Nebraska Newspapers

    A
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA.
.!
Il
The Hollow
of Her Hand
5
3rwi i-. c- rf ii - V ' " A m ma Hj
if
George Barr MCutctieon
COPY?6r.92 BY GtORCtZAM AtSCU7CWW ' COryMCffT, 92 3Y PODD,Af1D Z COMPANY
CHAPTER XX. Continued.
"I thought porhaps ho had written
you noout IiIb plans."
"M father does not know that 1
havo returned to Now York."
"Oh, I sco. Of course. Um uml By
the way, I think the colonel 1b a cork
er. Ono of the most nmlablo thorough
breds I've ever como across. Hipping.
Ho'a nover said anything to mo about
your antipathy toward him, but 1 can
see with half an oyo that ho Is terribly
depressed about It. Can't you get to
gether somo way on "
"Really, Mr. Wrandall, you are en
couraging your Imagination to a point
where words ultimately must fall you,"
title said very positively. Booth could
hardly ropress a chucklo.
"It's not Imagination on my part,"
said Lcsllo with conviction, falling ut
terly to rocognlzo tho obvious. "I sup
poso you know that ho Is coming over
to visit mo for six weeks or so. Wo bo
camo rattling good frlonds boforo wo
parted. My Jovo, you should hear him
on old Lord Murgatroyd's will! Tho
quintessence of wit! I couldn't take It
as ho dooo. Expectations and all that
sort of thing, you know, going up like
a hot air balloon and bursting In plain
vlow. But ho never squeaked. Laughod
It off. A British attrlbuto, I daro soy.
t suppose you know that ho is obliged
to noil his eBtato In Ireland?"
Hotty started. Sho could not con
coal tho look of shamo that leaped In
to nor eyes.
"I I did not know," sho murmured.
"Must bo quite a shock to you. Sit
down, Brandy. You look very pictur
esque standing, but chairs wero mado
to sit upon or In, whlchovor Is propor.
Booth Bhrugged his shouldors.
"I think I'll stand, If you don't mind,
Leo."
"I morely (suggested It, old chap,
fearing you might have overlooked tho
possibilities. Yes, Mls6 Castleton, ho
left us In London to go up to Bolfast
on this dismal buslnosB." There was
somothlng In tho back of his mind that
ho was trying to got nt In a tactful
manner. "By tho way, le this property
entailed?"
"I know nothing at all about It, Mr.
Wrandall," Bald she, with a pleading
glanco at her lover, aa If to lnqulro
what Btnud she should take In tills dis
tressing situation.
-If It Is ontullod ho can't sell it,"
aald Booth quietly.
"That's truo," Bald Leallo, some
what dubiously. Then, with a mag
nanimity that covered a multludo of
doubts ho added: "Of course, I am
only Interested In seeing that you aro
proporly protected, Miss Castleton.
t'o no doubt you hold an Interest In
tha estates."
"I can't vory well discuss a thing I
Know absolutely nothing about," sho
said succinctly.
"Most of it Is In building lots and
factories In Bolfast, of course. It was
oioro In tho naturo of a question than
a declaration. "Tho old family castln
isn't very much of an asset, I take It."
"I fancy you can trust Colonel Can
tleton to make the best possible deal
In tho premlsos," said Booth drily.
"I suppose so," Bald tho other re
slgnodly. "Ho la a shrewd beggar, I'm
convlncod of that. Strange, however,
that I haven't heard a word from him
' since ho loft us In London. 1'vo boon
expecting n cablegram from him ovary
day for nearly a fortnight, lotting mo
know when to oxpect him."
"Aro you going to California this
winter fop tho flying?" asked Hotty.
Sam onterod at that Juncture, and
they all Bat down to Ueton for halt an
hour to Loslto'H haranguo on tho way
tho California moot was bolng mis
managed, at tho ond of which ho do
parted, Ho took Booth away' with him, much
to that young man's disgust.
