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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter, by
+Lawrence L. Lynch
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter
+
+
+Author: Lawrence L. Lynch
+
+
+
+Release Date: August 29, 2008  [eBook #26482]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S
+DAUGHTER***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Sankar Viswanathan, Suzanne Shell, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 26482-h.htm or 26482-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/4/8/26482/26482-h/26482-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/4/8/26482/26482-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+The Great Detective Story.
+
+MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER.
+
+by
+
+LAWRENCE L. LYNCH,
+
+(Of the Secret Service.)
+
+Author of "Shadowed by Three," "The Diamond Coterie,"
+"Out of a Labyrinth," etc., etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say
+it"--page 219.]
+
+
+
+Chicago:
+Alex. T. Loyd & Co.
+1888.
+
+Copyright, 1883,
+Donnelley, Loyd & Co.,
+Chicago.
+
+Copyright, 1883,
+Alex. T. Loyd & Co.,
+Chicago.
+
+Copyright, 1884,
+Alex. T. Loyd & Co.,
+Chicago.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER                                                  PAGE
+
+I.        MAN PROPOSES                                    9
+II.       THE OLD TREE'S REVELATIONS                     16
+III.      THE STORY OF A CRIME                           25
+IV.       THE DIE IS CAST                                44
+V.        A SHREWD SCHEME                                54
+VI.       A WARNING                                      64
+VII.      A STRUGGLE FOR MORE THAN LIFE                  75
+VIII.     THREADS OF THE FABRIC                          98
+IX.       GONE!                                         104
+X.        BONNIE, BEWITCHING CLAIRE                     113
+XI.       A GLEAM OF LIGHT                              121
+XII.      A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD                       130
+XIII.     MISS ARTHUR'S FRENCH MAID                     137
+XIV.      WHEELS WITHIN WHEEL                           143
+XV.       CORA AND THE FRENCH MAID MEASURE SWORDS       155
+XVI.      FACE TO FACE                                  167
+XVII.     GATHERING CLUES                               184
+XVIII.    THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WIELDS THE SURGEON'S
+              KNIFE                                     191
+XIX.      A DUAL RENUNCIATION                           203
+XX.       STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE                       215
+XXI.      HAGAR AND CORA                                229
+XXII.     TO BE, TO DO, TO SUFFER                       239
+XXIII.    SETTING SOME SNARES                           244
+XXIV.     A VERITABLE GHOST                             251
+XXV.      SOME DAYS OF WAITING                          257
+XXVI.     NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK                          265
+XXVII.    CLAIRE TURNS CIRCE                            272
+XXVIII.   THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE MIMIC STAGE          279
+XXIX.     A STARTLING EPISODE                           291
+XXX.      WAITING                                       299
+XXXI.     MR. PERCY SHAKES HIMSELF                      303
+XXXII.    A SILKEN BELT                                 310
+XXXIII.   CROSS PURPOSES                                316
+XXXIV.    A SLIGHT COMPLICATION                         322
+XXXV.     "THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT
+             NAUGHT                                     332
+XXXVI.    MR. LORD'S LETTER                             337
+XXXVII.   "I HAVE COME BACK TO MY OWN!"                 341
+XXXVIII.  CORA UNDER ORDERS                             356
+XXXIX.    MYSTIFIED PEOPLE                              367
+XL.       DAVLIN'S "POINTS."                            378
+XLI.      THE DAYS PASS BY                              385
+XLII.     A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM                        389
+XLIII.    THE DOCTOR'S WOOING                           397
+XLIV.     A FRESH COMPLICATION                          403
+XLV.      MRS. RALSTON'S STORY                          409
+XLVI.     CORA "STIRS UP THE ANIMALS."                  416
+XLVII.    THE BEGINNING OF THE END                      423
+XLVIII.   THE SWORD OF FATE                             427
+XLIX.     AS THE FOOL DIETH                             442
+L.        "AND THEN COMES REST."                        447
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end
+of the depot platform stood the dainty phæton of Mrs. John
+Arthur."--page 229.]
+
+
+
+
+MADELINE PAYNE,
+
+THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+MAN PROPOSES.
+
+
+"H'm! And you scarcely remember your mother, I suppose?"
+
+"No, Lucian; I was such a mere babe when she died, I have often
+wondered what it would be like to have a mother. Auntie Hagar was
+always very kind to me, however; so kind, in fact, that my
+step-father, fearing, he said, that I would grow up self-willed and
+disobedient, sent her away, and procured the services of the ugly old
+woman you saw in the garden. Poor Auntie Hagar," sighed the girl, "she
+was sorely grieved at our parting and, that she might be near me,
+bought the little cottage in the field yonder."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculated the man, more as if he felt that he was expected to
+say something, than as if really interested in the subject under
+discussion. "Ah--er--was--a--was the old lady a property holder, then?
+Most discharged servants go up and down on the earth, seeking what
+they may devour--in another situation."
+
+"That is the strangest part of the affair, Lucian; she had money.
+Where it came from, I never could guess, nor would she ever give me
+any information on the subject. It was a legacy--that was all I was to
+know, it seemed.
+
+"I remember," she continued, musingly, "how very much astonished I was
+to receive, from my step-father, a lecture on this head. He took the
+ground that my childish curiosity was unpardonably rude, and angrily
+forbade me to ask further questions. And I am sure that since that one
+instance of wonderful regard for the feelings of Aunt Hagar, he has
+not deigned to consider the comfort and happiness of any, save and
+always himself."
+
+As the girl's voice took on a tone of scornful sarcasm; as her cheeks
+flushed and her eyes flashed while memory recalled the many instances
+of unfeeling cruelty and neglect, that had brought tears to her
+childish eyes and pain to her lonely heart--the eyes of Lucian Davlin
+became bright with admiration, and something more; something that
+might have caused her honest eyes to wonder and question, if she had
+but intercepted the glance. But her thoughts had taken a backward
+turn. Without looking up, perceiving by his silence that he had no
+desire to interrupt her, she proceeded, half addressing herself:
+
+"I used to ask him about my mother, and was always informed that he
+'didn't care to converse of dead folks.' Finally, he assured me that
+he was 'tired of seeing my sickly, ugly face,' and that, as I would
+have to look after myself when he was dead and gone, I must be
+educated. Therefore, I was sent to the dreary Convent school at M----.
+And there I studied hard, looking forward to the time when, having
+learned all they could teach me, I might breathe again outside the
+four stone walls; for, by my step-papa's commands, I was not permitted
+to roam outside the sisters' domains until my studies should reach an
+end. Then they brought me back, and my polite step-papa called me an
+'educated idiot;' and my good old Hagar cried over me; and I made
+friends with the birds, and the trees. Ever since, always avoiding my
+worthy ancestor-in-law, I have been wondering what it would be like to
+be happy among true friends, in a bright spot somewhere, far away from
+this place, where I never have been happy for a day at a time, even as
+a child."
+
+"Never, little girl?" The eyes were very reproachful, and the man's
+hand was held out entreatingly. "Never, darling?"
+
+She looked up in his face shyly, yet trustfully, and then putting her
+hand in his, said: "Never, until I knew you, Lucian; and always since,
+I think, except--"
+
+She hesitated, and the color fled out of her face.
+
+"Except when I think that the day draws near when you will leave me.
+And when the great world has swallowed you up, you will forget the
+'little girl' you found in the woods, perhaps."
+
+A smile flitted across the face of the listener, and he turned away
+for a moment to conceal the lurking devil gleaming out of his eyes.
+Then, flinging away his half finished cigar, he took both her hands in
+his, and looking down into her clear eyes, said:
+
+"Then don't let me go away from you, beauty. Don't stay here to make
+dismal meditations among the gloomy trees. Don't pass all the weary
+Winter with Curmudgeon, who will marry you to an old bag of gold. Come
+with me; come to the city and be happy. You shall see all the glories
+and beauties of the gay, bright world. You shall put dull care far
+behind you. You shall be my little Queen of Hearts, to love and care
+for always. Sweetheart, will you come?"
+
+He was folding her close now, and she nestled in his arms with perfect
+trustfulness, with untold happiness shining in her bright eyes. She
+was in no haste to answer his eager question, and he smiled again; and
+once more the lurking devil laughed out of his eyes. But he held her
+tenderly to him, in silence for a time, and then lifted the blushing
+face to meet his own.
+
+"Look up, Aileen, my own! Is it to be as I wish? Will you leave this
+place with me to-morrow night?"
+
+The girl drew back with a start of surprise. "You--you surely are not
+going to-morrow, Lucian," and the gentle voice trembled.
+
+"I must, little one--have just received a letter calling me back to
+the city. Your sweet face has already kept me here too long. But I
+shall take it back with me, shall I not, love; and never lose it
+more?"
+
+The girl was silent. She loved him only too well, and yet this
+peremptory wooing and sudden departure struck upon her naturally
+sensitive nerves as something harsh and unpleasant. She would not
+leave behind much love, would be missed by few friends, and yet--to
+leave her home once was to leave it forever, and it was home, after
+all. She looked at the man before her, and a something, her good angel
+perhaps, seemed, almost against herself, to move her to rebel.
+
+"Why must I go like a runaway, Lucian? I can't bear to bid you go, and
+yet, if you must, why not leave me for a little time? My father will
+never consent, I well know, but let me tell him, and then go openly,
+after he has had time to become familiar with the idea."
+
+"After he has had time to lock you up! Recollect, you are not of age,
+Aileen. After he has had time to force you into a marriage with your
+broken-backed old lover. After he has had time to poison your mind
+against me----"
+
+"Lucian! as if he could do _that_; _he_, indeed!" The girl laughed
+scornfully.
+
+[Illustration: "She nestled in his arms with perfect
+trustfulness."--page 11.]
+
+It is not difficult to guess how this affair would have terminated.
+The man was handsome and persuasive; the girl trustful, loving, and,
+save for him, so she thought, almost friendless.
+
+But an unexpected event interrupted the eloquence flowing from the
+lips of Lucian Davlin, and set the mind of the girl free to think one
+moment, unbiased by the mesmeric power of his mind, eye, and touch.
+
+They were standing in a little grove, near which ran the footpath
+leading into the village of Bellair. Suddenly, as if he had dropped
+from one of the wide spreading trees, a very fat boy, with a shining
+face and a general air of "knowingness," appeared before them.
+
+"I beg pardin, sir," proclaimed he, "but as you told me if a
+tellergram come for you, to fetch it here, so I did."
+
+And staring at Madeline the while, he produced a yellow envelope from
+some interior region, and presented it to Lucian Davlin, who tore open
+the cover, and took in the purport of the message at one glance. His
+face wore a variety of expressions: Annoyance, satisfaction, surprise,
+all found place as he read. He stood in a thoughtful attitude for a
+brief time, and then, as if he had settled the matter in his own mind,
+said:
+
+"All right, Mike. Go back now, and tell Bowers to prepare to leave
+to-night. I'll come down and send the required answer immediately.
+Here, take this."
+
+Tossing him a piece of money, Lucian turned to Madeline, over whose
+face a look of sorrowful wonder was creeping.
+
+"'Man proposes,' my dear! Well, I am 'disposed of' for a time. It is
+only one night sooner, and, after all, what matter? Will you decide
+for me at once, Maidie? Nay, I see you hesitate still, and time just
+now is precious. Think till to-night, then; think of the lonely days
+here without me; think of me, alone in the big world, wishing and
+longing for _you_. I could not even write you in safety. Think fast,
+little woman; and when evening comes, meet me here with your answer.
+If it must be separation for a time, dear, tell me when I shall come
+back for you."
+
+The girl drew a breath of relief. He would come back--that would be
+better. But seeing his anxiety to be gone, she only said: "Very well,
+Lucian, I will be here."
+
+"Then, good-by till evening."
+
+A swift kiss, and a strong hand clasp, and he strode away.
+
+Trampling down the wayside daisies and tender Spring grasses;
+insensible to the beauties of earth and sky; smiling still that same
+queer, meaning smile, he took the path leading back to the village.
+Reaching the site, where the woody path terminated in the highway, he
+turned. Yes, she was looking after him; she would be, he knew. He
+kissed his hand, lifted his hat with a courtly gesture, and passed out
+of her sight.
+
+"Gad!" he ejaculated, half aloud, "she is a little beauty; and half
+inclined to rebel, too. She won't go with me to-night, I think; but a
+few weeks of this solitude without me, and my Lady Bird will
+capitulate. The old Turk, her step-father, won't raise much of a hue
+and cry at her flight, I fancy. Wonder what is the secret of his
+antipathy to Miss Payne."
+
+He paced on, wrinkling his brow in thought a moment, and then
+whistling softly as his fancies shaped themselves to his liking.
+Suddenly he stopped, turned, and looked sharply about him.
+
+"I'll do it!" he exclaimed. "Strange if I can't extract from a broken
+down old woman any items of family history that might serve my
+purpose. I'll call on the nurse--what's her name--to-night."
+
+He glanced across the meadow to where stood the cottage of Nurse
+Hagar, and, as if satisfied with himself and his brilliant last idea,
+resumed his walk. Presently his pace slackened again, and he looked at
+the crumpled paper which he still retained in his hand, saying:
+
+"It's queer what sent Cora to the city for this flying visit. I must
+keep my Madeline out of her way. If they should meet--whew!"
+
+Evidently, direful things might ensue from a meeting between Madeline
+Payne and this unknown Cora, for after a prolonged whistle, a brief
+moment of silence, and then a short laugh, Davlin said:
+
+"I should wear a wig, at least," and he laughed again. "I wonder, by
+Jove! I wonder if old Arthur's money bags are heavy enough to make a
+card for Cora. Well, I'll find that out, too."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE OLD TREE'S REVELATIONS.
+
+
+Meanwhile, strange feelings filled the heart, and troublesome thoughts
+the head, of Madeline Payne.
+
+She looked about her sorrowfully. The leafy wood seemed one of her
+oldest, truest friends. Since her mother's death, she had lived, save
+for the faithful regard of old Hagar, an unloved life. In the only
+home she knew, she felt herself an object of dislike, and met only
+cold neglect, or rude repulsion. So she had made a friend of the shady
+wood, and welcomed back the birds, in early Springtime, with joyful
+anticipation of Summer rest under green branches, lulled and soothed
+by their songs.
+
+Wandering here, the acquaintance between herself and Lucian Davlin
+had begun. Here six long, bright weeks of the Springtime had passed,
+each day finding them lingering longer among the leafy shadows, and
+drawing closer about them both the cords of a destiny sad for one,
+fatal for each.
+
+Standing with hands clasped loosely before her, eyes down dropped, and
+foot tapping the mossy turf, Madeline presented a picture of youth and
+loveliness such as is rarely seen even in a beauty-abounding land. A
+form of medium height which would, in later years, develop much of
+stately grace; a complexion of lily-like fairness; and eyes as deep
+and brown, as tender and childlike, as if their owner were gazing,
+ever and always, as infants gaze who see only great, grand wonders,
+and never a woe or fear.
+
+With a wee, small mouth, matching the eyes in expression, the face was
+one to strike a casual observer as lovely--as childishly sweet,
+perhaps. Yet there was something more than childishness in the broad
+brow, and firm chin. The little white hands were shapely and strong,
+and the dainty feet pressed down the daisies softly yet firmly, with
+quiet but steady movement.
+
+Many a man has been mistaken in baby mouth, and sweetly-smiling eyes.
+And whoso should mistake Madeline Payne, in the time to come, for
+"just a child and nothing more," would reckon unwisely, and mayhap
+learn this truth too late.
+
+Madeline sat down upon a fallen tree, where she had so often talked
+with her lover. She looked up into the wide spreading branches
+overhead. There was the crooked bough where she had, often and often,
+in past days, sought refuge when troubled by her father's harshness,
+or haunted by dreams of the mother she had hardly known. It looked
+cool and inviting, as if she could think to better purpose shrouded by
+the whispering leaves. She stepped upon the fallen trunk, and
+springing upward, caught a bending limb, and was soon seated cosily
+aloft, smiling at the thought of what Lucian would say could he see
+her there. Long she pondered, silent, motionless. Finally, stirring
+herself and shaking lightly an overhanging friendly branch she
+exclaimed:
+
+"That will be best! I'll stay here for the present. I'll tell
+step-papa that I love Lucian, and will never marry his friend, Amos
+Adams, the old fright! I'll try and be very calm, and as dutiful as
+maybe. Then, if he turns me out, very well. If he shuts me up--" Her
+eyes flashed and she laughed; but there was little of mirth in the
+laughter--"Why, then, I _would_ lead him a life, I think! Yes, I'll
+bid Lucian good-by, for a little while, and I'll try and not miss him
+too much, for--Oh!"
+
+She had been very busy with her own half-spoken thoughts, else she
+must have sooner discovered their approach, for now they were almost
+underneath her, and they were no less personages than her step-father,
+John Arthur, and her would-be suitor, Amos Adams.
+
+Madeline was about to make known her presence, but her ear caught the
+fragment of a sentence in which her name held prominent place. Acting
+upon impulse, she remained a silent, unsuspected listener.
+
+And so began in her heart and life that drama of pain and passion, sin
+and mystery, that should close round, and harden and blight, the
+darkening future of Madeline Payne.
+
+A more marked contrast than the two men presented could scarcely be
+imagined.
+
+[Illustration: "Madeline presented a picture of youth and
+loveliness."--page 17.]
+
+John Arthur might have been, evidently had been, a handsome man, years
+ago. But it did not seem possible that, even in his palmiest days,
+Amos Adams could have been called anything save a fright. He was much
+below the medium height. His head was sunken between his shoulders,
+and thrust forward, and each feature of his ugly face seemed at war
+with every other; while the glance of his greenish gray eye was such
+as would cause a right-minded person involuntarily to cross himself
+and utter, with perfect propriety, the Pharisee's prayer.
+
+"The mischief fly away with you, man," said Mr. Arthur, seating
+himself upon the fallen tree, and striking at the ground fiercely with
+his cane; "what is my dead wife to you? Madeline makes my life a
+burden by these same queries. It's none of your business why the
+departed Mrs. Arthur left her property to me during my life, and tied
+it up so as to make me only nominal master--mine to use but not sell,
+not one acre, not a tree or stone; all must go intact to Miss
+Madeline, curse her, at my death."
+
+"Um-m, yes. Does the girl know anything of this?"
+
+"If she did, your chances would be slim," said the other, scornfully.
+"No; I have taken good care that she should not. She has a vixenish
+temper, if she should get waked up to imagine herself 'wronged,' or
+any such school-girl nonsense. I shall not live many years--this heart
+disease is gaining on me fast; and if the girl is your wife, in case
+of my death the fortune is as good as yours, you know. I want to have
+peace while I do live; and for this reason, I say, I will give you my
+step-daughter in marriage, and you shall give me the note you hold
+against me for that old debt, the payment of which would compel me to
+live like a beggar for the remainder of my days, and the sum of ten
+thousand dollars."
+
+"It's making a wife a rather expensive luxury," quoth old Amos,
+seating himself; "but the girl's a beauty--no disputing that point;
+and--"
+
+"Of course she is," broke in Arthur, impatiently; "worth that, and
+more, to whoever wants her, which, fortunately for you, I don't; she
+is only a kill-joy to me. If you want the girl, take her, and be
+blessed--I'll give away the bride with all the pleasure in the
+world--and 'live happy ever after.'"
+
+[Illustration: "What is my dead wife to you?"--page 20.]
+
+There was not much room for argument between these two. It was simply
+a question of exchange, and when old Amos had decided that he was not
+paying too dearly for so fair a piece of flesh and blood, they came to
+terms without more ado, and being agreed that "it's always best to
+strike while the iron is hot," Mr. Arthur suggested that his friend
+return with him, accept a seat at his hospitable board, and hear
+himself announced formally to Miss Madeline, as her future lord and
+master. John Arthur had ever exacted and received passive obedience
+from his step-daughter. He had little fear of rebellion now. How could
+she rebel? Was she not dependent upon his bounty for her daily bread,
+even?
