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The Clinton News-Record, 1902-07-31, Page 3Silly 31st, 1902 • HE .OLINTQN NFIWS-BECORD : 1 1 .L. L... 1 .....i .....L .. AAA 11,4,4 The Crime of Hallow -E'en --ort„-• THE HEIRESS OV GRAYSTONE HALL. • S i=1 /3y LAURA JEAN LIBBEY. Author of " A Broken Betroth4" "The Heiress of Cameron Hail," "Pa,rteci at the Altar," EtCr- vase\,s \.\4' -"441 -sor night in the street." But aloud he old, in apparent amazement : May I ask what this intrusion means, g( ntlemen?" "It means that we are here to M- emo the young girl standing by your side, and to demand why you have manacled her wrists; to take you into custody, in fact, t$1 1% and have an understandine us to the meaning of this extraordinary scene." At. the first gismo into the• beauti- ful fase turned toward them, both a. the detectives had been grIevotta1Y. disappointed; the lovely, clerk -eyed. ireatut•e was eet•tainly not the girrof whom they had come in (tweet. No, this was not Le Ray Inerpont's bride -fair, golden -haired Bonnylin. Basil Severn the dark, handsome man who had been standine over the girl, bowel haughtily. • "A very natural curiosity, -1 should Sit y " he returned, with slow vex-, ity. •at cry from a woman's tins always attracts attention, and When it is heard by brave men they natur- ally respond. • "Now, in the flrst piece, 1 - be you will look closely at this ' poor creature, and pet will see why these white arms meet be shackled; and even though a strict - sui.veillance is kept upon her, we connot restrain her from, attempting what you have jest discovered mu in the act ad pre- venting her front accomplishing-ine flicting fatal yttrium's mere herself," One gaze lilt° the dull, glazing eyes, and tin ir perception toldthem all too plainly the bettutiful clew- ture was a raving maniac. • . • You see her °edition; it is unne- cessary for me to repeat she is hope- lessly insane. She is my hapless sis- ter, gentleinen." • . lie uttered the lie unblushingly, and his words no 1 tone carried posi- tive conviction with theni. Ile did not tell them. th it the fits of insanity which darkened this poor. creature's life attacked her only in spells, and those m ere .few,and lar apart-alweys brought on by some inters° eecitement. •,, ,few words uil1 explain how We ha•ppehed to be here," Dasit Severne • went, on courteously. • •••To begin WEI); my lienne is in a. • far-off, isolated vilege in Western Virginia., and there; too, is thd home • of this peor unfortunate, through -but: • few peopte thet•e know •of he exist- ence, she has always been so closely confined. A mon h since she broke away from her faithful nurse,. thewo- man you see yonder, eni •thade ..her -way to -Beaton. I followed, and' Wes fortunate enough to run across . her , wandering nbout the streets. . "T boarded the Midnight train . with her, told at this station she be- came so utintanagetthIel, to.- save my- self from. everlasting disgrace .1. took her from the trent and came here, tv hie h was 1 u eh i le near.. Only the west ernwine of . the house-- .1 hese few rooma-a% e furnished, for • . the simple relation that we. do' eot, live here. I come here in the •shooting season, and only stop here' a. week or so. then.". - Basil Severne invited the the to look more closely at his sister -- also to examine the .certifiegee, ehich he handed them. front his. .breast pocket. told which 'iv -as stencil.. by a well knoen leading -erepert• an. :such cases -if they doubted the truth eef • his assee non. ' • • . . •• .., There was no need• to look into that face and hat.lior the shedowot - a doubt; the lovely yotnee creature, they could see, was indeed a menlae, • and they believed now the sh.:dotas they had witnessed on the window - shade were simply caused as he had stated -by his attempt' to frustrate -, her mad endeavor to injure herself, • The detectives hid certainly come - upon a wild -gem -a chese, they e tolcl. themselves sheepahly, .and they • ex- plained the whole allede to the gen-' Heinen of the stone house, while Ernest Lansing stood by not a little crestfaliCn. . • . -You will not wonder that We he- ieved we had uncut. the d • a • gi•eat sensational mystery," raved the de- tect i ve, humbly. • "It certainly looked like it," ad -- mitt ed Mr. Severne; should' Web-. Orly hatee thetieht and acted quite lite same i.n ha similar - eireenie stances." iir but one thing I eat not • understand, sir, and that is, the cot - lin 1 saw you take out at midnight - would you kindly explain that?". el a Severn° ra MS dark \ eyes asked Ernest Leasing. r. In haugh 1 y surprise. "I believe, my' friend, - that you ere the subject cf h:.ltueleation upon t hat poi lit; 1 know not h ng of any • coflin, therefore have- noth'ne to OX - plain concei ning- oite. I ant envious 11) know hew you could: possibly- con- • next this affair with the -the Flare - pont case," he said, a trifle un- lit ea d ily, us he turned toward the detectives, and for the aret tho since their intareview Ids •burninge. black, gl ittering eyes, shifted unease ily, nnal his handsome, singularlY fascinating face grew a ehade paler. It was Ernest Lansing who: swered. , "1 heard the name TIonnylin spok- en,'' he said, "It •is the name of the fugitive bride, you know. It is • a name peculiarly