Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-05-29
A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.


His dying words we're: sc
home, my poor girl, to your Aun
Arlingford, at Elmsley, near London
and stay with her until you are mar
ried to Walter"
For Gen. Guild and Col. Car,
had been friends together and com
rades in many battle, and hat
long ago affianced their motherles.
children to one another, the we'd
ding to take place as soon as the
young man had attained his major
ity,
So here was the orphan girl near
ing the end of her journey, and
gazing waistfully at the strange
and unfamiliar land of her birth.
There was one clause in her
fathers will which had required to
Dora's mind with pain, ever since
she had first heard it; and that
was, should she, upon making the
acquaintance of Walter Cary, re-
fuse to marry him, the bulk of her
fortune should be passed over to
her cousin Penelope Arlingford.
That her dear father should
think it necessary to coerce her into
compliance had rung from her many
a bitter tear. Wholly IMMERSED
in the strong-minded ways of some
English maidens, she had never
dreamed of disobeying him, or of
choosing a mate for herself.
The journey was over at last.
Miss Guild found herself in
quiet country house, surrounded |
by the most fervent assurances of
welcome from her sole surviving
relatives, who, of course, knew all
about her affairs, and treated her
with the utmost delicate considera-
ton.
Mr.. Arlingford was bluff and
hearty gentleman farmer; Mrs.
Arlingford a reserved lady, who,
however, seemed kindness itself,
while Penelope, the only daughter,
and Dora's possible rival for the
fortune, was gentle-faced chest
put-haired girl of twenty, who
greeted Dora by winding her arms
around her and laying her cheek
to hers without word.
In the course of the evening of
Miss Guilds arrival, while she was
giving her aunt some account of
her voyage from India, she observed ,
her cousin Penelope standing out ,
on the lawn, talking earnestly with
q gentleman.
1t was brilliant night In mid :
summer; the moon, white and
searching as a great time-light,
shone on the pair, and showed Miss ,
Arlingford's companion to be not
only young and handsome, but also
a lover. :
His hand held hers, and his
stately head was often bent in un-
mistakable alteration close to her
tresses, while she leaned toward
him in all the loving confidence of
a returned affection.
Very soon they entered the
parlor, and Walter Cary was direct
ly presented to Miss Guild. I
And the lover OF Penelopel
Dismay, CONSERVATION. fell upon |.
the heart Of the orphan. There !,
could be no mistake-every look, II
every action of the two betrayed e
IL.
She was affianced TO a man who q
loved another. Il
The cold touch Of bis hands on Il
hers, the distant salutation, as IL a
she were the merest stranger, pro- b
that he was resolved to n
ignore the contract which was be-
tween them.
Dora sbrank into the darkest b
,orner OF the room, and bitter dis
appointment filed her soul. Al
Very soon however, the CONVEX Of
'ation going around the table ar Il
'ested her attention. Walter Cary d
vas telling Mr.. Arlingford and
Penelope an account OF q strange o.
murder which had lately occur Of
ed. m
"The man." said he, twas rather
clever chemist, and accomplished u
is purpose 10 q manner savoring n
nore OF the exploits Of the Arabian et
Nights epoch than those Of our N
sy. He got possession OF her u
,urnsl, and impregpated its leaves oil
18th sort Of volatile poison, which fs
he q course inhaled the first
ma she made . record in the p'
ooh, the result being mysterious bl
18th which no one could account