The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1905-04-08

have done one hour-nay, perhaps one
minute longer-you would now be in
deed dead. When you had been ap-
parently dead three days you were
cof1ned, as these things prove; and
the strong outer box, whose fragments
you see, containing lead case, which
inclosed your coffin, was placed in
vault in St. Mary's chapel, where it
was to remain until Lady Ida should
be ready to- see it transported to Eng
land for Enlightenment in her family
tomb at Dudley CASTLE
Helen, speeches. with wonder and
terror, stared fixedly at the speaker,
who continued:
But the box was not left long un-
molested in the vault. I and others
carried it away just after the dark
ness of last night set in, leaving in it's
place box exactly like it in shape,
size and weight, and fastened with all
speed to a point of the coast called
Barna, which we reached long before
midnight. We feared our act had been
detected and that we were pursued, or
We might have ventured to release you
from your lethargy at Barna. But
Barna is only three miles from Cal
way, and we thought the risk too great
Yet we were delayed at Barna for sew.
eral hours by the non-arrival of the
boat in which we were to leave the
coast, so that the full force of a furi-
Gus storm was upon us as we labored
to reach this place. But for the delay
and the storm, we should have arrived
here before daylight of this morning."
"And where am II" asked Helen,
amazed.
ION an island I have kept the
promise l made you. I said that l
would snatch you from marriage with
Lord de Lavet, even though you and
he were kneeling beside the bridal
altar, surrounded by multitude-did
l not?"
eyes, you promised me as much, and
more. But now l remember all that
you have been telling me of Helen
Beauclair and Clarence Darrell, while
l lay here unable to know that Helen
Beauclair was IT, replied Helen, trem-
ulously. "All that you have said to
me in this room comes clearly into my
mind"
GAS I declared it would" said So
STA, exultantly.
And l perceive that you have de-
ceived me; that you are my enemy;
that I am your prisoner, and-oh,
heaven forbid!-perhaps to be your
victim!" cried Helen, clasping her
hands and beginning to weep bitterly.
"You are not my prisoner, young
lady," replied Sosia, unmoved by the
tears and the many piteous ejacula-
tons to which the unhappy girl gave
utterance.
But I am a prisoner!" said Helen,
vehemently, pointing at the grated
window. "You pretended to be my
friend, Zeno Sosia. Oh, that I had
obeyed the dictates of my instinct,
which made me shudder when first
saw your face. All, you deceived me-
you entrapped me with your willy
words and your feigned benevolence
of a good old man! And the note
which you gave me in the church, and
which babe me use the pellet, was in
the writing Of Clarence Darrell-or,
heaven knows, I would not have used
it so quickly! And yet I might" she
added despairingly, "for death seemed
less terrible to me then than to be the
wife of Lord de Lavet-and had
sworn that would end my own life
sooner than wed any man save Clar-
ence Darrell Oh, that had told Clar-
ence of my meetings with you!"
"Had you done so, young lady, you
would have violated the oath which
you took eer I would consent to act
in your behalf-an oath by which you
bound yourself never to reveal to any
one, without my consent, that you had
asked the aid of Zeno Sosia. will
say that you have kept your oath in
violate"
"Alas too much so," sobbed Helen.
II should have kept nothing secret
from Clarence. Oh, how weak and fool
ish-how madly rash have been! God
now Furnishes me for seeking the aid
of sorcerer!"
"Pish!" exclaimed Sosia, with
shrug. II am no sorcerer. People call
me so, but am simply a student Of
science, man who has but three pas
sions-a love for science for wealth
and for revenge. You are not my
prisoner; you are not to be my victim.
I am not the one in whose power you
now are!"
Helen had cast many anxious glanc-
es toward the screen, behind which
the two listeners had wholly conceal
ed themselves.
"In whose power am I, if not in
yours, hideous and treacherous
wretch?" She demanded, her natural
courage rising with her indignation.
In the power of the towards who hide
behind that screen?"
young lady," replied Sosia, bowling
mockingly, II have made good the
promise Of the note, which read thus: