Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-10-27
VOL. Ii.


AAlIl-tCOntlnueu y
Lord Kildonan left the house with ths
ate doctors papers clasped tightly in his
hand He put off examining them until
he should have reached the solitude of HIS
own room. He parted from Armathwaite
after receiving the young mans assurance
that he would be present at the dinner
party to be given at The Crags that even
ing.
At seven O'Clock Frank Armathwaite e
found himself at the great house He
watched his host narrowly, and IL seemed
TO him scarcely credible that Lady Kill
donan, excited and preoccupied as she
was. could fail to notice the great change
In her husband, which, instead of wearing
off. seemed to have intensified since the
morning The rest of his guests noticed
1t, and their surprise at meeting a cold.
stern man, instead of the kindly, genial
friend to whom they We're accustomed.
caused hush to fall upon the party, now
grown larger by fresh arrivals. The last
to enter was Ned Crosmont, his face looA-
ing more drawn and harassed than ever:
his eyes were sunken and his s:lllow skin
looked sickly and pallid.
At chat moment dinner was announced.
To Armathwaite-wh had talked me
chanically to the lady by his side, the
meal was like banquet of Royaiists dur
ing the Reign of Terror. For, before the
second course was over, Lord hildonan
had uttered words which, bearing deep
significance TO Armathwaite only, told
him that Lady Kildonan's doom was fixed
as surely as if, following out his fancy,
she had been summoned to the gulllotine.
This was all the old Scotchman had said,
IN a quiet, almost indifferent tone, that
bore no trace of suspicion:
Il want you to go up TO Liverpool again
tomorrow, Crosmont, TO see about some
business that l forgot when You went up
the other day. You won't mind going,
will your he added, with his usual eour-
tesy.
Il am quite at your service, your lord
ship" answered the agent, while Lady
Kidonan. from the other end of the table,
watched and listened with kindling eyes.
When the gentlemen followed the la
Gies into the draw wing room, Lord kildo-
nan. breaking through his usual custom.
went too. sArmathwaite believed that this
was in order to shorten the solitary hours
when he would have nothing to do but to
brood over his purpose, and over the se-
cret Dr. Peele's papers had divulged. Ar
mathwaite waited for an opportunity OF
speaking to him apart, and w2s glad
n. few minutes ,.fter the return
~ tls thnsA 'sffs dfs.,w wing rOori. his hest came
straight to the corner where he was stand
ing by himself, watching Crosmont and
Lady Kildonan as they cOnversed under
cover of a brilliant" which young lady
was performing on the piano. Under the
clever affectation of tritiing conversation.
which Lady Kildonan knew we'll how to
assume, Frank thought he could detect
that she was urging Crosmont to some
course against which the agent was pro-
testing. Lord kildonan followed the di-
rection of the doctors eyes as he came up.
Have you anything important TO do
tomorrow evening?" he asked, laying his
hand with more of command than affec'
tion on the young mans shoulder.
Nothing whatever, Lord kildonan.
"Then viii you come up here some time
between six and half-past? You need
not say anything about II ] thi2k, to any
body. Bring your ulster"
IF vou want me, your lordship, of
course / am at your service" he said,
simply.
And his host, instead of letting him off.
repeated: Between six o'clock and half.
past. then" and left him.
Soon after Armathwaite took his leave