unetennion; 1 fereee ed, somehow, that muffled figure yeti • hurried so inystet•lously out of • the city, was one and the same atenitye lin." . . At the mention of the name 130ne. nylin, the poor .girl Who had been crouching back in a great ortnelialr„ geeing with wonder and dismay at the strangers, now sprang foeWerd with a wild cry on her -For the love of Malaita at no meet" she cried wildly. "I' must see Miss normylin, if but for' a vaned moment. Rents() inta. and -she Will . have MOM to rue it. all 110r_ Me." ''.1allOt ' called ottt Datril Savoie*, shorply, to an old Whelan who inn peered frimi an inner' aPartMent, "Ar- e:move your Charge at once: take her n.way to her room. Gently, Janet, very gently, and soothe' her tO sleep r if Pau ean; and When site luta become quieted sufficiently, that no fear need be apprehended, you On remove. throes fetfeea front her noon little online," he Melted artfully. "I will see M1tf tc neylin," cried the girl, ateuggling violentler, "She S\'‘ --Nek lintst leave the Hallow -en n party for t single noment to see me. Oh, Godi for just a little ntittute. 1 will te'l her all, and warn her and SONO her from the fiend in hiunan there who has Marked her for his prey. Oh, I must tell her though he nuirdet• ue for itt He has trlea eft. n unigh already,- but 1 seem to hate a Omen lives. Mad, tun 3? Ah, I apt mud and eenniog enough to outwit bine M,iss Bomayltn, you are--" "Janet, will you take her from the; mein?" cried Desil Severe, nulling fairly livid with rage, the veins in his forehead standing out like n hip- . cords, and great purple. spots gleam; ing on his eheelts. "I beg you, for the sweet mercy of. Hea.veta• do not send me away front the Hallow -e'en party until 1 have ; seen Miss Donnylin. There. is a dark, mysterioue secret .1, must tell , her. Yes, and there Is still it darker and more horrible one I know about, that shadows----" The, sentence never. was finished. • Basil's hand came dowo over the beautiful,Piteous, 4luive ring red mouth liken grip of steel. . • D. there had been no witnesses pros- . elite he ,would hove strangled her. - As it. was, he controlledhithsell by a mighty, superhuman effort. . lacking up the slender, gieneh form the Woman Janet siemea incapable of handling, he bore her bodily trout the *room, and • thrust, her into another apartment. "Slid was once •perinitted to read a.boolc in which the name of the . heioine. wes Bannylin," he explained on his return, "She repeete with a • fooling of intensity and patties that -would bring tears to the eyes • of strangers who were not Mod to it, • elinerent portions oT it, such ai You "rave juSt • heard. I beg, gentlemen, •'you will not think of it. al' • "Will yoil PIM 100 anat. Zeiss of wine arid a. slight repast?" headded, anxious .tie turn. the 'stileleet and di.; ..vert their •thoughts., "You have come • *so •far. on a lruitless email 1,. I cen- se:it consent ten have yoti leave vs ith- Out broking broad -..with me. Nething loath, alla Leniing and the • detective consented, ..following the Master .of Graystene Hall front the r00111.• • • ' . . •an hour later then took theta de- • Weiterealeavinjr the dark read .terri- bre. mYstery. belt led Omni. •• • Ah! shrewd detectives, so cleverly. putivitted., . Why 'clid• not some sub- tle 'instinct warn •thein to search the. nisiaterieus. house? • • : . • • CHAT,TE.R. XVII. .• • We •must. now • return to. DonnYfin, and follow her through ' the thrilling scenes -that- have taken place . front . tho memerable night. she returned to cousciousuess t� lind..lierself ia .• the Marble vomit, • . • . . • 'As her hand ericoepteied • 'the smooth,. narrow •surfuee; whieba .ehe instantly recognized as n coffin; • a, - eey of enoetal tert.ot broke from her Res, and. with. that shriek, thu.t echoed weirdly through the charnel-. house, she fled threnigh the narrow •iron door of the Vault, out. into 'the Moonlit night.. •• • a . , • .Once • .glance set:her .surroundings, . and' at .Panting fear seind her. "A graveyaid!'' -she gaSped, ..ga,ze • Ing around her in terror alikuset to great lot. Wardei.."how came I here, 1 wohder?" • •• . • ' Like a Atoten-driven staallow She' hurried Ehnen, the 1111.3t 'path that pre- sented itaelf. to view, her daipty tip kid-elipPered feet sinking deep int* thasnow drifts at every stela • Down the path she lien, %Leh. mem-. ent her SeilSOS becoming more and . more. confused. • . . . ' . One of her white gloves fell to the • groundas .she • sped :along, het.- she never heeded the lois of it -she 'teas too dazed. 'and bewildered to know' whither she was going, • • • ' At last, utterly oveicome,.. poor Donnylin sunk helplessly • down .ittnidst the • snowdrifts. too weak to take Another. Atop 'forward, Her head and heert seemed burnieg • end her feet and, hands• freezin a • • "Le :Rote". she murmured -faintly, "1 WO dying, dame save me -oh, save :ine, love; 1 ant .so to dirt • could not leave yota, nay spirit Woad Cling to you in. lite and in death, I 'love You so." ' • .• • . piteous eries died away in it low Mee» and lionnylln brink Intel( 'in the frozen drifts in it deep, eleth- erine swoon. • • • We should have had to record the • drifting out . of that fair. young life . if a: steatete and timely oceurrence, 'directed by the hand of trate, had ' not interfered. • • • . It , was midnight, 'that Weird and mystic • hour in altielethe isolated gt.iiveyard was apt to be visited ay ghouls. and grave robbers, thee the old. sexton -who had acted in the dual role of grave digger 8:1 Etextat for tarty years or more -took .• hi usind round el the cemetery to see that .01 nem tot it should he. • lTe had traveesed half the lonely path, iti the most isolated portion, when, turning suddenly around an abrupt curVe, he stembled upon thi prostrates body of a nerng girl lab* prone Upon her face in the path, half buried under tie) drifting snow. "The saints preserve es!" exclaim- ed the old man, in sudden fright. NG quite Lein:vet! the shimmering', White satin robe, that„„dralld the slender body, was th3 habiliments of the grave.' . Ms tient thought as to stooped down las that he must have sur- prised n grave retinae itt his dastarea• fy work, and that the villain tad dropped his intended victim and fled. To his intone° moan:Mena he found that the body which his bonds tounh- ed WAS warm with the breath of life. t It Was but the 'work of an instant 1 to raise the sletider figure in his ' arms, and tvith hurried steps he bore her quickly to the comfortable little cottage that nestled at the foot of the hill Whit+ he 'called home. A loud, thunderh.t knock brought his old wife, in gray flannel gown and elippers, shuffling to the aoor. "A, pretty time o' night to get neOPIO out o' thee Warm bed to- eat- er to your nonsensital notien prowling round the eethelety in tint need 6' the night," she grumbled WADY, as she tumbled ut Om look Of tAle, doors .." "Vvrould Servs you right if you were to take yer death o" cold, John Auderson, tor 4'our foolhardirase," she added. "No one thinks o' payin" you a tent for your watchfulness; you might be 'better be where you ought to he -asleep in your bed. Lot grave robbers come if they want to; I'd like to know what, that is to you; no one thanks you for--" "Will you cease grumbling, jenny, aaid open the door?' cried John And. all in a flutter; and his wife knew by the tone of his voice that some extraordinary occurrence had transpired. An instant later the door • was opened, and Joha Anderson, the old, sexton, stepped hur- riedly across the tl-reshold, bearing the stark, rigid body draped in white - in Ins arms, There was a terrified shriek from, his wife. • "Tne saints preserve est" she cried, her. teeth chattering awl her eyes nearly starting Iioni their sockets. "Whet have you brought that body here foT? Oh, take it away! take it away!' In a few brief Words the old sex-, ton • explained the situation of af- fairs -that it teas not a corpse, but living, breathing human being he had found un'der the snowdrifter and brought home. "Come quick and attend to her, Jenny," he said, depositing her on the chintz -covered settee before the blazing logs in the old-fashioned fireplace. "Get (sone) hot water and neuaterd and flannel blankets ready; she's e'enarnost frozen stiff." Recovering from her fright, Jenny came hurriedly up to the couch. "Oh, John!" she exclaimed, Peer- ing breathlessly over his shovIder at the beautiful, untrble-white face framed in its sheen of golden hair, upon which the ruddy glow of the firelight fell, "she's dressed like a bride, or like fine ladies dress when they go to a ball." "Never mind how she's dressed; • get the flimmeries off her. ae quick as you can, and get one of your own flannel- gowns on her." • "What beautiful white kid Enterers, ;and all embroidered in seed pearls!" cried Jennie,'drawing them -off. "And her stockings are pure silk!" she added, with all a woman's keen appreciation of tine things, even in that critical moment: • "Don't stare to leok at them now," said John, sharply.' . "Well, get out of the room thent" exclaimed. ,his' wife, equally as sharp. "I ,can't take off the 'flint - merles,' as you call 'cm, until you're out of the .way; what are you standing 'here staring at her for?" At this rebuke from his better half, John meekly quitted 'the ' room, and in a very short space of time, the • beetling little woman had divested r Boneylin of her ' beautiful Satin ball -doses, and , wrapped her • in a gray flannel dressang-gown and woollen blankets, 'applying re- storatives which she forced , be tween the white ' lips, vigoroesly rubbing tho little cold hands and rigid limbs. Meanwhile • aches, mg the wondrous beauty of the lovely, geldenhaired,' little. creature,. Arid wondering with all the curioeity. of a woinan, what she could have beep doing' in the graveytted at • snide night, ad in the bitter,cold, dress-., ed like that, too. • - All the rubbing and heating seem- ed of little avan-no .warmth Stole into the marble cheeks -no color to the childish lips or broad brow. "Shall we send for a (lector, Jen.: ny?", said Jahn, who: had returned at length to the room. * A doctor -no! . 