WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 123

 

The lady spoke sternly, and with the air of one
both offended and irritated.

“Somebody enticed her away, on her return
from school this afternoon,” said Claire. ‘ Mr.
Jasper said that he would have her; and my first
and natural conclusion was that he had executed his
threat. Oh, ma’am, if this be so, tell me, that
my anxiety for the child’s safety may have rest.
As it is, I am in the most painful uncertainty. If
she is here, I will feel, at least”’

‘Have I not told you that she is not here, and
that I know nothing of her,” said Mrs. Jasper, an-
erily, interrupting the young man. “This is inso-
lent.”’

‘“‘ How soon do you expect Mr. Jasper home ?”’ in-
quired Claire.

‘Not for several days,’ replied Mrs. Jasper.

“Days! Is he not in the city?”

“No, sir. He left town yesterday.”

Claire struck his hands together in disappoint-
ment and grief. ‘This confirmed to him the lady’s
assertion that she knew nothing of Fanny. In that
assertion she had uttered the truth.

Sadly disappointed, and in far deeper distress of
mind than when he entered the house, Edward
Claire retired. If Mr. Jasper left the city on the
day previous, and his wife had, as he could not help
believing, no knowledge whatever of Fanny, then
the more distressing inference was that she had been
enticed away by some stranger.

On his way home, Claire called again at the store
of Jasper. It occurred to him to ask there as to his
absence from the city. .The reply he received was