WOOING A WIDOW.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 231, 27 September 1895, Page 6

WOOING A WIDOW.

Bir EWALD AUGUST KOENJLQ.

CHAPTER VIII.-(Continued.) Doha closed the door after him; then sh a tamed and clasped her hands. ■Thank God,' she said, softly, 'that burden ia taken from me 1 I could > 'lout for joy that I am free to love him once mgre. But I must),.be wary. My task.now Iβ to ensnare those hypocrites in tbeir own Bets. I know how I'll do it: I'll throw out the bait. I wonder if they will bite !' She surveyed herself in the mirror, hastily giving a lasb touch to her toileb, and went to. the boudoir, whore Sonnenberg and Ernestine were awaiting her. With her eyes sharpened by the colonel's warning, it did got escape her notice that aa she entered the room, Sounenberg started slightly and Ernestine turned hastily away. There was no doubb in her mind that a confidential conversation had been carried on here in her absence. Sonnenberg,' however, was in' no wise disconcerted;, he came .to meet her with a bow, and asked, ia an interested tone : ' I suppose the colonel brought you some good news? , Ab the same time Ernestine stole a glance at Dora's slightly flushed face. You are ri/yhb!' replied the latter. ' The colonel thinks he has found traces which, if followed up, will lead to the discovery of the real thief. , •Indeed! And whab are they ?' ' Unfortunately he was nob at liberty to tell me the particulars,' continued Dora, while she furtively watched the expression of Sonnenberg's face, which betrayed neither surprise nor dismay, bub only incredulity and indifference. * The colonel seems to look upon his discovery as an important secret aa yet.' * He ie old, and old people are often very childish in their ideas and their actions, observed Ernestine, with a sneer. ' I do not agree with you entirely in thab opinion,' said Sonnenberg, thoughtfully. • I think it quite possible that the colonel ban made some such discovery.' Wae that, too, a feint? Dora watched him cloeely, bub she could find nothing in his face which could lead her to suspect that he did nob think as he spoke. ' No idea of it!' cried Ernestine. ' Ib is very natural thab he should think so. Dornberg is his foster-son, and he owes ib to hie honour to take his pare. But I consider ib impossible that others should believe such a thing. There is nob a link missing in the chain of evidence on which the accusation against Dornberg is founded. We ought really to drep this subject once and for all, Dora. It only throws you into an excitement which cannot be good for you.' * We cannob control our thoughts,' replied Dora. ' If Dornberg is innocent, as I firmly believe, he deserves my pity and my cordial sympathy. ' In spite of the promissory note !' asked her companion ironically. ' Perhaps the colonel has given you some explanation of the matter?' asked Sonnenberg, with apparent indifference. * If he could have done so he would not have waited until now,' replied Dora, in a eimiiar tone. ' And if I stifl cared very much aboub ib I should go to see Herr Goldmann.' 'By doing bhab you would only lower yourself in thab felbw'a eyes,' warned Ernestine. ...,,. 'And whab could he tell, you?' added Sonnenberg, looking abhis watch. 'Nothing bub that Dornberg had received the loan and made oub the promissory note. Bub if you wish to hear more about ib I shall be happy to call there to-morrow and—' * Do you know him personally V, Dora quickly interrupted him. ' No, I have not that honour, , replied Sonnenbers. 'I have no relations with Buch people.' * Then you would not learn anything from him, either, and I no longer feel any interest in the matter. Whatever he might tell me would nob alter the fact thab Gusbav made oub a promissory note like that.' 'That he did so," observed Ernestine, * proves that he was not worthy of your love, and you would do best not to think of him any longer.' ' Not to think of him ?' repeated Dora. 'That would be impossible. , '1 agree with you, , rejoined Sonnenberg; 'one cannot forget co auickly. I can understand everything else, bub nob how Dornberg could prove himself so unworthy of a love which oughb to have made him supremely happy.' At that morrfent the maid announced the carriage. Sonnenberg hung the opera-cloak over Dora's shouldere, for which service ehe thanked him with a captivating imile. Soon after the carriage rolled away with them, and when, a while later, Dora was seated beside Sonnenberg ab. the opera, ehe revolved in her mind all thao tho colonel had communicated to her, as well as the bints which he bad thrown out. Many opera glasses were directed toward her. Dora paid no attention to this ; she left it to her companion to return all inquiring glances, and Ernestine took pleasure in assuming that duty. Now and then Sonnenberg would whisper something to his charming neighbour, and it was evident to her that he did so merely to exhibit, to those who cared to see, his intimate relations with her. She no longer suffered herself to be deceived. Her suspicions were awakened, and Sonnenberg now appeared to her, too, in the light of a fortune hunter who was endeavouring to step into Dornberg's place. He had denied his acquaintance with Goldman withoub hesitation. That was a lie; and thab lie could only serve to confirm the colonel's surmises. Whab if those surmises werecorrecb. Bub was it possible or even conceivable thab Sonnenberg had committed that robbery ? She once more recalled to memory all thab ehe had heard on the subject. Sonnenborjj was at the Rolands' that evening. He had been seized with the nosebleed and had left the room. Every one thought he had gone home, when he suddenly reappeared just after the die covery of the theft. . Strange that the examining magistrate had attached no importance to this—indeed, had paid no attention to it. Where had Sonneoberg been in the interval? Jtfad he really had the nosebleed, or had that, too, been a lie ? Dora resolved to question Clement, the janitor, who knew all the circumstances. ■ And how aboub the understanding between Ernestine and Sonnenberg, of which Fannie said she had proofs ? Well, Dora herself had seen enough this very evening to make her suspecb a confidential relation between them; and, if such a league existed, then Ernestine, too, was an impostor, and no longer worthy of her trust. She took up her opera glass mechanically jnd turned it upon a lady dressed in srey, jpho sat in a third-tier box opposite her, and jrho, since the commencement of the performance, had been gazing ab her co nxedly (hat. it could not fail to attract attention. The music ceased, the act was at an end. Dora lowered her glass. ' Do you know bhab lady in grey up ihere?' ehe asked Sonnenberg, who was offering her a bonbonniere. He took her glass and turned ib in the direction indicated. ' I have nob the pleasure, , he replied, rather coldly. Somedres3maker, probably, vho has worked for you, and whom you We forgot/ten.' '

