The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-20

Blair Tor his daughter Were staying AZ
Sirathgowan. and from a servant AT the
rlanse where he had got the Information.
he learned that Sir James and Lady Fer
Ausson lived in Randolph Crescent
On reaching the town Leslie hailed a
cab. and soon the aristocraiic quarter in
which the FergusSons lived was reached
II was now a couple OF hours after noon.
ard he thought * very probable that he
would find her ladyship at home
Nor was he mistaken. Giving his card
20 the servant who answered the door. he
was shortly afterwards informed that her
ladyship would see him. and he was al
once shown into the VISITORS room. And
then with fastthrobb!ng pulse and mind
strangely confused Sc awaited the appear
ance OF the woman for whom he mad ex-
He'd himself. and whom he Still loved with
an insane intensity.
Presently a welI-renembered face and
figure glided into the room. and for brief
space there was an utter silence Mildred
had sunk into an easy chair, her face
white as death, her whole frame betray-
ing the greatest emotion. Luckily Sir
James was not at home that their in
terview would not be interrupted.
For some moments Lesie's black eyes
rxed themselves on the sweet pale face
before him. then with an effort he man
aged 10 articulate. in a strange, harsh.
husky tone.
Your ladyship seems surprised TO see
ue?'
II am" came the answer in low trem-
ulous accents for 1 thought you were
still abroad"
II only returned three days ago. Can
you guess why l came back 10 Scot!and?"
Il have not the least idea" she replied,
more collected now.
II came with the express purpose of
visiting your grave" he said, resolved TO
come at once 10 the point
My graye2" she cried. her wide-open
eyes attesting her surprise.
Yes; | have only just returned from the
'Strathgowan cemetery. where | found not
your grave, as expected but that Of
your cousin. After mourning five years
for you as one dead. but not lost to me
forever. / came back TO find you living
and another mans wife. Why was | de-
ce.ved cruellys Who Is responsible for
the Internal trick played upon me?'
The last words rang out sarlly. for Les
lies passion had grown suddenly beyond
control, and utterly broken down. he sank
into a chair.
Why did you think me dead?" she ex-
claimed. Il do not understand. VIII you
explain"
For reply he drew from one OF his inner
pockets a pocket-book. and handed her
the letter he had received from her father
five years ago. and with II was the para
graph cut from the "Slrathsowan OBJ
server"
She took the letter and newspaper ex-
tract from him. reading the former first.
and in a moment the whole truth flashed
upon her. The next instant she fell for
ward in a swoon, but ere she touched the
floor Leslie caught her in his arms. and
laid her back in the deep chair.
He did not ring for assistance but.
chatting her hands awaited her recovery.
AT this moment Leslie was possessed by
two raging demons; one an overwhelming
desire 10 regain the woman he mad been
robbed Of. the other a mad desire for ven
geance on the man who had basely de-
ceived him.
In a little while Mildred recovered, and
instantly Leslie began to pour into her
ears the tale Of their wrongs and his own
suffering. He dllated on the baseness OF
the act which had kept them apart on the
wealth he possessed. his own undyiug af-
fection for her; bat all his urginss were
in vain.
Mildred respected her husband. though
she did not love him and even for Les
lies sake she dared not face the shame
and scandal Of an eiopenent. Again and
again he stroVe 10 induce her 10 fly with
him. TO meet with q quiet but firm re-
fusal each time. At last. in 4 condition
OF frenzy. Leslie went away. bur ere he
took his departure he took Mildred I'm his
arms-despite her resistance-clasaes her
madly to his breast covering her face
with burning kisses. Then he hurried
away. and she saw him no more alive.
When she next saw him he was far be
yond the reach Of her prayers ana tears
and she regretted with All her soul that
she had not listened - his imprisoned
en'resties and fed with him abroad
But il was an too late when she thought
Of such a proceeding
Ii was evening. and before one large
house in Moray Place a great crowd OF
excited people were gathered. their
glances fixed on one of the palatlal resi-
dences wherein terrible tragedy had
been played out. scarcely a couple OF
hours before
Alexander Blair. the great wooden man
had been murdered by an unknown &C.,
tleman, who. Immediately afterwards.
blew out his brains with the same revolt
Yer that had sent a bullet through Blalr's
head
Shortly afterwards. the doer Of the
strange deed was identified as David Les
lie who had once been In Blajr's employ
ment; but save Lady FERGUSON. no one
knew why her fathers life had been
taken.
CThe End
Copyrighted. 1896. by John Monk Foster.