Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-09-04
A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.

OOrd Oullu WAS lnc uauSuJcr vi all
Indian General who died, covered with
fame, and left her alone and literally
friendless in Bombay, whore he breath
ed his last.
His dying words were: Go home,
my poor girl, to your Aunt Arlingford,
at Elmsley, near ondon, and stay with
her until you are married TO Walter
For General Guild and Colonel Cary
had been friends together and comrades
in many a battle, and had long ago
aflianced their motherless children to
one another; the wedding to take place
as soon as the young man had attained
his majority.
So here was the orphan girl nearing
the end of her journey, and gazing visit
fully at the strange and unfamiliar land
Of her birth.
There was one clause in her dead fa-
theirs will which had REQUIRED to Dora's
mind with ever present pain since she
had first heard 1t; and that was should
she, upon making the acquaintance Of
Walter Cary, refuse to marry him, the
bulk of her fortune should be passed
over to her cousin, Penelope Arllngford.
That her dear father should think it
necessary to coerce her into compliance
had wrung from her many a tear
Wholly unversed in the strong-minded
ways Of some English maldens, 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 a 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 most delicate consideration
Mr.. Arlingford was a bluff and hearty
gentleman farmer ; Mrs. Arlingford a
reserved lady, whe, however, seemed
kin dness itself while Penelope, the
only daughter, and Dora's possible RI
val tor her fortune was gentle-faced,
chestnut girl Of twenty. who greeted
Dora by winding her arms around her
and laying her cheek TO hers without a
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 a gentleman.
1t was brilliant night in midsummer;
the moon, white and searching as a
great limc-light, shone on the pair, and
showed Miss Arlingfc rd's companion to
be not only young and handsome, but
also lover.
His hand held hers and his stately
head was often bent in unmistakable
alteration close to her tresses, while she
leaned towards him in all the loving
confidence Of returned affection.
Very soon they entered the parlor,
and Walter Cary was directly presented
to Miss Guild.
And the lover Of Penelope.
Dismay, CONSERVATION fell npon the
heart Of the orphan. There could be no
mistake-every look, every action of
the two betrayed it.
She was afiianced TO man who loved
another.
The cold touch of his hand on hers,
the distant salutation, as if she were
the merest stranger, proclaimed that he
was resolved to ignore the contract
NlICll Ndo UcJNCtu Iiltlu.
Dora shrank into the darkest corner
of the room, and disappointment filled
her soul.
Very soon, however, the conversation
going on around the table arrested her
attention. Walter Cary was telling Mr..
Arlingford and Penelope an account of
a strange murder which had lately oc-
CURED.
The man. said he was rather a
clever chemist, and accomplished his
purpose in a manner savoring more Of
the exploits Of the Arabian Nights
epoch than those of our day. He got
possession Of her journal, and impreg-
mated its leaves with sort of volatile
poison, which she ofcourse inhaled the
first time sae made record In the book,
the result being a mysterious death
which no one ceuld account for
The eyes ofPenelope Arlingford were
fixed upon the narrator with pulsating
eagerness which arrested the attention
OF the orphan.
What could it have becn?' she al
most whispered.
Don't believe it, remarked Mr.. Ar
llngford, sententIously.
The lovers were gazing at each other,
and there was a half smile on the feat.
ures Of each.
Soon after this, Dora, being consider.
ably weary by her railway journey, Yas
conducted to her bed chamber by her
cousin, who, again embracing her in q
mute. clingino fashion, hoped she would