Year: 1873

was her ideal. For him she would have
worked until she had died and he probably
would have made no objection. Pcopl won
dered where his fast horses and champagne
suppcrs came from. From his sisters earn
ings, perhaps. Some of them but not all.
He had no visible means Of support. Moor
land people hoped that Rose would get mar
ricd soon, if it we're only to get rid of that
scamp, her brother.


Ruv Blasmont had been cast on the world
by the death of his parents when very young.
While he dissipated his fortune in Paris, his
sister had remained at her convent. One day
he found himself pcnnlcss. He needed some
body to support him. lie accordingly with
drew Rose from the convent, and the two star
ted for the United States.


Rose could sec no flaw in the character of
her immaculate Ruy until she met John
Bright. Comparing the two men she was
forced to acknowledge that her brother was
not perfect That he was selfish and lnsln-
cere she had discovered, but that he was SO
base as to attempt to sell her to old MIR. Wills,
whose offer of marriage Ruy knew that she
had once refused, she could hardly believe.
And vet he had admitted it himself. Hot
tears dropped from her eyes as she thought
of it.


STOPPING to pick up the water lilies which
had fallen from her lap, she noticed an open
paper on the floor. Half idly she picked it
up and read the words written Oh it.


"DEAR SIR.-Thc man who forged your name
TO 4 check for one thousand dollars has hccn
traced. He is Il ncighbor of NnurS-Rly BIAS
mont The proof is certain. If you desire TO
have the matter huShcd up, come to New "rK at
once. Ifyou dontcomc, will have nm arrcS'c"
without delay. THOMAS RHHARIS,


Private Detective.
To John Brightly, Esq.


Hardly knowing what she did, Rose turned
the note. On the back she saw written i'll lead
pencil:


photographed to l:iclmnlS-,lon't proceed. VIII
start to New York by midnight train. j.. Is.


Rose Blasmont paced the room pale and
fearless. She remembered how this note came
there. The stems of the water lilies were wet
when John Brightly brought them in. He
had pulled out his handkerchief to dry them,
and Rose recollccted that the paper, she
thought had fallen to the floor.


"He shall not impoverish himself for my
sake" she said, passionatcly. "He is poor,
already. know it. l will prevent this sac
rifice, even though hand Ruy over to the
law. will pay him every cent-yes " And
taking small book from her pocket, she ran
her eye down column Of figures. "lcs,
there is something. l can pay John Bright
y part Of this money my brother has
stolen" A shiver ran through her as she
spoke the word stolen 81 have my mothers
Jewels which Ruy so often wanted me to pawn,
and three hundred dollars, my savings, that |
promised to give Ruy on his fGte day. Yes,
will pay him every sou. He shall not re.
main poor even one day for my sake. | will
take nv Jewels tonight by the midnight
train to New York, and tomorrow | will
meet John Brightly with the whole sum-


Rose was thoroughly aroused. She was
naturally high spirited and proud, although
these qualities were seldom shown in her or
dinary life. The knowledge Of her brothers
baseness was probably the bittercst experience
that could have come to her. She felt the
hope of becoming Johns wife must be given
up. She would not take to him a tarnished
name.


She hastily wrote note to Mrs. Morcland
by whom she had been engaged to sing that
evening, and excused herself. Then she went
to her room and did not reappcar until in the
darkness she stole to the railroad station.
Rose was as impatient as she was impulsive.
The few minutes Of waiting at the railroad
office seemed as many hours to her. With
the knowledge of her brothers crime weigh
ing upon her, action seemed the only thing
that could give her relief. at last the mid
nirht train started Just as the last car left
the station, John appeared running at tull
speed The locomotive went on he was lett
behind He had spent all the evening in at
tempting letter for Rose. So absorbed had
he been that he had not noticed the flight Of
time, and hence his latcncss.


The next train would he in at 4.30. lie
might as well remain where he was, as the
farm was at least four miles from the station.
He entered the little office which was occupied
by dmly burning oil lamp, and sleepy
employee and gave himself up to thought.
He looked back on the years Of long strug-
Cling he had passed i'll the endcavor to buy
that farm upon the hill and when this object
was almost attained when the last instalmcnt
of the purchase money was to be paid to the
owner-Ruy had stepped in, and by few
strokes of his pen swept it all away. 1t was
very hard. "And yet she shall never know
it; will save her from Disgrace ifit costs all
have" he thought.


All that afternoon Ruy Basmont remained
in his ROOM He wanted money, and large
amount, too The only means to obtain it
would be to marry Rose to q rich man. Ola,
pompouS Mr. Wills, the weaty man of Moor
land, was the person he had selected for Roses
husband Rose had rejected him once and
then he applied to Ruy. Ruy had promised
for Rose never imagining that his sister would
dare oppose his allpowertul WILL


Ruy had found that Rose had will of her
own. Brightly WAS in the way. John, doubt
less knew more about the forgery than wa>
agreeable to the forgcr. John Bright would
leave Monrland by the midnight train. Par
blue. What can one do with Il dangerous
pcrson?


Kuv Blasmont showed his white teeth and
closed bis eyes as if he were afraid that they
would tell the evil thought showing through
them. lie was not aware that Rose had left
the house.


Shortly before midnight he stood on the
side of Il steep cmbankmcnt about two miles
from Moorland His hands were torn and
bleeding. He had just succeeded in rollnga
huge rock upon the railroad track On either
side Of the cmhankmcnt wa$ Il narrow path.
Fifty feet below ON one side WAS the river ; on
the other were rugged mlsScs Of clay and
rocks. Running along the cmbankmcnt until
he reached the field to the north of it, he
crouchcd between the fence and the trunk of
a willow tree, and waited the coming Of the
train.


"Parblcu. Monsieur lc diablc will thank
me for the cargo I'll send him tonight" he
,,,,.toroI sR,h' thnvll die como timn nil