The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-03-15
CHAPTER XIV.-(CoNT1NUEDA

Regina! my wife! 1t has been this ac-
cursed pride that has wrought 1t all! IL
we but had our lives to live over again!
SHushr she said softly. Let it be
as God wills! He knows best. And
there is a hereafter where all these
broken golden threads can be taken up,
and joined again together. In that we
find our compensation
s'She remained with him until ne
died. Two days of watching passed,
and one morning he quietly breathed
his last in her arms. We took his re-
mains home to Auvergne, and there We
buried him beneath tree that he had
planted on the day of his marriage.
con an examination of my fathers
affairs it was found that he had left
his whole vast possessions, without re-
serve, to his wife; and counselled me as
the son and heir prospective, to make
every exertion to discover my lost sis
ter.
"My mother survived him only about
six months; she had been failing gradu-
ally. but we did not think her in any
immediate danger. One day she called
us to her and made me promise that
when she was dead I would dispose OF
the estate in France, and go home to
my grandfather in England. And then,
having seen Genie provided with suit
able home, she desired me to cross the
Atlantic, and ascertain if possible the
fate of my sister Evangeline. prom
ised her faithfully to attend to her re-
quests, and then | left her-she wanted
to sleep, she said When we returned
to her room she was sleeping the sleep
eternalp'
st. Cyril bowed his face in his hands
for moment, then mastering his emo
ton, continued:
81 had little to guide me in my search,
but / determined to undertake it at
once I disposed of my estates in
France, and took my sister to England.
We were greeted warmly by our grand
father, who had sincerely repented his
cruelty towards my mother, and after
remaining with him a few months,
made arrangements to come to this
country. Genie insisted on accompany
ing me. We could not persuade her to
stay behind We took passage in the
Alsamo and ten days out she encoun-
tered a gale which made her unsea-
worthy, and the captain was about to
return to the nearest port, when we fell
in with a merchant vessel, bound to
Portlea. The captain Of this vessel very
kindly offered to take us on board, and
those OF us who were anxious to reach
the States accepted his proposal, my
sister and myself being among the unm-
Der. I think providence must have di-
rected us to the very spot where we
know that our search is ended. Now
that I know the fate of Evangeline, it
only remains for me to discover the vii
lain who abducted her. / would give
half my life this moment for the privi-
lege Of putting q pistol shot through his
hearth
"By what means can you trace him?
how identify him?" asked Ralph.
tI have seen him once. I remember
his face distinctly. 1t was dark,
strongly marked, heavily bearded and
lit up by eyes that cleaned like fire."
Some sudden thought seemed to
strike Ralph rather forcibly. He
started up and paced the floor with hur-
ried strides.
WAS there no popularity? Nothing
by which this man could be distin-
guished from all other men with heavy
boards and dark complexions?"
There was. He had lost the third
and fourth fingers of his right hand"
Ralph gave a sudden start ST. Cyril
noticed it.
''You have seen him?" he said. @'You
know of him! Only give me a clew to
his hiding place, and my life shall be
at your serviceY'
Il think I have seen him. said Ralph
guardedly, "but am not sure. Mr.. St.
Cyril l thank you for the confidence you
have reposed in me. I will help you to
bring this man to justice, if he still
lives. I must go home now. I will see
you again before night"
The two gentlemen shook hands cor
daily. Ralph bowed to Miss ST. Cyril.
and left the house. All of his terrible
dread of the past night came over him
the moment he stepped out into the sun
shine and saw the glitter of the sea. He
shuddered as he passed the little cove
where last night they had embarked in
the boat. He felt like one suddenly be-