The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28

take the. short cut across the domain, or
go round to the front gates.
But he wished that this farewell visit
of his should be as secret as possible;
so he decided to cross the park trusting
to memory to find the winding path amid
the trees.
He walked on slowly through the dark
ness, the great trees grooming and sway
turing to himself how he should meet
Viola; how he should go round to the ser
wants hall and send a private message
to her by one of the old retainers; how
he should wait for her in the garden or
her forever.
His heart failed him at the thought.
and he stood quite still, clenching his
hands as il in spasm of agony.
At that instant the sound of excited
voices reached his ears; he heard the
tramp of feet at a short distance from
him; lantern flashed through the dark
ness. Puzzled. alarmed, curious. he fol-
lowed the light, and in ten minutes he
found himself before the door of Adam
Dales cottage, while he dimly distin-
guished, in the shadows, group of men,
one of whom carried the lantern, which
emitted a pickering, smoky light.
In that bght Launce saw that the men
were knocking at the door for admission.
Presently the door was opened, ana
Launce hastily withdrew into the shad-
ows; but as the men entered the cottage
the dark burden was for moment re-
Vealed to sight.
Il was the body of man. either wound
ed or dead.
Loud, excited voices were heard from
the cottage, mingling with which came
suddenly the dreadful sound of a strong
mans frantic weeping
Launce Carisbrooke could endure the
suspense no longer. Entering the COZ
tage quickly, he beheld reclining on the
floor of the small kitchen, the body of
Adam Dale's son-the pale, worn face dis
torted with pain, the eyes closed, as if In
death.
The wretched father was sobbing hys-
terically, as he stopped over Robins pill
low. Launce drew one of the men asid.
and asked him what had happened.
In few words, the man-one of the
Brandon d-rangers-explained the fun
circumstances. Robin Dale. 1t appeared
mad been in the wood this evening, wheIt
Gus poachers whom his father had sum
moned and got heavily fined, some months
before. The two men--who had threat
ened vengeance a the time--now fell on
Robin and left him for dead in the WOOD
lie had lain there for two hours befoT \
ne had been discovered. His wounds
were fatal; he could not possibly re-
cover; although doctor had been sent
for and was expected any moment now.
Even while the man was hurredly
speaking, Robin Dale opened his ewes and
looked wildly around him
Miss Nioia-Miss Viola" he gaSped in
rant undertone. Where Is she? II
must see her-now-this moment"
'Ah, poor fellow. he was ALWAYS fond Of
MISS VIOLA, Adam Dale sobbed. dashing
the tears from his eyes. And Miss Viola
W, WI be sorry for this | know. Run joe"
the Court and tell Miss Viola that IL she
can come at all, it viii be favor I'll never
forget for her Tell her." the poor father
Robin isis dying fast
Viola, pale to the very Inns. her dark
grey eyes dmmed with tears, sat by the
bedside of one OF the small inner rooms
of the cottage; for Robin Dale had been
removed from the kitchen and now Law
propped up with pillows in the bed where
his mother had breathed her last.
In the kitchen without. Launce Caris-
brooke and Doctor Roberts stood taking
together The doctors verdict was a hope
less one: Robert Dale was a doomed man.
Iaunce had Withdrawn out OF sight as
Viola entered the cottage. She was as
yet unconscious OF his presence In the
house.
Miss Viola"-Robin Dale had never ad-
dressed her otherwise than this-"I cannot
pass into eternity without telling YOU my
wretched secret. see plainly now the
at last the madness OF my acts my hopes
and dreams, my whole life for the years
gone by. oh, IL you could only forgive
me! But you cannot. No, II Is impossible.
You do not know all"
Then ere she could utter the eager re-
assuring words which rose TO her Hps
Robin Dale leaned closer 10 her and whfs.
pered to her a statement she had never
thought 10 hear.
Miss Viola, your brother Master HUI
bert, ~ an innocent man. Lord Carruth-
ers died by my hand. | alone am his MUIR
for dead ! waited and watched. and after
a short time the prostrate man moved and
sighed and lifted his head a little and
he had been wounded only. and instantIv
a devilish temptation seized upon me
what " / finished the business and then
Went TO you and threatened TO betray
your brothers secret unless YOU yielded