Nebraska Newspapers

    WEEKLY3ERALD: PLAIT WiUTK. iV-SRA-SKA J A N UTirYTiOUT
AVENGED AT LAST;
Or, a World-Wide Chase.
A STORY OF RETRIDUTION.
HY "VVAUASM."
Icoi'viuonT. I8.t.)
Tho tdippory villain had onco moro
gained his ends, and rro tho sun set
on tho following day ho was .speeding
northward, carrying with him an
eignment of tho proceeds of the wholo
or Mrs. I irony's recently acquired wealth
to himself.
IIo did not go to Havre, Lowcvrr, for
tbrce days later he was seeking for
Eu gene in tho mo lorn IJibylon.
That young man was flitting around
tio irrcat city in a strangely eccentric
manner and it was sever:: 1 day:; beforo
his father found him. When ho did at
length discover him ho hoard with
pleusuro that Mr. Illodgcr had just re
ceived a letter from JJourr.emoulh, slat
ing that Mrs. Dolaro and Armida would
bo in London on tho day following.
"Truly, things aro working into my
hands in a lucky manner." ho thought,
"but I must not let Una girl and her
mother seo mo. Eugeno can work bot
t(y without my presence being i3ade
On tho journey to London ho had
stopped over at Paris for a few hours
and in that short space of thno tho
wholo of Mm Ilregy's fortuno was
transferred to tho namo Julius Emer
ick. This part of his schemo accom
plished, ho was oagcr to perfect hi3
plans.
Ho only needed to keep tho simple
woman at Nice from suspecting his
movements for a few weeks longer, and
onco moro ho would bo in possession of
sufficient wealth to keep him in luxury
during tho remainder of his natural
life, to enjoy which ho would reiiro to
somo comfortable place on tho Conti
nent. j CHAPTER XVIII.
Ilad tho designing Emerick known
what had transpired in tho Argentino
Republic during tho tioio 6inco lie left
thero his easy, happy feeling would
havo been changed loonoof bitter chag
rin. Tho plucky Englishman whom wo
left lying in tho bottom of a bullock
cart, a few months before, had not yet
becomo food for tho fishes.
During tho wholo of tho day on which
the meeting for tho duel took placo ho
lay in tho bottom of tho cart covered
with sacks. Twice ho was permitted a
littlo fresh air and twico the gags wero
takon from his mouth in order that ho
might drink a littlo filthy water which
was given to him by the peons who had
charge of him. On theso occasions be
'was too weak to shout and had ho
shouted his voice would havo spent
itself unheard, for he was too far from
any living soul (except his captors) to
secure help.
When the shades of night fell ho was
conscious that the stopping placo for
res had been reached, lie knew that
ic bullocks were being taken from the
Lrt, for ho recognized tho cries of tho
fens as t,hoy urged the tired beasts to
move. Then they took tho gags from
bis mouth and spoke to him in their
jargon which ho did not understand, and
as they could not speak English they
had to resort to dumb motions to make
each other understand. Percy mado a
motion to the effect that ho wanted
drink and they passed a black hottlo to
blm.' It contained a vibveheap . liquor
which tho natives distill themselves,
and a3 it touched his lips he made such
a wry faco that the two peons could
hardly control themselves for laugh
ter. After enjoying his discomCturo
for a few moments they mercifully re
lented and gave him somo water to
drink, after which they dragged him,
still bound, from the cart and laid him
on tho ground.
They then proceeded to prepare their
camp for the night Lighting a fire,
' they spread out some coarse blankets to
lie upon. As soon as tho fire had burnt
up they took a long strip of beef from
their supplies and cut off pieces in the
manner common in thatcountry (where
a piece of beef is cut up when required
in much the same way that Europe
ans or Americans might cut up a loaf of
bread) and toasted It over the fire.
This, together with some coarse bread
washed down with the vile liquor which
they carried, constituted supper. A
supper w hich Percy's delicate 6tomach
was not in a very fit state to receive.
