The record-union., 1891-03-15

called jugglery, that which abounds to
such marvellous extent in Tibet and the
East Indies, where some of these people
obtain such control over the natives, as
to make life almost a simple story COM
pared with it. And this woman and her
black ayah are experts far SURPRISING any
which have yet seen. Did you notice
she does not eat meat? Why? Simply
because it is one of the conditions which
enable her to exercise her masterful will.
You and | eat meat, Rossiter, which
places our intellect upon plane with the
dumb beasts; she refrains therefrom.
Only at certain intervals does her nature
crave and devour raw meat. She is hui
man leopardess, plain and simple: a
beautiful, senSuouS woman's form, but a
leopardess. All! even to the spots.''
l started as a clock in the outer hall
struck 10 in slow, loud cathedral chimes,
and with reluctant and nervous sensa-
ton I left him to seek my bed, where
passed the night in Nightmares, to awake
in the morning more tired than ever.
CHAPTER v.
D'Herbelot fingered on at Glandour,
and l had so settled my affairs that
could remain at the court until after Lady
Dora's illness. She, poor lady, shut her
self up alone in her rooms and seemed
isolated from all happiness. And finally,
when her trial came to hand delivered
her of blue-eyed girl, the picture of its
fair, gentle mother.
| thought that now should be enabled
to return to London, but Sir Lional urged
and begged me to remain short time
longer, and it was only two days follow
ing Lady Dora's confinement that I re-
ceived my second shock at Glandour
Court, when it was discovered fawn and
dog-a fine Siberian bloodhound-were
found dead, mangled most frightfully
The dog was found chained to his ken
mel, and the deer lying at the south end of
the park with its throat torn completely
open.
By this time the excitement in the
neighborhood and surrounding counties
was intense. So things were in stir of
excitement when Lady Dora-who had
never quite recovered from her recent
lllness-was taken suddenly worse again,
and was hastily summoned to her lady
ships assistance. | found her, as
thought. dying, and hurriedly called
D'Herbelot, who quickly responded. He
had conceived deep fatherly affection
for Lady Dora, to whom he displayed the
greatest sympathy. / could see the genu-
inc compassion with which he bent over
the bed, and she, who was of singular
clinging affectionate nature, seemed to
find relief in his strength and cheering
| words.
''Now, now, my lady, you must not
turn back again, we have got you along
the road so nicely. Come, take little sup
of this, then close your eyes. Hold my
hand hard. You won't hurt it, and go to
sleep. There now, So"
And in three minutes Lady Dora was
sleeping soundly.
strolled with my cigar in the park It
was fair, beautiful night. The moon,
sailing in all her majestic spiendor, lent
her glorious countenance so generously,
that one could almost see to read. Pres
emily l was startled by step beside me,
and, turning, beheld D'Herbelot. He,
too, was smoking, and the cigar from
which he emitted curling, blush pufis,
was a strong one..
"How is her ladyship?'' asked.
He shook his head.
'Worse, Rossiter, much worse Lady
Glandour cannot live more than two
| weeks"
Nonsense. She was coming along
swimmingly. 1t is nothing but little
nervousness, occasioned, no doubt, by
hearing of the fawn killing
NAY, my boy, Lady Dora is dying, and
has been dying ever since the birth of
the child. The potion which Ihave just
given her willprolong life, perhaps, two
Weeks-no longer. It is an herb I dis
Gus; but, my boy, it was the last drop 1
owned which l have just'given her, and I
cannot procure more in this country
Lady Dora will live two weeks-no longer.
Perhaps not so long, as the drug loses it's
strength with age" He sighed deeply
'If i could obtain twenty drops her life
would las. perhaps, twenty months. But
At that instant a laugh; no, not laugh,
but some horrible noise resefhb bling 1t. A
weird, sneering sound broke the nights
stiffness close behind us; and as / don't
profess to be brave man, the cold sweat
broke out in a stream and ran trickling
down the small of my back.
Not so D'Herbelot. With sharp Jerk
of his muscular arm he pulled me uncer-
enormously behind clump of ferns
which grew in luxuriant foliage in close
proximity.
Hush he whispered, ''not word for
your life."
I crouched, trying to stif1e my smoth-
cred breathing. For the space of min
ute, probably, we knelt there, and was
beginning to regain my composure when
again that fearful, blood-curdling noise,
as If some immortal soul, damned for
ever, had escaped from its tortures for a
brief space. and was enjoying its tempo
rary freedom. Then, from the olump of
trees to the right, bounded an immense
animal-a noble beast, of what species
I know not, but strongly resembling a
leopardess. The smooth, silky skin shone
like richest satin, and great, round spots
covered the sides and back, while the
breast was of soft woody whiteness. .
l gazed, losing all fear, in silent admi-
| ration, inspecting the splendid creature
before me.
D'IIerbelot's breathing became loud
and hoarse. His pistol was held tightly
in his right hand, and his black eyes
blazed with excitement.
'By God, it is she," at last he ejacu-
LOTT
the secret?''
Again my old fear returned. He was
undoubtedly insane. watched, as if fas-
! cinated, the beautiful creature standing
before me, one moment shaking and toss
ing its head to the moonlight sky, anon,
walking with long, slow, dainty, grace
beyond description. Lying suddenly
down upon its stomach the animal
stretched and rolled like young colt, re-
| minding me of something which had
been imprisoned all day and had but Just
gained its liberty. Once more 1 was
startled by the queer noise, but this time
laugh which had heard only few hours
previous at dinner.
AT that instant report rang out, clear
and sharp, followed by cry of pain. or
rage, like wild beast in distress. l
jumped to my feet in terror to see DHer-
Delol Win the smoking pistol In his
hand, spring suddenly forward, but too
the thick trees, making for the court. A
second shot rang out, and D'Herbelot
laughed like demon.
Take that, my lady; it will hinder
your midnight pranks for some time, I
fancy"
For Gods sake" said, "what is it?
| and what do you mean?"
Simply this, my infant, have caught
the leopardess in her lair.''
He laughed gleefully, and gave me- a