The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-03


and courteous smile,
Twenty years had not dulled my
memory jot, and in Lord Maui
leven | saw at once the man whom
the shrewdest detectives in England
had sought for in vain. Iron gray
had mingled with the coal-blacll
hair, and deep furrow was en-
craven across his forehead. Yet
there was the same fine dignity of
carriage and perfection of features.
1t was the face of a scholar and an
artist. AS physiognomist, |
should certainly have ranked it the
face of man of high principles
and noble birth. Yet knew better.
l alone knew that Godfrey. Earl of
Mauleven, was the man whom a
coroner's jury had found guilty of
the murder of Marian Desmond well
night twenty years ago.
If he recognized me, and 1 be-
believe that he did, his nerve was
magnificent He affected not to
notice the withdrawal of my hand
and welcomed me to Mauleven Abb
hey in a few well-chosen and grace
full sentences. Then he passed on
to speak to some one else, and the
meeting was over.
/ stood back in the shadows Il
| the room like a man stunned, striv-
| ing to realize this thing. 1t had
eddy Lord Mauleven, scholar
author. and diplomatist, was the
murderer of Marian Desmond. 1t was
! inconceivable, and yet 1t was true
l told myself fiercely. He should
have no mercy from me. AS he had
sinned. so should he pay the pen,
atty. Neither rank nor fame should
save him from any vengeance
which was indeed only a simple act
| of justice.
would leave the Abbey this very
hour, and lay my information be-
fore the authorities at Scotland
Yard. And with this intention
rose, and, ostensibly to dress for
dinner. left the room and mounted
| the broad oak staircase.
| My apartment was the last of a
long row in the main gallery. l had
reached it. and was on the point OF
entering when I heard the trailing
Of a woman's draperies close behind
me and almost Immediately felt a
! touch upon my arm, and / heard my
name distinctly pronounced.
| l turned around, and for the mo-
ment fancied myself the victim oil
some transient hallucination. II
seemed, indeed, as though the two
| figures who had dwelt so long ir
had glided afresh into my life or
this dark winters afternoon; for
the woman who had spoken my
name and who stood by my side
was surely looking up at me witt
Marian's eyes, and had spoken with
Marian's voice. Yet when L look &c
| again I saw that this was not so
| She was slighter and much smaller
than Marian had been, and her com
plexlon was altogether different
She had the appearance of awomar
who had lived in some far south
ern land Her skin was almos
| olive hued, and her dark, glowing
the hair which waved all around
her small oval face, had an ode
penetrating force. She was a curl
| Gus figure to encounter at any
time, with her wonderful eyes anC
! quaint bizarre beauty; and the
| suddeness of her approach ant
that strange resemblance to tn
dead coming at a time when m
whole being was shaken with mem
cries of the past. seemed to endov
her personality with suggestion
of the supernatural. If l showed
anything of this in my face, sh,
took no notice of it.
"Dr. Fagget. it is I. Marian Des
monds sister. You were her frienC
and you were good to her How
Is it that | find you here, CUES
Il saw his face for the first time
ten minutes ago" | answered slow
ly. Il am leaving the Abbey al
once. l go to bring him to book.
She held up her hand. A CLEAN OF
the early moonlight stole through
the mullioned window and fell upon
her face. 1t no longer resembled
her sisters. The features were set
and cold. and hard-the eyes were
blazing with passion
Stay. His hour has already
come, and you need not strike
Think not that you alone have
thirsted for justice against this
man. In the mountains OF India
saw the deed done, and l heard my
ocean to my ears. The God of my
belief raised the veil and 1 saw.
bowed my head. and l was silent
l sought counsel of those who knew
and l held my peace. The reward
came slowly, but it has come. Mir
vana, the sweetest goal of life. is
before my eyes. The blessed Initiates
of the East have called me sister
Powers and forces, hidden and I'M
| known to you, bend themselves IL
my will. Stay this night and see
the end, 1t is my bidding. l am AS
trea-and I command. FAREWELL"
She seemed to vanish from my
| eyes without bodily movement. Oh
might it have been that the thicl
clouds which had floated across tn,
moon had filled the gallery witt
sudden darkness? I closed the door
of my room, and told myself that
had spoken with a mad woman. Blu
l did her bidding. [ waited.
At O'Clock in the evening thu
curtain rose on this last scene il
the drama of my life. The grea
library of Mauleven Abbey wa
| thronged with such a company as it,
walls had never before enclosed, anC
the air was full of the rustling o
gowns and suppressed whisperings
1 had chosen a seat, or rather
standing place, with my back to tn.
wall, directly opposite Lord Maui
even. Our eyes had met only once
but 1t was sufficient
l knew that he had recognized me
that he knew l too had recognized
him and that he realized the danger
that lay before him. Some heavy
curtains at the other end of the com
partment had been thrown back, anc
Astrea stepped slowly forward.
can see her now as she stood there
pale and still with her great lu
minous eyes wandering far over tn