The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

magnuwugasaiwlw. do ‘ ޴ , - fi+fi+fi+flifi+fi+fi+fi+fi+ + CHAPTE { X'XII. Dead! OR THE STEWARD’S SON ’ fi+fi+fi+£fi+fi+fi+§+fi+§+fi +§+33E+33E+3§+32EÂ¥53€+3§ +fi+§+m+fi+ F+U+U¢fi+fi+fi+fi+tfifl+fi . i v 33i+£€+£€+£€+§i+ fi+§1¢£€+fl+3§i+§€i +fi+fi+fi+fi+gfi+fi+gfi {mgr} +£€+ti ¢ iwould come forward with the cch. iSlic might have told some one where In the first moment of the disco"â€" She was going; She had been my the sensation'rof horror seemed {U levidently confidentially, talking with Cyril turn (luildford Berton to Stone, and Burne, and might have told, him. I-ler as he knelt, leaning, shrinking as far ifootstcpfl back as he copld from the still body, imlsty road. It almost locked as n the hand Ollother suggestions tortured him, death had touched him too. might bd tracked in the These and a hundred and . ldrove him almost mad, so that when The silence was terrible; the yeryihis task was done. he staggered out . dimneSs of the room, in which only light was the 1 onto that of the murkylshook like a man in palsy. lantern, lent an additional terror to' ,slowly, as if every step were leading the moment. . He had not intended to murder .her; he told himself so over and over again in those first dreadful minutes. lie had intended stupefying her only, and so preventing her leaving the house until he had hit upon some plan for stopping her from carrying out her threat of denouncing him. At college he had dabbled in chemis- try, and the science, especially in its relations to subtle poisons, had a strange fascination for him. lie loved power, and to possess a drug the Very effluvia of which should be sufliCient to overpower an adversm‘y had a strange, weird charm for him. He was proud of the discovery of the drug which could do its horrible work so swiftly, silently, and surely. Y He had not meant to kill her, and mortal now she lay dead at his flat! Gradually the be: umbed feelingr passed away, and he began to shale l i the brink of the grave and Then he went back to the house- him to his own grave. In an incredibly short time he ha"! accomplished his (lrcad task, and he stood once again in the sile:;t room. with soniething clinched in the palm of his hand. it was Cyril’s ring. which he had taken from Becca’s lingo-12. He held it so tightly that its prer- sure hurt him and reminded him that he i'as holding it. He opened his hand as if the ring had turned to an asp and stung him, and let it fall upon the table. And there he stood and stared at. it, at first dully and vacantly, but presently with a more. conscious .g‘flZC, v in every limb, and a terrible. craving, to look at her face possessed him. Crawling on his hands and knees, he lifted her headâ€"shudderilg as his hands touched herâ€"and looked at her. Her faceâ€"the face once thought so pretty, which he had once, and so short a time ago, alâ€" most persuaded himself that he loved -â€"seemed to look up at him reproach- fully. It was white with the whiteâ€" ness of death, but so placid, so peace- l g ed l rto her with the key in his hand, ful that it might. have been the face of a person asleep. With a cry that was .carccly a cry so much '1 wail, he put the head down and staggered to his feet. No .man is born bad, no man is wholly wicked. At that awful ment Guildford Berton would have relinquished all his ambitions, if by doing so he could bring Becca to life again. He threw himself into a chair and, flinging his arms out upon the table, let his head fall upon and surrendered llilllSelf to the demon of remorse, not penitence, which is a Very different thine. Presently the dead, began to heavy weight; a ghastly desire lo leap to his feet and break the still- ness with a yell assailed him; and, heavy silence staggered clumsily to the decanter, and, lifting it to his lips with shaking hands, d'aincd it to the la drop. The wine steadied him a little, and he tried to_think. For some time his brain spun round to the dull, sicfien- ing tune of “She’s dead, she's dead!” but presently his mind grew clearer. How long she had been lying there:b he did not knowâ€"â€"it seemed hours to him; but he knew that the daylight would be peering through the holes in the window shutters directly, and that the old woman who waited up- on him would be coming down. The deed was done beyond all un- doing, and if he did not want to be caught like a rat in a trap, he must get rid of the body. He got to the further end of the room, as far away from 5t as possiâ€" ble, and, clasping his forehead, which Was cold as ice, with his hands that. burned with fever heat, he tried .1 think. What should he do? For one moâ€" ment :1. wild idea occurred to him of sounding an alarm, and accounting for the presence of the dead girl ly saying that she had fallen down in a fit. But the strange odor still clung about the room, and even the village doctor would he posscssed of suffiâ€" cient knowledge to contradict such an assertion. He tried to recall all the stories he had read of men who had been placed in a simlarly dreadful posiâ€" tion, but he could think of no ca'se parallel with his own. At last he seized the lantern and, 1110- . weigh upon him like a' h'S 1 . ‘ fBurne would DO t'aced, and be able fvtl 1 ’ lto clear them, i i l l . flashmif he . . . '.