CHAPTER XXI.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 183, 18 December 1886, Page 8

CHAPTER XXI.

A RIVAL'S TIIEOKY. -Days passed, but no clue to the robbery "Was obtained, and no intelligence of Louis ©unbar. Gradually the excitement subsided, and matters settled into their old grooves once more. The cashier was appointed to take Louis's place, one of the other clerks was put Into his position, and a new man procured to fill that vacancy, and though the loss to the company was great, and would long be felt, yet business was soon resumed with all itß former activity. At the Houghton mansion, however, there was great sadness. For a time it seemed as If Margaret would sink under the dreadful blow, and her friends were exceedingly anxious on her account, and proposed to hasten their return to America, hoping that change of air and scene might blunt the memory of these recent horrors. " Go home to America !" she exclaimed, ■with sudden anguieh when the plan was proposed to her. " Papa, never speak to me again of it. I should die before we could cross the ocean. Oh, no ; if Paris has been Louis's tomb it shall be mine also. I will live here as long as I can. When I die, if I die before we learn what has happened to him, bury me here where I last saw him ; but I cannot, cannot go home." Of course they said no more to her after that upon the subject. She was their all. They lived only in and for her, and her every wish should be gratified as far as it was in their power to do so. But how their hearts ached over this early blighting ot all her hopes it is not in the power of pen to describe, and there was "not a sadder home in all Paris than theira, where lately had been nothing but sunshine and joy. Mrs Parker and her daughter returned to America without their friends, and, for a time, Mrs Houghton who was fondly at tached to her friend, and had been greatly comfoited by her kindness and sympathy during her recent trouble, felt as if half the ■world was gone. Arthur Aspinwall came every day to bring some offering or to speak some word of cheer and sympathy. He did not intrude himself upon Margaret, but devoted himself to Mrs Houghton, and realiy made himself so agreeable and helpful that she grew to watch for his coming with pleasure. He seldom said much to Margaret, but hi 3 manner toward her was gentle and deprecatory, and he was so kind and thoughtful in anticipiting her slightest wish, that she ■was sure be regretted those bitter words he had uttered against Louis on that last eventful evening. Mr Forest had not returned, neither had Jis written anything regarding his movements ; and, as Arthur »vas thus kept in ignorance of his whereabouts, he could not inform. him of Louis disappearance and the trouble that che Houghtoos were in. •'I hope I shall not wear my welcome out,'' Arthur said, one day, when he dropperl in, for the second time, and threw himself wearily into a chair ; but, the truth is, I am so lrnely I can't stay by myself " "Come as often as you like, Arthur," Mrs Houghton replied, kindly. "We are lonely, too, without" our friends, and I know you must mis 3Mr Forest sadly.' " Yes, and— t am still decidedly upset over the mystery regarding Dunbar," the young man returned, in a low tone, as if he intended the remark for Mrs Houghton'a ears alone. " Hush !" she whispered, with a warning glance toward Margaret, and a few moment 3 -after, wishing something from her room, -phe arose and went ap stairs to get it. *• Margaret had always received Arthur of late rather '.apathetically. To day *he had merely nodded a greeting as he entered, then lav bark in her chair by the fire, and fill agiin into a painful reverie. But ehe had heard that la^t remark of his to her mother, in spite of his low tone, and suddenly sitting erect she turned her great languid eyes upon him, and gazed at him fixedly. He became conscious of her look after a moment, although his face was turned away from her. It made him very uncomfortable somehow, and he wiehed he had not mentioned "the name of hia rival at all. Ho bore her scrutiny as long as he could, then he turned and met her glance. "Well, what is it?" he asked, smiling, and trying to look indifferent. "You never appeared to entertain a very high regard for Lonis, and I was rather surprised to hear you express yourself as so 'upset' over his strange disappearance." Margaret returned with some bitterness in her tone, but without removing hor eye? from his, while ehe kept locking and unlocking her hands in a nervous manner. A wave of colour shot up to Arthur AapinwaH'g forehead at her words. There was a moment of awkward silence ; then ho admitted, with a half-defiant, halfhumble air : "I confess I wa3 wretchedly jealous of him, Margie." Margaret's eyes began to burn with sn ominous light, but ehe mado no reply, "I could not help it," he went on, encouraged by her silence. t{ l— l had cared for yo;i all my life, and I could not be reconciled to the fact he should win your favour ao eaaily when I had failed so utterly after so many years of devotion." The girl's golden-fringed lids drooped over her lustrous eyes, which were every moment growing brighter and brighter, ■while a spot of fire now glowed on either cheek. "Bat," Arthur continued, crowing bolder .19 he found the ice so easily broken. "lam not destitute of feeling, Margie ; I have nofc been insensible to your misery, and I am, believe me, sincerely aorry for you," he concluded, with a tender inflection, i She shivered slightly, and drew nearer the fire, as if she felt cold, while her face suddenly grew deadly white again. They were silent for sovoral minutoa, during which the young man watched her ■with a troubled expression. Suddenly she turned toward him, with a swift, impulsive movement. " Arthur, do you hear anything said wow ?" she aaked. " About— Dunbar?' " Yee. '

11 Not much. Now and then the follows at the club mention him j but, like all other mysterious and unsatisfactory topics, it has gradually been dropped." " What is your theory regarding his dis appearance ?— you have never told mo," she quoetioned, leaning toward him, and roading his face with searching eves. tie moved uneasily in his chair. Ho glanced into her oager face, and wonderod at the strange expression that rested upon it, and ho, too, grew a trifle pale, as he replied : " I—lI — I do not like to tell you, Margie." "Why not?" " Because — because— good gracious ! you have told me never to say it again ; but you tempt me beyond my strength — because, j Margie, I still love you too well to want to hurt vuu in any way." The hot, crimson tide leaped up to the young girl's 'waxen neck and throat ; then up, up it surged and rushed until it dyed her whole face with scarlet. Controlling her emotions after a few moments, ahe said, in a calm tone : * ( I have been hurt all that I can be already ; tell me your theory." He regarded her uneasily. " I thought at first that he had become the victim of foul play," he said, at last. "You thought so at first; have you changed your opinion ?" " I am obliged to confess that I have." " What has caused you to do so ?" "The fact that the detectives have not obtained the slightest clue to anything of the kind. The=*e French detectives are very keon, nothing tangible escapoß them, and if Louis Dunbar had been inur — made way vith, they would have got hold of something pointing to such a crime bofore this." " Then you do not believe he has been—" A shudder completed the sentence which her lips could not finish. "No, Margie," ho answered, gently. " What then can have become of him?" Arthur was silent. 11 Tell me," she commanded peremptorily. " How can I, Margie ? why will you com pel me to be cruel to you ?" he asked tenderly. Sho shruggod her shoulders impatiently. She lifted her head with something of her old haughty, imperious grace " I will know. Toll mo what you think has become of Louia," she insisted. " Well, if I must, remember I do so under protest." He paused as if reluctant to go on ovon then. She lifted her great eyes and waited for the answer. "I am forced to believe, 1 ' he said, deliberately, though with downcast eyes, " that he disappeared of his own accord."