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[NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.J
HER FATHER’S IDOL
A ROMANTIC SENSATIONAL STORY.
BY MRS. BASELEY ( Mignon"),
Author of “Gilbert Elton's Wife,” “The Tragedy at Deepdene,” Etc., Etc
COPYRIGHTED, 1893, BY TILLOTSON A SON.
CHAPTER XXX
Olga Minchin began to fear that she
had had her hurried journey up to town
for nothing. Dagmar was absent on her
arrival at Wellington street, ana she re
mained so, much to Olga’s disappoint
ment. Waiting in suspense hour after
hour is sickening work. The night passed
and still she came not. Olga let the train
depart that she had originally contem
plated catching. Two more hours and
the next would be due. All hope of a
meeting for the present was nearly gone.
Olga sat down to write a note. She had
barely begun when Dagmar Votoski
rushed in talking wildly, ecitedly, to
herself.
■■Dagtnar! ’ exclaimed Olga, "don't you
see me. or ?”
"Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! at last!’’
shrieked Dagmar. flying at her unexpected
visitor and effusively embracing her.
‘■This meeting pays for all -and you were
alive, ma title all—all Use time. Achl that
villain. Boyd, 1 could tear -scratch—him!
He is bad, bad. and now though 1 have
not seen him for this long while—l fear
he is harming me. 1- but tell me about
yourself. Olga. How jolie you look. Ah !”
kissing her again rapturously; "this is
good—this meeting 1 had given up all
hope. Jacobi has disappeared, Nelly,
Mark Boyd, and anil there was only me
to go. But talk while 1 get my breakfast.
1 have great hunger.”
Thus bidden. Olga's tongue unloosed it
self. and she talked volubly. There was
not much resemblance between the two in
features or expression, but in gesture—
action —they were singularly alike.
'To see them both as Olga disclosed why
she had kepi a\\ a,\ from Dagmar, or where
she told that Nolly was in the same house
as herself was as good as a pantomime.
Dagmar was vehement in her denuncia
tions against Mark
"Bad. bad man!’’ she cried; "let me
bul get hold of him, and 1 will tear his
eyes out
"Come. come, leave him to his fate; it
is bad enough." laughed Olga. "His case
will be sure to come on at the next as
sizes, and then—click!”
She made an expressive noise with her
tongue.
"Ach ! there arc many of us who de
serve that fate!” observed Dagmar.
"He is a villainous man/ but I once en
couraged him for you. and—and I don’t
see that he ought to die that way. If 1
could get to him 1 would warm him,
though I"—she paused—"though 1 fear he
has rounded on me!”
"I say, Dag.,” ijueried Olga, leaning
forward ; "you don’t still pursue that old
dangerous life;”
She spoke significantly.
•“I do. I am tiound to it, body and
soul!—a wicked, hardened woman!
That Nelly softened me, made me ”
"Did she know!” broke in Olga,
quickly.
"No, no.” impatiently. "But her in
fluence told on me unconsciously from the
first. She was so good, so—”
"O, of course!” said Olga, rather irrev
erently. "She can come the piety look
without meaning to do. Don’t bother
her, though she clung to your memory
tenaciously lor a time, and grieved us to
what you would think of her mysterious
disappearance. She need not have been
so anxious, need she! Wonder you dared
take her. I say, Dag.. you’llAiavc to give
up tlie old life now and become a harmless
member of society."
"1 wish I could, 1 wish I could!” cried
Dagmar Votoski, vehemently; "but the
vows will not release mo till
“Now, you are not going to harp on that
old string, Dag.”
Dagmar Votoski gave Olga a strange
look.
• It will be my ending, sooner or later,”
she said. "Sometimes I think the end
will be soon. Several times lately 1 have
imagined myself dodged. 1 am pretty
sharp, and so far have eluded detection.
But Mark Boyd would sell me for his own
safety if he is about, and he knows one or
two of the worst. Ah, Olga, you little
recognize the debt you owe to me that you
were not sold into my—my slavery. It is
an awful life! Why” lowering her voice
and looking around cautiously—"they
want me to dispatch a young noble at this
very juncture. But my dagger has done
Its last. If ever lam compelled to raise it
more it shall be against myself. Whether
1 can evade my share, 1 know not, but
stab again 1 will not!"
••Leave the work. Nihilism has had
its share out of ”
"Of me and my arm; so it has. Weak
woman though I seem. 1 have excelled all
the men in our lot. And that is the
reason they won't give me up. Ah, Olga,
we have met; but how long shall we be
together?"
"Not long just now: but I’m coming to
live with you again soon. We’ll be happy
together somewhere. You shall relin
quish all the plotting and planning, and—
some one comes: who is it ?"
To Olga's speechless surprise Dagmar's
hand went rapidly to her breast, and she
drew out a glittering dagger.
"I am prepared! 1 will die hard; vil
lains—spies—if they have tracked or be
trayed me!" she hissed quickly. "I do
but wish the child had not been here.
1 ach! is it only you?”
The ineffable scorn into which her fe
rocity died was more marked owing to its
exceeding change.
"It is I —Mark," exclaimed that wretch,
complacently; "put away your glittering
toy. What! you would dig it in m.v
breast; Heavens, what a tigress you—-
O-o-oh! Olga!” his bravado and calm
evaporating; "you here!"
"I am here,” she answered, laughing
and showing a perfectly even set of teeth.
“Perhaps this is my place; but it is cer
tainly not yours. Ah, we are getting too
much for you. moncher.”
His airy nonchalance returned as he
read the mood in which she was going to
meet him.
"My—wife!” he said, holding out his
arms theatrically.
"Fiddlesticks!" she retorted, with per
fect composure. "1 am glad to toll you
that I had the honor of duping you
there. Don’t be broken-hearted, but 1
was already married when you took me
to tiie altar. Nelly Henstock is your
lawful wife, but I don’t think she is over
anxious to claim you!”