Still he felt compelled to eat to keep
up his strength, so did his best to swal
low the food they gave him, moistening
it. with some very brackish water,
tAhich was the best that could be
found.
Soon after eating Percy fell into a
Bleep, and so sound was it that his
keepers, who had intended to watch him
in turn during the night, resolved to
eitsep aiso, trusting cnat cneir capnve
would be perfectly safe as he was still
tightly bound about the legs.
After taking their fill of food and
Liquor thoy made fast Farcy's handa
without awakening him, and laid down
to rest themselves.
The next three days were only a rep
etition of the first, and Percy nefer had
a slgbt of the country which they were
passing through until nightfalL
On the fourth day they came to their
destination. The cart had stopped, and,
as Percy still lay In the bottom bound
hand and foot, his nostrils were offend
ed with the vilest of stenches.
From this he at once thought he mast
be near to a corralL. and when the hol
lowing of the angry beasts confined
therein reached his ears he knew that
his surmise were correct
Pretty soon h heard a medley et
voices, and he was immediately taken
from the cart and carried into one of the
three mod huts, which appeared to be
tha abiding place that hU captors had
daabynated for him. Now, for the first
tlaae la five days, his bonds were ra
euTd, though bis captors still kept a
oarefol watch : aver him. Thia. hew-
Tev.ws aulta. uaaa cats try. for had
lay Ut hlaa with Mm 4ar wt eaea
tea aaabl a ave eaoa9L R wa tea
badly cr.unpcd after his long, rougn riae
in tho cart U 1113 ko a move, and it would
tako many hours of rest to loosen his
limbs.
Never was a rest moro welcome to
him, and, notwithstanding that ho lay
in a dirty, misarablo hovel, surrounded
with filth and squalor in its worst form,
ho enjoyed hissleep as well as though h'j
had been in his comfortable room in
Now York.
lie was carefully watched through tho
night arid no chanco was given for hirn
to escape in tho event of hi s awakening.
His watchers v.ero tho vilest-looking
men it would bo possibio to meet even
in SSoulh America, and a look at them
would have been suilicier.t to drive
Bleep from most people. Still Percy had
not heeded them, but slept as soundly
as a mail dog-tired could sleep. It was
a rude awakening for him, however, for
tho early morning brotightall tho hands
on tho f.irm who could sparo tho time to
tako a peep at him. Hut ho heeded
them not an! longed for but ono tiling,
and that was somo ono to np;-ak to in
English. Vet no ono came. At last a
burly Hollander, who had churgo of iho
farm (or estancia as it is called in tho
language of that country), came in.
lio understood English tolerably
well, ami asked Percy in tho tongue
which he so longed to hear if ho
i wanted any thing to eat. Percy told
! him ho was nearly famished, and tho
j Dutchman ordered his wants attended
to. These few words wero all that
Porcy heard spoken in English that
day, and when tho next camo ho was
too sick to listen to any. His head
ached and his senses swam. IIo felt
as though somo groat and sovcro illness
was coming upon him. as, indeed, it
was. Tho privation had been too much
for him, and to that, along with his
unnatural surroundings of accumulated
filth, ho finally succumbed. Before
another day dawned ho v as in a de
lirious fever, and all than his captors
could hear him cry was: "Armidal
Armida!"
For day3 did . ho lio in this terrible
pato, attended only by a Gaucho, who
profes.sed a knowledgo of medicine, and
who was tho person always called upon
to administer to tho sick whenever
such wero found about tho placo.
Percy possessed a strong constitution,
and, fortunately, pulled through, with
tho assistance of tho Gaucho doctor.
Hut ho was a sad wreck of hi3 former
self haggard in appearance and about
half his normal weight. Certainly,
none of his friends would have ftnown
him. It was several weeks after he
passed tho critical stage of his fever
before ho was ablo to walk about, and
then his guardians would not permit
him to stroll far beyond the door.