+
+Old Amos troubled his ugly head little if any on this point. He
+recognized no higher potentate than gold. He had bought him a wife; he
+had but to pay the price and take possession of the property.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Madeline Payne sat long on her leafy perch, thinking fast and hard,
+the expressions of her face changing rapidly as she revolved, in her
+mind, different phases of the situation. Surprise gave place to
+contempt, as she eyed the departing plotters from her green
+hiding-place. Contempt merged into amusement, as she thought of the
+wonderful contrast between the two wooers who had proffered their
+respective suits, in a manner so very different, beneath that
+self-same tree. A look of fixed resolve settled down upon her
+countenance at last, and uncurling herself, she dropped lightly upon
+the ground.
+
+[Illustration: "Slowly she turned away and very thoughtful was her
+face."--page 24]
+
+Madeline had made up her mind. That it would be useless to say aught
+of Lucian, she now knew too well. That she could never defy her
+father's commands, and still dwell beneath her father's roof, she also
+knew. She hesitated no longer. Fate, stronger than she, had decided
+for her, she reasoned. Her mind once made up, she gave in it no place
+to fears or misgivings. The strength of will and the spirit of
+rebellion, that were dormant in her nature, began to stir into life,
+roused by the injustice that would rob her of her own. She not only
+had a way of escape, but that way her own inclinations lured her. With
+never a fear, never a thought of the days to come, she turned from her
+mockery of a home, from her parent, unnatural, unloving, and unloved,
+to an unknown, untried world, which was all embodied in one
+word--Lucian.
+
+The past held for her many dark shadows; the future held all that she
+craved of joy and love--Lucian.
+
+In her outraged heart there was no room for grief. She had heard her
+dead mother scorned, and by him who, more than all others, should have
+cherished her memory and honored her name. She had heard herself
+bartered away, as a parcel of goods, and her very life weighed in the
+balance as a most objectionable thing. Her happiness was scoffed at;
+her wishes ignored as if without existence, and contrary to all
+nature; even her liberty was menaced.
+
+Slowly she turned away, and very thoughtful was her face as she went,
+but fixed in its purpose as fate itself: and fearless still as if life
+had no dark places, no storm clouds, no despair.
+
+Oh! they were lovely, innocent eyes; and oh! it was a sweet, sweet
+mouth! But the eyes never wavered, and the mouth had no trace of
+weakness in its dainty curves. You have reckoned without your host,
+John Arthur. It is no commonplace school-girl with whom you have to
+deal. Madeline Payne possesses a nature all untried, yet strong for
+good or evil. Intense in love or hate, fearless to do and dare, she
+will meet the fate you bring upon her--but woe to those who have
+compassed her downfall! If your hand has shaped the destiny of her
+life, she will no less overrule your future and, from afar--perhaps
+unrecognized, unseen--mete out to you measure for measure!
+
+The grand old tree is sighing out a farewell. The sunlight is casting
+fantastic shadows where her foot, but a moment since, rested. The
+leaves glisten and whisper strange things. The golden buttercups laugh
+up in the sun's face, as if there were no drama of loving and hating,
+sin and atonement, daily enacted on their green, motherly bosom. And
+Madeline Payne has put her childhood behind her, and turned her face
+to the darkness beyond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE STORY OF A CRIME.
+
+
+Nurse Hagar was displeased. She plied her knitting-needles fiercely,
+and seemed to rejoice in their sharp clicking. She rocked furiously
+backwards and forwards, and sharply admonished the cat to "take
+himself away," or she "would certainly rock on his tail." She "wanted
+to do something to somebody, she did!" She looked across the fields in
+the direction of Oakley, and dropping her knitting and bringing her
+chair to a tranquil state, soliloquized:
+
+"It's always the way with young folks; they don't never remember that
+old uns have feelings. They run away after a new face, and if it's a
+young one and a handsome one, they turn everybody out of their
+thoughts; everybody else. Not that I think that city fellow's a
+handsome chap; by no means," she grumbled; "but Maidie does; that's
+certain sure. And she won't let me say a word about him--oh, no; I'm a
+poor old woman, and my advice is not wanted!"
+
+Hagar resumed her knitting and her rocking with fresh vigor. But her
+face relaxed a measure of its grimness as, looking up, her eye rested
+on a dainty nosegay, tossed in at the window only that morning, by
+this same neglectful young girl.
+
+"She don't mean to forget me, to be sure," she resumed. "She is always
+kind and gentle to her old nurse. She is lonesome, of course, and
+should have young company, like other girls, but--" here the needles
+slacked again--"drat that city chap! I wish he had stayed away from
+Bellair."
+
+"Goodness, auntie, what a face! I am almost afraid to come in."
+
+Madeline laughed, despite her anxiety, as Aunt Hagar permitted her
+opinion of the "city feller" to manifest itself in every feature.
+
+"Get that awfully defiant look out of your countenance, auntie,"
+continued Madeline; "for I'm coming in to have a long talk with you,
+and I must not be frightened in the beginning."
+
+The lovely face disappeared from the open window, and in a moment
+reappeared in the doorway.
+
+To permit herself to be propitiated in a moment, however, was not in
+the nature of Dame Hagar.
+
+"I s'pose you think it's very respectful to pop your saucy head in at
+an old woman's window, and set her all of a tremble and then tell her,
+because she is not grinning for her own amusement, that she looks
+awfully cross, and that you are afraid she will bite you. You are a
+nice one to talk of being afraid; you, who never showed an atom of
+fear of anything from your cradle up. If you were a bit afraid, when
+you were out in the woods, for instance, and meet a long-legged animal
+with a smooth tongue, and eyes that ought to make you nervous,
+'twouldn't be to your discredit, I think. Of course, I don't mean to
+say that you don't meet him quite by accident; oh, no! And I don't
+_say_ that he ain't a very nice, respectable sort of chap, whatever I
+may _think_. You are just like your poor mother, and if this fellow
+with a name that might as well be Devil, and done with it--"
+
+"There, now, auntie--" Madeline's face flushed, and she put the cat
+down with sudden emphasis; "I won't let you say bad things of Mr.
+Davlin, for I think you would be sorry for it afterward."
+
+She drew a low seat to the side of the old lady, and looking her full
+in the face, spoke in a voice low, intense, full of purpose.
+
+"Auntie, it is time you told me more about my mother. You have evaded,
+my step-father has forbidden, my questioning, but if I am ever to know
+aught of my dead mother's history, I intend to hear it from your lips
+to-day."
+
+Surprise for a time held the old woman speechless; a look of sorrow
+and affection drove the querulousness out of her face and voice.
+
+"What ails you, child?" she said, wonderingly. "Do you want to make
+Mr. Arthur hate me more, and keep you from me entirely? Don't you
+know, dearie, how he swore that the day I told you these things, he
+would forbid you to visit me; and if you disobeyed, take you away
+where I could not even hear of you?"
+
+Tears were in Hagar's eyes, and she held out her wrinkled hands
+imploringly. "Don't tease your old nurse, dearie; don't. I can't tell
+you these things now, and they could not make you any happier, child.
+Wait a little; the time will come--"
+
+"So will old age, auntie; and death, and all the knowledge we want, I
+suppose, when it is too late to make it profitable. Well, auntie, I
+will tell you something in exchange for my mother's story, and to make
+it easier for you to relate it. But first, will you answer a few
+questions?--wait, I know what you would say," as the old woman made a
+deprecating movement, and essayed to speak. "Hear me, now."
+
+Hagar looked at the girl earnestly for a moment, and then said,
+quietly:
+
+"Go on then, dearie."
+
+"First," pursued Madeline; "my father dislikes me very much; is this
+the truth?" Hagar nodded assent.
+
+"He dislikes you because you were always good to me." Here she paused,
+and Hagar again nodded.
+
+"Because you were attached to my mother." Again she paused, and again
+the old woman bowed assent.
+
+"And because"--the girl fixed the eyes of the old nurse with her
+own,--"because you were too familiar with my mother's past, and his,
+and knew too well the secret of his hatred of me!"
+
+Hagar sat silent and motionless, but Madeline, who had read her answer
+in the troubled face, continued: "Very good; I knew all this before,
+and I'll tell you what else I know. I know why Mr. John Arthur hates
+me!"
+
+Hagar opened her mouth, and shut it again quickly.
+
+"He hates me," pursued Madeline, "because my mother left him her
+fortune so tied up that he can only use it; never dispose of it. And
+at his death it reverts to me."
+
+Hagar still looked her amazement, and Madeline condensed the remainder
+of her force into one telling shot.
+
+"If I would be kind enough to die, he would consider it a great favor.
+But as I evidently intend to live long, he desires, of course, to see
+me happy. Therefore he has bargained me in marriage to Amos Adams, for
+the splendid consideration of a few thousand dollars, and the promise
+of a few thousand more _if I die young_!"
+
+Still the bewildered look rested upon the old woman's face, and still
+she gazed at the young girl before her. Suddenly, she leaned forward,
+and taking the fair head between two trembling hands, gazed long at
+her. As if satisfied at last with her scrutiny, she drew a deep,
+sighing breath and leaned back in her chair.
+
+"It's true," groaned Hagar; "it's too true! She has found it out, and
+my little girl has gone away;--my Baby Madeline is become a woman!
+There was never a coward in all the race, and a Payne never forgave!
+It has come at last," she wailed, "and now, what will she do?"
+
+Madeline lost not a look nor tone; and when the old woman ceased her
+rocking and moaning, she suggested, with a half smile:
+
+"Hadn't I better marry old Adams, auntie, worry them both into
+untimely graves, and be a rich young widow?"
+
+Hagar gazed at her in silence. And Madeline, taking her hand in her
+own, said: "Shall I tell you how I discovered all this, auntie, dear?"
+
+"Yes, child; go on." And she bent upon the girl a look of attention.
+
+Madeline drew close to her side, and briefly related what had
+transpired while she sat in her favorite tree; not stating, by the
+bye, how it occurred that she was in the grove at that very opportune
+time. Hagar's indignation was unbounded, but she continued to gaze at
+Madeline in a strange, half fearful, half wondering, wholly expectant
+way, that the girl could not interpret.
+
+"And now, Aunt Hagar," pursued Madeline, seriously, "I want to
+understand this matter more fully, and I will not say a word of my
+plans until you have told me what I came to hear. I shall not come to
+you again for this information; it is surely my right, and time now is
+precious."
+
+Madeline half rose, seeing that her nurse still rocked dismally and
+looked irresolute. "I can bide my time, and fight my battles alone, if
+need be," she continued, coldly. "I won't trouble you again, nurse,"
+turning as if to go.
+
+"Stop, child!" cried Hagar; "let an old woman think. I'll tell you all
+I can; all I know. Don't turn away from your old nurse, dearie; her
+only thought is for your good. Yes; you must not be left in the dark
+now,--sit down child; sit down."
+
+Madeline resumed her seat, and old Hagar, after another season of
+moaning and rocking, proceeded to relate, with many wanderings from
+the point, and many interpolations and opinions of her own, the brief,
+sad story of Mrs. Arthur's married life and early death. Bereft of
+Hagar's ornamental extras, it was as follows:
+
+Madeline Harcourt, an orphan, and the adopted daughter of a wealthy
+bachelor uncle, had incurred his displeasure by loving and marrying
+Lionel Payne, handsome, brave to a fault, with no other wealth than
+his keen intellect, his unsullied honor, and his loving, manly heart.
+
+[Illustration: "I can bide my time, and fight my battles alone if need
+be."--page 30]
+
+Lionel Payne had entered upon the study of law, but circumstances
+threw in his way certain mysteries that had long been puzzling the
+heads of the foremost detectives, and the young law student
+discovered in himself not only a marked taste for the study of
+mysteries, but a talent that was remarkable. So he gave up his law
+studies to become a detective. He rose rapidly in his new profession,
+giving all the strength of his splendid ability to the study of
+intricate and difficult cases, and became known among detectives, and
+dreaded among criminals, as "Payne, the Expert."
+
+He had lived two happy years with his young wife, and been six months
+the proud father of baby Madeline, when he fell a victim to his
+dangerous pursuit, shot dead by a bullet from the hand of a fleeing
+assassin.
+
+John Arthur had been a fellow law student with Lionel Payne, and he
+had followed the career of the young expert with curious interest,
+being, as much as was possible to his selfish nature, a friend and
+admirer of the rising young detective. And Lionel Payne, open and
+manly himself, and seeing no trace of the serpent in the seeming
+disinterestedness of Arthur, introduced him proudly into his happy
+home. Arthur was struck by the beauty of the young wife, and became a
+frequent and welcome visitor.
+
+One day, there came to the office where John Arthur earned his bread
+reluctantly, as a salaried clerk, the uncle of Madeline Payne. He had
+come to make a will, in which he left all his possessions to his
+beloved niece, Madeline, and her heirs forever after. This was several
+months before the sudden death of Lionel Payne.
+
+Ten months after she became a widow, Madeline's uncle died. Left alone
+with her little child, and with no resources but her own efforts,
+Madeline's mother struggled on, ever the object of the kind
+watchfulness and unobtrusive care of John Arthur, who professed to
+adore the child for the sake of the father, and through the baby
+Madeline, gradually won his way in the mother's esteem. Mrs. Payne was
+deeply grateful, and her mother's heart was touched by the devotion of
+Arthur to her little child. So it came about that, after a time, she
+gave him her hand, and all of her heart that was not buried with
+Lionel. A little later she learned that her uncle was dead, and she
+became mistress of a handsome fortune.
+
+Soon came the knowledge that her husband's heart was not all gold, and
+the suspicion, as well, that her uncle's will and its purport had long
+been no secret to him. But, partly from force of habit, and partly
+because he was not yet quiet hardened, John Arthur kept up his farce
+of affection for the child. And while his wife awoke to a knowledge of
+many of his short-comings, she always believed in his love for her
+little one.
+
+The two elements that were strongest in the nature of John Arthur were
+selfishness and pride. From his youth up his idols had been gold and
+self. Born into the world minus that "golden spoon" for which he
+sighed in youth, and schemed in later years, he had ever felt towards
+said world a half-fledged enmity. As he reached the age of manhood,
+his young sister was formally adopted by the only surviving relatives
+of the two; and becoming in due course of time and nature sole
+possessor of a very nice little fortune, afterwards held her head very
+high. Later, in consequence of some little indiscretions of her
+brother at the time when he was set free in the world--the result of
+the popular superstition held by him that "the world owed him a
+living,"--she held herself aloof from and ignored him completely.
+
+By degrees Mrs. Arthur's eyes became opened to the true character of
+the man she had married. Moments she had of doubting, and then of
+fearing that she wronged him too deeply, for her nature was a just
+one. It was in one of these latter moods that she made her will,
+before she had become aware that even his love for her little girl was
+only a well acted lie; believing her secure of love and care during
+his life, she made sure that, at his death, her darling should be
+supplied with all that money could give. She had long been in the
+fatal toils of that dread destroyer, heart disease, and suddenly,
+before she had found opportunity for securing her little daughter
+further, as she had since begun to realize it was needful to do, she
+was seized with a paroxysm that snapped the frail cord of life.
+
+A short time before her death, she had given into the keeping of old
+Hagar, a package, to be delivered to little Madeline when she should
+become a woman, and with the express wish that, should John Arthur
+prove a kind guardian meanwhile, she would burn the journal it
+contained, unread.
+
+Old Hagar now placed in Madeline's hands the package, which was found
+to contain her mother's most valuable jewels, and the tear-stained
+journal, which the girl seated herself to peruse, with sorrowful awe.
+
+The last page being turned, and the sad life of her mother fully
+revealed, Madeline bowed her head and wept bitterly, heedless of the
+attempt of old Hagar to comfort her, until the name of her step-father
+upon the old woman's lips brought her suddenly to her feet, the tears
+still on her cheeks, but her eyes flashing, and on her countenance a
+look that might have been a revelation to John Arthur, had that
+gentleman been there to see. Taking the old woman's hand, and holding
+it tightly in her own, the girl said:
+
+"Thanks, auntie, for recalling me. I have no time for tears now.
+Listen, and don't interrupt me. My poor mother died with a heart
+filled with fears for my future, left to that man's keeping. At the
+time of her death, he believed himself her unconditional heir. She
+feared for her life with him, and her sickness was aggravated in every
+possible manner by him, and I fully believe that, in intent if not in
+deed, John Arthur is my _mother's murderer_!"
+
+The old woman's face expressed as plainly as words could do, that she
+shared in this belief. The girl went on, in the same rapid, firm tone:
+
+"He killed the mother for gold, and now he would sell her child. He
+will fail; and this is but the beginning. As he drove my mother into
+her grave, I will hunt him into his! He shall suffer all that she
+suffered, and more! I know where you obtained your independence now,
+Aunt Hagar; and he hates you doubly because my mother's love provided
+for you a home, and for her child a haven in time of need. It was
+well. Keep the old cottage open for me, Aunt Hagar. Keep an eye on
+John Arthur, for my sake. Never fear for me, whatever happens. Expect
+to hear from me at any time, to see me at any moment. Don't answer any
+questions about me. A thousand thanks for all your love and kindness,
+auntie; good-by."
+
+Before the old woman could recover from her astonishment, or utter a
+word, Madeline had kissed her, swiftly taken up the precious package,
+and was gone! Hagar hastened to the door, but the girl was speeding
+swiftly down the path, and was quickly lost to view.
+
+"Oh! Oh! Oh!" moaned Hagar, seating herself in the doorway; "her
+father's passion and her mother's pride! Sorrow and trouble before
+her, and she all alone; dark, dark, dark; the world against her!
+Sorrow and trouble--it's in the blood! And she'll never give it up!
+She'll fight her wrongs to the bitter end. Oh, my precious girl!" and
+she buried her head in her apron and wept.
+
+The sun's last ray had faded from the highest hill-top. The little
+birds had folded their wings and hushed their warblings. Dark clouds
+came sweeping up from the west, and one, heavy and black, passed above
+the roof of Oakley, bent down, and rested there. Hagar, still
+sorrowing in the doorway, saw and interpreted. Dark days to come to
+the master of that overshadowed house. Dreary days and bitter
+nights--ah, how many, before that cloud should be lifted from over it,
+or light hearts beat beneath its roof.
+
+"I beg pardon, madame, you appear in trouble; perhaps I intrude?"
+
+It was Lucian Davlin's soft, lazy voice, and that disagreeable half
+smile lurked about the corners of his eyes and mouth.
+
+"I've had more welcome visitors," said the old woman, with more truth
+than politeness, and rubbing her eyes with the corner of her apron,
+"what do you want?"
+
+"Only a small matter of information, which I believe you can give me."
+
+"Well," said Hagar, testily.
+
+"I want to make a few inquiries about Mr. Arthur of Oakley."
+
+"About Miss Madeline, I suppose you mean. I won't tell you a word--"
+
+"My dear, good woman, I don't ask nor wish any information regarding
+that young lady--my inquiries solely concern the father. He is said to
+be wealthy!"
+
+"What is John Arthur or his money to you?" she questioned, eying him
+with much disfavor.
+
+"Nothing whatever," he indifferently replied. "I merely inquire on
+behalf of a friend."
+
+"I'll throw him off the scent if he does mean Madeline," thought the
+old woman.
+
+"Well, Mr. whatever your name is, if it will satisfy your friend to
+know that Mr. John Arthur is master of Oakley, and everybody knows
+there's no finer property in the State, and that he has a yearly
+income of ten thousand or more, why, tell him or her so. And you may
+as well say, at the same time, that he is too stingy and mean to keep
+the one in repair, or spend decently the other. And when he
+dies"--here she suddenly checked herself--"well, when he dies, his
+heirs, whoever they may be, will inherit all the more because of his
+meanness."
+
+"And who, pray, may be his heirs?"
+
+"How should I know who a stingy old reprobate will choose to inherit
+after him? I think he has a sister somewhere, but I don't know."
+
+"H'm, thank you--for my friend. Good-night."
+
+Smiling that same Mephistophelian smile, Lucian Davlin sauntered away,
+apparently satisfied with himself and what was passing in his mind.
+
+"He'll do," he muttered; "and she'll do him. It will be a good thing
+for her, just now, and very convenient for me into the bargain. Cora's
+a marvellously fine woman, but little Madeline is fresh as a rose, and
+a few months of the city will make her sharp enough. Only let me keep
+them apart; that's all." Satisfaction beamed in his eye and smiled on
+his lip. "Pretty Madeline will be the envy of half the boulevard."
