Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/244

 in her heart could not speak in words; but as the farm-houses were seen closer and closer together, and the straggling outposts of the town grew near, she became quite quiet, and, slipping her hand into her lover's arm, looked at him with eyes dark with a shadow half of love, half of fear,—the sweetest look that woman's eyes can wear,—the eyes of a bride.

"It was very strange that Gladys did not come home to luncheon," Mrs. Fallow-Deer said to Mrs. Craig, who had come round in a state of wild excitement to tell the news which the Egyptian telegram contained.

"So he was an impostor, after all," said Mrs. Craig, after the two ladies had discussed the matter for at least two hours, with the assistance of Gray Grosvenor and Count Clawski, who came to bring the latest news about the strange affair, which was the talk of the town.

Mrs. Fallow-Deer had been genuinely shocked, and had wept real tears for Gladys's