their depth and still
ness. Her mouth dropped a little.
but then some mouths arc not shap-
d for constant smiling. It was not
sad mouth, and it was not a happy
onc, 1t was just still, like the rest
: her face.
Ii she had bad q great sorrow
ne hid it skillfully or else She had
10 heart. There Were a great MANY
women who thought she had n
4eart. That is often the first accrl-
'aticn brought against a beautiful.
&oman by others who r not So
cautiful.
She had lived in Northport tive
ears when something happened
'etcr Meredith fell in love with her
u course there might have beer
thcr men than Peter in love witt
yer and probably we're, but Peter
Fao the only m that advertised hi:
@"gard boldly.
All tho Young unmarried women
we're simply dying for Peter. II
: tho first place h" was rich. and il
he next his good looks would have
made him eligible without the addi
son Of money.
His married sister took linn tc
ASK as soon as Slle suspected his IN
%atuation. She had kept him from
: marrying a good many years. be
| .ausc sh" wanted Tho money for tn,
mall Peter, her son, and she dc
lot lntond TO tie oNtwittcd now b.
4 woman who had nothing but he
| handsome face TO recommend her.
: You don't know anything abou
? ler,' she urged.
! Il don't ask to know an4thin,
that She does not choose to tell me
; | love her well enough 10 trns
\ her, Peter answered valiantIy.
Good heavens. She MAY be al
advcntur.ss.o cried his sister, los
n ing her temper.
Then Peter lost his and declare,
| that he was going straight TO Mrs