Delaware weekly Republican., 1884-07-31
: ~! 80 !!lll.l ~

4
brain. If she could only cry out anc
warn him Of his danger, but the horrol
OF 1t all had struck her dumb, and sh,
was powerless.
4 At the same instant the General, at
tracted by her curious silence, turned
round and the assassin, without lower
ing his weapon, moved nearer.
"There Is no use TO cry for help, j
shall have accomplished my WORK ere
that can reach you. For twenty years
l have thirsted for revenge and now ]
take it,"
The words were Missed forth rapidly,
and quick as flash. he pressed the
trigger. There was sharp report, a
woman's long, shuddering cry, and
M iss Leroy lay on the sand, with a
stream Of blood dyeing crimson the flee.
cy wrap around her. The assassin, as
though confident of his work, turned
effect.
When Miss Leroy again became con
soious she was lying on the bed in her
own apartment at the Windsor. She
felt weak and spent there was q con.
fused murmur of voices, and she felt,
rather than saw, that there was num-
Der OF persons around her. Then a
strange voice said:
1.-THE bullet entered her arm; It Is
only a flesh wound and will be more
painful than injurious. She il weak
now from loss of blood, but quiet and
attention will soon insure. her recovery.
You say she interposed herself between
you and the murderer's fire. 1t was
brave act.'
When it all came back to her-the
dreadful scene on the beach, and tha
sudden, swift impulse that had caused
her TO place herself n shield twixt the
General and the avengers bullet, and
then for the second time she drifted in
to Inconsistencies.
Several days passed, and much of her
former strength was hers again. The
wound though painful did not prove
serious or prevent her from sitting In
her easy chair, or receiving callers.
Many times during the day the General
would call to see If she was better, and
one evening when the physician had
assured him that he might converse
with her with all safety, he came TO her
room and STOPPING pressed a kiss on
her pure brow.
God bless you, my child" he sai,l
teDderly. " You saved my life that
night. How can 1 ever thank you?"
| did for you only what would do
again for the father of the man | love-"
said Miss Leroy quietly. You owe
me no thanks" d
was not aware you had ever Asw&
my son," said the General in a puzzItera
way.
You do not understand. You have
met me as Rachel K. Leroy. Your son
and the stage know me as Ray RenQs1
Both names are rightfully mine, ReTe
being my mothers. Have you heard
anything further Of your enemy" she
inquired, and 30 dismissed the sub.
ject.
II have a private detective ON his |
track whether he will succeed in
capturing him / know not. % Miss |
Leroy, do you know j have oon-
cluded that made mistake In regard \
10 you. must reetify it." With these \
words be departed, leaving her in some
thing of a brown study I4
That night over the wires, TO the
hills of Canada, flashed
these words 4" Come without delay TO
Cape May, Hotel Windsor"
Two days after General Croyland en-
Aunt Silence in one of the
corridors. Prepare Miss Leroy for
myself and visitor at seven this even
ng,' be said and passed on.
Promptly at the appointed hour, ac
by his son, who was looking
unusually satisfied and eager, the
ieneral waited for admission at Miss
Leroy's chamber. The door was opened
~ Aunt Silence and the two entered.
= closed softly behind them and Ralph
Troy land was once more in the presence
" one TO whom he would ever remain
IS constant as the magnet TO its bright,
eading star. aH u
At his entrance Miss Leroy had been
Gaming listlessly back in her chair, but
N seeing who the visitor was that had
accompanied the General, her face had
,leamed radiantly with the light oil
lope. and in her sole exclamation of
Oh, Ralph p were blended the Joy,
urprise and love that filled her at his
oming. Ii
Ray said the General, coming
ound to her chair, and unconsciously
dopting the soft diminutive, " / have
ad a long talk with Ralph, and told
i'm all. You are aware that when he
rst mentioned you TO me was exceed
ngly bitter against you, unjustly so.
ow acknowledge. Then / regarded
ou as a designing girl; now know you
be truly refined and noble. Then /
elieved you to be of ignoble origin,
ow ] know your birth to he by no
leans bad. can no longer, with Jus
ice, oppose your union with my sou, /,
or do wish to. Ralph, she is yours" Il
9 attempted to place her hand In that ~
his sons, but she resisted. s
/" General Croyland, you are sure that !,
u opposition you held against me nc, "a
'nger exists l enter no family that
'ill not cordially welcome me as ~ !
aughter." ~,