Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-08-10
CHAPTER TX.
AN UNSEEN WITNESS.
ar slvme was perfectly right.

Grace Lester dCcepleu WpuOuV duOoOlOh
the poor disfgured body, brought to her
the morning after the frightful accident,
as that of her only and we'll beloved child.
Her grief was unbounded; yet, i'll and
wholly unprepared though she was. super
human strength seemed given her to beai
ND under the terrible affection.
The hour for the funeral arrived, and,
as was to be expected under the strange,
and even dreadful, as we'll as romantic
circumstances, the little cottage and
grounds about it, were filled with sympa-
! thizino or curious friends and neighbors
The lonely widow. who now deemed
| herself childless, and the unhappy hus-
band. with few intimate friends, among
whom were Raymond Fielding, his sister
Meta. Mr.. Henley, and old William Raw
lev. and his wife, Hannah, occupied
little room by themselves during the serv-
ices.
In the crowded parlor, where the closed
coffin occupied q place in front OF the
mantel, Oscar Slyme had taken up his
| post of observation.
He had selected the corner nearest the
head Of the casket, from whence, without
running much risk of being observed
himself, he could see all that passed In the
room, as we'll us note through window
at his elbow all who entered or passed out
through the front door.
The assiduous secretary remained until
the services were over, and the funeral
corteee had started for the picturesque
cemetery on the hillside; then, feeling
confident he had learned al his mistress
would care to know. he took an early
train for New York.
"Ahl" murmured Cora, when he had
made his report, lit is just as 1 expected;
that Fielding girl was we'll enough TO be
at the funeral, even if she was too Ill to
be at the Wedding. I'm inclined to believe
that shall find it necessary to remove
her also from my path.
Oscar Slyme was watching her face in
tently. and while he did not catch her
words, fully understood. from her looks
and tone, that something displeased her
greatly.
Il have told you something that you
would rather not have heard?" he said,
inquiringly
She looked up hastily, and regarded him
attentively for moment.
Listen, my friend, she at lenglh said,
at does not please me TINT this working
girl-this Meta Fielding, as you say she
is called, should be anything mo- to my
husbands nephew than she is at this mo-
ment; and cannot you SEQ that already
she and her precious brother are schem-
ing for tine pace made vacant, as they
suppose, by the death Of Mildred Les
ter?"
"Ah! 1t does look like it, assented
the private secretary.
More than that Cora went on, hastl-
ly; unless something is done, and done
speedily, they will succeed; for being
more lonely than ever now. and full OF
grief. as undoubtedly he is, naturally he
will turn to them for comfort and sym
pathy; and loving him, as l am sure she
does, it is very easy to see how 1t will oil
end; and it doesn't please me, Mr.. Slyme
Il repe tit doesn't please me at all.
THE secretary looked at her curiously.
"You must love or hate this man very
much" he said, with more than trace OF
suspicion in his tone.
Cora raised her beautiful eyes, and
threw upon him q quick, searching
glance.
Have I not already told yau," she
; said, sharply, that he has mortally Of
Tended me-that l will never forgive him
never. if [ can prevent it, al ow him q
single moment happiness on this earth?'
|
Jealous secretary of her sincerity.
/, What wouldyou have me do?" he asked
humbly enough.
She threw herself back into the chai
from which she had risen, and resting
her head upon her hand, said, after
moments hesitation:
, IL don't know yet let me think.
Then, as if speaking to herself:
"Wa mustn't have the brother turned
, , out of the bank; that was bad move II
l Enoene's case. No; whatever is done nov
! nv hand must in no wise appear. Be
sides, it would do him no good to throw
him out of his situation; the publlshe
: would give him better, as readily as h'
did the other.
NO. no; we must manage in some othe
way: and suspicion-well suspicion mus
be directed toward some other source
And there's another thing-Slyme, ar
, you listening?"
= "Yes, Mrs Eliston."
well. YOU must find out if THAT is
if we are in any way suspected OF the plo
that ended in the young brides supposed
l death; and if so, you must find some wa.
to free us from the suspicion. I don
choose to have it rest on me, at al
events"
IL don't think, ma'am, it can be done,
said the secretary, slowly. And nov
, with regard to the other matter; [ believ
I have plan that will work, and whicl
! I am sure will in no wise compromis
r you.
Then let me hear it, by all means.
. The secretary, in diffident and defer
entail manner, drew his chair o littl
, nearer, and began to speak in a low anc
S rapid tone
! As he continued the lsdy's face flushed
r and her eyes sgarkled with excitemen
and satisfaction.
"Yes, yes, Slyme," she was saying
that will do most admirably. You ar
indeed real treasure, and if you carr
this through as successfully as you dit
> the other your reward"
| And here she was interrupted by knocl
$ on the library door.
"Come!" she called, impatiently, and
footman entered with a card on a silve
5. salver.
Cora glanced carelessly at the card
D and then, as every vestige of color lef
2 her face, gasped out rather than spok
r the name of Eugene Cleveland
9 "Clevelandl" echoed Slyme, in ton
S O; CONSERVATION. what can ne wan
Q here at this time? lie must have com
directly from the deIot."
I 1T don't know what he vants on