Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-18
CHAPTER XVII.

WITNESS To HER ANNOCENCE
Next evening. Edgar having just re-
turned from a day among h electors,
was greeted with the news that Mr.. Sir
combe had arrived within the hour. and
that Lord Inchcape desired to see Mr..
Arden at once.
Edgar found my lord at home; he had
not received his secretary until he could
have Edgar to support him.
81 shall do whatever you please, my
dear EDGAR said his lordship. and he
showed him into his private sane
tum, with the door aiar, that Edgar
might hear the CONVEX alton and appear
at his cue. Then he sent for his secre-
tary.
Both men started when they met each
other; Sireombe missed the hopeless look
on the Earl's worn face, and Lord Inch
cape was astonished at the haggard
change on SircOmbe's
He could not guess that his secretary
had incurred blood outlines since last
he saw him.
Edgar could hardly recognize the
husky, hesitating voice which answered
Lord Inchcape'S inquiries concerning
the ladies on S4eat-na- Nrecken.
Neither or them as well as usual!
| What /, the matter2n exclaimed Lord
Inchcape, repeating Sircombe's words.
"A rather painful occurrence hap
pened last week, which Gems to have
caused them great distres 4" returned
SircOmbe, turning away his face I'M
comfortably. a young man who had
been cast ashore from 4 yacht In a storm
was received into the tower by my lady,
| and nLrsed back TO heath He was a
| stranger, but a gentleman, and knew
| how TO recommend himself 70 my ladies.
| Last week he CHANGED 10 go out alone in
/ the skif, and was drowned This has
afflicted the ladies greatly; they have
| been overwhelmed with grief.s
~He was drOWnedi7 echoed Lord Inch
| cape. amazedly. for Of this portion OF the
/ story Edgar had said nothing.
The secretary gave an account of the
l strangers sOjOurn at the island, and
/ with obvious confusion mar. ated his mel
aneholy end
The Earl was puzzled, but presently
/ dropped the subject and took up the
business he had sent for SircOmbe tC
/ discuss.
MIR Sircomba," sad he, abruptly.
| looking him full in the face, @why have
| you deceived me?"
SircOmbe turned pale as death, and
/ waited for more, but the Earl, by Ed
/ CARS instructions, added not another
/ word
81 am at loss stammered he.
ITO what can your lordship aliude?"
y e
/ truth at last said Lord Inchcape
sternly.
| SircOmbe sank back in his chair hal
| fainting. HIS only thought was that il
/ some supernatul al way Lord InchcapC
/ had discovered the truth OF the young
| strangers di appearance
Fer a moment ne wish d that he haC
in his pocket a pinch of poison, that hC
might swallow it before his ruin fell up
on him.
Utterly specifies, he could only
glare at his patron and struggle fol
! breath.
I see you know too we'll TO what I al
! lude," cried Lord Inchcape, in sudden
! fierce triumph. %Yonr very looks cln
denim you. and prove that foul wrong
has been done the Innocent"
@MercY. mercy" my lordl" gaspeC
| Sircombe. far too bewildered TO pick hi
words at was done on the impul o
moment OF madness, and bitterly re
pented-aye, with tears Of tOrturing
anguish.
@Strange repentance, that brought n,
reparation.7 cried Lord Inchcape, scorn
/ fully; @and that allowed you to live a
ease in the very presence Of your I'm
happy victims
@0h, God forgive metz groaned the
wretched man, convinced that AL wa!
/ us .ONcIH0 ul inc A-1LAs anu ONCI " uHAluGN
with shame and fear. IF my life could
| purchase his. l would yield it up gladly.
While Lord Inchcape was staring il
astOnishment at this incomprehensiblC
! speech, the door opposite Sircomb'
swung open and Edgar Arden stood be
fore him.
He started up. glared. gave on,
scream, and fell in dead faint
Lord Incheape's eyes inquired of Ed
/ gar the meaning Of all this
Leave him to me, now, my lord.
whispered Edgar radiantly. -AIl IS go
ing on admirably. Express no surprise
only speak when 1 look At YOU
minute or two restored the secre
tary. he got mp from the carpet with Ed
gar's help, and dung himself into hi
chair with a groan, covering his fact
with his hands
He had never tainted In his life be
/ fore; but he was not a strong man phys
ically, and his recent distress OF minS
had reduced what strength he had; be
sides, the sudden apparition OF the maj
he had supposed dead in the cell OF tn
Southern Bastion, was enough to over
come any one
And now, as he covered there beforl
the two gentlemen, he was thinking him
self q ruined man; even the acQte relic.
OF finding his victim alive, and -himsel
no murderer, was not enough TO beguill
him from his dread Of consequences
~4ou see there wa 3 mistake abon
my fata.n said Edgar e. soon IS hl
taought siyaomhe Eas sbls e fellQW Il