The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-12-14
CHAPTER ".
Presumutive Eviaenc.


About noon, on the End of February,
1907, mounted messenger, his horse
covered with foam, galloped up to the
door of the snug cottage which was
near mile from any other house. and
fully twelve miles from Dareleigh Park.
The door was opened to him by the
mister Of the cottage himself, to whom
this messenger handed letter, at the
same time saying:
For Mr.. Arnold Lindsay from Wis.
count Darclclgh."
And rapidly wheeling his horse round,
was gnlloping back on the road by
which lie had arrived before the recdp.
lent of the letter had fairly hold Of Il.
Arnold Lindsay called after the mes
senger to stop, but the man either did
not, or would not, hear him.
And Lindsay was surprised at such a
strange proceeding, and vexed that he
had not been able to ask a single aues.
ton Of the man.
count Dareleigh's only son, who had
died, us we already knew, during the
late pestilence.
A man of sterling worth, of psrtect
honor, or rigid honesty, was Arnold
Lindsay.
For years he had been of necessity a
resident with the Dareleighs; the son
mad loved him and rever.sl him next to
his own father: and how entirely lie
had won the friendship and confidence
OF the old viscOunt. the statement we
have heard him MAKE: concerning his
will, las sufficiently proved.
1t was not. until he had quilted the
Dareleighs that he was allowed to think
OF matrimOny; but he then, Mt forty
years OF age. became the husband of
one whom he mad long loycd, and by
whom he had been long beloved.
Mrs. Lindsay was ten years her hus-
bands junior.
About year after their marriage
child had been born to them. to whom,
had been given the name Of Emmeline.
AS little Emmel!ne, now about six
months old, will grow to- womanhoOtl,
and become the heroine Of our story,
we cannot too soon bespeak for her the
interest Of the reader.
We must now explain the contents of
that letter which had been brought 80
hurrielly to Arnold Lindsay.
In it the old viscount said that, con-
trary to all his expectations, he felt
that he was not yet to die. that he was
very much better; 80 well, indeed, that
when his friend Lindsay received that
letter, the viscount himself would be
on his way to London, there to arrange
some. very important matters which
would detain him some months In town.
But he could no longer be deprived of
his little grandson, and entreated that
Lindsay would ut once set forth to-
wards the village to which the child
had been sent with his nurse, and bring
the infant back with him, and then on
to One Tree Square, where, beside the
tree, he would find lady in waiting
to receive the child.
That lady would show to Lindsay a
ring engraved with the viscount's fam.
lily crest, and he was then to give the
child to her keeping, with perfect conf
dence that the little fellow would be
well cared for, since the lady. was an
old and tried friend of the viscount's,
who had kindly undertaken to bring
to him his little grandson.
The viscount g lady friend had fixed
on One Tree Square, instead Of Dare
leigh Park, to await the child, because
thereby some miles of travelling would
be saved to both her and the gentle
man from whom she was to receive
the young viscount.
And it would be convenient to catch
the maif-coach, which passed that spot
on its way toward London every even
Ing at few minutes past ten o'clock.
Arnold Lindsay was therefore en-
treated to reach One Tree Square with
his precious burthen by, at latest, a
quarter to ten O'Clock on the night of
the fifth Of February.
1t was pleasurnble surprise to Lind.
soy to learn that his friend and patron
was recovering the health which had
seemed forever lost to him.
Ills preparations for th.. journey he
had 80 Unexpectedly been call al upon
to make were soon completed, and
away he went.
And no ferebotling came to him of
the horrors which were to follow.
On the ninth Of February, four DAYS
after the terrible deed which had been
perpetrated near One Tree Square. Ar.
mold Lindsay was surprised by q visit
from Norton S0wcrby, who, Of course.
was known to Lindsay, and who came.
accompanied by magistrate and sever.
al officers Of the law.
Pardon me, Mr.. Lindsay" said Nor
ton sowerby. 'but, a few days since,
you took from the custody of his nurse
the yfscount's little grandson"
Eyes, certainly" Lindsay replied,
greatly astonished.
And then explained that. by com.
mand Of the viscount. lie had given
possession Of the child to a lady who
had been In waiting at One Tree Square
to receive him.
Gould he describe the lndy?"
mo, he had had no opportunity Of
particularly observing her"
what had she said to liim?"
"Not q word" LldGly replied.