The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-05-10

its place vas 14-s one, though to whom it
belongs l cannot saw. for there is no
name upon it,, She fumbIed in her
pocket and produced dainty piece of
lace: As she drew it out something feIl
TO the floor and rolled beneath Nithdale's
feet. He stopped down to pick it up.
and then recoiled with an exclamation
of horror.
Great heavens!' he cried. 1T is the
It would be futile to endeavor to de-
scribe the scene Of. confusion that fol-
lowed. Miss Fleming tainted, and It
was While l administered restoratives to
her as she lay On the couch in the library
that Rayne entered. / I
'.Vhere's Nithdale; do. you know?y /
asked, under my breath I
Can't say. OFF his head, should saw.
after such an affair as this. By the way,
+ your practice must grow rapidly
II you treat all your patients as YOU did
me when | asked your attendance, upon
my daughter. Your RESPONSE that YOU
could not comply with my request, which
you considered too great one to ask. is.
L should think, unique in the annals Of
Incidence .
Before could demand an exclamation
~ 10y '"AASACu 4AouI TIE tOOul. ana
when q sought him upon the recovery of
my patient he had left the house. But
his words sent a series of, ideas, Keeling
through my brain that for the nonce rem
dered thought out OF the question. EARLY
the next morning, however, as I sat in
my own study, tired alike in mind and
limb, l realized for the first time that the
letter had received had come into inv
hands by accident. It had been put in
the wrong envelope! Now. as l tried to
reason the matter out, there was one SEN
tence that refused. to be obliterated from
my memory. try as would: THAT
Fleming girl has cut her off from fortune
and the man she loves
!, A conviction of the innocence of Doro-
thy FLEMING became so strong that I felt
somewhere should find evidence to
prove it. Accordingly, in the evening
ordered my carriage and drove over to
l found my friend at home, and when
| entered his study he was sitting alone
IN an armchair, gazing intently at the
ample testimony Of thessufferinc he had
undergone. j drew q chair MP 70 his and
~ ssek here. Il itthaale; do ,ou believe
arm. mn 's,s :. s. ,ss7, ~.
no: Heaven knows 1 don't. But
what would you have me believer
That she is innocent. believe it, and
until her guilt is proved everyone must
believe her innocent, also. Where is the
diamond? I want to see it,
He rose languidly, and unlocking a
cabinet produced the stone
looked at it carefully. As held the
stone in my hand something, know not
what, compelled me to rise and go to the
window. Lifting aside the blind, drew
the edge Of one of the facets across the
glass. while Nithdale watched ne in as
examined the pane. The gem would not
cut; therefOre-it was also glass!
For moment we stood looking into
each others faces: then took Nithdale
by the shoulders and forced him into a
chair.
Now, then, take pen and ink and
write what tell you; but before you be-
missing stone. Ready? Well, write to
Rayne and request his presence here, at
once, tonight
When he had finished he rang the bell
and handed the letter to a footman, in
structing him to deliver it Immediately
and wait for reply. Before half an
hour had passed the man returned, and,
broke open the envelope and read it to-
gether.
1t was just as 1 had expected. Rayne
said he was unable to come, as Violet
had given way to an old complaint. irri-
tated by the excitement of the previous
evening. DR.. Provost had been sent for
during the day and had ordered her to
be Immediately removed to the continent,
so they intended to start by the first
train in the morning. He hoped. there
fore, that Nithdale would be able to
write his business. i
Nithdale looked up at me inquiringly.
mo. l have not been called in. and if
Rayne knew l was going to see his letter
he would have been more careful what
he said. He is. of course, ignorant that
we have discovered the fraud. But mind,
Nithdale. he is not solely to blame. Vic
let Rayne put the imitation stone in Miss
Fleming's pocket beause she, too, loves
you. A dastardly trick. But who knows
what might have resulted from it p
But can we save the real stone: They
will take it with them in the morning.
Leave that to me. will 60 and see
Kaync myself now. If he gives me the
diamond. well and good; if not. I viii
have him arrested within the hour
Provost, you're brick! Give me your
hand, old boy. You've saved Dorothy.
How-oh! how can reward your
by allowing Violet Rayne to leave the
country unmOlested. because-I love
her"'-Penny Pictorial Magazine.