The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-18

other yacht owners might have a partiality
for the same name.
The plank now burning before his eyes
had come from the figure-head Of the
yacht in which his father and Captain
ROchefOrt had cruised about, after dis
posing OF the Nemesis.
What more likely than that, on discover
ing the meaning Of the Morse runes Ga copy
OF which had been made by ROchefort
while the atar-ring was in his pOssessiOn),
the two friends in a spirit of adventure,
Should steer their yachts course TO Orms-
by, the site of the supposed treasurer And
here of this coast their vessel had found
cred.
This conclusion, If correct. would seem
almost TO justify the IDEA that II was I'M
I possible TO escape from the malign infiu-
ence Of Odins ring.
Desire for its possession had led Eric
Marville into q mischance that had doomed
him TO prison life; he had escaped from
the convict's cell, and had wrested the Sc
'cret from the runic ring. only TO meet with
a watery grave in sight OF the very treasure
hill that he had come TO explore!
But, stay, had Eric Marville and Captain
Rochefort persisted in the fierce currents OF
washed ashore alive? Was the removal or
the Vikings treasure due to of them,
or TO the joint action of the two?
SO occupied was Idris with these thoughts
that he had almost forgotten the presence
OF Lorelie, but now, on glancing a. her, he
noticed that her face wore a grave, not 10
the name that had been so strangely pre-
sented TO her view The discovery seemed
10 d1squlet her as much as IL disquieted
Then in a moment il occurred to him
that the dead in Saint Oswald's church
yard. whose grave she was decking with
marble cross, were men who had persisted
In the sinking Of the same vessel, The Id
us. Lorehe could explain the mystery, If
she chose. He resolved to question her:
earnest tone Il believe it is within your
power 10 throw some light upon a matter
that; TO me. is one almost of life and death.
/ mr. fnn mn Ch m nrIr
very recent friendship. To come TO the
point, beg, nay. L entreat of you, to tell
whose timbers we see burning before US,
the yacht ldris, that went down in Ormsby
race on the night OF the 18th of October.
Swift surprise stole over Lorelie's face
And why should you think that L know
anything Of that lost vessel?'
Ali Mademoselle. you are not erecting
costly memorial over the grave of men
| OF whom you know nothing"
Lorelie was silent for a few moments. as
! if rejecting how to answer an obviously
embarrassing question
TT is true she said at last "I will ad-
NIT that do know something of that lost
vessel, and that l have taken deep inter
| est in il"
The vessel carried some one dear to
| you?"
Really, Mr. Breakspear. you are very
curious" she cried, with a flash of her
! bright eyes. Before answering 1 must
know the motive for this catechsm'
| L nave reason 10 DelIeNe. answered Id
ris, that there board one Eric
| Marville, by name"
And what" asked Lorelie-and at the
| chilling fall in her voicAI dris started
what is Eric Marville - you, that you
| should take an interest in mis- fate?''
For moment Idris hesitated, loath to telf
4 the woman whom he loved that he was the
| son OF atfugitive convict Then he resolved
| TO be frank. believing that if she were
! true woman she would not despise him for
! a misfortune not of his own causing.
Y 'Er1c MarN1llp.P he answered humblV s@S
my fathers name"
At these words Lorelie Riviere shrank
| back in the Hermit's Seat staring at Idris
her face white. her hand lifted to her side
Your father?" she gasped. You Eric
| Marville's son-you?'
| The same. mademoiselle."
| mo, no. 1t cannot be. You have said that
| your name is Breakspear."
For obvious reasons 1 have thought
proper, to assume my mothers maiden
Eric Marville's son." she repeated wild
| ly. "lmpossiblei l will not believe it," Her
| w1ldness suddenly gave way TO an air of
| disdain. and she exclaimed: ''Why do you
| seek to impose upon me? Idris Marville
was burned to death at Paris seven years
ago
| Not So" replied Idris. with a SMILE as
| he proceeded to give reasons for permitting
himself 10 be advertised as dead.
| As Lorelie became gradually convinced of
his identity look of dismay came over her
| face. She shrank from him, and glanced
down upon the sea. as if tempted to plunge
4
ITO think that you, you of all persons
have saved my lifei'
| Then by that fact, mademoiselle / en-
| treat you TO tell me whether my father
| persisted in that shipwreck You doubtless
know something of his sad history"
| that my real name is Lorelie Rochefort"
| What do you say?'' cried Idris in amaze
ment. You are the daughter of Capt Noel
| ROchefort?'
! She inclined her head in assent
Then we shall be the best of friends. as
| our fathers were before u.s.
| You speak without knowledge" she re-
| piled. with a curious dry laugh.
| Did not Captain Rochefort prove his
friendship by aiding my father to escapes'
| AT my mothers urging; he would not
| otherwise have moved i'm the natter
| why was Madame Rochefort so anxious
to see my father free?'
| You must not ask me that" replied
Lorelie quickly. and looking alarmed the
| moment afterwards, as if betrayed into a
| rash statement.
This was certainly a strange answer. and
| ldris pondered over it in the silence that
| Followed. There seemed no other expIana-
| ton OF her words than that there had ex-
l Eed gullty love intrigue between Ma
| dame Rochefort and Eric Marville Was it
| possible that Lorelie herself was the OFF,
spring of =? With shiver he put the sus-
| picion aside. No; he would not think that ~
| us Captain Rochefort still living?''
| 1T is extremely unlikely
He went down with the yacht Idris?'
1 III dill
| He was not among the bodies washed
| ashore?'
They were bruised and swollen beyond
| recognition"
Was my father on board the yacht the
| night IL sank?''
$50 far 1 have been able to gather he
| was not"
| MOTE" said Idris in tone of joy. .sThen
/ ne may still De living. May L ask madem-
| oiselle, how you have learned this?"
| From my fathers last letter IN my
| mother, with whom he kept up a CORE
| spondence during his cruise The letter is
| Oct. 13, 1876. p. M, and the postscript is
| something to this effect Marville is going
| ashore, leaving. me aboard. He will not re-.
| turn till the morrow. / am dispatching this
| letter to the post by the sailor who rows
| MarVille ashore" Those are the last words
| my mother received. That same night four
| hours after the letter was written the Idris
| went down."
And you cannot tell me whether NV
| father is living to-day?"
4 know nothing more of Eric Marville
| since the night of the wreck"
| You have preserved all your fathers let
ters?'' ie'
Naturally"
Idris here ventured on a very bold re-
| quest.
Would it-be asking too much to let me
see this correspondence, or at least. some
| part OF it?''
Not if you were to give me a diamond
Tor each word il contained" She said
| firmly. '"iu
\''At least. mademoiselIe" he continued
more humbly, You will give me the mr.
port those passages that relate to my