Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-09-10

the physician who attended thsm III
their last hours, and who now makes
this dreadful assertion!
"And II this Is 90. BY whom, great
Heavens? ny whom has this afro
cious crime been perpet rated and for
what purpose? Who could hnve any
interest in the premature death Of this
noble man and lovely girl?
mo one butch, Heaven! but Eu-
dora! She is their heiress; the estate
is now hers, but she is innocent! my
life, my honor, my soul will l stake
upon her innocence. And vet, II this
father and child shall be proved to
have died by poison, how black the
evidence may be made to appear
against her, and how weak her own
position! She is an orphan and friend
less and though on her fathers side
of English parentage, she is Of foreign
birth and education, and has been In
this country too short time to es-#
tablish character. She has no good
antecedents to set against this dread
full charge with the strong testimony
that may be brought to support it,
She was the third in succession to this
estate, and, consequently, her mercen-
ary interest in the deaths of the baron
and his daughter. She was the con-
slant attendant Of the late Lord Lea
ton, and prepared the drink of which
he died. She watched last night by
the side Of Agatha, and administered
to her the so-called fatal draught.
If they are proved to have died by
poison it will ruin her indeed. She
will be called a second Brinvilliers.
She will be arraigned, tried, condemn
ed-oh, Heaven Of Heavens! what un-
speakable horrors remain in store for
her, innocent as an angel though I
know her to be-"
Such were the maddening thoughts
that coursed through his brain and
caused the sweat Of agony to start
from his brow. He wiped the beaded
drops from his pale forehead, and
sprang up and paced the room with
disordered steps, laboring in vain for
the comDosure that he could not OBJ
tain.
The death of the noble-hearted baron
in the prime of life, the death of the
sweet young girl in dawn Of youth,
were mournful enough even though
they died from natural causes, and II
they persisted by poison administered
by treacherous hands their fate was
dreadful indeed. And yet it was moth
ing to be compared with the unutter-
| able horror of that train of misfOrtunes
which threatened the orphan stranger,
the innocent Eudora. And thus other
emotions Of sorrow for the loss Of
his near relatives were swallowed
up in anguish for the fate Of the Or
phan girl.
And so he strove for self-command
and GOODNESS and clearness Of mind,
that he might be prepared to assist at
the approaching investigation. in the
hope Of discovering the truth and
clearing the fame Of Eudora.
IIe paced up and down the library
floor until lie had obtained the neces-
this mystery.
When the doctor had left the library
he was met in the hall by a servant,
Fastening towards him in great agita-
ton, and saying,
"Sir, 1 was just coming to see you.
The Princess Pezzilini begs that you
will hasten at once to her ladyship's
bedside. as her ladyship is in the
death throes!"
Without a word of reply the doctor
turned and hurried up the stairs and
along the corridor leading to Lady
Leaton's apartments.
When he entered the chamber he
found Lady Leaton in violent convuls-
ions, and restrained from throwing
herself out Of the bed only by the
strong arms Of the Italian princess,
which, thrown around her shoulders,
supported her heaving form.
But, even as the doctor stepped up
to the bedside, her form relaxed and
became supple as that of an infant.
The princess laid her back upon tho
pillow. Her eyes closed and the ash.
en- hue Of death overspread her feat
ures.
The doctor took up her left hand and
placed his fingers upon the pulse. But
that pulse was still, and that hand
was the hand Of the dead. He laid 1t
gently down, and, turning, looked
upon those gathered around the bed.
They were the Princess Pezzilini
Eudora and her ladyship's maid.
Especially he fastened his eyes upon
Eudora, who knelt on the opposite
side of the bed, with her face buried
III the bed clothes, in an attitude ur
deep grief.
Can anyone here inform me wheth-
er Lady Leaton drank Of the tama-
rind-water which stood upon the man
tel shelf of Miss Leaton's chamber %
inquired the doctor, looking sternly
around him.
Eyes, SIR" answered the lady-s maid,
looking up through her tears; when
my lady was so agitated by seeing the
condition Of Miss Leaton as to be
near swooning, and I was obliged to
support her in my arms, called for q
glass of water, and Miss Eudora
quickly poured out tumbler of tam
arind water, saying there was no 9TH
er at hand, and held it to her lady.
ships lips"
"And her ladyship drank it?"
eyes, SIR" she eagerly drank off the
whole glassful, for she was so4anxious
to keep up for, Miss Leaton's sake. not
believing that she was past help, re-
piled the woman.
ITO Be Continued.)
Co. IL