Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-11-19
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Claire Lnwood She had applied for
the position, and had secured It,
One day Dr. Elfenstein rode over to
the sumptuous baronial home. He pass
ed an hour In the company of Ethel.
When he left his heart was hard and
cold and she, poor child, was tortured
with the anguish love only can feel.
In fact, Earle had asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of her seeming part in aiding
dead Sir Reginald to brighten the simple
natives with the superstitous idea that
the tower was haunted Ethel remem-
bered her solemn promise She dared
not break it. The doctor grew from suS-
picion to dstrust, so n baleful cloud arose
between them About three days after
the burial of the baronet, Ethel Never
gail, with Lady Claire Linwood accom-
panied by groom, started out for their
usual horseback ride. Both were skillful
horsewomen, and both were extravaganza
ly fond of the saddle This morning they
had resolved to follow wild looking
path, leading through n deep wood, one
they never had noticed, in rides past the
spot, until the day before.
Suddenly, after an advance of about
half a mile, both girls noticed at once
Illll lOptSJtpS UNu ulNeTRGu from lnt
beaten path and looking towards the
point to which they seemed directed, they
were astonished to see the opening en-
trance to what seemed large cave, over
hung with vines of thick uxuriancs.
These vines seemed lately to have been
parted. Refining up their horses, they
paused before the spot, in order to sur
vey it more closely, when all distinctly
heard low means Of pain, issuing FROM
point near the entrance.
Surmising at once that some fellow
being was in distress, Ethel requested the
groom to dismount and investigate the
place, and Immediately return to report
the cause Of the apparent suffering with
in. The man dismounted us requested
and disappeared from view, only to re-
turn with the news that an eccentric
bookseller, who had recently made his
appearance in the neighborhood. and who
was known as The Rev. Edwin g. Styles,
was very Ill in that remote and hidden
spot. Bidding Roger assist her to the
ground Ethel at once fastened to the
side of the sick man.
She found him stretched upon an old
cot bed in this damp and gloomy retreat,
far away from the haunts of men. She
noticed few articles of furniture, and
few utensils for daily use, but saw NO
trace of fire OF food.
On a rude bed lay stretched the form
of the eccentric being who had been
much talked of during the past few days.
His cheeks were flushed with fever.
while the weary movements of his head
told of intense pain in that region. Clasp
ed in his thin. white hands upon his
breast lay a small wallet.
Seeing at once that the poor creature
was very low, perhaps near death, Ethel
stepped back to the entrance Of the cave
and requested Roger to ride with all
speed to summon DIR. Elfenstein 10 his
side. She also requested Lady Claire to
remain within call, while she herself
would watch over the sufferer until mid
should come.
AT once Ethel returned to her self-as-
sumed charge, and endeavored to arouse
him from the stupor he was in, in order
to ask of his relatives and home. The
effort was vain. low, incoherent NUT
tering, in which the words brother" and
save me" were mingled, was all she
could hear.
1t seemed n long and weary while to
the anxious girls, before voices were
heard in the distance. DR.. Elfenstein
was the first to enter the cheerless place.
while two men beside Roger followed,
ready to bear the sufferer in their arms
to a wagon quite a distance down the
road, beyond the narrow pathway the
girls had pushed over on the backs of
their gentle horses.
The doctor paused moment to exam
inc the patient, but looked very grave as
he did so, and whispered to Ethel:
Il think we are too late to save HIM
He will live but a few hours, as death
is even now upon him. He must be re-
moved, however, at once, and as | know
of no other place, shall take him to my
own house."
Taking the wallet in his hand to draw
it away, he found it impossible to do
so, as the death clutch of the diving
fingers upon 1t was tight and still strong:
so leaving it where it was on his breast
the doctor summoned the mon, who gent
ly raised the slight form in their arms
and bore him forth. Soon the poor man
was lying on blankets and a soft pillow
upon the floor of an easy wagon, while
the doctor sat by his side carefully fan
ming away the flies that might annoy.
and thus they wended their way back
to their homes.
A few hours later, in the comfortable
guest chamber at the young physicians
home, the poor wayfarer breathed his
last, and as the sympathizing physician
closed his eyes and Strengthened his form
he drew away the wallet carefully and
folded the poor, thin hands upon his
breast.
After dispatching a messenger for an
undertaken he summoned Mrs. Clum as
witness, and passed to his private office
In order to examine the mysterious wal
let, that should, he hoped, reveal the Sc
cret of the wanderers family and home.
CHAPTER XIX.
Miss Nevergail," said Andrew,
pompous footmRn at Castle Cairn, as he
knocked at the door of Lady Linwoods
/ II