Middletown transcript., 1904-05-14

| ment business in Spai AndFof course
| the young Earl laktll possession oi
Erndale yet.
The lsarl seaton spitefully. Nc
4 more ban you are. / guess Its
some un's a-playin' on the lawyers
that's what it Is! Is this Earl as
youcall him lis he anywhere about here,
dye know?
He wur wired for this morning. said
the tobacconist. leaning over the counter
and speaking confidentiallyr One Of the
grooms coined here on his way to the
Dover House and sed as Mrs seaton was
wuss and not expected to live.
Mrs. Seaton growled the man. Who's
! che? And what has she TO do with your
nEarr,?
/ Why, he thinks as how she wur his
mother, till he found out different the
other day, said the tobacconist and, by
all folks say, he's as fond Of her asif he
wur her son.
| Well, mates, said Seaton grutiy, I'll
haye-to be goin', so good night to ye-and
to yer Earl" too he added to himself,
turning off in the direction Of Hilary, the
constable and Callagan following at safe
distance, Gallagan, having come up at a
signal from the policeman, gripping his
| stick viciously as he did so.
| On they tramped in the still autumn
night, with the heavens above clear and
/ luminous, keeping ON the grass by the
roadside wien they could, or turning into
a field whenever it was possible, 60 that
their footsteps were inaudible to the man
they were tracking, absorbed as he was
in hisown guilty and reyengeful thoughts.
So, when they reached the gate Of the
Dover House; they waited while to see
him push his way through the hedge,
crossing the shrubbery with slow noise
less footsteps.
Now, my man, said the policeman to
Callagan, we'll follow in his tracks and
be at the house before he can get up to us.
And, suiiing the action to the words,
they hurried on and hid in the thick belt
Of trees to watch Seaton's movements.
It was very evident he had no inten-
tion of ringing the bell and asking for
Geoffry or his wife. He was lurking and
spying for some other purpose. and Gala
gan's blood SO boiled at the sightof him
that he would have rushed on his enemy
recklessly had not the policeman grasped
bis arm and compelled him to femain.
The library was lighted and the win-
dows we're open to the ground, and the
watchers could distinctly see the interior
Of the room. As they watched, Lord
Erndale entered, his face showing traces
Of strong emotion and, throwing him
self into chair, he covered his face with
his hands, whilst something very like
sob burst from him in his agony
Then Callagan saw Seaton draw nearer
to the open window, and the barrel of
revolver cleaned in his merciless hand.
On the instant the constable's grasp on
his arm relaxed, and both men threw
themselves on the would-be murderer,
and desperate struggle ensued.
When Lord Erndale had arrived at the
Dover House, Sir Jasper had drawn him
upstairs at once, knowing that the time
for delay was past and done with.
She longs for you, Geoffry, he had said
with catch in his kind voice.
The Earl had only pressel Sir Ta<prrs |
hand. and then had passed softly into his
foster-mother's chamber Betty's tender
arms had been round her, and the dying
head had been supported on her bosom |
and Geoffry, stealing to the other side,
had drawn her closer to his own heart.
Mother, he had whispered fondly, l |
am here-your child, your son always I
Sight and sense had been failing fast,
but the beloved voice had brought them
back for brief space. and look OF in
effable love had lighted up the dying
face. She had felt feebly for Betty's
hand. and had laid it in Geoffry's and
30, with both her children by her side
and their hands clasped in hers, the gen.
Gle heart of The woman who had suffered 1.
80 intensely had ceased to beat, and the
soul had sought and had found its rest
in another world.
Geoffry Erndale3 fighting with the first
terrible sorrow Of his life, little thought
The moments OF that life were nearly
by the stealthy watcher crouch-
ing with murderous intent outside /; and,
when at last he was aroused by the sound
of the desperate struggle without and
heard the report Of a pistol and heavy
Iali lie reached the window in single
bound, and in a moment found himself
u the midst Of confused struggle, and
knew that one dark figure had fallen
almost at his very feet. /,
It Is all right, my lord, the constable
'aid coolIy. He tried his best to shoot
ynur lordship, bnt we were too quick for
him, and be shot hisself instead. No
he isn't dead, the policemen went on, as
Lord Erndale stopped over the PROSTATE
iorm, but he soon will be If We don't
etcll doctor ID
Doctor Giles is here now, announced
he Earl hastily, as the old physician,
'tartled by the pistol shot. suddenly EN-
cred the library and hastened to tile
'ide OF the wounded man.
His examination was brief and skiIf,il.
We must bring him in here, lie said
,ravely. ior ! fear he has not long to live.
No-Tm done for, the man gasped
aintly ; and you've won--curse you ito
Lord Erpdale, who stood near. Where's
he sniyelline woman you call mother?
Doctor. Giles stopped oRsr the wretched
'nffsrer and spoke with grave rebuke.
Yunr wife, Thomas Seaton-fo- lie had
iivined at once who the man was-died +
IA hour ago, he said solsmnly. Emphat-
cally she died of a broken heart. What
vas your motive in all this tissue Of fraud