The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1892-01-22 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

CHAPTER XX X. —CONTINI'LIi.  • S 111:1;.4. t1).:;•.k. r•Vit Mill hOSICI, W le. g ;kw -1,•,..;1. ••lientlentou," I 110 runt:hind; ;o,vi .1 Ui C..temotiy, " allow tim to present you to e:telt 01 her: aud to claim my tire liapolootoi. " Wbimth you hare earned so quickly, that I shall tuultiply them into 20," replied the domino gravely, as he handed a bank note to the masker. ‘• Cone., inousieur."  taiimed his arm through thato Theubald, awl lea him away through tau urowd, aud iutu oue ut the corridura.  111 this oorridor he paused., hot...r, tio do4r of the box in which the of Az L. 41 had irAiciti the shadow of ill. ..1  . The domino opened the door of this box. "You are expected," he said, motioning to Theobald to enter. ___  "By whom ?" "Bye lady,—surely you are too gallant to keep her waiting. Enter." He pointed to the open door of the ante•chambar, and drew aside. _  Theobald Mortimer walked passed him, and entered the small apartment. The aute-chamber was dimly lighted, and the curtains of the oox were drawn. • _ _  Theobald heard the music of the orchestra, muffled by those thick curtains. In the dim light he peretived a shadowy tigure, robed in white, standing on the threshold between the ante-chamber and the box.  Seen thus, it was impossible to see the features, or even the outliue of this figure. A shadowy form robed in white was all that Theobald Mortimer beheld.  The door dosed behiud Lim, and he wa..s aluue. Alone with this shadow, ae the Ditehees had been with the shadow of the dead.  But his heart was free from guilt, aud he did uut fear.  Who and what are 3ou he exclaimed, " sad why do you stumnon me thus mysteriously r "in order to warn you ot a danger,' answered the phantom in low yet solemn tones. "Of what danger •:" . .  "the worst u ditogers to a young _and Mlbeeptible heart. You love a guilty woman." " It is false," cried Theobald Mortimer; "I love one who—l—l love vuy cousin, the most innocent of women."  A low, mocking laugh sounded from the pale lips of the shadow.  "Do not trifle with me," replied the solemn voice, "you no longer love your cousin, Adela Mortuuer. Her imago has been swept from your heart by the linage of a murderess ! " "What mean you!. " exclaimed Theobald ; "what madness is this which you utter " " It is no madness, Theolald Mortimer," ans w ODA the voice "those who warn you of your sinful folly have no selfish motive. They would save you. They would save you from the coils of a cruilty woman; they would rescue you from the spells of a wicked enchantress. Be warned, while there is yet time : Gerald Mortimer heard the voice of warning, but he refused to heed it. His folly be upon his own head. Blanche Mortimer, the Duchess of Arlington, is a murderess. She plotted the foul and treacherous murder of the artist, Hubert Monk ton."  "It is a lie," erica Theobuld, springing towards the phantom with a gesture of sudden fury ; "It is a black and bitter lie " But there was no answer to his passionate words. The phantom drew suddenly back. The door of the opera-box was shut in his face. He knocked loudly at this door, but be received no answer, lie tried the handle, but in vain. The door had been locked on the other side. He rushed down the staircase,and on to the stage. From the stage, he looked up at the box which he had just left. The curtains were still closely drawn, there was no sign of any living being within. He returned again to the ante-chamber. This time both doors were open. The boa and the antechamber were alike empty.