Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-02-20

will. I suppose. forever be mystery. 1t
was. let me sec, just seven years ago."
"Oh. do tell about It," cried Hay.
Aunt ROsalic. leaning back. surveyed
us both with smile. Evidently she was
fully aware of her own abilities In the
storytelling line. Without waiting for
further pressing she began:
swell. nearly all the Egcrtons who
have owned that property for centuries.
have met with violent deaths. About
thirty years ago II seemed rs though the
luck was turned, however, for CASTOR
Egerton. the young heir, was one of the
hnndsomcst. brightest young fellows ever
seen. His father died when he was a
minor. 50 the income Of the property ac-
cumulatcd 10 very fair sum; and the
dny of his coming of age was about the
brightest ever known at vallcyford. For
two or three years all went well. lie and
his mother kept open house. and every.
one visited them. Then down came the
hereditary shadow on his life. His
devoted TO her, he felt the loss kecnly.
and went abroad TO try and shake of
his depression. He was away for two
years--whcrc. no one knows. lie rr-
turned suddenly, a wilowcr, with little
boy of n twclvemonth old. lie lived the
life of a rcclusc In that drcnry valley.
with his son Paul. to whom. however.
he gave an excellent education"
IAN awfully nice fellow Ii Paul." oh.
served ltayvenhum. "You'll SEQ him.
Olgn. when we go to London"
swell. when Paul was twcnty-onc. he
went on the continent to SEQ little Of
the world: and while there he became ON.
gagged to most beautiful woman--a Miss
Madalcnn Carleton. I believe she was
rather older than he. but he was smpl..
infatuated about her. and. on his return
to England. she camc TO stay ut Valley
ford. Now comes the most extraordinary
part Of the story. Everyone thought u
a most peculiar thing that Miss Carleton
should be permitted by her friends to
stay, quite uuchapcroncd. In the house of
her iiancc and his father. But the as.
constituent reached It's climax when Paul
suddenly returned abroad. leaving his
lndy.loyc still at Va!lcyford. What fol.
lowed Is wrapped In mystery. 1t was
thought by some that Lord Egcrtoa fell
In love with his sons future wife. W.
never. any Of Ms. saw her: but l have
heard hcr described rs absolutely DO.
witching-bcautlful as morning. and nn
intense coqucttc. Ono morning the whole
district rang with the news Of an awful
tragedy ut vallcyford. Tho gnmekccpcr.
walking through the valley In tho carly
morning, found the body Of Lord Egcrton
floating In tho river. Hc was In full
evening drcss--thc features rigid anil
composcd-.no mark Of violence could at
first bc detected, but under his clothes
was found n small. very small wound.
apparently inflicted with q long, narrow
weapon of extraordinary sharpness"
"What an awful story! 1t Is like n
novel," I said, Mortified; ''is Il really all
true. Aunt Rosalicy'
MY dear, yes: II only happened seven
years ago. But that IL not all. Tn,
Gamsi,ccpcr, having dragged tho body OF
tho unfortunate baron on shore. ran up Il
alarm tho house. The butler. descend.
Ing to know what was the matter. struck
lilo stoOpcd-it was mans body. II,
rushed to unbar tho front door and 10,
In the light OF day. Tho door. which he
had barred securely before going 10 bed
was on tho latch: outside stood the terri
fed gamckceper, white and gasping. Or
the marble pavement. livil md ehastl,
In the weird rcd hight OF morning, Ii;
Paul Egerton, apparently lifelcss. Iii,
head and face wore horribly disAgprct
and mutIlatcd; evidently no had boo,
!hsstsn violently with soMo blunt Wa, u,r,l,
his life was de;spaircd Of. At tho Inaucs
held over the body Of the dead baror
wonderfully little transplrcd. Paul's evi
dcnccd showed that he had been to Calai,
on busincss, and returned just In time L
see his father murdered. Tho murderer
then attacked HIM; bdt he was eithc
unable to say moro, or determined not t.
tell what he knew"
"But Miss Carleton" I gaspcd.
"Gonc. my dcur. Not trace Of he
was to DO found. She has never beef
heard Of since. Paul hushcd up tn
whole matter as soon Us no possibl!
could. Tho verdict was willful murdc
against some person unknown. But 20,
will hardly wonder that tho present Lor'
EgertOn chooses not to reside on hi
property"
"Poor Paulv' said Rayvcnhnm; che ha
been trying to lot Valleyford now 70
seven years, and only just succeeded. Ar
you not frightened now, Olga?" no asked
turning his big eyes to me In the twilight
which now was gathering fast aroun
us.
II very seldom am frightened ut all,
>! retOrtcd. ut Is only mysteries whic
brighten me. like things to DO eS
planned. And shall VIC really see TIL
poor Paul"
eyes, we will have him to dinner whe
We get to the LanghaIn." said Aun
Resale. "YOu will see him, Olga; bu
he will not see yOu."
"Not see me. auntie? What do 20
meany" I asked.
"IIe Is blind" she answered, simply.
CHAPTER NJ.
1t was evening, IN exquisite evening
with such u sky rs my English eyes ha,
never Gazcd upon. Rayvenham and
stood leaning over the balcony of the Ho
tel dcs Etrangcrs ut Florence, making
laughing comments on all the pnssers-by
At the further end mother lay on
couch. covered with rug of many colors
and Aunt ROsalic was calmly studyinl
the passcrs-by In the hotel garden
through an opera glass.
They are very beautiful gardcns-thos
of the Hotel dcs Etrangers-and tina
night a melodious band was playing con
ccalcd somewhere under the branching
trees. People were sitting at little tables