Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-03-01
CRAPTER XII. Continued.

Roy, you will do nothing rash?
Promise me. for your mothers sake.
Remember, she has only you"
81 shall avenge my honor" the Earl
answered quietly. but you, Valerie, -
he went on, gently, ''you will not leave
my mother? She loves you. 1t is a
great thing 20 ask you to do-to give
up your life, your pleasures, to be with
her but [ beg it as a favor
Valerie felt her throat choke.
There is no hardship / would not
submit to for your mothers sake" she
replied.
The Earl raised her hand to his lips.
''Thanil you, Valerie" he said SIM
ply. Tell my mother | am coming to
speak to her soon. | want her to 90
TO her favorite house in Scotland for
q little time. or anywhere. She must
leave here
Valerie smiled family. and turned
away as he entered the library.
''All goes we'll" she murmured to
herself. "Hc prays me to remain-hc
will find soon he cannot do without me-
and Lady Alice will be forgotten.
Does he love her-is he suffering from
his heart or his pride at her Hight?
Pride. ! am certain he is a Darrell,
and therefore dishOner is to him the
greatest of all evils. Now, it only
wants Jura to send the report Of her
death, and the game is mine. | feel
free, light as air, after long,
wretched, dark imprisonment. Paul
gone from my path-happiness before
me-
The Earl shut the door of the library,
aul drawing a chair to the table
buried his face on his folded arms.
He was simply stunned by the news
Of Alices faithlessness and sin: the
vision of her sweet beauty haunted
him. and even, when proofs were
strongest against her. the thought of
her innate purity and goodness would
come like a flash of light.
He remembered her as he held her
for that few brief seconds IN his arms
that night in the conservatory: it was
she face Of an angel in it's fair love-
Illness
such woman could not sin.
Yet how could he explain the Cir
Gums; ances? Look which way he
might he saw nothing but the most
damnjng and conclusive evidence OF
her guilt.
A ilnock at the door reused him, and
his man Mason entered.
''Ihere'S gentleman wants to see
you. my Lord" he said quietly.
lean see no one" the Earl replied
hastily
He told me to give you this card,
and beg you to see him for Il few min
utes, my Lord
The Earl took the card.
Frank Meredith staying with
Armistead at the Grange. Well, let
him come in, Mason"
Mason bowed, and in q few seconds
returned ushering in Frank Meredith.
Il must apologize for intruding on
your privacy, Lord Darrell, " Frank be-
gan courteously, but | wish to speak
with YOU most particularly"
The Earl bowed: he seemed to know
his guests face.
''NOu are looking at me, | see, :"
Frank went on. I'VE have met before.
DO YOU remember, a few days ago. you
had q riding party to the old abbey
ruins?"
The Earl terminated.
yes. | remember now. You are
the gentleman who very kindly as
sisted the-the Countess OF Oar
rell. / thank you. sir, for
Roy voice failed
Frank went on quickly:
Lord Darrell, it is not a moment to
miuce matters. [ know your trouble.
/ think | can appreciate your grief. |
have come here to tell you think you
have been the victim of some horrible
treachery.'
Roy's heart stood still, then beat
quicker than ever.
600 on, - he said in low tones.
Il had the honor OF short conversa-
ton with Lady Darrell that morning
at the ruins and, thinking her a neg
lected. sOrrowful woman, urged by
some strange feeling ! begged her to
let me be her friend After Il mo-
ment's hesitation she agreed. and
handed her two cards with my address,
one at the Grange and the other in
London. She promised me if she ever
needed help she would send for me.
Have those cards been discovered:H
Roy rose hurriedly.
II will ring for her maid and ask"
He paced the floor in widest agita-
ton till Davis came. How he re-
preached himself A stranger had
read her misery, and he was blind.
Davis knew nothing OF the cards.
Il have looked through everything.
any lord" she said, coming back after
a time. They are nowhere. My dear
mistress left all her clothes. She had
puIN heI W Hltc slim pclSh olI. hSi tloah
and hat. Oh, dear, | feel something
terrible has happened to her"
The Earl waved her away, and Frank
only waited till the maid had gone.
Then he walked up to the Earl.
Did YOU hear that? Would any wo-
man deliberately go away in this damp
cold weather, clad only in a dressing
gown? [ am convinced there is some
treachery. Listen; | came over here
at Armistead S request. Last night
were sitting up late, when we heard a
slight noise, and going to discover
what it was. we discovered two men
crouching outside the house. They
lied like hares. We chased them.
They took the direction OF the Abbey
ruins Two nights before | imagined
! heard something outside, but | took
no notice of it. Armistead has gone
up to town to bring down couple of
detectives. and we will get to the bot
tom of the affair. ! have come to tell
+b;, onI So Sunnprt my thap,,y h ot