Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-09-12
Continued.


then she is in the grounds, after
ALL"
"And, my lord, Chelmick desired
me to tell you that Count Jura has
gone away. He has not slept in
his room, and his luggage has disap-
peared. l took your message to
him this morning, but could not open
his door, it was
Gone! Jura gone!" repeated Roy
blankly, passing his hand over his
eyes. Mother Valerie! what does
it mean?"
Valerie pushed the servants from
the room, and shut the door.
"It means" she answered deliber-
ately, chat you have been robbed,
and that they have fed together"
"Valerie!" cried Lady Darrell.
"You lie!" said Roy in husky tones.
Valerie turned away and buried her
face in her hands-in reality to hide
the triumph that was cleaning on
il. The earl approached her.
valerie, forgive me! I don't know
what I am saying or doing. ] think
I am mad, but this is too horrible-it
cannot be true!"
Question them further, Roy" his
mother murmured. The shock was
So great to her pride and honor, she
looAed almost i'll.
The earl hastily opened the door.
Mason, go at once, and see it it
be correct about the count; there
may be some mistake. Davis, come
here. Now tell me all that occurred
when you were with the countess
last night"
The maid complied, and went
over all that had happened.
|You took all her jewels off, you
say?" Valerie interrupted quietly
though her hands were trembling
"and put them away?"
mo: her ladyship did that
"Then you carried the diamonds
back to the care of the butler?"
Davis looked round suddenly.
"No, miss; 1 left them here My
lady said she would put them away
and"
"They are gone, too," finished
Valerie quietly Come, dear Lady
Darrell, there is no more to be said;
you know the worst now
Lady Darrell put her hand on
Valerie's arm, and turned away
win bent head and dropping limbs.
The earl watched them go, then
sank on to a couch and covered his
face with his hands. All was too
conclusive; the evidence was damn
ing against Alice.
Alice, his sweet dream-love, his
wife, had fled-she was thief, and
a traitress! AS yet he could not
comprehend it, and strongest in his
pain was the feeling that she was
gone from him for ever-yes, ever
though her guilt seemed so evident,
he loved her still.
He sat for many minutes, then
rose with a groan and strobe down
the corridor, unconscious that
woman's eyes we're following him
hungrily and eagerly.
Cali works well, murmured
Valerie, from her hiding-place. "She
is lost now; their pride will condemn
her as thief. It was a good thought
on Jura's part to take the diamonds,
but I don't quite understand about
the plate; she had no share in that
Could .Jura be indeed a She
stopped, then a thought came to her.
"He mentioned Paul; now I see it
clearly. Jura is no count; they are
ieagued together What if the girl
discovers Paul to be my brother. She
may return and tell all" She threw
a terrified glance around, then
smile came. mo, 1 am weak and
foolish. He swore they should neither
of them cross my path. He has the
girl he loves. He will trouble me
no more"
CHAPTER x.
Going out again, Frank, in this
weather."
Frank Meredith laughed.
'I expect you think me mad,
Geof?" he answered his friend,
Godfrey Armistead; "but I shall re-
turn so soon to dingy smoky London.
I want to get all the air I can
The two young men were IN the
smoking-room of the Grange, Geoff-
rey Armistead's country house.
81 shall be sorry to lose you, old
fellow" went on Mr.. Armistead; "but
I shall follow you soon, remember
SO look out for me-"
Frank nodded.
''Why are you not more sociable
with your neighbors, Geof?" he said
after pause. You go nowhere"
''I don't care for any Of them. This
people [ like are the Darrells. But
I don't see much of them now, be-
cause they have q woman staying
with them I hate with all my feart
Valerie Ross"
"Is that why you refused to eo to
that dinner the night before last?''
Mr.. Armistead nodded.
''She is no good. 7 cannot bear
her. knew her brother, though it
is a secret, Frank, that she has such
Sc f11I