'declared-' • hts wife, contemptuously, "What good are. doctors, I should like to know? Don't their patients • always. fetch hands aboiat. her white, urns -bands binding them so tfghtly, 110eruellY, that they cut into her tender flesh. "No one will file them offl" she Moaned; "no one will lift a hand to save mei 1 'hall never more be free from themt Titey ore 'dragging me down to my doom! 011,1 will no one help me? 1 never did such • horrible, such a. cruel deed! The white angels who saw ail, know - yes, they know! So you must file the steel bends oat" she sobbed, piteously -so piteously that it would have drawn tears from any one's eyes to have heard her. "A strange fancy," thought: the eta sexton's wife, holding the dainty vilettyle-trioeestilebillnegavehsanikisn 'Iv'ehle- 1,43rd bless the pretty child! These beautiful .arins were made for cost - )3' jeweled bracelets; how absurd to fancy heavy iron bands cutting into their smooth whiteness," At the end of the fourth week Ileoennnylin was Able to sit up, and for the first time since she hnil b brought to that lowly home, a gleam of consciousness shone in. Me blue eyes that gazed up in as- tonishment and dismay into the motherly ram bending over her, nars. Andet•son had robed her in one • and haeirth°4414(kh btlu he e grrrInstdrIevsas; twice too- large for that slen- der, girlish, trim figure, still Bon- nylin looked wonderfully fair la as she did in everything.- aWhere am I? and who ate you?" she cried, struggling. up to a sit- ting posture, and pushing the long masses of Curling golden hair back .f1'.°"rnYouhsqhrallalvkernyowfacaell about that 'presently," said the Sexton's' wife, forcing a composing 'draught be- tween her 100. "You ' must sleep A little; dearie, and .ialien you wake up you shalt ten me who you are, and.. where your home and friends are."' • • • • Bohner the sentence was finished the long, curling lashes drooped • heave aly, and lay against the . rounded cheeks; a long • breath trared heav- ily over the quivering mouth, the strong potion had tenet* effect, Ben- nylin slept. ' • All day long, and all the night before, a fierce snowstorm had been raging. • The hills and vales, as far as the. eye. could reach, Were wrariped in a fleecy shroud of white, and the huge '• drifts made the roads outside of the city impassable. . •.. , - The • gray 'shadow that her-. • - aided • the approach of Mr ht . was fast drawing its mantle over' the short winter afternoon, . when • .a.• • sleigh, drawn by an tron-gray.. enettlesinne, horse, dashed swiftly around the curve that led ,to • the • old..sexton's humble abode,' and 'a .7" oTuyniffng1..11111iiis1 srPesrttlIneg'si;°hIltorse... to the- gateapost end , throwing, a buffalo - robe over him, • hestymie. swiftly* up the •Wooden wink to the door. His imperative kneeling • . soen breught the old Etexeekias• Wife all in a • flutter te answer the summoren •##Fer 'mercy's; sake, • a ohnl" • she cried, catching a glimpse of the hamlet:aloe,iiiipatirnt stranger stand; ing on the. atoop outside -Irene • the ;winnow, "in it feu% young . ,•.Me. Penton: What rould have ebrought. him 'here in all•-ehis..sterna, 1 •won-,• der?" , • •• • • "'Iliesbest way to lien out • Is to, Open the doer and invite, him in," retorted her husband,' dryly. right .fine young ietUw, i9, Fen- ton. Ile gives tile a handsome tip every Out -twice -for Wieling the fiolve ers about the Fenton. vault: Olsen the door • for hint; Jenny; and . hid 'him -walk right in." . A niontene more and Mr. Fannin was: in the narrow passage entside, .ane was Emen ushered into -the cheery' little sitting:amnia Where the • • eld • 'sexton sat.' •. • • "Good-afterncion to• yen, Air," -sain• •• John Andet•son,••placieg. a• dietir for his , visitor; "ital. terrible. On tee road, pueh 'day. as this. • why :this is 'the worst storitel have ever seen. • hereabouts, an' Vve lived ita these parts niAle °nip fortY.years." Prank Fenton atispoieled . heartily' to • the old -iman's geeeting ire .• hii own . cheery way, but declined the 'proffered sent' by the wo.ciel tire: •. ' "Thanks, but I -haven't a monlaset , to atety-•nty horse .1s. outside," he said. "I- •caine to say to you that the . key ofour vault is in this jock on- the inside of the. 'door; I visited it a month .iiince, and .cona • live out hfirriedly the door sprung to after Inc. It ie a' spring leek, ,you know,. and will therefore require the service of a locksmith before the . vatilt can be eniered eigain. Mao 1 hope' that .you .will . attend to the Matter at .your co n ven'ence? iho bill may be lent to Me." , • "Certainly, Sir," reterned the • old sexton. "1 will see that it is at - :tended ' to -itt. •once. It the sallow waiint. so .deep. to -day, - "Oh, never mind about to -day," 1n,atwet uopteid QC 80 sntn :iibcewill , good-htivinol.d realoy,l 4 ' there's no hurry,. I was • passints, and thought of it, and called in to see you atoot it, that's . A little conversation further, and he bowed himself out, "Dark, already, by Jewel" he •muttered, he; stoi d on the little wooden porch areenging his muf- fler, "and as dark hence at that. • 1 can scarcely Ond the gate where . my horse is hiteited, or the path that, . leads to the gate. Dy the eternal, I think 1 Shoal have :to go back for it lantet•nr" ' Ile floundered about in the snow uP. under your snaeleS If. my herbs. don't. bring her to; hothing can. Bless me, John you'd •have•been &adman a .dozepatimes ti yoe had' depended on. the doctors instead re". my herb -tea. •• • ' •• •• a "There t ' she . cried triumphantly, 'don't you .see she's" coining:to at Irtst?" a.nd a•s she. spoke the beau::.. tilt& blue -bell eyes fluttered. wide. open, gazing • up in ,Wonder and