The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-07-29

ana I'D ALI ways resemble MIN.
AS Victor was small youth, with
a large shaven black head; and loose
" hanging limbs, Mr.. Irvine could not
help thinking that the wish was de-
cidedly sanguine.
That evening Arthur told his
friend the substance of Paul Leduc's
confession. His name was, of course,
like all else, part of his imposture.
He was we'll known Paris sharper,
on whose track the police of both
London and Paris had long been. He
had long had his eye on Monsieur
Rigaud, whose transactions had re-
sembled those of the ostrich, when
hiding her head in bush she i'm
AGNES herself to be hidden from her
enemies. With a view to watching
his proceedings he had travelled with
him and Arthur Denstone from Lon
don to Southampton, disguised in
grey wig and beard, and, but for
Arthur's presence, he might even
then have succeeded in his purpose;
but an accidental turn of the con-
versati0n gave MN Just the cIew ne
wanted, and it became comparatively
easy to personate nephew who had
never existed. The supposed Paul
Leduc almost pathetically protested
that he never meant to murder the
old man, but owing to his extra
ordinary passion for his diamonds he
was obliged to do so in order to get
possession of them. The deed was
done in daylight, before the arrival
of Mademoiselle Rigaud and Arthur
Denstone; and in a carefully chosen
moment, while the old servants were
making their scanty meal, he had re-
moved the treasure to a place long
chosen and prepared for its recep-
ton, meaning to return when all was
blown over to take it away with him.
But before he had long left the place
strange terror came upon him, and
he determined at once to fly to Bor-
deaux and remain there hidden till
the hue and cry were passed, or
rather till after the execution of old
Battiste made it safe for him to re-
turn.
Arthur spoke with great indigna-
ton of the sentimental character of
the trial. of how the so-called Paul
Leduc drew tears of interest from
his audience, when, with despairing
gestures, he lamented the terrible
necessity that had lain upon him of
destroying two lives, and of the SYM
patty shown him after all was over.
Mr.. Irvine asker ABOUT the dia-
monds, and Arthur told him that all
had been done with regularity and
order on Monsieur Tasset's return to
Goucy. They had had considerable
difficulty in finding the charcoal
burners hut again; but having done
so, Tasset put an official seal upon
the case containing the stones, and it
had been removed to the bank, where
it was to remain until Antoinette
should be well enough to give direc-
tions as to its final destination.
"And she is getting better every,
day now" said Arthur, almost gaily,
though DR.. Simon warns me that for
a long time she will need the great
est care"
Some days passed. Letters came
from England, from lola. both to
Arthur and to Mr.. Irvine. lola did
not know how to accept the extra
ordinary story that she had heard. It
thrilled her with mingled interest
and fear. While feeling the deepest
compassion for Antoinette, she could
not help showing her keen anxiety
about her brothers future in every
line of the letter.
In few days more came the re-
quest that Mr.. Irvine had been quiet
ly expecting. Arthur and Antoinette
wished to be married at once, and
begged him to perform the cere-
mony. There was no reason for de-
lay. Their position in Bordeaux was
a strange and anomalous one. Ar
thur could not leave her in her deli
cate, nervous state, and yet it would
hardly do for him to linger on for
ever thus. A quiet, speedy wedding
seemed the only and best solution of
the difficulty.
So, the very day on which Janet
and Colonel Curtis were married at
Denstone Court, the little English
Chapel at Bordeaux witnessed an
other and very different wedding
scene. Mr.. Irvine married Arthur
and Antoinette, the only witnesses be-
ing the good doctor and his wife and
the Sisters of the Holy Cross. who
had nursed her through her long and
dangerous illness, and now, with
tears of emotion. dressed her for her
bridal.
After the wedding Arthur took his
wife to Biarritz for rest and change;
and Mr.. Irvine went EDWARDS, with
feeling of sadness and loneliness. to
try to forget home in wandering in
Spain.
The diamonds, by Mr.. Denstone's
advice, were returned to England,
and the whole fortune, under his able