The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-11
CHAPTER XIV.
MORE REVELATIONS,

IL tl0r6 were ever ture6 mcu tdhcA
sback, those three were certainly In the
cabin Of the Seamew. As for Miss Sars-
chine, she stood looking calmly at them
with an expression Of surprise.
will you kindly tell me what you
want?" she asked quietly. us it to see
Lord Calliaton?"
No, replied Dowker, who had some
what recovered himself, we wanted to
see you"
ITO see me?" she said with surprise.
Or, at least, Lady Balscombe.
Miss Sarschine smiled contemptuously.
u understand what you mean," she
said, .coolly. You thought that Lord
Calliston had eloped with Lady Balls
combe-so he intended to have done,
but changed his plans and eloped in
stead"
And where did you leave Lady Bals-
combe on the night you visited herr"
asked Norwood.
Il do not answer that question till I
know who you are," she said boldly,
frowning at him.
Il will tell you," said Sir Rupert, who
had hitherto kept silent. This gentle
man is Mr.. Norwood, solicitor; this
Mr. Dowker, of Scotland Yard; and am
Sir Rupert Balscombe."
"You-you Sir Rupert Balscombe?"
she said quickly,
Your sisters husband"
How do you know Lady Balscombe
was nv sister,"
L found it out" interposed Dowker,
from your father, Captain Dicksfall.
My father" she murmured, turning
pale. You have seen him?"
YES"
"Well," she said coldly. now you have
found out my relationship with Lady
Balscombe, what do you want to see me
aboutp"
Her MURDER" said Dowker, in deep
1oice.
She sprang forward with sudden cry.
Her murder-her-whatd do you mean?"
I mean that the victim of the Jermyn
street murder, whom we thought to be
You. turns out to be Lady Balscombe."
My wife?" said Sir Rupert, with a
groan, burying his face in his hands.
"God!-lt's too horrible" cried Lena,
and sank down into chair. amelia
dead-murdered-by whom?"
That's what We want to find out, said
Norwood, coldly.
What enemies had she?" muttered Miss
Sarschine half to herself. None that
would desire her death. cannot under.
stand-I cannot" Then suddenly struck
by thought she asked. why did you
think that the dead woman was me?"
Because she was dressed in your
clothes.
"Yes! yes!" she said, feverishly. Il
can understand now-I can understand"
Where did you see her last?" asked
Norwood
AT her own house in Park Lane"
Did you leave her there?"
"No! she left me.
"Oh!" cried Dowker, light breaking
in on him, now I understand-you
changed clothes there, and she left the
house first"
She did-to 60 to Calliston's rooms
Il thought 80, said Norwood, with cry
of triumph; it was Lady Balscombe Des-
mond saw"
Desmond! Desmond" she echoed.
What has he to do with this?"
Simply this-he is now in prison
on a charge of numbering Lena Sar-
schine."
Il see you mistook my sister for me-
but murder--I can't underestimate can't
understand" And she pressed her land
across her forehead.
Sir Rupert looked up.
Listen to me-" he said, sternly; "a
mans life hangs on your evidence, 80 tell
US all that happened between you and my
wife on that night"
There was q carafe of water on the
table, and filling a glass from it Lena
drank it up quickly, and then turned
with ashen face to the three men, who
sat cold and silent before her.
Il will tell you all, she said, in shaky
<oice, "and you can form your own conclu-
sions."
Tie three settled themselves to listen,
and she began to speak in trembling
voice, which gradually became steadier,
the following story:
II need not tell you my early history,
as YOU already know it. When I left
Folkestone I went abroad with Lord Cal
liston. and when We returned he took the
house TOR me in st. Johns Wood. I
STAYED with him because I loved him, and
he promised to marry me-a promise he
has since fulfilled. When my sister be-
came known in London as Lady Balls
combe, soon found it out from Calliston,
and then implored him to make me his
wife. He laughed. and said he would.
Then my sister fell in love with him-not
he with her, swear, for he loves no one
but me-gnd in the end She persuaded
him to elope with her. I discovered the
fact from my maid, who learned it from
Lady Balscombe's maid. Anne Liford.