An ugly word broke from him intem
perately. Not that he was desirous of
living again with either Olga or Nelly,
but it riled him that his vileness was so
well known.
“There is your gossip—you murderess,
you tigress.” he said, turning to abuse
Dagmar. She was pouring herself out a
cupoftea. She put down the i>ot ready
to attack him.
“Stay . interposed Olga, who seemed
to er.ur. the scene immensely, "it ill be
®oll*' >yd. who will shortly be
arrainged for murder, to accuse the one
friend of his life!”
"I commit murder!" broke in Mark,
laughing uneasily. “Bah, you are misin
formed. I know 1 plotted and planned
Nelly's end. but thanks to Dagmar there
was unsuccessful. She will have told
you ”
"Nelly, your wife, has told me—and
more, she—”
"Do you mean to say you know Nelly?”
asked Mark. “Where is she? I should
like to see her!”
It was noticeable that in addressing
Olga his eyes never met bers, anxious as
he evidently was for her reply.
“Ah! got a superfluous dose or two of
poison knocking about?” interposed Dag
mar. angrily. ”1 wish I had left you
where I found you before ever I had let
you dupe me into weeping over her pre
tended grave. Hew dared you make her
believe I wished to poison her; i. who
loved her as my only treasure. What
brings you here to-day, you cur whelp?”
Mark burst out into a loud laugh.
Dagmar’s laugh air, used him immensely.
’ You are not the only cute one. But I
have corne for help. ”
“Of course you have?” broke in Olga,
"and you’ll talk Dag. round until, the
good old thing she is, she will aid you.”
"Not I. I have a nut or two to crack
with him instead, ” said Dagmar. “I am
not such friends with Mark Boyd !”
"I must be off!” exclaimed Olga, sud
denly.
It had been on th tip or her tongue to
disclose to Mark how that the net was
closing in around and around on him, and
dragging him into the centre. But for
his aggravating laugh the temptation to
do so tantalizingl.y—even at the baroness’s
expense— might have been given away to.
His laugh swallowed up even the small
remnant of pity that his fate aroused
within her breast; it crushed also her
cutting desire to aggravate. The fact
was it recalled to her duty.
"You'll have a cab, Olga,” said Dag
mur, rising aud folding her in her arms
affectionately. “J shall not venture out
again this long while in daylight. And
you’ll come soon and make your home
with me.”
Olga promised. Mark would have
greeted her, but she drew away with a
gesture of disgust.
“Never shall your hand touch mine
again,” she exclaimed, impulsively. "I
look upon you as a worm. Mark Boyd,
and would crush you under my feet.
That I duped you instead of your duping
me was not your fault. Farewell! never
in life I trust shall we meet again. This
meeting was not my seeking.’’
She passed out, but returned; popping
in her head in the doorway, she ox
claimed, mockingly—
"l’ll take your love to Nelly.”
His indignant rejoinder was not politely
given. The last words Olga ever heard
fall from his lips was a foul oath.
"She has not a bit of heart, not a
scrap,” lamented, Mark, taking a seat and
leaning his head weariedl.v on the table.
• If I ever loved anybody in this world it
was Olga.”
"Our family was never much of a hand
at affoctiou!” retorted Dagmar, coolly.
"What?little we were bom with our coun
try quenched before wc reached our teens.
And now. Mark Boyd, what is your busi
ness here? I’ll tell you plainly I px-efer
your room to your company. I never
sought to aid you but for Olga’s sake.
That has gone. The less we allude
to the past the better. We’ll
he quits on it and part. E’re you go, how
ever, hear a word of caution. You have
dared to sell my life to MinchakoiT, and
“What do you mean, Daarmar?” burst
in Mark, intempcratel.v. "I sell your life
to AltnchakofT after all you have aided
me! No) 1 may be bad, lam perhaps in
some ways, but, believe me, 1 would not
harm a hair of Olga’s precious head, and
for her sake 1 would not touch you.”
Dagnmr begun to think she must have
been too hard iu her judgment of him.
His lingering fondness for Olga softened
her feelings. Besides,so long asOlga for
gave him, why should not she! True, he
had parted them for a time, but the ab
sence seemed to have been rather benefi
cial to Olga than otherwise, and they had
come together again. As for Mark's vile
nature, she had no special resentment
against. Her own calling in life ren
dered her callous to crime under certain
conditions. Vileness she was accus
tomed to in all forms. Goodness alone
moved her, showing that there still lin
gered in her bosom sparks and remnants
of a better nature.
“Moreover. Dagmar,” continued Mark,
“I would not harm you for your own sake.
1 like you, and you are useful to me. Your
unerring diplomacy and subterfuge are
necessary to my comfort. I'm in a con
founded mess at the present. lam going
to be married next Tuesday, and ”
“Married! You! Bless me. man! Ach,
you’d better prepare lor your death in
stead of your wedding!”
Mark stared, but did not appear
startled.
"I know I'm in a—umph. I'll try and
not swear, but ’pon by word ’tis a close
shave between marriage and death. If I
can only tide over next Tuesday, and get
away from this blooming country with my
charming bride—she's as ugly as old
Nick, and 1 detest her, but she has a good
ly store of the needful, and an orphan to
boot—l'll give the hounds work to catch
me."
“Can’t see how you've ’em so
long!”
"Ditto! but like you I’ve managed it.and
if you’ll help me 1 think I shall continue
to do so. I’m down at the Apsdendor near
Culverdalc, a charming little spot—in dis
guise of course my only drawback in
ugly liildegarde s eyes is my red hair.
Ha, ha! and I’ve plenty of it, beard like a
nanny goat, mustache and whiskers. I
come the philanthropic style there, and
only grudge leaving my country. I "
"Ah! and you’ll get rid of her before
she finds you out!"
