The Forrest City times., 1891-09-18

would keep them apart until she could appear on the scene herself to claim Lena as her lawful guardian, and, having obtained possession of her, Gustave should be made to marry her at once.
 'It will be easy to obtain another cheque," she unused, as her heart all ready relented toward him. Il can in vent plausible story about the de- struction of the other. And now l will take something to eat before l start. l must hunt up Gustave on my
 way to Abbotsford and take him down with me-"
 She passed into the dining room,
 and, going to de-board, she took
 out cake and decanter of wine.
 She drew chair to the table, cut some cake and ate it slowly as she ar
 ranged her plans, then she poured out and drank glass of wine.
 | No sooner had she placed the glass upon the table than she became con scious of a strange sensation stealing over her She tried to cry out, al- | SiiC hItW Sllt W do llOlu alo of any sort; she tried to rise to reach the door, the open air--but in vain. She could not move or make sound; :; her hands dropped helplessly down, and she became unconscious; her frame twitched from time to time; then there followed a sudden spas modic action, and she died.
 1.fs l. |. L attempted to visit London-the driver did not even turn in the direc- tion of Fladgate. Gustave had leaned back lazily in the fly, smoking, while he was driven through pretty pieces of village scenery, passing peaceful graveyards, prosperous farms, black smiths forages. roadside inns, and seaside cottages.
 People glanced at him, some with | admiration and some with envy; but he was trembling from head to foot with dread, with hope, with horror of himself that he had so successfully placed the poisoned draught within his aunt's reach. She had tempted him--she had shown him the fatal cheque-she had driven him to des- peration in order to escape this hate ful marriage and yet secure the mar riage portion. He was as obstinate as Madame Dumasque, and he deter mined no one should cucumber him with wife when he wanted the money to save himself from ruin and keep him going in his evil ways. Ju- dith always told him that he was like both his parents; but, having no re- membrance of them. and not being of an emotional nature, Gustave never troubled to ask questions of anyone so long as he was supplied with the means to lead a gay and fashionable life. There had been sister of Madame Dumasque's who had married a Victor Dumasque. They had gone abroad and died there. and this boy was regarded as their orphan son.
 If after all. Gustave reflected, Madame Dumasque did not touch the wine, his plan would fail, and the proof of his murderous desire would remain in the Mil, House; but, if she did fall a victim to his evil deed then he must remove that which would criminate him. He returned to the Mill House in few hours to learn that his plan had failed; but he resolved to repeat his visit the next evening and to invent a story if she was there, or, if she had left, to force an entrance and remove the poisoned draught He told the people at the hotel he should dine out and return home late; and then he went down to the sea and strolled about in such misery as none but the murderer can feel. As the aft ernoon gave place to evening he once more drew near the fatal house. dread ing every step which brought him nearer, and hoping his aunt had left the place long since.
 He went up to the front door and rapped two or three times; but no one answered. and every window was closed and fastened.
 "Gone!' he muttered, with sigh of relief and then he tried the handle of 1 the entrance door. It turned at once l and he entered. He called his aunt by | name, but all was silent. Going up- otsiis iit iohliti . l travelling attire. with her travelling | bag, lying on the bed. His aunt must 1 be in the house, he thought. for here | were her bonnet, her veil and her 1 gloves. He tried the bag; it was lock | ed. as if in readiness for starting. | Then she must be there, and was per l haps hiding on purpose to watch his 1 mn Ha tria1 hA ,p;, .,f l the bedroom; they were fastened and l the blinds were lowered. The back | door was also secured. and the win dows at the back of the house-every | place was neat and orderly, and no | sign of any meal was visible. He came l next to the front of the house and l went cautiously into the drawing room. 1 The place was stripped of the books l and music and instruments-they had !, been packed and sent away; but it was | neat and elegant. and many trihes | of daily use had been left behind, as l though Madam Dumasque meant to re- tain possession of the house for n { time.
 There now remained only the dining ! room, to which he hesitated to pro- ceed. He crossed the hall and saw the door of the room was slightly open; he peeped in, and started back to the 1 opposite wall as he caught sight of the folds of silk dress. Its golden brown lustre, with its stripes of velvet woven in darker shade. glistened in the rays of the sun, which brought out all the beauty of the material; but he