The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21

was gong away tnaC DAY. ana tnougns,
we'll, l was quite sure then that l should
never see you again."
"Then why did you deceive ane?"
"Only because you had been too kind,
and 1 had been too much trouble to you.
l knew you were busy and l couldn't have
allowed you to do any more for me. felt
that the accident of my being in New York,
the accident of that record being made and
lost, the accident of my having your record,
and the accident of my getting into it all
l say l felt that all of these accidents had
forced me and my affairs on your atten-
tions and the only way l could think of to
relieve you was to run away"
"And you gave no address, though you
took pains to let us know that you were not
at home" he said reproachfully.
"Well," she began, and it was SO hard to
know just what to say, 81 didn't think"
and then she hesitated and started again,
"But you haven't told me yet how you
solved the mystery. Do tell me that"
He told her, kindly, and as frankly as he
could, how her sudden departure had served
to deepen the suspicious that she did have
the missing record. He even limited to her
something of the seriousness with which
the lawyers had contemplated taking some
sort of action, forcing her to give up the
record they supposed she had, but seeing
how the thought of all this frightened her,
he fastened to reassure her. He might have
told her that Mr.. Shelton had advised that
a sheriff serve on her writ of replevn' by
which she could be forced to give up the
record until ownership could be proved; he
might have told her that the papers in the
case had been prepared and that the sheriff
did inquire for her at the hotel only to find
that she had left two hours before; and he
might have told her how this entire incident
only served to deepen the suspicion against
her and how he saved the day by solving the
mystery and claiming the reward that was
hn Wi
to deliver to her. But he told her none OF
these things then.
81 was so surprised and distressed and
disappointed to find that you had gone,' ne
said II could not interest myself just then
in the solution of that stupid mystery-there
was another mystery l was interested IN
solving another reward l was thinking Of
Everything in that familiar room seemed
to be pulsng, throbbing with new life and
the very air she breathed seemed to be
electrified. Every fiber in her being was
sending out currents and then great waves
of happiness. a swelling tide of tumuituous
low swept over her soul. The tenderness
in his eyes, the softness of his voice, the
genuineness of his words-it was none OF
these that wrought this magic in her soul;
for these outward signs at best can but re-
fleet from a great distance, as pictures may
be reflected in myriads of mirrors, the mil
mite 10y of love in the measurelesS, mySterl-
Gus depths of the human soul. What need
of words between them? How hollow, how
inadequate, how pitifully cold they seem in
this wonderful moment in which her soul
began to live!
In another moment she was sitting beside
him on the couch and he was telling her of
, things she wanted to know-of the record,
his record, and of how he came at last to
solve the mystery. AS he talked she saw
again his study with its shaded lights and
rows of books. He told her how he, too, had
known loneliness and longings and how, on
one of those quiet evenings when he sat and
thought of her, he had taken his Louisiana
record and slipped it on the machine to try
to discover why she could have loved it so.
81 was quite sure, Of course" he was say
inr. "that should hear my own voice.
"And you did not?" she asked quickly.
"You found tae scientific record?"
81 found the scientific record, he an
swered simply
sob, wish l could make you understand
how penitent l am" she said, for the seri-
business of the whole thing now dawned
upon her for the first time. 81 should have
told them in the beginning that l had the
Louisiana record. l should at least have
told you, that first night, after you had been
so kind to me. Please believe me- had
known that 1 was keeping you from that
reward, should have told you everything
l knew, Immediately"
The nrofessor leaned over and looked into