Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-05-06

| Wuhout word Ice the way into MY
study. She quietly raised her veil. Then
I saw that my visitor was q young girl.
about 20 years of age. Her skin was a.
white as alabaster, her hair a. black a.
Jet, while her eyes, large and lustrooa
were fixed upon my face with look WhSs1
went to my very soul.
Sir" she said sweetly. II came to looA
at your face. I am glad that I came. Ths
sig..t of you gives me courage"
"Indeed! l replied; Il do not under
stand"
Il will explain, sir. You are about b
receive into your care a patient, . youns
man who is suffering from Q dangerous
wound. l have come to tell you, sir, that
that young mans life in more precious to
me than my own; that If he dies. his in.
nOcent blood will be the stain upon me
which will drag me to my grave, and
and" she added in trepidatiOn, II wish
you to receive this, and also my solemn
assurance that the day the gentleman 10
pronounced out of danger, will make
| YOU a rich man!'
She held n pocketbOok toward me. !
saw that it was filled with notes. 1 mo
| Toned il back.
hand, l said, "and hear your name, thaf
u all ask"
At this peculiar request she drew her.
self up. and a strange look passed over
her face, but after a moments hesitation
she extended her left hand. I raised th
fingers and touched them with my lipa
| "Your name is"
1.-The Duchess d'Azzeglio."
"MarriedY
"Yes, married" she repeated: and a. she
spoke the words felt unaccountably trou.
b.ed and disappointed. What did 1t all
mean? Was ! mad, or dreaming? II
seemed that was both, for one look into
| that face had changed my whole nature
And who was this man whom was about
TO receive under my care? was he her
husband-or-but no, not even In thought
could l couple evil with such Q face a.
| hat.
l rubbed my eyes to make sure Of my
wakefulness; turned again to speak to
the lady-she was gone. ] ran to the door
and opened it; there was no sign of Q
| soul.
More mystified than ever, returned to
my room, and the first thing saw was
/ the pOcketboOk lying upon my table.
put it safely away under lock and key,
and then, strangely agitated, 1 sat down
to await the arrival of my mysterious
patient.
Here for the present must end the
transcript from DIR. Priestly's note book.
1t is now necessary to chronicle the events
which eliminated in the mysterious epi
sode of the wounded man.
CHAPTER IL
Three years before the occurrence Of
he event chronicled in the preceding
chapter, a lady was seated in q richly
furnished dressing room In q house In
Portland Place. 1t was l O'Clock In the
morning.
The lady, who was about 70 years Of
age, held letter in her left hand, which
hung at her side, and her whole attitude
betokened expectancy.
At last there was light tap upon the
door and . young girl looked cautiously
into the room, and crossing it, sunk upon
the door at the lady's feet.
Dear grandmamma," she said. "it n
- late for you to be up. When Osborne
told me you wished to see mo l could
scarcely believe 1t. Is anything the mat
tsrr'
'.Nothing ID the matter that need alarm
you Constance. Why are you home ~
'The countess was indisposed, and wish
ed to leave, 30. of course. she brought
me home. Grandma, that letter IL from
Frank, Is It not?"
, Eyes, dear"
. "And it was to speak about that-thas
, you determined to sit up until returned
from the ball?"
Yes"
"Well," continued the girl, growing more
nervous as she proceeded, II had better
l oil of hat NJ hn
ball to- night, and-and he proposed to me
again.
This time the old lady did not speak,
but her face grew hard a. iron. The girl
trembled, noticing the change.
"Ah, do not be angry, DEAR" she said,
shOwering warm kisses on the withered
hands. do not blame Frank. He loves
me, and I-oh, 1 love him % much; II you
persist in keeping us apart, I shah not
.are to live!'
''This is folly, Constance" returned ths
old lady, Gravely.
"That was what you said last year,
grandma, and then thought zen might
be right; 1 did not know. And since you
wished it 80 very much. I promised you
| that I would try to cease to care for
Frank Well, I have tried: for one whola
/ year have neither seen him nor heard
r from him, bat when he came into thu
: room tonight felt that never, until my
, dying day, could love another man.
Grandma, tell me why II II you are %
Obdurate- Do you think Frank = N
worthy7 Do you not zee that you ars
, breaking his heart-and mlner'
I "Yours? Why should your heart break
What have you In the world to wish for ]
I, ] You have a title which most girls would
live their souls for and you have all my