not be denied. I yielded, and was married. My husband left me
immediately after the marriage ceremony, and went to India, where he
remained for years. He only returned a short time ago. My father,
General Pomeroy, died, and the Earl of Chetwynde took me to live with
him. I lived with him for years. I was a daughter to him, and he
loved me as one. He died in my arms. I was alone in the world till
his son, the young Earl, came home. Pardon me for mentioning these
family details, but they are necessary in order to explain my
position and to prepare the way for those things which I have to
say."

Hilda paused for a while. Obed said nothing, but listened with an
unchanged face.

"Not long after my father's death," said Hilda, "I went to pay a
visit to my old home, Pomeroy Court. I happened to look into my
father's desk one day, and there I found some papers. One of them was
a writing in cipher, and the rest consisted of letters written by one
who signed himself _Obed Chute_, and who wrote from New York. All
related to the wife of the Earl."

Hilda stopped again, and waited to see the effect of this. But Obed
said nothing, nor could she see in his face any indication of any
emotion whatever.

"That writing in cipher," she continued, "disturbed me. The letters
were of such a character that they filled me with uneasiness, and I
thought that the writing in cipher would explain all. I therefore
tried to decipher it. I obtained books on the subject, and studied up
the way by which such things may be unraveled. I applied myself to
this task for months, and at last succeeded in my object. I never
felt certain, however, that I had deciphered it rightly, nor do I yet
feel certain; but what I did find out had a remarkable connection
with the letters which accompanied it, and increased the alarm which
I felt. Then I tried to find out about you, but could not. You alone,
I thought, could explain this mystery. It was a thing which filled me
with horror. I can not tell you how awful were the fears that arose,
and how intolerable were the suspicions. But I could never get any
explanation. Now these things have never ceased to trouble me, and
they always will until they are explained.

"Yesterday I happened to hear your name mentioned. It startled me. I
made inquiries, and found that a person who bore that name which was
so familiar to me, and about which I had made such inquiries--Obed
Chute--was living here. I at once resolved to c