+
+Now he has neared the trysting tree. "I think I'll just smoke here,
+and wait for my pretty bird; this is the place and almost the time."
+
+He smoked and he waited; the time came, and passed; his cigar expired;
+the shadows deepened--but still he waited.
+
+And he waited in vain. No light form advanced through, the gathering
+night; no sweet voice greeted him.
+
+The time was far past now, and, muttering an oath, the disappointed
+lover strode away, and was lost in the night.
+
+Madeline was standing in her own room, the threshold of which John
+Arthur had never crossed since the day when a silent form was borne
+from it, and laid in that peaceful home, the churchyard. She had just
+received the summons, for which, only, she lingered--the command of
+Mr. Arthur to attend at the altar of hospitality, and pour, for Mr.
+Amos Adams, the tea.
+
+She was attired in a neat dark garment which was vastly becoming. She
+had made her toilet with more than usual care, as if, perhaps, to do
+honor to her ancient suitor--at least so thought Mr. Arthur, when she
+presented herself before him.
+
+She had put her chiefest treasures in a little, a very little,
+travelling bag. And now she threw across her arm a large cloak, took
+her hat, veil, and bag, and descended softly to the hall below. It was
+faintly lighted from the lower end, and Madeline deposited her
+belongings in a darkened niche near a door, peeped put into the night
+that had come on cloudy and starless, and entered the room where
+waited the two conspirators, and supper.
+
+John Arthur was more bland and smiling than Madeline had ever before
+known him, while as for old Amos, he nearly lost himself in a maze of
+grins and chuckles, but displayed a very unloverlike appetite,
+nevertheless, and divided his attention pretty evenly between the
+beautiful face of Madeline, and the viands on the table.
+
+Madeline betrayed no sign of surprise at her step-papa's unwonted
+cordiality, and no annoyance at the ogling and chuckling of her
+antiquated suitor. In truth, she favored him with more than one
+expressive smile, the meaning of which he little guessed, as she
+contrasted him once more with handsome Lucian Davlin, and smiled again
+at the picture of his coming defeat.
+
+The meal was partaken of in comparative silence, all apparently quite
+satisfied with their own thoughts--ah, how different! It was not until
+old Jane, the servant, had been dismissed that Mr. Arthur drew his
+chair a trifle nearer that of his friend, and leaning his arms upon
+the table, looked across at Madeline, and said:
+
+"My dear, I believe you are aware of the honor this gentleman desires
+to confer upon you? I think I have hinted at the truth upon one or two
+occasions?"
+
+Madeline veiled her too expressive eyes behind their long lashes, but
+made no reply.
+
+"It is my desire," he continued, surveying with satisfaction the
+appearance of humility with which his words were received, "and the
+desire of Mr. Adams as well, that we should come to a satisfactory
+understanding to-night. We will, therefore, settle the preliminaries
+at once:--this is your desire, I think, Mr. Adams?"
+
+"Oh, certainly! Oh, yes, yes," ejaculated old Amos, in a transport of
+grins.
+
+"And this will, I trust,"--he was growing more stately and polite
+every moment--"this, of course, is satisfactory to you, Miss
+Madeline?"
+
+"Perfectly." She looked him full in the face now, and somehow her
+glance slightly impaired his feeling of dignity and security.
+
+"Very good; and now having formally accepted the proffered hand of Mr.
+Adams--"
+
+"Pardon me, sir, you are too fast. Mr. Adams has not offered
+himself."
+
+"Nonsense,"--Mr. Arthur suddenly forgot his politeness--"haven't I
+just stated his offer?"
+
+Madeline leaned back in her chair, and looked from one to the other
+with a tranquil smile.
+
+"Perhaps; but unfortunately there is a law in existence which
+prohibits a man from marrying his grandmother, and likewise objects, I
+believe, to a young woman's espousing her step-papa, however much
+adored. And as you can't marry me, my dear parent and guardian, why I
+object to listening to a proposal from your lips."
+
+John Arthur gazed in angry consternation upon the girl's still smiling
+face, but before the impatient words that he would have uttered could
+find voice, old Amos, who had interpreted her smiles as being
+favorable to himself, came gallantly to the rescue.
+
+"Right! quite right," he chuckled. "Of course, you know, Arthur--Miss
+Madeline, ahem--that's what I meant, you know. It's the proper way,"
+he gasped; and the general expression of his countenance did not tend
+to make his observations the more lucid--"I meant, you know--ah,
+well--will you honor me Miss Madeline--by--by your hand, you know?"
+
+This effort of oratory was received with smiling attention by the
+girl, who now addressed herself entirely to him, without heeding the
+effect of her words upon her step-father, or his interpolations, as
+she proceeded.
+
+"Mr. Adams;"--she spoke in a low, even tone, and gradually permitted
+the real feelings that were seeking for expression to show themselves
+in her every feature--"Mr. Adams, I think I appreciate _as it
+deserves_ the honor you desire to bestow upon me; believe me, too,
+when I say that I am as grateful as it is proper I should be. But, Mr.
+Adams, I am only a mere girl, and you might pay too dearly for me."
+
+"What the deuce does the fool mean?" growled Mr. Arthur.
+
+"I don't dispute the fact that I am a perfectly marketable commodity,
+and it is very right and proper that my dear step-papa--who dotes on
+me, whose idol I have been for long years--should set a high valuation
+upon my unworthy head. Yet this little Arcadian transaction is really
+not just the thing for the present century and country. And so, Mr.
+Adams, I must beg leave to thank you for the honor you proffer, and,
+thanking you, to decline it!"
+
+For a moment no one spoke; there was neither sound nor movement in the
+room. John Arthur was literally speechless with rage, and old Amos was
+just as speechless from astonishment; while Madeline gazed from one to
+the other unmoved. As soon as he could articulate, John Arthur
+confronted her, and taking her roughly by the shoulder, demanded:
+
+"What do you mean, you ungrateful jade? What are you talking about?"
+
+"About your contract in flesh and blood, Mr. Arthur. About your very
+worthy scheme for putting money in your pockets by making me this
+man's wife. If I am to be sold, sir, I will make my own bargain; be
+very sure of that; and _this_ is not my bargain!"
+
+"Don't talk to me of bargains, you little idiot! Do you think to defy
+me? Do you dare to defy me?"
+
+His rage passed all bounds. She put the width of the table between
+them and surveyed him across it, mockingly.
+
+"Listen, girl, I am your lawful guardian; you shall obey me!"
+
+"Really, now, don't, step-papa; you are actually purple in the face!
+You might die, you know; think of your heart, do, and take a glass of
+water."
+
+Old Adams collapsed in the remote corner whither he had fled. The
+miser was not at home in a tempest, and this was already beyond his
+depth. He gasped in speechless amaze and affright. Was this the girl
+he had thought to mold as his wife, this fearless, defiant creature?
+Already he began to congratulate himself upon his lucky escape. "She
+would murder me some day," he thought, shuddering.
+
+For the time being, John Arthur was a madman. Defied, mocked, by this
+girl who had been a burden to his very life! He raged, he raved, he
+cursed; and so raging and raving, he cursed her, and then in vile,
+bitter words hurled his anathema at her dead mother's memory.
+
+Then the mocking smile was gone, the taunting voice changed its tone;
+and as it changed, old Amos, cowering in his corner, shuddered afresh.
+Her whole face underwent a transformation. Her form dilated, she
+sprang before her step-father and the ring of her voice checked the
+imprecations on his lips.
+
+"Stop," she cried; "don't add the last drop to your already overfull
+measure! Don't double the force of the thunderbolt that will strike
+you some day! Is it not enough that you have hated me all my life
+through; that you have loaded down my childhood with unkind words,
+curses, and wishes for my death? Not enough that you follow me with
+your hatred because my mother's own will be mine at your death? Not
+enough that you would barter my life--yes, my _life_--for gold, sell
+my heart's blood for your own ease and comfort? And now must you
+pollute the name of my mother, as you polluted her life? Never breathe
+her name again; never _dare_ to name her! I, her daughter, tell you
+that for her every tear, every heart pang, every sigh, _you_ shall pay
+dearly; _dearly!_ I will avenge my mother's wrongs, some day; for _you
+are her murderer_!"
+
+[Illustration: "I will avenge my mother's wrongs some day; for _you
+are her murderer_."--page 42.]
+
+John Arthur gazed in speechless amaze into the space before him--but
+she was gone! The stern, vengeful, set face was no longer there. The
+proud, ringing voice was no longer sounding in his ear. The uplifted,
+warning, threatening hand menaced him only in memory. And before the
+might of her purpose, and the force of her maledictions, he stood as
+in a trance.
+
+When he had so far recovered himself as to think of her sudden
+disappearance, he went out quickly. The entrance door stood wide open;
+the dim light flickered on an empty hall and stairway; the sky was
+black with clouds, and never a star; the wind moaned about the house;
+and across the meadow came the doleful howl of old Hagar's watch-dog.
+
+But Madeline was not to be found.
+
+Always, in the days to come, he remembered her face as it had looked
+on him that night. Often in dreams he would start and cry out, haunted
+by the sound of her scornful voice, the spectre of her threatening
+hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE DIE IS CAST.
+
+
+Lucian Davlin paced the platform of the Bellair depot, in a very
+unpleasant frame of mind.
+
+His companion,--half servant, half confederate, wholly and entirely a
+rascal,--discerning his mood and, as ever, adapting himself to it, had
+withdrawn to a respectful distance. Only the shine of his cigar,
+glowing through the darkness, betokened his proximity, or the fact
+that the dark platform was not in the sole possession of the sullen
+man who paced its brief length, and questioned the Fate in which he
+trusted, and which, for once, had played him a sorry trick.
+
+[Illustration: "Gad! to be baffled like this!"--page 46.]
+
+He had been deceived by a mere school-girl. She had not even deigned
+him a farewell word. He had lost a fair prize.
+
+"Gad!" he muttered, biting viciously at his cigar, "to be baffled like
+this; to lose that little beauty; to be foiled like a moon-struck
+idiot and never know how or why! I can't write her, with that cursed
+old step-father to interfere. I can't return again very soon. And she
+_is_ such a little beauty!"
+
+He paused at the end of the darkened platform, and looked down the
+track; in the direction of the grove where they had met, and of
+Madeline's home. It was almost time for the train. At the upper end of
+the platform, the station master flashed his lantern, tumbled the
+luggage closer to the track and examined the checks critically; while
+the Man of Tact came out from his retirement and overlooked the
+proceeding.
+
+Something was coming down the track, swiftly, silently. He could just
+discern a shape moving toward him. It came nearer, and he moved up a
+few paces, and turned again where the lantern's rays fell upon him. It
+came nearer yet and paused in the shadow. It was a woman's form, and
+it beckoned. He approached carelessly.
+
+"Lucian!" She came close to him, and placed her hand upon his arm,
+drawing her breath hard and quick.
+
+He drew her farther into the shadow and clasped his arms about her.
+"Little one! You have walked fast,--how your heart beats! I had given
+you up. Is it 'good by,' dear?"
+
+She silently held up the little chatelaine, which he felt rather than
+saw, and took from her hand. In the darkness, he smiled again the old
+exultant smile not good to see, and pressing her closer in his arms,
+said:
+
+"Don't try to talk, sweet one; see, yonder comes our fiery horse and
+soon we will be far on our way. Take my arm, little one, and trust him
+who loves you. Look your last at the scene of your past
+loneliness,--to-morrow comes the gay world."
+
+Rattling and shrieking, the train approached. Lucian hurried his
+companion upon the rear platform; and neither his comrade, who entered
+the smoking car without looking about him, nor the station master,
+busy with his trunks and valises, observed that a third passenger
+quitted Bellair station on the night express.
+
+About them, the passengers nodded, yawned or slept. Outside, swiftly
+passing darkness. And every moment was hurrying her farther and
+farther away from all familiar scenes and objects, out to a life all
+untried, a world all new and strange. But she never thought of this.
+She was not elated, neither was she cast down. She felt no fear;--and,
+afterwards, she remembered that she indulged in no bright visions of
+the future during her swift flight.
+
+She had prepared herself to relate her story, to describe the scene
+she had just passed through, to tell him all. But he had other things
+to occupy his mind, and bidding her to rest and save all she might
+have to relate until the morrow, he relapsed into silence and thought,
+only now and then gently speaking a word, and looking after her
+comfort with a happy grace possessed by few, and so powerful in the
+winning of a woman.
+
+On, on, through the black night--youth and age, joy and sorrow, hope
+and despair, good and evil; on together through the night; on, on.
+Near to the great city; near to the welcome, dark or bright, awaiting
+the journey's end. Blacker grew the night, wilder shrieked the wind in
+angry protest against the defiant, fiery, resistless monster upon
+whom its rage fell impotent. Now pausing; now rushing on with a shriek
+and a roar; nearer, nearer to the scene of the new life, dawning
+grimly upon the fair girl, all unconscious, unheeding.
+
+They halted at a wayside station--just one of those little hamlets
+only a few miles removed from, and really a part of the great city.
+One passenger came on board, sauntering down the coach's length
+listlessly, wearily. He threw himself into a reversed seat in a half
+reclining attitude, and so his careless, wandering gaze fell first
+upon Madeline, seated opposite and very near.
+
+She sees him just as she sees the rest, vaguely. She remembers, later,
+that he had a good face and that she had thought it then. But confused
+and wearied in mind and body, she feels no inclination to observe or
+think. So they were hurried on, and no whisper of her heart, no
+quickening of the pulses, or sensation of joy or fear, warned her that
+she was sitting under the gaze and in the presence of the good and the
+evil forces that were to compass and shape her life.
+
+Open your eyes, oh, Madeline, before it is too late. See the snare
+that is spreading beneath your feet; read aright the bright glance
+that shines on you from those handsome, fateful eyes. Interpret truly
+the smile turned on you now. Alas! what woman ever saw guile in the
+eyes of the man she loved? Never one, until those eyes have ceased to
+smile upon her, and her fate is sealed. What one ever yet recognized
+the false ring of the voice that had never, as yet, addressed her save
+in honeyed tones, that seemed earth's sweetest music to her ears?
+None, until the voice had changed and forgotten its love words; none,
+until it was too late.
+
+What Madeline saw, was a man who was to her the embodiment of all
+manly grace, her all of joy and love, of truth and trust. And, sitting
+opposite, just a young man with fair curling hair, and frank blue
+eyes; with a fine manly face, and an air of refinement. A very nice
+young man; but not like her hero.
+
+Not like her hero? No, thank heaven for that, Madeline, else your way
+would have been far more drear, else your life might have known never
+a ray of sunlight, in the long days to come.
+
+On, on; nearer and yet nearer the long journey's end. Both thinking of
+her, but how differently!
+
+One pityingly, sadly, fearing for her fate, longing to save her from
+the precipice which she could not see and still wear that look of
+sweet trustfulness.
+
+One triumphantly, as of a fair prize gained; a new tribute to his
+power and strength; another smile from Chance; one more proof that he
+was a favored one of Fortune, and that life ever gave him good things
+from out the very best.
+
+They are very near their journey's end now, and Lucian Davlin whispers
+briefly to Madeline, and lounges out to give some necessary directions
+to the neglected companion of his wanderings.
+
+Hastily the young man opposite rises, and crossing to Madeline bends
+over her, speaking hurriedly.
+
+"Pardon me, madame, but are you a stranger to the city?"
+
+"Yes." After giving her answer she wonders why she did it, remembering
+that it is from a stranger the question comes, and that it is
+therefore an impertinence.
+
+"I thought as much!"--the blue eyes look troubled, and the manly voice
+hurries on. "The time may come, I hope it will not, when you will need
+a friend. If so, this card bears my address,--take it, keep it, and
+believe me, I speak from honest motives and a desire to serve you."
+
+He drops a card in her lap, and as she makes a gesture of repulsion,
+he says, entreatingly: "Take it; _in the name of your mother_ I ask
+it."
+
+She snatches up the card impulsively, and looks for one moment
+straight in his eyes. Then drawing a long sighing breath says, simply,
+"I will," and turns away as she puts it in her pocket, never so much
+as glancing at it.
+
+"Thank you." He lifts his hat, and resumes his seat and his former
+attitude just as Lucian reappears.
+
+Now all was bustle and confusion, the journey's end was reached; and
+through the hurrying, jostling crowd, past flickering lamps, and
+sleepy guards, they went under the dusky arches of the mammoth city
+station, out among the bawling 'bus drivers and brawling hackmen, past
+them, until a carriage, that seemed to be in waiting for them just
+beyond the noisy crowd, was reached. Stepping into this, they were
+about to drive away when, in the shadow, and very near them, Madeline
+discerned the form of the Unknown of the railway train. Then Lucian
+gave the order from the carriage window, and they rolled away.
+
+The man in the shadow heard, and stepping into the nearest carriage,
+repeated the order given by Lucian the moment before, adding: "Quick;
+don't lose a moment!"
+
+And thus it was that a carriage passed swiftly by that which contained
+Davlin and his companion, and the flash of their vehicle's lamp showed
+Madeline the face looking from its window.
+
+Again that face seen in the shadow--how strange, thought she; but her
+lover was speaking and she forgot all else.
+
+[Illustration: "Take it; _in the name of your mother_ I ask it.--page
+50.]
+
+"Darling, I must leave you soon. I came up to-night on a matter of
+business, and to meet a friend who will leave to-morrow early. I must
+therefore keep my appointment to-night, late as it is; or rather this
+morning, for it is midnight and past. You will not be afraid, dear,
+left alone for a little while in a great hotel?"
+
+"I am not afraid, Lucian, but--"
+
+"But lonely; is that it? Well, sweetheart, it's only for a little
+while, and to-morrow I will come for you, and all shall be arranged.
+We'll have no more separations then. Rest well and at noon to-morrow
+be ready; I will be with you then. Meantime, your every want will be
+supplied, and let the morrow find my little treasure bright-eyed and
+blooming."
+
+"Oh, Lucian, Lucian! how strange this seems. I can't realize it at
+all."
+
+He laughed lightly. "Not afraid, little one?"
+
+"Not afraid, Lucian, no; but I can't explain or describe my feelings.
+I suppose I need rest; that is all."
+
+"That is all, depend upon it; and here we are. One kiss, Madeline, the
+last till to-morrow."
+
+He folded her tenderly in his arms, and then sprang lightly from the
+carriage.
+
+Up and down, far as the eye could see, the street lamps glittered, and
+as Madeline stepped from the carriage she observed another roll away.
+High above her loomed the great hotel, and after midnight though it
+was, all here was life and bustle. The scene was novel to the half
+bewildered girl. Clinging to her lover's arm, she entered the
+reception-room and, sitting opposite the door, saw a form pass in the
+direction Lucian had taken, as he went to register her name and order
+for her "all that the house could afford."
+
+"I did not give your real name, because of your step-father, you
+know," said Lucian, upon his return. "I registered you as Miss Weir,
+that name being the first to occur to me."
+
+She looked a trifle disturbed, but said nothing. A few words more and
+a servant appeared.
+
+"To conduct you to your room," said Lucian.
+
+Together they moved towards the door; there he lifted his hat, with
+profound courtesy, and said in a very audible tone: "Good-night, Miss
+Weir; I will call to-morrow noon; pleasant dreams."
+
+"To-morrow noon," she echoed.
+
+As she watched his retreating figure, another passed her; a man who,
+meeting her eye, lifted _his_ hat and passed out.
+
+"He again!" whispered the girl to herself; "how very strange."
+
+Alone in her room, the face of this man looked at her again, and
+sitting down, she said, wearily: "Who is he? what does he mean? His
+name--I'll look at the card."
+
+Taking it from her pocket, she read aloud: Clarence Vaughan, M. D.,
+No. 430 B---- street.
+
+"Clarence Vaughan, M. D.," she repeated. "What did he mean? I must
+tell Lucian to-morrow; to-night I am too weary to think. Search for
+me, John Arthur; find me if you can! To-morrow--what will it bring, I
+wonder?"
