Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-03-13

s,s ~ . -'tNfN fAVhf HhN ~ NV Nv
"Ay Godi Where is shegp cried Lord
Travers. becoming ghnstly pale, ns tpe GER
,alnty OF MS wife's death forced itse II upon
him.
"Ihnt is iust what have been trying TO
discover. Dolly has not seen her siuee the
any her iatlier sent her frnin his house"
"What has become of NV poor darling I?
She may be dead murdered by the one who
should protect and shield hsr from all evil"
Ihr unhappy man wrung his hand, in the
intensity of Ills grief
"FOr heavens sake, be more calm, T:ayers
Control yourself, man, or you will not be
able To look !Or Hazel. II | were in your
place, would go aiid inquire OF squire Rod.
hey line Knows whore she is. You may de-
pend upon IL, he knows something about her
unaccountable disappearance"
Travers eXcltedly.
THAT he may nave written To her AMI told
her the dreadful truth Mind, say might.
kemembrr he asked me, when met at the
Queen s.dolel. for your address, and gave 10
To MIN. Heiold ME that he intended to call
ON you. l1e may have run down 10 the villa
While we were in london"
True. He may be able 10 give me clew
which will lead 10 Hazel's discovery. l will
go 10 Rodney Hall nj once. TniS suspense Is
unbearIble. WIZ you come win ineY"
No; ] lave Promised Dolly 10 Sre her he
fore leave. You will find me at the old oak
tree Ia Tile garden; | will wdit for you
thete."
TO London by the next tram. | sliall employ
a detective 10 help Inc In my search II / do
not ma clew to ner whereabouts at ltodney
Hall"
II hope that the squire will glveyou the
Information lou need" AuId FIUiuc,iS, rs he
parted from his friehdS with n warm hand
clasp of sympathy.
Lori Travtrs walked rapidly down the road
on The way 10 Rodney Hail, a massive stone
building. lie ran hastily up the II ght OF
stone steps and rang the house bell Violently
\ servant dressed in dark livery, answered
his summons.
Ne gave Tie man his card and was rishcred
into the library, hlgh dark, silent, and very
grand apartment. Ine furniture was of tile
old-fashIoned SORT, c,rved ana massive. glV.
Ing evidence of belonging % former geneT-
alton. Heavily rived mahogany book cases
We're ranged on each side oil the room; long
deep windows, reaching nom the floor almost
To the cYliing, were nung will dark green
velvet lined with corn cOlOred silk and the
thick, dark carpet was no dainty Brussels or
Turkish affair, but one that had evidently
been used for many years. and was likely u
last many more.
squire Rodney made his appearance with
u frown on his brow. He hated his rival with
nerca hi euslty.
"Lord Travers am surprised TO see you at
Rodney Hall, said the squire, In n naughty
tone OF voiee, as If his visitors presence was
unwelcome.
Lord Iiayers did not notice this lmpolite
reception, Tor lie was too anxious and un-
Heaven, was his wife.
II am sorry 10 lntrude upon you at this
late hour, sir, hut | came 10 ask you ii you
can furnish me with any clew by which can
disco Ter Hazel She has disappeared.
My God what do you mean ?" asked the
astOnished master of Rodney Hall.
II mean that during my absence Hazel left
Brighton for London. but she did not go to
am alarmed about her."
perhaps your mother may know where
she lS She promised me To send for Hazel
and tell her that you had deceived uer.u re-
Piled Aaron Rodney, sturmily, while his eyes
DlaZed with pent-up inuIguitGlOn.
$50 she has been told the cruel truth, )" cried
Lord Iravers, IN voice OF agony. "she be.
any intentional wrong"
innocent! y cried Aaron Rodney, stormily,
Willie MS face paled from deadly wrath.
Then he blaZed forth in accents ot concen-
trated rage aud hate:
"You dare not denytt! You took from me
my eve lamb, and yod have basely stolen her
honor from her"
IL do not deny it, but am a victim and not
criminal: never meant 10 wrong Hazel"
III IL a falsehood do not believe YOU 7"
Rodney cried Out, beside himself with fury.
For moment there reigned an oIuiuous
silence. The hot blood leaped Ia Lord
TraverS' face and his blue eyes suddenly
lis hted.
81 come of a race that does not brook such
words as those, Squire Rodney" he said,
SOiuIy duu StluTply.
"Not on the maternal side of your house
my lord" said Radney, in II sarcastic tone.
Your mother broke her word to NE regard
Ing Hazel. She promised to send for her,
tell her the truth, ard make you rlgnt the
wrong which you have done. Your mother
was TO see me afterwards and tel me the re-
suit or her Interview with the unfortunate
girl, but when | called she was too IN To See
and received no reply"
con! man, man, what have you done ?"
cried Lord rravers with keen reproach
"My duty, my hrd. You deceived Hazel,
the glrl wuom | loved better than my life 1
resigned her 10 you because you We're her
hearts choice; had better killed her than 10
have given her INTO your Keeping
Rodney, you wrong ME. 1 had no xnowl-
edge until OF late that our marriage Was IL
legal"
"Hold, my lord Your tool, Barney O'FIynn,
would never have dared To arrange such n
marriage for you without your consent. and
ne conIesst,d 10 me that you were married on
the English side OF the Border. Clear your
sell OF the inlputation by proving Your i'll
n0cencs If you can"
any word IL my proof" replied Lord
Travers proudly. 1nd again there was a
short silence.
squire Rodney, goaded to madness by the
thought OF hhHriS wrong, raised his hand
ana regard, q his rival fieI cely.
81 do not take your word as proof" he
numbered "it you are man, not n
coward, you will give me the satisfaction of
~ S'l VIII lkIll Il utteI VIII me-
accept your challenge on one condition"
"Name IT,"
"fhSt II GIll you will find Hazel"
81 shall fnd Hazel, nay lord, II have to
search Gnr her until di On! would to
Heaven that you had never met my promised
wife; you have Iuined her"
That II 1alsehUud," cried Lord Travers,
Indignantly.
(which you can not disprove," replied the
squire. lyon have wrecked my life-,ei.
dered 1t yaueleSa, and now, my lord, COM
plete your work"
AS Tie spoke. squire Rodney opened "A
drawer In one Of the book e ts,s and took out
A pair Of pistols,
Take your choice, my lord"
hut Lord raverS drew back, saving:
''Surcly you do not mean To igiIf duel In
this room, and without seconds? | Will not |
consent to such nm arrangement"
"By heaven, sou shall" exclaimed the |
"luire, barring TraverA' Iiissage to the door |
Liar, coward, seducer! / could tear out |
YOUR black heart. How dare you ntt-Inpt to |
fhWHrL wr0ngtd and uIatldentd man
You stole f.oIn me my pure darling, destroyed I
my happiness, and brought Disgrace On an .
honest name" cried the squire, In frpnYied |
wrath. "Defcnd yourself ~ and the cnragetl |
nan tossed the pistol acrOss the table TINT
'tood between them. The weapon, which !
was loaded, struck the other side of the table;
. sharp report rang through the roIn-u
lash OF flre--a ihick cloud OF smOke-and
ord Travers, without word, fell forward on
lis face and lay there motionl ~.
TO be coniinuel.