Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-21

"a A In q fetp minutes sdp them riding doirn | the dUcnuc.
 some couple, and sighed to think how the outward appearance of Felix belied | his foul spirit. Olivia looked remarka- bly, beautiful and managed her horse to perfection As they drew near noticed their haggard looks, as though they had passed the night without sleep, and l again the thought flashed through my mind that there might be an understand ing between them.
 But, however much Olivia knew, I felt sure she was ignorant that Francis had been done to death by his brother, | else even she would have recoiled from so base a scoundrel.
 Here we are, you see," said Felix defiantly as raised my hat to Miss Bellin, quite ready to set out on this wild goose chase
 'I am afraid you will find it more se- rious than you think, Briarfield ''At all events, we won't find that body you speak of. "
 "I am certain you will, MT. Felix Bri- arfield-"
 'You still insist that Francis is Fe- lix?' said Olivia as we rode on together.
 ''I am absolutely certain of it. ' | What about this?'' interposed Felix, refining up his horse and handing in a telegram. 'fOlivia received it this morn ing"
 I glanced at the telegram. It was from Felix in Paris to Olivia at Marsh minister and stated that he was going to Italy in few days, but hoped to re- turn for the wedding. I handed it back without remark, but it struck me as strange that such matter should have been sent by wire instead of by post. The telegram. to my mind, was another move in the game Felix was playing so boldly.
 Well, Denham," he said, restoring it to his pocket, you see by that tcle- gram that Felix is in Paris, and. if so, I must be Francis"
 'In that case, said I, looking at him keenly, "who is the dead man at the Fen inn
 ''There is none there," he answered jestingly, yet with lurking anxiety which was quick to note. .:I have no third brother. We are twins, not trip lets
 vouchsafed no reply to this witti cism, which judged to be in bad taste, but rode on rapidly. By this time we had left the town far behind and were some way on the winding road which crossed the marshes. Miss Bellin evi- dently did not desire to talk. for she pushed forward well in front, and ds Felix also relapsed into silence we rode on smartly without uttering word. A more dismal riding party I never sew. The keen wind brought a touch of color into the pale cheeks of Olivia, but she had dark circles under her eyes and looked considerably worried. Felix rode by her side and addressed her every now and then, but I was too far in the rear to know what they said. felt anything but comfortable while fn their compa ny, as they regarded me with great dis favor.
 "Never mind,'' thought, touching my horse with the whip. "Once bring Felix face to face with his dead brother, j and he will be forced to abandon these airs. At whatever cost, I must tear the mask of him, if only for the sake of that poor girl, who believes so firmly in such villain" There was no change in the appearance of the Fen inn as we rode up to it save that it looked more ruinous than ever. The solitary build ing had a sinister aspect, and even in the bright sunshine hinted at secret murder. noticed how thick grew the grass around the house, thereby marking more strongly its desertion and desola- tion- Sure enough, it had not been in habited for a considerable period, and this fact alone reused my suspicious as to the motives of Strent and his daugh- ter. They could have no good design in staying in so haggard dwelling.
 You see, the inn is a ruin," said
 Olivia, pointing toward it with her rid
 ing whip. "No one could find shelter there even for one night"
 ''I did, Miss Bellin. Tt was a dream, " she answered-'an idle dream You may have slept there, but you never met Francis within its ! walls"
 "We are on a fools errand, {" said Fe- lix derisively. "I thought so all along. ''
 Come and sec" said, dismounting , at the door of the inn. "He laughs best . who laughs last-''
 , It seemed to me that Olivia made as
 though to turn her horses head away
 from the house, but by this time ths
 hand of Felix whs already on the bridls |, rein, and she suppressed the momentary
 Inclination to flee. The action revived !. my suspicious. With a half sigh sh, 0 dismounted with the aid of Felix. an h we entered the house e All was as I had left it. The blind d were down, the room mildewed and des e olate, the fireplace filled with heaps c I gray ashes. Olivia drew her ridin
 skirts closely round her and shuddered d I led up stairs to the room of Francis k Here the door had fallen down, and W F. walked on it into the room. To my SUI e prise, the bed was empty. d Well, Dcnham," said Felix after n pause, "where is the dead body to whol It you have given my name?" y Some one has been here and taken IT away" Is ''I don't think SO The absence of tf r. body only proves the truth of what Ie said from the first. You dreamed yot ,e adventure.
 y Before could reply Olivia burst in D hysterical tears. The strain on h.