Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-07-30
CHAPTER XIV.

It was true enough that Guffanta did
pass a considerable time in the Hotel
Lepanto, smoking cigarettes, and always
thinking deeply, whether seated in the
corridor or in his own room upstairs
But, although he bad not allowed him
self to say one word to any Of the other
men on the subject, and still spoke with
certainty of ere long finding the murderer,
he was forced to acknowledge that, for
the time, he was bafied.
And then, as he did acknowledge this,
he would rise from his chair and stretch
out his long arms, and laugh grimly to
himself.
'But only for time, Miguel" he would
say, "only for a time. He will come to
you at last, he will come to you as the
bird comes to the nest. Wait, wait,
wait! You may meet him to-day, to-
night! You will surely trap him at last!''
Meanwhile Lord Penlyn, when he was
left alone, and when he could distract his
thoughts from the desire Of his life, the
:dnding of the man who had slain Walter
'Cundall. was very unhappy.
Those thoughts would then turn to the
girl he had loved deeply, to the girl whom
he had cast off because she had ventured
to let the idea come into her mind that
it was he who might have done the deed.
He had cast her off in moment when
there had come into his heart Il revulson
of feeling toward her, a feeling of horror
that she, of all others in the world, could
for one moment harbor such an idea
against him.
Yet, he admitted to himself, there were
grounds upon which even the most loving
of women might be excused for having
had such thoughts.
He had misled her at first, he had kept
back the truth from her, he had given
her reasons for suspicion-even against
him, her lover.
And now they were parted, he had re-
nounced her, and yet he knew that he
loved her as fondly as ever; she was the
one woman in the world to him. Would
they ever come together again?
Was it possible, that if he, who had
told her that never more in this world
would he speak to her of love, should go
back again and kneel at her feet and
plead for pardon, it would be granted to
aim?
If he could think that; if he could think
that when once his brother was avenged
he might so plead and be so forgiven,
then he could take courage and look for
ward hopefully to the future.
But at present they were strangers, they
were as much parted as though they had
never met; and he was utterly unhappy.
When Guffanta had declared himself,
it had been in his mind to write and tell
her all that he had newly learned; but he
could not bring himself to write an ordi-
nary letter to her.
1t might be that, Notwithstanding the
deep interest she took in his unhappy
brothers fate, she would refuse to open
any letter in his handwriting, and would
regard it almost as an insult.
Yet he wanted to let her know what
had now TRANSFERRED, and he at last de-
cided what to do.
He asked Stuart to direct an envelope
FOR him to her, and he put slip of paper
inside it, on which he wrote:
'Corot has disclosed himself, and he,
undoubtedly is not the murderer. He,
however, has some strange knowledge Of
the actual man in his possession which he
will not reveal, but says that he is GER
tain, at last, to bring him to Justice"
That was all, and he put no initials to
it, but he thought that the knowledge
might be welcome to her.
He had not expected any answer to this
letter, or note, and from Ida none came,
but a day or two after he had sent it, he
received visit from Sir Paul Raughton
The baronet had come up to town es-
pecially to see him, and having learned
from the footman that Lord Penlyn was
ut home he babe the man show him to
IT'S master, and followed him at once
AS Penlyn rose to greet him, he noticed
that Sir Paul's usually good-natured face
bore a very serious expression, and he
knew at once that the interview they
were about to have would be an impor-
tant one.
81 have come up to London expressly
to see you, Lord Penlyn," Sir Paul said,
shaking hands with him, coldly, because
l wish to have thorough explanation Of
the manner in which you see fit to con-
duct yourself toward my daughter. No."
he said, putting up his hand, as he saw
that Penlyn was about to interrupt him,
''hear ME for one moment. l may as well
tell you at once that Ida that my daugh-
ter, has told me everything that you have
confded to her with regard to your re-
lationship to Mr.. Cundall-which, think,
it was your duty also to have told me-
and she has also told me the particulars
of your last interview with her"
l.
answered, ''because there seemed to have
come into her mind some idea that L
that might have slain my brother"
'And for that, for a momentary sus-
picion on her part, a suspicion that would
scarcely have entered her head had her
mind not been in the state it is, you have
seen fit to cast her off, and to cancel
your gagcment!
'.It was she, Sir Paul, who babe me
speak no more Of love to her." Penlyn
said, ''she who told me that, until
had found the murderer of my brother, I
was to be no more to her."
.sAnd she did we'll to tell you so,'' Sir
Paul said; "for to whom but to you, his
brother and his heir, should the task fall
of avenging his cruel murder?''
'.That, l told her, I had sworn to do,
and yet she suspected me. And, Sir
Paul. heaven knows I did not mean the
words of anger that l spoke; have bit
terly repented of them ever since. II Ida
will let me recall them, if she will give
me again her love-if you think there is
any hope of that will so back and sue
to her for it on my knees"