A rudo bench had been constructed
just outside the hut, upon which he
would sit for hours at a stretch, ponder
ing over tho exciting adventures he
was passing through and wondering
how it was all going to end. lie did
not know whero he was and could not
form tho slightest idea. Prom the num
ber of littlo islands which lay in the
river ho saw running through the val
ley about a mile away he judged it must
ba Rio do la Plata, or River Plate a3 it
is better known to English 6peaking
people. Still, ho could form no defin
ite opinion, but thought that in case ho
was fortunate enough to make his es
cape it would probably provide the
means of carrying him back to Buenos
Ayres. Thero was not an hour during
which a littlo steamer or craft of some
kind did not pass.
Thus did ha spend many a weary
hour until his strength began to return,
and he commenced to display more en
ergy in looking for a means of escape.
But before ho could find one a cloud
was thrown over his prospects by tho
appearance of the tall Spaniard who
had acted as Emerick's second at the
duel.
It was early in the afternoon when
that unwelcome visitor arrived and he
at once came to Percy. In a mocking
lone he asked after the health of Mr.
Iluntlcy, and 6aid that ho regretted to
hear that he bad been ilL To all his in
quiries and remarks Percy paid but lit
tle attention and made but brief replies.
After awhile tho Spaniard asked
Percy what had become of the suit of
clothes he wore when he came north,
and to this question Percy replied:
"These boasts whom you placed in
charge of mo took them and with them
they took all the money and valuables I
possess."
"Ah, yes, that is so," said the Span
iard. "Wo needed that 6uit to put on
another deal Englishman who died a
few miles below San Pedro a short time
since. According to my contract with
your estimable friend, Mr. Emerick,
you were to have floated down that
river, but I humanely decided to spare
your life, and have resolved to make
use of you on this farm. You will, no
doubt, make yourself handy when you
recover, and these handsome gentlemen
by whom you are surrounded will take
care that you do not escape."
"I would almost rather have floated
oat to 6ea. down that river, than ha
compelled to make my home among
such a 6et of evil-looking villains as
there are here. Even my life will
never be eafe in their hands." said
Percy.
"Nevar fear, they will net hurt you
as long as you behave yourself. " re
sponded the Spaniard.
"To judge from their looks and ac
tions I should imagine they would as
W A IWCKUS TOM KB ASU iHM
aoon SticU one or tneir long, gioaming
knives into mo as they wculd into a bul
lock." said Percy. '
"Oh. no; not one of them dare lay a
band on you unless you attempt to es
cape, without my orders," was the reply
"Then you propso to force mo to
spend the rest of my natural life on this
farm umorg theso blood-curdling sur
roundings?" "Unless you will comply with condi
tions that I will name. I do most
certainly." answered the Spaniard.
"And what aro your conditions?"
asked Percy.
"Pew and simple," was tho reply
"Get your friends to pay rne a ranso.n
of ten thousand American dollars and
you are free tho day they pay it. But
should they make iho least attempt to
effect your rescue I will kill you with
my own hands, if uo;-d bo, to prevent
If my friends were asked to pay the
itonnv thev would refuse, l.n ivi "' that
by a determine 1 elTort hoy could 10
loavo me without doing so. As such an
etTu 1 would only cost mo rny lile. I
shall not ask them to tako other means
to effect my ('olivary."
"In a few weeks you may change your
mind, so I will give you a liltie time to
think it over In tho meantime you
will remain hero and do what"ver Mr
Van Xepp deems necessary and proper
If you refuse him it will bo so much
the worse for you." Theso wero the
last words tho Spaniard ut'-ored as ho
rode away.
Shortly afterwards Percy was well
and strong again. He did notdevote his
time to uselossly bowailing his fate,
but went to work at whatever tho
Dutchman told him to do and en
deavored to do his utmost to pler.EO. IIo
had an object in carrying out this courso
of action and after learning a few words
of the Mongrel-Spanish spoken by tho
hands around tho placo ho grew inti
mate with them us far as his knowledgo
of tho language would permit. Ho was
thus better capable of entering into
their work and sport with a vim and
earnestness which made him lots of
friends among them. Whilo it might
have taken him years to havo learnod
to ride a horse with any thing approach
ing tho ease that a Gaucho did it, ho
soon becamo very expert and in brief
moments, when his thoughts of anxious
friends left him, ho would really some
what enjoy himself.
