Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-04-07

The Curse Of the Crimson Cross.
CRAPTER I.

Inc curse OF = crimson Gross
CRAPTER I.
Marian-Lady Fairfax-had been
one Of the most beautiful women in
the country when she became the
bride of Sir Roy, nor WA she less
lovely now, in the second year of her
wifehood. Tall and exquisitely
moulded, she belonged neither to the
class of blonde or brunette, yet uni
ted I'm her personeLse hechief charms
of both. Her hair was of a rich,
back from q transparently clear fore
head; and her soft, large eyes were
of the clear brown which g to
melt and grow Hmpid as you gaze at
them, while her complexion was
fresh as rose, and no sculptor's art
could have improved on the perfec-
ton of her small, pure features.
Sir Roy Fairfax was worthy of the
aristocratic race from which he
sprung-an Apollo in beauty, . gla-
diator in strength and size. He was
dark, with curling hair and bright
blue eyes, whose gaze was falcon
like in its keenness but there was an
expression only of the most caressing
preached his wife.
Lady Fairfax's face grew bright as
she held out her jeweled hand.
"You are late tonight, Roy
IA little late, my love, but / had
letters to Writs,D be answered.
at wish you were not going out to
dinner to-night,u she said, instinc-
lively drawing nearer to his side. {
my darling, don't be unreason-
able" he answered, touching her
bright hair fondly. 81 shall be back
before you have had time even to
"AsifI did not always miss you
Roy ~
shall endeavor to return as early as
possible, but 1 don't like the idea OF
those bright eyes growing dim with
midnight vigilss Promise me to
go to your room at eleven ?p
al promise, Roy.H
Her eyes shone softly into his as he
bent to press a good-by kiss uponSthe
dewy scarlet other lovely lips, and
thus they parted.
Sir Roy's footsteps had long died
away nthe corridors, and the little
clock had chimed several times,
when Lady Fairfax sounded the
small silver hand-beI1 on the table,
Her maid answered the summons
grave, m~iddle-aged woman.
"Are there lights in my room
Eyes, my lady. Do you wish tc
81 may as well 60 up stairs as tc
sit here,h said Lady Fairfax, YEARLY,
at promised Sir Roy not to be late.o
HAS Sir Roy gone out my lady2n
"Yess he dimes at MI. Moun5oy's
to-nighf.r
leone out to dinner, my lady Pr
Lady Fairfax glanced up in sur
aDid not you hearm me say he was to
dine at the Mountioys, What Is
there so strange about that ~
1Nothing, my lady, to be sure,t
answered Mrs. Wharton, occupied
with gathering up the books and
work scattered round lady Fairfax's
table: uonly Dickson has Just come
up from the game-keeHerss cottage,
and says he saw Sir Roy going in
there.O
dickson must be mistaken" said
Lady Fairfax, placidly. "You have
left my c1~ssotette on the table, Whar-
TONI
fheibr6ad staircase. on which q STRIP
Mrs. Observation-Disclosures her lady up
Of velvet carpet deadened the sound
Of footsteps, into a large and beauti'
fully-dec0rated apartment, where the
skill ofthe modern upholsterer had
turned the ancient walls into q cask-
ct of beauty and freshness.
al am not sleepy yet, Wharton, ;
said Lady Fairfax, glancing round
her. as she sank down into the cush.
toned depths of this easy chair. 81
shall read for some time yet. / will
ring for you when I require you."
"Yes. my lady" said the maid
quietly, and she withdrew, leaving
Lady Fairfax alone in the beautiful
Suddenly Lady Fairfax started to
her feet.
IsHarkIp she exclaimed, as tito her
self, "what was that?n
For the dreamy, summer-perfumed
silence of the room hadbeen sudden
Iv rent asunder, as it were, by the
quick, sharp report ofa gun!
CHAPTER II.
Sir Row Fairfax, on leaving his
wife,s draWing-room, had by nc
means entered the carriage to drive
across the country to the old Mount
joy mansion. Instead of that, he had
taken his way across the gerraceO
lawn to a secluded path which led in
to q balsam-smelling copse of ever
green's, where q rustic summer-house
afforded a sort of impromptu shelter
from dew and chill.
TITS too early YETI said Sir Roy
to himself, as he sat down and DELHI
erately lighted a cigar.
The stable clock struck nine, ten,
and eleven, as he sat there, some
times smoking, sometimes whistling
softly to himself. When, finally he
rose, and moved stealthily through
the quiet trees, it was nearly mid
night
Across the dewy grass-past an old
ivy-mantled tree, where an owl hoot-
ed dismalIy as he passed-down a
narrow path, Sir Roy Fairfax walked,
until he found himself, ola sudden,
close to the back entrance of small
matched cottage, on the very edge of
the pleasure-grounds. All was quite
dark and silent, or seemed SO from
without; but when Sir Roy tapped
softly at the door, 1t opened, revolv-
ing suddenly and noiselessly on its