The Washington times., 1918-05-27

ana MS mOtneT.
"Lllian"-Esthsr spoke very SER
tously-'yOu must tell me all you
know about Adderley, then shall
be able to make your position with
me clear to Harold. I know am
sure-that there is nothing discred'
liable in the story You have been
bound to secrecy, but. knowing a.
much as 1 do, II Is absurd that
should be kept in the dark as TO
your connection with the mystery.
Don't you see this as I do? Be
sides"-she faltered a httle-"yHu
warned me that l must never marry
Harold. There is no real objection
to our union: Harold put the ques-
tion so directly to Mr.. Grimstead-
you know who I mean-that he was
forced to give a dehnite answer"
What did he sayT" interrupted
Lillian.
He said there was no legal or
moral objection. Certainly, he
hinted-as he has done before-that
II was not advisable. He pointed
out that, IL Mr.. BOrradale married
IL would be his duty, on the day
OF the wedding. to conhde to him
the whole secret OF the BorradAls
curse"
. "Yes"-Lilian spoke very anx-
iousIy-"and what did Mr.. Bora
dale say?"
He laughed and said he knew .
good deal about IL already, and he
did not think there was anything
in the secret TO prevent him get
ting married. He tells me that Mr..
Grimstead gave an ugly smile when
he heard this. and just shrugged his
shoulders. He is a horrid man, that
lawyer, and I can't make out how
he came, to be employed by Mrs
Borradale. It's just the same with
the rector at Helm-ths man who
married me-you know"
Esther" said Lillian. III tell you
all can. It was a promise TO do
so which I wrote you in my second
letter. I'll make the mystery A.
clear as possible to you. Then you
must decide for yourself. But Judge
me A. kindly as you can, dear
won't your
Haunts Her Dreams.
why. OF course, I will" Esther
drew her chair closer to Lilian's.
You suffered for your connection
with Adderley. Lilian-as II seems
to be Inevitable that anyone who
goes near the place must suffer.
That fearful night! Though I'm
well now, you have no idea how
frequently Il comes to me in my
dreams. Often and often I cry out
in my sleep. Mrs. Meredith will
tell you that II Is true. It will be
a nightmare to me as long as I
live. And you-you who carry
marks upon your neck"-Esther
raised her hand and gently touched
the black band which Lillian always
wore round her throat-"what ter
rors have you not suffered"
Lillian shuddered. an dher own
hand went to her neck and pulled
nervously at the black velvet.
"Horrors" she whispered. You
have no idea. Esther. even you, all
that I have undergone. But I will
try and tell you something OF il.
1t means giving you a good deal OF
my own history. but II you really
wish to make a friend OF me il u
well that you should know"
So 1t was that Lillian began her
story
1T was after had been deserted
by my husband. and I was living in
who was so like me that she was
murdered in my place"
"It was she. was II not" asked
Esther. whom l saw at Adderley
the second time I went there; she
whom / took for you. and who led
me down into the Tomb"
Yes II was poor GeTtrdude you
saw. The unhappy girl. was out Of
her mind-though harmless enough,
really But you shall hear what
drove her mad. The story practi-
cally begins with her.
Takes Up Thread Again
what was I saying: Oh. yes;
was telling you about our italian
home We had a villa UP in the
hills above Amalh. We had been
very we'll of. but Frank had played
ducks and brakes with my money.
I never tell people my maiden name
Ny father was a man OF distinction,
but I won't mention his name He
went to South America and married
nv mother there. She was a Brazil
ian.
However. these are details which
won't interest ySu, Esther. Let me
come right away to the essential
mart Of NV detail. That is the mar
riage OF my sister. II was at some
entertainment at Naples that she
met the man with whom she fell in
love. and from that day all her
misfortunes and mine - began.
For. unfortunately. the man was
Borradale"
He was a BorradsIe. and all the
unhsPpiness OF my sisters life and
my own dates from the day we met
him" Lillian repeated her words
with a melancholy precision.
But how. and Why" Esther
felt the sting OF the words. for
they affected herself I didn't
understand at all" she continued
after a pause. What relation to
Harold was this man whom your
sister married. I thought-he has
always told me-that he was the
only SON"
Had Avoided Telling Truth.
Dear Esther" said Lillian. seiEinE
the girls hand in hers. and look
ing down arfectIonateIy. but sadly
at the puzzled face. You have
asked me to tell you everything
In very truth. Il pains me terribly
to do so. have avoided speaking
as long as I could-because / knew
what suffering l should be forced
TO inflict. II you marry Harold
he 10 bound TO hear these things
which l am about TO tell you upon
tho day OF his wedding-and more
besldes-things which I cannot tell
you, because they are part OF a
deeper secret which has never