“You’ve hit it an accidental slip down
the cliffs, and Hildegarde will tell no
talcs. Then I shall return in another dis
guise. and ”
“I don't want to hear any more of your
plans; you ean go." said Dagmar, fiercely.
March !” pointing to the door.
"And go to Minchakoff, eh !" he sneered.
"Just on# word as to whom sent his
daughter to " *
Dagmar's fierceness died away. She
i owerod as from a heavy blow.
“You can't afford to quarrel with mo,
you see,” lie declared, triumphantly, “it
is diamond cut diamond in our case. Ah I
1 shall win Olgo again yet and ”
“You never shall, you never will:
Minchakoff shall slay me first!”
“I thought you would lie glad to let me
have her, and then for us all to go to
some far away country and become pood
and happy.”
He eyed her furtively as he spoke. She
made no answer, but sat dejected before
the remains of her breakfast.
THE MORXIXG XEWS: SUXDAV, SEPTEMHER 10, ISOH.
”So that idiot Nelly flfed Olga are to
gether sounded Mark, cautiously
noting the effect of his words; "aud that
is at Mrs Bertie's at Briarwood.
1 ••
"When the dickens did 1 tell you that ?"
exclaimed Ihigma, quite taken off her
guard "Perhaps Olga told you—l—all.
Mark Boyd." she said, with a sudden
shriek, "that's your dodging again. Now
you've found out, but if you go to Briar
wood tin 1 baroness will be ready for you.
You're wanted t here. It will be a case of
running into the cat s claws, 1 assure
you!' £
"Nevertheless, I'll risk it. Dressed up
as an old market woman 1 will piunce
ujion that simpleton Nelly, and fiiq.sh her
off before my wedding day comes. 1 have
two reasons for this. One is a personal
hatred that 1 thirst to gratify. The sec
ond to you may be a more lotential one. I
fear to wed Hildegarde with a wife al
ready living lest on discovery I forfeit
my claims to her large fortune.”
' Mark Boyd, you area fiend!”
“Thanks. That's a compliment I en
joy. I ”
"I tell you that, it will be death to you
to go to Briarwood or to return to this
Apsdendor. Fly the country Whilst you've
time!”
"Thanks again. Very disinterested ad
vice. You would not be sorry to see me
safely off. Ha, ha!"
•' "Well, if you don’t listen t..
advice go your way. Run to Briarwood—
the baroness never lets her companions
see any one outside the house—fall into
the noose and be hanged. It is all one to
me. Now, what cah I help you in? Sharp!
I't* documents aud correepondence to at
tend to.”
“1 won't detain you. You have enlight
ened me on the point I came to you about.
Much obliged, though you did it unwarily
—involuntarily. Au reste; if 1 can manage
to steer my way safely through next
Tuesday’s magnificent maneuvering X
shall deserve what I have in reserve, i. e.,
a large dose of morphia, which I stole
from my father’s surgery—at least Pim
ple did for me. and showed me how to in
ject it. Give me your arm. I'll show you
the art!”
"Teach your uncle!” said Dagmar, con
temptuously. "Achl you are a coward!”
“A coward!" he cried, derisively; no
epithet stung him more. "No, Dagmar
Votoski, it is you who are that. You fear
Miinhakofs glittering poigniard. and
death. 1 know you fear. Ta-ta, till we
meet again!'’
"That's the last of her,” he solilo
quized, unconsciously. “Minchakoff’s
aim is sure. She will not bx-eathe by
to-morrow at this time. I bet. Then for
Nolly! 1 wish he would have undertaken
the matter, it would have saved me the
risk of going to Briarwood—the delayed
time. But it is safe. Nelly dead, and
then what a glorious future lies before
me. If Hildegarde proves as amiable as
she seems, we may settle down into a re
spectable couple abroad. Plenty of
money, lovely scenery, and a life of idle
ness and ease will suit mA”
Mark hugged himself triumphantly as
he entered the street.
“Father and the girls will regret their
last bitter denunciations of me. They
will wish they had reserved their spleen
when they find they have lost me iu toto.
I—ah, there’s MinchakoiT,” as a man in
slouched hat and cloak wrapped round
him appeared in view. "Dagmar and
Nelly killed in one day. It's quite excit
ing. I feel my fingers itching to be
clutching her neck. Why the dickens
does not MinchakoiT answer my call? I’m
as anxious to escape notice as he is.
Here MinchakoiT,” he said, and Minclia
koff slowly and cautiously approached
him.
CHAPTER XXXI.
“Youquite understand, Miss Henstock,”
said the baroness, as her interview with
Roy Gun ton and Langley Bruce ended
she talked with Nelly, "that I have can
celed your engagement here from seven
o’clock this evening. I would have fixed
earlier, only dinner will scarcely be ended,
and Mr. Bruce says that hour" will suit
your train.”
“Quite; thank you much. Lady Mary,
and shall I be expected to join your party
at table'!”
The baroness's unmitigated gaze of as
tonishment apprised Nelly of the grave
faux pas of her suggestion. She had en
tirely forgotten her role. Yet the boron
css had previously explained that she and
loird Lanti were from that moment throw
ing off all disguise. That there was no
longer need for it. The two gentlemen
were remaining for dinner, which would
take place gorgeously and as botitted the
occasion in the large dining-room, and
they were joining in it.
News enough to turn Nelly’s head in
conjunction with her newly-found happi
ness. She had merely misunderstood
whom the “they” consisted of. Langley
was to be at the table. She was rQuig
ley's equal, ergo, her impulsive query
was wholly natural.
“No, Miss Henstock, neither you nor
Miss Minchin will be expected there.
You can walk out and enjoy yourselves. I
fully own my enormous debt of gratitude
to you, and shall hope to adequately rec
ompense you.”
“Please don't name it!” exclaimed Nel
ly, Hurriedly, overwhelmed completely by
the baroness’ condescension in acknowl
edging' her debt, yet as deeply full of
regret, now that it was too late, that sho
had taken any steps against Mark’s life.
