Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-04
CHAPTER III.

Mr.. Grenfell Egerton looked in surprise
at the box that had resisted the servants
efforts to open it 'I don't remember this
one," he said, passing his hand across his
forehead. ''I can't think what's in it; 1 do
not remember packing it in the least; but
we will soon find out. Just get chisel and
force the lock; don't break the keys over
it." The servant obeyed; in few seconds
the lock gave way and he threw back the
lid. The black shawl, hurriedly replaced
by John Browns shaking hands. concealed
the contents as before. ''Take that of, :"
cried Mr.. Egerton, impatiently; the servant
raised it hastily, but at the unexpected sight
thus revealed be uttered cry of horror and
turned to his master for an explanation.
But as he saw Mr.. Egerton's face his cry
froze on his lips. Grentell Egerton stood
over the box, his bronzed face livid
and distorted, its deathly pallor rivaling
that of the dead girl at bis feet so cruelty
murdered in the dawn of womanhood. Rails
ing his clinched hands above his head he
struggled tor speech.
Lucy! Lucy!' he groaned at last, utter
ing his dead wiie's name for the first time in
all the long years since her death. Before
he had finished, with her name still on his
lips, he staggered and fell mOtionIess across
the box.
The terrified servant rushed to the door to
met by Madaline.
"Who called?" she asked breathlessly.
"Don't 60 in, Miss" gasped the man
hurriedly. master has fainted.'
But her eyes had clearly seen Mr.. Eyer
ton living face downward over the black box.
She pushed past the trembling servant and
bent over the PROSTATE figure. Raise your
master" she cried; "he is i'll. -
Mechanically the servant advanced, and
with difficulty removed the unconscious
form and supported his masters head against
his knee.
'Look, miss, he said in hoarse whis-
per: "that's what made him faint" and
he glanced shuddering at the secret of the
box.
No need to say ''lookp' At the awful un-
expected horror thus revealed Madeline
stood transfxed. With dilating eyes she
took in all the beauty of the murdered girl
before her-the lovely child-like face with
smile still lingering on the pale lips, the rip
plug, golden hair, the slender figure in its
closely fitting habit; finally her stony gaze
rested on the hilt in the breast, with its
crimson stain spreading round, telling its
own tale of dark guilt-a tragedy concealed
from the world.
"How came it here? Who was she?"
The servant S. vo iee reused Madeline from
her silent horror.
"Master won't come TO, MISS" he said
anxiously. what am to do?'
She looked vaguely at him for second,
then she spoke in a hard, strained voice:
Leave him and go for DIR. M at once 1
will remain with your master. Say nothing
of this i you value your place." she add
ed, pointing with a firm hand toward the
box.
AS the door closed the girl sank on her
knees beside the dead, and gazed into the
smiling face as though she hoped to read
there key to the terrible mystery. Then
raising a tress of the long fair hair to her
own pale lips she kissed it passionately.
Like Mr.. Egerton, she, too, uttered the
name of woman, but it was the name her
iather had addressed to her on his arrival,
not the same that had burst from his lips in
such despair few seconds ago. Made
line" she whispered, as though the dead
could hear her voice and understand its
passionate remorse, "you shall be avenged!
But for me you would have been alive and
happy-the crime is mine! How came you
hereto haunt me? They forced me to de-
ceive you, but loved you. 1 will not rest
till your death has been avenged. Farewell,
my loved one! nv little Madelinep' Once
more she kissed the fair hair soIemnly, then
rising quickly to her feet she left the room,
without even glance at Mr.. Egerton, who
lay still unconscious on the floor.
Great events are often crowded into lit
tie space. The startling discovery and its
consequences had only occupied 15 minutes.
Two O'Clock struck as Madeline Egerton left
the house. dressed in a dark walking dress
and black fur cloak thrown hastily over her
shoulders-she had no luggage. With thick
embroidered veil, she defed recognition eff
fectualIy, and, walking to the corner, she
hailed a cab and drove off through the
orourdad efraats