The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-05-13

Take your clumsily forged docu-
ments and your attempt to reproduce
my SEAL and leave me at once!' he
cried in terrible ebulition Of wrath,
gathering up the objects had brought
and tossing them back to me. Your
dastardly conduct is too despicable for
words but remember that to you and
you alone, your country owes the over
whelming catastrophe that must now
inevitably fall upon it."
With these ominous words ringing in
my ears | stumbled out, knowing not
whittier | went, and scarcely respond
ing to the greetings of the men knew
who regarded me in askance The
great central staircase, up which climb
ed the brilliantly uniformed represen-
tatives Of all civilized countries on the
face of the earth whenever the Minister
held his receptions, l descended with
heavy heart, and, crossing the gray, 81
lent courtyard, soon found myself amid
the hustle of Parliam ent street.
I saw with chagrin how utterly
had failed in my end eavor to elucidate
the mystery, for not only had I been
unable to throw any further light upon
the theft of the treaty or the tragic end
of the man l suspected, but had act
ually heaped increased suspicion upon
myself On reflection l found myself
in accord with tbs Minister'S declara-
ton that the passport was a forgery,
and that the brass stamp was not the
seal used by the SPY. These facts
were absolutely iacontestable. The
only thing remaining was the paper
wherein attempts had been made to
initiate my writing. / tried to explain
of the dead man of all suspicion, but
alas! could not bring myself to be.
lieve in his innocence. There ranked
in my breast the bitter thought that he
had uttered words of love to Ella and
had tried to induce her to break off her
engagement to me. She herself had
( acknowledged on oath before the Cor
oner, that they had Quarrelled because
BIG lOfCu LC. NO- hltuOuSh eAla
passport was clumsy imitation and
the seal had been cut without due re-
gard to the Warnham Quarterings, the
plain, incontestable evidence Of his
! forgery remained.
He was, after all, cunning, despic-
able scoundrel, who had brought dis
honor upon my name and ruined me
both socially and financially l found
myself smiling grimly at the thought
of how quickly retribution had fallen
upon him. II he had died from natur-
al causes it was but judgment fol
his misdeeds; il struck down by an
unknown hand 1t was but vengeance
for his treachery toward his Queen. his
country and his bosom friend.
! Needless of where l went, l walked
on, called at my club, remember, and
thrust my letters into my pocket un.
opened; then, pursuing my way, ar.
rived home late in the afternoon. Az
l entered Juckes handed me a note
from Ella, telling me that they hat
left Staines owing to the tragic affair
and asking me to call that evening a
Pont street, adding that she wished tt
see me upon very important matter
For a long time I sat alone, smoking
and thinking, trying to devise SOM
means by which could bring the Ear
to believe in my loyalty, but at last
in desperation, / rose, dressed, ant
took cab to Mrs Laings.
The house was not large, but wei
ordered, exquisitely furnished, ant
there was about everything an air o
elegant refinement that betokenet
wealth, taste and culture. 1t wa
nearly when / arrived, and wa!
gratifed to learn that with the excep
ton of Beck, who came later, was thu
only guest Dinner was much NOR
stately meal at Pont street than it hat
been at Staines, where very often w
sat down in fannels, and / was no
sorry when it was over and I fount
myself free to talk alone with Ella
1t was plain, from the dark rings abou
her eyes, that she had passed sleep
less night, and that her terrible ant
mysterious secret bore her down be
meath it's oppressive weight. Yet sh
had greeted me with the same joyou
smile, the same hearty handshake a
of old, and l had, while sitting at din
ner chatting with her, felt myself won
dering how l could ever have brough
myself to utter such bitter reproache
and determinations as l had done Oh
the previous day. Her kiss, now tina
we were alone, thrilled me; her speech
soft and musical, held me enrapture,
by its charm.
She told me, in answer to my Ques
tions, how she had Jared after | lef
, the Nook how dismal the place ha'
appeared, and how many bitter mem
cries it would always possess for her
: Then, in response to her suggestion
we walked out upon the balcony
where, under the striped awning,
: table and chairs were set. Here, II
the cool night air. the quiet only brok
en- by an occasional football. or tn
tinkle of a passing cab bell, we sippe
our coffee and gossiped on as lover
will