“I did not wish to come to the table. l—
only asked—
" Just so!” acquiesced the baroness,
proudly. “Your mistake was pardonable,
and really for once, as you have furnished
me with the real cine that has induced
my sou to come forward and declare his
innodeuce, 1 am inclined to waive cere
mony and bid you join us.”
"Oh, no-no." murmured Nelly, timid
ly ; ”1 would rather not.”
"So I thought, and 1 am relaxing in my
rules to let you off at a minute’s notice.
True your work may he said to be ended.
Olive's also, as 1 shall wire for my mulW
at once; yet if I could have kept yoir it
would have boon advisable, concerning
the importance of calling on you as a wit
ness! ”
"Oh. please. Lady Mary,” pleaded
Nelly, wildly; "I could not come forward
in any way. I ”
"How utterlv absurd! Kenily, Miss
Henstock. I think you forget what is due
to my son—tome. Through your instru
mentality we have fortunately procured
t lie strongest evidence to convict: an in
fallible clue. You are sure to be called
lor and will have to respond. I havo
your address, however, and you will be
communicated with shortly.'’
"Oh, your ladyship, if you would only
accept the—the unfor 1 mean the share I
have already contributed, and spare me
the rest, l should be most grateful."
•'lmpossible!_ there must be something
hidden that fails to meet the eye. Justus
1 tout Mr. Bruce just now; else why ob
ject to aid further in my sou s complete
exculpation ? 1 suppose you stole this
diary of Mark Boyd’s in your last situa
tion: you shrink from saying how. But
after your goodness in risking all that by
voluntarily surrendering so important a
clue, why stand out on the minor point?
Be brave, my dear, I think well of you,
and I promise to dower your future, so
that from henceforth you need not
work 1”
i require no reward—will not accept
any. My tvloved father lives, and I shall
Lie safe with him.”
The baroness surveyed Nelly and her
strenuous outburst of triumphant inde
pendence strangely. It was not only that
she resented her companion's pride—
which revolted against her own indomita
ble and overweening pride—but that she
recognized that she beheld in the slight
figure before her an object of inscrutable
mystery. However, apres tout; any mys
tery, however great, that concerned an
inferior was no matter of more than
momentary wonder to the Baroness Grey
ae Lucerne.
"1 g>* now to take my dear son down*
stairs.” she obscrv and. complacently. "He
and Roy <iuuton w l renew their pleas
ant friendship s, rudely broken for a
while. At seven .ou will be ready then ;
before that I *iii settle with you, amt
“But. indeed, I want no payment. I ”
■ All my household rc< eive money for
work done,” was the proud answer. "You
will receive more You shall hear again,
through my lawyers, as to the annuity I
propose to settle on you."
It was at the tip of Nelly's tongue to
vehemently repudiate the annuity. She
would never on any account accept one.
It would be like using blood money. The
idea was abhorrently repugnant to her;
besides she would not have even the ex
cuse of needing it. But she refi'ained
from giving this explanation to the
baroness. Rejection seemed to anger her.
Perhaps her ladyship saw some struggle
going ou in Nelly's breast. At any rate
she touched her with her taper fingers,
and said, confidentially, if concedingly:
“I think you deserve to he told a small
item of important news. Mark Boyd has
been found. He is at Apsdendor, near
Culvertlale, staying, as it seems, with a
great old friend of ours. Gen. Dane. How
he got introduced there is a mystery, but
he has effected it. and in disguise; more
over, he is on the point of marrying the
general’s ward -an orphan, with fully
half a million—poor Hildegarde Wren,
how nearly she has been sacrificed. The
wedding is fixed for Tuesday next, Roy
says: luckily for her and us he will be
safe in prison then. He is to be seized at
once.”
Nelly spoke not, neither moved. Lady
Grey de'Lucerne gave her a searching
look and passed on. Disappointed, it
might be, at the manner in which her
important communication had been re
ceived.
Miss Minchin found Nelly seated like a
dumb statue on her return.
“What has happened? are you turned
to stone! I understood from Wilson that
all sorts of good thing had occurred: your
father turned up alive, the Baroness and
her son's retirement ended, our—”
“I was so—so happy!” exclaimed
Nelly, bursting into tears. “I—oh. Olga,
why—why did you give up that paper of
Mark's? It alone has condemned him!’’
“And a precious good tiling, too, the
wretch. I’ll tell you about him. He—
bother Wilson, what does he want me for
just now!”
"You are to please to go to my lady
instantly,” said the maid who brought
the message. "It is something about the
dessert.”
"Cool, just after m.v journey, too! but
you don't look fft to go, Nelly, and there
is no disobeying the baroness.”
"She ran off quickly. Her departure
seemed to have the effect of rousing
Nelly. Sho jumped up hurriedly, fired
with a strong determination.
"Apsdendor, Culverdale!” she ex
claimed with energy; "audit is all my
doing that they have a warrant to arrest
him. I—who ought to have died sooner
than give the clue—his false, cowardly
wife! It is ray hand that has stricken
him down. Badly, crossly as he behaved
to me. glad as lam to have escaped from
his tyranny, I had no desire to revenge
my wrongs on his head. No, no! What
are I xml Lane’s injustices to me by com
parison! Nothing! I would have him
released from hardship, reinstated in
splendor, but—but not by my connivance.
Oh, I must warn Mark. It is my duty.
If he once getsoff he may evade them. I
must find Culverdale. I will go!”
She turned feverishly, as if to start off
then and there, but paused abruptly,
placing her hand across her brow.
"But there's my dear, dear daddie!”
she cried, with sudder recollection. Ah!
it’s always thus. Mark keeps interposing
between our unioD. 1 was so happy—such
bliss was mine. We were to have been
re-united to-niglit: we—but why dwell on
the recollection ? It is only happiness
postponed for a few hours, and—and 1
must warn Mark! I could never forgive
myself if I let him be trapped like a hare
without one sign to save him, bad as he
is!”