+
+Weary one, rest, for never again will you sleep so innocently, so free
+from care as now. Sleep well, nor dream!
+
+She slept. Of the three who had been brought into contact thus
+strangely, Madeline slept most soundly and dreamed the brighter
+dreams.
+
+It was the last ray of her sunlight; when the day dawned, her night
+began.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A SHREWD SCHEME.
+
+
+An elegant apartment, one of a suite in a magnificent block such as
+are the pride of our great cities.
+
+Softest carpets, of most exquisite pattern; curtains of richest lace;
+lambrequins of costly texture; richly-embroidered and velvet-covered
+sleepy-hollows and lounging chairs; nothing stiff, nothing that did
+not betoken abandonment to ease and pleasure; downy cushions; rarest
+pictures; loveliest statuettes; finest bronzes; delicate vases;
+magnificent, full length mirrors, a bookcase, itself a rare work of
+art, containing the best works of the best authors, all in the richest
+of bindings--nothing here that the most refined and cultivated taste
+could disapprove, and yet everything bespoke the sybarite, the
+voluptuary. A place wherein to forget that the world held aught save
+beauty; a place for luxurious revelry, and repose filled with lotus
+dreams.
+
+Such was the bachelor abode of Lucian Davlin, as the glowing gas
+lights revealed it on the dark night of the arrival of this gentleman
+in the city.
+
+Moving restlessly about, as one who was perfectly familiar with all
+this glowing richness, only because movement was a necessity to her;
+trailing her rich dress to and fro in an impatient promenade, and
+twisting recklessly meantime a delicate bit of lace and embroidery
+with plump, white fingers--a woman waited and watched for the coming
+of Lucian Davlin.
+
+A woman, fair of face, hazel-eyed, sunny-haired, with a form too plump
+to be quite classical, yet graceful and prepossessing in the extreme.
+A very fair face, and a very wise one; the face of a woman of the
+world, who knows it in all its phases; who is able, in her own
+peculiar manner, to guide her life bark successfully if not correctly,
+and who has little to acquire, in the way of experience, save the art
+of growing old gracefully and of dying with an acquitted conscience.
+
+No unsophisticated girl was Cora Weston, but a woman of
+eight-and-twenty; an adventuress by nature and by calling, and with
+beauty enough, and brains enough, to make her chosen profession
+prosperous, if not proper.
+
+She paused before a mirror, carefully adjusting her fleecy hair, for
+even in pressing emergencies such women never forget their personal
+appearance. This done, she pondered a moment and then pulled the bell.
+A most immaculate colored gentleman answered her summons and, bowing
+low, stood waiting her will.
+
+"Henry, is it not time that your master were here? The train is
+certainly due; are you sure he will come? What did he telegraph you?"
+
+"That he would arrive on the one o'clock express, madame; and he never
+fails."
+
+"Very well. If he does not appear soon, Henry, you must go and inquire
+if the train has been delayed, and if so, telegraph. My business is
+imperative."
+
+The well trained servant bowed again, and, at a signal from her,
+withdrew. Left alone, she continued her silent march, listening ever,
+until at length a quick footstep came down the passage. Flinging
+herself into the depths of a great easy chair, she assumed an air of
+listless indifference, and so greeted the new comer.
+
+"Gracious heavens, Cora! what brings you here like this? I thought you
+had sailed, and was regretting it by this time."
+
+He hurried to her side and she half rose to return his caress. Then
+sinking back, she surveyed him with a lazy half smile. "I wonder if
+you are glad to see me, Lucian, my angel; you are such a hypocrite."
+
+He laughed lightly, and threw himself into a seat near her. "Candid
+Cora, you are not a hypocrite,--with me," and he looked admiringly yet
+impatiently at her. "Come," he said, at length, as she continued to
+tap her slender foot lazily, and to regard him silently through half
+closed lashes: "what does it all mean? Fairest of women, tell me."
+
+"It means, _Mon Brave_, that I did not sail in the _Golden Rose_; I
+only sent my hat and veil."
+
+"Wonderful woman! Well, thereby hangs a tale, and I listen."
+
+"I came back to see--"
+
+"Not old Verage?" he interrupted, maliciously.
+
+"No, hush: he saw me safely on board the _Golden Rose_--very gallant
+of him, wasn't it?"
+
+"Rather--yes, considering. And if I did not know Miss Cora Weston so
+very well, I should be surprised at all this mystery; as it is, I
+simply wait to be enlightened."
+
+"And enlightened you shall be, monsieur."
+
+She threw off her air of listlessness and arose, crossing over and
+standing before him, leaning upon a high-backed chair, and speaking
+rapidly.
+
+Lucian, meantime, produced a cigar case, lit a weed, and assuming the
+attitude and manner she had just abandoned, bade her proceed.
+
+"You see," she said, "I did not like the idea of quitting the country
+because of a little difference of opinion between myself and an old
+idiot like Verage."
+
+"A difference of some thousands out of pocket for him; well, go on."
+
+"Just so, comrade mine. Well, fortune favored me; she generally does.
+I learned, at almost the last moment, that a lady of my acquaintance
+had taken passage in the same vessel. I interviewed her, and found her
+in the condition of the good people in novels who have seen better
+days; her exchequer was at low ebb, and, like myself, she had reasons
+which induced her to emigrate. I did not inquire into these, having no
+reason to doubt the statement, but I accompanied her on board the
+_Golden Rose_, bade her a fond farewell, and bequeathed to her my
+street apparel and a trifling sum of old Verage's money. In exchange,
+I donned her bonnet and veil, and adopted her rather awkward gait, and
+so had the satisfaction of seeing, on my return to terra firma, old
+Verage gazing enraptured after my Paris bonnet and floating veil as it
+disappeared with my friend, outward bound."
+
+"Well, what next? All the world, your world, supposes you now upon the
+briny deep. Old Verage will be rejoiced to find you here in the city;
+what then?"
+
+"I think he will," said Cora, dryly, "when he does find me. I did not
+come here in the dark to advertise my arrival."
+
+"Bravo, Cora," he patted her hands softly; "wise Cora. You are a
+credit to your friends, indeed you are, my blonde beauty."
+
+She laughed softly;--a kittenish, purring laugh.
+
+"Well, Lucian, time flies and I throw myself on your mercy. Recommend
+me to some nice quiet retreat, not too far from the city, but at a
+safe distance; put me in a carriage, at daylight, which will carry me
+out to some by-station, where I can take passage behind the iron
+horse, unmolested, for fresh fields and pastures new."
+
+Davlin pondered a moment as if he had not already decided upon his
+course of action. He knew the woman he had to deal with, and shaped
+his words accordingly. "A retired spot,--let me see. I wonder, by
+Jove,"--brightening suddenly, "I think I have the right thing for
+you."
+
+"Well, when Lucian Davlin 'thinks' he has a point, that point is
+gained; proceed, man of might."
+
+"You see," began Lucian, in a business-like tone, "I took one of my
+'skips' for change of scene and recreation."
+
+"And safe quarters until the wind shifted," interrupted she. "Well, go
+on."
+
+He laughed softly, "Even so. We children of chance do need to take
+flying trips sometimes, but I did not set out for Europe, Cora mine,
+and I wore my own clothes home."
+
+"Bravo! But old Verage don't want you, and the wind _has_ changed;
+proceed."
+
+"Well, as usual, I found myself in luck, and if I had been a nice
+young widow, might have taken Summer quarters in the snug little
+village of Bellair."
+
+"Not being a widow, relate your experience as a rusticating gentleman
+at large. You excite my curiosity."
+
+Lucian removed his cigar from between his lips, and lazily
+contemplated his fair _vis a vis_.
+
+"How long a time must elapse before the most magnificent of blondes
+will think it fitting, safe, and," with a slight smile, "expedient to
+return and resume her sovereignty here, on this hearth, and," striking
+his breast theatrically, "in this heart?"
+
+The "most magnificent of blondes" looked first, approvingly, at her
+image displayed in the full length mirror opposite, then coolly at her
+interrogator.
+
+"Hum! that depends. The lady you so flatter can't abide dullness and
+inaction, and too much stupidity might overcome her natural timidity,
+in which case even my ardent old pursuer could not scare me into
+submission and banishment. If I could only find an occupation, now,
+for my--"
+
+"Peculiar talents," he suggested; "that's just the point. And now, I
+wonder if you wouldn't make a remarkably charming young widow?"
+
+"So you have an idea, then, Lucian? Just toss me a bunch of those
+cigarettes, please,--thank you. Now a light; and now, if it's not
+asking too much, will you proceed to explain yourself, and tell me
+what fortunate being you desire me, in the character of a fair widow,
+to besiege? What he is like; and why?"
+
+"Admirable Cora! what other woman could smoke a cigarette with such a
+perfect air of doing the proper thing; so much of Spanish grace."
+
+"And so much genuine enjoyment," she added, comfortably. "Smoke is my
+poetry, Lucian. When far from my gaze, and I desire to call up your
+most superb image, I can do so much more comfortably and
+satisfactorily inspired by my odorous little Perique."
+
+"Blessed Perique! Cora shall have them always. But back to my widow;
+an absence of six months, perhaps, would be a judicious thing just
+now, you think?"
+
+"More would be safer," she smiled, "if the Peri can keep aloof from
+Paradise so long."
+
+"How would the Peri fancy taking up her permanent abode outside the
+walls of Paradise?"
+
+She removed the fragrant gilded cigar in miniature from between two
+rosy, pursed-up lips, and surveyed him in mute astonishment.
+
+"Provided," he proceeded, coolly, "provided she found a country home,
+bank account, and equipage to her liking, with everything her own way,
+and ample opportunities for trips to Paradise, making visits to her
+brother and her city friends--and a fine prospect of soon becoming
+sole possessor of said country mansion, bank stock, etc.?"
+
+She placed the tiny weed once more between her lips, and sending up
+perfumed, curling little volumes of smoke, settled herself more
+comfortably and said, nonchalantly, "That depends; further
+particulars, please."
+
+It was wonderful how these two understood each other. She knew that he
+had for her a plan fully matured, and wasting no time in needless
+questionings, waited to hear the gist of the whole matter, assured
+from past experience that he would suggest nothing that would be an
+undertaking unworthy of her talent, and he knew that she would weigh
+his suggestions while they were being made, and be ready with her
+decision at the close.
+
+Long had they plotted and prospered together, these two Bohemians of
+most malevolent type; and successfully and oft played into each
+other's hands. Never yet had the good fortune of the one been devoid
+of profit to the other; knowing this, each felt safe in accepting,
+unquestioned, the suggestions of the other; and because of this, she
+felt assured now that, in this present scheme, there was something to
+be gained for him as well as herself.
+
+When the looker-on wonders idly at the strength of ties such as those
+which bound together these two, and the length of their duration, he
+has never considered their nature--the similarity of tastes,
+similarity of pursuits, and the crowning fact of the mutual benefit
+derived from such association.
+
+Find a man who lives by successful manipulations of the hand-book of
+chance, and who bows to the deity of three aces; who finds victims in
+fortified places, and whose most hazardous scheme is surest of
+success; who walks abroad the admired of his contemporaries, who envy
+him his position as fortune's favorite in proportion as they ply their
+own similar trade near the foot of the ladder of chance; who shows to
+men the dress and manner of a gentleman, and to the angels the heart
+of a fiend--and you will find that man aided and abetted, upheld and
+applauded, by a woman, his fitting companion by nature or education.
+She is unscrupulous as he, daring as he, finding him victims that his
+arm could not reach; plying the finer branch of a dangerous but
+profitable trade; sharing his prosperity, rescuing from adversity;
+valued because necessary, and knowing her value therefore fearing no
+rival.
+
+Cora was beautiful in Davlin's eyes, and secure in his affections,
+because she was valuable, even necessary, to him. He cared for her
+because in so doing he was caring for himself, and placing any "card"
+in her hands was only the surest means of enlarging his own pack.
+While she, for whether a woman is good or bad she is ever the slave of
+her own heart, recognizing the fact of the mutual benefit resulting
+from their comradeship, and improving, in her character of a woman of
+the world, every opportunity to profit by him, yet she saw in him the
+one man who possessed her love. Though the life she had led had worn
+out all the romantic tendencies of her nature, and had turned the
+"languishing of her eye" into sharp glances in the direction of the
+main chance, still she lavished upon him the best of her heart, and
+held his interest ever the equal of her own. After the manner of such,
+they were loyal to each other.
+
+"Then," pursued Lucian, "listen, and a tale I will unfold."
+
+In his own way, he proceeded to describe the intended victim; his
+home, his wealth, his state of solitude, together with the facts he
+had gathered up here and there relative to his leading characteristics
+and weaknesses, whereby he might be successfully manipulated by
+skilled hands. The boldness of his plan made even Cora start, and
+instead of her usually ready decision and answer, she favored him with
+a wondering, thoughtful stare.
+
+"You see," concluded Lucian, "he can't live forever at the worst, and
+the estate is a handsome one. You could easily make yourself queen
+absolute of the situation, and go and come at your own sweet will. I
+think as a good brother I should be a magnificent success, and an
+ornament to your country mansion in the lazy Summer."
+
+"And if I don't approve of the speculation after a trial, I can commit
+suicide or vanish," Cora said, meditatingly.
+
+"Just so," laughed he; "and take the spoons."
+
+"You are sure there are no incumbrances; perfectly sure of that?" she
+questioned.
+
+"Perfectly sure. There was a step-daughter, but she ran away with some
+foreigner;" here he smiled, and veiled his eyes, lest she should read
+aright their expression. "He would not give her a penny, or a crust of
+bread, were she to return. He hated her from her earliest day; but she
+is not likely to reappear in any case."
+
+"If she should, you might marry her, you know," she suggested,
+maliciously.
+
+"So I might," he said, shutting his eyes again; "and we would all
+settle down into respectable members of society--charming picture.
+But, jesting aside, how do you like the prospect?"
+
+She tossed away her cigarette and, rising, paced the room in silence
+for a few moments.
+
+Lucian whistled, softly, a few bars from a favorite opera; then
+lighted a fresh cigar, and puffed away, leaning lazily back and
+watching her face furtively out of half closed eyes.
+
+"I think," she said, resuming her seat, "that I will take a nearer
+view of this 'prospect' of yours."
+
+He nodded his head and waited for her to proceed.
+
+"I think the _rôle_ of widow might interest me for a little time, so
+I'll take myself and my 'delicate constitution' down to your promising
+haven of rest. I'll 'view the landscape o'er,' and the prospect of an
+opportunity for a little sharp practice will make my banishment more
+endurable; of course, my resignation will increase as the situation
+becomes more interesting."
+
+"Which it is sure to do," he said, rising quickly and crossing to the
+window. "The thing is as good as done; you always accomplish what you
+undertake; and you'll find the game worth the powder. The fact is,
+Cora," he continued, seriously, "you and I have engineered so many
+delicate little affairs successfully, here in the city, that, as a
+combination, we are pretty well known just now; too well, in fact, for
+our own ease and comfort. Your supposed trip to Europe was a lucky
+thing, and will throw all officiously-interested ones off your track
+completely. I shall limit my operations here for a time; shall make
+this merely headquarters, in fact, and 'prospect,' like yourself, in
+fresh fields. And now, it being nearly morning, and quite necessary
+that you should be on your victorious march, let us consider final
+ways and means."
+
+In a concise, business-like way, they arranged and discussed, the
+result of the whole being briefly this:
+
+Cora would drive at early dawn to a suburban station, and from thence
+go by rail to a village midway between the city and her final
+destination; and there await her luggage, and the arrival of Lucian.
+He would join her shortly, and proceed with her to Bellair, in his
+character of brother; see her comfortably settled, and leave her to
+her new undertaking.
+
+And thus it was that in the gray of morning a veiled lady,
+sweet-voiced and elegant in manner, stepped from a close carriage at a
+little wayside station, and sped away at the heels of the iron horse.
+
+And thus it was that Lucian Davlin, reappearing in Bellair and
+listening in well simulated surprise to the story of the sudden
+disappearance of John Arthur's step-daughter, effectually put to
+flight any idea--forming in the brains of the few who knew, or
+conjectured, that these two had met--that he had aught to do with her
+mysterious flitting. In truth, none save old Hagar knew of the
+frequency of their clandestine meetings, and she never breathed to
+others the thoughts and suspicions that haunted her brain.
+
+And thus it was, too, that Cora Weston, in her new _rôle_ of
+languishing widow, secluded carefully from the vulgar gaze, heard
+never a word of Madeline's flight. And when, later, the fact was
+revealed to her, none save old Hagar could have named the precise date
+of the event. So even wise Cora never connected the fate of the
+unfortunate girl with the doings of Lucian Davlin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A WARNING.
+
+
+Early morning in the great city, but the buzz and clamor were fairly
+under way, and the streets as full of busy, pushing, elbowing life as
+if night and silence had never rested above the tall roofs and chimney
+pots.
+
+With the rattle of the first cart wheel on the pavement, Madeline had
+started broad awake. As the din increased, and sleep refused to return
+to the startled senses, all unused to these city sounds, she arose,
+and completing her toilet with some haste, seated herself at her
+window to look out upon the scene so new to her.
+
+What a world of strange emotions passing and repassing beneath her
+eye! What hopes and fears; what carelessness and heartache! How they
+hurried to and fro, each apparently intent upon his own thoughts and
+purposes.
+
+She gazed down until her vision wearied of the motley, ever-changing,
+yet ever the same crowd; and then she reclined in the downy depths of
+a great easy chair, closed her eyes, and thought of Lucian. After all,
+what meaning had this restless moving throng for her? Only one;
+Lucian. What was this surging sea of humanity to her save that,
+because of its roar and clamor, they two were made more isolated,
+therefore nearer to each other?
+
+The morning wore away, and she began to realize how very soon she
+should be with her hero, and then no more of separation. Her heart
+bounded at this thought.
+
+Some one tapped softly at her door. She opened it quickly, thinking
+only of Lucian. It was not Lucian, however, but a veiled woman who
+stepped within the room, closing the door as she came.
+
+Madeline fell back a pace, and gazed at the intruder with a look of
+startled inquiry which was, however, free from fear. She had not
+thought of it before, it flashed across her mind now that this fact
+was odd; but in all her morning's ruminations, she had not once
+thought of the mysterious stranger of the railway episode. Yet now the
+first words that took shape in her mind, at the entrance of this
+unexpected visitor, were "Clarence Vaughan, M. D." She almost spoke
+them.
+
+With a quick, graceful movement, the stranger removed the shrouding
+veil; and Madeline gazed wonderingly on the loveliest face she had
+ever seen or dreamed of. It was a pure, pale face, lighted by lustrous
+dark eyes, crowned by waving masses of dark silky hair; exquisitely
+molded features, upon which there rested an expression of mingled
+weariness and resignation, the look of
+
+    "A soul whose experience
+    Has paralyzed bliss."
+
+One could imagine such a woman lifting to her lips the full goblet of
+life's sparkling elixir, and putting it away with her own hand, lest
+its intoxicating richness should shut from her senses the fragrance of
+Spring violets, and dim her vision of the world beyond.
+
+They formed a decided contrast, these two, standing face to face.
+
+One, with the calm that comes only when storm clouds have swept
+athwart life's sky, leaving behind marks of their desolating progress,
+but leaving, too, calm after tempest; after restlessness, repose.
+
+The other, stretching out her hand like a pleased child to woo the
+purple lightning from the distance, buoyant with bright hopes, with
+nothing on brow or lip to indicate how that proud head would bear
+itself after it had been bowed before the passing storm.
+
+"Pardon me," said the lady, in a sweet contralto. "I think I am not
+mistaken; this is the young lady who arrived last evening, and is
+registered,"--she looked full in the girl's eyes--"as Miss Weir?"
+
+Madeline's eyes drooped before that searching gaze, but she answered,
+simply: "Yes."
+
+[Illustration: "I have not yet introduced myself. Here is my
+card."--page 68.]
+
+"You are naturally much astonished to see me here, and my errand is a
+delicate one. Since I have seen you, however, I have lost every doubt
+I may have entertained as to the propriety of my visit. Will you trust
+me so far as to answer a few simple questions?"
