Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-17
CHAPTER XIII,

since she had lived with Lady Charm
leigh had such message been sent to
her.
She sent once or twice to inquire II
there was anything Lady Charnleigh
required; the answer was always the
same, mo" So, while the great world
went on its way, heartless, rejoicing,
careless Of all suffering, Leonie lay in
darkened room during the fierce,
hard battle-at war with herself.
She had foreseen no such comrllca-
tion as this when she had decided on
hiding the will. Would anyone have
dreamed that the old earl would be
filled with such sentimental idea as
to write a letter and place it in the
picture of the woman he loved for her
son to find?
Il am in reality no worse off than |
was before" she thought finding the
letter will prove of no consequence UNI
le IS they can find tie willard that
will destroy
Such u hard, worn, wearied look
came over the young face as complete
ly changed it. She was thinking Of
such desperate deeds. Thus far on the
path, she would not ret ace her stops,
she would not lock back. She had inn
periled all that she held most dear
her hearts love, her souls salvation;
it was not probable that few words
from Ethel Dacre would change her.
"She called me dishonorable," said
the girl; what would she call me if
she knew that had not only found the
will, but had hidden it-that | had
willfully defrauded Paul Flemyng"
A keen, burning sense Of humiliation
filled her heart al the time. She
thought with angry impatienCe Of the
brilliant scene where she had intended
this night to reign queen; she
thought of the engagements of the
morrow which she would he obliged to
forego.
" wish l had never seea Ethel
Dacre, she said to herself 81 wish |
had not let her touch that picture"
She imagined to herself how Ethel
would write that very evening to Paul,
inclosing the letter and bidding him
hasten to Crown leighton to search
for the will He would hasten eagerly
thither ard though she believed 1t
safe and secure, who could tell what
might happen? He might tird it,
and
Then her conscience reproached her;
she knew Paul too well to imagine that
he would oct in that way--his trust in
her was too great, he was too loyal to
himself to dream of disloyalty in her.
Still it was impossible to say what
Ethel would do; she would in any case
make her discovery public, and then
Leonie, who had enjoyed the homage
paid her-who had enjoyed her SOW
ereignty over men-would. incur their
contempt. There was no foreseeing
what might happen, and the only safe
plan she could think of was to go at
once to Crown Leighton and destroy
the will; then she would feel secure.
There was a train that left London
quite early in the morning for Crown
Leighton. She would go by that. There
was no need TO inform Lady Fanshawe;
she could leave a note telling her that
she had gone to Crown Leighton on
important business, but he should be
only a few days away. She rang the
tell, and told Florette to prepare for
the journey,
"Do not look so astonished, ElOrette;
there is nothing so weak as always eX-
pressing great surprise. You will get
up to go with me in the morning; but,
remember, not one word to any one
about the journey"
81 will not mention it, my lady" said
the maid, quite subdued by the vehe-
mence OF her mistress.
81 am not the only person who has
been compelled to take a sudden jour
ney," rejOined Leonie, as though her
conduct required vindication.
The maid was dismissed, and she
was left alone alone to watch through
the long summer night and wait impa-
tiently for the dawn. She could not
sleep; the danger seemed too near her
too ever-present. There could be no
more rest for her until the will was
destroyed. She sat at the window
she listened to the distant roll of car
riages-she watched the dark shades
of night creep over the earth-she
watched the stars glow one by one in
the azure sky. And then, when her
eyes had grown wearied, she lay down
to est-not to sleep-with sleep came
dreams too horrible to bear-but crest,
until the early dawn should chase away
the shades of night,