Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-06-22

s0nulng Ddck VerDal message by the
coachman that she would write. The
} cOachman, on being interrogated. said
he believed Mrs. Claverton mentioned
that she was going up to town, but that
her manner was so agitated and ner-
yous' that shB hardly seemed conscious
OF what she was saying. .-o
Mr.. Claverton was struck dumb by
this intelligence, and at once OWNED
what had happen. d. The conversation
he had overheard at the club flashed
upon him like arevelation. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY not by a mere coincidence that
his wife had disappeared suddenly and
mysteriously the same afternoon that
Dick Alton went off with-somebody !;
and he bitterly realized that he had been
chuckling over an incident which in
vOlved disgrace ard misery to himself.
For few moments he was paralyzed
with dlsmay and astOnishment. But
his energetic nature soon began to as
| sert itself. He went up stairs and pack
ed up few clothes in portmanteau;
then, with clenched teeth and throbbiAg
heart, he unlocked the mahogany case
in which he kept his revolver, and care
fully loaded all the chambers. He told
the servants he was going to join his
mistress in town, and having fortified
himself with stiff glass of brandy, he
caught the last train to the city.
His brain was in. whirl with furious
excitement, and the only definite idea he
had in his mind was a fixed determina-
tiOn to overtake the guilty pair. He did
not pause to consider what he should do
if he succeeded in this, but the presence
of the revolver in his side pocket afford
sd him savage satisfaction. On arriv-
ing at the London terminus he drove to
Alton Club and ascertained from the
hall-porter that the Captain had started
for the continent by the evening mall
Mr.. ClaveIten controlled his impatience
as best he could till the next morning,
when he followed in pursuit Instinct,
rather than reason, caused him to go
straight to Paris, for it never occurred
to him that the fugitives might have
stopped short of the capital or branehed
off to Belgium. Guided by his knowl-
edge of Dick AltOn's habits, he made in
quiries at the more expensive hotels, ,and
at Maurice's he obtained clue. An En- |
glish gentleman answering the runa-
ways description, and accompanied by |
lady, had arrived that morning and |
just left; and, although they had given |
the names of Mr.. and Mrs. Winter, Al
tons personal appearance was sufficient
ly striking to be easily identified.
Mr.. Claverton did not hesitate to con-
tinue the pursuit. He had worked him
self into a state of frenZied activity, and |
was consumed with furious rage and |
jealousy. A burning thirst for revenge
deprived him of his sober senses, and |
made him unmindful of everything but
the immediate object he had in view.
He devoted several days to tracking the
fugitivs from place to place with relent-
less and untiring perseverance, un-
daunted by failure, Indifferent to dis
comfort and fatigue, and only spurred to
fresh exertion when it became evident
that Alton was endeavoring to evade
him. In this desperate and exciting oc-
cupation Mr.. Claverton spent more than
a week; and though his fierce determi-
conscious both of physical and mental
prostration, which seriously interfered
with his self-imposed task.
One afternoon Mr.. Claverton found
himself in the quaint old town of Man
tes. He was there quite by chance, be-
ing en- route from Evreux, whittier he
udu 0uCCOcuou Ill lllO
delinquents. Having to wait an hour in
order to change trains at Nantes juno
tion, be strolled listlessly down the maip
street, and was walking along, brooding
over his wrongs, with his eyes bent on
the ground, when he suddenly heard a
familiar voice, and looking up quickly,
he beheld handsome Dick Alton looking
out of one of the windows of the princi-
pal hotel, smoking cigar and convers-
ing with some one inside the room.
Mr.. Claverton could hardly believe
his eyes, but fierce indignation and ha-
tired soon overcame his astonishment.
Alton's head was turned away from
him, and Mr.. Claverton crossed the road
and entered the hotel without being
noticed. Passing unceremoniouslS thrO'
the vestibule, he rushed up the stairs
and made straight for the room which
Alton occupied. Though lis movements
were rapid, his footsteps had evidently
given warning of bis approach, for, on
fiinging open the door,he only caught a
glimpse of the skirt of a dress as the
wearer disappeared into the adjoining
room and left Alton alone.
Alton, who was yisibly embarrassed,
started and stared at Mr. Claverton as
he entered, with a puzzled expression.
"Mr. Ciavertoh," he exclaimed, making
a step forward.
"Yes, sir" said the outraged husband,
waving him brck. 81 have been seeking
this interview some time"
"Indeedl Pray be seated" said Alton,
recovering his GOODNESS, and staring in
tently at his visitor.
Mr.. ClavertOn dropped into chair, '
partly from sheer WEAKNESS, and partly !
because, now that the supreme moment l
had come, he felt strangely at loss S
what to say. He forgot all about the '
deadly weapon which he carried in his l
pocket, and was only conscious of keen
and poignant emotion at the prospect of
meeting his faithless wife face to face.
Captain Alton" he said, as soon as q
be recovered his speech, you must be a
aware of what has brought me here. a
You--you cannot deny that you have a
certain lady with you.
Alton bowed rather defiantly, but said d
nothing.
IL have tracked you from place to1
place since you left England" continded y
Mr. Claverton, rather taken aback by 81
,he sang froid of the man who had n
wronged him. 81 vowed that you should u
not escape me-" j
"Then you are the person who has
'een dogging our footsteps!" exclaimed O
Alton suddenly, in tons Of astonish-
nent. G.
"Y es, sir; who else should it be?" said ti
Mr. ClavertOn, severely. p
Before Alton could reply the door of n
with the adjoining room 81
vas thrown open, and a pretty girl made a.
Ter appearance, looking pale and agita- o!
ated. Mr.. Claverten started violently d
It the appsritoin, and the room seemed
o swim round him. He only just caught u
glimpse of the lady's face, for Alton W
quickly interposed, and led her out gen. W
n L. Al. /