The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-30
.fHApTEH yf-fCovTIxuED.l }

piest words, and so dexterously aFolos
my declarations. And he sighed quite
as forlornly as Walter had done.
Lady Annabel at last turned to her
daughter.
Eve will return home at once, my
love, II you wish. and / will commission
our kind friend. Viscount Somerset, 70
make inquiries concerning the artist.
II is but proper that We should seek out
your gallant preservers. ] Will also
write to your uncle to come up from
Bath to receive him. You know how
eagerly he always sought after trace
Of these Vernons."
Walters lips writhed while he vowed
mentally the name should yet stand
proud and high even IN aristocratic
London. So in sullen silence he watch
ed the group pass on toward the en-
trance out OF sight. He rose up then
and strobe through the crowd.
The name Of Lady Annabel Collin
wood arrested his attention once again.
The speakers were Immediately in front
OF him.
Lady Annabel? Oh. no. that is the
Hon. Mrs. Dacre-she that was former
ly Annabel Marston, Of Lincolnshire, a
distant relative. however, Of Lady Col
linwood's she in the violet bonnet and
gray pelisse, I mean"
A strange look Of reyengcful ire fash
ed over the gloom Of Walters face as he
followed the direction given, and found
the lady indicated--she that was once
Annabel Marston Of Lincolnshire.
She was a fair woman. with dark
and rosy cheeks, whose beauty was 50
we'll preserved one might have easily
believed her only thirty. She was talk
ing gaily with a gentleman in uniform,
and her clear. joyous laugh came musi-
cally to Walters ears. He ground his
teeth.
"she is happy, the traitress, and my
wretched, ruined father sleeps in his
ocean grave exiled by her from his ma
tive land, muttered he. as like mad
man he tore his way to the street, and
hurrying to his lodgings, flung himself
into a chair and dropped his head upon
his hands. For a short time he sat thus
and then rising, he unlocked q small
box and took from thence closely
written manuscript, which he perused
attentively. only the last Of it is essen
tial to the thread Of our story:
And now, Walter, you have the key
to the mysterious sadness Of my whole
life-the dark secret that has eaten like
the Spartans vulture through my heart,
finding its way only with my death to
your knowledge. do not fear, my son,
that you will be harsh TO your fathers
memory. know you viii see that,
dreadful as was my sin, it was nothing
to the web of wickedness that was
wound around me-to the terrible
atonement my life has made. Most Of
all, you will receive consolation in know
ing Toms Bible was the means OF rec
onciling my soul with Heaven.-of
bringing to my restless. sorrowful
heart the peace for which 1t had SO
long sighed We are nearing the
land every day-the land which for ten
long years l have known only in my
dreams; but / shall never set foot upon
it. Too surely has the hand OF death
laid hold upon me. / heard you anx-
iously inquiring of the ships surgeon
the other day If there aas nothing to
help my cough. / could have answered
what he evaded. Do not grieve for me;
I shall be happy-so happy to lay off
this cumbersome garment Of flesh,
these blind eyes OF doubt For you
my son, leave a rich legacy Of expert
ence to warn you away from the rocks
that shipwrecked my peace and good
name. | have no fear for your future. |
know your artist name will be honora-
ble-that the wealth fail to leave will
be more blessed won for yourself. One
solemn cnarge only l give you-that is.
TO seek out, when once more you come
to mingle with your countrymen in
England, and speak with Annabel Mar
eton-her name may be changed now.
! flew from England the very morning
after that wretched day have avoid
ed all knowledge of the changes time
may have brought, but you can easily
find her. Tell her all that you have
learned from these pages-of the utter
horror that followed my happy parting
with her; of the murdered spectre that
strobe everywhere at my side; of all
the gloom and ruin that terrible day
flung upon me; and then show her how
peace and forgiveness came. Give her
Toms Bible; she will find all the places
marked that refer to her guilt and mine;
and say to her the last message Of the
man she wronged SO terribly was utter
forgiveness, and an earnest petition
that she would also seek the only foun-
tain that can wash away such sin. 9th
er directions you will find in another
place. / am exhausted, aad must rest
now"
Walter read it through, as hav4 said.
and then with groan he said
"Oh. my dead father, have seen at
last the woman for whose love you per-
lied SO much She is admired and hon
ored and happy, Snd you, her innocent
victim. are lying in your unknown, un-