childish' dismay ante thekindly face; btit in those ' soft, • velvety Orbs there Wes no :gleam of rep,' ion. • • .. • .. • The .color came beck in a ciira-s. Son flood to the beautiful • litla as they . opeued; but n� intelligible sound- mine from them, , • . ' They . babbled Atiapta nothings. - "It's, many a. day before she will, be able „to leave her bed," • old - the little woman, pityingly, "She* down with the levee,. John, . lt's the worst. kind of brain-fev.er know the symptoms welt." • . • "For Heaven's' sake, then, let us have • her' taken to the hospital," •cried the sexton, aghast, . • "We -shall do nothing. of the kind," retorted his wife, nit would . he the death -of her. Hoye you for- gotten, John, • that our own poor was taken. ill among, strangers end for want of a mother's care,Wee taken to the hospital , and • died there? this poor, .young Creature, shan't ago to the hospital, John. She shall stay right, itere, and I will purse her unreel, my duty." • • . . No persuasion Was of • aily weight. When John's Wife. made hp her ntind • he. Was always 'obliged to abide. by It. . And while the horrible search Went oft for the fugitive bride,. and; the startling story of .the terrible nuir- dor at. the ball was in every paper and on •eVery lip; when the city ar'd country were flooded With plaearils offering large rewards for the ap- prehension of the runaway, • the poor, hapless, golden -haired bride lay meaning in the canapes ot . brain -fever in their Very midst,. all uneonscioue of her pitiful peel'. •. • perhaps Heaven had ;needfully ora (leaned that the:good old sexton and his wife- could neither read nor write." • The sexton Was getting too old to Otare nitteh about ping into the city. The preferred his (sten fire- side, and the company of his clay pipe to • that of his lielghbOrs 111 that stormy Weather, Yes, Heaven so willed it that he never heard the startlitg tut,- gedy that had trbectecd tIte whoa) eountry, and lie never &tamed who the beautiful, hapless young 01,1 was whom fate had directed to hls humble abode to find aheiter in that thrilling time of netd, 01 TARTER X VIII, • For days beautiful roinylin hoV-• end betwern life 0,.d death. he • d I r io us livings that, tett train tha white lips were startlingly strange,- and pitiful to heart but then, sick people have orki hallu., einations, lira. Anderson well ktieW. It wits a strange fetes? which bed taken eossessitn of Dtianylin's mita. 'QM imagintd there Were Steel turned toWord him in the red glow of the firelight, sat a young girl. One startled glance hit° that lovely' face, crowned in its wealth of .cerling golden hair, mei into those velvety blue -bell eyes -like no other eyes - tied Fronk •Fentoe„ treroblirg With suppressed excitemeot, cried out hoarsely; "Heavens! I cannot be miistekert. 1 haVe found Pierpontae loSt, bridal-. beautiful, hapless little Donnylin." Hone ehould he Make known his Presence there? 11 she sheuld by chance look up and see a. man's face peering in at her, she might shriek aloud rind ewoon. With deternin,si -hai.ds he raised the window -sash ever so slightly, and called softly' 'eagerly: "Medd Do not speak or scream out; waif) to the window and see nact moment: 1 om your friend, and Le Roy's friend. I am Frank Fenton," The* slim, girlish figure in the big rocker before the lire did not stir. "floflnyl in' -Ms, Dieroontr" he call- ed hurriedly and a little louder. Donnylin had by chime° opeoed her eyes an instant, but succumbed Ian - mediately to 'drowsy sleep again. ' Ftnton Ara; up the sash aud sprung into the room, hurriedly ap- • proitching her, calling out • to her not to give waif to fright, for he was not a, robber. or midnight intruder, but her friend. Ile itud barely reached her side %elan hts quiet( ear detected a.P- proaching footsteps in the possege- way without.• They were coming to - weed the door: a moment more and the door would be. Mule' open. In a flash Frank Fenton• reflected that he must not be found there, for more reasons than one; and ft. flashed act.oss his mind, too, that he must make his escape instantly through' the wihdow agein, and the daring thought occurred to teat to . take Bonnylin with him, 'and he acted on the thought.without an ine istant's delay. . • • Tearing off his heavy overcoat, ..he thole it oner the girl's hea.d to pre-. . vent the slightest outcry, and •at .the same t • protect r I ttte bitter Storm, raised her quickly in his arms as though ale had been an. Infant, and in a trice had cleared the. roont and 'leaped through the window out into the darknesEi and storm of the night. • . 