Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-07-11

rell's ears she had risen and was
grasping her chair for support.
Dead" she repeated blankly;
''Eustace Rivers dead!'
'|There had evidently been scuf1e;
it was out of the ordinary path, on
| the way to Madman's Drift. Poor
Captain Rivers must have been
stabbed, for there is blood about,
but though I searched everywhere
found no weapon-only a basket con-
tanning broken eggs, which must have
been dropped by some market man or
woman in their fright, and-and
this. !"
Lady Darrell looked up. Her eyes,
distraught with anguish fell on a
cigar-case with elaborate initials and
crest engraved on it.
'That!" she murmured hoarsely.
81 brought it straight to you, my
lady," the park-keeper said gently,
| laying it down. Il know it as be-
longing TOTO his lordship; it must
have fallen from Captain Rivers
! pocket as he sank to the ground"
| There was a moments silence.
What have you-you done?"
whispered Lady Darrell, still standing
motionless.
81 have carried the body to my hut
you know I live quite alone, my
lady-and | came to you to know what
I had better do next?"
Saddle horse and ride to Nestley.
You must fetch the police. We must
find the murderer.
The words dropped like agony from
the white lips.
"Shall l summon Lord Roy?" said
Miles eagerly, seeing the agitation on
the worn face. Il would not go to
! him first, for l know how much he
! loved Captain Rivers, and knew the
blow would fall so heavily. Forgive
| me, my lady; you are Always so
brave! I forgot you were woman.
| I ought to have gone TO his lordship."
''The blow has fallen heavily in
| Decd" whispered the white lips.
Then rousing herself with an effort,
Lady Darrell passed her handkerchief
over her face.
You were right, Miles, to come to
me, and 1 thank you with all my
heart. II will tell Lord Roy"
She put out one of her slender
hands, and the keeper took it within
/ his own brown, hard ones with rever-
ence and awe.
i 1--WE must act now, not think"
went on Lady Darrell hurriedly.
eyes, the police must come, nothing
can be done till then. Go, Miles, at
once, Send Chelmick to me. Unjust
/ break the news to the household.
What have you done with the basket
you found"
''It is at my cottage, my lady"
Good, leave it there. Wait an in
slant; I will write note"
She moved to the bell and rang it,
then stood with her hands locked
together as silent as marble statue
| till the butler came. -
Miles gazed at her in admiration.
He knew what an agony Of shame
and pain was in that breaking heart,
yet no cry came from the lips, no
womanly weakness was betrayed in
face or limb.
AS the butler entered Lady Darrell
! in brief words told of the discovery OF
Captain Rivers dead body, and the
supposed murder; then as the old
servant withdrew in fear and horror
she wrote a few lines on a card, and
handed it to Miles.
Miles bowed and withdrew; as he
went the door of the inner room
opened, and Valerie Ross came out.
Her hair was pushed from her brows,
her face CHASTITY white, fixed look OF
anguish in her glorious eyes.
Lady Darrell advanced to meet her.
'FAh, my poor child she murmured,
''you have heard-you have heard
all?"
CALI" repeated Valerie blankly.
''Is it true? Is he dead-murdered?
''He is dead" answered the older
woman almost mechanically. eyes"
"And you can stand there so calm!
| Oh, Eustace-Eustace: gone, my"
|'To the police-station, Nestley; go
at once"
Valerie threw her hands up to her
face, swayed to and fro for an instant,
then she lay stretched PROSTATE on
! the floor
With tie same set face, Lady OAR
! rell bent over the inanimate girl, and
pressed her cold lips to the senseless
! ones. Then ringing the bell again,
! she directed the servants to- carry the
still form to her room.
''Leave me alone" she said as they
went through the door-"quite alone"
She stood silent as the small cor
tege Disappeared then her calmness
went Lady Darrell flung herself
down on her knees and gave way to
| her feelings.
'"They went away together" she
! whispered, a crimson wave of color
dyeing her gentle face-"together in
anger Now Eustace lies dead, and
Roy, my angel, my prince, my son
1