Nellie seemed almost beside herself in
tumult and emotion. Sho scarce knew
what she was doing.
"I will* leave a note for —for Langley,”
she deliberated. "I could not evade him
this time again, as I did before. I owe it
to his unfailing goodness to explain my
movements. He will not have it till lain
gone.”
She got her little writing case and hur
riedly penned:
“Dear Mr. Bruce—This little note to
you is quite private. Please tell no one
its contents. I shall not be able to return
to Slacks by with you to-night, much as I
long so to do, but duty takes me in an
other direction. You will guess where.
They are arresting him, and all through
my treachery; so cost what it will 1 must
give him the warning. Father and I can
spare these few hours, hard as it is to
spare them, because we shall be together
for the rest of our lives. Dear Mr,
Bruce, Yours gratefully, Nblut.”
The difficulty was how to get this note
to Langley. She did not wish him to re
ceive it till he arrived to dinner. After
some deliberation she resolved to ask
Wilson to be her friend in the matter.
"And give it to him tho moment he ar
rives,” she ended, after having bestowed
one or two directions.
Wilson promised. It happened, how
ever, tliHt Wilson was not quite easy in
his mind. To use his own words, he was
flabbergasted at the sudden changes go
ing on in the house—scarce knowing
whether he stood on his head or his heels.
“What should Miss Henstock have given
Mr. Bruce a letter for? her eyes tnat wild
like, as if she were only fit for a lunatic
asylum.”
In his dilemma, Wilson, as a staid re
tainer of tiie family, resolved to send a
maid to fetch Olga.
"Head that. Miss Minchin,” he said,
thrusting Nelly's unopened envelope into
her hand.
"But it is not for me,” she replied, ex
amining the address, "it ”
“If you don’t open it, I shall take the
liberty," he said. "There was something
so very strange in Miss Henstock’s man
ner as she gave it. 1 never like notes
promiscous like. I—l—well. Miss Min
ehin, i'll tell you 1 thought she—she
scented somewhat like a person contem
plating suicide.”
Olga needed no further persuasion.
Sho tore the envelope hurriedly across
and read Nelly’s private note.
"Quito right; you have done wisely,
Wilson!" exclaimed Olga, excitedly;
"but I will tell you the particulars later.
Where is Miss Henstock?”
“Upstairs, for all I know. She ran up
there after giving me that!”
Upstairs Nelly was. But attired (lit
tle bag in hand) ready to descend. Her
box was packed, though not strapped.
She was giving a sharp, scrutinizing
glance round ere departing.
"i'm in time I” panted Olga, rushing in
sans ccremouie "thank goodness. What
fool’s errand were you going on. To
your death. 1 suppose!”
"Leave me alone,” cried Nelly, at
tempting roughly to extricate herself
from Olga's retaining grasp. "You inter
fere in business that docs not concern
you. What means this detention! The
baroness has released me!”
“Not till seven, m.v dear. I know all.
No, Nolly Boyd, though you are my suc
cessful rival-as I may say—l owe you no
grudge. The life you esteem so lightly
and would east away, I am going to
guard for you. Nothing can induce me
to let you rush into Mark Boyd's
clutches. He would slay you as merci
lessly as a rat. foul sneak that he is. I
comprehend his nature. Have you only
escaped his vile machinations one that
you seek deliberately to go unaided into
them again!"
“I must warn him, Olga. I must.
It "
"Bosh! you warn him! Stuff and uou-
sense indeed. You should rather apply
for the post of hangman, and launch him
with a vengeance on another shore.
Listen to reason, you impulsive creature!
If he has not done enough to turn your
love into hate and revenge, send him a
word of caution some other way. Go to
him you shall not.”
"O. 1 must warn him! - ’ cried Nelly,
wringing her hands. "It was my treach
ery and deceit to him that has proved his
ruin.”
"Tut, nonsense! He was as near his
doom as he could be weeks ago. Your
paper but furnishes positive proof. He
must have been convicted without it. Be
sides it was I who handed his diary up,
not you.”
"But I stole it. I must go to Apsden
dor.”
"You are very willful, but I am more so.
You shall not stir a step from this house
without the baroness’ permission, and
that you are aware you will not vet in
this instance. Besides, now I come to
think of it, your dearly beloved Mark
"He is not my dearly beloved, but- —”
“Is not at Apsdendor at all, now I come
to think of it. His crafty face popped in
on us at Dagmar’s this morning when
least expected or wanted. The villain!”
"You are sure, Olga ?”
“Sure i saw him? Too sure!” she re
torted, scornfully. "Saw. and heard his
foul language too. My only wish is that
1 may never set my eyes on him again.
That I take it is your earnest wish also,
only some absurb ultra conscientious
scruple prompts you to saerafice j our
safety for his benefit. That you can’t do.
Lucky for you I saw your note. If you
take my fdvice you’ll leave events to
take their course, and let your sympathy
be expended on the side of right. But if
this is too much to ask, telegraph to As
pendor and warn Mr. Boyd to fly—he is
in danger. If he has returned he will re
ceive it.”
“But if he—is not —there?”
"Then he won't need it!”
After much further discussion the mat
ter was so arranged, Olga inwardly re
solving to frustrate any message or tele
gram. She congratulated herself that
she saved Nelly to fall a victim to Mark's
unscrupulous power. He was even then
on his journey down to Cooxmoor deter
mined route qui route to take the life of
his injured wife.
[to be continued.]
LEMON ELIXIrT
A Pleasant Lemon Tonic.
For Biliousness, Constipation and
Malaria.
For Indigestion, Sick and Nervous
Headache.
For Sleeplessness, Nervousness and
and Heart diseases.
