Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-07-08
M1IDDEN RRRORJM \


course Of nature her father should die, she
would return, a grave and altered woman,
to her old home-return to find Neville
welded to another, and herself forgotten.
Mabel went to her trunk, tossing aside
things that she had formerly valued for
their tastcfulness. Then she took up
dresses that were underneath the laces
and lighter things. There were four pref
~ costumes which were still quite fresh,
and which fitted her as II made but re-
Gently. She had not grown more robust
during the last few months.
One quiet gray gown called up recollec'
tons OF that day from which all her tr0U.
bles dated-the day when she first discov-
cred that her father had a secret to hide
the words she had overheard In the IL
brary, the scene near the boathouse. the
interview with her uncle, then with her
father. the plausible explanation he had
given her, aud. last of all. that never-to'
be-forgotten scene In her fathers study,
when, as she believed, she had been the
means Of avcrting q fearful crime. Her
parting from Neville had followed. then
her separation from all her family; next
her imprisonment In the cottage.
She continued to hqpdle the grny dress
without thinking Of what she VAS doing,
and In this state Of mind she unfoldcd II,
shook Il, and held II up before her; and,
as she did so, her hand came In contact
with thin and crumpled piece Of paper In
the pocket Of the skirt. What could II be?
For she had not worn the dress since that
day, 10 vivid in her memory, on which she
had taken II OF before her father went to
Germany, or was supposed to 60 there.
Instantly there flashed across her mind
the little scene In Metals bedroom, when
she had been 30 agitated about the paper
which fell from the pocket Of this very
dress, and she had believed herself about
to obtain a clew to the secret which had
ever since eluded her. This paper contain.
ed an allusion which had been key to O
part Of the deception which she felt
shrouded her fathers past. She had been
deeply disappointed at Hrst, and then In
tensely relieved In mind. at missing what
she had aimed at In snatching the piece Of
paper from her fathers drawer, and she
had gone away from home the next day
In the belief that the secret still lay hidden
In the drawer Of her fathers writing Il.
bic.
Never since that day had she worn the
gray dress, which was not stylish enough
for any place but the school room; and
during all the stirring occurrences that
followed--her visit to her uncle's, her brief,
happy engagement to Lord Wynmore,
when new garments were ordered for her,
and she was emancipated from the school
room-she had never had occasion to wear
this particular dress, for, after hcs en-.
gagement to Neville Wynmore was brok.
on Oh, illness ensued, and her fancy for
black garments E-sw upoa kes, 40 that
this costume had lain unthought Of ct the
bottom Of her trunk now open hsfore her.
Now swiftly came the startling thought
that here, at this unexpected moment, the
mystery would be laid bare to Aer-ths
hidden thing be made clear. She felt %.
sured that she was about to lay hold Of
that which had hitherto eluded her.
How painfully her heart beat % che
drew out the thin foreign sheet, smoothed
It with tremulous agony, read in German,
frankfort, June. IS.
"Y0ur last letter was 20 unsatisfactory
that will answer It In person. II ID OF nc
use to beat about the bush with me; and
you ought to know that. II I ask q good
deal. It 10 worth your while to pay Il.
must write long letter. but every word
will have to be reckoncd for.
1T 10 too ridiculous for you, Charlford
or rather Fllton--to tell me, Horace
Lane. that you cannot afford to pay twice
over for Q secret such % ! have In my
keeping. II you paid for II q dozen times
Il would be better than spending the res,
Of your life at the public expense In one Of
her majesty's prisons. You think to blind
mef You have reckoned without any res
; knowledge Of the man with whom you
have to deal.
"Your rsputed brother takes advautss,
Of q series Of fortuitous circumstances. o,
my own skill In Initiating any haudwrit
Ing, Of my presumed dying state, OF tn,
death Of Mrs. Charlford In her husba ma,
absence, Of an attack Of yellow feyeI
which rapidly carried OF the real Richsrt
, Charlf0rd during bis visit TO the West In
I dies-l say he takes advantage Of eli ties,
! circumstances to forge will beQuea thin,
. to himself the immense fortune amasset
BY bis cousin. which would otherwise hav,
gone to Richard Charlford, and at hi,
death to bis children. He draws up Ii,
will; write II out, signing Il with forg
ed signature on consideration OF receiving
for my penniless child sum Of eight thou
/ sand pounds. am supposed at the tim,
. to be In q dying state-John Charlton,
} thinks that dead men tell no tales.
I "Your price had to be settled. 1t was
heavy one-uo less than that the man VII
had planned to take oil the late Mr.. Charl
, ford's property should make q new will
/ which should bestow half the wealth Of
yourself, In order to do which securely
, was necessary to palm yourself Oh q
. Richard Charlford, the father Of bis dea
? brothers children.
. "Why not3 The wife was dead, Ii
4. baby children had not seen their fathe
I for year, and the yellow fever was {,
ported to have wrought great change 4
o him.
. John Charlford resisted % much % b
!. dared; but he found himself caught In
D snare. The will was never questioned
v John Charlford informed his companion 4
!, iniQuity az to a few important by.son
. events, and the deception succeeded. Eve
3 since you have held up your head wit
y the county gentlemen Of England--yet 20
= demur TO pay q few thousand pound
more. Refuse II you dare!
Meet me at John Charlford's, by tn
= boat house on the estate he got by fraud
. there we will settle terms while every on
!. supp0ses you to be abroad. Yours,
= amity II you will.
J, HORACE LANE"
A wild thrill Of horror and Joy "a
A..