444 leo very midst, al it were. Their chagrin knew no hounda when, they thought of their own stupidity. But she was at large somewhere chute itt hand, and' -ah, the pity of itl-tor paltry, shining gold every nom of them determined to hunt the poor, pretty creature down to her dog= With teeth fairly chattering wIth terror, the old sexton.. took his wife aside, and told her the Startling news he had heard at the police station; who the lovely stranger was who haft . lain unconscious under their roof. and of the fearful charge linen Whhiall the officers were searching for er. •111..1*- done noes? 11001% Bonnylin. Dori help anti protect you in this aw- ful hour -and Dierpont, when you hear of this." Wass It only his fancy, or did • he hear some one hi* name? lie drew rein and listened intently. "Afr. Penten," said a tearfut vro- man's volee, "ifi that you?" o saw in the struggling Morning. light that he was jest passing the " standing itnce-deep in the snowdrift* old sexton's house, and the figure at the gate was the sexton'e wife. "liave you heard the terrible his old wife turned to hint, brushing I am wdig ith sublime nity, .wst:sroyfiTth;#0# ur house and of her sud- beautiful young girl who away the fast gathering tears from den departure?" he cut in, breathy. "Yes," sobbed the sexton's Wife her dim twee, , I piteously. "Have you heard all about • her? cannot, I will not believe it, sir. I will stake my soul on her in- nocence, and shield her with my life .1 could, and it were in My power." "Would you?" cried Fenton, a sod- den thought shaping itself in Ids mind us a, last desperate reisort. "Yes," she answered, "I would. • sir, Heaven tnows." in moment 1.senton had - sprung from the vehicle, bearing Donnylin in his arms. •She.had seen the muffled Anderson? I should not believe it, - ' figure • on the seat beside- hint, bus t say. I would stake my soul uPon ishe had never dreamed it could be her nuogence, Her heart and soul, and. those little white hands that have clang so piteously to mine, are as pure as the epotless ono* out - 53(19. The evidence Against her is overwhelming, you say. Human be- ings before to -day. have been hung upon circumstantial evidence. God . preserve the poor, pretty creature from the wretches that are hunting her down to her doom. . And, oh, John, you set' the whole pack loose upon her took, like a.troop of hue,. gry wolves -but you did not kno.wl" • "Don't be hard upoia me, Jenny," he cried, hunably. "Of course I be - Have' her innocent; too. Why, she I wouldn't have harmed a ennary, that ' poor child. I'd itecut my tongue out rather than have. betrayed her. but "John," she sa14 in solemn voice, "I am pot a, learned woman, but can judge a human face. 1 ant old, and in my lifetime I have seen every Phase of diameter that goes to make up a world, rich and poor, high and low, innocent and guilty, and 1 tell you if an angel came down fronl Heeven and cried out trunmetetongue ed that that young girl was guilty of so horrible a. crime; 1 should not believe it. Do you hear .rue, John 111•••111*••••••••. • • • .•• CHAPTER XIX. . . . Penton had not made his daring:es- cape with Donnylin In his arms. an institnt too 'soop, for the" door* wee hurriedly. opened, • and MO. Ander, son, frith:owed by her husband • bear- ing the supper tray an his haids, t ame into 'the room. . : "Here's your• supper, deariet" she. exelatined briskly. "'Come, • child, fall to; • 1--" • '. ' • The sentencedieel away. in a gasp- . tit. '" .* • p y, : -soWas the little white bed. • e • .hrhere Was. the lonely 'young etietnee • • , "She's gone; Joliet" .81)0 cried. out • . aharld.Yealer. eyes roving around the little room in the greatest • die ut. hen she notieect that there was .a, .cold,ili.atight . blowing into the rooni,' ,and witlear s.hrill 'cry she pointed to the•oprin Wind --it stood wide open In the intense darknests and fierce snowstorm for tett ininutes ot• marc, hallooing to. his horse, but no an swering heigh greeted his ears to guide , him to the •spot, where this animal was hitiluel;••and• the Wind Was howling With mad itiry P•111.01?g the trees. "Prince Charlie), old feltow; wheee are you?" he cried. • But the anintal either could not Or would not hear his masterie voice. In great disgust,, though he cottid not help smiling With inWord (onuses - Merit at this- ludicrous plight, he turned back toward the beacon -light that shone from the cottage window. Making straight towstrd it through the drifte, he found himself on the north side of the cottage instead of the front door, As he came abresist trf the Window he leoked through it -looked, stared, and gasped -standing spell -bound, rooted to the spot. "lify Godl Ala Slatla or det I dream?" he eritd hoarsely, when. at length he found his Volta, With a bound he cleared the /Moe that separated him from the win,. doW, and preeeed his face close' to the froety pane. ' This Was the eight that mot ids etartled gaze. A huge, old-fashion- ed Wooden rOeker Woe draWnap hefOre an WWI iireplane 1 what op- . pared be tor. bedroom, It biK rocker, With hty face •"Slie Must have gone that way!" ,Eihe exelalined "Got tho . 1 t. quick! end come end look .1oz., her, 'She. must have .been seized with one • Of • those • delirious fits agate, ,arid Wandered out Into the. snow." •• • With alacrity the old sexton. hur- ried to -obey-her .comamods, and for • hour or mere tho Y plashed their seerch •vigorettsly, but they, aound no' trace; the• " • thely o.bliterated* by the banding. anew that • was falling and drifting IuriouslY about lo -the .fierce; bluster- ing gale,. .. -1 • • • alal go to the nearest police- eta - Mein, and I don't. doubt but they, will .sezett out -a equad Of *Searchers," said the old then hopefully,' "So dry your ettes, Jenny., Tho poor, little young creettine sha'n'a periah in the. snow. We'll scion her; never fora' .