For Fever, Chills, Debility and Kidney
Diseases, take Lemon Elixir.
Ladies, for natural and thorough or
ganic regulation, take Lemon Elixir.
Dr. Mozley’s Lemor: Elixir is prepared
from the fresh juice of Lemons, combined
with other vegetable liver tonics, and
will not fail you in any of the above
named diseases. 50e, and $1 bottles at
druggists.
Prepared only by Dr. H. Mozloy, At
lanta, Ga.
Yellow Fever 1878.
J. ‘O. Burge, a prominent druggist, of
Bowling Green, Ky., writes- "Duringour
yellow fever epidemic no one who kept
their liver and bowels regulated with Dr.
Mozley’s Lemon Elixir was attackedevith
the fever.
A lady, head nurse of the yellow fever
hospital at Grenadi, Miss., writes: “Dr.
Mozley’s Lemon Elixir was the only
remedy that seemed to protect our peo
ple from the attacks of yellow fever dur
ing the epidemic at Grenada.”
A Prominent Minister Writes:
After ten years of great suffering from
indigestion, with great nervous prostra
tion, biliousness, disordered kidneys and
constipation, I have been cured by Dr.
Mozley’s Elixir and am now a
well man,
Rev. C. C. Davis, Eld. M. E. Church
South,
No. 28 Tatnall St., Atlanta, Ga.
A QUEER BET.
Two Swell Englishmen Win a Good-
Sized Wager at Boynton’s Exhibi
tion.
From the Pall Mall Budget,
Spectators at Capt. Boynton’s water
exhibition were witnesses of a scene
which created considerable excitement
at the time, and will undoubtedly confirm
the idea universally held by foreigners
that Englishmen are eccentric beings.
After dinner a party of ladies and gentle
men, in evening dress, were discussing
the difficulties of the “chute,” and one of
the men offered to bet two of his friends
£2O each that they would not sail down
the water slide in the usual boat dressed
as they were -swallow-tail coat, gibus
and eyeglass included —and the moment
it reached the footof the incline jump into
the lake and swim ashore. The two men
thus challenged—one of whom is said to be
an officer in the Guards—accepted the of
fer. Without informing any of those in
authority at the exnibition of their inten
tion, they entered the boat with a number
of other visitors, and the moment it
reached the lake they jumped into the
water and swam ashore. The Indian
steersman and the other people in the
boat thought the occurrence was acci
dental ami screamed, and many specta
tors left the place under the impression
that the ducking was involuntary. The
evening suits were ruined, but the curi
ous bet was won.
A CURIOUS ATTACK.
Cold Air Paralyzes a Girl’s Arm—The
Trouble Spreads.
From the Baltimore American.
York, Pa., Aug. Hl. —Mattie Sides, a
young girl employed at the boarding
house at Columbia, across the river, has
heen the victim of a peculiar affliction.
When she finished washing the dishes in
very hot water she went to the ice box to
arrange something. To do this it was
necessary for her to thrust her right arm
i.ito the box. When she did this the cold
atmospharo suddenly paralyzed her arm,
which fell helpless to her side, and in a
few minutes her hand became cramped,
and the arm swelled to twice its normal
size. The paralysis then passed from the
arm into the neck and face, producing
something similar to lockjaw, from which
she suffered great pain. A physician was
immediately summoned and did every
thing in liis power to relieve the girl of
her suffering, but medicines were of no
avail. Finally hot irons were applied to
the arm and neck, which alleviated her
suffering somewhat.
A Great Help.
I had "done" the world's fair: gone over
the grounds and through the buildings for &
week, and m.v head was awhirl, says a writer
in Harper's Bazar. On the last day of my
stay in Chicago, as I reached my rooms, tired
and weary, a card was brought up to me. I
did not recognize the name, but nevertheless
I went down to the reception room. A comely
young women awaited uie.
"You have seen the fair." she said abruptly.
"What do you think of it?"
' M ignitlcent. 1 returned. "Simply great.
The most wonderful thing imaginable. Ar
tistic to the last degree." I continued, wurm
ing to the subject. "Superbe"’
Is that all you have to say?" queried the
visitor.
"No." I replied, somewhat puzzled, "but
words fail me. '
"Sol thought. " was the answer. "That's
why i called lam a book agent, and have
here a complete Thesaurus, price You
can"get a full knowledge of adjectives by a
little study on the way home, and will then be
able to give vent to your feelings in words
Will you take one?" And I squandered $i 00
A GHOSTLY VISITANT.
It Always Foretells a Death in the
Family.
Cornea in the Shape of a Mastiff- The
Dog Was Shot Bv Its Master While
Rescuing the Latter's Baby From a
Burning Wigwam—Since Then it
Has Always Appeared When Any
Disaster Threatens Its Slayer’B
Descendants.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Lexington, Miss., Aug. 27.—A family
banshee is so commonly supposed to be an
old-world possession by a few favored,
or unlucky, ones, as you choose to look at
it, that the owning of such an attendant
by an American household has something
of the incongruous in it. But that they
have one is the fixed belief of the Merri
weather family, of this part of the state,
and many are the stories related by them
of this spirit's appearances and warnings
of approaching disaster to anj' member,
and they produce as witnesses many of
the best and most reliable persons in the
the community. This singular possession
takes the form of a snow-white mastiff of
statelj’ carriage, who bays and howls
about the house just before trouble comes,
of whatever nature it may partake.
Mrs. Merriweather, a lady of nearly 90,
and now the head of the family. tells of
her first experience of the phantom.
“When I married my husbana he told me
something of this queer matter, but be
ing of robust mind and not given to fancies,
least of all to supernatural fears, I
thought no more of the thing, but dis
missed it as an idle old woman’s tale, as
perhaps you will in turn after you have
heard my storj’. I had indeed nearly
forgotten it, and when one
night I was sitting in my cozy sit
ting room I saw the door open
slowly.
