Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-20

The gate. have never been fully able TO
explain that to myself. meant at the first
opportunity to beg your pardon"
" Iudeedl And you had no hand in hurl-
ne me into the gulch that nights" Her eyes
fairly pierced him to the quick.
She was treading on dangerous ground,
but she could not resist the temptation.
"Into the gulchl 1 do not understand"
ne said, evidently perpleXed. 81 never knew
what happened to you that night last sum
mer, Lura Imeant to ask about that ut the
FIRST opportunity"
(which, when it occurred, you attempted
to strangle me out yonder in the darkness"
Her hand was raised, n finger pointing
toward the road.
"Lura, let me explain"
81 am listening" Jelly.
"You know that like most men have
weakness-love of wealth. admit that
have attempted questionable practices in
order to obtain it. l came here to Lone
Hollow to win it's heiresS. You see, am
frank with you. never meant to stain my
soul with u crime, however, for against
blood revolt as heartily as even yourself"
He paused. She made no attempt to in
terrupt him, and he proceeded:
g When you put in an appearance at Lone
Hollow realized that my chance OF WIN
ming the heiress was lessened. / knew how
you hated me, and felt alarmed. wished
you away, anywhere but in this house"
Even under the sod," and she smiled
grimly as she interrupted him.
I" No. In that you wrong me,'' he assert
ed, impressively. II did not.plan to harm
you, could not do that; for to be honest
with you, Lura, you are the only girl who
ever stirred the inner depths of my heart.
If you had been the heiress instead of
Grace could have wooed with tenfold moro
fire. But let that pass. 1 endured your
presence without attempting to abate it.
That night, when you disappeared so mys-
teriously, and during the days that followed
when turned heaven and earth to find you,
/ was really sad at heart, although elated at
the thought that you would not be likely to
trouble Inc again.
Il was getting on swimmingly with Grace
when, to my surprise, YOU suddenly re-
turned. saw you enter the house and go
to Grace Penroy's room. l then believed
that you had played trick on us all, on me,
for the purpose of beating me out of this
fortune on which l set such hopes. The
thought that was about to be defeated
when the wealth was ready to fall into my
hands maddcned me, and lost reason and
GOODNESS.
THAT was why l assaulted you so
furiously. l repented it aftcrward, and
have been longing to see you to ask your
forgiveness. l came near being killed by a
afterward feared that he had murdered
you"
Captain Starbright had resumed his seat
during this narration, while Lura Joyce
leaned one hand on the table and coutented
herself with listening in n meek way that
was surprising considering her fiery nature.
"Do you expect me to believe all this,
Captain Starbright" she said, without
lifting her eyes.
h,,., fr,,f
have no means of compelling belief" he
said, in subdued tone. II tell you honest
ly, am glad that you escaped from the
clutches of the mailman"
"He seemed gentle enough with me-" re-
sumed the girl "What became of the poor
fellow at lastl 1 haven't seen him of late. p"
~ influenced the authorities to send the
poor fellow to II mad house"
IBID you know him."
/ "No, only that he made an absurd claim
to be a brother of the late Mr.. Vandible."
about the shooting tonight" SAID Lura,
suddenly dropping the subject of the mad
man. "Can you throw any light on that!"
ut is n sad affair."" sighed the Captain.
81 would rather not talk Of that now"
"Why has Austin Wentword been ar
restedN'
! lit was necessary. In case Grace dies
1 the fellow might leave the country
"Then you suspect him of being the
assassin of the girl he loved, who was his be-
! trothcd, in fact!'
| Her eyes were regarding him now with
{ their steely glitter, that rendered him nerv-
Gus always.
! my suspicion amounts to couviction,'
! he said, coolly
! "You saw him commit the actr'
! clam not prepared to say that. At the
proper time my evidence shall be forth
; coming"
| "Indeed! Is this a part of your plot to
/ win the Vandible fortune!"
He became uneasy under her gaze. He
realized that she was reading him like an
open book. He might deceive some women
but not this grand, self-reliaut girl, whose
strong mind and quick wit were more than
, match for him.
"Itis useless to prolong this interview VI
he said, coming to his feet. "You would
distrust one even if he.were to swear on a
| mountain of Bibles. l am sorry, but in
time shall be able to prove to you that Ii an
| n much-abused man."
Then ne STROBE from the room and sought
| the outer air.
"Sor' murmured Lura. 81 am once more
= on deck to watch and counteract your evil
influence, Clinton Starbright. If Grace
dies, you are doubly doomed man. The
| idea that Austin Wentword fired that shot
| That yarn might fool the marines but it will
not pass current with me. All! if you only
knew what 1 know, Captain, you would
tremble in your boots. 1t is just as wei
you do not know. will now have an op
portunity to search this house for the viii
old Mr.. VandiDle made long ago. That,
believe to be, the only lawful document o
the kind in existence.
"He told me that it was somewhere with
in the walls of Lone Hollow, and I mean Il
find it and confound them ALL
Then Lura went to the room where hel
wounded cousin lay. When Mrs. Penrol
saw the girl she uttered scream and fel
fainting to the floor.
1t will be remembered that the widow die
not know of the continued existence of Luri
} Joyce. She had looked upon the girl a.
. dend, Grace having kent her secret accord