+
+The words of the stranger had put to flight the first idea formed in
+her mind, namely, that this visit was a mistake. It was intended for
+her, and now, who had instigated it? She looked up into the face of
+her visitor and said, with her characteristic frankness of speech:
+
+"Who sent you to me?"
+
+The abruptness of the question caused the stranger to smile.
+
+"One who is the soul of honor and the friend of all womankind," she
+said, with a soft light in her eyes.
+
+Madeline's eyes still searched her face. "And his name is that," she
+said, putting the card of Clarence Vaughan upon the table between
+them.
+
+"Yes; and this reminds me, I have not yet introduced myself. Here is
+my card."
+
+She placed in the hand of Madeline a delicate bit of cardboard bearing
+the name, "Olive Girard."
+
+Silence fell between them for a moment, and then Olive Girard spoke.
+
+"Won't you ask me to be seated, and hear what I wish to say, Miss
+Weir?"
+
+She hesitated over the name, and Madeline, perceiving it, said:
+
+"You think Weir is not my name?"
+
+"Frankly, I do," smiled Mrs. Girard; "but just now the name matters
+little. Pardon me, but I am more interested in your face than your
+name. I came here because it seemed my duty, and to oblige a friend;
+now I wish to serve you for your own sake, to be your friend, if you
+will let me."
+
+Still Madeline's brain kept thinking, thinking; and she put her
+questions rather as commentaries on her own thoughts than as her share
+in a conversation.
+
+"Why did Mr. Vaughan send you to me?"
+
+They had seated themselves, at a sign from Madeline, and Mrs. Girard
+drew her chair nearer to the girl as she answered:
+
+"Because he feared for you."
+
+"Because he _feared for me_!" Madeline's face flushed hotly; "feared
+what?"
+
+"He feared," said Olive Girard, turning her face full upon her
+questioner, "what I feel assured is the truth, having seen you--simply
+that you do not know aright the man in whose company you came to this
+place."
+
+Madeline turned her eyes upon her guest and the blood went slowly out
+of her face, but she made no reply, and Mrs. Girard continued:
+
+"I will ask you once more, before I proceed further, do you object to
+answering a few questions? Of course I am willing to be likewise
+interrogated," she added, smiling.
+
+Over the girl's face a look was creeping that Aunt Hagar, seeing,
+could readily have interpreted. She nodded her head, and said briefly:
+"Go on."
+
+"First, then," said her interrogator, "are you entirely without
+friends in this city? Except, of course," she added, quickly, "your
+escort of last night."
+
+"Yes." Madeline's countenance never altered, and she kept her eyes
+fully fixed on her companion's face.
+
+"Are--are you without parents or guardian?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"As I thought; and now, pardon the seeming impertinence of this
+question, did you come here as the companion of the man who was your
+escort, or did mere accident put you under his charge?"
+
+"The 'accident' that put me in the charge of Mr. Davlin was--myself,"
+said the girl, in a full, clear voice. "And he is my only guardian,
+and will be."
+
+Olive Girard pushed back her chair, and rising, came and stood before
+her, with outstretched hand and pleading, compassionate eyes.
+
+"Just as I feared," she sighed; "the very worst. My poor child, do you
+know the character and occupation of this man?"
+
+Madeline sprang to her feet, and putting one nervous little hand upon
+the back of the chair she had occupied, moved back a pace, and said,
+in a low, set tone:
+
+"If you have come to say aught against Lucian Davlin, you will find no
+listener here. I am satisfied with him, and trust him fully. When I
+desire to know more of his 'character and occupation,' I can learn it
+from his own lips. What warrant had that man," pointing to Clarence
+Vaughan's card, "for dogging me here, and then sending you to attempt
+to poison my mind against my best friend? I tell you, I will not
+listen!"
+
+A bright spot burned on either cheek, and the little hand resting on
+the chair back clinched itself tighter.
+
+Olive Girard drew a step nearer the now angry girl, and searched her
+face with grave eyes.
+
+"If I said you were standing on the verge of a horrible precipice,
+that your life and soul were in danger, would you listen then?" she
+asked, sternly.
+
+"No," said Madeline, doggedly, drawing farther away as she spoke; "not
+unless I saw the danger with my own eyes. And in that case I should
+not need your warning," she added, dryly.
+
+"And when your own eyes see the danger, it will be too late to avert
+it," said Olive, bitterly. "I know your feeling at this moment, and I
+know the heartache sure to follow your rashness. _What are you, and
+what do you hope or expect to be, to the man you call Lucian Davlin?_"
+She spoke his name as if it left the taste of poison in her mouth.
+
+The girl's head dropped until it rested on the hands clasped upon the
+chair before her; cold fingers seemed clutched upon her heart. Across
+her memory came trooping all his love words of the past, and among
+them,--she remembered it now for the first time,--among them all, the
+word _wife_ had never once been uttered. In that moment, a thought new
+and terrible possessed her soul; a new and baleful light seemed
+shining upon the pictures of the past, imparting to each a shameful,
+terrible meaning. She uttered a low moan like that of some wounded
+animal, and suddenly uplifting her head, turned upon Olive Girard a
+face in which passion and a vague terror were strangely mingled.
+
+"What are you saying? What are you _daring_ to say to me!" she
+ejaculated, in tones half angry, half terror-stricken, wholly pitiful.
+"What horrible thing are you trying to torture me with?"
+
+She would have spoken in indignation, but the new thought in her heart
+frightened the wrath from her voice. She dared not say "I am to be his
+wife," with these forebodings whispering darkly within her.
+
+She turned away from the one who had conjured up these spectres, and
+throwing herself upon a couch, buried her face in the cushions, and
+remained in this attitude while Olive answered her and for long
+moments after; moments that seemed hours to both.
+
+Olive's eyes were full of pity, and her tone was very gentle. Her
+woman's quick instinct assured her that words of comfort were of no
+avail in this first moment of bitter awakening. She knew that it were
+better to say all that she deemed it her duty to say, now, while her
+hearer was passive; and stepping nearer the couch, she said:
+
+"Dr. Vaughan, who saw you in the company of a man so well known to him
+that to see a young girl in his society he knew could mean no good,
+came to me this morning with a brief account of your meeting of last
+night. He is too good a physiognomist not to have discovered, readily,
+that you were not such a woman as could receive no contamination from
+such as Lucian Davlin. He feared for you, believing you to be another
+victim of his treachery. Your coming to this hotel assured him that
+you were safe for the time, at least; and this being a subject so
+delicate that he, a stranger, feared to approach you with it, he
+desired me to come to you, and, in case his fears were well founded,
+to save you if I could. My poor, poor child! you have cast yourself
+upon the protection of a professional gambler; a man whose name has
+been associated for years with that of a notorious and handsome
+adventuress. If he has any fear or regard for anything, it is for her;
+and your very life would be worth little could she know you as her
+rival. Judge if such a man can have intentions that are honorable,
+where a young, lovely and unsophisticated girl like yourself is
+concerned."
+
+She paused here, but Madeline never stirred.
+
+"Come with me," continued Olive, drawing a step nearer the motionless
+girl; "accept me as your protector, for the present, at least. Believe
+me, I know what you are suffering now, and near at hand you will find
+that which will aid you to forget this man."
+
+Madeline slowly raised herself to a sitting posture and turned towards
+the speaker a face colorless as if dead, but with never a trace of a
+tear. Her eyes were unnaturally bright, and her lips were compressed,
+as if she had made, and was strong to keep, some dark resolve.
+
+"What is it that I am to find?" she said, in a low, intense tone.
+
+"A girl, young as you, and once as beautiful," replied Olive, sadly,
+"who is dying of a broken heart, and her destroyer is Lucian Davlin."
+
+Madeline gazed at her absently for a moment. "I suppose I had ought to
+hate you," she said, wearily; "you have made my life very black.
+Lucian Davlin will soon be here,--will you please go?"
+
+"Surely you are going with me?" said Olive, in amaze.
+
+"No."
+
+"You doubt me? Oh, I have not made you feel your danger! You think I
+am an impostor!"
+
+"No," said the girl, in the same quiet tone; "something here," putting
+her hand upon her bosom, "tells me that you are sincere. My own heart
+has abandoned me; it will not let me doubt you, much as I wish to. I
+cannot thank you for making my heart ache,--please go."
+
+Still with that air of unnatural calm, she arose and walked to the
+window.
+
+Of the two, Olive Girard was by far the more agitated. "Tell me," she
+said, in eager entreaty; "oh, tell me, you are not going with _him_?"
+
+Madeline turned sharply around. "I shall not add myself to the list of
+his victims," she said, briefly.
+
+And then the two gazed at each other in silence for a moment.
+
+"This is madness," said Olive, at length. "What rash thing do you
+meditate? I will not leave you to face this man alone; I dare not do
+it."
+
+Madeline came from the window and stood directly before her. "I am not
+the weak child you think me. You can do nothing but harm by remaining
+here. I will meet Lucian Davlin, and part with him in my own way," she
+said, between her teeth.
+
+Olive saw, in the set face, and stern eye, that she was indeed dealing
+with a character stubborn as death, and devoid of all fear. She
+dreaded to leave her thus, but felt assured that she could do nothing
+else.
+
+"Will you come to me afterward?" she asked. "You have no friends here,
+you tell me, and you need a friend now. Promise me this and I will
+go."
+
+"Thank you," said the girl, wearily; "at least I promise to go to no
+one else; good-by."
+
+Turning away, she resumed her position at the window, and never looked
+once at Olive after that.
+
+"I will write my address on this card," said Olive. She did so; then
+turning on the girl a look full of pitying tenderness, said: "I need
+not tell you to be brave; I should rather bid you be cautious.
+Remember, your life is worth more than the love and loss of such a
+man. Put this behind you, and come to me soon, believing that you are
+not friendless."
+
+She lowered her veil and, casting one more wistful glance at the
+silent figure by the window, went out and closed the door softly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+A STRUGGLE FOR MORE THAN LIFE.
+
+
+It is a fortunate provision of Providence that calamity comes upon us,
+in most cases, with a force so sudden and overwhelming that it is
+rather seen than felt. As we realize the full torture of an ugly
+wound, not when the blow is struck, but after the whole system has
+been made to languish under its effects, so a blow struck at the heart
+can not make itself fully felt while the mind is still unable to
+picture what the future will be like now that the grief has come. We
+only taste our bitterest grief when the mind has shaken itself aloof
+from the present woe, to travel forward and question what the future
+can hold for us, now that our life is bereft of this treasure.
+
+Madeline's condition, after the departure of Olive Girard, was an
+exponent of this truth. Fast and hard worked her thoughts, but they
+only encountered the ills of the present, and never glanced beyond.
+
+She had set her lover aloft as her ideal, the embodiment of truth,
+honor, and manhood. He had fallen. Truth, honor, manhood, had passed
+out of existence for her. And she had loved him so well! She loved him
+even yet.
+
+The thought brought with it a pang of terror, and as if conjured up by
+it, the scenes of the day previous marshalled themselves again for
+review. Could it be possible? Was it only yesterday that she listened
+to his tender love words, beneath the old tree in Oakley woods? Only
+yesterday that her step-father was revealed in all his vileness,--his
+plots, his hopes, his fears. Her mother's sad life laid bare before
+her; Aunt Hagar's story; her defiance of the two men at Oakley; her
+flight; Clarence Vaughan; the strange, great city; Olive Girard; and
+now--now, just a dead blank, with no outlook, no hope.
+
+And was this all since yesterday?
+
+What was it, she wondered, that made people mad? Not things like
+these; she was calm, very calm. She _was_ calm; too calm. If something
+would occur to break up this icy stillness of heart, to convulse the
+numbed powers of feeling, and shock them back into life before it was
+too late.
+
+She waited patiently for the coming of her base lover, lying upon the
+soft divan, with her hands folded, and wondering if she would feel
+_much_ different if she were dead.
+
+When the summons came, at last, she went quietly down to greet the man
+who little dreamed that his reign in her heart was at an end, and that
+his hold upon her life was loosening fast.
+
+When Madeline entered the presence of Lucian Davlin, she took the
+initiatory step in the part she was henceforth to play. And she took
+it unhesitatingly, as if dissimulation was to her no new thing. Truly,
+necessity, emergency, is the mother of much besides "invention."
+Entering, she gave him her hand with free grace, and smiled up at him
+as he bade her good-morning.
+
+He remarked on her pale cheeks, but praised the brightness of her
+eyes, and accepted her explanation that the bustle and the strangeness
+was unusual to her, as a natural and sufficient reason for the pallor.
+
+"You will soon grow accustomed to that," he said, as they descended to
+the carriage, "and be the rosiest, fairest little woman on the
+boulevard, for I mean to drive half the men jealous by taking you
+there often."
+
+[Illustration: "She wondered if she would feel _much_ different if she
+were dead."--page 76.]
+
+Madeline made no reply, and they entered the carriage.
+
+Davlin was not surprised at her silence; he was prepared for a little
+coyness; in fact, for some resistance, and expected to have occasion
+for the specious eloquence always at his command. Of course, the
+result would be the same,--he had no doubt of that, and so in silence
+they reached their destination.
+
+Up a broad flight of stairs, and then a door. Lucian rings, and an
+immaculate colored servant appears, who seems as well bred as an
+English baronet, and who expresses no surprise at the presence of a
+lady there.
+
+Up another flight of softly carpeted stairs, across a wide hall, and
+lo! the abode of the sybarite, the apartments of the disciple of
+Chance.
+
+"Welcome to your kingdom, fair queen," says Lucian, as they enter.
+"This is your abiding place, for a time, at least, and I am your slave
+for always," and he kneels playfully before her.
+
+Madeline turns away, and, finding it easiest to do, in her then state
+of mind, begins a careless tour of the rooms, making a pretense of
+criticism, and finding in even this slow promenade some relief from
+absolute quiet and silence.
+
+She guarded her face lest it should display too much of that locked,
+sullen calm underneath, and replied by an occasional word and nod to
+his running comments upon the different articles undergoing
+examination. Fingering carelessly the rare ornaments upon a fine set
+of brackets, her eye rested upon an elegant little gold mounted
+pistol. She turned away quickly, and they passed to other things.
+
+Her replies became more ready, and she began questioning gravely about
+this or that, listening with childlike wonder to his answers, and
+winning him into a pleasant bantering humor.
+
+Finally he threw himself upon a chair, and selecting a cigar proceeded
+to light it.
+
+Madeline continued to flit from picture to statuette, questioning with
+much apparent interest. At last, she paused again before the bracket
+which held the tiny toy that had for her a fascination.
+
+"What a pretty little pistol," she said. "Is it loaded?"
+
+"I don't know," replied he, lazily. "Bring it to me; I will see."
+
+He was inwardly wondering at her cool acceptance of the situation; and
+felt inclined to congratulate himself. Seeing her look at the little
+weapon doubtfully, he laughed and strode to her side, taking it in his
+hand.
+
+"It is not loaded," he said. "Did you ever fire a pistol?"
+
+"No; show me how to hold it."
+
+He placed it in her hand, and showed her how to manipulate the
+trigger, and to take aim.
+
+"I should like to see it loaded," she said, at last.
+
+"And so you shall."
+
+He smiled, and crossing the room took from a little inlaid box a
+handful of cartridges. Madeline watched him attentively, as he
+explained to her the operation of loading. At length expressing
+herself satisfied, and declining his invitation to try and load it
+herself, she turned away.
+
+Davlin extracted the cartridge from the pistol, and returned it to its
+place, saying: "You might wish to practice at aiming, and won't want
+it loaded."
+
+"I shall not want such practice," she replied.
+
+A rap at the door, and the servant announced that dinner was come.
+
+"I ordered our dinner here, to-day," explained Lucian, "thinking it
+would be more cosy. You may serve it, Henry," to the servant.
+
+Dinner was accordingly served, and Lucian found occasion to criticise,
+very severely, the manner of his serving man. More than once, his
+voice took on an intolerant tone.
+
+Sitting opposite, Madeline saw the man, as he stood behind his
+master's chair, dart upon him a look of hatred. Her lips framed a
+smile quite new to them; and, after dessert was placed upon the table
+and the man dismissed, she said:
+
+"You don't like your servant, I judge?"
+
+"Oh, he's as good as any," replied Lucian, carelessly. "They are
+pretty much alike, and all need a setting back occasionally;--on
+general principles, you know."
+
+"I suppose so," assented Madeline, indifferently, as if the subject
+had lost all interest for her.
+
+Slowly the afternoon wore on, moments seeming hours to the despairing
+girl. At length Lucian, finding her little inclined to assist him in
+keeping up a conversation, said:
+
+"I am selfish not to remember that you are very tired. I will leave
+you to solitude and repose for a little time, shall I?"
+
+"If you wish," she replied, wearily. "I suppose I need the rest."
+
+"Then I will look in upon some of my friends. I have almost lost the
+run of city doings during my absence. Meantime, ring for anything you
+may need, won't you?"
+
+"I will ring;" and she looked, not at him, but at the bracket beyond.
+
+"Then good-by, little sweetheart. It is now four; I will be with you
+at six."
+
+He embraced her tenderly, and went out with that _debonnair_ grace
+which she had so loved. She looked after him with a hungry, hopeless
+longing in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, why does God make His foulest things the fairest?" she moaned.
+"Why did He put love in our hearts if it must turn our lives to ashes?
+Why must one be so young and yet so miserable? Oh, mother, mother, are
+all women wronged like us?"
+
+Madeline arose and commenced pacing the floor restlessly, nervously.
+She had come here with no fixed purpose, nothing beyond the indefinite
+determination to defy and thwart the man who had entrapped her. She
+had never for a moment feared for her safety, or doubted her ability
+to accomplish her object.
+
+A plan was now taking shape in her mind, and as she pondered, she
+extended her march, quite unthinkingly, on into the adjoining room,
+the door of which stood invitingly open. The first object to attract
+her attention was the light traveling coat which Lucian had worn on
+the previous day; worn when he was pleading his suit under the trees
+of Oakley; and in a burst of anger, as if it were a part of him she
+was thinking of so bitterly, she seized and hurled it from her. As it
+flew across the room, something fell from a pocket, almost at her
+feet.
+
+She looked down at it; it was a telegram, the one, doubtless, that had
+called him back to the city the day before. A business matter, he had
+said. Into her mind flashed the words of Olive Girard, "a professional
+gambler." She would see what this "business" was. Stooping, she picked
+up the crumpled envelope, and quickly devoured its contents.
+
+     Must see you immediately. Come by first train; am waiting at
+     your quarters.
+
+                                                 CORA.
+
+Madeline went back to the lighter, larger room, and seating herself,
+looked about her. Again the words of Olive rung in her ears.
+
+"Cora!" she ejaculated. "He obeyed her summons, and brought _me_ with
+him. And she was here only last night--and where has she gone? This
+must be the 'notorious,' the 'handsome.' Ah, Lucian Davlin, this is
+well; this nerves me for the worst! I shall not falter now. This is
+the first link in the chain that shall yet make your life a burden."
+
+She crossed the room and touched the bell.
+
+"Now for the first real step," said Madeline, grimly.
+
+The door opened and the dark face of Henry appeared, bowing on the
+threshold.
+
+"Come in, Henry, and close the door," said Madeline, pleasantly. "I
+want you to do me a favor, if you will."
+
+Henry came in, and stood waiting her order.
+
+"Will you carry a note for me, Henry, and bring me back an answer? I
+want _you_ to take it, because I feel as if I could trust you. You
+look like one who would be faithful to those who were kind to you."
+
+"Thank you, lady; indeed I would," said the man, in grateful tones.
+
+Madeline was quick to see the advantage to be gained by possessing the
+regard and confidence of this man, who must, necessarily, know so much
+that it was desirable to learn of the life and habits of him, between
+whom and herself must be waged a war to the very death.
+
+She reasoned rapidly, and as rapidly arrived at her conclusions. The
+first of those was, that Lucian Davlin, by his intolerance and
+unkindness, had fitted a tool to her hand, and she, therefore, as a
+preliminary step, must propitiate and win the confidence of this same
+tool left by his master within her reach.
+
+"And will you carry my letter, Henry, and return with an answer as
+soon as you can? You will find the person at this hour without any
+trouble."
