Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-09-03
CHAPTER XIV

nut, although ne mad not Flowed him
self to say one word to any Of the othe,
men on the subject. and still spoke will
certainty of ere long finding the murderer
he was forced to acknowledge that, TO,
the time. he was bafled.
And then. as he did acknowledge this
he would rise from his chair and stretch
out his long arms, and laugh grimly Il
himself.
But only for a time, Miguel" he would
say. only for a time. He will come Il
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
hnding Of the man who had slain Walter
Cunda!l, was very unhappy.
Those thoughts would then turn to the
girl he had loved deeply, to the girl whom
he had east 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 a moment when
there had come into his heart a revulsion
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 agains,
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 1t possible, that if he, who had
told her that never more in this world
would he speak to her Of love, should 60
back again and kneel at her feet and
plead for pardon, it would be granted to
him?
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,
1t 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 transpired, and he at last de-
cided what to do.
He asked Stuart to direct an envelope
for him to her, and he put a 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 mar 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 b. put no initials to
1t, 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 a 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
at home. he babe the man show him to
his master, and followed him at once.
As Penlyn rose to greet him, he noticed
that Sir Pauls usually good-natured face
hnrQ q varv Sn-ipy,S ay nvpcSjnn on1 ho
knew at once that the interview they
tant ne.
II have come up to London expressly
to see you, Lord Penlyn," Sir Paul said,
shaking hands with him, coldly, because
I wish to have a thorough explanation of
the manner in which you see fit to con.
duct yourself toward my daughter. No.
be said, putting up his hand, as he saw
that Penlyn was about to interrupt him,
'eAsar me for one moment. I may as well
tell you at once that Ida, that my daugh-
ter, has told me everything that you have
coadded to her with regard to your re-
(A3onEhip to Mr.. Cundall-which, I think,
It va your duty also to have told me
and che has also told me the particulars
Of your last interview with her."
II parted with her in anger" the other
answered, because there seemed to have
coms into her mind some idea that L
that I might have slain my brother"
"And for that, for a momentary sus-
picion on her part, q suspicion that would
scarcely have entered her head had her
mind not been in the state it is, you have
seen ft to cast her off, and to cancel
your engagement"
1T was she, Sir Paul, who babe me
speak no more OF love to her." Penlyn
said, "she who told me that, until l
had found the murderer Of my brother, I
wal to be no more to her"
"And she did well 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, I told her, / had sworn to do,
and vet she suspected me. And, Sir
Paul, heaven knows I did not mean the
words Of anger that l spoke; l have bit
terly repented Of them ever since. II Ida
will let me recall them, IL she will give
me again her love-if you think there IL
any hope Of that will so back and sue
to her for it on my knees"
The baronet looked thoughtfully at him
for q moment, and then he said: do you
know that she is very ill?"
oil! Why have I not been toA az it2''
~ IkVTvl- -Az..11 l.-- 49, IA