Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-28

I ! ] : ] ! ! ] J
H,n Margie sat reading
M c1k the closely written
NIX IN ,S sheets. penned by
SSsSslhegcY the hand now
ES SASSA pulseless In death.
& \ All was made clear
Archer Trevlyn was
q fully exculpated.
.R He was innocent OF
the crime which she
had been Influenced
to believe he had committed. She feii
on her knees and thanked God for that'
Though lost to her 1t was consolation
Ineffable to know that he had not taken
the life Of fellow-mortal.
Her resolution was taken before
morning. She had deeply wronsea
Archer Trevlyn. and she must 30 "
him with full confession. CONFESS ne'
fault. and plead for his forgiveness.
Castrani, who came In the morning.
approved her decision. and Nurse Day
who was told the whole story, anu hs-
tened with moist eyes. agreed win
them both. So 1t happened that ON tne
ensuing morning Margie bade iaie"ei.
to the quiet home which had sheltered
her through her bitterest sorrow. anu
accompanied by Castrani set forth tor
New York.
She went to her own home first. Her
aunt was In the country, but the SER
wants gave her warm welcome. anu
after resting for an hour. she took ner
way to the residence Of Archer TreViyn'
but few squares distant.
A strange silence seemed to hang
over the palatial mansion. The blinds
were closed-there was no sign OF hte
about the premises. A thrill OF unex-
planned dread ran through her frame
as she touched the silver-handled bell.
The servant who answered her sum-
mons seemed to partake OF the strange'
solemn quiet pervading everything.
rs Mr. Trevlyn in?" she asked, rem-
bling In spite of herself.
"I believe Mr.. Trevlyn has left the
country, madam"
Left the country? When did ne go:
Some days ago."
Margie leaned against the carved
marble vase which fanked the massive
doorway, unconsciously crushing the
crimson petals of the trumpet flower
which grew therein. What should she
do? She would write to him. His
wife would know his address. She
caught at the idea.
Mrs. Trevlyn-take me to her! She
was an old friend of mine"
The man looked at her curiously, hes
itated moment, and motioning her to
enter, indicated the closed door of the
parlor.
"You can go In, presume, as you
are friend OF the family"
A feeling of solemnity, which was
almost awe. stole over Margie as she
turned the handle of the door and
stepped inside the parlor. 1t was
shrouded in the gloom of almost utter
darkness
Margie stopped by the door until her
eyes became accustomed to the gloom,
and then she saw that the center Of the
room was occupied by table, on which
lay some rigid object-strangely long
and still and angular-coyered with
dying water lilies.
Still controlled by that feeling Of
strange awe. Margie stole along to the
table and lifted the massive cover. She
saw beneath it the pale. dead face of
Alexandrine Trevlyn. She dropped
the pail, uttered a cry OF horror and
sank upon chair. The door unclosed
noiselessly, and Mrs. Lee, the mother
of the dead woman, came in.
"pity me! My heart is broken! My
darling! My only child is taken from
met
1t was long before she grew COM
posed enough to give any explanation
of the tragedy-for tragedy Margie felt
sure it was.
The story can be told in few brief
words. Alexandrine and her husband
had had some difficulty. Mrs. Lee
could not tell in relation to what, but
she knew that Alexanirine blamed
herself for the part she had taken.
Mr.. Trevlyn left her in anger to go to
Philadelphia on business. He was ex-
pected to be absent about four days.
Meanwhile his wife suffered agonies of
remorse. and counted the hours until
his return should give her the privilege
of throwing herself at his feet and beg
ging his forgiveness.
But he did not return. A week, ten
days passed. and still no tidings. Alex
andrine was almost frantic. On the
eleventh day came telegraphic dis
patch, brief and cruel, as those heart
less things invariably are, informing
her that Mr.. Trevlyn had closed his
business in Philadelphia and was on
the eve of leaving the country for an
indefinite period. His destination was
not mentioned, and his unhappy wife,
feeling that If he left Philadelphia
without her seeing him, all trace Of
him would be lost, hurried to the de-
pot and set out for that city.
There had been an accident about
half way between New York and Phila-
delphia and Alexandrine had been
brought back to her splendid home-a
corpse! That was all.
CHAPTER XIV.