The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-30
I'm. vas sa,a Edith; Meta told me

DO so, by all means.
You may be sure shall
But, Wsrren," broke in Clara, Mil
dred feels sure she knew this Meta Field
ing in the old days; at least, she is GER
tain she has heard the name before.
"She may have heard the name, put
hardly think she has ever met Miss Field
ing. The brother and sister, I believer
have passed most OF their lives In Ne"
Then where can she have heard the
name?"
why, perhaps in this very room. I
have had short business notes, drafts,
and other papers, signed by Fielding, al
most every day, and, no doubt, have
spoken his name in her presence.
"Ah! that may be-"
i am pretty sure that's the e1plana-
tion."
7 shall know Tomorrow" laughed
Edith.
How will you find out?" asked Leland.
Easy enough" was the reply. i shall
ask Meta if she ever knew Mildred
Lester"
why didn't we think of that before?"
Because you're not young and quick
witted ss am, laughed the girl, as she
fed from the room.
When she was gone, Leland suddenly
turned to her mother and asked:
When did you or your father hear
from Mildred's brother last?"
I'VE have not heard from him in some
time; indeed, for several months, was
the reply. He is still in the South OF
West, believe"
But remittances come regularly2'
.Yes-to my father.
From where?"
From MI, Testers agent here in New
York"
Have you his addressP"
NO, I have not; and I question if my
father has"
THAT is unfortunate; for Mr.. Lester
should be notified Of the impending event
in his sisters life."
Il have thought Of that"
Can you suggest anything?"
Perhaps if you saw and talked with my
father, he might think, of some way
whereby YOU could communicate with
MIR. Lester"
Il will go to Roxbury tomorrow.
DO 80; and meantime, will look over
what papers have with me. I may find
some note from him that will give me
clew."
The next day Leland went to RoIbury.
At the station when he changed cars,
he was surprised to see old Welch, the
quondam rag-picker, boarding Western
bound train.
Somehow, but why he could not think,
the sight of him brought poor Amy Brow
nell and her wronged husband to his
mind.
But hastily dismissing these he thought
Of the old man. e.
Nov, what can he be going to New
York for?1 he mused. Can it be that he
is tired of rural life? hope not, for
his daughters sake" and hurrying to
catch his own train he thought no more Of
the matter at the time. :.
Meanwhile, Oscar Slyme, the brother
with whom he was 30 anxious to com.
municate, was already thoroughly in
formed as to all that had transpired re-
lating to Mildred Lester since his last
visit to her in Roxbury; and he knew per-.
fectly we'll that she was likely very soon
to marry Warren Leland. ,
but lnsteau or warning ner or ner
friends of the terrible mistake they were
about to make, he hugged himself with
iendish delight to think Of the misery it
would cause his hated enemy when he
should hear of it; and he resolved that he
should hear Of it very soon after the we'd
ding had taken place, when some other
interesting things should be revealed.
But did Oscar Slyme no longer care for
Cora Elliston? -. .....
No, his eyes had been thoroughly
opened; he knew he had merely been her
tool, and he thoroughly hated it.
But he did love Flora Leland.
He knew Flora never could be his. He
knew what he was about to do would
make her hate him, and might kill her;
but he was thoroughly resolved to wreak
vengeance on Cleveland and Cora at any
cost, and gu ch q vengeance as never be-
fore was heard OF.
Then came in cunning and calculation,
and he persuaded himself that, by man
aging properly, he could gain large sum
from Sherwood Elliston, for the unholy
secret he possessed.
He resolved, therefore, since he had the
opportunity, to put himself, once for all.
beyond misery and want, by cleverly
speculating, through his secret, on the
great fortune of the Senator.
= This secret he had already given to Flora
under the inspiration of another senti-
ment, but he had then in his hands the
proofs, which he now was without.
It was necessary, then. for him to arm
self with new and infallible proofs; but
If the intrigue he was determined to un-
mask still existed, he did not despair of
detecting something certain, aided by
the general knowledge he had Of the pri-
vate habits and ways of both Eugene and
Cora.
This was the task to which he applied
himself from this moment, day and
night, with an evil ardor of hate and
jealousy.
What would be the outcame?
It is not difficult to guess.
CHAPTER xXXI.
DIsCovERY-DEATH.