Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20
(Contisued from last 'ceek.l
SIINGS AND ARROWS
Bv HUGH CONWAY.
Author of "Cdlled Back" DARK Doya'"
"A Family Affair."" Etc.

Chance, pure chance, brought about
what Ior ged for, but not in the way ex-
pected ! did not stumble across my foe In
the street: did not hear chance mention
Of his name and so hit upon soma one who
knew him found Eustace Grant in this
wise:
This year book, which at oncs took tho
publics fancy immensely, made its appear
ance, 1t was but a novel, yet work the
depth and research of which, combined
with its pathos and humor, arrested all
readers attention. People were curious to
know who was the author. Toe title page
bore one of those names which strike every
one as being nom de plume PEI caps the
book was not the less read because certain
amcu t of mystery was KEEP. up as TO who
bad really written it.
Sometimes, not often, since that crushing
blow had al len upon me, l read what hap
pened to come in my way. This particular
book was one which came in my way l
began to read it, and am bound to say that
the opening chapters were written by so
mastery hand that | at once exparien ced
some thing OF the general interest which the
tale had called forth. But before | had
read it half through, my interest and ex-
element were such as no author has by his
merits ever awakened in any reader l
gave fierce cry Of triumph threw the
took from me as if it were a reptile. Lad
found Eus ace Grant!
For one cnap,er Of that book contained
an account Of The heros journeying through
a part Of Switzerland, and the account was
the sare as Grant had given his auditors
ON the Eight when l first met him, and
hated and mistrusted him Several of the
most amusing and out of-the- way incidents
which he then relatei and which were
sufficiently droil and. strange to impress
themselves on my memory, were in these
pages once more narrated. Eustace Grant
was the author ri the successful book. l
thanked my memory, which had IN a second
brought his adventures back to my mind;
and memory brought back more than this.
1t brought back Viola, listening with
smiles on her face to her guardians (as she
called him) amusing recital 1t brought
back the days when [ wooed her; the day
when | told her my love; the day when she
was mine, as / thought, forever; the day,
the black day. when she fle when for
hours and hours l waited and would not be-
lieve the truth. 1t brought back the last
two wretched years of my life. 1t brought
robbed me, and l laughed the laugh Of
devil when | thought the time was at hand
when he should pay me for his act
| trod his book under my foot Hypo-
critic, who could write of honor, virtue and
truth, yet act as he hal acted! Well, his
time has come at last!
But now TO find him-to know where l
must GO to stand face to face with him!
The next morning called on the publish
ers of the book l told them l hal reason
for believing that its author was an old
friend of mine Would they tell me his
right names
They could not They believed he wrote
uader pseudonym; but they knew him by
no other. asked if they could show me
letter of his. Certainly A letter was
banded me. | placed it side by side with
the letter which Grant had written me just
befor; M marriage, and which | had for
tuna ely rre'e we'd. compared the hand
writing; then returned the authors letter
to the publishers.
THANK YOU l said II find am mis-
taken. NJ friend is not such fortunate
man as l hoped to find him." Then l went
my way. MIstakenl No, / was not mis-
taken; but feared lest, in writing to Grant
his publishers might mention the fact of
my having made these inquiries. No; every
doubt was now set at rest The tN O letters
were wri ten by the same man-written by
Eustace Grant As | looked at the second
letter. l had impressed the address upon
my memory. 1t was dated from st. Saurin,
a place which, upon inquiry, l found was
little more than a fishing village on the west
coast of Brittany.
They had not fled very far then The
nearer the bet:erl Every hour which muse
pass before Eustace Grant and meet will
be grudgel by me. In forty eight hours
we may be face to face!
That evening left London. My prepar.
ations for tho journey were soon made.
Among them was included the purchase of
pair OF double-barrelel breech-loading
pistols, which carried heavy bullets and
were warranted 10 shooo straight a, line
had already learned that in hand to hand
struggle my foe was my superior laughed
Us my fingers closed lovingly on the han
die of the weapon which placed us on an
equality.
so | started to end Eustace Grants
dream as suddenly as he had endel mineI