"Do you know, Brandy, old fellow,"
uald ho as thoy walkod down Fifth avo
iuo In the gathering dusk of tho early
wlntor ovonlug, "over since l'vo bogun
to suspect that damned old humbug of
a father of hors, l'vo boon congratu
lating myBolf that thoro Isn't tho re
motest chance of his over bocouilng
my father-in-law. And, by George,
you'll novor know how near' I was to
leaping blindly Into tho brambles,
What a closo call I had!"
Booth's BnrcuBtic smile was hidden
by tho dusk. Ho mado no pretonso of
oponly rosontlng tho moannoss of
eprlt that moved Losllo to these cad
dish romarka. He merely announced
In a dry, cutting voice:
"I think Miss Castloton Is to bo con
gratulated that her Injury Is no groater
than naturo mado It In tho beginning."
"What do you mean by 'nature?' "
"Naturo gavo hor a father, didn't
It?"
"Obviously."
"Well, why add insult to Injury?"
"By Jovo! Oh, I say, old man!"
Thoy parted at tho next corner. As
Booth started to 'cross over to tho
Plaza, Leslie called out after him:
"I say, Brandy, just a second, please.
Aro you going to marry Miss Castle
ton?" "I am."
"Thon, I retract tho scurvy things I
eald back there I asked her to marry
mo three times and she refused mo
threo times. What I said about tho
brambles was rotton. I'd.aak hor again
If I thought eho's have mo, Thero you
are, old follow. I'm a rotten cad, but
I apologize to you Just the uamu."
' You'ro learning, Losllo," said Booth,
taking the hand tho other hold out to
him.
While tho painter was dining at his
club later on In tho ovonlng, ho was
called to the tolophono Watson was
on the wire, lie said thut Mrs. Wran
dall would like to know If Mr. Booth
could drop In on hor for a few min
utes after dinner, "to discuss a very
important mattor, If you plcaso, sir."
At nlno o'clock, Booth was In Sara's
library, trying to grasp a new and re
markable phaso In tho character of
that amazing wolnan.
Ho found Hotty waiting for him
when ho arrived.
"I don't know what It all meanB,
Brandon," she snld hurriedly, looking
over her shoulder as sho spoke. "Sara
says that sho has como to a decision
of somo sort. Sho wants us to hear
her plan boforo making It final. I I
don't understand her at all tonight."
"it enn't bo anything serious, doar
est," ho said, but something cold and
nameless oppressed him Just tho samo.
"Sho asked mo If I had finally de
cided to to be your wife, Brandon. I
said I had aBked you for two or throo
days more In which to decldo. It
seemed to depress hor. Sho said sho
didn't sco how sho could gtvo mo up,
ovon to you. Hno wantB to do near
mo always. It 1b It Is really tragic,
Brandon."
He took her bands In his.
"Wo can flx that," said ho confident
ly. "Sara can live with us If sho fools
thnt way about It. Our homo Bhall bo
hors when sho likes, nnd as long as
sho chooses. It will bo open to hor all
tho time, to como and go or to stay,
just as sho olects. Isn't that tho way
to put It?"
"I suggested somothlng of tho sort,
but sho wasn't very much Impressod.
Indocd, she appoared to bo somowhat
yes, I could not have boon mistaken
somewhat harsh and terrified when
I spoko of It. Afterwards sho was
more reasonable. Sho thankod mo and
thero wero tears In hor oyos at tho
tlmo and said she would think It
over. All sho asks le that I may be
happy and froo and untroubled all tho
rest -of my llfo. This was before din
ner. At dinner she appeared to bo
brooding over somothlng. When wo
loft tho table sho took mo to hor room
and said that sho had como to an Im
portant decision. Then sho Instructed
Watson to And you If possible."
" 'dad, It's all very upsetting," ho
said, shaking his head.
"I think her conscience Is troubling
hor. Sho hates tho WrandaUs, but I
I don't know why I should fool as I
do about It but I bollevo eho wants
them to know!"
Ho stared for a moment, and thon
his faco brightened. "And so do I, Hot
ty, so do It They ought to know!"
