The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-29


Of the strain, and then, sitting still, gave
full vent to her tears Of pleasure.
Lola was the least moved Of the three.
The baronet went to her and took
both her hands in his and tried to draw
her to him to embrace her.
But she held aloof.
II did right to come back, Jaffray,"
she said calmly. fright to break my
vow, for / had vowed never willingly
to look upon your face again, but ]
could not bear that the world should
think of you as married to murderess.
So I broke the VOW"
II should have found you, Lola. I
would have searched the world through
and ended my life before had given
up the Search" be said vehemently.
"Well, we shall see," she replied
evasively. "That wretched womanl
What q villain has that man been
through alll''
II don't understand it all now"
said Beryl, "but do not want yet to
understand more than that you are
cleared. Curiosity will come when I
am not too agitated to think"
II think can give another olew,"
said Lola slowly. She had drawn away
from Sir Jaffray and was sitting again
by Beryl, hand in hand. II remember,
when Pierre was talking to me in the
library the morning You came and
found him there, he rushed to the door
once suddenly, protesting he had heard
some one eavesdropping. I have no
doubt this woman had been listening
and had heard him say that he would
claim me az bis wife. He had probably
deceived her, az he had every one through
out his life, and she has tried TO work
double revenge on him by taking bis
life and on me by making II sesm that
I had done IL. But for Mr.. Clifford
she might probably have succeeded.
The mans life was one long course Of
crime. injecting all who came in con-
tact with him."
"Mr. Clifford has done splendidly,"
said Beryl enthusiastically.
HE has saved us ALL" said Lola,
and she shuddered at the thought Of
how narrowly she had missed the shame
and trouble Of q public trial. II can
hardly realize now that but for him I
should have stood tomorrow in the
dock"
Don't, Lolal" exclaimed Sir Jaffray.
"Don't let us think Of it."
II have been through worse trouble
than that" she said quietly. "Ifelt ab-
solutely confident that the truth would
be known, and the knowledge that the
result would be to lift that load Of
shame from you strengthened me to
face anything. would to heaven that
I could as easily lift the rest!'' She
stopped and sighed, and then. after a
pause, added, but even that may come
with time. )"
She kissed Beryl, rose from the sofa,
and. going to Sir Jaffray, held out her
hand.
He looked at her in establishment.
what do you mean?"
~ will not 60 away twice without
saying goodby. I am going now. Good
by. have done what came back to do. "
While they stood for moment look
ing at one another in silence and bat
thing with the feelings which affected
both in common some one knocked at
the door, and when it was opened Mr..
Clifford came in.
MAY come in, Sir Jaffray?" he
asked rather needlessly.
"Well, what is it, Mr.. Gifford?" said
the taronet little sharply, in conse-
quenoe of the interruption coming at
such moment, but the detectives
glance of representa- surprise at such
reception recalled Sir Jaffray to him
self, and he made haste to add: "Come
in7 OF course you can. You have done
us the greatest service that any one
could have rendered, and we all want to
thank you. I didn't like and didn't I'M
derstand your methods, mind you," he
said, holding out his hand, "but you've
made me your friend for life"
"And me-" said Lola, shaking hands
with him as well, land without any
reservation as to your methods. don't
know how you did it and don't care.
The result is enough for mes
GAS for the methods" answered Mr..
Clifford, with smile, Eve can't al
ways please everybody, and-this case
looked very puzzling saw nothing for
it but to go my own road. couldn't
even let you know what I was doing,
Sir Jaffray. That is sharp young
woman, and if we'd overdone the part
we should have spoiled everything and
scared her. But I didn't come in to talk
about myself. came to say that she's
given up the whole thing. She's better
bit, though the doctor who's been
looking her over to fetch her out Of that
fainting fit says her heart ain't worth a
pinch Of snuff, and she's told the whole
story. 1t isn't pretty one. Tint fellow
was rare sooundrel. He'd been carry
ing on with this girl under the pretense
that he meant to marry her and had
had all her savings out Of her and had
ruined her in that sense as well as in
far worse way. and she overheard him
talking to you, Lady Walcote" - he
turned to Lola and hesitatsd just a mo-
ment us to what to call hcr-"aboat
killing Sir Jaffray and then claiming
you as his wife. She only half under
stood what was SAID, but 1t drove her
mad, and she SET her wicked little wits
to concoct the devilish scheme Of re-
yenge which we know now"
Glow did she arrange meeting
with the Frenohman3"
"He arranged it with her, unfortu-
nately for him. He wrote her that let
ter which found. l expect that as q
matter of fact he didn't know what to
make of her and what she'd do. He
wanted few days in which to mature
any plans he could make after ho'd had
to leave the house, and he wrote that
letter to make the appointment before
he had seen Lady Waloote, Of course.
| His object was no doubt to keep the
girl from blabbing anything, seeing
that he had been kicked out Of the place
under such circumstances. When they
met, the girl says he tried to persuade
her to let him into the manor that night
80 that he could have his revenge on
you, Sir Jaffray, and that when she re-