A Strange Disappearance

the advertisements inserted by Mrs. Daniels had produced no effect; and frustrated in my scheme I began to despair, when the accounts of that s

ing,) aroused once more my dormant energies and led me to

l the time she never dares lift a dish off the table. And then the way she hangs about Mr. Blake's door when he's at home! She never goes in, that's the oddest part of it, but walks up and down before it, wringing her hands and talking to herself just like a mad woman. Why, I have seen her almost put

though it involved a man of the position of Mr. Blake and I was safe. My only apprehension had been t

follow him and learn if possible what change had taken place in himself or his circumstances, to lead him into such an innovation upon his usual habits.

him as I anticipated, the centre of an admiring circle of ladies and gentlemen, I espied him withdrawn into a corner with a bland old politician of the F

yed at home and made love to the pretty Fanny." And somewhat chagri

painted, her beauty had assumed a certain defiant expression that sufficiently betrayed the fact that the years had not been so wholly happy as she had probably anticipated when she jilted handsome Holman Blake for the old French Count. At all events so I interpreted the look of latent scorn that burned in her d

turned to see if the surprise had awakened any

ably, and looking up in the face of Mr. Blake, whose back was turned to me, in a way that entirely precluded

ediously the moments passed; but a detective on duty, or on fancied duty, succumbs to no weariness. I had a woman before me worth studying and the time could not be thrown away. I learned to know her beauty; the poise of her head, the flush of her cheek, the curl of her lip, the glance-

of garnet velvet, and her whole face flaring with a light that might mean resolve and might mean simply love. I had no need to turn my

th a few words I could not hear, he drew back a step and beg

emained unchanged, I could detect a slight gleam of impatience flash in the depths of her dark eyes, and a change come into the conventional smile that had hitherto lighted, without illuminating her countenance. Drawing still further back from the crowd that was not to be awed from pressing upon her, she loo

to-night," were the first words I caught, uttere

sarcastic reply. "I was just decidin

ominous glare, at her smooth olive brow, her partly veiled eyes where the fire passionately blazed, at her scarlet lips trembling with an emotion her rapidly flushing cheeks would not allow her to conceal. I saw his glances fall and embrace her whole elegant form with its casing of ruby velvet and ornamentation of lace and diamonds, and an expectant thrill p

rac can desire the adulation of us poor Amer

turned towards him;

o her own country, Evelyn Blake has so far forgotten the last two years as to find pleasure again in the toys and f

ng since I have heard t

row. "Pardon me," said he, "if it brings you sadness or unwe

ed her lips grown

nd shadowed by regret, it also recalls much that is pleasant and never to be forgo

r name is Countess De Mirac, your r

ing's quick flash shot from t

e; "I do not recognize my old friend in the coo

work of our hands, madame, aft

, "do you mean-wo

ad dropped. "At an interview which is at once a meeting and a parting, I

e lofty as it was resolute. "You have spoken a word which demands explanation;

once told a man she loved him, could so far forget that love as to marry on

ure or any movement, save that of her lips gro

ore her unmasked of his stern self-possession. "I beg your

times gone by, we both behaved with too much worldly prudence for it now to be any great pleasure for either of us to look back, is that any reason why we should mar our whole future by dwelling too long upon what we are surely still young enough to bury if not forget? I acknowledge that I would have behaved in a more ideal fashion, if, after I had been forsaken by you, I had turned my face from society, a

urning towards her as she made a slight fluttering move of dissent, "no future; we can bury the past, but we can not resurrect it. I doubt if you would wish to if we could; as we cannot, o

peaking, but-" Her look sai

itterly. In another moment he had bowed and gone, and