It was potting to bo about time for
the tall Spaniard to put in an appear
ance again when Van Nepp also seemed
to bo growing friendly to him. In ono
brief week this friendship had improved
and grown to such a degreo that bo
would take Percy with him very of ton
when ho drove to the head station,
about ten miles further north. It was
on ono of those occasions that Percy
found a welcome opportunity to effect
an escape. They wero driving homo at
dusk when, without a warning sign of
any kind, ono of the wheels camo off
their vehicle and threw tho riders to
the ground. Percy turned a summer
sault and fell on his shoulders, sustain
ing no further injury than a rough shak
ing, but his companion was not so
fortunate, for be fell on his side and, in
falling, broke his arm.
Hero was what would have under or
dinary circumstances seemed liko an
unfortunate occurrence. but Percy
hailed it with delight. IIo was not
pleased to see the praying old Dutch
man in trouble, but he at once saw a
means of escape. lie was dressed in
tho garb of a native, but that mado no
difference, and once on a river steamer
he would be safe. lie set tho broken
arm of tho Dutchman as best ho could
with his limited knowledgo of surgery
and then presumably turned his atten
tion to the repair of the wagon. Find
ing that tho wheel could not bo fastened
on without tho assistance of a black
smith, as the littlo pin from the axlo
was lost, Percy proposed that ho should
rido back to the head station and bring
the smith from there. To this, tho
Dutchman, anxious to got homo, con
sented, and in a few minutes Percy was
riding as fast as his horso could carry
him to freedom.
How tho Dutchman spent tho night
Lovel never knew; for himself, ho spent
most of it in the saddle.
In the morning he reached a small
town on the banks of tho river, whore
he sold the horse for an insignificant
sum, and .with it he boarded a river
steamer and took tho cheapest passage
he could purchase down to Buenos
Ayres. All this time Percy was full of
hope that the villain who had caused
his abduction would still be there, and
be had made up his mind to make short
work of bringing him to justice.
It would be diGicult to describe Per
cy's feelings when he once more came
in sight of the blue and white porcelain
domes of Buenos Ayres. He fondly im
agined that in a few hours he would be
able to exchange the rags which covered
his body for clothing which would bet
ter become bis handsome form.
He walked boldly up to the hotel
where be had stayed a few months be
fore and introduced himself as the miss
ing Mr. Huntly. In less time than is
takes to record it be was being hustled
Into the street, and as he passed a
mirror in the hall-way he at once be
came awaro of the reason which pre
vented him from beinjr recognized. He
could not h'mself believe that the ob
ject of which he caught a momentary
glance w:e Percy Lovel. His faco was
brown and dirty-looking, his uncut hair
hung in a disheveled state over his
shoulders, and bis tin trimmed beard
helped to make him a most pitiable ob
ject such as none would recognize as the
genial Englishman whose body was sup
posed to have been taken from the river
weeks before. When h r ached the
street he wandered aimlessly about and
finally decided to go to the American
consulate. 'I hero he introduced him
self, but met with an even worse recep
tion tbaa he experienced at the hotel.
The consul was not to be seen, and tha
young men in charjre of tha oSoe di
-othiiur but snear and attempt ta still
vinoed that he had seen her beSora. ' A
ha pasd bar ha at once knew taa atka
was ftae woe a a whom ha had seam
leaving tha cBert kali with EataeLek
a-few-atghU aftar he first raaad
Bquo Ayte.
B did ao laaaAiaaaly hay
a. . twwU T &mvA aaa .-taUsost .
Tho woman appearod awaro that she
was -being followed, and when Percy
cautiously approached to speak she
6 top pod .suddenly and faced him. Her
attitude was ono of defense, but Percy's
first words being spoken in clear En
glish, the felt reassured and kindly
asked him whatsho could do for him.