• . ' a Short iquice of. time he -had saddled, Dia.ea Topsy, and .was • gale leiPing away over the snow -blockade ed road,• all unchnieionsly. limns an errand ' meire:•fatefullse cruel . than '1110 time cantle eviienthe,.old :man fell upon. his face, -crying. out .. with hitt ex • pain: „ • • , ?,'Oh. Ilea:vent •why (IMO thou make me thri instruinent in huntitig.,. that. PoOrr, hapless girl down to her doom? Oh, God! • Oli, God!" I almost: Wish deeth had come to, inc ere I spoke those fatal Words.'" • ' • .• •*.lks it Was, on this, night in ques- tion, he rode hue!, amd arrived breathlessly at the police station; and by the Workinsit of a &met dea- thly, it hapPened that the chief had just come in aceompanied by India alargrave's lover, who was railing bitter at the utter fallen) of both . the police and the detectives to un- - earth the hid:ng place Of the.murder- • er of his beautiful sweetheert.p "whose spirit could never rest,"•. he declared soleinnly, -"until her murderer had been brought to justice." It rather piqued the chief, .too, 'that a, girl, scarcely more than Seventeen, and her you»ty husband, ehOuld be able to mbataille6fsothe:mprpoletetsealYiottihemost The sergeant who had bon listen- ing intently to the old sexton's story suddenly exeused himself ,and held a short, hurried coesultation with •his chief; and in a, Moment of time the secret wires .in the private Mike were workine, flashing the neWs to eiery p,olice station in the 'city that the hiding plate of 'Le Itoy Dierpont'e young bride had been brought to light at last, of her illness and re- covery, and tit her sudden , escape Which followed on the heels of it. Ievery Irian on each beat through- out the city was cautioned to be on the !Sharp lookout for the .fair fugt- tive. The eergeant at the desk, in listen-• ing to the sexton'ts story, had in- Stantly divined the. Startling • truth as he noted the deSerlption of the lovely young stranger found in the graveyard .on that identical' night on which beautiful, desperate Donny - lin, flying* for her life, neat' this par- ticular point, had se suecessfelly elu'ded theft , f Small and petite, rounded, I pied cheek and dimpled thin, 130auti- i Jul, curling, golden hair, and eyes ' darle blue and sparkling, veiled by • • long, curling, golden lashes. Ami then her dress -white satin, like grand ladies wore to balls - white kid gloVe on one hand, reach- ing quite up to the elbonn dainty white kid slippers, so steel Cinder- ella, With her trim little foot, might have Worn them. . yes, they knew -even before they hnd examined the lonely robe atut the pretty trifles that made up, that fatal hall room tostutne-that it was hapless Ilennylin. Of all plaees la the City aml around about it, they had never dreamed of searching for Iter here It: xi," - , the lovely young stranger, I • "Tell your It isbund to. put up my ; horse and sleigh -get them out of sight quickly -then come to me In little sitting room, Here is the .poor helpless creature; I have brought her back to you to eastlier Upon Your mercy. • It is life and death . . to her. Tell -me, in Heaven's name, can I depend upon you to save her?" "Yes," apswered Mrs. Anderson, . ' tremblieg with excitement, "You may trust me, sir," - Ten eninutes later the good woman . 1 had heard Bonnylhns story from be- - ginning ..to end team' Fenton's ' lips. . She had been told that he himself took Bonnylin hodiln from her house by stealth, that they raight not (Ma- to whet • it would lod. Of . had peen septu•ated front her frantic tered, to place the lost bride who. COM' who it was that they .had-shel- as you well enderstanti I didn't know •young husband by the cruelest of all . cruel fates, .in his arms again. Tee old sextee, to repair the -great error liehad done, was only tooglad ' • to da all inahis power to aid Denby- . lin to evade the searchers, for he be- lieved fully :in her innocence., as he . would have believed .in the Innocence , , econfident of nneting the heautiful. fu - kitty°. ' : i • .61...e.inhaonglleirefitt.lo.outve' • evening under cover of :darkness," staid Fenton, taking his leave after being repeatedly assueed. they would her from here this .0dottlr, Icitni tell; cruet the ful peril which they had unconscious - atone for the poor little' bride's piti- • She might elude theta in the intrase ' (.?igicieigyleite'edb',I'ltteghheen ' 111.uthset . IY brought mien - that golden head, with their very elves if need be .• They debated, °Meng themselves ea . . . .1 e lit all the . fiery • ordeal through Which she, had passed, llonnylina did, morning came, • • . to what ,had become of the hend- not 'regain consciousness, owing to some young- hub 11111 . : , ;the pciworful tierce:tie whichhad been . Had he desserted her 'in the hour of• . previously adirilinetered her. It was her greatest 'peril? It looked strange-. :certairen a 11101(3' t() Heaven that•she- ln tilos it; but these oho' knew Le 'diii net. , "••.-• • • e • • they. thenisetves to believe it.. - •• . leg his way by a circuitous .roete Roy Pier pone .welt • could not' • bring ' love • Penton:left the house on foot, rnak-, , - Ile Wee cif the kind Of men' who back to the city. a , would defend ,the woma to the death. • .• • • '• * • As he Crossed the threshold of his . n.. .. • bathelor -mart-meets, Le Roy Pter- This abet -tied to be generally accept- . Pont -en hite. omit haggard -sprung to ed. as the solution of the. Om) rays- ••. . . Meet hima tery: ' .. . ..