1 glanced up, expecting to see some of
the children come in, but instead there
walked in as if perfectly at home a large,
fine-looking dog which proceeded to
stretch itself before an arm chair and lay
there looking at me with grave, sorrowful
eyes. Ordinarily I would have put the
animal out, but somehow I could not help
but be impressed by the creature’s mien,
and, concluding it to be the valuable dog
of some neighbor, 1 permitted it to remain
, where it was. at least I thought I would,
until my husband came home. He had
been out of the state on business for sev
eral days, but I was expecting him home
that night and had sat up for him after
the rest of the household had retired.
Presently I heard the sound of his bug
gy’s wheels, and, throwing a wrap across
my shoulders, I went out on the porch to
welcome him. I remember distinctly
having closed the door of the sitting room
behind me and the only other door had a
heavy- bookcase before it. The windows
were hlso closed and shuttered. So that
I was utterly amazed on going back to
the room with Mr. Merriweather to find
the dog gone.
“Why, where is the dog?” I asked
aloud, pausing to glance around the room.
‘•What dog!” asked my husband, and I
told him all I knew of the animal, adding:
“It was so unusual a color and so fine a
specimen that I felt sure it belonged to
someone who could appreciate any kind
ness showed it.”
“What color was said Mr. Merri
weather, and when I answered that it
was white, he uttered an exclamation
that surprised me.”
"It was the Merriweather watch dog,
Mary 1” he cried. “There’s been a death
in the family, or there will be. Hark to
that!” and I heard the mournful howl of
a dog outside.
For a moment I was impressed by his
evident belief in the thing and I asked,
“But whose death does it mean? Not
yours, or mine, or the children’s, I hope.”
“I can not tell,” he said, looking ten
years older. "Where did it lie down, did
you say?”
I told him, when he cried out, “It must
be a warning of Brother George's death.
That is always his chair when he is here,
you know.”
But by this time what I boasted of as
my common sense asserted itself, and I
declared that I did believe a word of it,
though I could not help but admit to my
self that there were some puzzling partic
ulars about the occurrence. But in a few
days there came the tidings of George’s
death, and the date given was that of my
vision. The letter also stated that he
had died at the hour of 10at night, which
was precisely that at which I had seen the
mastiff enter the room. My superstition
was aroused by the coincidence, for a
while at least, but my mother coming to
visit me about that time I confided to her
the story, and, as sho was a woman of
more than usual intelligence and strength
of mind, she ridiculed me for my weak
ness in attributing the vision to anything
more than a curious chance, of which the
world is full. I acknowledged myself
foolish and tried in my turn to convince
my husband of a more natural explana
of the matter.
But he answered that the dog had been
seen in his family for more than a hun
dred years, and that in so great a cloud
of witnesses there must have been some
reliable ones. He told me of how it was
supposed the phantom attached itself to
them.
It is a long story, but briefly it is this:
When the Merriweathers came over from
England they first settled in Virginia,
where the founder of the American
branch became wealthy, and the owner
of much land, buying fairly enough from
the Indians. But after a while the sav
ages became dissatisfied over the
price paid them for it, or jeal
ous of the thrift of the white man, and
made an attack on the mansion house.
This was repelled and the Indians retir
ed . The following day rallying his neigh
bors they went down to punish the red
skins by burning their village. As they
drew near the place Mr. Merriweather
saw his white mastiff running excitedly
about the wigwams, and being a man of
strong and rather cruel nature became
furious at what he took to bo theanimal’s
desertion of him for the vagrants, as he
called the Indians, and leveling his mus
ket he shot the creature.
The poor animal, badly hurt as he was,
still dashed into a smoking wigwam and
reappeared with a bundle of clothes in
his mouth, which he proceeded to lay at
his master's feet. The bundle contained
a cry also, and the man hearing it took
the cover off its face, and found his own
baby, which*the Indians had evidently
stolen the night before, and on abandon
ing their village on receiving notice of
the settlers’ coming had placed it in one
of the wigwams, setting it afire
with the rest. Conscience stricken at
having so poorly rewarded the faith
ful friend who had witnessed the kidnap
ing most likely, and had followed the
trail to know where the child had been
taken to, Mr. Merriweather now turned
to see what could be done for the mastiff,
but it was to find the dog dead at his
feet. Since then the phantom was known
to have invariably announced the death
of all the family. Seeing that m.v hus
band was convinced of the truth of the
story I made no further attempt to make
him take the same view of it as I did.
But I had not seen the last of the dog by
any means.
Th? war with Mexico broke out. and
Mr. Merriweather left for the field and I
was alone with my three children. My
baby had been ailing slightly for some
days, but no one had any idea that she
was ill to any alarming degree, and one
night my sister asked to be allowed to sit
with her while I took a little rest. This
was very grateful to me s T „
out with several nights’ w< *'
anxiety But though 1 fell
1 did not stay so long. ] „“ s Tr
the door of my .V'" 4 b T
turning my face toward it I\v ' ~
to see tlie big white mastiff , i Hll ‘‘ 4a 'i
before walk in and stand ferV-' 1
looking at me with its sad, irit, ut a *
which was more human than an,
else. ‘tn.ytiuan
But just at that moment I h P .,,.,,
sister give a scream, and say -oh , my
quick! The I ab.v! The baby -of, Au “’
God! and I rushed Vast the' do- “I
down the stairs, thinking of nothin. , a4
than my child. I met my sister ' U
toward me with the baby in h r ß _ comin *
and one glance told me' that the
thing was dead. It had been as lecp
all at once it awoke and gave a fain ?
and was gone before anv restoror v ry
be poured down its throat. The slm^m' 1
who were all about at the time afterv $
declared that no dog could ixcssibl v k
gotten in, and all thought i?m u ‘?
