The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-02-26
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CHAPTER XXNY

increase his dulness. Lord Mountdean,
who had been staying with him some days,
had suddenly disappeared. He had gone
| out early in the morning. saying that he
would have long ramble in the woods,
| and would probably not return until noon
for luncheon. Noon had come and pass
ed, luncheon was served. yet there was no
sign of the earl. Lord Arleigh was not
uneasy, but he longed for his friends so
ciety.
AT last he decided upon going in search
| OF him. He had perhaps lost his way in
! the woods, or he had mistaken some road.
/ II was high time that they looked after
! him-he had been so many hours absent
| without apparent cause. Lord Arleigh
! Whlsticd for his two favorite dogs, Nero
! and Venus, and started out in search of
! his friend.
lie went through the woods and down
| the high-road, but there was no sign Of
! the earl. He must have walked home by
another route" thought Lord Arleigh
and he went back to Beechgrove. He
| did not find the earl there but the groom.
who had evidently been riding fast, was
waiting for him in the hall
! My lord he said, Il was directed to
/ give you this al once. and beg of you not
| 10 lose moments time
| Wondering what had happened, Lord
Arleigh opened the note and read:
MY Dear Lord Ar,eigh- Something too
wonderful for me to set down in words
has happened. | am at the Dover
! House, W mission. Come al once, and lose
no time. MOUNTDEAN."
AT the Dover House," unused Lord
A vi Juh J.
Did the Earl Of Mountdean send this
himself!' he said to the man.
Yes, my lord. He made me ride as
though for life, and ask your lordship to
hurry in the same way"
rs he hurt: Has there been any acct
dcnt?"
Il have heard of no accident, my lord :;
but, when the earl came to give me the
note, he looked wild and unsettled.'
Lord Arleigh gave orders that his fleet
est horse should be sadded at once, and
then he rode away.
He was absorbed in thought that
more than once he had narrow escape
almost striking his head against the over
hanging boughS Of the trees. What could
it possibly mean: Lord Mountdean at
the Dover House, lie fancied some ac-
cident must have happened to him.
He had never been To the Dover House
since the night when he took his young
wife thither, and as he rode along his
| thoughts REQUIRED to that terrible even
ing. Would he see her now, he wondered
and would she, Ill her shy, pretty way.
advance TO meet him? 1t could not surely
be that she was ILL., and that the earl
having heard of it, had sent for him. No,
that could not hc-fOr the note said that
something wonderful had occurred.
Speculation was evidently useless-the
only thing to he done was to hasten as
quickly as he could, and learn for him
self what it all meant. He rode perhaps
faster than he had ever ridden in his life
before. When he reached the Dover
House the horse was bathed in foam. He
thought to himself, as he rang the bell IT
the outer gate, how strange ii was that
he-thc husband should be standing
there ringing for admittance.
! servant opened the gate. and Lord
Arleigh asked if the Earl Of Mountdcan
was within. and was told that he was
There is nothing the matter, hope"
said Lord Arlegh-''nothing wrong:"
The servant replied that something
strange had happened. but he could not
tell what il was. He did not think there
was anything seriously wrong And then
Lord Arleigh entered the house where the
years of his young wifeS life had drifted
away SO sadly.
Lord Arleigh was shown into the din
ing room Mt Winston House, and stood
| there impntiently awaiting the Earl Of
| Mountdean. He came in at last, but the
master of Bcechgrove barely recognized
him. he vas 50 completely changed. Years
seemed to have fallen from him. His
face was radiant with a great. glad light.
He held ont his hand 10 his friend
Congratulate me- he said; Il am one
Of the happiest men in the world
What has happened:" asked Lord Ar
leigh, in surprise.
Follow me" said the earl; and in 81
lence Lord Arleigh obeyed him.
They cane to a pretty shaded room, and
the earl, entering first, said:
Now, my darling, the hour has come
which will repay YOU for the sorrow of
years"
Wondering at such words. Lord Ar
leigh followed his friend. There lay his
beautiful wife, lovelier than ever, with
the sunlight touching her hair with gold,
her fair face transparent as the inner leaf
of Il rose-Madaline, his darling, who had
been his wife in name only.
What did it mean: Why had the earl
led him thither: Was it wanton cruelty
or kindness: His first impulse was 10
fall on his knees By the little couch and
kiss his wife's hands, his second 10 ask
why he had been led thither to be tor
tured so. Madaline rose with glad cry
at his entrance. but Lord Mountdean laid
a restraining hand on her shoulder
Lord Arleigh," said the earl, tell me
who this is.
My wife, Lady Arleigh,' he replied.
She bent forward with clasped hands
"Oh, listen, Norman" she said, lis
ten"
You looked upon her as the only wom-
an you could ever love; you made her
YOUR wife; Yet believing her to be the
daughter of felOn, you separated from
her, preferring a lifetime of misery to the
di>honor of your name. Is it not so. Lord
Arleigh:"
Yes" he replied; 1T is indeed So
Then now learn the truth This lady.
your wife. is not the daughter of a con
Wet. In her-how happy the telling Of it
makes me-heho.d my daughter. the child
whom for seventeen years | have sought
necessarily heireSs, Lady Madaline
Chariewood. the descendant of race as
/ honored, as ancient, Is noble as your
own.'
Lord Arleich listened ike one in a
dream. Ii could not be possible it could
not he true. his senses must be playing
him fal>e-he must he going mad. HIS
wife-the earl's long-iost daughter. Ii
was surely cruel fate
His dark, handsome face grew pale.
his hands trembed. his lips quivered like
a woman'S. He was about To speak when
Madaline sprang forward and claspei he
arms around his neck
"oh. my darling she cried, 'it is true
quite true, iou need not he afraid 70
/ kiss Me and 10 love HE now-you need
lot b. afraid to call NE your wife-you
need not be ashamed Of me any longer.
Oh, nv darling. believe ne I am nor