Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-10-07

dined that day at Colonel Wayne's
Mrs. Wayne was ever very fond of him.
You will come to the Roses and
visit me, though my father is not there?'
he said to her, but his eyes wandering
to Mabyn's face.
1--WE will come, yes, and try to cheer
you up, poor boyl' said the elder lady
affectionately.
And the colonel chimeo in:
''Yes, yes! whenever you please.
Ignace, set the time"
But Mabyn never raised her beautiful
eyes.
Yet he knew she would come. She
could not refuse without singularity !;
and under that roof, of which she would
so fttingly be the mistress. would he
find hope and gain courage to ask her to
be hisp
He went away with grave face-re-
turned to Oakborough, leaving Cesare
Darrell again master of the field; yet
Ignace never dreamed of being jealous
OF him. He had known Cesare from a
child; knew his selfishness. his untruth.
Mabyn was so pure. so soft and fair.
There seemed no possibility of any geni-
ality between the two. He merely won
oCIC0 uOW bLC ItbbCI OOu1O W study
so long in town; then, dismissed all
thought of him, and ratified down to the
Roses, with a heartache which made
him numb and dull to all the rest of the
world but beautiful Mabyn Wayne.
"To the Rosesp No, six miles, miss" :"
A broken carriage before a country
inn; an old gentleman, with a broken
leg, upheld by two men; an elderly lady
weeping dismally, and a beautiful girl,
collected and brave in the general dis
tress.
"Ifye wanted to go to the Roses, miss,
ye ought to have got out at the next
station" said the driver of the broken
carriage, with an air of sullen civility.
: 1t is SO long since have been here,
had forgotten; and think we were told
yesterday that Hamilton was the sta
tion," said M,byn, absently. distracted
by her father groans and mothers sobs
though she yet appeared quite calm.
It was Cesare who had misdirected
the party.
AT least we are fortunate to be near
clean and respectable tavern, dear
father" she continued, and gave direc-
ton to have the men bring in the colo
mel and go for doctor.
O1tside the sulky coachman scratched
his head and surveyed the broken car
riage.
81 tole that black-ey furriner that
'twould snarl the whole vehicle ter pull
out the inch-pin, an it has. Well,
don't care if he pays me, as he says he
will, to do the whole job. Here goes
fur look out for lettersw
In the hall he already met Miss Wayne
with brief note tor young Mr.. D'Alem-
bert. He received it with faithful prom
ises Of delivery, went outside to secretly
destroy it, Il n hied away to communi-
cate with the black-eyed furriner."
Cesare was soon on the scene Of
course, under the circumstances, he
could make himself Invaluable.
waiting to hear from IgnaceP My
dear Mrs. Wayne, you are very foolish.
You know nothing of Oakborough ply
sicians-and they are simply know
nothings. You should return to New
York at once"
He had hustled them to the point of
departure, when there came an unlocked
for apparition. It was Ignace D'Alem-
bert, with face utterly colorless.
He had been sitting in his library the
night previous, when a servant showed
in young girl. She was pale, gent e,
timid; her beauty dimmed with recent
weeping.
"You know me, l think" with dig
nifty beyond her years. am Veta
Rane."
Eyes, l know you," giving her a kind
hand. "Will you be seatedp"
She seemed making a great effort to
be calm, then said:
"Mr. D'Alembert, you will under
stand me. You are very unhappy be-
cause you love some one; and SO
am T."
Ignace started.
''Can l serve yoU?" he asked, at last.
mo; but perhaps | can serve you.
Cesare Darrell has been devoting him
self all winter to Miss Wayne, and that
is the reason she has become estranged
from you. Do not ask me how | know
this; but do know it. And they are
all at Hamilton now-at the Post house
l wish you would go there at once, and
see if what l have told you is not true"
A few words more ofexplanation, and
she was gone.
his firm eyes blazed their accusation in
held his peace.
Devoting himself to reassuring Col
onel Wayne, he promised him that he
at the Roses; and placing him, with his
wife, in the most luxurious OF cushioned
carriages, with careful driver. he
gravely asked of Mabyn the privilege
of driving with her in separate car
riage.
She assented, with sudden sense of
security and protection, for of late Ce-
sare seemed drawing nearer and nearer
into her life, with a fascination in his
black eyes which held her freedom She
glanced behind her now with almost a
look of fear as she stepped into the car
riage.
But Cesare was not there.
On the narrow cliff road figure sud-
denly rose among the bushes. The high
mettled horses reared and plunged, the
buggy rocked, but the animals were
held from dashing away by the vise-like
grasp upon the lines.
But Ignace utter a groan of mortal an
guish, for the cushion of blue velvet be-
side him was empty.
Without a cry, Mabyn had gone over
the wheell
The next instant he stood upon the
ground where she lay. There was a
stain of blood on her white lips.
The strength lett the brave man s
limbs suddenly.
"She is dead!" he moaned.
But she moved. and murmured!
''Can l be of any assistanceP" said a
voice.
But Cesare's craven cheek was white I;
his tones shook. Had the death he
planned in frightening the horses come