Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-05-07
CHAPrER XXI


Ny story is ended.
Doubtlessly the reader has already
guessed what came 10 me in a flash as I
gaZed at the face OF the woman so like
the face Of LeonOre.
An hour later, after she had been con-
fronted with Theodore Seabury and
Leonore-my LeOnore-we knew every
dark, hidden mystery in the Seabury
case
Theodore Seabury was induced to
speak hrst Two years previous he had
welded in the South woman-the
woman had arrested
Her name was LeOnOre Legrande, and
not until she was his wife did he realize
that passionate, hateful tigress was his
bride.
Fashion, folly, and extravagrance was
all she thought OF, and when their means
ran out and she asked for more shs
learned that DR.. Seabury had disowned
his son for marrying az ainst his wishes.
Disguised one night she visited the
DoctOr-it was in New Orleans, where
he was visiting.
Her fierce demands only drove the
Doctor to deeper dislike for her siren
nature She vowed vengeance; she
swOre terrible oath that If he did not
take herself and Theodore 10 his home she
would haunt him day and night and
dOre, too, was resolved TO have his for
tune.
DR.. Seabury believed this. He now
refused even TO speak TO his son, whom
he believed to be a heartless, selfish in
CRATE.
The next night, as he was passing a
dark court, bullet graZed his hat He
fastened 10 the hotel, left it secretly.
and took steamer up the Mississippi
River.
A mishap delayed him at a small and
obscure landing. He decided TO cross
the country to a railroad, fell through u
broken bridge into a stream, lost con-
sciOusness, and awOke TO find himself in
a humble cabin, with a beautiful girl
watching and nursing him.
This girl was my LeOnOre-the protege
of the wealthy DOctor-and fate had
played him a curious trick.
For she was the cousin of Theodore
Seabury's wife, of the same name, Leo
more, but LeOnOre Dolby, and her proto-
type in features.
DR.. Seabury discovered the remarka-
BILE resemblance and learned of the re-
lationship, but he did not tell my Leo
more the truth.
He learned her story-a sad one. Her
father, her only surviving relative, had
died week previous. She was alone in
the world.
A relatiVe-a cousin, Leonore Lee
grande-she said, had, year previous,
robbed her father of every dollar he pos
sessed, and had fed. She, LeonOre
Dolby, was therefore penniless.
DR.. Seabury hated the Leonore face,
but he could not but be drawn 10 the
gentle, innocent girl who had saved his
life in the river at the risk of her own.
He had made her his ward-he had
given her all his fOrtune-he bestowed
all his love upon her.
He never told her that her cousin
LeOnOre Legrande was the wife of the
son he had disOwned.
AS to Theodore Seabury, he had been
deserted by his wife and finally came
North.
He hated her now as he had loved her
previously; but he was a man of prin-
ciple, and when he caught sight of his
fathers ward at the mansion he sup
posed that it was LeOnOre Legrande.
Hence the note and his efforts to see
her, wondering how it was that she had
been taken In by the Doctor, mystiied,
maddened By his fathers firm refusal TO
admit him beneath the same roof.
As to LeOnOre Legrande, she confessed
all. She had kept her vOW-had mur-
dered the Doctor, hoping that the fortune
would descend to his son. Then she
would force Theodore to acknowledge
her again.
She had thrown the knife and the
handkerchief into LeOnore's room, had
plotted to have her arrested for the
crime; but, learning that she was the
real heiress, had sent for her TO threaten
or CONF mise when arrested by myself.
Thus the truth was known at last, and
Theodore Seabury was released from
custody at once.
His pale face Writhed at the thought
that his legally welded wife was a
proven murderess-
sible for the scandal OF a public trial to
be avoided
She committed suicide in her prison
cell, and the true mystery of the Sea-
bury case never reached the public
prints
As TO LeOnOre-my LeOnOre-she knew
that I loved her. A week later she
promised TO become my wife before a
month had passed by.
She insisted on dividing her fortune
with Theodore Seabury, and he, a gloomy,
heart-broken man, went abroad, and
Colonel Cain, reformed. went with him as
valet and companion
Ketcham commended me highly for all
I had done in the case, and is yet my
friend.
But often wonder il at any time he
really believed that the assassin Of DIR.
Seabury was my bonny bride-my inno-
cent, beautiful LeOnore!
THE END.
The Reward of Merit