, 1890-12-11

"The ladies are all downstairs.
Send Clemence to me-"
Clemence was madnmoiselies
maid. .
UClemence," said madame when
that rather pert young Abigail mace
her appearances, "go upstairs ana
tell Miss E,stelle she Is wanted, II
she il not In her room look III AL the
others, aud be quick"
Madame struggled with her I'M
patience while the girl made u
rather lengthy search for her young
mistress.
II doan' find her no whars up
stair.n reported Clemence, coming
down with great deliberatiop.
Madame hastened to inform her
husband. Ii was soon known that
madamolselle was missing, and inn
mediately the servants were hying
hither and thither, their lanterns
cleaning like fire-iiies as they
searched through the grounds. .
There had been n light fa'i OF
snow, and the print OF the dainiy
high-healed slippers was plainly
dscernible, skirting the avenue 10
the cedars, ere 1t mingled Win
the impress of heavy boots.
The tracks were easily followed
across the road into the wood, where
the marks of horses hoof confirmed
the already gathered suspicious.
As quickly rs horses could be sad
| died, II we'll armed rarty were IN
hot pursuit. The pursuers were
mounted on fresh horses, eager as
their masters for the chase, so the
| fugitives were soon overtaken.
"Haltr' cried monsieur, as he
caught sight of the flying pair
But the captain urged on his
steed, till, crossinga run swollen ,Oy
recent rains, 1t slipped and stumbled
to it's knees. throwing both riders TO
the ground. Then, with Estelleo
clasped close in his arms he turned
on his pursuers.
"You villain," shouted monsieur,
"give me back my daughter
"You renegade scoundrel, how
dare you entice young lady rom
her homes and friends, cried the
baronet.
"No man calls me scoundrel but
he or | must bite the DUST" replied
the captain.
The baronct sprang from his horse
and drew his sword. The captains
blade flashed through the dim star
light in quick response.
"Wingfeld, for the love of heaven,
stand back, do not fight. o, papa,
don't let them fight. Spare him,
save him, and | will do whatever
you wish" cried Estelle, sinking to
her knees.
Needless of her prayers the two
crossed swords, The baronet was IA
skilliul swordsman, the captain was
not. Then the latter was worn with
anxiety, weary with his long ride
and numbered with his heavy army
surlout. The unequal combat was
brief. A few passes and the captain
fell. the blood squirting from Il
wound in his side.
Estelle raised his head to her
breast, she rent the air with her
cries, calling him by every endcar-
ing term, but there was no reply
the words he struggled to speak
were lost In the death gurgle, and
she fell across the lifeless body In IA
death-like swoon.
They carried her home. The drag
gled, blood-stained garments were
removed and she was laid In her
dainty bed.
The daflodils wire in bloom, when
pale and wan, the mere shadow of
her former self, they brought her
down stairs and placed her invalid
chair where she could look out upon
the budding spring. There she
would sit for hours, apparently
oblivious to her surroundings, her
gaze always fixed upon the group
of cedars.
The weeks slipped by. but there
was no change. The baronet grew
importunate. The immediate danger
past, all madame's ambitious
schemes returned. To lose the
baronet, to miss this golden oppor-
tunity for the family aggrandize-
ment was not To be thought of.
Estelle's health would return with
the summer, a sea voyage was just
what she needed and amid new
scenes she would forget the past,
and SO Il second time preparations
for the wedding weere begun.
Estelle submitted to all with the
same silent apathy.
The wedding day arrived, n
bright June day, lovely enough for
the happiest bride. The church
was hung with flowers, the guests
assembled. As the bridal party
crossed the threshold the bride
showed some signs of agitation, but
walked steadily down the aisle till
within few PAGES of the altar.
Then she paused, drew away from
her fathers supporting arm, and
looked round with wild startled
eyes. Suddenly she started forward
and threw up her hands.
"Wingtield," Wingtield," she
cried, ~ am ready, and fell for
ward upon her face.
She was welded, but to dead
bridegroom.
Dressed In her bridal robes, they
buried her in the old churchyard,
and marked her resting place with
a granite slab bearing the inscrip-
ton:
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