+
+"Master ordered me to attend to your wants," replied the man, in a
+somewhat surly tone.
+
+She understood this somber inflection, and said: "He 'ordered' you?
+Yes, I see; is your master always as hard to please as to-day, Henry?
+He certainly was a little unkind."
+
+"He's always the same, madame," said the man, gloomily. Her words
+brought vividly before his mind's eye the many instances of his
+master's unkindness.
+
+"I'm sorry he is not kind to you," said the girl, hypocritically. "And
+I don't want you to carry this letter because _he_ ordered you. I want
+you to do it to oblige _me_, Henry, and it will make me always your
+friend."
+
+Ah, Henry, one resentful gleam from your eyes, as you stood behind the
+chair of your tyrant, has given to this slight girl the clue by which
+to sway you to her will. She was smiling upon him, and the man
+replied, in gratitude:
+
+"I'll do anything for you, madame."
+
+"Thank you, Henry. I was sure I could trust you. Will you get me some
+writing material, please?"
+
+Henry crossed to the handsome davenport, and found it locked. But when
+taking this precaution, Davlin overlooked the fact that Cora's last
+gift--a little affair intended for the convenience of travelers, being
+a combined dressing case and writing desk, the dividing compartment of
+which contained an excellent cabinet photograph of the lady herself,
+so enshrined as to be the first thing to greet the eyes of whosoever
+should open the little receptacle--was still accessible.
+
+Failing to open the davenport, Henry turned to this; and pressing upon
+the spring lock, exposed to the view of Madeline, standing near, the
+pictured face of Cora. Spite of his grievances, the sense of his duty
+was strong upon him, and he put himself between the girl and the
+object of her interest. Not so quickly but that she saw, and
+understood the movement. Stepping to his side, she put out her hand,
+saying:
+
+"What an exquisite picture--Madame Cora, is it not, Henry?"
+
+She was looking him full in the eyes, and he answered, staring in
+astonishment the while: "Yes, miss."
+
+"She is very handsome," mused the girl, as if to herself: "left just
+before my arrival, I think?" she added, at a venture.
+
+Again her eyes searched his face, and again he gave a surprised
+assent.
+
+"Do you like her, Henry?" questioned she, intent on her purpose.
+
+"She is just like _him_," he said, jerking his head grimly, while his
+voice took again a resentful tone. "She thinks a man who is _black_
+has no feelings."
+
+He placed pen, ink and paper on the table as he answered, and then
+looked to her inquiringly.
+
+"You may wait here while I write, if you will," she said, and took up
+the pen.
+
+She had brought away from the G---- House, the two cards of her
+would-be friends, and she now consulted them before she asked.
+
+"No. 52 ---- street; is that far, Henry?"
+
+"It's a five minutes' walk," he answered. "I can go and come in twenty
+minutes, allowing time for an answer."
+
+"Very good," she said, abruptly, and wrote rapidly:
+
+     _Clarence Vaughan._
+
+            No. 52 ---- street.
+
+     SIR--Having no other friend at hand, I take you at your
+     word. I need your aid, to rescue me from the power of a bad
+     man. Will you meet me, with a carriage, at the south corner
+     of this block, in one hour, and take me to Mrs. Girard, who
+     has offered me a shelter? You _know_ the danger I wish to
+     escape. Aid me "_in the name of your mother_."
+
+                                          MADELINE "WEIR."
+
+This is what she penned, and looking up she asked: "What is the number
+of this place, Henry?"
+
+"91 Empire block," he replied; "C---- street."
+
+She added this, and then folding and enclosing, addressed it to
+Clarence Vaughan, M. D., etc.
+
+"There, Henry, take it as quickly as you can; and some day I will try
+and reward you."
+
+She smiled upon him as she gave him the letter. He took it, bowed low,
+and hurried away.
+
+She listened until the sound of his footstep could be heard no longer.
+Then rising quickly, she opened the receptacle that held the portrait
+of the woman who, though unseen, was still an enemy. Long she gazed
+upon the pictured face, and when at last she closed the case,
+springing the lock with a sharp click, she muttered between set teeth:
+
+"I shall _know_ you when I see you, madame."
+
+Crossing to the pistol bracket, she took the little weapon in her
+hand, and picking up one of the cartridges left by its careless owner,
+loaded it carefully. Having done this she placed the weapon in her
+pocket.
+
+She paced to and fro, to and fro; nothing would have been harder for
+her than to remain quiet then. Her eyes wandered often to the tiny
+bronze clock on the marble above the grate.
+
+Ten minutes; her letter was delivered, was being answered
+perhaps;--fifteen; how slowly the moments were going!--twenty; what if _he_
+should return, too soon? Instinctively she placed her hand upon the pocket
+holding the little pistol. Twenty-five minutes; what if her messenger
+should fail her? And that card had clearly stated "office hours three to
+five." Twenty-six; oh, how slow, how slow!--twenty-seven; had the clock
+stopped? no;--twenty-eight--nine--half an hour.
+
+Where was Henry?
+
+She felt a giddiness creeping over her; how close the air was. Her
+nerves were at their utmost tension; another strain upon the sharply
+strung chords would overcome her. She felt this vaguely. If she should
+be baffled now! She could take fresh heart, could nerve herself anew,
+if aid came to her, but if _he_ should come she feared, in her now
+half frenzied condition, to be alone, she was so strangely nervous, so
+weak!
+
+How plainly she saw it, the face of Clarence Vaughan. Oh, it was a
+good face! When she saw it again she could rest. She had not felt it
+before, but she did need rest sorely.
+
+Thirty-five minutes,--oh, they had been hours to her; weary, weary
+time!
+
+How many a sad watcher has reckoned the flying moments as creeping
+hours, while sitting lonely, with heavy eyes, trembling frame, and
+heart almost bursting with its weight of suspense--waiting.
+
+Forty minutes--and a footstep in the passage! Her heart almost stopped
+beating. It was Henry.
+
+"I had to wait, as he was busy with a patient," said he,
+apologetically, handing her the letter she desired.
+
+Madeline tore open the missive with eager fingers, and read:
+
+_Miss Madeline W._:
+
+     Thank you for your faith in me. I will meet you at the place
+     and time appointed. Do not fail me. Respectfully,
+
+                                                C. VAUGHAN.
+
+She drew a long breath of relief.
+
+"Thank you, Henry. Now I shall leave this place; promise me that you
+will not tell your master where I went or how. Will you promise?"
+
+"I will, miss," said the man, earnestly. "Is this all I can do?"
+
+"If you would be my true friend--if I might trust you, Henry--I would
+ask more of you. But I should ask you to work against your master. He
+has wronged me cruelly, and I need a friend who can serve me as you
+can quite easily. I should not command you as a servant, but ask you
+to aid me as a true friend, for I think your heart is whiter than
+his."
+
+And Henry was won. Starting forward, he exclaimed:
+
+"He treats me as if I were a dog; and you, as if I were white and a
+gentleman! Let me be your servant, and I will be very faithful; tell
+me what I can do."
+
+"Thank you, Henry; I will trust you. To-morrow, at noon, call at Dr.
+Vaughan's office and he will tell you where you can find me. Then come
+to me. You can serve me best by remaining with your master, at
+present; and I will try, after I have left this place, to reward you
+as you deserve."
+
+"I will obey you, mistress," said the delighted servant. "I shall be
+glad to serve where I can hear a kind word. And I shall be glad to
+help you settle accounts with _him_. I will be there to-morrow, no
+fear for me."
+
+She turned, and put on her wrappings with a feeling of exultation. He
+would come soon, smiling and triumphant, and she would not be there!
+He should fret and wonder, question and search, but when they met
+again the power should be on her side.
+
+She turned to the waiting servant, saying: "I am ready, Henry."
+
+He opened the door as if for a princess. Before Madeline had lifted
+her foot from the carpet, her eyes became riveted upon the open
+doorway.
+
+There, smiling and _insouciant_, stood _Lucian Davlin_!
+
+Madeline stood like one in a nightmare, motionless and speechless.
+Again, and more powerfully, came over her senses that insidious,
+creeping faintness; that sickening of body and soul together.
+
+It was not the situation alone, hazardous as it certainly was, which
+filled her with this shuddering terror; it was the feeling that
+vitality had almost exhausted itself. She suddenly realized the
+meaning of the awful lethargy that seemed benumbing her faculties. The
+"last straw" was now weighing her down, and, standing mute and
+motionless she was putting forth all her will power to comprehend the
+situation, grasp and master it.
+
+Like a dark stone image Henry stood, his hand upon the open door, his
+eyes fastened upon the man blocking the way.
+
+Davlin, whose first thought had been that the open door was to welcome
+his approach, realized in an instant as he gazed upon Madeline, that
+he was about to be defied. There was no mistaking the expression of
+the face, so white and set. He elevated his eyebrows in an elaborate
+display of astonishment.
+
+"Just in time, I should say," removing his hat with mock courtesy, and
+stepping across the threshold. "Not going out without an escort, my
+dear? Surely not. Really, I owe a debt of gratitude to my friends down
+town, for boring me so insufferably, else I should have missed you, I
+fear."
+
+No answer; no change in the face or attitude of the girl before him.
+
+"Close that door, sir, and take yourself off," he said, turning to
+Henry.
+
+Remembering her words, "You can serve me best here," Henry bowed with
+unusual humility, and went out.
+
+[Illustration: "There, smiling and _insouciant_, stood _Lucian
+Davlin_!"--page 88.]
+
+"I don't think she is afraid of him," he muttered, as he went down the
+hall; "anyhow, I won't be far away, in case she needs me."
+
+Lucian Davlin folded his arms with insolent grace, and leaning lazily
+against the closed door, gazed, with his wicked half smile, upon the
+pale girl before him.
+
+Thus for a few moments they faced each other, without a word. At
+length, she broke the silence. Advancing a step, she looked him full
+in the face and said, in a calm, even tone:
+
+"Open that door, sir, and let me pass."
+
+"Phew--w--w!" he half whistled, half ejaculated, opening wide his
+insolent eyes. "How she commands us; like a little empress, by Jove!
+Might the humblest of your adorers be permitted to ask where you were
+going, most regal lady?"
+
+"Not back to the home I left for the sake of a gambler and _roue_,"
+she said, bitterly.
+
+"Oh," thought he, "she has just got her ideas awakened on this
+subject: believed me the soul of honor, and all that. Only a small
+matter this, after all."
+
+"Don't call hard names, little woman," he said aloud. "I'm not such a
+very bad man, after all. By the way, I shouldn't have thought it
+exactly in your line, to order up my servant for examination in my
+absence."
+
+"I am not indebted to your servant for my knowledge concerning you,
+sir. I wish to leave this place; stand aside and let me pass."
+
+The red flush had returned to her cheeks, the dangerous sparkle to her
+eyes; her courage and spirits rose in response to his sneering
+pleasantries. Her nerves were tempered like steel. He little dreamed
+of the courage, strength and power she could pit against him.
+
+He dropped one hand carelessly, and inserted it jauntily in his
+pocket.
+
+"Zounds; but you look like a little tigress," he exclaimed,
+admiringly. "Really, rage becomes you vastly, but it's wearisome,
+after all, my dear. So drop high tragedy, like a sensible girl, and
+tell me what is the meaning of this new freak."
+
+"I will tell you this, sir: I shall leave this place now, and I wish
+never to see your face again. Where I go is no concern of yours. Why I
+go, I leave to your own imagination."
+
+"Bravo; what a little actress you would make! But now for a display of
+my histrionic talents. Leave this place, against my will, you can not;
+and I wish to see your face often, for many days to come. Where you go
+I must go, too; and why you go, is because of a prudish scruple that
+has no place in the world you and I will live in."
+
+"The world _you_ live in is not large enough for me too, Lucian
+Davlin. And you and I part, now and forever."
+
+"Not so fast, little one," he answered, in his softest, most
+persuasive tone. "See, I am the same lover you pledged yourself to
+only yesterday. I adore you the same as then; I desire to make you
+happy just the same. You have put a deep gulf between yourself and
+your home; you can not go back; you would go out from here to meet a
+worse fate, to fall into worse hands. Come, dear, put off that frown."
+
+He made a gesture as if to draw her to him. She sprang away, and
+placing herself at a distance, looked at him over a broad, low-backed
+chair, saying:
+
+"Not a step nearer me, sir, and not another word of your sophistry. I
+will not remain here. Do you understand me? _I will not!_"
+
+Lucian dragged a chair near the door, and throwing himself lazily
+into it, surveyed the enraged girl with a look of mingled
+astonishment, amusement, and annoyance.
+
+"Really, this is rather hard on a fellow's patience, my lady. Not a
+step nearer the door, my dear; and no more defiance, if you please.
+You perceive I temper my tragedy with a little politeness," he added,
+parenthetically. "I will not permit you to leave me; do you hear me?
+_I will not!_"
+
+His tone of aggressive mockery was maddening to the desperate girl. It
+lent her a fresh, last impulse of wild, defiant energy. There was not
+the shadow of a fear in her mind or heart now. The rush of outraged
+feeling took full possession of her, and, for a second, deprived her
+of all power of speech or action. In another instant she stood before
+him, her eyes blazing with wrath, and in her hand, steadfast and
+surely aimed, a tiny pistol--his pistol, that he had taught her to
+load and aim not two short hours before!
+
+He was not a coward, this man; and rage at being thus baffled and
+placed at a disadvantage by his own weapon, drove all the mockery from
+his face.
+
+He gave a sudden bound.
+
+There was a flash, a sharp report, and Lucian Davlin reeled for a
+moment, his right arm hanging helpless and bleeding. Only for a
+moment, for as the girl sprang past him, he wheeled about, seized her
+with his strong left arm, and holding her close to him in a vice-like
+clutch, hissed, while the ghastly paleness caused by the flowing blood
+overspread his face:
+
+"Little demon! I will kill you before I will lose you now!
+You--shall--not--esca--"
+
+A deathly faintness overcame him, and he fell heavily; still clasping
+the girl, now senseless like himself.
+
+[Illustration: "In her hand, steadfast and surely aimed, a tiny
+pistol--"--page 92.]
+
+Hearing the pistol shot, and almost simultaneously a heavy fall,
+Henry hurried through the long passage and threw open the door. One
+glance sufficed, and then he rushed down the stairs in frantic haste.
+
+Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, punctual to the time appointed, had driven
+rapidly to the spot designated by Madeline. He was about to alight
+from the carriage, when he drew back suddenly, and sat in the shadow
+as a man passed up the street.
+
+It was Lucian Davlin, and he entered the building bearing the number
+Madeline had given in her note.
+
+Instantly Vaughan comprehended the situation. She had sent for aid in
+this man's absence, and his return might frustrate her plans.
+Pondering upon the best course to pursue, he descended from the
+carriage, and paced the length of the block. Turning in his promenade,
+his ear was greeted by a pistol shot. Could it come from that
+building? It sounded from there certainly. It was now five minutes
+past the time appointed; could it be there was foul play? He paused at
+the foot of the stairs, irresolute.
+
+Suddenly there was a rush of feet, and Henry came flying down, the
+whites of his eyes looking as if they would never resume their natural
+proportions. Clarence intercepted the man as he essayed to pass,
+evidently without having seen him.
+
+"Oh, sir!--Oh, doctor, come right up stairs, quick, sir," he
+exclaimed.
+
+"Was that shot from here, my man?" inquired Doctor Vaughan, as he
+followed up the stairs.
+
+"Yes, sir," hurrying on.
+
+"Any people in the building besides your master and the lady?"
+
+"No, sir; not at this time. This way, sir."
+
+He threw open the door and stepped back. Entering the room, this is
+what Clarence Vaughan saw:
+
+Lying upon the floor in a pool of blood, the splendid form of Lucian
+Davlin, one arm dripping the red life fluid, the other clasping close
+the form of a beautiful girl. His eyes were closed and his face pallid
+as the dead. The eyes of the girl were staring wide and set, her face
+expressing unutterable fear and horror, every muscle rigid as if in a
+struggle still. One hand was clenched, and thrown out as if to ward
+off that death-like grasp, while the other clutched a pistol, still
+warm and smelling of powder.
+
+It was the work of a moment to stop the flow of blood, and restore the
+wounded man to consciousness. But first he had removed the insensible
+girl from Davlin's grasp, laid her upon a bed in the inner room and,
+removing the fatal weapon from her hand, instructed Henry how to apply
+the remedies a skilful surgeon has always about him, especially in the
+city.
+
+At the first sure symptoms of slowly returning life, Doctor Vaughan
+summoned Henry to look after his master, whom he left, with rather
+unprofessional alacrity, to attend to the fair patient in whose
+welfare he felt so much interest. As he bent over the still
+unconscious girl, his face was shadowed with troubled thought. She was
+in no common faint, and feeling fully assured what the result would
+be, he almost feared to see the first fluttering return of life.
+
+At last a shudder agitated her form, and looking up with just a gleam
+of recognition, she passed into another swoon, thence to another.
+Through long weary hours she only opened her eyes to close them,
+blinded with the vision of unutterable woe; and so the long night wore
+away.
+
+Dr. Vaughan had given brief, stern orders, in accordance with which
+Lucian Davlin had entrusted his wound to another surgeon for dressing,
+and then, still in obedience to orders, had swallowed a soothing
+potion and betaken himself to other apartments.
+
+Henry had summoned a trusty nurse well known to Clarence Vaughan, to
+assist him at the bedside of Madeline.
+
+In the gray of morning, pallid and interesting, with his arm in a
+sling, Lucian reappeared in the sick room. Evidently he had not
+employed all of the intervening time in slumber, for his course of
+action seemed to have been fully matured.
+
+"She won't be able to leave here for many days, I should fancy?" he
+half inquired in a low tone, sinking languidly into a sleepy-hollow,
+commanding a view of the face of the patient, and the back of the
+physician.
+
+"Not alive," was the brief but significant answer.
+
+"Not alive! Great heavens, doctor, don't tell me that my miserable
+accident will cost the little girl her life!"
+
+"Ah! your accident: how was that?" bending over Madeline.
+
+"Why, you see," explained Davlin, "She picked up the pistol, and not
+being acquainted with the use of fire-arms, desired to investigate
+under my instructions. Having loaded it, explaining the process by
+illustration, she, being timid, begged me to put it up. Laughing at
+her fear, I was about to obey, when moving around carelessly, my hand
+came in contact with that chair, setting the thing off. The sight of
+my bleeding arm frightened her so that I saw she was about to faint.
+As I caught her I myself lost consciousness, and we fell together. But
+how will she come out, doctor? tell me that; poor little girl!"
+
+"She will come out from this trance soon, to die almost immediately,
+or to pass through a fever stage that may result fatally later. Her
+bodily condition is one of unusual prostration from fatigue; and
+evidently, she has been sustaining some undue excitement for a
+considerable time."
+
+"Been traveling, and pretty well tired with the journey. That, I
+suppose, taken with this pistol affair--but tell me, doctor, what she
+will need, so that I may attend to it immediately."
+
+"If she is living at noon," said Dr. Vaughan, reflectively, "it will
+be out of the question to remove her from here, without risking her
+life for weeks to come. If she comes out of this, and you will leave
+her in my hands, I will, with the aid of this good woman," nodding
+toward the nurse, "undertake to pull her through. It will be necessary
+that she have perfect quiet, and sees no face that might in any manner
+excite her, during her illness and convalescence."
+
+Davlin mused for a few moments before making answer. He did not care
+to excite remark by calling in unnecessary attendants. Dr. Vaughan he
+knew by reputation as a skilful physician. As well trust him as
+another, he thought, and it was no part of his plan to let this girl
+die if skill could save her.
+
+In answer to his natural inquiry as to how the doctor was so speedily
+on the spot when needed, Henry had truthfully replied that he knew the
+medical man by sight, and that, fortunately, he was passing when he
+ran down to the street for assistance. Davlin was further convinced
+that he, Henry, knew nothing save that the young lady rang for him to
+show her out, and he, according to orders, had obeyed.
+
+"Well, sir," Davlin said, at last, "I shall leave the lady and the
+premises entirely in your hands, as soon as the crisis has passed.
