The Holly chieftain., 1899-12-01

tally taking farewell OF eyerytnIns
which makes life glad to men. asatul-
ly calhng down every blessing ON the
head Of the innocent girl who had
suffered SO deeply.
The dawn came at last. and lighted
up Valdane's hagged face. Then. just
as the first red sunbeam fell upon
Marguerite's easement. the candle went
out.
1t seemed like signal for him to
go. Nothing was now left but to
drink his cup OF humiliation to the
very dregs-to appear to an astonished
world rs fellow-conspirator with Dam
lei Brandon. in the carrying out os
the most infamous Of plots, and to
dissolve the Illegal yoke which bound
Marguerite.
Meanwhile bold front must be
worn to the world; and none could
wear mask better than valdane Mar.
tineau.
The next day he returned to clarls-
dale. He took the news Of Lsdy MIL
dred's engagement with q calmness
which made her lose her temper. He
looked III and old. Every one thought
Martineau was altered. Mildred i'm
agined that he must be suffering in
secret. but, with his characteristic
pride, held his feelings In check. Her
heart yearned towards him passion
ately. Her accepted lover had hard
Time OF 1t that day. The guests re-
marked to one another that. II Mar
tineau was Sweet" on his cousin, he
put very good face on It; for he talk
ed with quiet ease to her, did not avoid
her in the least. and offered his con-
gratulations without any evidence of
"repressed emotion"
Some three days after this. valdane
saw paragraph in the papers which
took him back to London at once. A
week later Marguerite received the fol.
lowing letter:
Dear Miss Lilbourne-I have to an
nounce to you that your uncle, Mr..
Daniel Brandon, died suddenly of apo
plexy In Paris last week There is no
will. and. by the nature Of the entail.
all his landed estates and house prop
erty revert to you, as the only living
blood relation. His affairs, am sorry
to say, are In great disorder, and quite
half your fortune has been gambled
away on the stock exchange. There
VIII be, hope. between six and seven
hundred year for you when all
claims are settled. l have seen his
solicitors. and can easily prove your
identity. as Cathie recognized you at
once that day you tainted at High Lees
and We have Mrs. Acland as well to
trust to. His poor young wife takes
the personally, but 1 am afraid there
Will be next to nothing for her; no
doubt your generosity will suggest 1t
to you to make some slight provision
for her. Mr.. Brandon's solicitor will
call upon you tomorrow, as I imagine
that 1t will not be pleasant for you to
see me. The money which owe you
has been placed to your account at
the bank. am afraid that the an.
nulling OF the marriage will be a more
lengthy business; but 1t shall be done
l promise you, as soon as possible.
The one thing now left for me to wish
for is that, after so many years OF
sorrow. happiness may come to you
in unstinted measure, SO that in wears
to come you may look back upon me
and the injury l did you as nothing
but the nightmare which you said 1t
seemed the first day you came to see
me in Lance Lane / shall go abroad
when all this is settled. and shall try
to cross your path no more. can
never forget your noble forgiveness
the one comfort shall carry with me
through my lonely life. With deepest
respect am most entirely yours,
'Valdane Martineau."
Some days afterwards he received a
note from Mary Stelling, inclosing a
slip of paper, the words on which were
written in pencil:
Dear Sir-I send you a line from
Miss Lilbourne, who is not well enough
to attend to business at all Just now.
She has had low nervous fever; nv
father thinks 1t is because she refused
to leave London this autumn. Now
that money is no object we hope to
take her to the Riviera for the winter,
Thanking you for all the trouble you
have taken on her behalf. l am, yours
faithfully. Mary Stelling."
The slip OF paper inclosed, which
Valdane carried reverently to his lips
before opening. contained only few
words:
Il am not at all WE'LL cannot at
tend to anything. Kindly leave the