Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-09-03
CHAPTER III.


her way into every heart in the house
hold. No one could meet the soft, APP
pealing gaze of her large, dark, Orient
al eyes, or hear the plaintive tones Of
her low, deep, sweet voice, without
feeling powerfully drawn towards her
No one could be with her long without
seeing that the angel form was ten
anted by an angel spirit, too.
Eudora became the darling Of the
household. And yet, from all events
that quickly followed, it would seem
that the provisions Of the Princess
Pezzilini had been true.
First of all, the father of the family,
Lord Leaton, man in the early prime
! of life and the full enjoyment of the
/ finest health, sickened with strange
disease that batiled all the skill and
science of his medical attendants.
, The most competent nurses were en-
gagged to take their turns, day and
night at his bedside.
The ladies of the family also wed
| with each other in their attentions to
the invalid. But is was observed that
/ in his moments Of greatest suffering
except his niece Eudora.
This might be explained by the cir
cumstances that Eudora's presence
was very soothing, her step was noise
! less, her motions smooth, her touch
soft, her voice low and her gaze gen
tie; and all this had a. very calming
| and subduing effect upon the irritable
invalid. And thus Eudera became al
most fixture beside his couch. And
all who loved Lord Leaton were CRATE
full to the gentle girl, who patiently
resigned her daily recreations and her
nightly repose to devote herself to
Lin.
All except the Princess Pezzilini,
who was observed to shake her head
and murmur to herself:
''The fascination Of the cobra-di
capella!'
But no one paid attention to the MUIR
INJURED remarks Of the lady, especially
as even she herself did not escape the
charms Of Eudova's presence, but fire.
quently fell under the sweet spell that
bound all hearts to the beautiful girl.
At length, one night, Eudora, worn
out with fatigue, was ordered to go to
her bed. She mixed the sleeping
draught for her uncle, put it in the
hands of her aunt, and retired to her
watch by the bedside of her husband.
She set the sleeping potion down
upon stand near the head Of the bed
until Lord Leaton should awake from
the light doze into which he had fallen
and she went out to her dressing room
to change her dress for a warmer
wrapper in which to sit up and watch
the invalid.
1t was while she stood before the
looking-glass which was opposite the
door and reflected a portion of the ad-
joining room that Lady Leaton saw
the shadow of female figure glide
along the wall and at the same mo-
ment heard the rustic of silk dress.
She Immediately turned and entered
the chamber. but found no one there.
Lord Leaton had just awakened and
turned over.
HAS any one been here?' inquired
her ladyship.
''No one at ALL" he answered.
cit was fancy. them" muttered the
lady to herself. as she gave the sleep
ing draught to her husband.
He drank it to the dregs; vet 1t did
not seem to produce the usual effects.
The patient could not get to sleep; on
the contrary. he grew more and more
restless and soon became violently i'll.
Lady Leaton. in alarm, aroused the
servants. and dispatched a messenger
to Poolville. the adjoining village, for
their medical attendant. who immedi-
ately fastened to the bedside of his
patient. But the utmost skill of the
physician was unavailing. for, before
morning, Lord Leaton expired.
1t was then that the medical attend.
ant felt it his duty to declare to the
srieving widow that her husband had
died from the effects of virulent
poison, and to demand an investiga-
ton by the coroner's jury.
This would have been terrible
blow to Lady Leaton could she have
been made to receive it. But she in
dignantly repudiated the idea.
What, he poisoned ?-he, Lord Lea
ton, who was so kind-hearted that he
would not have crushed worm in his
path, or killed wasp that stNng him?
he. who was so universally beloved
and honored that he had not one
enemy In the wide world ?-he, In
whose premature death no one could
have a benefit. but In whose beneflcent
life thousands possessed the deepest
interest ?--he taken of by foul meansf
The idea was too preposterOus as well
% too dreadful to believe. ~
No; the horror Of such o suspicion