Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-11-06
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CHAPTER XXVII.-(Continued.)
Mr.. Marsh positively gasped, as if the
volubility Of the accusation had taken his
breath away. He glanced at the accuser.
She looked, with her flaming eyes and
resolute face. very much in earnest; bat
still he felt that he must not be borne
down by mere glibness of assertion.
ut is a good old principle of our Eng
lish law, mademoiselle, that Il man is to
be considered innocent until he has been
proved guilty. Now, all l nave seen of
Sir Richard, and all l nave heard of him.
except from yourself, is very much to his
credit. If You wan me to change my
opinion you must give me proofs"
You shall have tllcm," said Glitka.
You arc, as | believe that you adj
United in conversation with Superintcnd-
ent swami said the London merchant,
"the writer of the anonymous letter
which | received in town. You are also
n bitter enemy of Sir Richard's?"
Yes. because loved him" interrupted
the Hungarian girl, with her dark eyes
blazing out like those of n hurt wild
beast that turns on the hunter. 81 vas
l:s promised bride-wc were betrothcd-
II lie threw me off. Yes, / hate the man!
Now hear me-"
And in rapid, burning words Lady
Ihorsdale's maid related how she had.
In the room habitually occupied by Sir
Richard Mortmain at Thorsdalc Hall. dis
covered in Il drawer the compromising
letter signed "Rufus Crouch" which had
first caused her to send her own anony-
nous communication to Mr.. Marsh him
self in London.
Here it is" she said, us she thrust
1t into the dry-salter's hand. He read it.
not without many an inward twinge of
modification and annoyance.
"The base hypocrite!" he exclaimed;
"the r%ascally d%isscmbler! Why. his
s%coundrel of Il confederate lad appraised
him of the exact amount of my wards
fortune weeks before he came to make
a boast of his disinterested intentions to
me! May l keep this letter. madcmoi-
sclle? You will be rewarded. l need not
say. for your help in unmasking an i'm
poster
Reward me-give mt money-your
sovercigns and your banllnotes, perhaps"
rctorted Gli,ka. with IL hard fierce laugh.
"Ics. that would be we'll for one of Your
English maids, but ] have only one re-
ward TO seek! Now, sir. listen. The let
'tr L nave Ilaceu Ill your llaluS VIII. Il
hope. prove the ruin of the designs IF
him TO whom it WAS sent. iiut l have
Il new weapon whercwith to strike Mt
that hard. pitilcss heart
And then. rapidly and volubly as he
fore. she narrated how she had CHANGED
Il" o%Ncrhcar. in that portion of the shrub
!mry at Thorsdale which bordercd on the
park. through which there was II puhiic
right of Way. Il conversation between ST.
l~tichard Mortnain and an Unlocking ruff
fan, whom She easily identified with
the writer of the threatening letter. She
had no hesitation in avowing that she
played the spy on her employers brother
whenever her duties rendered it possible.
prompted by Jealousy and resentment.
and OH this occasion she had overheard,
herself unperccived. u portion of what
VAS said.
lie, Crouch. menaced Sir Richard al
ways He could, he said. send him to the
gives and the prison, as he could the
rommonest forgcr. and the commonest
thief. And the great. proud gentleman
spoke the ruttian fair. and gave gold. and
promised much. He had won over Mr..
Marsh, Miss Mowbray's guardian. SO he
said. and should nave his influence on
his side. And Crouch WAS to have his
share of the young lady's fortune: | did
hot hear much. but they bargaincd."
MIR. Marsh drove bach to Woodburn
Parsonage with very different feelings
from those which he had previously enter
tanned toward the titled sutton for Violet
Mowhray's hand.