The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-12-07
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LNSh uS ie sat there 10uCllltliiS AlLi- |
self on the comfortable evening be-
fore him, sharp, imperative rap at the
outer door broke in on his pleasant
meditations, and moment later the
door of the study opened to admit q
visitor. =. .1s 2s3.es>e
Tho man was well wrapped up, and
his cap veg pulled down over his fore
head so that little of his face was Wis
ible, br- Mr.. Niles caught the sinister
glear Of pair of dark eyes which
Sc ! to pierce him through. =
BOD eyerlng," said the clergyman |
Irteously; twill you be seated?"
The MAJ waved back the offered |
chair as he stood with his hand still
on the door. Z
rs this Mr.. Miles?' Il
"Y es, sir"
"fou ure wanted at Ashcroft at
e.nce."
"At Ashcroft" said Mr.. Miles with
a start Of astonishment. "Who wants.
me?" Is any one illf" ;,
''The master Of Ashcroft is DYING
"Dying-Mr Beaumont dying! Why
only last Wedn ,sday l saw nm rioins
past on horseback"
"wednesday was three days ago,
said the stranger. IA great deal may
happen in three days" ,.,u
Mt Miles rapidly ran over IN .is
mind the few items Of information nc
had of Mr. Bronson Beaumont, the
mostcr of the finest estate in the toWh'
and allowed to himself that such III
formation was very meager.
man of wealth and leisure' nun
WHO ney,r went inside church'
1orl, silent. uncommunicative man
who. ton wears before, had come ifom
M ono inst knew where, purchaser the
beautiful estate Of Ashcroft, ana set-
tlod down TO a life of seclusion.
Uo never visited, and those peop,e
: who had called on him in nelghporiy
n wov. never got any farther thah nls
9 holi door, Not at home, was the mes
It sage each and every wouia-oe 'i'i'o-
d received. n, ond
), Mr., Miles rose little reiuc'ahuy anu
u ! mt on his boots and overcoat 4
: : There was q carriage at the uooil
u ana fine strange messenger, hasnis 49,
~ M, Niles inside the vehicle, closeu W.
i. dnnr mounted to the seat pesioe Wy
+ cosshmap. and. tlle horses wnifieo rap
Z ely away. ,,,,os 70 Ashcroft
Mt ,,,t the distance was soon coveieu' " NJ
t u.,s corriore door was opened lor MI
hit Miles to alight. sba
ut mo boll was dinly lighted by snau
IN -, Inmp. MS was the broad sl al no,;
~, which n somber-racea selN"h'
d ,p the young clergy man. ,,.s onor
- o' door Mt the head of the STAIRS opeh
-. so n;se,esslv. and tall woman III
is Gu snos no Of dark-red silk, with creamy, "
RI , ure'I lace at her throat where sits,
he INV .r"ot diamond cleaned IKE e''
n, setenned into the passage. - ,,odov
al Hnr face was somewhat III snauH :;
I'd M Mr Miles perceived that her sMl
IL. n ,,,a. foir and pale, and that hei es,
nd MaS dor,, and intensely brllhant' an
he t No. bar checks burned with tne wy
its onin,son of some strange eNci.eiiien..
It'll eii, Without word, she laid sing
n ~ .,,,;to hand on the clergymahs az
VA d,ev him within spacious elai
o. ' mar uchted only by the fittui n ma
~ oei q smouldering fire on the hearth
Va M, u 80 w,s n curtained bed III u
ous -,.ahor,.u corner Of the room, anu
'dy s sros eosy to see from the way tne eo ~
M"o was drawn up that the PED III
MP an ,c, uoeu Woman drew Mr.. Miles to I
,.dsido and spoke in a Whisper
bly, Mi ..NIr beaumont is dying. IL Is
get I'll and mine that you unite us
ar,.;,go And no time must pe ~
for the end is near - >,,,os az,
Ca ~ aput madam" said Mr.. Miles,, u, u
to ,s somewhat unusual proceeull
~ 10 ebo,,ld he a license ana W
9 so neSSeS. :, .;a Tho WON.
set Both are here" sala 'hc "on,'
the ID sba handed him folded pap
,ybile ot the same time out from
sh,dovys behind the beds head ca
Ask two norsons. and one of them was
man who had summoned the mlnls'
ot,o Courtney Miles ran his eye rapi
at over the document presented him,
Govt that it was in regular form, gra
- mo nermission for the rites or ma
,nonv TO be performed between Br
con beaumont, aged fifty-six, and .
nos Leslie, aged twenty -four.
Yet. in spite of this, Mr.. Miles h
+oted' The whole affair wore for
stronge-nay, suspicious aspec
81 mist speak to Mr.. Beaumont"
"A so;d moving toward the half-shrou
IL pillows. ., Gotta \
- I,eslie-"it would only agitate MN.
- is all arranged between US. You d
ia only to perform the marriage G
tiers mony." nut ~
s ssi she put her hand within the
t ,c1s, hand of the beds occupant, ana
woTk colby: \
= or II am waiting. Go on. e
hard Something in her calm, contrt
,a.s: . voice influenced Miles in spite OF
- better Judgment, and in voice W
i was far from being steady he read
Il marriage service.
II The responses were distinct INC
Il very low, and when the strange
a was over, the new-made bride SIG
n drew aside the curtain and pressed
Il Inns to the pale forehead OF the
s. which was lying half-turned ava!
81 the pillows.
Il 81 thank you," she said, as she !
81 her face, white as death, to the cl'
81 man. "and here is your fee. You
n he taken home as you came. Inc
rage is at the door Goodnight
81 She half pushed the dazed young
"a out into the passageway, and close'
81 door,
s. Mr.. Miles descended the stairs,
wondering IL he were awake OF I'll
~ ing, turned toward the outer
- when from one Of the rooms, a.
a front of the house, there ghdeo
"a slight figure of young girl.
al Her brown hair fell down her
~ dnrc In mild ooofueicn her great