Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-08-27
By CLARENCE DANvERs.

IooNed INTO, and 4 right and proper
course pursued; but if it turned out to
De plot. merely for the purpose of ex,
torting money from the duke. both
Smytbe and Zinga would find themselves
In a very serious hole.
After the solicitors had gone. Cecil
laughed himself to scorn. Fool that he
had been! Why had he not acted thus
directly Smythe had left him? Why had
ne accepted the statements OF those men +?
lie had been out of his mind: YES. he
knew 1t now, he had been mad with fear
and despair.
But now, things We're different. and if
It We're proved that he had no right to
hls dukedom, he would give it up heroic
ally, and certainly not in manner that
suggested he had known all along of the
fraud
The incidents of the preceding evening
were to him. surrounded in mystery He
could not yet understand why Duncan
had tried TO kill Lord Berys, nor why he
nad sought TO add second crime to the
first
He had not seen Viola since that one
moment, when he had returned to con-
sclousness TO see her bending over him
out there on the moonlit lawn. Someone
had led her away almost at once. and he
had known no more until he had found
himself in bed, with his valet sitting be-
side him. But he had sent message to
Niola's room, and received one back that
she was we'll. and would see him later
i'll the day.
Once more he took mp the thread of
ME where he had dropped it; only now
the possibility of losing all no longer
flled him with fear, aud the temptation
That had shaken him, if offered again,
would pass him by leaving him un-
touched.
With calm he would never have be.
heVed himself capable of, ne gave the
necessary orders for the inquest on Lord
duncan body. and accompanied to the
station those of his guests who were
leaving, for the tragedy had. of course
broken up the merry party, and thrown
a gloom over the castle which would
doubtless take years to wholly disperse.
1T was not till the afternoon that he
and Lady Viola met. She sent word that
she was waiting for him in the smaller
drawing room. and he went to her there.
outwardly tranquil, but inwardly con-
summed with excitement. For the first
time since the early morning his mental
calm was broken, and as he stood before
the woman he loved, he scarcely dared
to speak.
she understood his agitation, in spite
OF his ATTEMPT to hide it, and with one
breath she scattered it to the winds
Cecil! Love!" she whispered. holding
out her hands to him, and he caught
them in his own with little crv of low.
My darling! You care for me still"
Still" she echoed. "Ah, Cecil, how
little YOU know me, after all | gave Won
my heart, but it was not for an hour or
a day-it was for ever! Nothing can
change me, dearest. If you want me
still, nothing can take me from YOU"
IF what they say is true, l am not
worthy cannot claim you, Viola"
If what they say is true" she an
swered, steadily. looking at him with
glorious, shining eyes, 81 will face the
world with you, Cecil. | have enough
money for both of us. yet had we not a
penny between us, | would have shared
your poverty, even as | would have
shared your wealth"
Viola, beloved" he cried, passionate
ly, forgive me. | went because | dared
not drag You down. / went because"
Yes, | know, dear heart. but. thank
God you came back to let me prove my
love. Never doubt me again. | am
yours, body and soull"
For an instant he held her in his arms
and II happiness too deep for words en-
tered both their hearts. In that moment
Cecil knew the value of the love he had
won, and he prayed that he might keep
the wonderful heavenly gift for ever.