Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-21

81 dare not tell Joan that meant to run
away with Hugh Ferrars, and he and ar
ranged by letter to meet in the grounds here
at ight, and go together to London and be
married there. 1 went out that night afraid
and trembling as you may think at the ap-
pointed hour, and just as 1 entered the
grounds I thought heard a shot. I was
frightened, but still went on to the spot
beneath the trees where Hugh and met
before. 1t was windy, moonlight night,
and sometimes the moon was overcast. But
it was shining as entered the grove where
I expected to find Hugh waiting for me-
Oil my God: that awful scene rises before
me now. 1 heard groans, and as I ap-
me everything distinctly. I saw Hugh
Ferrars standing with an awful look on his
face; saw Joan kneeling on the ground,
Robert Conray lying on it. with his head
| pillowed on her breast! Hugh Ferrars had
| shot him; he had mistaken Joan for me:
had seen the girl he loved, the girl who
| was about to fly with him, in the arms of
another man. and in moment of mad
ness. Of jealous rage, he had shot his
| triendp'
'Tt is terrible story" said Sir James
with darkening brow.
''There had been some murder in the
train at that time, and so Hugh Ferrars
had carried small loaded revolver with
him when he came to Tyeford, or this terri
Bile mistake would not have happened. As
it was, Robert Conray died on Joan's
breast-his liteblooI stained her white
gown, and there was nothing left TO Hugh
Ferrars but to disappear. Had he been ar
rested for Robert Conray's murder, Joan's
reputation would have been lost, for one of
the orderlies stated at the inquest that he had
seen lady whom he thought was the Gen.
erals wife with Captain Conray in the
grounds on the night Of the murder. Then
1 came forward; 1 said had been with
Robert Conray in the grounds, but that 1
had left him well and uniniured. I stated
also that was engaged to him. I did it to
save oan, and persuaded Hugh Ferrars
to go quietly away. Yet somehow suspicion
fell on him. He had disappeared from his
rooms in town on the very day of the
murder, and finally warrant was issued
for his arrest. But he was never found
and two years passed away-and 1 saw him
again. Saw him lying wounded on the
shore at Newbrough-o and-and
knew him once more. James, the soldier
Dare was no other than Hugh Ferrars, and
when you saw us meet by the loch near
Strathloe 1 had sent for him to~arn him.
Poor Joan in her lever had bahbled out the
dreadful secret, and General Conray came
to Kintore to induce me to confirm it. de-
MED everything, and 1 sent for Hugh Fer
rars to give him money'to leave Engla
forever; to fly, in fact, for his lite. He re-
fused the money, and perhaps you can bet
ter understand now what you saw was
parting with my old lover for ever-parting
with hunted, miserable man."
Sobs here choked Miriam's further utter
ance, and she fell back exhausted on the
pillow, and for a moment or two Sir James
spoke no word. Then he bent forward and
took one OF her cold, trembling hands.
MY poor gir.," he said, you have
suffered terribly for others"
IL loved Joan SO much" wept Miriam,
"and was so sorry tor poor Hugh"
But you loved him?" asked Sir James
in low, broken voice.
81 did when L was a girl; but James
never wronged you-never even in thought"
There was silence in the room a ter this
a silence broken only by Miriam's muffied
sobs. But suddenly SirJames fell down on
his knees BY the bedside and bowed his head
over Miriam's hand, which he still held
sit broke my heart, Miriam" he mur-
INJURED; "it broke my heart"
She did not speak, but she family pressed |
the hand in hers. And alter awhile; after |
a brief struggle in his mind, Sir James
raised his head and looked in her lace.
''You have told me the truth, he said, |
''and 1 want you to answer me truthfuliy |
one question more? 1 have made up nv |
mind to leave England, to exchange into q
regiment in India, and before 60 wished |
to see you to make arrangement ior your |
maintenance"
"To leave EnglandP' interrupted Miriam |
in startled voice.
Eyes; but after 1 have heard your story |
will you tell me what you really feel? |
Will the memory of the dead soldier always |
come between your heart and mine?"
He asked this question gravely, solemnly, |
with his eyes fixed on her lace, but M:riam's |
answer was not given in words She bent
forward and kissed him, and Sir James
asked no more. But an hour afterward,
when Mrs Clyde entered the room, she
found the husband seated by the wite's
bedside with her hands fast clasped in his
THE END.