‘z (.llll“ C‘Til . “ , feeling that his reason was going, he l H U J Bump had hidden his Victim from eyes, but more, much more, required of him. In a few hours liecca would be missed and inquini-z‘s would be made. The first question that would be as.-.- would be: With whom was she Seen last? , He covered his eyes with his hands and thought keenly, acutely. Could he not invent some story based upon lie Which he had facts which would account for her ab- sence'? If any one had seen her standing at tlze gate, he was lost. But he reâ€" membered that as he stood talki 1g ho had looked up and down the lane, and had seen no one. The lane led directly to no other house than the cottage; it was unlikely that any one should have been passing. The per- sons who were making the bes of their way to the village. it was un- likely, too, that sh should have told any one of her intended Visit to him and its purport. If she had told Cyril Burne, for instance, she would have been almost sure to tell him, Guildford Bei‘ton, that she had (101:0 so , Probably no one had seen her she left the park. .111 that care most‘the last person with whom six: would have been seen was Cyril Borne himself. If he couldâ€"~his dark eyes began It) 'ould only contrive lo vith the larder! But an instant’s reflection shoiwd him the futility of the idea. Cyril aft/er fliâ€" himsclf, andâ€"-â€"- Suddenly the idea ie had been searching for lilashed upon him. Why should the murder he discoverâ€" ed? Why should she not have disapâ€" peared‘?. Why should she not have :n'onc off with Cyril Burne himself‘.’ l l l i l l i i I l l Carefully avoiding the still form, he, went out of the house by the hack way and 'l'USSCll the garden. He felt better, more (.‘omposed, in the open air and away from the silent rt.â€" preach of his dread handiworl-z, nn-l 10 could think. At the end of heap of leaves which had been swept up in the preceding autumn and an lowed to remain. He got a spade from the toolhousc and, screening the lantern behind some. bushes, he care- fully scraped the leaves aside and Le. gun to dig. And all the while he was at workâ€". and he worked with the furious frenzy of a men digging for goldâ€"he planned out his precautions against detection. All sorts of possibilities tortured him and turned the .sweat that rolled down his face into drous of ice. Some one might haYe seen her standing outside the gate, and when she was missed that some one L. the g". rden was ‘ a: f I i l l l The blood rose to his face, and he raised his head and drew a long breath. » A As a child puts into its place a pic- ture puzzle, his acute brain set '0 work at once at fitting the incidents of the night into a consecutive shone to correspond with his hypothesis He took Cyril’s letter from his pocket, and, spreading it. out on the. table, pored over it word for word. He would be absent for months; he had gone without a wordâ€"other than this letterâ€"of explanation to Norah. They were virtually separated, with this letterâ€"while he held itlâ€"as the only link between them. Let Norah be convinced that Becca had flown with Cyril Burne, and the separation would be complete. She would be too proud to write to Cyril for an explanation, and he, Gui‘ldford Berton, must by hook or by crook intercept any letter from Cyril to her. The mental exertion served to dis- pel something of the horror that pos- sessed him. He was fighting new, not only for Norah and the Arro Nâ€" dule Wealth, but for his own life. lie must guard every look, every word of his own, must watch and Weigh every look, every word of others. ‘Was he equal to the task, or should who seek safety in flight? As he asked himself the question, the next one, "Where should he fly?" arose to answer the first. There was no place now where a murderer could be. beyond the reach of the dread arm of the. law. No, he must remain and fight the. battle to the end. suspicion for two months, much might happen to render discm'ery inn possible. In two months he might even succeed in winning Norah. in .two months Cyril himself might be dead. He shuddered as he remember- ed how the longing to kill Cyril had come over him the last time Cyril vas in the cottage. Was he a homi- cide by instinct? The hours crept. by as he sat in the silent room in the tombâ€"like