"I am searching for Mr. Emerick." ho
replied. "Can you toll me any tLing of
him?"
"Mr. Ernerlckl" sho sail, in as
tonished tones. "Why, what havo you
to do w ith h.m?"
Under tho shadow of a doorway they
drew together, and Percy gave a lnirrle J
outline of his recent ail ventures, wind
ing up by aski ig lor if sho could holp
him in any way.
I can and I will," was tho reply. "I
have some influential friends hero who
will soon restore you to your righ'.s.
Come to me at this ad ire -.3 to-morrow,
and 1 will s."o that a gentleman who can
render you assistance is there to meet
you."
As she spoke she drew a card from
her pocket. oi one side of which Percy
read tl'O wor.ls "B die Lorimer," an l oa
th other her addros-.. written in leal
pencil.
IV: rev spent that night in a miserable
lodging lions'; that w. s scarcely better
than the mud hut which had been his
shelter during tlio cold night on the
Pampas; but he did not sleep much, his
anxiety being too great, and w :y out on
the streets again in the early
anxiously awaiting the hoar wh
could meet, Belle Lo rimer.
! .
! cnAinr.r: xix.
j On tho night when B lb) Lorimer was
! overtaken b: Porcy Lovel she was 0:1
tho way to perform hor nightly duties at
tho theater and as so-jh as she reached
her dressing-room sho ;: t down and
penned a hasty noto which sho folded
in a swoet-st'ontod envelop-) an I gave to
, a boy who stood waiting. "Hun with
this to tho Foreign Club, au I if tho
gentleman to whom it is adlrossed ii
I not thoro wait until ho comas if you
havo to wait till midnight. Anyhow,
deliver it to him with yoarown hand?.
Tho noto was a Idresso I t "Colonel
Brandon" and it read as fellows:
"Several years ago I was on tho full
tldo of prosperity in London an 1 half
tho society men of that city bent tho
kneo to mo. At that time you came and
asked mo to assist yon out of a financial
dilemma. I did so and you promised to
return tho favor whenever tho oppor
tunity presented itself. I noticed your
namo on tho recent list of distinguished
arrivals in this city and now havo a
small favor to ask. Please call at my
rooms to-morrow at eleven o'clock a. m.
and hear it. Bi-.li.j-: Lor.mrci:."
The boy delivered tho nolo within an
hour and at tho appointed limo next
day the Colonel, who was a man of his
word, presented himself at tho somo-
what humble apartments of tho actress.
She lost no time, but immediately en
tered into the purpose of tho interview,
giving him a brief history of tho occur
rences of the past few months, so far as
Mr. Emerick Percy, and herself wero
concerned. She proceeded: "All that I
have to ask you is that you will do yonr
utmost to secure this gentleman's iden
tity at the American Consulate and at
tho hotel. That accomplished I shall
consider your obligation towards mo en
tirely cancelled."
"So far as I am able, I will help 3-ou
in every way." responded tho officer.
They had reached this point in tho con
versation when Percy was announced.
IIo was still a pitiable-looking object,
bi't his countryman easily discovered
that ho was a gentleman an.l offered
him every assistance. It was arranged
that Percy should go to the Colonel's
room and, after having a bath and his
toilet attenlcd to, don a suit of tho
Colonel's clothes, after which the wor
thy oilice, proposed to exert his influ
ence among tho city arid diplomatic
magnates to procure for Percy his bag
gage and personal effects, which had
been left at tho hotel, as well as his bal
ance in the River Plato Bank.
Bafore Percy loit with Colonel Bran
don. Belle Lorimer drew him aside and
asked in earnest tones: "What is tho
secret of Mr. Emerick's life? I am suro
there is ono. Can you aid mo to dis
cover what it Is?"
"I have my own supposition," an
swered Percy, "but it may be wide of
the mark."
