New-York tribune., 1880-06-13

ma the station nearly deserted. I'm arriving
there, however, and taking her ticket, few words
addressed by the statiOn-master to Of his sub
ordinates revealed to her that something was aiss
You must have few minutes patience, Miss.
The doWn-eXpress Is not yet in, and tho up-train
will consequently be little late in starting.
There has been Stoppage before Swindon-nothing
Serious think"
This was very :unwelcome news to Dora. Her
courage. born OF excitement, was fast ebbing, and
she feared to meet, among the passengers from
London, Isome acquaintance who would be much
alone. When, at last, the train steamed and the
tramp of feet along the platform followed,
she covered in her corner, Ike hunted hare;
Finally the steps ceased; and Dora hoped
that all the passengers had vanished. The bell for
| the departure of the uptrain rang and she was
feeling that, whatever was to happen now, she
recoected that she had not sent her letter OF ex-
| planatiOn TO Di!
Bristol-Swindon-cha for London. Look
sharp, miss YOu'll be late,' exclaimed guard to
the scared and Hurried girl.
"Oh, please ~ cried Dora in great distress, "you
| must wait n minute, please! want messenger.
| See here is letter. 1t must he taken to Vino
Lodge directly, and given into Mrs. COrbett's own
! hands. Not Mrs. Damers mind, for the wOrld.'
"Can ldO your commission for you p suddenly
asked q voice which could not have terrified Dora
more if it had been tho trump of doom. And there
stood Arthur Lestrange! @Whcre are you going p
he asked. the girl mechanically put out her hand
"To--to London" said Dora. houndering holm
Then1Fa began Arthur. put broke Oft and
glanced at the letter which she still held He felt
| that he had no right to question her.
"Time's up, miss. I'VE can't wait any longer,
even for Miss Morton" at this moment interposed
the statOn-mastcr. Dora gave gasp OF despair,
thrust the letter into the hand of the perplexed
guard. and seized her bag Lestranges steady
glance inccnsed her. She turned from him impa-
tiently made dash for tirst-cass carriage,
sprang in, and sank upon the cushions moro dead
than alive!
She's up to some mischief and, by Jingo! III go
after her. said Lestrange to HIMSELF and crying to
l.. a, Atoio " nj
don y he, TOO. reached vacant compartment, and
lcnpt in as the train was already in motion.
While being wnirlcd along to SwindIon, LestTangG
had time to arrive ut certain conclusions based
upon Mrs. DamcTs Telegram of the previous day;
and u letter of fuller explanations W hich Ihc had
was consequently maturcd by tho time that the
train Ind arrived at the Junction Descending with
prccautIon so as not to be seen by Dora, whom ne
cnslly d0gged OH the crowded platform, he hurried
To the telegraph office and sent two dispatces-One
to Mrs Damer, tO reassire her; another to London;
Then he paid his fare lighted cigar and entered
n smoking.carriagc In calIner frame OF mind.
Sitting well back, he caught fresh glimpse OF Dora
as she hurried past ana rush OF ttl1er1tHs swce9
his heart ut the sight OF the pale little face and
And. Indeed, the poor girl was by this time in
pitiablo frame of mind. The meeting with LcSrange
had thoroughly unnerved her. The journey seemed
eternal to her excited and worn out with emotion
as she was; and whrn finally. ut midnight the
train reached l'addingtOn and her eager eyes de
trctpd her lover in the crowd under the gaslamp5,
she jumped out and ran to him like painting stag
to its refuge.
@My brave darngw exclaimed the Hungarian
and with a thrill Of pcrlaps, he tru"st feeling he
had ever known. took Dora's icy-cold, trembling
William Ford. arrest you in the Queens name
said an'casy voice behind him Slarolyi started and
turned with liyid face. 4 quct-OOking individual
in pjain clothes took him by the shoulder. and,
with significant gesture, exhibited a sin of
printed paper suddenly, rs if they had risen from
the ground. two cOnatahlcs appeared aud produced
pair of handouts. Arthur lestranges grave.
