The Red Cloud chief., 1898-09-30
XI,

CHAPTER XI.
Magnns did not die. He slowly
came back to life and consciousness,
nursed by the tender hands of the two
m who loved him; and Of these
two the tenderest we're Elspeth Trolls.
Lilith Stuart had been laid to rest In
the family vaults. Lady Westray was
still at the castle. whittier had gone
the lawyers In whose hands were the
affairs Of the estate, and Elspeth was
with her.
A fortnight later Magnus lay in his
own ROOF at Abbot's Head, and Day
sat beside him. He was still pale, and
the terrible cut across his forehead was
very conspicuous. but to Day It seemed
as IL he had come back from the jaws
of death.
A ring at the outer door made the
sweet color fly to Days cheeks. Mon
teith had been away for five days, but
she knew that this was him come back
again.
Day few to the door, and In a few
minutes came back, not with Monteith
only, but with Elspeth Troll as well.
II have brought your nurse To see
| you, Halcrow," said Monteith as Mag
nus extended his uninjured hand.
And your nurse Is more pleased with
your progress than she car say" said
Elspeth, bending her grave, sweet
voice and dark eyes over the couch.
They sat together for n few minutes.
then Monteith suddenly spoke: .
II have a purp0se. in thus bringing
you all together. 1t Is that you might
together hear my story. and the Sc
cret OF my connection with the poor
dead girl whom We all knew. Miss
Troll knows part Of the story-not all.
Five years ago l was secretary to
Sir James Westray, to whom ! was
also a distant connection. He lived
then OF his estate In Perthshire, and
during Parliament was up In London;
for he was. az you know, Vice-Chan-
cellor Of the E~Nshequer. While there,
his cousin, Mrs. Stuart, widow of a
captain In the army, and her daugh-
ter came to visit him She was very
poor; she was also--I must not mince
matters-a scheming, designing wom-
an. Sir James had no children. His
property and fortune should go, in
right OF succession, to the orphan chill
dren OF another cousin-a boy and
girl, mere children.
1T became Mrs. Stuart's object to in
duce the old man to make a will leav-
ing all to her own daughter. Lilith
was then seventeen, such as she was
when you knew her-beautiful and fas-
cinating. Her mother set her to work
on the old mans vanity. Sir James
had n foible, and that was an inor-
dinate love of self. How well she sue
ceeded you can yourselves imagine.
II was three years older than Lilith,
and at a susceptible age. She be-
witched me. l did not love her-I
could not profane that holy feeling by
giving my own i%nfatuation It's name;
but l seemed under q spell, and yielded
to her in all things. She allowed me
to think my feeling was reciprocated.
Suddenly Mrs. Stuart died. Then
Sir James announced his intention OF
adopting Lilith. To all intents and
purposes she was his own child. Yet
Lilith herself knew her position was
insecure a. long as the Westray chill
dren lived.
"Sir James was ailing for some time
before he died. and Lilith was con-
stantly with him during that time. She
urged him constantly. with all the per-
suasive powers of which she was mis-
tress; but for long he held out steadily
against her.
zone night--it was late at night
Lilith came to me.
HE has done IT, she exclaimed
triumphantly. He has made out the
will at last! All that he has will bt
mine. Come and sign 1t as a witness
Evan
II feebly protested, saying that !
was a sin to deprive the other chill
dren of their inheritance, but Lilitf
only scoffed. Ycn will understant
how far ! had fallen by that mean In
fatuation when I tell you that fol
lowed her and signed the paper as
witness.
"a few days after Sir James died
There was no contested case. The chill
dren were too young to understand
matters. and their guardians were cas-
lily silenced.
"Lilith still encouraged me, and
visited the house, which was occupies
by her and Lady Westray. 1t wa
while doing 30 that, by a strange acci
dent, ! discovered the secret whicl
legal eyes had not detected.
"Sir James signature to the will ha,
been forged!