"Whatever your supposition is, follow
it up to the last thread. The man is as
bad as mortal man can bo. His very touch
would befoul a sewer-rat, and there is
no crimo which he could not commit
and smile over. I am convinced that
there is a dreadful secret in his life and
shall rejoice if tho day ever arrives
when it can be unearthed. In a few
weeks I leave here for London, and
should you ever have a communication
to make to me concerning that smooth
tongued despoiler of a woman's virtue,
you can add ress me at Marti ueau's Dra
matic Agency." Then drawing from her
pocket a fancy little purse she whis
pered to Percy: "I have somehow formed
the opinion that Emerick was not his
real name, but the only clew which I
havo to any other is contained in this
little package." Here she drew some
thing carefully wrapped in tissue paper
from her purse and banded it to Percy.
"Do not examine it now," she said.
"Look at it some other time." Percy
slipped it into his pocket In a few
minutes he left the house and stepped
Into a cain" with the Colon eL
About two hours later one would not
have recognized In the Mr. Huntly,
who walked toward the custom-house
building, the dirty, ragged-looking
tramp who was so rudely thrust from
the hoNl. The change of dress, to
gether with a neatly-trimmed beard,
made all the difference in the world,
and Percy Lovel wts once more Mr.
Huntly. Under these conditions it
was not difficult for Percy to make
himself known, and with the asalstance
of his newly-found friend. Col ono
Brandon, ba was soon la potseaslon of
his awa clothing, and was able 4ca
more to Jingle the ntmbla ana aaraary
dollar la It is poe'i.
Evarybody was f aearaa surprised,
fast ne one eaaaad saUctantiy iaaraat- 1
d la him ta lemaad m on plate htstary
e kia adreat. B-aeaaa Art far
.
morn r ;
" , In! :
pests which so often defeat the ends of
justico by their ill-timed "Interviews. "
Consequently Percy left the city with
out a word Ix-lng sent to tho outer
world to announro his reappearanco In
tho land of tho living. It was a fortun
ate thing that such was tho case, for it
gave him tho chanco to follow up the
trail with greater cortaint of overtak
ing tho nun for whom be was search
ing. He lost no time preparing to shake tho
dust of Buenos Arres from olf his feet,
and in a f"W da vs ho was bound for New
York over precisoly tho same roulo
w hich the object of bis pursui t had taken
a few months beforo.
In an insido vest pocket of his traveling
suit ho h'ad placed the littlo package
vhich Hello Lorimer had given him, but
It never occurred to him 10 examino it.
There it lay and did not seo daylight
during the wholo of tho vovai.
Upon arriving at Now York he pro
ceeded at once to the house in (Jr :morcy
Park, but was surprised, on applving
for admission, to iind that his friends
were no longer living thero. Ho in
quired whither they had (rone and was
told that they had left for Europe.
Again ho found himself aimlessly
walking the streets of a great city, but
Miis time h" wa ; hotter prepared fur un
emergency ana walked o-;
opportunity for thought
!y to get an
and not from
1 mmm
"HO NOT KXAMtXK IT NOW LOOK A'C IT
SOJIIO OTHEIt TIME."
compulsion. After btrolling nearly a
mile, in a f low and dejected manner, ho
took a car down-town, and visited Em
erick & Company's office on Pearl street
What lio might havo done, had Mr.
Emerick been thero, we will not presume
to guess, but on reaching tho floor upon
which tho o!7!co was formerly located
ho walked to tho glass door and noticed
that another name was painted upon it-
Inquiry from ihi janitor elicited the in
formation that,
Co. was no Ion:'
was now utter
baOed. lie l:n
could form no
iho firm of Emerick fc
er lh existence. Percy
!y at his wits' end ami
ew not how to move and
definite plan of action.
Every thing seemed to bo working
against him. Tho Delaros and Mr.
Wilcox (it must bo remembered ho
knew nothing of his old friend's death)
'.n Europe; Emerick, he knew not where;
nimself wandering alone in New York;
what should ho do? lie retraced his
steps up-iown, engaged rooms at a hotel
nd sat down to consider.
