Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-15
\ WHOLE NO.s s228Ol.

1 fare lighted cigar, and entered a smoking carriage in calmer frame of mind. Sitting ] we'll back, he caught fresh glimpse of Dora as she hurried past and rush of tenderness swelled his heart at the sight of the pale little face and lovely figure. ...-.....- ,s5 .... l And indeed, the poor girl was by this time in pitiable frame of mind. f. The meeting with Lestrange had thoroughly unnerved her. 1 The Journey seemed eternal to her, excited and worn out with emotion as she was; and when finally, at midnight, the train reached Paddington and her eager eyes detected her lover in the crowd under the gas-lamps, she jumped out and ran to him like a panting stag to it's refuge.
 '4My brave darling! !" exclaimed the Huuga- rian; and with thrill of, perhaps, the truest feeling he had ever known, took Dora's icy cold trembling hands in his.
 F. "William Ford, arrest you in the Queens name, said an easy voice behind him. Star l olyi started and turned with livid face. A quiet-looking individual in plain clothes took him by the shoulder, and, with significant gesture, exhibited slip of printedpaper. Sud l denly, as if they had risen from the ground. two constables appeared and produced pair of handcuffs. Arthur Lestrange's grave pale countenance also disengaged itself from the surrounding crowd. And the Count" know | that, after many doubtings and manifold es- capes, in moment of sweetest triumph, his fate had overtaken him, and he stood face to face at last with the avenging majesty of the | law.
 Max what is this? What do these men mean2 There is some mistake ]" cried Dora, | so bewildered that she only recovered her pow CTS of speech when the handcuffs were already round the sdventurer's wrists.
 ''There is no mistake " said Arthur compass sionatelY, and he drew nearer to her side.
 She turned from him petulantly How irritating he was Of course there was mistake. .....r- .,r.....
 ''Max !" she cried in sharp tone of agony, and stretched out her hands as though to cling to him. . #-sa{
 Il must trouble you, madam" said the de- tective politely, and interposed his own arm between her and his prize, Max gave her one look, gleam of softer feeling broke for an instant the set rage of his face then he avert ed his head and, without word moved slowly away between his captors Dora dart ed forward to follow hin. But quick as thought Lestrange was upon her steps, and seizing her absolutely in his arms, held her until the police and their prisoner were lost to sight in the throng She became easy to man. age after that, poor soul! for she nearly lest consciousness, and submitted to be fled half-carried to a cab. Into this Arthur giving an address to the cab-man, got with her.
 ''I am going to put you under my slster's care for the night" he said kindly. "She is married and lives in Kensington.
 The drive lasted a good half hour, and dur ing the whole of that time not an observation was exchanged. The lamplights flashing Oc- casionally upon Dora's face showed her to Arthur with wide-open fearless eyes whose despair made his heart ache. Once when his hand accidentally touched hers, she withdrew from the contact with a quick movement that spoke of resentment. And when the cab stopped at last, and Lestrange would have helped her to descend, she brushed his proffer- ed arm aside and walked into the house before him with stately step and erect head.
 Their arrival, of course, excited great sur prise i; but, fortunately, Mr. ahd Mrs. Court enay had been giving party, andconsequent- ly were but just thinking of going to bed
 Arthur's sister-who was very like him--only required half dozen whispered wOrde before she grasped the entire situation. Her greet ing to Dora was most cordial and Mir. Court enay took the unexpected guest into the draw ing-room, where, manfuly bottling mp his curiosity, he talked to her about the tineness of the night and kindred subjects of an inof- fensive nature. Dora was perfectly civil to him, but as cold as an iceberg
 May go to my room now?" she asked, rising abruptedly as Mrs. Courtnenay and her brother entered.
 Certainly" answered the lady kindly, and escorted her upstairs
 Good night!'' said Dora, stopping short upon the threshold of the bedroom door. Her hostess probably comprehended all that there was of bitterness and shame in the proud young heart for she had the tact not to press any attentions upon the girl, but just with wish that she might sleep well, turned away and left her as quickly as she could. Then Dora locked the door, and flinging herself uP | on the bed, gave vent in tears to the agony ot | humiliation, resentment, and despair that for one iutcrminable hour had filled her heart to | bursting.
 II cannot-cannot forgive you !'' cried Dora passionately, next day to Lestrange. You l tell me he is unworthy-an adventurer, for ger. do not believe it I must have some | better proof than your assurances"
 | My assurances are based upon the revela- tions of Scotland Yaru, unfortunately" said Lestrange, with Cat last ) touch of impa- tience in his tone.
 Dora shrank vsibly Scotland Yard is not infallible," she said, still bravely, but with horrible sickening feeling of despair and disgust in her heart. ...-....... ...... 'Dear Miss Morton," said Lestrange, earn estly, "do but believe how gladly l would speak word of hope to you, if did not feel that any false comfort now would only make l your ultimate awakening the more bitter. 1 In all this miserable business l have had but one thought, which was to save you" 'And to ruin him., burst in Dora exctedly. 1 'It is easy to evoke morality and public ius- tice and many other high-sounding aims which may serve as cloak for personal resent | ment."
 Enough, "..said Arthur, now thoroughly l wounded, and rose from his seat. "'rhe po- sition of rejected suitor is never very l agreeable or very triumphant one, but it was left for me to learn, and for you, Miss Morton, 1 to teach me- that it might be made the occas- ion of intolerable insult. If it pleases you to consider me sneak, that you may exalt l Count StarolYi into victim, 1 must deplore l your resolution, but it would be beneath me to contest it. There is, however. one point which should like you clearly to understand, and which results from my altered position both towards you and towards the world" 1 Dora raised her tear-stained, and truth to 1 tell. somewhat shame-stricken face from her handkerchief, and listened to him now with a mournful, nascent curiosity. ...
 "When offered you my hand" continued Arthur in his lew, steady tones, ''I considered myself the heir to great wealth. Two days l ago 1 knew with certainty that these eApecta- tions had vanished into thin air. Even had | you honored me by accepting me, should 1 have regarded such change in my prospects | as a reasonable motive on your part for with drawing your plighted word. And this de- claretion should show you with how little I hope of winning you at any time for my wife | interposed last night to save you, as should | have interposed to save the merest acquaint- ance, from future of disgrace and ruin" . Id : | He took his hat-buwed-a left her. Left her reused for an instant from the contempla- | tion of her own woes, startled, compassionate, 1 remorseful and ashamed! But the humiliation of those first days fol- | lowing Starolyis, or rather Fords arrest was nothing compared to what Dora had to suffer after her return to Farnleigh. Her aunt, in- | deed, and the still dumbfoundered Mrs. Onr- l bett welcomed the returned fugitive with the utmost kindness; and from the moment that they first received her again into their arn,s, 1 they made not the smallest allusiOn to her l dn R,ni han.