The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-29
THE LADY'S LEAP.
[CoNcLUDED FROM OUR LAST. l


1----'I will be rs careful as of my own honor.
Let me think awhile; there may be pos
sibly some better course"
While this was passing inside the parlor,
Ralph Warner was crouching under the
window, which he had taken previous oc-
! casion to open half an inch, outside, and
took in every word that was spoken with
greedy ears. His worthy wife had angrily
beckoned him away, but he simply shook
his head, and kept his station doggedly
Fearing to make a scene, Mrs. Warne r gave
up the attempt, and Indignantly left him to
his meanness.
CHATTER ".
! Though. trying to make light of the or
rible story and its confirmatory circum-
stances, to comfort and cheer poor Ellen,
Lionels heart was full of dire misgivings.
Mr.. Wren's conviction of the reality of the
crime staggered his unbelief more than all
the rest. He knew him to be uncorrupt-
ible ; and though lie had so glibly called
him an ass, he perfectly well knew that he
was only such in the opinion of the shall
low vulSarians who cannot conceive high
intellect devoting its powers to other and
nobier purposes than the pursuit of wealth.
The rector was not n man to be easily de-
luded-his very antiquarian pursuits rem
dered him habitually cautious and wary !;
and though convinced full v that the chafge,
confession, skull, and the whole train of
attendant circumstances was cunning ia
brication of John Leyland's, he felt with
strong anxiety and rage that it would not
be easy, even if possible, to unravel it,
and that the consequences might be bitter
in the extreme.
But bitter as were his feelings, what were
or could they be to Ellen's Words can
not paint them. Think what an, agony
would gnaw into your inmOst heart were
the revered and spotless memory of dead
and most beloved father dragged from the
grave to be branded with a guilt SO foul.
What if, despite of reason, recollection,
love, and reverence, rebellious surges of
appalling doubt hurled on your soul their
vitliolic spray Think, think of this, and
spare me the vain effort to portrayal woe
SO strange and SO unmitigable.
The grinding jar of rapid wheels upon
the road startled them from their dismal
reveries, and Ralph from his shabby post
OF eaves-dropping.
He cleverly escaped detection by either
his guests or the occupants of the vehicle,
though n a-+teael threw up the window imme-
dlately the sounds reached him, and the
rafting fly came round the bend of the
road at the same instant. His deXterity
looked very much like the result of long
practice.
''Your uncle and cousin / fully ex-
pected them," said Audley leaving the
window.
go, dear, what ought to do -
''Run up stairs, and leave all to .pe. 1
can deal best with them alone" y
sit seems so cowardly. No, FwU stay
with YOU
"Pray, love, be advised. l shall feel
much more free without YOU There, run
up, he said, tenderly kissing her unresist-
ing lips, "Ill send nurse to YOU"
She complied quietly, without haste or
furry.
Lionel went to meet them at the door.
4
unwclcome visitors, 81 thought you were in
London"
81 missed the train, and came on here
very fortunately, as it happens"
MIR. Leyland did not appear to think so
by any means.
"My niece is here ~ he asked.
"She is. / have been expecting YOU for
some time.''
Has she, may I ask, acquainted you
with the circumstances that led her 20 her
very extraordinary proceedings this morn
ing?'
las far as she is acquainted with them,
she has but must observe that do not
consider her leaving home rather than sub
init to an enforced marriage with your son,
ut I'LL extraordinary"
May have word with you in pri-
yate %
by all means. BE pleased to follow
me-, said Audley, leading the way into the
P''i WI Is Your son presence requisite
81 think it higly irable-unless you
! Object
Il am wholly Indifferent. o, nurse, pray
step mp stairs and stay with Miss Leyland
till these gentlemen co. he said IT'S lie
crossed the kitchen.
His GOODNESS was all assumed. He had
no settled plan-indeed, it was impossible
he could have-only a vague hope that 10y
putting Mr.. Leyland into n passion he
might throw him Off his guard, and obtain
some clue To unrivcl the rascality he felt
convinced they had concocted, in spite of
all evidences. The young man fell into
the trap-the elder was too wary.
''Do you mean to say we are not to see
my cousin - clustered John.
"Assurcdly not. She has thrown herself
upon the protection of these worthy peo-
! pie, and she shall not he mulcstcd."