The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-03-25

80 she hired two ruffians, tools Of hers,
to abduet the young man, keep him
prisoner until she could devise some
diabolical plan to remove him forever
The villains succeeded in carrying him
off, and locked him up in an old cabin
two or three miles away in the woods;
but one of the men, on his way back
to report to Mrs. Chadwick, in the
darkness of the night, and being
stranger in the place, fell into the riv-
err and was drowned. He had stolen
Mr.. Ardsley's ring ian heirloom, by
the way, in the Chadwick family,
and as he slightly resembled Ardsley
in personal appearance, and happened
to have worn suit of clothes just like
his, also, 1t was no wonder that the
was made, and the wrong man
buried, for John Ardsley.
But the detective who was search
ing for Mr.. Ardsley found in the pock-
ct of the drowned man visiting card,
bearing the name of Lurline Chad
wicke on one side and on
the reverse penciled line, in
her handwriting, telling the ruff
fan how to conduct the affair in re-
gard to Ardsley's imprisonment-a
very foolish and careless way of doing
business, let me add, Mrs. Chadwicke.
Well, the detective worked secretly,
and soon discovered where the young
man was imprisoned; he was soon lib
Grated, and to throw her off the track,
a written message was sent to Mrs.
Chadwick, to the effect that Ardsley
was dead (for, of course, she knew who
the drowned man really was), and my
friends, John Ardsley stands before
you, or rather, Guy Raleigh, the grand
son of Eben Chadwicke.
But the romantic part of the story
is still to come. Guy Raleigh was
born and educated abroad; he came on
here to claim his fortune, after learn
ing of the death of Barton Chadwicke
and seeing advertisements seeking in
formation of himself-came on, and
found Lesley Dinsmore latter him, the
next of kim in possession. He came
here to the hall, and in the moonlight,
saw Lesley sitting at the window, and
fell headlong in love with her, He
conceived the romantic idea of obtain
ing a situation as steward on the es-
tate, and winning and wooing the girl
he loved, and once his own, knowing
that she had married him for himself
alone, he would reveal all. All this he
did, and he was married under his own
name. ! have seen the former solicit
tor of the Chadwick estate, who ac-
knowledges this young man to be the
real heir, and in this old lawyer, Guy
(as we must now call him) has con-
fided from first to last. Everything
has been satisfactorily proven, and
nothing now remains but for Mr.. and
Mrs. Raleigh to take possession OF
their home at once"
The crowd pressed around Lesley
and her husband, kissing, congratulate
ing-a merry babel.
In the midst of the excitement DR.
Dudley entered with Viva, lovely In
white silk, and looking, oh, so hap
Ply!
For moment Lurline's eyes were
riveted upon Viva Dudley's face; she
threw Up both hands, with cry Of
horror, and fell, gasping to the floor.
Just then, through the crowd tall
dark man made his way, wrathful
half demented.
Let me pass!" he painted; and al
fell back, in wonder and horror, at thu
sight of his awful face and bloodshot
angry eyes. II am Ferdinand st. Cyr
and this woman was my wife!"
He reached her side. The man wal
half insane, but no one knew it. H,
drew forth that shining, emerald-hiltet
dagger, and without word, plunged i
into Lurline's side. With low groan
the blood rushed from her mouth, ant
she fell to the floor, as he dashed ava,
through the crowd.
Max Ruthven was the first to reacl
her and raise the golden head upon hi
arm. She turned her face SO that sh
could look into his eyes.
"Listen!" she gasped, pitifully. cal
they say is true-and more. Morri
| Dudley, do you remember the day tina
Barton Chadwicke was found dead il
the hotel chamber? l overheard yo
then when you said, in all the TRACE
dies of life woman is usually at tn
| bottom of the trouble, and to blame
| You were more correct than you knew
Listen-I killed Barton Chadwick
with my own hand! All, Dr. Dudley
after all. you see there was "a woma
| in the easel! Oh, such wicked VIC
mani"
She went on to tell them, with gasr
ing, futtering breaths, and long paus
es between, while all the great ROOF
lay silent, as the grave, and every ca
was strained to listen, how she had de-
termined to put Chadwick out of III
way. Having first influenced him t
make his will in her favor, she ha
| followed him when he had left HON
on some business in the West, and di!
guising herself as boy, she had take
room over the restaurant next doc
having first asceTtained the exact Il
cality of Chadwicke's room in the hi
tel.
The window of his room, it will |
remembered, opened on balcony, s
did the window of the room which 81
had secured in the next house; it W;
the easiest thing in the world for IL
1.-THE young trapeze performer to lea
from one balcony to the other and gal
access to Barton Chadwicke's roor
Once there, she did not attempt to col
ceal her identity, but had laid h
strange behavior to anxiety for h
/ welfare, which had caused her to 70
low him, and saying that she had wis
ed to keep that fact secret from otl
ers. she had kissed and caressed hi
until he forgave her mad freak. The
they drank wine together, and into h
glass she had contrived to drop laud
mum sufficient to take him out of Il
world.
After the frightful deed had be-
accomplished, she had taken the te
i