pale couutcnauce also dscngrgrd itself from the
surrounding crowd. And th' Count knew that
after Iunny douhngs and manifold escapes IN II
moment Of sweetest triumph. hts Tate had OvcrtakPn
him and he stood face to face mt last with the
avcnging majesty Of the lazy
There is some mistake" cried Dora, so hcwildcred
that ,hr only recovered her powers of speech when
the handculs were already round tho adyenturers
There is no mistake" said Arthur, compassion
atrv and drew nearer to her sldo
She turned from him prtullntlY. How irritating
he Wns, Oi course there was IniStakcA
Mas ~ slr cried in a sharp tone OF agony, and
stretched ont her hands as thOnrh tO cling 10 him.
m.St trouble yor, mddGn," said the detective
politely. and intrrp0scd his own arm between her
and his prIlc. Max gaze her one loo CLEAN OF
softer feeling broc for AN instant the set rage OF
his face: tlrn hr iayrTtrd his head. and without
word, moved SLOWLY away between ms captCrS.
Dora lartrd forward Ia follow him. Bat quick
n thought Lesrange was upon hrT steps ana
s,izing her absolutely IN his arms, held her until
the police aud their prisoner were lost To sight III
thr thrung. She bcramc easy enough 10 manage
after that r1ur SOM! iur she nearly lost conscious
ncs> and submitted to he half-lcd lali-rarri,t to
cab. Into this Arthur, giving IN address 10 the caD-
man, got with her
- j nm Going TO put you under my sisters care for
the night" he san! kindly. She IL married and
lives In krnsinrtOn.'
The drive lasted a COOL half hour. and during the
whole of that tlmr not an observation was eX-
changodl The lampIighS flashing occaslohally upon
Dora's face sh wed hcT 10 Arthur with wide-opGn,
t.urlcSs eyes whose despair made his heart acne.
Once when his hand accidentally TOUCHED hers, she
Withdrew from the contact with a quick movement
tI,,,s la. nf
stopped at last, and Lcslrango would have helped
her 10 descend. she brushed his prolerd arm aside
and walked into the house before MN Win 5taUcly
Their arrival, of course excited great surprise
hut, fortunately. Mr.; Ond Mis-. C3nrtenay hau 0eea
giving n party. and consequently were but Just
thinking of going to bed. ArthuTs slster-who
was very like him-Only required halt dozen
whispered words before she graslcd the entlic
situation. Her greeting to Dora was most cordial
and Mr. COurtcnay took the unexpected guest INTO
the drawing Toom,, where; m3nIuliH o99ttluhg 9t up
the night and kindred subjects Of an 1noiienslve
nature. Dora perfectly civil to him,ibutI as
cold as an iceberg. -
May go to my room noY !" she asked, rising
abruptly as Mrs Courtcnay and her her entered
Certainly" answered the lady, kindly, and es-
Good night y said Dora, stopping short uponithc
threshold OF the bedroom dor. Her hosteSs prop
ABLY cOnprehcnded all that there was OF bitterness
aud shame in tho proud yOung heurt for she had
the tact not to press anyf atlcptlons upon the girl
Int iust with In wish That she might sleep well,
turned away and left hor quickly as she cOIlld.
Then Dora looked the door, aud 1nging herself
upon the bed. gavo won't in tears to the agony OF
Humiliation, resentment. and despair that for one
interminableihour had filled her heart to bursting.
al tcnnnOt,-cannOt forgive your cried Dorh pms
slOnatey, next day TO ;Lrstrangc i9p Iii me no
Is unworthy-an advcnturor n forgcr. l DO not be-
licvc It must have somo better. proof than your
assurances" o., ,..
ANY assurances nro based upon the revelations
Of Scotland Yard. unfortunately" said Lfstrange'
with t lqst touch OF n MS YSrd Ps ie rot
ipfnlHblc," she said still bravely, but. with o
horrible sckening feeling Of despair and disgust IN
Dear Miss Norton" said Lestrangc, earnestly,
"do but bclcvo how gladly would spcak, word
of hope to yo If did not feel that ang false COM
fort now wond only mike your ultimate awaken
inR the more bitter. In all this miserable business
/ have had but thought, which was to save