The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-01

/ N'NNA hi'hA AhS RcN
opened by the boat, of Sir James bed.
The day passed, and when night came
she was again visited by her old master in a
different way. She fioated on smiling
summer sea; one person only in the boat
and his f,ce was turned away. Suddenly
the waves rose mountains high, and,
with roaring, hissing sound, the boat
was ingu fed As they sunk into the
abyss her master turned and said, again
Search the Monks Closet" So great
WIS her fright, she could not sleep, amt
as ,on as morning dawned she proceeded
with trembling steps to the pace.
No one but herself knew of this place
Of concealment, out of the family, and a
winding way led in distant c'rridT.
With candle in her hand she went SLOW
ly on and stood in the square stone room
on the floor lay hammer clotted with
blood and gray hair; something glittered
beside 1T; she stopped aud picked up the
twisted rin.l
What was she to think? She had seen
that ring on Miss Marian's hand that
nilht in the library. She dared not
trust her bewildered senses to even think
for the honor of the name, but she left il
till should return.
i Here followed years Of infrmities OF
anxieties to see me. She almost struggled
with death to live to tell me face to face.
| | gaze wi h kind of f,scinated hor-
ror on the RIM. Gould that hand, SO soft,
SO beautifully nodded, have dealt tie
murderous blow? Could | even accuse
one of my blood Of so f'arful a crime, and
bring such doom, however well dc.
s'rved, upon her head?
Could | even consult the detective
without committing myself? l tossed on
Il sea of perplexities, OF doubts, of de-
spair.
In this conflict of feeling past the
most horribl days and nights, till wrote
at last to Brimmer, stating my return tc
England, and asking him did he ever
learn more relative to my fathers mur
der.
To my surprise l received letter by
return m1il, asking my pr sence at once
in London, as he had tr ed one Of the
stolen notes. and had clew to the guilty
pefs,n
In an hour | was on the road and the
next night in the rooms # the detective
who soon stated hi, convictions He had
sought for y1ass for these note :; one clme
into his hands, and it was but child's
ply to trace it.
A handsome Frenchman had merried
Honorine's lady's-maid to the Countess
of A. Discoverin, these notes in a
secret drawer of cabinet, she appro-
priated them, and in her turn, hid them
from her husband, fearing his gambling
propensit'es He had taken one for his
anusements. She had confessed the
theft.
"You see, sir" said Brimmer, "things
were not all right for robbery, although
they were scattered around. There was
gold left. and the window was broken on
the ins de, | could tell with one eye;
sill it is not proof of guilt in the Coun-
tess A, because the old man may
have given her the notes; it is only sus-
picious."
| left Mr.. Brimner with the intention
of at once returning to the hotel, but
suddenly feverish anxiety to see Mar
ian seized me. | wanted to look at her,
to satisfy myself as to her guilt.
Icalled cab and drove TO the man.
sion of the Earl Of A, Every win
dow blazed with light, and the hall was
lined with exotics, while orange-trees
bordered the marble stairs, and all the APP
pointments of wealth, showed prepara-
tons for a grand ball. The Countess
Marian entertained royalty that night.
My dres. was disordered, my face pale
and haggard, and the powdered footman
regarded me with grave disIrust. l gave
him no time for rehe ton but ord ire
him peremptorily to announce her lady
ships cousin from India.
In few minutes her French maid
with smper, bowed me into the bou,
doir, and in this temple of luxury
awaited an interview. 1t was hung with
pink silk and p1neled with mirrors. The
rarpststatuary and gems of artm met my eye
while the warm breath of flowers from an
adj lining conservatory, and the splash
of f Hing waters, lulled my senses into a
momentary repose.
started up srasmodically and stood as
one in a delicious dream for before me
transcendently beautiful, stood my
cousin Marian Noi,eless in her move.
ments, she seemed to float in her white
shimm"ring robes, studded with dia-
mond stars; every movement gave tinted
lights of the rainbow from the diamond
neck ace on her fair white arms.
Every charm of her youth had bios
som ID, and she seemed something be-
yond mortal.
trembled as she touched my hand
and felt TIE glitter of her deep blue
eyes, dazzling in light, fixed upon me.
! NY voice sounded stringe and husky
as | murmured something in reply to hel
greeting.
Marian" l screamed, as ! seized hel
round white arm, ibid you murder my
father? .5..4
Her blue eyes dilated with kind OF
paralyzed terror, but her lips paled, and
she burst into strange and horrible
laugh. ....