The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-02-17
CHAPTER XVI (Continued.

He had died, but he had died happy
He believed her to be staunch and true,
and he knew nothing in his last mo-
ments of that terrible letter it had
taken her such hours to write. and in
which she had told him that she had
seen once more at a distance the face
of the man she loved, and that having
seen 1t she felt she could never, never
give herself to any other on the face
of the earth.
To her dying day Irene never ceased
to be thankful that he had not read it.
for had poor Joe Taunton opened that
letter, she would have felt herself to
be guilty of his death. AS it was, he
died loving her. trusting her, believing
in her, and his last action after leaving
her the previous day. had been to sign
his name to a will that left to her ev
erything belonging to him that was not
strictly entailed upon his cousin. the
heir
He had left her a clear forty thou
sand pounds. absolutely and entirely,
besides the Cottage at Chatswell which
he had already given to her; she had
in addition the many beautiful Jewels
and ornaments he had lavished upon
her. Moreover, he had left to Lady
Garland legacy of four hundred and
fifty pounds, presumably to clear those
trousseau bills which had been run up
| by her so ruthlessly on Irene's account.
Yet Irene was for a long time very
inconsolable. and for some months her
health suffered severely. Her aunt.
who was in no hurry to get rid of her
now that she was an heiress. persuad-
ed her to leave town almost immedi-
ately; and. throwing up her owr en-
gagement to stay with her daughter.
she accompanied her to quiet seaside
place on the south coast OF Devon
shire. where for many months the two
ladies lived in the strictest retirement.
And 1t so happened therefore, quite
naturally and without any effort Of
hers. that Irene never happened to hear
of the death of Rupert Carrolrs wife
until long after.
One day. wandering by herself along
| these sands at low tide beneath the
red sandstone cliffs. Irene suddenly met
a lady and gentleman walking arm and
arm towards her. Even now, although
| she knew that she was mistaken, and
| that this man was not her Rupert his
extraordinary likeness to him startled
| her once more and made her heart beat
violently. Almost involuntarily she
stopped. and Lord Netherville, recog-
nizing her. instantly stopped too-he
smiled and lifted his hat.
Miss Garland. l think ii is time ]
claimed acquaintance with you on my
| own account" he said. pleasantly.
though / am not the man believe you
take me for. Will you let me present
my wife-Lady Netherville-we were
married yesterday in town. and have
| come down here for breath of sea air
and a little quiet honeymooning," and
Irene found herself shaking hands with
the very lady with the yellow hair
whom she had often seen with him
before.
| Lord Netherville thinks you must
have taken him for his cousin, Miss
Garland" explained the bride, who
seemed to have softened down her
rouge, and looked all the better In con-
sequence. Happiness had improved her
in every way. She was quieter both in
| dress and in manner.
Pray, tell me, Lord Netherville," in
quired Irene. blushing very much. 'show
it is that you resemble Mr.. Rupert Car
roll so extraordinarily
He is my first cousin. as my wife
says, and our mothers were twin-sis-
/ tiers, whose resemblance to one anoth
err was, believe. very remarkable This
I suppose, accounts for the likeness be-
tween their sons"
After little pause. Irene found cour-
| age to say: And Mr.. Carroll ?-he Is
quite we'll. l hope?"
He was quite well when last heard
| of him. thanks" he answered.; but he
did not volunteer any further informa
ton about Rupert, except to mention
the death of his wife. and Irene was toe
shy to pursue the subject.