+Then, as my presence might not prove beneficial, while I carry this
+arm in a sling, at least, I will run down into the country for a few
+days. My man, here, is entirely at your disposal. Don't spare any
+pains to pull her through safely, doctor. I will look in again at
+noon."
+
+He rose and went softly out of the room, the doctor having answered
+him only by a nod of assent.
+
+"Zounds, how weak I feel," he ejaculated. "I hope the girl won't die.
+Anyhow, I have no notion of figuring at a death-bed scene. So I'll
+just keep myself out of the way until the thing is decided. Then, I'll
+run down and let Cora coddle me up a bit. I can explain my wounded arm
+as the result of a little affair at the card-table."
+
+Noon came, and slowly, slowly, stern Death relaxed his grasp upon the
+miserable girl, for Death, like man, finds no satisfaction in claiming
+willing victims. Slowly the life fluttered back to her heart; and
+because Death had yielded her up, and to retain it would be to lose
+her life, reason forsook her.
+
+Under the watchful care of the skilled nurse, and the ministrations of
+the young physician, she now lay tossing in the delirium of fever.
+
+Nothing worse to fear, for days at least, reported the doctor. So the
+afternoon train bore Lucian Davlin away from the city and his victim,
+to seek repose and diversion in the society of his comrade, Cora.
+
+"She will come out of this now, I think," he muttered. "Then--Oh! I'll
+tame your proud spirit yet, my lady! I would not give you up now for
+half a million."
+
+And he meant it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THREADS OF THE FABRIC.
+
+
+What had become of Madeline Payne?
+
+The question went the round of the village, as such questions do. The
+servants of Oakley fed upon it. They held secret conferences in the
+kitchen, and grew loud and argumentative when they knew John Arthur
+was safely out of hearing. They bore themselves with an air of
+subdued, unobservant melancholy in his presence, and waxed important,
+mysterious and unsatisfactory, when in converse with the towns
+folk--as was quite right and proper, for were they not, in the eyes of
+mystery hunters, objects of curiosity secondary only to their master
+himself?
+
+The somber-faced old housekeeper gave utterance to a doleful croak or
+two, and a more doleful prophecy. But after a summons from John
+Arthur, and a brief interview with him in the closely shut sacredness
+of his especial den, not even the social intercourse of the kitchen
+and the inspiration that the prolonged absence of the master always
+lent to things below stairs, could beguile from her anything beyond
+the terse statement that "she didn't meddle with her master's
+affairs," and she "s'posed Miss Madeline knew where she was."
+
+The housemaid, who read novels and was rather fond of Miss Payne,
+grieved for a very little while, but found in this "visitation of
+providence," as John Arthur piously termed it, food for romance
+weaving on her own responsibility. She entertained Peter, the groom,
+coachman and general factotum, with divers suggestions and
+suppositions, each more soul harrowing than the last, making of poor
+Madeline a lay figure upon which she fitted all the catastrophes that
+had ever befallen her yellow-covered "heroinesses."
+
+The villagers talked. It was all they could do, and their tongues were
+very busy for a time until, in fact, a fresher sensation arrived.
+Nurse Hagar was viewed and interviewed; but beyond sincere expression
+of grief at her disappearance, and the unvarying statement that she
+had not even the slightest conjecture as to the fate of the lost girl,
+nothing could be gained from her.
+
+Hagar was somewhat given to rather bluntly spoken opinions of folk who
+happened to run counter to her notions in regard to prying, or, in
+fact, her notions on any subject. In the present emergency she became
+a veritable social hedgehog, and was soon left to solitude and her own
+devices.
+
+Whatever were Hagar's opinions on the subject, she kept them
+discreetly locked within her own breast. She had received, at their
+last interview, a revelation of the depth and force of character which
+lay dormant in the nature of Madeline; and she believed, even when she
+grieved most, that the girl would return, and that when she came she
+would make her advent felt.
+
+John Arthur went to the city "to put the matter in the hands of the
+detectives," he said. But as he most fervently hoped and wished that
+he had seen the last of his "stumbling--block," and believed that of
+her own will she would not return, it is hardly to be supposed that
+the Secret Service was severely taxed.
+
+Be this as it may, the Summer days passed and he heard nothing of
+Madeline.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Meantime, the neat little hotel that rejoiced in the name of the
+Bellair House, displayed on a fresh page of its register the signature
+of Lucian Davlin once more, and underneath it that of Mrs. C.
+Torrance.
+
+Mrs. C. Torrance was a blonde young widow, dressed in weeds of most
+elegant quality and latest style, with just the faintest hint of an
+approaching season of half mourning.
+
+Mrs. Torrance had now been an inmate of Bellair House some days, and
+she certainly had no reason to complain that her present outlook was
+not all that could be desired. Already she had met the object of her
+little masquerade, and it was charming to see the alacrity with which
+John Arthur placed himself in the snare set for him by these
+plotters, and how gracefully he submitted as the cords tightened
+around him.
+
+Over and over again Davlin thanked his lucky star for having so
+ordered his goings that, on his previous visit, he had never been
+brought into immediate contact with John Arthur. Over and again he
+congratulated himself that his meetings with Madeline had been kept
+their own secret, for he knew nothing of the watchful, jealous eyes of
+old Hagar.
+
+On a fine summer morning, or rather "forenoon," for Mrs. Torrance was
+a luxurious widow, and her "brother," Mr. Davlin, not at all enamored
+of early rising,--on a fine forenoon, then, the pair sat in the little
+hotel parlor, partaking of breakfast. They relished it, too, if one
+might judge from the occasional pretty little ejaculations, expressive
+of enjoyment and appreciation, that fell from the lips of the widow.
+
+"More cream, monsieur? Oh, but this fruit is delicious! And I believe
+there is a grand difference in the qualities of city and country
+cream."
+
+"The difference in the favor of the country living, eh? I say, Co.,
+don't you think your appetite is rather better than is exactly
+expected, or in order, for a widow in the second stage of her grief?"
+
+Things were moving just now as Mr. Davlin approved, and he felt
+inclined to be jocular.
+
+Cora laughed merrily. Then holding up a pretty, berry-stained hand,
+she said, with mock solemnity, "That is the last, my greatly shocked
+brother. But didn't you inform Mr. Arthur that we should accept of his
+kind offer to survey the woods and grounds of Oakley in his company,
+and isn't this the day, and almost the hour?"
+
+"So it is; I had forgotten."
+
+It was not long before the pair were equipped, and sauntering slowly
+in the direction of the Oakley estate.
+
+Their morning's enterprise was more than rewarded, and the cause of
+the widow was in a fair way to victory, when, after having politely
+refused to lunch with Mr. Arthur on that day, and gracefully promised
+to dine at Oakley on the next day but one, they bade adieu to that
+flattered and fascinated gentleman, and left him at the entrance of
+his grounds.
+
+Then they sauntered slowly back, keeping to the wooded path. Arriving
+at the fallen tree, the scene of so many interviews between Madeline
+and Lucian, Cora seated herself on the mossy trunk and announced her
+determination to rest.
+
+Accordingly her escort threw himself upon the soft grass, and betook
+himself to his inevitable cigar, while he closed his eyes and allowed
+the vision of Madeline to occupy the place now usurped by Cora. Very
+absorbing the vision must have been, for he gave an almost nervous
+start as Cora's voice broke the stillness:
+
+"Lucian, did you ever see this runaway daughter of Mr. Arthur's?"
+
+Lucian started unmistakably now. Then he employed himself in pulling
+up tufts of the soft grass, pretending not to have heard.
+
+"Lucian!" impatiently.
+
+"Eh, Co., what is it?" affecting a yawn.
+
+"I ask, did you ever see this Madeline Payne, who ran away recently?"
+
+"I? Oh, no. Old fellow always kept her shut up too close, I fancy.
+They say she was pretty, and you are the first pretty woman I have
+seen in these parts, Co."
+
+[Illustration: "More cream, Monsieur?"--page 101.]
+
+"Well, then, I'm sorry you didn't," quoth Cora, "for from motives of
+delicacy I really don't care to inquire of others, and I have just
+curiosity enough to wish to know how she looked."
+
+"Sorry I can't enlighten you, Co. Get it all out of the old fellow
+after the joyful event."
+
+"Umph! Well, _that_ business prospers, _mon brave_. We shall win, I
+think, as usual."
+
+"Yes; and never easier, Co."
+
+"Well, I don't anticipate much trouble in landing our fish. But come
+along, Lucian, this romantic dell might make you forget luncheon; it
+can't have that effect on me."
+
+Cora gathered her draperies about her, and prepared to quit the little
+grove, her companion following half reluctantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+GONE!
+
+
+Hours that seemed days; days that seemed years; weeks that seemed
+centuries; yet they all passed, and Madeline Payne scarce knew, when
+they were actually gone, that they were not all a dream.
+
+Life, after that first yielding of heart and brain, had been a
+delirium; then a conscious torture of mind and body; next a burden
+almost too great to bear; and then a dreamy lethargy. Heaven be
+praised for such moods; they are saviors of life and reason in crises
+such as this through which the stricken girl was passing.
+
+Madness had wrought upon her, and her ravings had revealed some
+otherwise dark places and blanks in her story to her guardian and
+nurses. Pain had tortured her. Death wrestled with her, and then,
+because he could inspire her with no fear of him, because she mocked
+at his terrors and wooed him, fled away.
+
+In his place came Life, to whom she gave no welcoming smile. But Life
+stayed, for Life is as regardless of our wishes as is Death.
+
+Forms had hovered about her; kindly voices, sweet voices, had murmured
+at her bedside. At times, an angel had held the cooling draught to her
+thirsty lips. At last these dream-creatures resolved themselves into
+realities:
+
+Doctor Vaughan, who had ministered to her with the solicitude of a
+brother, the gentleness of a woman, and the goodness of an angel.
+
+Olive Girard who, leaving all other cares, was ever at her bedside,
+and who came to that place at a sacrifice of feeling, after a
+wrestling with pride, bringing a bitterness of memory, and a patient
+courage of heart, that the girl could not then realize.
+
+Henry, too, black of skin, warm of heart; who waited in the outer
+court, and seemed to allow himself full and free respiration only when
+the girl was pronounced out of danger.
+
+Out of danger! What a misapplication of words!
+
+From the scene of conflict, at the last flutter of Death's gloomy
+mantle, comes the man of medicine; watch in hand, boots a tiptoe, face
+grave but triumphant. His voice bids a subdued farewell to the
+somberness proper to a probable death-bed, coming up just a note
+higher in the scale of solemnities, as it announces to the eager,
+trembling, waiting ones,
+
+"_The danger is past!_"
+
+Death, the calm, the restful, the never weary; Death, the friend of
+long suffering, and world weariness and despair; Death, the rescuer,
+the sometime comforter--has gone away with empty arms and reluctant
+tread, and--Life, flushed, triumphant, seizes his rescued subject and
+flings her out into the sea of human lives, perchance to alight upon
+some tiny green islet or, likelier yet, to buffet about among black
+waters, or encounter winds and storms, upheld only by a half-wrecked
+raft or floated by a scarce-supporting spar.
+
+And she is out of danger!
+
+Hedged around about by sorrow, assailed by temptation, overshadowed by
+sin. And, "the danger is over!"
+
+Buffeted by the waves of adversity; longing for things out of reach;
+running after _ignis fatui_ with eager outstretched hands, and
+careless, hurrying feet, among pitfalls and snares. And, out of
+danger!
+
+Open your eyes, Madeline Payne; lift up your voice in thanksgiving;
+you have come back to the world. Back where the sun shines and the dew
+falls; where the flowers are shedding their perfume and song birds are
+making glad music; where men make merry and women smile; where gold
+shapes itself into palaces and fame wreathes crowns for fair and noble
+brows; where beauty crowns valor and valor kisses the lips of beauty.
+And where the rivers sparkle in the sunlight, and, sometimes, yield up
+from their embrace cold, dripping, dead things, that yet bear the
+semblance of your kind--all that is left of beings that were once like
+you!
+
+Out of danger!
+
+Where want, and poverty, and--God help us!--vice, hide their heads in
+dim alleys and under smoky garret roofs. Where beaten mothers and
+starving children dare hardly aspire to the pure air and sunlight, the
+whole world for them being enshrined in a crust of bread. Where
+thieves mount upwards on ladders beaten from pilfered gold, and
+command cities and sway nations. Where wantonness laughs and thrives
+in gilded cages, and starves and dies in mouldy cellars.
+
+Out of danger!
+
+Madeline, the place that was almost yours, in the land of the
+unknowable, is given to another. The waters of death have cast you
+back upon the shores of the living. You are "out of danger!"
+
+What was to become of Madeline, now that they had brought her back to
+life? This was a question which occurred to the two who so kindly
+interested themselves in the fate of the unknown and headstrong girl.
+
+While they planned a little, as was only natural, yet they knew from
+what they had seen of their charge that, decide for her how they
+would, only so far as that decision corresponded with her own
+inclinations would she abide by it. So they left Madeline's future for
+Madeline to decide, and found occupation for their kindliness in
+ministering to her needs of the present.
+
+Once during her illness, and just as the light of reason had returned
+to the lovely hazel eyes, Lucian Davlin came. But he found the door of
+the sick chamber closely shut and closely guarded. The slightest shock
+to her nerves would be fatal now,--they told him. And he, having done
+the proper thing, as he termed it, and not being in any way fond of
+the sight of pain and pallor, yielded with a graceful simulation of
+reluctance. Having been assured that with careful nursing, there was
+nothing to fear, he deposited a check on his bankers in the hands of
+her attendants, and went away contentedly, smiling under his mustache
+at the novelty of being turned away from his own door.
+
+He went back to Bellair, to Cora, and to the web they were weaving,
+little dreaming whose hands would take up the thread and continue and
+complete what they had thus begun.
+
+And now the day has come for Madeline to leave the shelter that she
+hates. Pale and weak, she sits in the great easy chair that had served
+as a barrier between herself and her enemy, and converses with Olive
+Girard while they await the arrival of Clarence Vaughan, who is to
+take them from the place so distasteful to all three.
+
+It has been settled that, for the present, Madeline will be the guest
+of Olive. What will come after health and strength are fully restored,
+they have not discussed much. Olive Girard and Doctor Vaughan had
+agreed that all thoughts of the future must bring a grief and care
+with them, and the mind of the invalid was in no condition for painful
+thought and study. So Olive has been careful to avoid all topics that
+might bring her troubles too vividly to mind.
+
+But partly to divert Madeline's mind from her own woes, partly to
+enable the unfortunate girl to feel less a stranger among them, she
+has talked to her of Doctor Vaughan, of her sister, and at last of
+herself.
+
+And Madeline has listened to her description of merry, lovely Claire
+Keith, and wondered what she could have in common with this buoyant,
+care-free girl, who was evidently her sister's idol. Yet she found
+herself thinking often of Olive's beautiful sister. Once, in the brief
+absence of Olive, she had said to Doctor Vaughan:
+
+"Mrs. Girard has told me of her sister; is she very lovely? And do you
+know her well?"
+
+"She is very fair, and sweet, and good. You will love her when you
+know her, and I think you will be friends."
+
+[Illustration: "Pale and weak, she sits in the great easy
+chair."--page 108.]
+
+She had not needed this; the tell-tale eye was sufficient to reveal
+the fact that it was not, as she had at first supposed, Olive Girard,
+but the younger sister, whom Clarence Vaughan loved.
+
+"I might have known," she murmured to herself. "Olive Girard has the
+face of one whose love dream has passed away and lost itself in
+sorrow; and he looks, full of strength and hope, straight into the
+future."
+
+As they sat together waiting, there was still that same contrast,
+which you felt rather than saw, between these two. They might have
+posed as the models of Resignation and Unrest.
+
+The look of patient waiting was five years old upon the face of Olive
+Girard. Five years ago she had been so happy--a bride, beautiful and
+beloved. Beautiful she was still--with the beauty of shadow; beloved
+too, but how sadly! Philip Girard had been convicted of a great crime,
+and for five long years had worn a felon's garb, and borne the anguish
+of one set apart from all the world.
+
+The hand that had darkened the life of Olive Girard, and the hand that
+had turned the young days of the girl Madeline into a burden, was one
+and the same.
+
+Afterwards Madeline listened to the pathetic history of Olive's
+sorrow.
+
+Sitting in that great lounging chair, Madeline looked very fair, very
+childlike. Sadly sweet were her large, deep eyes, and her hair, shorn
+while the fever raged, clustered in soft tiny rings about her slender,
+snowy neck and blue-veined temples. She had not been permitted to talk
+much during her convalescence, and Olive had as yet gleaned only a
+general outline of her story.
+
+"Mrs. Girard," said the girl, resting her pale cheek in the palm of a
+thin, tiny hand, "you once said something to me about--about some one
+who had been wronged by--" Something sadder than tears choked her
+utterance.
+
+As Olive turned her grave clear eyes away from the window, and fixed
+them in expectation upon her; Madeline's own eyes fell. She sat before
+her benefactress with downcast lids, and the hateful name unuttered.
+
+"I know," said Olive, after a brief silence; "I referred to a girl now
+lying in the hospital. She is very young, and has been cruelly wronged
+by him. She is poor, as you may judge, and earned her living in the
+ballet at the theater. She was thrown from a carriage which had been
+furnished her by _him_, to carry her home from some rendezvous--of
+course the driver took care of himself and his horses. The poor girl
+was picked up and carried to the hospital. She was without friends and
+almost penniless. She sent to him--for him; he returned no answer. She
+begged for help, for enough to enable her to obtain what was needed in
+her illness. Message after message was sent, and finally a reply came,
+brought by a messenger who had been bidden to insist upon receiving an
+answer. The servant said that his master had directed him to say to
+any messenger who called, that he was out of town."
+
+"The wretch! He deserves death!"
+
+Madeline's eyes blazed, and she lifted her head with some of her olden
+energy.
+
+"Softly, my dear: 'Thou shalt do no murder.'"
+
+"It is not murder to kill a human tiger!"
+
+Olive made no answer.
+
+"Is she still very ill, this girl?" questioned Madeline.
+
+"She can not recover."
+
+"Shall I see her?"
+
+"If you wish to; do you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Another long pause; then Madeline glanced up at her friend, and said
+listlessly: "What do you intend to do with me?"
+
+"Do with you?" smiling at her. "Make you well again, and then try and
+coax you to be my other sister. Don't you think I need one?"
+
+No answer.
+
+"Life has much in store for you yet, Madeline."
+
+"Yes;" bitterly again.
+
+"You are so young."
+
+"And so old."
+
+"Madeline, you are too young for somber thoughts and repining."
+
+"I shall not repine."
+
+"Good! You will try to forget?"
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"No; not impossible."
+
+"I do not wish to, then."
+
+"And why?"
+
+"Wait and see."
+
+"Madeline, you will do nothing rash? You will trust me, and confide in
+me?"
+
+The girl raised her eyes slowly, in surprise. "I have not so many
+friends that I can afford to lose one."
+
+"Thank you, dear; then we will let the subject drop until we are
+stronger. And here is the carriage, and Doctor Vaughan."
+
+Out into the sunny Summer morning went Madeline, and soon she was
+established in a lovely little room which, Olive said, was hers so
+long as she could be persuaded to occupy it. Here the girl rested and,
+ministered unto by gentle hands, she felt life coming back.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And Lucian?
+
+Late in the afternoon of the day that saw Madeline depart from his
+elegant rooms, Mr. Davlin arrived, and found no one to deny him
+admittance. All the doors stood ajar, and Henry was flitting about
+with an air of putting things to rights. The bird had flown.
+
+He gained from Henry the following: "I don't know, sir, where she
+went. A gentleman came with a carriage, and the young lady and the
+nurse went away with him."
+
+Lucian was not aware what manner of nurse Madeline had had in her
+illness. And Henry, having purposely misled him, enjoyed his
+discomfiture.
+
+"She told me to give you this, sir," said he, handing his master a
+little package.
+
+Tearing off the wrapper, Lucian held in his hand the little pistol
+that had inflicted upon him the wounded arm. From its mouth he drew a
+scrap of paper, and this is what it said:
+
+     When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+BONNIE, BEWITCHING CLAIRE.