• . ..• • You have been out all night, Fen- .. Ween tier ofticers had AI it doun the.. ton!" • he 'cried; in a • husky voice - horse' 'remit Midetthe fugilives,... that, •:of repressed..excitement: • alLeve yipe • ' one of the bullete. must have moetale found any trace of nlY wife,' oreeor . • ly- wounded the young hueband 'and.'• . aa -e. In. ,G'od's name ,don't.keep me. ' that by, superhuman effort the poor -• in ••suspense, - Fentent • Y.ou• ictior-... de - died, there; and mad with frenzy, . what I . would atty.)" .. .: . nark ,eyeit • girl had dragged hinainte the brush- • . Wood. oilt. of their reach; that he had • How eagerly ,his , and ee.achingethe graveyard, had fall-; i en down there in a dead feat. . be cone. • -..o• -- .- • lionnylin had fled on in the .clarkness, • . taio . , , .tinud) The 'next morning whole columns ot i .. the daily . 'pros teemed ..tvith the ale., e.. . • ceet-a.:e• tart/Me ' . , . , • , • F. : Haw o frocipeary .too salt to; fry'• .. Women read it with, bated- breath...Without preetourtprePtiration. INA tbe Antl. paling chokes but in spite of ohne% lit tepid wetter • and letathetn . • atl, ,how theywept for beautiful, hope stand on the bin* of the i•ange to soak . • less lioneylin!•••• . a . . . .. .. #* "The ill-fated bride; who 'craze boa' Drain - ; , ... • out itte Olt, not to boil; for About hail ' • jealousy. more bitter to b.ear than et en ndeebetlyeen toWels •V • .1 • • ' • . • - .- • atM 1.Y n it ha Iiinder; the tortetres of: death, hod. taken tile . . • talent a whole ham is to be baked Or lite of •her cruel foe,". for• 'se the 'de- '.• ;speeches aseerted.a.. • . ••• they'll take her, Jenny; nothing, Can save her now." • ' •Ali night long the good, motherly 1 . # • woman who' had grown to tove Bon - vibes sweet,. winsome face,' with all a nother's tenderness and' coronae- sionate yearning., .. paced. the floor weepin'g is though her heart would brealc, refusing to be comfoeted. All niglkt long the:pitiless search 'went on: . • 'When early dawn- broke they • felt belied, let it etand:overnigbt covered: Thri terrible deed. Must be sternly 1041.01d 7lItt'r• • . 112q;witilo the;v eon- .1 damned, • they wept pitiful " tears of • sympat hy • for her. - " .Ahoutnoon there wits .ft great coin- • motlon on the street; mares Were tint, end the Whole city was thrilled • 6 the core es they reed the Martin; •Whicit et-a:tt as foliows: "Fotaidt le) Beautiful Fugitive .Treeked Down tit .Last! - Found in - a 'Sleigh Near the City Limits CIIArTHIrt, XX, The extras whirh flooded the 'city were ot eteirtloig intertst ta Men, woman:- arid -children,: and were eag- erly botight •up 1115 LS colleeemenee. As they road on, t troy el , s.. o erect that. the • headline. of Vire extras • wes 'slightly' deceptive. BeautifulEmmy- - lin had bon discovered in a sleigh, lint the vigilant tolice had hot suce, ceeden in maleng an arrest. • It had happened itethis While • the search was at its height, a horse attd sleigh dotted past the searchers, who wore op feet, a hey; Raw by the feeble light of thlr lanterneattitt the sleigh eoel allied two perstrast-•.a man heavity muffled to the rh:n., Support- . ing the figure of a. welnan in -Ida.. .itruts. In the •nervousness of passing them, and owing to the slielit shying of his .spirited .horse,- the eoverine which - he was holding aineht golden heed wee wrenched from itis Past!, aeti fell to her shoulaers; :and .in •tlett instant her face •was' turned toward them, There was it loud ery. Half it dozen or more recognized her instantly, . One of them sprang,to the horse's head, and the rest toward the ve- hide, crying out: • • "Look! There, Is Inerpont's bridel" Grasping tits reins with his left hand; and olden the whip with his • right, Fenton Ireottelet it ("Men with stunning force ova r the h. arl and shoulders of the foremost men. "Iiiteki" he shouted hoarsely; "ev- ery man of you! Attempt to • block my way or touch that horse at your peril l" fly 'a sudden Manipulation of the reins, the 'iron -gray horse whoa led around in it flash, and in a. ti.ire had turned !seek upon the road it heel so lately traversed, and covered with tonna vanished like a meteor ill the intense dart n 'se which preceded the breaking of the caely wit.ter mon. Fenton was quite rklit it the Le - lief that they had not reecis.trized him er his team, end the bionket which he had thrown over his IlO2'S0 AS he 'sal the :Waving lighte in the road ahead; had performed the Emmet ser- viee foe the animal. "I'm afraid it's to up with as now, muttered Fenton, pityin when, he otopted to take breath met wrap his coat about the bare, golden head of the still uncoriscioue girl. "What. ip Lletven'ti game tp to bo. • f 1 Our Glasses satisfy because they are right.. Spectacle fitting{ Is no 'fusee week;wIth We are expertl in remedying urn ere deg,. feels. We drattrantee Sells - faction. • .C•1411 .14 •. A. 3. clutcop, Salentine jeweler and • Oistieissim ; • .clawroz4, ONT. • • -• A Delight To the Eyes • Our photographs whether of the simple " mituetttre" style or the flite picture pewees are alwayS n de- light to the eyee. People con- stantly stop to sce the beautiful 'end interesting pictured laces bore I displayed. 11011r8 PHOTO STUDIO.