"I should fool so much easier if tho
whole wprld know," said sho earnestly.
Sara hoard tho girl's words as sho
stood In tho door. Sho camo forward
with a strange oven abashed smllo,
after closing tho door behind her.
"I don't agree with you, dearost,
when you say that tho world Bhould
know, but I havo como to tho conclu
sion that you should be tried and ac
quitted by a Jury mado up of Challls
WrnndaH'B own flesh and blood. Tho
WrandallB muBt know tho truth."
CHAPTER XXI.
The Jury of Four.
Tho WrandaUs sat waiting and won
dering. Thoy had been sent for and
they had deigned to respond, much to
lllfillll ill
Iff JsSff&ftaw JBB II y I IT Hi jnBHB ir
It II (MnPv WM 1
IIBIJ
In
The WrandaUs Leaned Forward
Their Chairs.
tholr own Burprlso. Redmond Wran
dall occupied a place at the head of
tho library table. At his right sat his
wife. Vivian and Leslie, by direction,
took Beats at tho slda of tho long tablo,
which had boon clearod of Its mass of
books and magazines. Lawyor Car
roll was at the other ond of tho tablo,
perceptibly nervous nnd anxious. Hot
ty sat n llttlo apart from tho others, a
ruthor forlorn, detached member of the
conclave. Brandon Booth, palo-fnced
and alert, drew up a chair nlongsldo
Carroll, facing Snrn who alono re
mained stauding, directly opposlto tho
four WrandaUs.
Not ono of tho WrandaUs know why
thoy, as a family, wore thero. Thoy
had not the slightest promonltlon of
what was to como.
Tho WrandaUs had been routed
from their comfortable fireside for
what7 Thoy wero asking tho question
of themselves nnd they wero waiting
stonily for the ntiBwor,
"It Is very stuffy In hore," Vlvinn
had said with a glanco at the closed
doors after Sara had successfully
placed hor Jury In tho box.
"Kcop still, Vlv," whispered Leslie,
with a lino assumption of awo. "It's a
spiritualistic meotlng. You'll scare
the spooks away."
It was at this Juncturo that Sara
rose from her chair and faced thom,
as calmly, as complacently as If sho
wero about to ask them to proceed to
tho dining-room Instead of to throw a
bomb Into their midst that would shat
ter their smug serenity for all tlmo to
como. With a glanco at Mr. Carroll
she began, clearly, firmly and without
a prefatory apology for what was td
follow.
"I havo asked you to como hero to
night to bo my Judges. I am on trial.
You aro about to hear the story of my
unspeakable perfidy. I only require of
you thnt you hear mo to tho end bo
foro passing Judgment."
At her words, Hetty and Booth start
ed perceptibly; a quick glanco passed
between thom, as If each was Inquir
ing whether tho other had caught tho
extraordinary words of self-indictment.
A puzzled frown appeared on Hetty's
brow.
"Perfidy?" Interposed Mr. Wrandall.
His wife's expression changed from
ono of bored lndlfforcnce to sharp In
quiry. Leslie paused In the act of
lighting a cigarette.
"It is tho mildest term I can com
mand," said Sara. "I shall bo as brief
as poBslblo In stating the case, Mr.
Wrandall. You will bo surprised to
hear that I havo taken it upon myself,
as tho wlfo of Challls Wrandall and,
as I regard it, the one most vitally
concerned If not Interested in the dis
covery nnd punishment of tho person
who took his llfo I say I have taken
It upon mysolf to shield, protect and
defend tho unhappy young woman who
accompanied him to Burton's Inn on
that night in March. Sho has had my
constant, my porsonnl protection for
moro than twenty months."
Tho WrandaUs leaned forward in
their chairs. Tho match burned Lcs
llo's fingers, and ho dropped It without
appearing to notice tho pain.
"What Is this you aro saying?" de
manded Redmond Wrandall.