"What is the use of going to Europe?"
he thought. "I might never fi.id them;
and yet 1 can not stay hero alone." Why
ho did tut at once repair to Mr. Wil
cox's lawyers he could never afterwards
cxi.dain, but ho did not do so. After
many hours of consideration he resolved
to tako tho lirst steamer to Europe.
It a few days ho was passing Sandy
Hook, and a week later he was
anxiously expecting to sue tho L'astnet
Light.
During the voyage ho had not
mingled much with the company on
board. He wus too much enwrapped in
his own thoughts to care to investigate
those of others. So ho kept himself aloof.
Ono day when in mid-Atlantic ho be
thought him of the little package which
Belle Lorimer had given him and re
solved to pen it. Retiring to his state
room ami taking from his valise the
vest, in tno pocket of which ho had
placed the package, ho drew out what
ho would havo valued as a precious
treasure had ho known what it was.
Carefully unwrapping it, he found that it
contained an insignificant Portuguese
silver coin with a small hole bored
through it. Tho small width of 6ilver
between the holo and the edge ot tho
coin had worn away, indicating that
tho coin had doubtless fallen from
whatever it had originally suspended
from probably Mr. Emerick's watch
chain. Inclosed with tho coin was a
Uttle note, which read: "Examine the
edge of this coin all round."
Percy did so, and noticed that in one
part tbe milling had been filed or
ground flat, and on the smooth edge
was a monogram executed in so minute
a manner that without a microscope
it would be impossible to distinguish
tho letters.
Not having a microscope in his pos
session Lovel borrowed one from an
officer of the ship and again retired to
his state-room to further examine the
curiosity. Applying the microscope, he
gazed intently for a moment and, drop
ping tbe instrument, said to himself:
"I thought there was no mistake.
Those are his initials 'L. V.' and
Bella Lorimer was right. This sup
posed Mr. Emerick does possess a secret,
but it fti not his alone. There is at least
una othAr who shares the knowledge of
it, and it shall not be long DtiTore it be
comes public property. I must and wiL
find tbe villain yet."
These and similar thoughts crowded
Percy's brain as they sailed through
the heavy mist hanging over the Mer
sey to tho Liverpool docks. . Resting in
the great sea-port but a few hours, ha
went direct to London. One might have
supposed that he would have sought tha
home of his childhood; but that had
long lost all charm for him. II had
but one present pnrpoae to fulfill; aad
la Importance it seeniea to hisn para
saonnt to all others.
He srrived in Londan a boo two days
after Mr. Emerick; yet although at
Unit the war nst much bmn tbaa
are's Isnjrth apart, tfeay arr ea
froatcd see aftbar la tha orawiad
stasaas of baasaa Ufa vfcteh aasyad f
ad dava tha sitra stsaata.
' P i. I
It 7 1
i VMS'
v-VV v.
v ' it 1 . r 1
to "London about tho tamo ti ma.
Eugeno Bregy lost no time in calllni
on tb-m, and they expressed much da.
light at seeing him; whilo he, on hi,
part, was overjoyed beyond measura
and seemed ko pleased that he acted al
most foolishly. Ho at onco made him
self exceedingly familiar and InsisUnl
on accompanying tho ladies every where
they wont.
Finding that ho would havo no oppor
tunity of speukiug to Armida in private
whilo in tho busy, noiu city, amid the
incessant din of tiusiu" ;t, phvsMiro
seckers and callers, Eugene invited her
to tako a trip with him as far as Kich
mond. This beautiful spot was looking It
best. In iriin English fa.!. 10:1 they
1 went to tho "Star au llJart t," the most
I fash ionahl hot 1 In th'i 1 .( , an 1 par-
took of t",i vrv-'d in the conventional
I manner, with coll meat i, chickens,
I salad., w.: t ;i cresses. t-t.
! Afl rwaivls ihev walked th hill to
; tho park, u::.l there, wliil) .sitting on
I thogra;- In a plae.'i v.hero tin y could
' o'jlain a Un i view of lhate.viui.it bit
of valley scenery, they com me need to
talk.
