The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-10-24

over the major. and when at last he fell
asleep it was with the determination to un-
ravel the mystery at any cost.
Alter breakfast he drew Lois aside. and
asked if he could see her alone in the libra
ry She answered in the Affirmative, look
ing little surprised at go strange a re-
quest, and led the way to the room at once.
Arthur closed the door and motioned to
her to take a seat on the sofa. She did so.
and he sat down by her side. little puz-
zled how best to begin his task. The light
! fell full on her face. He could see every
| change in its expression, which was exact
! ly what he desired.
Miss Lois" Arthur began. Il have not
i told you. think. that the bestfriend nave
/ on earth is Cyril b artWel.
| Every particle of color forsook her face. q
/ nervous trembling seized her. and she put
| out her hand imploringlv toward him.
/ DO not speak OF him" she said. in a low,
! shaken voice. IL cannot-bear it; and
| and it is useless. WhatI said three years
! ago / must say now"
But have something to tell you-some-
thing you must hear" said Arthur.
1T can make no difference in-in any
/ thing" she said, still in the same low. hesl-
! tating voice.
Il must insist, however. that you listen
to what have to tell YOU, Miss Drayton.
/ assure you that you will not regret having
! done so. I did not know until just before
I came down here what it'was that had so
! saddened Cyril HartwelPs life. I have
known him only little more than two
! years, and he is not one to carry his heart
! on his sleeve. But he told me the story OF
! his acquaintance with YOU the night before
! I lett town; but he could not tell me why 1t
was that you refused to marry him the
very day before the one set for the we'd
ding"
Il have never told any one that. never
! shall. It is useless to ask me to do So. L
/ would die sooner.
"Will YOU not let me tell him?" asked
| Arthur. will you not let me explain to
! him that it was through the Vaccinations
his bride, and that you were cruelty
cheated? Miss Lois. did you not know
enough of the character of Rose Ellis to
make you doubt
Lois started up. her eyes glittering, a
deathly palor on her lovely face.
Rose! Was it Rose?" she cried. I
never knew that never even suspected it.
Mr.. Hazard, how did you discover this?
! For heavens sake, tell me! Do not keep
me in suspense!"
She sank back. trembling. on the sofa.
her delicate hands clasped in piteous APP
peal.
For a moment Arthur was silent. He
scarcely knew how to proceed.
Did you never suspect then. that your
cousin Henry was attached TO this girl, and
that it was through his influence that you
were made so wretched? he asked at
length.
Henry attached to Rose!" said Lois.
slowly. why, Henry"
She paused. blushing painfully.
Henry has repeatedly assured you of his
! attachment to yourself, you would say"
suggested Arthur.
yes. He has long desired to marry ne.
even before my engagement to-to-MaIor
! Hartwel."
And yet, three years ago. he promised to
! marry lose Ellis. She has returned home
! now determined to make him fulfill that
promise. He has put her off from time to
time with the excuse that he was poor, and
| has told her that at your death he would
inherit your money, and could then marry
her. He tells her that you cannot live long,
! but thai if he married her now you would
not leave him penny, and that she must
| therefore have patience.
Lois pale cheeks lad flushed. The
was an angry spackle in the soft, dark eyes
! raised to Arthur's face.
"HSw have you learned all this, Mr..
| HaZard?" she asked.
4 will you not tell me first how Rose
4 Ellis managed to deceive your?
II [ only daredl" murmured the poor
girl signing. L have kept silent so long
! that now
She did not speak for q moment. Her
! face was hidlen in her hands, and q. nerv-
GUS ttemor shook her from head to foot
1T must have been from some powerful
motive that you have kept silent so long,
said Arthur docking at her pity.nglv.
1t was for his sake. for his alone" she
| burst out, almost wildly. Il did not
think of myself at all. But, oh, I could
not have his blood upon my hands. Mr..
/ Hazard, you will think me foolish, even
/ worse than that. fear: but I was always a
/ coward and easily frightened. The evening
! before | was to be married. went with old
| Mrs. Kinds to see sick child. 10 whom /
was much attached. 1t was dusk before I
started for home, and I took path through
/ the wood, which was SGorter than going
around by the road. All at once heavy
1 cloak was thrown over nay head, and was
| forced to nay knees. Then the cloak was
! torn aside, and looking up / saw Il woman
| standing over me. Her face was concealed
4 by a hideOus black mask, and | did not
recognize her voice. She told me that she
| loved Cyril, and had sworn to kill him
| sooner than see any other woman than her
| self become his wife. She said that if
| dared marry him she would shoot him
/ through the heart within an hour alter the
ceremony. She swore this, calling on
| heaven to witness her vow, and SO solemn
was her manner that did not doubt or an
| instant that she would carry out her threat
| ii l fulfilled nay engagement to Cyril had
| heard frequently of just such desperate
/ vengeful women. On my knees
! promised her that / would give Cyril up,
and would refuse any explanation of the
/ act. She told me that if l married him his
| blood would be upon my head. This was
my reason for breaFing my engagement,
/ and dared not see Cyril for fear he would
| wiring my secret from me. and then per-
| suade me there was no danger, and insist
| on running the risk. My love for Cyril gave
me courage to shield him from danger at no
matter what cost to myself. If married
| him it was at the risk OF his life. [ could
not thus put it in jeopardy"
How cruelty you have suffered" said
Arthur. And then he told her of the con-
versation he had overheard the night
before.
Your cousins motive in preventing your
marriage is very plain" he said, in con
clusion. HE hoped to win you for him
SELF while he led Rose to believe that it
was simply that he might come into pos
session of your money in case you died I'M
married"
L would not have believed Henry so base.
so crueI!" said Lois
Suppose we send for Rose and ask
her a few plain questfons?" suggested Ar
thur.
DO just what you think right. said Lois;
Il do not fear her now"
A servant was dispatched to the cottage
at once, and soon returned accompanied
by Rose, who had not imagined for mo-
ment the real reason why her presence was
desired.
She had thought Mrs. Andrews wanted