"When I left tho Inn that night, after
seeing my husband's body in the little
upstairs room, I said to myself that
tho ono who took his life had unwit
tingly done me a service. Ho was my
husband; I loved him, I adored him.
To tho end of my days I could have
gone on loving him in splto of the
cruel return ho gave for my lovo and
loyalty. I shall not attempt to tell
you of tho countloss lapses of fidelity
on his part. You would not bollevo mo.
But ho always camo back to mo with
tho pitiful lovo ho had for mo, and 1
forgavo htm his transgressions. Thcso
things you know. Ho confessed many
things to you, Mr. Wrandall. Ho
humbled himself to mo. Porhaps you
will recall that I novor complained to
you of him. What rancor I had was
always directed toward you, his fam-
f Uy, who would soe no wrong In your
king but lookod upon mo as dirt be
neath his foot. Thero wore momenta
whou I could havo slain him with my
own hands, but my heart robolled.
Thoro wore times when ho Bald to me
that I ought to kill him for tho things
he had done. You may now understand
what I moan whon I say that tho girl
who wont to Burton's Inn with him
did mo n service. I will not say that
I considered her guiltiest) at tho time.
On tho contrary, I looked upon hor In
qulto a different way. I had no means
of knowing then that sho Nvas as puro
as snow and thnt ho would havo de
spoiled nor of ovorytlitng tnnt was
sweot nnd sacred to hor. Sho took hln
llfo In order to savo that which was
dearer to hor than hor own llfo, and
sho was on her way to pay for hor
doed with her llfo If necessary when
I camo upon hor and Intervened."
"You you know who sho Is?" said
Mr. Wrandall, In n low, Incredulous
voice,
"I havo known nlmost from tho be
ginning, Presently you will hear hor
story, from hor own lips."
Involuntarily four pairs of oyos shift
ed. Thoy looked blankly at Hotty Cas-tleton.
Speaking swiftly, Sara doplcted tho
scones and sensations experienced dur
ing that memorablo motor journey to
Now York city.
"I could not bollevo that Bho was a
vicious creaturo, ovon thon. Some
thing told me that sho wus a tender,
gentlo thing who had fallen Into evil
hands and had struck bocauso she
was unevil. I did not doubt that sho
had been my husband's mistress, but
I could not destroy tho conviction that
somehow sho had been Justified In
doing the thing she hnd dono. My
gravest mistake was In refusing to
hoar her story In all of Its details.
I only permitted hor to acknowledge
that she had killed htm, no moro. I
did not want to henr tho thing which
I assumed to bo truo Therein lice
my deepest fault. For months and
months 1 misjudged her In my heart,
she was Innocent of tho only crime I
could lay at hor feot. Now I como
to tho crime of which I stand self
accused. I must havo been mad all
these months. I havo no other defoneo
to offer. You may take It as you see
It for yourselves. 1 do not ask for
pardon. After I deliberately had sot
about to shield this unhappy girl to
cheat the law, If you please to cheat
you, perhaps I conceived the horrible
thought to avenge mysolf for all the
Indignities I had sustained at the
hands of you WrandaUs, and at the
same tlmo to ovon my account with
the one woman whom I could put my
finger upon as having robbed me of
my husband's love. You see I put It
mildly. I have hated all of you, Mrs.
Wrandall, even aB you have hated me.
Today now I do not feel as I did In
other days townrd you. I do not lovo
you, still I do not hato you. I do not
forgive you, and yet I think I have
como to see things from yoar point
of vlow. I can only repeat that I
do not hato you as I once did."
Sho paused. Tho WrandaUs wore
too doeply submerged In horror to
speak. They merely Btared at her as
if stupefied; as breathless, as motion
less as stones.
"There camo a day when I observed
that Lcsllo was attracted by tho guest
In my house. On that day the plan
took root In my brain. I "
"Good God!" fell from LoslIe'B lips.
"You you had that In mind?"
"It became a fixed, inflexible pur
pose, Leslie. Not that I hated you
as I hated the rest, for you tried to
bo considerate. The one grudge I held
against you was that In seeking to sus
tain mo you defamed your own brother.
