Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-16

speak of that. We were betrothed.
Our marriage day was set, when sud-
denly she Disappeared. 1t was the very
day you saw us together. Not until
the next morning did learn that she
was missing. There was time then
when was almost insane. We search
ed for her everywhere in vain. All we
could learn was that she had last been
seen in the garden Of her villa, which
lay on the seacoast some miles from
the city. We thought she was drown
ed"
] His voice broke, and he turned his
face from me. In a moment he went
on. "For seven years ! believed that,
suffering cannot tell you how much.
took up my old wandering life. And
now will tell you strange thing.
You may believe it IL you like. Three
years ago was in Calcutta, and
heard her calling me. Angus, Angus
It was her very voice. l could not mis-
take 1t. You may say dreamed it. /
tell you heard it as plainly as you
hear nue. now. Well. no matter how 1t
came, what heard was the truth. i
learned where she was. l set out with
in an hour to find her, for she was not
dead and found her at last. l found
her, yes"
He left his chair and paced back and
forth in the room. 81 will tell you why
she disappeared" he said. ut Is in
credible. but that also is true. There in
Buenos Ayres was foreign noblemnn
on tour of the world. During my abb
sence from the city he annoyed her
with his attentions. When came back
slapped his face in public. His rank
forbade him, he said, to challenge me.
But his revenge was sure. He watched
for the opportunity and with some OF
his crew stole upon her in her garden
and carried her off to his yacht. To al
lay suspicion he kept the boat in the
harbor for some days. Then he slipped
away quietly"
4 Murdoch gripped the arms of his
chair hard, and his mouth quivered
but he controlled himself.
II cannot tell you all l know" be
said. 1T would choke me- The man
was smooth viper. John. mockine
devil. AT first he was madly in love
with her. He told her of his wealth
his high position. bat she would moi
yield. Then the serpent showed. He
used no force. but lie vowed he would
break her will. He brought her to Eu
, rope and established her in his coun
try house. His servants were taught
to believe her insane. She was strictly
confined and watched in a beautiful
suit OF rooms. Regularly he visited
her. He said he found his keenest de
light in tanning his Wild bird. Twice
she tried to kill him. and he only
laughed. Can you imagine her torture
during those long years? 1t drives mi
half mad to even think Of it. Yet she
she kept her reason and outmatchet
him in the end. Well, at last found
her-I told you that-I found her, ant
by my help she escaped. But it wa.
too late. She fingered a few week
only and died in my arms. Alb, m.
Nita, my Nita!'
believe that for the moment for
got even his grief. "And the mani
/ cried. sThat devil, Murdoch?"
"Aye," he said, turning and standing
over me. his speech In a moment hare
and cool. aye, the man. What Of him
He has powerful friends. In his owl
country lie can laugh at the law. Sup
pose he had done to you. John. what III
has done to me and fate put him into
your hands. say. what would you dog
"God forgive me, Murdoch" burs
out. ''but believe 1 would Kill hin
like a worm Y l-ss.-.....-.s..--.ss-S-l,s-.
niurdoch laughed nerceIy. Come.