Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-15

" the Honorable Mr. Greenvlle' Under this name he had enjoyed brief but brilliant ca- reer, and had been within an ace of marrying the richest heiress in California Of course, said Farnleigh, here was the solution Of the whole mystery. MT. Lestrange was respon- sible for having had an innocent man arrested. It was understood that he had found out in some odd way that the Count was to be at Paddington Station on particular night and had communicated the fact to the police. They had, an hour previously, discovered what they considered the last link in the chain >ef evidence. and had shasteded in consequence to effect the arrest. It was plain that the whole thing had been done in too great huf- ". The zeal of Scotland Yard was easy to understand, but, really, MT Lestranges- Farnleigh shook it's head, and looked, not merely volumes, but the whole encyclopaedia of unutterable things.
 Unfortunately, just about this time Mrs: Damer got her answer from the Consul, who apologized for his delay He stated that there was indeed Count Starolyi whose age cores bonded to that of the pretender, and who had been for three years past shut up in lunatic asylun in 8 remote corner of Hungary l! The Consul added that this young nobleman, flew months before going mad, had been robbed by his secretary-an Englishman-whO had le- wanted witL large sum of money, many of his employer private papers. and all his dec orations
 This was a blow indeed! The pluckiest among the ladies apart, very few had the courage now to defend the too seductive stranger. ? lPeoplelooked mournfully at the soi -disant Hungarian's splendid presents. "Poor fellow at least he was very generous" said the most indulgent.
 But even this remaining drop of consolation was denied at last to the cup of their bitter ness. .
 There was one general groan of rage and consternation, when the bills for all the elegant gifts bestowed by the Count" upon his hosts arrived from the county town-addressed to the presentees The jewellers, florists. picture sellers, and stationers, cross-questioned, ex- hbited the orders given by "Starolyi" in the names of the persons whom he had delighted to honor. Then it was that with one accord Farnleigh fell fsul of the unfortunate MT. Stra- cey This gentleman (smarting under the Knowledge that if he wished to keep some proof of-engravings of which he had been ex- tremely proud, he must pay for them) became quite apoplectic at last every time his late guests name was mentioned. All that any body managed to elicit from him was that he had met Ford in theatre in Paris. Between the acts, and as &. consequence of some inter- change of programmes and opera a-glasses, the two had fallen talking; and MT. StraceY hav- ing mentioned ''old Stafolyi," as 6 former friend of his, his new acquaintance declared himself to stand to that defunct nobleman in the relation of a son.
 "Most imprudent of MT. Stracey, must say !" remarked, to Mrs. Damer, an elderly maiden, who never having had any boquets was rather inclined to enjoy the denouement. ''Myself, was always convinced that this man was an impostor. were not your?
 Honestly, Icann0t say that my suspicious went as far as that. And, Miss Tilney, l should think even yours were ofrecent origin said Mrs. Damer, remembering how her vis- itor had moved heaven and earth to have the Stracey's friend introduced to her.
 Mot at all-not at all l suspected him from the first: They say he will llhave twenty five years penal servitude--Bless me Dora how pale you look. And would almost think Have you sheard about Clarice Ferrers? Found out in 6 clandestine correspondence with this wretch. M8dly in love with him, \ my dear Mrs, Damer What the girls of the present day are coming tel they will be fall ing in love with murderers next. always told Mrs, Ferrers that the should look little more sharply after that pert minxs Miss Clar ice. l am assured she used to meet this l. he1-forger, every night'at the entrance gate of the Straceos' paddock, and in a month she was to have joined him in Guernsey. You have heard, of course, he left 80 suddenly be- cause some geand swindling enterprise in Paris collapsed. No then you have not read the papers will send them tn you. They will amuse Dora. Good by, child. You are losing all your rases, and your complexion is every. thing to you. l should prescribe change of he he !-scene."
 This is a specimen of what poor Dora had to endure, while the leaden weeks crawled on before Ford's trial-each hour in them being marked by some new agony in her long tor ture. How she lived through the pain, the i'm finite humiliation, she never knew. But she came out of the ordeal with strengthened character and nobler aims. And, at last, her greatest sorrow was caused not by therec0lec- ton of the love she had lavished on an impos- tor, but of the injustice of which she had been guilty towards friend.
 For the next two years Lestrange, working hard at literature in London came but little to Farnleigh. His aunt and uncle, though full of pride in their tardily born heir, were as fond of him as ever, and he was as glad as ever to be with them. But he was resolute to win his own way to fortune, and his efforts left him scant leisure for country life.
 Dora and he met finally at a dinner-pa at the Straceys.' They sat next to one another
 
 She noted with remorseful pleasure how gentle his manner was to her. He felt an emotion that surprised himself on observing that she was paler and graver, if lovelier than of old. After dinner by accident they found themselves alone in the conservatory-- that conservatory 80 odious to Dora because connected in her mind with "Starolyi." As she steod there @ whir of recollections assailed her. Lestrange was speaking. She did not heed him. A little disappointed, perhaps, he was moving away, when the girl, desperate ly collecting her courage, said eagerly, Please, stay l" u..- -.-. .t,5 l..rt.
 He turned, surprised at the agitation of her tone. ''Stay just one moment, MT. Les trange, l may not again have an opportunity and have 90 longed to be able to speak to you. Once in that dreadful time, you were very, very good to me and l was unjust and insulting to you. No, don't interrupt me, please. Imust say it. don't suppose you will care about my being sorry; that is not much good to you but am sorry. and was 90 five minutes after spoke those horrible words. Aud ever since have wanted to tell you so. and to ask you to forgive me. And do you think you ever can ?" Dora, feeling that she had made the most idiotic speech possible, blushing and mortified at herself, put out two eager little hands.
 :"What would 1 not forgive you ?" said Lestrange; and taking her hands, kissed them.
 ''i congratulate you, my dear" some months later said Miss Tilney when Dora was engaged. 'Fer do you know, feared that you were fretting for that Charming Count?" -The ArgOsy.
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