The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

grave went no further and Lady Eu-
phrasia going Immediately to the closet
opened 1t and gave a shrek which
brought the whole company upstairs and
into the room. Amanda's tears and ex-
plantations were hardly listened to. Bel
grave refused to answer any questions
and Mortimer turned without word and
went away.
Amanda was Informed that she must
leave the house the next morning-they
would not have such an artful creature
in 1t longer The whole affair had been
a plot to ruin Amanda, arranged between
the Roslins and Belgrave. Amanda set
out next morning to journey to Ireland to
the protection of her father, but the
position of her carriage was a creature
OF Belgrave's, and had orders to drive
Off the route SO as to pass near to the
colonel's country place. When within
short distance of that place the colonel
himself, who had followed IN another
carriage, overlook Amanda's carriage,
and Selling the helpless girl In his arms
carried her to his own conveyance, where
she tainted dead away in the Villains
arms. Lord Mortimer, who had soon sus-
pected that there was more than had
appeared in the compromising position in
which he had found Amanda the night
of the ball, had determined to follow her
in her flight and demand an explanation.
He overlook the colonels carriage be-
fore Amanda revived from her faint, and,
looking in as he passed, saw her in the
colonel's arms. Filled with agony at the
sight and not knowing that the girl was
in faint he drove rapidly back to Lon
don, resolved to think Of her no more.
Amanda had only half recovered con-
seriousness when Belgrave lifted her from
the carriage and carried her into his
house. Amanda was now in despair and
besought Belgrave to have pity upon her.
but he replied that she was at last in
his power, and, her character being al
ready ruined as far as appearances went
she ought to look at the matter In e
sensible" light Just then a message
was handed to him calling him to the
deathbed of an uncle from whom he
expected to inherit large properties. Tie
must go ar once, he told Amanda, but
would return next day, and in the mean
time she would remain his prisoner. But
Belgrave's housekeeper was a woman
whom he mad previously seduced, and
then, to get rid of, had made house
keeper at this place, which he seldom
visited. She was a woman of coarse
and violent temper and imagined that
Amanda had been brought to supersede
1ar tctr NJ ha
rage and jealousy. the woman, after the
departure of the colonel, drove Amanda
from the house with insulting speech
The house was isolated and surrounded
by thick wood through which Amanda,
weak and Ill, made her way with diff
Guilty. 1t was evening and as the dark
ness increased she sank down at the foot
of a tree, convinced that her last hour
had come.
Awakening from her swoon, she saw in
the distance the glimmering of light,
and making her way toward 1t came TO
a cottage before which stood an old man
of benevolent aspect She begged him for
shelter, and seeing that she was suffering
he called his housekeeper and had her
put to bed. Offering to pay for her ac-
commodations, Amanda discovered to her
dismay that her purse had been taken
from her at Colonel Belgraves. That,
however, had 40 effect upon the kindness
of the old man and his housekeeper who
nursed their guest through a severe Ill
ness. When she was well enough she
told the old man-who turned out to be
Mr. Howell. the father of the young
clergyman who had fallen in love with
her while she resided at Edwin's cottage
the story Of her misfortunes. Howell
had had a daughter who had fallen e.
victim to Belgrave and who now lay
buried in the village churchyard. He pro-
vided Amanda with funds to continue her