You came to me with stories of his
misdeeds; you said that' he was a
scoundrol and that you would not
blamo me for 'showing him up.' Do
you not remember? And so my plot
Involved you; you wero the only ono
through whom I could strike. There
wore times whon I faltered. I could
not boar the thought of sacrificing
Hotty Castleton, nor was It easy to
thoroughly appease my conscience in
respect to you. Still, If I could nave
had my way a few months ago, If
coorcton had been of any avail, you
would now bo the husband of your
brother's slayer. Thon I camo to
know that she was not what I had
thought she was. She was honest.
My bubble burst. I came out of tho
maze In which ! had been living and
saw clearly that what I had contem
plated was tho most atrocious "
"Atrocious?" cried Mre. Redmond
Wrandall between her set teeth. "Dia
bolical! Diabolical! My God, Sara,
what a devil you " Sho did not com
plete tho sentence, but sank back In
her chair and stared with wide, horror
struck eyes at her rigid daughter-in-
law.
Her husband, his hand shaking as
if with palsy, pointed a finger at Het
ty. "And so you aro the ono we havo
been hunting for nil these months,
Miss Castleton! You, aro the one we
want! You who havo eat at our table,
you who have smiled In our faces "
"Stop, Mr. Wrandall!" commanded
Sara, noting the ashen face of the girl.
"Don't lot tho fact escape you that I
am tno guilty person. Don't forget
that sho owed her freedom, If not her
llfo to me. I alone kept her from
giving herself up to the law. All that
has transpired since that night in
March must be placed to my account.
Hetty Castleton has been my prisoner.
She has rebelled a thousand times and
I havo conquered not by threats but
by love! Do you understand? Be
cause of her lovo for me, and because
sho believed that I loved her, she sub
mitted. You are not to accuse hor,
Mr. Wrandall. Accuse mo! I am on
trial hore. Hetty Castleton Is a wit
ness against me, If you choose to cnll
upon her as such, If not, I shall ask
her to speak In my defense, If she can
do so."
"This Is lunacy!" cried Mr. Wran
dall, coming to his feet. "I don't care
what your motives may havo been
Thoy do not niako hor any less a mur
doross. She "
"We must give her over to tho po
lice " began his wlfo, struggling to
hor feet. She staggered. It was
Booth who stepped quickly to her side
to support her. Leslie was staring at
Hetty.
Vivian touched her father's arm.
Sho was vory palo but vastly moro
composed than tho othors.
"Father, listen to mo," Bho said. Her
voice trembled In splto of ner effort
to control It. "We are condemning
MIes Castleton unheard. Let us hear
everything before wo "
"Good God, Vlvinn! Do you menu
to"
"How can we place any reliance on
what she may say?" cried Mrs. Wran
dall.
"Nevertheless," Bald Vivian firmly,
"I for ono shall not condemn her un
heard. I mean to bo as fair to hor as
Sara has been. It shall not bo said
that all tho WrandaUs ore smaller
than Sara Gooch!"
"My child" began hor father In
credulously., Ills Jaw dropped sud
denly. Hie daughter's shot had landed
squarely In tho heart of tho Wrandnll
pride.
"If sho haB anything to say" said
sat down. Their Jaws set I
husband
hard.
"Thank you, Vivian," said Sara, sur
prised In splto of herself. "You nro
nobler than I "
"Pleaeo don't thank me, Sara," said
Vivian Icily. "I was speaking for Miss
Castleton."
Sara flushed. "I suppose It Is use
less to nsk you to be fair to Sara
Gooch, ns you choose to call mo."
"Do you feel in your heart that wo
still owo you anything?"
"Enough of this, Vivian," spoke up
her father harehly. "If Miss Castle
ton desires to speak we will listen to
her. I must advise you, Miss Castle
ton, that the extraordinary disclosures
mado by my daughter-in-law do not
lessen your culpability. Wo do not in
sist on this confefaelon from you. You
deliver It at your own risk. I want
to bo fair with you. If Mr. Carroll
is your counsel, ho may ndvlso you
now to refuso to make a statement."
