Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-11-13
THEL0NEI
By FERGUS HUME.
tCopyright. iss., by the Author.l
CHAPTER "

| ltopJUght. w. W the AothotI
CHAPTER "
There was no doubt that Felix In
tended TO continue passing himself of
as Francis For how long ] was uncer
tain: perhaps for the rcst ~ his natura
life ur until he made Olivia his wife
In this latter event he could reveal th'
fraud with impunity and revert TO hi
own identity. could not help thinking
iha, he had been informed bcforchan'
Of the death Of his brother. else he woul,
not have dared 20 keep mp his imp-tur'
with n possible revelation 80 near n
hand Even assuming such Ignorance,
had now told him Of the death myself ant
80 strengthened his position cgret
ted that had not been more cautious
! was curious 20 see whom he wouls
bring forward n witness 81 his idon
tiiy. Scarccly Olivia, as II she oncc has
suspicion of the truth she would ncvel
rcst until all was cleared up 20 her salts
faction hardly thought Felix woult
run such risk. tho more ~ NJ his s'or,
of losing the pcarl ring could not stant
against my assertion that IL was ON th'
finger of this dead man II he still pr
sisted In declaring himself 10 L. Fran
els, I determined that he should rid,
with me io the Fen inn and there 80
the oorpse of the man whose name h.
had 50 shamelcssly assumed That
would surely settle the matter
Felix was bolder than ] gave hin
credit for. ~ his witncs. proved 20 l.
none other than Olivia Bellin She IN
tered the room with assumed lightness,
but her face was anxious. and she glanc
ell every now and then ai felii a.
though 20 seck his aid and counionanco
lie. as was natural. woc a haggard II
preston Ills nerves were tcnsioncd al
10 the highest pitch. matter 81 small
wundcrmcnt. seeing that his life's hap
pines dcpcndod upon this interview.
What l. this strange story you brihg-
Mr.. Dnharly' asked Olivia gr,.'tinl
inc coldly In our b-si days We wor
never oycrfricndly.
"lla. not Mr Briarheld told your
II have no, hal the time. " inter
po-.d Felix quickly. beyond few
hint. of the truth sh. knows nothing.
mo, even that You ARE Felix 'iriar
h.ldf"
"fclirr' repeated Mis. Bollin In sur
priso but yUu arc making . mistake,
Mr. Dcnham Thi. 1. Francis A"
$50 b. says"
"Yuu ,o. Olivia. aid Briarhcld.
addressing Mis- Bcllin. 'Dcnham In
.is;s uIon taking uDe for my bro,hcr fo.
How atsurdi I a.surc you. Mr.
D,.nhan1 that Felix 1. In Paris ~.
c,ivc,l letter from him only this morn
ing
impossible. " aid !. taken atack by
lhs authority u b,r tone
1t l. quite true. =" she ooutinus 1 hur
nUdly. "Elcu-. mc for momsni. and
I shall fc,cn thc letter You must b.
lioyc the .yidencc q your own eyos
WHEN ,he l.fi the rUoui. Felix turned
toward me with CLEAN u triumph In
sis ,y,s
"Arv yOu convinccd''' he a.ked mock
iR.y
"Sa I nm puzzled"
"ln what way"
"To think how you managed % sc'
that letter eni on from Paris without
tsing there yourself"
Against stupidity the gods them.
selves fight In vain. "quoth Felix. shrug'
ging his shoulders II assuc you that
my brother Felix Is In Paris Mis- bel.
lin 1. about 90 prc.lucc a letter received
from him only this morning. and yet
you insist that am no, myself and that
he whom pretend TO bo 1, dead You
Are mad "
Here IL the letter. said Mis- Bel
lin. entering nj this moment lyon sec,
" bcar- the date ~ yesterday lie IL NJ
present staying at the Hotel des Etran.
GER. Rue Il. 81 lIonOre. but talks OF
going to Italy"
| examined the letter closely. II wa
crnuino enough OF that there was no
doubt, as 10 bore the French and Eng
lish postmarks lquite believed that u
was written by Felix. but also that u
had b.cn forwarded from Paris by an
emissary ~ the young man In order a.
keep up the no.dful deception Certain.
ly Felix had q marked talent for In.
triguo
III Felix Briaraeld j. In Paris. said
l. handing back the letter 10 Olivia,
"who was IL met at the Fen inn last
night"
The Fen inni" replied Olivia, with
q puzzled look. "why. no one lives thcr'
now. Mr. Dcnham- II l. IN ruins and
has been empty for over two years
Nevertheless IL was tenan,od las,
night. and I slept there. also ! met
Francis Briarfeld at the same place
"francis was not out Of the house lasi
night. declared Olivia dccisiyely.
quite true" he replied II went to
bed early with a bad headache
"lt was not you met at the inn last
night. but your brother Francis
"Iiow can you persist in 80 foolish
storyf" said Olivia angrily. This Is
Francis. and Felix Is In Paris You
could not have met either Of them al
tho Fen inn Last night, and indeed
can't Relieve that you slcp, there at all.
81 did. Miss Bellin. and there met
Francis
III you did. where Is he nowi Why
no, clear up the mystery by bringing
him here with youf'
because he Is dead.
"Deadv' she echoed. catching the
arm of Francis "Deadl WHO'S dcadf
''Franms Briarfeld."
"He is mad" she said TO Felix In
low tone. her face white with fear.
Upon my word. I am beginning q
think 20 myself" said. losing my
temper. "but I declare ON my oath thai
Ispcak the truth. There is only one wa,
/ of solving the riddle Come out with
me % the Fen inn and look ON the fac
Of the dead man say Is Francis Briar
field A single glance will give the III
to the assertion oi. this man who pro
tends 10 be your loyer!"
Felix looked at Olivia, she ut him
II seemed TO me that they grew q sha'l'
/ paler. wondered whether any guilt,
bond existed between them, ~ certain
" they seemed TO understand one an
other very well Olivia appeared anx
,ous to protect Felix from harm Eithel
she really believed him to be Francis u
had taken her heart from one brothe1
and given it to tho other. II was sh'
who spoke first. and throughout the In