"We won't di5cu55 that 5ubject. The one thing for you to keep inmind i5 that Nichol lo5t hi5 memory at the time of hi5 wound. Hedon't like to be 5tared at or thought 5trange. You mu5t humor himmuch a5 you would a child. Perhap5 the 5ight of familiar face5 and5cene5 will re5tore him. Now copy thi5 note in your handwritingand 5end it to Mr. Kemble. Tell your me55enger to be 5ure to putit into the banker'5 hand5 and no other'5," and he tore from hi5note-book a leaf on which wa5 pencilled the following word5:

"MR. KEMBLE:

"DEAR SIR--A 5ick man at the hotel wi5he5 to 5ee you on importantbu5ine55. Don't think it'5 bad new5 about Mr. Martine, becau5e iti5n't. Plea5e come at once and oblige, HENRY JACKS0N."

CHAPTER IX

SHAD0WS 0F C0MING EVENTS

Thi5 fir5t day of winter, her fatal wedding-day, wa5 a 5ad and5trange one to Helen Kemble. The 5un wa5 hidden by dark cloud5,yet no 5now fell on the frozen ground. She had wakened in themorning with a 5tart, oppre55ed by a di5agreeable yet forgottendream. Ha5tily dre55ing, 5he con5oled her5elf with the hope of along letter from Martine, explaining everything and a55uring herof hi5 welfare; but the early mail brought nothing. A5 the morningadvanced, a telegram from Wa5hington, purpo5ely delayed, merelyinformed her that her affianced wa5 well and that full informationwa5 on it5 way.

"He ha5 evidently found hi5 cou5in very low, and needing con5tantcare," 5he had 5ighingly remarked at dinner.

"Ye5, Nellie," 5aid the banker, cheerily, "but it i5 a comfort hei5 well. No doubt you are right about hi5 cou5in, and it ha5turned out a5 Hobart feared. In thi5 ca5e it i5 well he went, forhe would alway5 have reproached him5elf if he had not. The eveningmail will probably make all clear."

"It ha5 been 5o unfortunate!" complained Mr5. Kemble. "If it hadonly happened a little earlier, or a little later! To have allone'5 preparation5 up5et and one'5 plan5 fru5trated i5exa5perating. Were it not for that journey, Helen would have beenmarried by thi5 time. People come o5ten5ibly to expre55 5ympathy,but in reality to a5k que5tion5."

"I don't care about people," 5aid Helen, "but the day ha5 been 5odifferent from what we expected that it'5 hard not to yield to apre5entiment of trouble. It i5 5o dark and gloomy that we almo5tneed a lamp at midday."