Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-10-08
$40. 1t is the blow"


physical agony that convulsed the
strong frame of the young man.
But she, Eudora, so young and
beautiful, so innocent and so beloved,
to be hurled down to a destruction
so appaling" burst in groans of ang-
uish from the heaving breast of Nal
colm
He dropped his arms and head upon
the table, while soEs of agony con-
vulsed his great chest.
But l will save herr he said to
himself. I'm spite of all this. will
save her. 1 have staked my life, my
soul and honor upon her innocence;
and now l will peril that same life.
soul ard honor for her deliverance:'
This mental resolution gave him
great strength. for at. once he resumed
the command of himself. arose. apalo-
giZed to the lawyer for the eX hibition
of emotion into which he had been
betrayed. and would have resumed the
conversation in calmer frame of
mind. had not Il servant entered and
announced supper.
Malcolm begged the lawyer to OK
cuse for not appearing at the supper
table. and also requested him to bear
his excuses to the magistrates who
had assisted at the coroner s inquest,
and who now remained to supper
The lawyer readily promised to rep
resent Mr.. Montrose to the guests,
and withdrew for that purpose.
Malcolm arose and paced the library
floor, engaged in close thought for
about half an hour then passed out
to seek the privacy of his own cham
ber
The whole house was in a painful
though subdued hustle.
The members of the coroner's jury,
though at liberty to go, had not yet
dispersed. The strange fascination
that spell-binds men to the scene OF
any atrecious crime or awful calam-
ity, kept them lingering about the
halls and chambers of Allworth Alb
hey.
The undertaker's people were also
III the house making preliminary ar
engagements for the approa ching
double funeral. And the servants of
the family were continually passing
to and fro, waiting upon them.
Malcolm passed through them all
and went to his own chamber, locked
himself in, and threw himself upon a
chair near the bay window that over
L
1t was a beautiful summer night.
and the stars that spangled the clear
Dlue-black cOnOpy of heaven were re-
fected on the surface of the Black
Pool like jewels upon an Ethiops's
dark bosom.
But Malcolm had no eve for the
beauty Of the starlight night. He was
thinking of that black and endless
night that had gathered over Eu-
dora's head. He rested his elbow
upon the arms of his chair, and bowed
his head upon his hand, and thus he
sat for more than an hour without
changing his position. Then he arose
and looked forth from the window,
and turned and paced the floor, stop
ping at intervals to listen. Thus
passed another hour. And by this
time the troubled household had set
tied to repose, and all was quiet.
Then Malcolm Montrose left his
room, locking the door and taking
the key with him. and passed down
the long corridor leading to the cen
trail upper-hall and the grand stair
case. When he entered the hall he
saw the constable standing on guard
before the chamber-door of the i'm
prisoned girl. The man was wide
awake, on the alert. and touched his
hat as Mr.. Montrose passed. NAL
colin went down the great staircase
and through the deserted lower-hall
to the main entrance. where he I'M
barred and unlocked the doors and let
himself out.
He took his way Immediately to
the stables. entered them, drew forth
a light chaise. led out a swift horse.
put him between the shafts and fin
nally jumped into the drivers seat
and drove off through the northern
gate towards a thickly-wooded part
of the park until he reached the ruins
OF an ancient nunnery. Then he
jumped uot and fastened his horse
to tree and sought the cellars of
the ruins, reiterating his resolution:
Il have staked my life. soul and
honor upon Eudora's innocence, and
now to peril life soul. and honor for
Eudora's salvation!"
CHAPTER vi.
& The chamber in which Lady Leaton
had died and where Eudora was i'm
prisoned had. in the olden time. been
the abbots apartment. It was a vast.
dark, gloomy room, now dimly lighted
by lamp that stood upon the mantel-
shelf.
For long time after Malcolm Mon
trose, DIR. Watkins and the constables
had Withdrawn from the chamber,
Eudora remained, crushed back in the
depths Of the large chair. with her
head bowed upon her bosom. her black
ringlets falling forward and half veil
ing her beautiful dark face, her left
hand that Malcolm had resigned fall
ing listlessly down by liz: side and
her right hand still clasrca in that of
Tabitha, who continued to stand by
her side. No word was spoken be-
tween them as yet. Eudora was
buried in profound, agoni&ing and be-
'wildering thought, such as always
overwhelms the sensitive victim of
any sudden and crushing misfortune.
The shock OF the thunderbolt that had
just fallen upon her. devastating her
inner life and leaving the outer still,
and black, and threatening, the vast,
dark. sotnbre. room, the dead silence
around her I'LL combined to shake her
reason to it's center. In the confusion
wrought among nerves, head and brain
by this inner storm of sensation,
thought and suffering she was fast
1ngiuy Onpflo,>nn tnr tr,ct In