been imagination ou mv i.-Tr- “ 6
a dream. But I was beginning to t’, or
differently. The next visit wf LV 11,11
the banshee was not to me Dmf ,/ 10 ™
ing my eldest daughter came down staSi
with a pale face and heavy eves owl a
that she had not been able to sleep .
howling of a dog under her ! '
and asked if it had not disturbed me t
had heara nothing, although mine V,.
the next room to her sand opeued on !
same lawn But I did not ridtoV 0 ,
even doubt her story. I had had enoU
experience of unbelief myself to resist
other s. ™peci
That afternoon the girl came in
“Why, inflther, where did the dog go'”*’
I asked her what she meant, when sh
toid me that a big white mastiff ha 4
ceeded hor up the walk and had eminS
Uje house not half a minute before sha
We searched the House together but •
is perhaps needless to say, we found noth
mg. I was now very uneasy. News
the army was very hard to get and not
always reliable, and I feared for m,
husband, from whom we had not heart
for over a month. When at last dis.
patches did come through I learned with
great relief that his name was not
among the killed or wounded, and con
gratulated myself that, for onoe, the ban.
shee had been mistaken. But, before
the week was over, a letter came for
me from my husband's messmate sav
ing that Mr. Merriweather had died
on the 7th of May of yel
low fever. Since then I have never seen
the phantom mastiff again, but my chil
dren have all had visions of him. bn one
occasion my youngest grandchild earns
running to me asking where the prettv
dog had gone, and saying that he had
played on the lawn with him, patting
hint, and that he had licked his hand.
“I chided the little fellow for what I
thought to be a flight of the imagination,
but his brother nearest him in age ,-ame
in just then aud corroborated the story
by saying that he had seen little Mor
gan caressing a big white dog, but that
the dog had all at once seemed to blow
away. On the breakout of the civil war
the whole household was kept awake by
the continuous howling of a dog about the
house, but on going out to look for him
my sons could see nothing of him. Bat
when they had regained the house the
howling was worse than ever. And you
know I lost both of them in the Tennes
see campaign. I look every day for his
summons to come to me. lam ready, and
as I hope to be so when death comes this
story is true. There are many of my
neighbors who have known of the ban
shee’s coming, and can tell you of the ac
curacy of his wailing predictions.”
Had Lost $ 100,000 at One Faro Sitting
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
James P. Kynders, the faro king, never
made much of a talk among the sports
about being a rich man. He was one oi
those kind of people who do a whole ioi
of things and very little talking. Cons*
quently when he died in Oakland a fen
weeks ago not many of his friends knew
whether he had gone to his grave a rich
or a poor man. But they said that old
Jim would not care, because he was
alone in the world, never having man
riei.
It has been years since Jim Rynders
toyed with the "kitty” or bucked the
tiger. He had foresaken many of his old
sporting friends and located himself in a
quiet homo in East Oakland, where he
spent his last days in peace and happiness
It was said of him that he had no worr.von
account of his gambling days, for he had
lost more money at the gambling table
than he had ever won. In fact, he made
the greatest loss in the state, dropping
*1(10,000 at one sitting at faro. That loss
is a matter of history. But Jim Kynders'
did not die penniless. When he re
tired from the ring of chance he made a
few legitmate speculations, and the re l
formed gambler made an honest four
tune.
Recently W. D. Thomas, John L. Brom
ley and James Larue filed in the Alameda
superior court an inventory and and ap
praisement of the Rynder estate. It
shows that the decedent had $4,71(0 in
cash and some mortgages in the east val
ued at $1,622. He also held a promissory
note of an attorney for $2,203. The home
place in East Oakland is valued at $4 •
500. Pulgas Ranch, in San Mateo, con
sisting of 404 acres, is valued at SOO,OOO.
The total value of the estate is $74,32!.
A niece of tho deceased will inherit most
of the property.
BLACK WOMAN TURNS WHITE.
A Novel Case That Startles Her Asso
ciates.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 2.—A negro
woman of 25, sent to the county poor farm
a year ago as insane, has since changed
from coal black to white. The change has
been gradual, and now her body and neck
are perfectly white. A black band ex
tends around the forehead and then meets
with a perfectly white scalp. This por
tion of black skin is now disappearing.
The phenomenon has excited such fear
among the other inmates that the county
court is asked to have the woman taken
elsewhere.
Work on the Tariff Begun.
From the Philadelphia Ledger find )
The tariff hearing opens with a pica from
Bermuda for reciprocity in virtual free lr.iutu
The representatives of Bermuda made out s
tolerably good case for consideration. 1?
explain their interest in the matter hy ie ‘
during that they are obliged to pay the tax on
Bermuda potatoes and other produce, ov. in*
to the perishable character of the exports to
this country. Consumers here, in that case,
have no interest in the matter nor arc our
truckers concerned, as the Bermuda vcg-'U*-
Ides are all consumed before the eana”
American products reach the market i
point made by the Bermudans is that it
tax should be removed the Bermudan farmer
would have more money to spend in tn
country, ’ihis is nut altogether convinces,
but the case presented is one worthy of con
sideration.
Bland for the Presidency.
From Knox County (Tenn.) Reporter (P°P-!-
He [tiie populist candidate lor Pi' l '' .
must come from a state west of the ju "■
sippi river, but not too far south to maKc u
a distinctly southern man: a confeiur
record will be a hindrance to him. nt-.t ■
will an unsavory federal record be accepta i •
the finances being the watchword of ■
party, he must have always been ni 1 ,
tunt question Then why would not K ’ ,
I*. Bland, cf Missouri, make them a m
leader? Without pretense to prophec.i ■
believe he will be nominated for tne r
dency in 1836. _3
A Natural Sequence. —“She has arc
markably pretty foot.” „ k .
"She has. It was her foot that L
fell in love with.” ~,,
“And what followed after he let
love with her foot?” „ _ V nrk
"He asked for her hand.” —
Press.