The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-19
A Romance Of Love and Adventure That
Is Ordinarily Told and Will Hold the Read
er'S Attention From the Opening Chapter

Dear Miss Deane-whether I am living
or dead when you read these lines, you
Will know that l love YOU Could I re-
peat that avowal a million times in as
many varied forms should find no better
phrase 70 express the dream I have cher
ished since q happy fate permitted me to
snatch You from death. So simply say,
II love you" l will continue to love you
while life lasts. and IL is my dearest hope
that in the life beyond the grave l may
still be able TO voice my love for you
But perhaps I am not destined TO be
loved - yo.. Therefore in the event Of
my d =ath before you leave the island l
wish 90 give you Instructions how TO lind
n gold mine OF great value which is hidden
in the rock containing The cave. You re-
member the sign on the piece OF tin which
We could not understand. The figure s.
denotes the utmost depth OF the exCav2-
ton. and the l signifies that one foot be-
low the surface. on aching the face Of
the rock, there is a rich Vein Of gold. The
hollow on the other side of the cliff be-
came filled with anhydTate gas. and this
stopped the operations Of the Chinese,
who evidently knew of the existence OF
the mine. This is ali the information the
experts employed by Sir Arthur Deane
will need The facts are unquestiOnable.
Assuming that 1 am alive. Will OF
course, be cOpartncTs in the mine. If l
am dead, l wish Onc-siXth share to be
given to my uncle, William AnstruthcT.
Crossthwaite Manor. NOrthallertOn. York
shire. as 4 recompense for his kindness
to me during my carly life. The remain
der is to he yours absolutely.
ROBERT ANSTRCTHER.
He read this remarkable document
twice through to make sure that it eX
actly recorded his sentiments. He even
SMILED sarcastically at the endowment
of the uncle who disinhcrited him.
Then. satisfied with the peruSal, he tore
out the two leaves covered by the letter
and began to devise a means of pro-
tecting it securely while in Iris pos
session.
AT that moment he looked up and
saw her coming toward him across the
beach, brightly flushed after her bath,
walking like Il nymph clothed in tat
tered garments. Perceiving that he
was watching her, she waved her hand
and instinctively quickcnod her pace.
Even now, when they were thrown to-
gether by the eXigenCieS of each hour,
she disliked to be long separated from
him.
Instantly the scales fell from his
mental vision. What. Distrust Iris.
Imagine for one second that riches or
poverty, good repute or i'll, would affect
that loyal heart when its virginia. font
was filled with the love that once in
her life comes to every true woman.
Perish the thought!
Laughing at his fantastic folly jerks
tore the letter into little pieces. 1t
might have been wiser to throw the
SI, int Of l,n al
at hand, but for the nonce he was over
powered by the great awakening that
had come to him.
Good gracious! Don't gaze at me in
that fashion. don't look like a ghost,
do Il" cried Iris, when near enough to
note his rapt expression.
You would not object if I called you
a visiOn?" he inquired quietly, averting
his eyes lest they should speak more
plainly than his tongue.
Not if you meant it nicely. But l
fear that 'spocter would be a more APP
propriate word. Just look at my best
gown
She spread out the front widths of
her skirt, and certainly the prospect
was lamentable. The dress was so
patched and mended, yet so full of
fresh rents, that a respectable house
maid would hesitate before using it to
clean fire irons.
rs that really your best dress?" he
said.
Yes. This is my blue serge. The
brown cloth did not survive the soak
ing it received in salt water. After a
few days it simply crumbled. The 9th
erS are muslin or cotton and have been
-er-adapted."
There is plenty of mems clothing"
he began.
unfortunately there isn't another is
land" she said severely.
NO. l meant that it might be posi-
bic tO-er-cOntrive some sort of rig
that will serve all purposes"
But all my thread is gone. 1 have
barely needleful left"
In that case we must fall back on
our supply of hemp"
Il suppose that might be made to
serve" she said. You are never at a
loss for an expedicnt."
1T will be a poor one, 1 fear. But
you can make up for it by buying some
nice gowns at Doucet's or Worth's."
She laughed delightedly. Perhaps
in his joy at my temperance my dear