Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-07-26
CTIAprER xXIII.-(Continued.,


lingly, ''by Withholding from me such in
formation, you render me powerless to
clear away this terrible mystery. Can
you think of no person who bears a strik
ing resemblance to you"
"Ah, yes, have it." she cried, bright
.ening up. you say this girl was wonder
fully like me?"
''You shall judge for yourself" he said,
producing his copy of Circe, which he
had brought with him.
She eagerly examined it, while he wait
ed brcathlessly for her next words.
"But for the color of the hair, l should
unhesitatingly pronounce it to be a girl
who was at the same school with me"
she said, musngly.
"Her name?' cried Stafford, trembling
with excitement.
ELLEN Jenkins" was the reply.
"The very woman suspected % he ejac-
'ulated.
"Yes, but her hair was black"
THAT verifes another conjecture; i
know where this woman is to be found;
have the whole mystery in the palm of
my hand"
"But the color of the hair?" objected
Constance.
"Psha what difficulty Is there about
that in these days? How many among
your dark-haired female friends suddenly
appear with golden locks? The clue you
have given ME will enable me to clear
your reputation from all suspicion"
"Do that" she exclaimed, catching his
enthusiasm. ''and though sacrifice every
farthing of my fortune, l will be your
wife. Such consummation to me Is
worth hundred fortunes for it will re-
move the blight that has poisoned my
whole life from girlhood.
"I fear Arthur Penrhyddyn has fallen
into this Ellen jenkins tolls" he said,
as he walked up the lane with her.
DO not say that!" she cried.
Indeed, / fear So" he answered sor-
rowfully; "and l shall apply your infor-
nation to rescue him from her hands"
'Do not lose a moment" cried Con-
stance, entreatingly; you cannot conceive
the arts which that woman has at her
command"
By ten o'clock the next morning he re-
ceived letter, bulky one. He went
into his bedroom, locked the door, broke
the seal and read with trembling eager
ness.
Instead of copying the contents of Con-
stances letter, the reader shall be pre-
scented with a more succinct and complete
narrative than her knowledge of events
could have supplied.
When about II years Of age, Miss
Grierson had been sent to a school of
high reputation, some twenty miles from
London, kept by one Mrs. Williamson.
There had arrived, some time after, a
young girl of her own age, a relative of
the principals, who, while receiving GER
tain instruction, was to assist as tutor to
the younger pupils. Ellen Jenkins was a
strange girl, and it was not long before
Miss Williamson began to repent of hav-
ing undertaken such a charge Ellen had
from the first attached herself to Con-
stance Grierson. Constance, a good
hearted, generous girl, who loved all who
loved, or pretended to love, her, speedily
succumbed to her arts, and became Ellen's
firm friend.
By and by it began to be observed that,
In features there was an extraordinary
likeness between these two girls. Con-
stances beauty was of a melancholy cast.
Ellen's was of coquettish, foreign style,
and with a mobility to which the other
could not pretend. But when the two
countenances were in repose, and Ellen
was in a graver humor, the resemblance
was marvellous.
The dark beauty very soon contrived to
obtain complete mastery over the mind
of her friend. Constance's was a plastic
mind, only too ready, at this time, to re-
ceive impressions from immediate asso-
Citations.
At church and during their walks they
frequently encountered a tall, handsome,
aristocratic looking man. who made a
Z point of staring at Constance and, when
ever the principal or the elder teachers
were not looking, of raising his hat to her.
Vim little time the young ladies began
to giggle and joke her about the hand
some gentleman, and to be very envious
of her distinction.
One day, when they were alone togeth-
er, Ellen slipped note into her friends
hand, saying that the handsome stranger
had met her that morning in the street
and begged her, in the most pathetic
terms, to deliver it to the young lady with
the golden hair At first Constance was
very much shocked, and refused to take
the note but her companion soon laugh
ed and coaxed her out of such scruples.
The letter was full Of such extravagances
of language as would delight school
girls fancy.
After that, the man dogged the school
more pertinaciously than ever, and the
young lady became so confused, and
blushed 30 much every time she encounter
ed his looks that more than once Miss
Williamson was very nearly detecting her
confusion. At last, after much coaxing
and some scolding on Ellen's part, the
foolish child consented to give him an
interview at the bottom of the garden.