The Cook County herald., 1905-08-19
CHAPTER xlx-(continued.)

"The deuce! For his father! He is
a bold beggar!'" thought the sorcerer.
"How can he prove that he is not the
son of a beggar? Or not my son, as
for that matter!"
Lord Robert de Lavet," said Clar-
ence, confidently, 81 have no doubt is
my father. You heard the story which
Martha told while she thought you
were delirious-the story of Claude de
Lavet's murder at the Boar inn?"
"Yes-yes; I remember it now.
did not heed much what she was say
ing then. My heart and soul were
with you as you listened at the hole
in the ceiling,' replied Helen.
"Well, that story made clear to me
that Claude de Lavet was my uncle,
and Lord Robert de Lavet my father"
"Ah, now I know how he was able
to play so successfully upon Bash
forts fears and fancies," thought So
sia.
"And I know" continued Clarence,
II know where to find, in Galway,
those precious proofs which Bashfort
stole from Claude de Lavet, and which
he had been hired to steal by Sosia,
but which he never gave to the treach-
erous sorcerer."
II the concealed sorcerer had dared
to move he would at this moment have
dragged his sleeve across his face to
relieve it Of an icy sweat that started
from every pore Of his hideous visage.
with these proofs of my mothers
innocence" continued Clarence. "and
with you on my arm as my wife, will
find Lady Ida Beauclair and Lord Rob-
ert de Lavet, and tell them the story
of my life. They will believe me-
they must believe me! And if they
do not, you will still be my own dar-
ling wife,"
And here the hopeful, happy 1ov-
ers exchanged so fervent and joyous
kiss that Sosia dug his sharp nails
into his flesh and grinned in his dark
ness like demon on Goals of Internal
fire.
'But may I not accompany you to
Kilronan now, dear Clarence?" asked
Helen. "Can we not escape from Dun
Aengus now and together?"
IF he consents to that" thought
SQsia, my present scheme of ven
geance may fail! I may have to kill
him on the spot!"
mo, dear Helen. do not know
how all is above yet, and I may fail
to secure boat at Kilronan. I may
be compelled to 60 on to Killeany,
which Is several miles from Kilronan.
The distance is too great for your
present strength. There may be many
perils in the way, too, which I can
readily avoid if I be alone. Courage,
darling! Fear nothing! No living
man or woman suspects that we are
here. You are too sensible to dread
the dead; and there are no cave mon
sters more formidable than rats to be
expected, and they prefer the old
building above, where Bashfort's
stores of provisions will feed them"
II will be brave!" replied the de-
voted girl. II shall fear only for your
safety, dear one, while you are away"
And my safety shall be to me as it
it were your dear life in my keeping"
replied Clarence. "You will not trem-
BILE now, as go into that passage to
look out upon the sea and sky again,
that may guess at the hour?''
"Oh, no." replied Helen, both with
| a shudder and a smile. 'I have learn
ed all I wish to know of that passage.
Oh, pray, do not remain away so long
as you did before!"
"Of course not. I shall not have to
battle with more Bashforts, am
sure'
| The night was dark and the sky
cloudy, the light of the moon but
family appearing. Yet remembering
at about what time the orb had risen
on the preceding day, Clarence was
able to almost correctly estimate the
hour. d,
He did not linger in the cliff cave,
but soon returned to the interior cave,
where he found Helen just completing
preparations for their evening meal.
| "Ah, you wish to keep me strong"
said Clarence, smiling. 1T is, think,
about 9 o'clock, and as soon as our
meal is over must leave you"
Eat heartily and happily, you dog!"
thought hidden Sosia 1t is the last
meal you and Helen Beauclair are
ever to eat together. Be gay and fes-
tive, my charming innocents! Sing
and be merry-for, by the heart of the
fiend; this is your last kissing time!"
Happily unsuspecting of these iron
lcal and unspoken comments, the lov-
ers did enjoy themselves very much,
and in their soft love speeches and
innocent love-making so tortured the
listening sorcerer that his breast was
covered with gashes from his gripping
nails, which, like the talons of a fam
ished vulture in sight of an unap-
proachable feast, he dug into his own
flesh.
"Oh!" he thought. "Oh, the two
fools! The two Babes in the Wood!
The two idiots! The pair of angels!
I shall go mad presently and howl like
a starved wolf! Curse the beggar!