The workingman's advocate., 1874-05-23

scheme Of Colonel Delevan's TO glut his
unholy desire for revenge. But l viii
thwart him il lose my life. Farewell for
. short time. / hear some one stirring
below, and Mother Mangano il too inquis-
tive 10 trust uslong alone, and leaving the
room he descended to the lower floor OF
the cabin.
If the enemies Of the Markhams had de-
sired to wound most deeply, they could
not have chosen a method more certain
and definite to infiict pain and suspense
than the one Just carried into execution.
The uttermost cOnsternatiOn was prevalent
in Colonel Markham's mind, while Thurs
ton vainly eudeavored to elucidate the
mystery surrounding Claribel's strange
disappeArance. IL her absence had been
voluntary she would have informed her
friends of her whereabouts il compulsory,
who had restrained her liberty, and what
was the motivsi
Recently, Burdois had not been % fire.
Quent . visitor a. before. A suggestive
idea, receiving the impetus it only attains
under peculiarly active circumstances, soon
clusters around it facts and trlths never
before presented to the mind. Inviting
ly, Thurston found his mind painfully
lAbOring under . load Of doubt, suspicion
and distress indefinite thoughts fitted
through his brain, and, finally, after long
meditation, the tangible suspicion assumed
substance in his mind that the Countess
Tutti and Bernard Burdois, for some
reason he could not fathom, were parties
TO the mysterious abduction.
With q dissemination to explore
the matter to the fullest degree, and
gain some clue to the whereabouts of the
woman for whom his love was deepening
more perceptibly day by day, he set out
for the villa of the Countess Blanca Tutti
Seated in the carriage-for he was not a.
yet sufficiently strong to bear the fatigue
of walking or exercise on horseback-his
mind involuntarily reverted to the Incl
dents of the past few weeks, and, like
fash Of light, he thought Of the evening
when he had plsyfully chided Claribel
with keeping private account of his mis-
deeds against him, as he took from her
hands little daily diary in which she had
been writing. He had placed the book in
his pocket, and she had forgotten to ask
it from him again This was on the even
ing Of her disappearance. Taking the
book from his pocket, he opened it and
glanced through its pages.
1t was a simple account OF AIS daily life,
brief notes, and the frequent occurrence
Of his own name. He dwelt over tie ten
der expressions of her deep love which
met his eye; then, he started suddenly as
his gaze rested upon the following para
graph:
''Mr. Burdoie has, fear, had some OBJ
ject in deceiving me, for | do not credit
his stories about Clarence. Since that
night on the mountains when he declared
his love for me, he has haunted me daily,
and poor, unconscious Clarence cannot re
flute his calumnies. Love never yet cast
agony upon q true heart but that some
comfort might be found-mine is in bell ~
ing. If he loves another, he has loved me,
and the memory Of that affection shall
render me perpetually happy"
ThurstOn closed the book with Q deep
angry flush upon his pale features
81 see it all now," he muttered. 1.-The
coward, he has deceive her, deceived her
father, and has done all in his power to
turn her against me. A bad, heartless
man and false coquette banded against
her and myself, and for what knew
him to be man of no principle, but to
act thus and she relative Is he . rela-
tive, or has his deep brain connived at
stupendous fraud upon Mr.. Markham's
credulity. l will fathOm the matter to
the bottom"
With compressed lips and pale, emo
tiOnal features, which indicated deep in
ternal struggle, q half hour later he
entered the presence Of the Countess BIZ
anca Tutti.
She was more lovely, more voluptuously
beautiful than ever, and, the brief, time
she had been allowed to prepare for the
reception Of her visitor had evidently
been spent in making toilette calculated
to impress his mind more deeply with her
charms. Thurston's lips curled with cold
contempt as he OWNED the object of her
soft melting glance, and thought how
strong was Claribel to win him from all
other enchantments save her own, how
feeble was this woman in the strength of
her Leauty and superlative excess of love-
illness. A loose robe, fastened at the neck |
by a simple coral broach outlined her
form in all its perfect voluptuousness, and
her long hair, falling, dark and abundant,
upon her shoulders set off the picture to |
advantage. She had calculated upon the |
effect she would produce upon him-the |
lust of the eye incarnate.
She knew she had failed when he re-
turned her greeting with cold inclination |
Of the head.
BE seated, she said, biting her lips,
with chagrin, and motloning him to seat |
by her side.
mo, madam" was the frigid reply,
never again In your presence. have |
come here on Q matter the deep import |
ance Of which only could bring me into |
your presence.
She looked at him curiously. revolving |
in ther mind the probable object Of his |
visit.
Proceed, she said.
Madam" he continued, sternly. 81 |
came to ask of you and Mr.. Burdoia, |
what you have done with Miss Markham |
Hold no deception, or the laws of Italy |
shall deal with you more harshly than i |
could do"
Miss Markham r. exclaimed the Coun- |
tess in tone of genuine surprise.
Eyes, madam. She has been missing |
for two days, and l accuse you and that |
man Burdois Of sbducting her from her
friends"
A sudden thought Aashed over the mind |
of the Countess whichseemed to freeze her |
very hearts blood
WhaS reason nave you 70 Deileve tnAt
We were parties TO the abduction r. abe |
fAltered, turning pale at che possibility
that Burdols had proven false TO her.
This, madam That . woman who |
would plot 70 cruelty estrAnge man from
the woman Of his choice 10 capable Of any
thing. know mot your object in your
course Of conduct, care not. Al ! ask,
in to know the whereabouts Of Miss Mark
ham,"
"And that, swear 10 you, cannot
give you. know nothing of the matter,
l Assure you, speak the truth"
Her earnestneas convinced her auditor.
A puzzled look tsme over his face, and he