•I think not. She eeems to be a stranger, an Englishwoman. 'Possibly, , replied Sonnenberg, facetiously, • and in thab case your beauty is probably the magneb thab attracts her eyes bo you. , ' Are you a flatterer, too V she asked in the same tone, helping herself to a bonbon, ' I was nob aware of that.' ' You are mistaken, my dear madam j I only speak the truth. , ' You are, indeed, looking very handsome to-nighb,' whispered Ernestine, who sat behind them. ' Thanks !' replied Dora, indifferently. 'Ican'b under-' unrt why thab lady should stare ab me so incessantly.' • Unfortunately, we cannob forbid her being so rude,' said Sonnenberg, regretfully. Dora remained silenb, bub trom bhab tinie she observed the lady in grey more closely and, as her glass was an excellent one, she soon recognised thab hatred, anger and other kindred passions were depicted on thab sharp, thin face. Were they directed toward her or towards her escort ? She could nob remember ever to have seen the lady ; ib was, therefore, hardly conceivable that the latter should have any reason to hate her. And if they were directed toward Sonnenberg, whab could be his relations with this stranger ?■•■■. She convorsed with him in order to be able to observe him furtively, bub in spite of her watchful glances she could discover nothing which confirmed her'suspicions. Sonnenberg remained perfectly calm and unembarrassed. He seemed to be giving his whole attention to the music. : Only once he raised hie eyes to the box in which the lady sab, bub his glance was cold and indifferent, and tho next moment be.turned to Dora again with a emile, in order to ask some unimportant question. Bub Dora did nob allow herself to be deceived as easily as he mighb have bhought. She bad no doubb bub thab ehe was standing face to face with some dark mystery, which Theodor Sonnenberg either did nob wish or did nob dare to solve for her. If she could only speak to that lady! She felb convinced thab, in thab case, she would gain some information as to Sonnenberg's paefa life, and inosb probably learn something which mighb give a firm foothold to the colonel's suspicion. Could it be done ? How could she learn the lady's name and address? Dora thougbb the matter over quite a while, and ab laeb believed she had found a way of accomplishing her end. She knew the box-opener personally; all tbab she needed was an opportunity of saying a few words to her in private. Her plan was soon matured ; she would try it; and should ib prove unsuccessful no harm would come of ib. When the curtain dropped after the second act she asked Sonnonberg to take her to the foyer. Ernestine was about to accompany them, but Dora told her ib was unnecessary. She complained of a slight dizziness and took Sonnenberg's arm. ' Pray, allow me to take you to the buffet and offer you a glass of wine, , he said, in a sympathising bone. 'No, I would rather remain here in the corridor where it ie quiet and cool. I shall teel better in a few minutes. Bub if I might aak a favour of you—' She hesitated and gave him a look which made his blood flow faster. ' You will make me happy, , he eaid, 'by expressing any wish tliab I can fulfil.' ' Migbb I trouble you to get me a small glass of claret?' With the greatest pleasure. Bub had I not better, call your companion? I shall have to leave you alone—' ' No, no,' she hastily interrupted him. ' Ernestine's talk would only make me feel worse.' Sonnenborg lefb her with a bow. Hardly was he Oub of sight when she quickly approached the box-opener, who wae standing near by. 'Can you keep a secret?' she asked, softly. ' Certainly, madam,' replied the woman. ' You may trust me entirely.' ' Well, you will be satisfied with your reward in this case. No one muab know of the commission which I am about to give you. Do you understand ? No one ! Opposite our box, in the bhird tier, thero is a lady whose name and address I wish to learn. Do you think you could ascertain them for me V ' Please describe the lady to me, madam.' ' She is young, very thin, with lieht, '• reddish hair. She is dressed in grey, with a grey hat and brown veil. One might take her for an Englishwoman.' 'That is enough,'said the woman, with a nod. 'I shall find her. May I tell her that some one wants to know her address ?' •If you - cannob obtain it in any other way you may do bo ; bub do nob toll her who gave you the order. Ib is possible thab she may make inquiries about me. In thab case I give you permission to mention my name and to answer all her quostions truthfully as far as I am concerned,' ' Ib shall be dono an you wish, madam. And when may I bring you my answer tomorrow ?' • Will any hour suib you ?' ' I can come at any hour you like, 'Very well, then. I shall expocb you aboub ten o'clock. Here is my handkerchief. You will bring ib to me under pretences of having found ib in the box. You will ask my maid to announce you to me, and will give the handkerchief to no one bub me. If my companion should be present, and I cannob send her away withoub arousing her suspicioiae, you will not say a word about my commission. You had, therefore, better pin a paper with tho name and address to the handkerchief. Have you understood me ?' • Perfectly,' said tho box-opener, with a comprehensive emile. 'I am quite used to such* commissions.' 'So much the better, , said Dora. ' I depend on you. , With this she walked slowly away in tho direction from which Sonnenberg would return, and found thab she was just in time, for hardly a minute had passed bofore her eecorb stood before her, glass in hand. Dora welcomed him with a smile and slowly drank the wine. •lam very grateful to you,' she said ; 1 that has.refreshed me wonderfully. Jueb give the glass to the box opener ; we will go back now. ,

( To be continued.}