Mr. Carroll bowed slightly In the
general direction of tho WrandaUs. "I
have already advised Miss Castleton
to state tho caso fully and completely
to you. Mr. Wrandall. It was I who
originally suggested this woll, what
you might call a private trial for her.
I am firmly convinced that when you
have heard hor story, you, as her
judces, will acquit her of tho charge
of murder. Moreover, you will bo con
tent to let your own verdict end the
matter, sparing yourselves the Bhame
and Ignominy of having her story told
in a criminal court for tho delectation
of an eager but somewhat implacable
world."
"Your language Is extremely un
pleasant, Mr. Carroll," said Mr. Wran
dall coldly.
"I meant to speak kindly, sir."
"Do you mean, sir, that wo will lot
the matter rest after hearing the "
"That Is precisely what I mean, Mr.
Wrandall. You will not consider her
guilty of a crime. Please bear In
mind this fact: but for Sara and Miss
Castleton you would not have known
tho truth. Miss Castleton could not
bo convicted In a court of justice. Nor
will she be convicted hero this eve
ning, in this llttlo court of ours."
"Miss Castleton Is not on trial," In
terposed Sara calmly. "I am tho of
fender. She has already been tried
and proved Innocent."
Leslie, In his Impatience, tapped
sharply on the table with his seal ring.
"Please let her tell tho story. Per
mit me to say, Miss Castleton, that
you will not And tho WrandaUs as
harsh and vindictive as you may havo
been led to believe."
Mrs. Wrandall passed her hand over
her eyes. "To think that wo havo
been friendly to this girl all these "
"Calm yourself, my dear," said her
husband, after a glanco at nls son
and daughter, a glance of unspeak
able helplessness; Ho could not un
derstand them.
As Hotty arose, Mrs. Wrandall sen
ior lowered her eyes and not once did
she look up during tho recital that
followed. Her hands wero lying limply
In her lap, and she breathed heavily,
almost Btertorlously. Tho younger
WrandaUs leaned forward with their
clear, unwavering gaze fixed on the
earnest faco of tho young English
woman who had slain their brother.
"You havo heard Sara accuse her
self," said the girl slowly, dispassion
ately. "Tho shock was no greater to
you than It was to me. All that she
has said Is true, and yet I I would
yet socrotly loved hor. Now I under- Mrs- Wrandall, waving Booth nsldo
Btand why I loved her. It was becauso nd nixing stiffly Into her chair. Her
"And 8o You Are the Ono We Have
Been Huntlnn for All Thee Months."
so much rather sho had left herself
unarralgned. We wore agreed that I
should throw myself on your mercy.
Mr. Carroll Bold that you were fair
and Just people, that you would not
condemn mo under the circumstances.
But that Sara should seek to tako tho
blame Is "
"Alas, my dear, I am to blame," said
Sara, shaking hor head. "But for mo
your story would have been told
months ago, tho courts would havo
cleared you, and all tho wold would
have execrated my husband for the
thing he did my husband nnd your
son, Mrs. Wrandall whom we both
loved. God believe mo, I think I loved
him moro than all of you put to
gether!" Sho eat down abruptly and burled
her faco In hor arms on tho edge of
the tablo.
"If 1 could only lnduco you to for
give her," began Hotty, throwing out
her hands to tho WrandaUs, only to bo
mot by a gesturo of repugnance from
tho grim old man.
"Your story, Miss Castleton." ho
said hoarsoly.
"From tho beginning, If you please,"
added tho lawyer quietly. "Leave out
nothing."
