Year: 1869

CHAPTER XXXVI.


AN EL.oPEMENT.


''DEAn MAaa1E.-After you were abed 8
messenger came, saying that Aunt Sand.
ers is very i'll and wishes to sec me, did
not disturb any one, and you may not hea,
from me for day or two. 1 will drop q
line to his honor, 50 do not be uneasy.


. - ZEL1A f."
Margaret would not have doubted
this statement but for the scene Of the
day previous, and the fact Of her hav.
ing been awake all night. She tried
the drawer In which Mrs. Kendon kept
her jewel case, and fouad it locked
but found the key. The case and CON
tents were gone. A rapid examination
showed that no dress was missing which
she would have been likely to wear or
take to Aunt Sanders. Margaret COZ.
cluded that this account Of her absence
vas aruse, and the more 50 that her
laces and the most costly part Of her
wardrobe we're missing.


The one thought was to save the
false wife from the worst consequences
Of her crime; and only by overtakiog
her could there be hope Of this. Mar
garet left the note to herself where she
had found it, as an explanation to oth~
ers; went to her room and dressed
hastily. A train passed eastward and
stopped at 4 o'clock. It wanted but
twenty minutes to the time, and the
depot was ten minutes walk distant.
While dressing she revolved her plans.
II Mrs. Kendon had left with De Baum
they would probably go on that train.
If she could reach it and find her, moth
ing should induce her to lose sight Of
the fugitive until she was in her hus-
bands care. She might get her back
to her torsaken home before the nature
Of her absence was known. If so,
would she conceal it from him?


There was no time to answer this
question now. Five Of her precious
twenty minutes were spent in dressing
and reaching the library. Here she
struck light and found some blank
bench warrants. Filling one out with
the name Of Eugene De Baum, she sign
ed it "Mathew Kcndon" az nearly as
she could initiate the autograph Of the
President Judge; and was but dimly
conscious that this was forgery
Should she find the fugitlves, De Baum
might give her trouble and on this
warrant she might get some police Of.
ficer to arrest and detain him until she
could rescue Zelia. When she had
finished the warrant, she wrote:


"MR. W1SsroN.-You will find Mrs. Ken
don's note on her table. When read it
l was uneasy, and have zone to her.


MARGARET MERLYN."


She left this On the Office table where
Mr.. Winston would fnd it on coming.
1t was unusual for him to be absent all
night when Judge Kendon was away
from home; but business had called
him out Of the city, and this fact con.
firmed be" belief that Mrs. Kendon's
trip had been planned. When Marga.
ret had finished these preparations she
had twelve minutes to reach the depot
She found tho back door uufastened
and was quickly on her way. The
lamps burned with a feeble glare in
the thick fog. Two watchmcn follow.
ed her each to the end of his beat; bu,
she reached the depot safely; in timo t
get ticket and take the train. She
wished to avoid being seen, and enter
ed tho rear Of ladies car at the lasI
moment. When tho train was in mo
ton she began her search by going
forward under pretext of getting .
drink, and carefully scanning the vari
GUS bundles Of dry goods which count
ed as so many night passengers in th,
days when there were no sleeping cars
But few faces were visible, and none O
those fsmiliar. She passed forwart
and back, and then returned to tn
front end of the car that she nigh
follow the conductor on that rount
which succeeded every stoppage Of th'
train, and every passenger was aroused
with the demand, "ticket sir" or "tick
ct madsm." After much grumblin,
aud fumbling the documents were al
examined, and they had passed quit
through tho car without her maxim,
any discovery. At the rear end sh
touched the conductors arm, saying


"Might I pass with you through th
train? I am looking for friend VII
l think, must be in one Of the cars


"Why, madam, tho train is movin


rapidly, and-it is not safe for a lady {


cross from enc car to another"


"Ob, I am sure I can 60; and it
= very important 1 should find the pc,


son for whom I am looking"


Her manncr despite all her efforts I


the contrary, told his practiced eye th,
, the friend whom she sought was pro|


ably trying to avoid her; and he jum)
Ii d to the conclusion that she vas hun