Armida soeni"d as though sao could
not tako her eyes from the si ;lit whiclk
lay beforo her. It wa-i not ru -jg';,l or
rouiautic, sur!i a v Armida h.ul known in.
her own conn try it wa purely English
a grassy valley along which flowed
tho '1 li;ini3, hemin.-d in by slopin g hill
sides covered witu park-i and ancient
forests. Slio thoug'it it v.ai tho most
pleasing and entrancing sight sh' had
ever b.'hel.l. As f.i.r as thr eye fouli
reach tho waters of the '1 hame , could
bo seen win. ling through the valley
liko a silver 1 ihhon. On the sil".s of tho
qu.et river the bill. sides were covered
with luxuriant folia ;(T of tho brightest
hues, and tho surface of tho river was
flecked with littlo pleasure craft, whoso
gay-ccylored canopies a ided to tie; bright
ness, if not the grandeur, of the scene.
No.v and then a few bars of a sprightly
catch or glee would bo wafted upon tho
gentle I.ree.e from tho pleasure-seekers
on the water below. Eageno allowed
Arcnida to revel in the exceptional
beamy of the see no for a time and then
approached gently tho subject nearest
his heart. Iledi-l it cl urnsily enough, but
with tho uLinojfc confide.no that ho
would bo successful in his suit.
"Miss Del aro," ho said, hesitatingly,
"I have brought you hero to tell you
something. "
Armida looked at him quizzingly, and
said: "It must b something of a very
important natur:? if you found it neces
sary to bring mo all tho way hero for
tho purpose of telling mo."
"Yes, it is. indeed. I wanted to telL
you that I love you," ho said.
Theso were probably tho very las
words whi-:h Armida would have ex
pected to l.ear from his lips, and all at
onco she n -cognized that she had acted
unwisely. In tho next few seconds sho
accused herself of numberless unwise
actions to which sho had never given
thought before. Sho blamed herself for
leading this young man on to such an
extent and in a moment bit terly repent
ed that she had not acted vith more
discretion. AW these thoughts were
chasing each other with frightful rapid
ity through her mind, and she was try
ing to formulate a reply when Eugeno
spoke again:
"May I ever hopo fur some return of
my passion?" he asked. Still Armida
rotild riot answer, though she knew that
Eugene would in a few seconds misin
terpret her meaning for a silent consent
if she did not speak.
At last-, -with an effort, she gathered
her senses and replied: Eug.-ne, you
havo ma.ie a great mistake; such a
thought has nover entered my head. I
admire j'l-u. ret pect you, but love you
on nover. "
"Then yoar actions havo belied you,"
said Eugene, rudely.
"If they havo it has been contrary to
mv intentions," replied the beautiful
girl. "I wo;:Id not for the world have
misled you."
"That is a pretty speesii to make
now," sail Eugone. "You ought to
havo thought of that In the by-gone
months and not havo deluded no," bo
continued in a pas- ionato manner, and
told her how she had led him, by her
kind and sympathetic actions, to think
she must havo somo greater regard than
friendship for him, and assumed the ln
luteA air of una whi bjt.d beta creatlr
wronged. But it mado no chango in,
Armida; she admitted tho truth of his
assertions, but insisted that it could
not change her sentiments.
Eugeno pleaded, but his strenuous ef
forts wero of no avail, and it vas with
a heavy heart and a jealous mind that
he went back to town. That night as
Armida was tearfully relating the oc
currences of the evening to her mother.
Eugeno and his father were closeted
together in another part of the city.
"I am convinced it is nothing but my
poverty which keeps that girl from
loving roe; she is as proud as an old
Spanish countess, but I will humble
her yet. You can count on me to lend all
the assistance you require in securing
that fortune which lies waiting for an
owner, ani the sooner we coramenca
the bettor.'' So spake Eugeno.
Persuasion had failed to destroy tha
young inaif'i morals, but the green
eyed monster had gained an easy
victory over bis good intentions.
"iow oa aro talking sense, my bor.
it in: Lkucr Habit. Positively Curst
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