house, scheming and plotting, and at last, unable to think any longer, he took ‘ “But why should you go so soon, this flown. Oh, by the way, Norah, we have de- If he could divert the lantern and went upstairs to his bedroom. The room was at the back of the house and instinctively he walked to the window and peered down into the garden. ' How long he looked at the heap of leaves which hid its awful secret h;l did not know, but presently he felt the room spin round, and, staggerâ€" ing, he fell full length across the bel. CHAPTER XXIII. Norah ,woke with a bad headache and a worse heartache; and, as is the way with women, she began to make excuses for the lover whom she had treated so coldly the night before. There may have been some reason for his long absence and silence. She had treated him so coldly that it was little wonder he had aVOided her; and as to the scene between him and ieccaâ€"well, Norah found it. impossiâ€" ble to explain that away, but as Lady Ferndale's maid brushed the long redâ€"gold tresscs, Norah tried 1*) find some excuse even for what she had seen pass between Becca and Cyril. llecca she knew was a flirt, and the love-makif’w'. if love making it Was, must have been altogether on her side. In short. her love, strong and pas- sionate, overcan‘ie her jealzusy. an) resentment as all true love must, and by the time the breakfast bell rang she had gone a long way to J‘orgiv-- ing Cyril, and was simply longing to see or hear from him. The house was full of visitors. anxi their talking and laughing seemed to fill the place. “Irl’y dear,” said Lady Fcrndale, as she put her arm round I‘lorah and kissed he‘ all'ectiomilrly, “no need to ask how you are. You lco'i as bright and fresh as one of the reruns. Are you quite rested? Come and sit near me." lilxclmnging sal utations, Norah went to her place, and, amid the chatter and laughter of the young people, breakfast commenced. Norah looked tow'c rd Lord Fernâ€" dale‘s place to sre if there wore any letter beside his plate, thinl-ing, hop- ing that Cyril might have smt nor a line; but Lord Ferndalc did not hand her a letter, and her spirits b.3â€" gan to droop, notwithstans'irg that she assured hers-elf that Cyril would be certain to call early in the mornâ€" ing. But the morning letter and no Cyril long before noon the roses had passed, and no appeared, and died out of her face and she became de- voured 3y an anxious lcig‘ing to reach home. It was just possible that he had written to the Court, she bonght. The young people had broken up 'into groups, some to play tennis and others to ride or rim, and Lady li‘erndale pressed Z‘Iorah to join one of them, and was filled with dismay when she declared that she must go back to the C(Hll'b before luncheon. dear?" she remonstrated. “Stay with us for a, day or two; l'm sure Lord Arrowdale will not mind.” Norah declined; and Lady Ferndale, seeing that there vas some rea-on for her pers.;islence, at last yielded and ordered the carriage, and Norah started. “Goodâ€"by, dear," said Lady Fernâ€" dale. “I don’t know what your host vill say when they call and find you ha'.c shell I say to thsm'? admirers afternoon What I of cided to ask Mr. Cyril .llurne to paint a picture for us. I wonder whether he will call toâ€"day." It was air innocent remark, but Nora.) had hard work to ktep the color from coming into her face, and it was lucky for her that the carâ€" riage started as she murmured a halfâ€"audible I'cspon:â€"tc’ and all the way home she tormented herself with tlr" thought that after all. perhaps, S] J had better have remaned a". 1?»‘erndale, as Cyril might call in the afternoon. When she had reached home, first question was whether any ters had come for her. There were no letters for her ladyâ€" ship, the butler replied, and Norah was going up to her room with a deeper sinking of the heart, when the earl came out of the library. “Well, Norah," he said, making her a little how, “you have got back. I am af‘aid you have tired yourself with your exertions,” he added, as he noted her palencss and lassitude. “it must have been a terribly trying day. The few hours I was there exâ€" hausted me." “I think I am a little tired, papa." she said. He looked at. her with something almost like pride in his eyes, for her h or letâ€" popularity, and the admiration she had received, had flattered his 'anity. “You had better go and lie down he said, in a more kindly tone than usual. “I will send you a. glass of wine.” No'ah was in the condition to be moved by any show of tenderness, 03-- ‘for a few hours, I pecially from him, and her eyes filled with wars :1 she went up the stairs. While she ras taking off her out- door things Harman entered, and in her quiet way came to her assistance. Norah did not notice that Harman had not spoken to her as she entered or that she was more silent even than usual, and, happening to glance at her, she was startled by the exâ€" pression of the woman’s face. She looked as if she were in some tron- bio, and had been crying, and Norah turned to her with ready sympathy. “What is the matter, Barman?” she asked. â€".._.