Clearly, steadily and with tho utmost-
sincerity In her voice and man
nor, the girl began tho story of hor
life. Sho passed hastily over tho ear
lier periods, frankly exposing the un
happy conditions attending her homo
life, her subsequent activities ns a
performer on the London stago aftor
Colonol Castleton's defection; the few
months dovoted to posing for Hawk
right, tho painter, and later on her
engagement as governess in tho
wealthy Budlong family. Sho dovoted
some tlmo and definlteness to her first
encounter with Challls Wrandall on
board the west-bound steamer, an in
cident that camo to pass In a perfectly
natural way. Her deck chair stood
next to his, and he was not slow in
making himself agreeable. It did not
occur to her till long afterwards that
ho deliberately had traded positions
with an elderly gentleman who occu
pied the chair on the first day out.
Before tho ond of tho voyage thoy
wero very good friends. . . .
"When wo landed In New York, ho
assisted mo In many ways. After
wards, on, learning that I was not to
go to California, I called him up on
tho telephone to explain my predica
ment. Ho urged mo to stay In New
York; ho guaranteed that there would
be no difficulty in securing a splendid
position in the east. I had no means
of knowing that ho was married. I
accepted him for what I thought him
to be: a genuine American gentleman.
Thoy aro supposed to bo particularly
considerate with women. His conduct
toward me was beyond reproach. I
have nevor known a man who was uo
courteous, so gentle. To me, ho was
tho most fascinating man In the world.
No woman could havo resisted him I
am sure of that."
Sho shot a quick, appealing rlanco
at Booth's hard-set face. Her llp
trembled for a second.
"I fell madly In lovo with him," ne
went on resolutely. "I dreamed of
him, I could hardly wait for the tlmo
to como when I wns to see him. Ho
never camo to the wretched little lodg
ing house I have told you about. I I
met him outside. One night he told
mo that he loved mo, loved mo pas
sionately. I I said that I would be
his wife. Somehow it Beemed to mo
that ho regarded mo very curiously
for a moment or two. He Beemed to
bo surprised, uncertain. I remember
that he laughed rather qucorly. It
did not occur to me to doubt him. Ono
day he camo for me, saying that ha
wanted mo to see tho llttlo apartment
he had taken, whore wo wero to livo
after wo wero married. I went with
him. He said that If I liked It, I could
move In at once, but I would not con
sent to such an arrangement. For the
first tlmo I began to feel that every
thing was not as it Bhould be. I I
remained In the apartmont but a few
minutes. The next day he came to
me, greatly excited and more demon
strative than ever before, to say that
ho had arranged for a quiet, Jolly
little wedding up In the country.
Strangely enough, I experienced a
queer feeling that all was not as It
should bo, but his eagerness, his per
sistence dispelled tho small doubt
that had begun even then to shape
Itself. I consonted to go with him on
the next night to an inn out in tho
country, whero a college friend who
was n minister of the gospel would
meet us, driving over from his parish
a few miles away. I said that I pre
ferred to bo married In a church. Ho
laughed and said it could be arranged
when we got to the Inn and had talked
It over with tho minister. Still un
easy, I nsked why It was necesnary
to employ secrecy. Ho told rao that
his family were In Europe and that ho
wanted to surprise them by giving
them a daughter who was actually re
lated to an English nobleman. Tho
family had beon urging him ho marry
a stupid but rich Now York girl and
he oh, well ho uttered a great deal
of nonsense about my beauty, my
charm, and all that sort of thing "
Sho paused for a moment. No ono
spoke. Her audlenco of Judges, with
tho exception of the elder Mrs. Wran
dall, watched her as if fascinated.
Their faces were almost expression
less.. With a perceptible effort, she
resumed her story, narrating events
that carried It up to tho hour when
sho walked Into the little upstairs
room at uurton's inn witn tno man
who was to bo her husband. ,
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Poets Put to Hard Labor.
Tho sixth grado of a certain school
in a foreign settlement In South Da
kota was learning tho use of possess
ives. The book required the pupils to cor
rect and expand into a cpmpletn sen
tence the following expression: "Mil
ton and Shakespoaro's works." Joseph
Nlkodym handed In this sentence:
"Milton and Shnkespoaro work In a
coal mine." Youth's Companion.
m
o