Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-07-04

| quite evident no one would stray, otherwise
| than by the I1erest accident.
| Turning 10 Dick. Fairfax heaved sigh,
| with the after remark:
| MY fren:l, all is complete-eUery thing.
Only the intervention of Heaven, now, can
| defeat my plans
| Then, for the first time, Oxford's curl
| osity as to the schemes of his friend were
satisfied.
| He had made Up his mind, whatever might
| be their character, not to betray the slight
est emotion on learning them; and to do him
| justice, outwardly he evinced no sign of the
| dismay that overwhelmed him as he listened
to the outrageous project of his mad friend.
| Although his heart sank within him, he
| made no remark at first. Fairfax watched
him keenly, to observe the effect of his own
words.
Finally, with a gravity wholly unwonted
and an impressive seriousness, all the moro
effective because unusual, Oxford turned 10
Fairfax, and said:
81 promised to be with you in whatever
you undertook. will keep my word if you
insist upon it. 1t is not too late, even yet, for
you to forego this unfortunate affair. /, my
self, think it unnecessary, extremely in
practicable and dangerous, and, frankly,
idiotic as well as wicked
Not line moved in his hearers impassiye
countenance.
That extraordinary individual had consS1-
cred the entire matter in all its actual ard
possible relations and contingencies; had
become excited to an unnatural and ex-
tremely unreasonable pitch of mind, and
was resolved that nothing should deter him
from his undertaking.
| Although somewhat startled at the sound
advice and solemn words of the hitherto
\ f11xl,4 nl5r.T,e
moment, the folly of his prospective deed
and the long list of misfortunes and evils
that might follow in its train, he immediate.
ly steeled himself against the weakness of
| the moment. and was once more the man of
answering purpose and iron will
This man, Dick, must be won again. ]
am fast losing my hold upon him and must
regain it and make it stronger. No half.
hearted work will suffice at this late date,''
| was his silent self-reasoning.
Beginning in that plausible, seductive and
irresistibly attractive manner of his, he
gradually overcame Dicks conscientious
scruples; dulled his common-sense, appealed
to his adventurous spirit, and thus began te
arouse his tagging interest in the matter.
Oxford, poor fellow! although realizing
that his friend was about to embark upon 8
very crazy and cowardly enterprise, was
yet unable to resist the extraordinary influ
ence which this strange man welded ovel
him, and, step by step, yielded to the mighty
will of the latter: until, once more, Fairfal
had most jealous advocate in Richard.
About noon, with a lazy cape, Fairfax re
marked:
"Let US go out and watch for thosl
heavy villains They must be near q
hand''
There soon appeared three strange men
carelessly sauntering down the road. 81
completely had they disguised them
selves that the two watchers were uncer
tain as to their identity. However, as the,
approached nearer, it was not difficult Il
recognize the tones of each voice.
The arch-conspirator took the two seame,
aside and enlightened them as to the par
they were to play. They appeared to b.
| wide-awake characters, capable of a hazard
Gus feat of any kind. They readily entere'
into the spirit Of the occasion and consid
| cred the affair as jolly kind of a lark.
Meanwhile Richard-who had been thor
oughly instrueted-in mysterious and melc
dramatic tones, was initiating his valet int
the nature of the duties which were to fa
upon him.
After some time spent in writing Fairfa
examined the vehicle and found it in exec
lent condition. The harness also SCENE
strong. One trace was q little worn, anG
with an extra tug. might give way. !
piece Of stout cord quickly remedied thi
defect. The horse appeared to have entirel
recovered from his long journey Of tn
night before.
One thing the anxious observer did nc
3 like A heavy black bank of clouds wa
Y rising in the southwest-a low, dilator
= mass of vapor that clearly betoksned an al
preaching storm. Still, he thought itwoul
> scarcely Interfere with the fulfillfaent Of b
j expectations and plans.
He went to the roadside to watch. b
r tween three and four, he saw, away in I'll
distance, up the road, q carriage approach
o ing. II contained Dimitri and Catherine,
: route, no doubt, to make preparations for N
talie, who then could not be far behind then
= His heart began to quicken its bea
+ when he distinguished a horse gallo
Ing down the highway Although strai
+ ing his eyes he could sec but on
% and on that steed rode the Princes
/, He held his breath as she dashed by lii
Is the wind, both steed and rider carryir
themselves superbly.
a Again he felt the same inexplicable mi
n givings, the same mysteriously prophet
n warning, and again he flung aside Il
n emotion. The deed was begun and, we
L, the heavens to fall, must now be done!
y But how is it that he beheld but one hors
womanl Where was Lydiai Alas! mil
away on wild goose errand.
Ere leaving Paris, Fairfax had left
sealed and unaddressed envelope In d
ID hands Of one Of the Herald clerks, with
ID | structions to mail it to a given address
10 America, IL no message to the contrary W
ID received, within five days.
Is '.If, however, you get telegram bearil
the word Send ask message-boy TO car
BE- II to the nearest telegraphic station"
His instructions were followed to 1
I'd very letter. On receipt of the message th
is Roger had taken to the Dol telegraph stati
n the previous evening, Fairfax envelope W
Id forwarded toits intended destination. I
70 teiegrapher who opened it found writ
I'D in woman.s hand, apparently, a telegrs
ne to this effect:
o. LADY Lydia, Chateau Dor, village of
Cote-au-Nord. Meet me at Dol. four o'cios
ID q BLANCHE HAYWOOD
.; This explains Lydia's absence. For.
receiving the telegram, she dashed of
r. nasty note Of regret to Natalie, ordered
nd pAronche and hastened to meet her aunt
nd Dol.
- Fortune bad 10 favored Fairfax that