Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-06

Your Iordship has an excellent memory"
II was in Brittany at the time OF
everybodys mouth The name Of the
prisoner was-was," pursued the earl. with
the air Of one striving to recall forgotten
fact. was Eric MarviIle. think"
II must again commend your lordshdp's
memory"
"of what crime was this Marville found
guilty?"
He was accused Of murder"
Murder. Ay! so It was. remember
now replied the earl with thoughtful
air.
Few could have surmised from his mall
ner that In recalling the name of Eric Mar
vile he was, in reality speaking of him.
self, and Lorelie found herself in state CT
doubt again.
Your father,' continued the earl, ''was
a great friend Of this Marville. otherwise
he would not have planned and carried out
this rescue plot?'
I'VE may presume that he was
The earl's conduct would certainly have
seemed singular to an ordinary bystandsr.
The lady before him was waiting for rec
ognition as his daughter-in-law. but neg
Letting that as a matter of no consequence,
he was interesting himself In events that
had happened more than twenty years be-
fore. LoreIie found her suspicion return
ing.
do you know what ultimately became of
this Maryille-I mean OF your father, or
rather" of both of thern? "a
their vessel went down III Ormsby Race"
80 near our own doorsg. Strange! Then
this Marville was drowned?"
Il have reason to beHeye that he was
not
''Ay! and what is your reason?''
MY lord, do you ask that?' she answered
with significant information. $50
IT don't understand you"
But he did not press for her meaning;
Lorelie marked that. And there was an In
I tervaI of silence ere he resumed his
''Your father, Captain Rochefort-was he
IT have reasons--very strong reasons-for
believing that he escaped the fury of the
sea, only to be murdered.
While speaking she kept her gaze fixed
upon the earrs face to mark the effect of
her words. Unless she was mistaken there
was in his eyes something very like the
light of fear. = az. az
Murderer" he said. What leads you
to this strange belief"
with your lordships permission 1 VIII
reserve my reasons for another time. You
have net5-yet- said'' She added quietly,
whether you acknowledge me-"
You are my sons wife, and, therefore,
my daughter. Welcome to Ravenhall?
Rising from his seat he approached and
kissed her. And at this seal of recognition
Ivar heaved a sigh of relief. The trying
ordeal was over and It lYadfnot ended. as
he had tangled that It might. in his en-
forced retirement from RavenhaH.
When the earl touched Iorelies cheek
with his lips he found her skin as cold as
marble. She had submittedSto the act, not
knowing how to repulse it. but-kissed by
her fathers murderer! TO, receive such
kiss seemed to her mind like conformation
of the crime-a purchase of her position at
the price of her fathers blood.
She grew faint. Why was she placing her
self in a position where's day by day she
would encounter the presence of this ter
rible earl-for to her he was terrible? A
great longing came upon her to go
hanl To fhn ODD but no ht
of Idris Gained her. For his sake she
would stay Her belief that he was
the rightfal heir ef-Raveuhah was,
after alf,=aTmatter of conjecture, not of
telling him of her opinion: and. in her judg-
ment such PROOF would be found at Raw
enhall.
Hating herself for the hypocrisy she
masked her feelings with a. smile and en-
deavored to appear gratifed with her new
position.
Learning that Loreue had not yet seen
the interior of RavenhalI the earl, IS IL
wishful to conciliate her, undertook to con-
duct her over the mansion ~.
He escorted his new daughter-in-law
through the finer parts of the castle, point
Ing out thss.varioAS treasures; contained
within its walls but though he talked much
during this tour OF inspection Lorelie was
conscious all the time, of fbefng furtively
scanned by him. as if he were trying to
fathom her character and aims: and the
belief was borne In upon her mind that she
was the objectI of his suspicion and fear.
He bade her select as her own whatever
apartments might take her fancy, and In
troduced her to'tthe h6usekeeper, telling
the latter that. as regarded the domestic
arrangements of Rayenhal she must now
receive her orders from the new viscount-
ess. Then, having rendered these honors,
the earl went back to his library with the
remark. that they would meet again at
dinner. -. ~ s1.r-
"Egad. we're in luck.s!i wayr' exclaimed
fIn dol oht 4
the old boy would prove so gracious. Hut
why have you always kept 1t secret frtm
me that you are Captain Rocheforts daugh-
ter?' He gave Lorelie no time to reply, for,
suddenly struck by a new thought. he con-
tirued. 20, by the way. Just hinr lest
you should unwittingly betray a secret of
mine. Don't let the governor ever know
that l have given you a golden vass."
Very well, War. But may I ask your
reason for this caution7'
The v1scount tugged the ends of his light
mustache with a shamefacedness very un-
usual In him.
"Huml ah! we'll! suppose I had better
speak the truth. The fact Is I've had to
forestall my future heritage by approprt-
ating some pieces of the family plate"
WAR" IL rq|
Call it what you like. 1t was neeessi-
tated by the expense Of keeping a wife,
Your tastes are costly. Pictures. works of
art. rare furniture, rich dresses are the
breath of life to you Deny 1t IL you can
1 was obliged to resort TO some expedient
IN order to satisfy your extravagance. That
vase was one of my-er-appropr;ations
l gave 1t to you to convert into cash, but
you seem to prefer keeping it,
And so the money you nave given me
during the past few months has come from
the sale Of this plate? -
Ivar nodded assent
was this plate contained in the Jewel
room through which the earl has Just taken
us?' Is = .s1s IL
"Oh. dear. no! The storenI refer to is far
too valuable and tempting to be exposed to
the eyes of even the oldest and most trust
ed of our family servapts-at least that's
the governors opinion. He is somewhat
eccentric, you know. So he keeps this
treasure to himself In a sedret place"
Lorelie did not ask Ivar to name his Sc
cret place: she had her Own opinion as to
the locality, and would not have believed
War II he had declared tito be elsewhere.
Your father inspects these treasures oc-
casionally, l presume?" TlW
'Of course-with the joy)of an old miser"
And he keeps a catalogue of thcm?''
"You bet he does!'' ms
'"rhen how have you coptriyed to keep
your appropria tions undfseoHered?"
A look of low conceit! Snd cunning over
spread the face of the discount.
"Ah! that's my secret. The governor
thinks he still possesses the missing plate.
It's there before his eyes, and yet it isn't
there He sees It, and vet he doesn't see