____._________.._.___._ _.. ______-â€"_â€"_.â€"â€"â€"â€"~_â€"â€"___ _____ _ ,_ ___ __ _._. _.___.._____._._. l l l I I l i l l i i The woman's face quivered, and sh.- vouygtlf nggtflessl", 3 J ,not send for her." The Czar, who recently signed Russia’s Magna Charta, as he appears in his Cor ona ion Robes. ..... mum a... m droplied her eyes. but she replied “1 i She stayci r itn some friends au- “'61”? a low vorce: dale.” “Nothing, my lady.” Willem i‘uit any one in For“ .I NOY‘CJI did “03 “350 10 5700311 O‘HU‘H- she knows :ll enough to stay- with, sive, and she vaitcd until Harman my lady, and if she had $5101.13 the was on the point of leaving the room 1,3,;an at, gel-“dale, 133113 1i'â€".'t)-_:lil has) before she .pâ€"oke again. been sure. to come home essay 4,1133 “l’m afraid you have one of your{Inca-“3,155,” bad headaches,” she said. “Never. ‘-r1‘}39j1';-,-11at mind about my things," for Harman magi Norah, had some dresses on her arm. “Go' or ' and lie down in your own room, and ‘ ‘ if I want any one I will send for Becca." her: grandfather unlessâ€"â€" The name left her lips reluctantly,; “1311155,,- wimt’ Elia-man?" and her color rose she pronounced ‘ Norah, as the woman hesitate-d: g‘lliliy and High: _ sheid stay out-all night aw If allied it. for ever since last night she had' u’UMUSS She-d been forced 19‘ “‘3, been regretting the impulse which may". ' 10‘! 1101‘ ‘30 1135/0 anythmé‘; 1" do With Norah sat and thought, with halt “in S‘il'l- , ’ ihrows. All night llecca had haunted “Becca” my la“l-V"‘â€"" began Habiher, and she had dreaded'to meet. man, and Norah saw that she turned ' hm. and to fiprak to 1mm “ml now even paler than before, and had some , “,8 girl had (HH,_pp,,m.eLu difficulty in rcprtssing her tears.‘ (To be Cantinued‘) “Becca. is. not here this morning, my + lady. ’ ' KIILED THE PARROT. “Not' here?" said Norah, coldly; "I suppose she is tired after last night‘s gayety. .ft does not matter, Enraged Elephant Charged 3. Resâ€" I shall not want her; and please do ' taurant After a. Boy. “No, my lady." said Harman, al- To fill“? P95”)? in mm ll’k‘lti‘fll'mané‘f ‘51“ most inaudiblw then she seemed to the LlSlJON (Williâ€"Val) 31.10113 .1133 linger and hesitate, and at last she cler‘hants arrived from l'fance‘at thee said, tremulously, “your ladshiprailway station recently, but 1. e hasn’t heard, their?" 'journcy had upset ill'cll‘ tempers, and "lit-ard what?" asked Norah. they became troublesmne after they “1-4I be; your Indishufs pardon; hit the train. uiune \vas Va large I thought .VO" had heard-H croth waiting to see inc huge “I ha“) hG‘d-l‘d nothing.” Sélld NOW-h beasts pass, and the usual collection the intlcfinable. dread growing more of sman boys sum-oumled mg am- dEStiHCt- “IS “1 anything abuutnmals. Suddenly one of the leading lgccca' I‘I‘Lrlnan?” "elephants I‘USllL‘fl [it OIlL". Of lllll boys, ' . . ’7 “3'03, Illy lady: Becca lS l()Sl.. I _ who fled screaming into a restaurâ€" Nonm 8mm] at be” m gnu-“b as“ant. The angry animal follovxed, tonishment for a second or two; then . , and caused much alarm among the She cohoed um words m mna‘v‘unem" ,custmncl‘s who were at lunch. 'l‘abl-es f l “Becca lost! What do 3"011 men”, Twm'e O‘v'erlurncld and dishes and ' . . H - ' ' ' Hanna“? 'platcs smashed, Yhile the custm’ners ‘ u ' '1 , .-1 "1â€"1 beg you: “lady-“Juli h DJIHO‘J junmod ()v‘rcg', the counter and made for troubling you. said poor lla:'â€" ,M q-v ,J‘Wiuwwl of “mm: man humbly. “ I shouldn't have “’ J‘ “ '1 ‘. .' mentioned it. jur‘t yet a. whi‘e zf*‘f The (ml-V “cm” “3“” a Danni" . yo . u - ' ' . .. -v .- W' :" '- vour lailyship hadn’t, quot-en flammâ€" \‘llOr/U. ll.lllf..(l s..,lean.s 150 (“digital V‘ 3‘ . I I A ., -.. ,1 ml . . | -' I: i. C 1“; 7:: her; but lf-ecca has disappeaziyl, myPLlf-l. l-ln‘ .(M‘v-lcll'lli Jim“ ll (.ll‘l .* ud‘y n it with his trunk and fillt‘llifcfl it forâ€" c‘uD'O v.0“ mean t.) After much persuasion on the say that llecca is .c‘v'er. not to he found?" .part of its keepers the elephant re- “Yes, mv lady," [turned to the street. and wrth its .. was safely put in cus- is not at home with her ‘andfathcr. ,Itody at the circus. and 1' haV'e sent to look or her all over the Village; but she cannot be found." “Oh, but you “‘-he is not in the Court, and she ;companions I ~-.._... 5â€"”... there is usual-y family like other trees, shovld not worry something shady about the Harman. Perhaps trait, .m- £5. J L-n. Jew" {awry 232.15,; ‘ . We. :15» “harmâ€"7:7, ‘ r a f. .... move. Ha w