+
+
+Four months. We find Madeline standing in the late Autumn sunset,
+"clothed and in her right mind," strong with the strength of youth,
+and beautiful with even more than her olden beauty.
+
+Fair is the prospect as seen from the grounds of Mrs. Girard's
+suburban villa, and so, perhaps, Claire Keith is thinking.
+
+She is looking down the level road, and at the trees on either hand,
+decked in all their October magnificence of scarlet and brown and
+gold, half concealing coquettish villas and more stately residences.
+
+The eyes of Madeline were turned away from the vista of villas and
+trees, and were gazing toward the business thoroughfare leading into
+the bustle of the town; gazing after the receding figure of Doctor
+Clarence Vaughan as he cantered away from the villa; gazing until a
+turn of the road hid him from her view. Then--and what did she mean by
+it?--she turned her face toward Claire with a questioning look in her
+eyes--the question came almost to her lips. But the words were
+repressed.
+
+Bonnie Clair was thinking of anything but Clarence Vaughan just then.
+Presently she turned a bright glance upon her companion, who was
+gathering clusters of the fallen maple leaves, with face half averted.
+
+"A kiss for your thoughts, beautiful blonde Madeline. I certainly
+think it is ten minutes since Doctor Vaughan departed and silence fell
+upon us."
+
+She bent down, and taking her companion's head between two dimpled
+hands, pulled it back, until she could look into the solemn brown
+eyes.
+
+"Come, now," coaxingly, "what were you thinking?"
+
+Madeline extricated herself from Claire's playful grasp, and replied
+with a half laugh: "It must be mutual confession then, you small
+highwayman; how do you like my terms?"
+
+"Only so so," flushing and laughing. "I was meditating the propriety
+of telling you something some day, and was thinking of that something
+just now, but--"
+
+"But," mimicked Madeline, with half-hearted playfulness; "what will
+you give me to relieve your embarrassment, and guess?"
+
+"You can't," emphatically.
+
+[Illustration: "When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!"--page
+113.]
+
+"Can't I? We will see. My dear, I fear you have left a little corner
+of your heart behind you in far-away Baltimore. You didn't come to pay
+your annual visit to your sister, quite heart free."
+
+Anyone wishing to gain an insight into the character of Claire Keith
+might have taken a long step in that direction could he have witnessed
+her reception of this unexpected shot. She opened her dark eyes in
+comic amazement, and dropping into a garden chair, exclaimed, with a
+look of frank inquiry:
+
+"Now, how ever could you guess that?"
+
+"Because," said Madeline, in a constrained voice, and with all the
+laughter fading from her eyes; "Because, I know the symptoms."
+
+"I see," dropping her voice suddenly. "Oh, Madeline, how I wish you
+could forget _that_."
+
+"Why should I forget my love dream," scornfully, "any more than you
+yours?"
+
+"Oh, Madeline; but you said you had ceased to care for him; that you
+should never mourn his loss."
+
+"_Mourn his loss!_" turning upon Claire, fiercely. "Do you think it is
+for him I mourn my _dead_; my lost happiness, my shattered dreams, my
+life made a bitter, burdensome thing. Mourn him? I have for Lucian
+Davlin but one feeling--hate!"
+
+Madeline, as she uttered these last words, had turned upon Claire a
+face whose fierce intensity of expression was startling. For a moment
+the two gazed into each other's eyes--the one with curling lip and
+somber, menacing glance, the other with a startled face as if she read
+something new and to be feared, in the eye of her friend.
+
+Claire had been an inmate of her sister's house for four weeks. When
+first she arrived, she had heard Madeline's story, at Madeline's
+request, from the lips of her sister Olive, and now the girls were
+fast friends. Generous Claire had found much to wonder at, to pity and
+to love, in the story and the character of the unfortunate girl.
+Possessing a frank, sunshiny nature, and never having known an actual
+grief, she could lavish sweet sympathy to one afflicted. But she could
+not conceive what it would be like to live on when faith had perished
+and hope was a mockery. She had never known, therefore never missed, a
+father's love and care. Indeed, he who filled the place of father and
+guardian, her mother's second husband, was all that a real parent
+could be. Claire seldom remembered that Mr. James Keith was not her
+father, and very few, except the family of Keith, knew that "Miss
+Claire Keith, daughter of the rich James Keith, of Baltimore," was in
+truth only a step-daughter.
+
+Mrs. Keith, whose first husband was Richard Keith, cashier in his
+wealthy cousin's banking house, had buried that husband when Olive was
+five years old, and baby Claire scarce able to lisp his name. In a
+little less than two years she had married James Keith, the
+banker-cousin, and shortly after the marriage, James Keith had
+transferred his business interests to Baltimore, and there remained.
+
+So Claire's baby brothers had never been told that she was not their
+"very own" sister, for of Olive they knew little, her marriage having
+separated them at first, and subsequently her obdurate acceptance of
+the consequences of that marriage.
+
+When the law pronounced her husband a criminal, Mr. Keith had
+commanded Olive to abandon both husband and home, and return to his
+protection. This, true-hearted Olive refused to do. Her step-father,
+enraged at her obstinacy in clinging to a man who had been forsaken by
+all the world beside, bade her choose between them. Either she must
+let the law finish its work of breaking Philip Girard's heart by
+setting her free, or she must accept the consequences of remaining the
+wife of a criminal.
+
+Olive chose the latter, and thenceforth remained in her own lonely
+home, never even once visiting the place of her childhood.
+
+"He called my husband a criminal," she said, "and I will never cross
+his threshold until he has had cause to withdraw those words."
+
+Claire, however, announced her intention of visiting her sister
+whenever she chose, and she succeeded, in part, in carrying out her
+will, for every year she passed two months or more with Olive.
+
+What a picture the two girls now made, standing face to face.
+
+Madeline, with her lithe grace of form, her pure pale complexion lit
+up by those fathomless brown eyes, and rendering more noticeable and
+beautiful the tiny rosy mouth, with its satellite dimples; with such
+wee white, blue-veined hands, and such a clear ringing, yet
+marvelously sweet voice. Madeline was very beautiful, and Claire, as
+she looked at her, wondered how any man could bear to lose such
+loveliness, or have the heart to betray it; as if ever pure woman
+could fathom the depth of a bad man's wickedness.
+
+Bonnie, bewitching Claire! Never was contrast more perfect. A scarf,
+like scarlet flame, flung about her shoulders, set off the richness of
+her clear brunette skin, through which the crimson blood flamed in
+cheek and lip. Eyes, now black, now gray, changing, flashing, witching
+eyes: gray in quiet moments, darkening with mirth or sadness, anger or
+pain; hair black and silky, rippling to the rounded, supple waist in
+glossy waves. Not so tall as Madeline, and rounded and dimpled as a
+Hebe.
+
+Bringing her will into service, Madeline banished the gloom from her
+face and said, with an attempt at gayety:
+
+"I must be a terrible wet blanket when my ghost rises, Claire. But
+come, you have excited my curiosity; let us sit down while you tell me
+more of this mighty man who has pitched his tent in the wilderness of
+your heart, to the exclusion of others who might aspire."
+
+They seated themselves upon a rustic bench and Claire replied:
+
+"Don't anticipate too much, inquisitor; I have no acknowledged lover,
+but--" blushing charmingly, "I have every reason to think that I am
+loved fondly and sincerely. He is very handsome, Madeline, and--but
+wait, I will show you his picture."
+
+Madeline nodded, and Claire bounded away, to return quickly bearing in
+her hand a finely wrought cabinet photograph, encased in velvet and
+gilt, _a la souvenaire_. Placing it in her companion's hand, she sat
+down with a little triumphant sigh, and gazed over Madeline's shoulder
+with a proud, glad look in her eyes.
+
+"Blonde?" suggested Madeline.
+
+"Yes," eagerly; "such lovely hair and whiskers,--perfect gold color;
+and fair as a woman."
+
+"So I should judge," and she continued to gaze.
+
+Blonde he was, certainly; hair thrown carelessly back from a brow
+broad and white; eyes, light, but with an expression that puzzled the
+gazer.
+
+"Eyes,--what color?" she said, without taking her own off the picture.
+
+"Blue; pale blue, but capable of _such_ varying expression."
+
+"Just so," dryly; "they look mild and saintly here, but I think those
+eyes are capable of another expression. I could fancy the brain behind
+such eyes to be--"
+
+"What?" eagerly.
+
+"Cruel, crafty, treacherous."
+
+"Oh, Madeline!"
+
+"There, there; I didn't say that he,"--tapping the picture--"possessed
+these qualities. His eyes are unusual ones; did you ever see his
+mouth?"
+
+"What a question--through all those whiskers? no; but he has beautiful
+teeth."
+
+"So have tigers. There, dear, take the picture; I am no fit judge,
+perhaps. Remember, I once knew a man with the face of an angel, and
+the heart of a fiend. Your friend is certainly handsome; let us hope
+he is equally good."
+
+"He is; I know it," asserted Claire.
+
+Then she told her companion how she had met him at the house of a
+friend; how he was very learned and scientific; very grave and
+dignified; and very devoted to herself. And how, beyond these few
+facts, she knew little if anything of her blonde hero, Edward Percy.
+
+Madeline received this information in a grave silence, whose chill
+affected Claire as well, and after a few moments, as if by mutual
+consent, they arose and entered the house.
+
+Olive Girard had been absent a week; gone on a journey, sacred to her
+as any Meccan pilgrimage, a visit to the place of her husband's
+imprisonment. Every year she made this journey, returning home in some
+measure comforted; for she had seen her beloved.
+
+She came back on this evening, as the two girls were mingling their
+voices in gay bravura duets--by mutual consent they avoided all songs
+of a pathetic order, for reasons which neither would have cared to
+acknowledge.
+
+The evening having passed away, Claire found herself in her chamber
+gazing at her lover's pictured face and thinking how good, how noble,
+it was, and what a little goose she had been to allow anything
+Madeline had said to apply to him. A sudden thought occurred to her,
+and going to Madeline's door, she tapped gently. The door opened, and
+Claire, raising a warning finger, said:
+
+"Madeline, I forgot to tell you that Olive knows nothing of Edward
+Percy, and--I don't want to tell her just yet. You will not mention
+it?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then good-night, and pleasant dreams."
+
+"Thank you," in a grave voice; "good-night."
+
+Claire returned to her room and penned a long letter to Edward Percy,
+full of sweet confidence, gayety and trustfulness. She reperused his
+last letter, said her prayers, or rather read them, for Claire was a
+staunch little church-woman, and then slept and dreamed bright dreams.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
+
+
+A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time,
+Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no
+sound on the softly carpeted floor. Passing Claire's door, she paused
+before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's
+bed-chamber.
+
+Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive
+sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
+
+Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to
+such interviews, and said in a low tone:
+
+"I am so glad you came to-night; are you too tired for a long talk?"
+
+"No; tell me all that has happened since I have been absent."
+
+"Olive, I must go away; back to Bellair," said Madeline, abruptly.
+
+"Madeline, you are mad! To Bellair? Why, _he_ is there often now."
+
+"He will not find me out, never fear. I _must_ go to Bellair within
+the week."
+
+Olive leaned forward and scanned the girl's face closely and long. At
+last, she said: "Madeline, what is it you meditate? tell me."
+
+"Going back to Bellair; keeping an eye upon the proceedings of Mr.
+Arthur; finding out what game that man and woman are playing there;
+and baffling and punishing them all."
+
+She had been kept informed, through Henry, into whose hands had fallen
+a letter in Cora's handwriting, bearing the Bellair postmark, and
+addressed to Lucian Davlin, who, so Henry said, "went down, on and
+off," and always appeared satisfied with the result of his journey.
+
+Olive argued long against this resolution, but found it impossible to
+dissuade Madeline.
+
+"It is useless," the girl said, firmly. "I should have died but for
+the expectation of a time when I could be avenged, and this time I
+must bring about. All through my convalescence I have pondered how I
+could best avenge my mother's wrongs, and my own. Now Providence has
+thrown together the two men who are my enemies; why, I do not yet
+know, but perhaps it is that I may make the one a weapon against the
+other. And now I want to ask you some questions."
+
+[Illustration: "Olive knows nothing of Edward Percy, and--I don't want
+to tell her just yet."--page 121.]
+
+"Ask, then."
+
+"I shall touch upon a painful subject, and I will tell you why. After
+you went away, the story of your sorrow remained with me. So I thought
+the ground all over, and formed some conclusions. Do you wish to hear
+them?"
+
+Olive nodded, wearily.
+
+"You have told me," said Madeline, assuming a calm, business-like
+tone, "that Lucian Davlin testified against your husband at his trial.
+Now the wounded man, Percy, stated that he recognized the man who
+struck him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, what was Davlin's testimony?"
+
+"That he saw my husband stealing in the direction of the place where
+the wounded man was found, but a few moments before he was struck,
+wearing the same hat and hunting-jacket that the injured man testified
+was worn by his would-be assassin."
+
+"Oh!" Madeline knitted her brows in thought a moment; then--"Was the
+coat and hat Mr. Girard's?"
+
+"Yes; he had thrown them off in the afternoon, while the heat was
+intense, and had fallen asleep. When he awoke, he heard them calling
+him to supper. It was late in the evening when he remembered his coat
+and hat, and went back to look for them. He went just at the time when
+the man must have been struck, and his absence told against him in the
+evidence."
+
+"Did he find his garments?"
+
+"No; they were found by others, not where he had left them, but nearer
+the scene of the crime."
+
+"Ah! And who was the first to discover the injured man?"
+
+"Why, I believe it was Mr. Davlin." Olive looked more and more
+surprised at each question. "Why do you ask these things, Madeline?"
+
+The girl made a gesture of impatience. "Wait," she said, "I will
+explain in good time." Again she considered. "Was there any
+ill-feeling between your husband and Davlin?"
+
+"There was no open misunderstanding, but I know there was mutual
+dislike. Philip saw that Davlin was making systematic efforts to win
+money from the party, and had therefore persuaded one or two of his
+friends to give gaming little countenance. No doubt he kept money out
+of the man's pocket."
+
+"And what was the standing of that man and the victim, this Percy?"
+
+"They were much together, and Philip tells me he had sometimes fancied
+that Davlin held some power over Percy. Davlin had won largely from
+him, and the man seemed much annoyed, but paid over the money without
+demur."
+
+"And now, how did your husband stand toward the injured man?"
+
+"That is the worst part of the story. They had had high words only
+that very day. Philip had been acquainted with Percy at school, and he
+knew so much that was not in his favor, that he was unable to conceal
+his real opinion of the man at all times. One day high words arose,
+and Philip uttered a threat, which was misconstrued, after the attack
+upon Percy. They said he threatened his life. But Percy knew that only
+his honor was meant. Davlin knew this, too; must have known it, for he
+was aware that the two had met before they came together with the
+party."
+
+"I can not see why Lucian Davlin should be your husband's enemy."
+
+"I can understand that he hated Philip for the same reason that a
+thief hates the light, and Philip had balked his plans."
+
+"True; and yet--"
+
+"And yet?" inquiringly.
+
+"Bad as the man is, I can see but one motive that could induce even
+him to swear away the liberty, almost the life, of a man who never
+wronged him."
+
+"Still, he did it," said Olive, with a weary sigh.
+
+"True; and he did it for a motive."
+
+"And that motive--"
+
+"Was the strongest instinct of the human race."
+
+"What?" eagerly.
+
+"Self-preservation."
+
+Olive started up with a half cry. "Madeline, in heaven's name, _what_
+do you mean!"
+
+"That Lucian Davlin threw suspicion upon the innocent to screen the
+guilty," said the girl, in a low, firm tone.
+
+"And the guilty one, then?"
+
+"Himself. Do you think him too good for it?" sneeringly.
+
+"No, no! oh, no! But this I had never thought of--yet it may be true."
+
+She fell into deep thought; after a time she started up. "I must
+consult a detective immediately," she said.
+
+"You must do no such thing," cried Madeline, springing to her feet;
+"why did not the detectives find this out before? Because they have
+not my reasons for hunting that man down. _I_ found this clue, if it
+be one. I claim it; it is my right, and I will have it. If he is to be
+undone, it shall be by my hands. I swear it!"
+
+They faced each other in silence.
+
+Slowly Olive recalled to her countenance and voice its usual sweet
+calm, and then seated herself and talked long and earnestly with
+Madeline.
+
+The little bronze clock on the mantel was on the stroke of two when
+the conference ended, and Madeline retired to her own room, but not to
+sleep. She sat and thought until the dawn shone in at her window.
+
+One link was missing from the chain; no motive had been discovered for
+an attack on Percy by Davlin.
+
+"But I will find it," she muttered. Then, as a new thought occurred to
+her, she caught her breath. "Claire's lover is named Percy; can it be
+the same? Why did not this occur to me sooner? Why did I not ask for
+his first name, and a description of him? If this man and Edward Percy
+should be one and the same! Pshaw! the name is not an uncommon one,
+and it may be only a coincidence. But your face is a bad one, Edward
+Percy, and I shall know it when I see it again."
+
+The sun was not high in the heavens ere Madeline was astir, for her
+nature was such that strong excitement rendered rest impossible.
+Moving impatiently about the grounds, she saw a familiar form
+approaching through the shrubbery, and hastened to meet it.
+
+The black visage of Henry beamed with satisfaction as he made a
+hurried obeisance and placed in her hand a letter, saying:
+
+"Master was preparing for a two days' journey when this letter came.
+He threw it into his desk, and bade me lock it, and bring him the key.
+His back was turned, and I took the letter before I locked the desk.
+It was a long one, and from _her_; I thought you might want to see
+it."
+
+"Right, Henry," said the girl, quietly, as she opened the letter. "You
+will wait for it?"
+
+"Yes, miss; it must not be missing when he comes."
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+She returned to the letter, and this is what she read:
+
+                                       OAKLEY, October 11.
+
+     LUCIAN, _Mon Brave_:
+
+     I am in a fine predicament--have made a startling discovery.
+     Mr. A----has been sick, and the mischief is to pay; and his
+     sickness has brought some ugly facts to light.
+
+     The old man is _not_ the sole proprietor of the Oakley
+     wealth. That girl who ran away so mysteriously, and has
+     never been heard of, will inherit at his death. He can
+     bequeath his widow nothing. Oh, to know where that girl is!
+     If she is alive, my work is useless, my time is wasted. I
+     think the old chap must have driven her to desperation, for
+     he raved in his delirium of her and her words at parting.
+     They must have been "searchers."
+
+     Well, to add to the general interest, Miss Arthur, aged
+     fifty or so, is here. She is a juvenile old maid, who has a
+     fortune in her own right, and so must be cultivated. She
+     dresses like a sixteen-year-old, and talks like a fool,
+     principally about a certain admirer, a "blonde
+     demi-god"--her words--named Percy.
+
+     Something must be done: things must be talked over. Come
+     down and make love to Miss Arthur. _Her_ money is not
+     entailed.
+
+     Bring me some Periques and a box of Alexis gloves--you know
+     the number. Yours in disgust,
+
+                                      CORA MME. ARTHUR.
+
+Madeline dropped the letter, and stood amazed. What did it mean? "Cora
+_Mme._ Arthur!"
+
+Henry stooped for the letter, and the act recalled her to herself. She
+thanked him for the service he had done her; told him of her intended
+departure; gave him some last instructions, and dismissed him with a
+kind good-by.
+
+[Illustration: "I took the letter before I locked the desk."--page
+127.]
+
+"It is time to act," she muttered. "Good heavens! the audacity of that
+man and woman! She is married to my step-father, if that letter does
+not lie; has married him for money, and is baffled there. She hoped to
+become _his widow_, aha! The plot thickens, indeed! Goodness! what a
+household! That bad old man, the still viler woman, dangerous Lucian
+Davlin, and that funny, youthful, cross, 'conceited spinster,' Ellen
+Arthur, who has a lover, and his name is--heaven save us--Percy! That
+name _will_ mix itself up with my fate web, and why? Percy beloved of
+Claire; Percy who brought Philip Girard to his doom; Percy the lover
+of a rich old maid, are ye one and the same? Percy! Percy! Percy! I
+must cultivate the Percys at any cost."
+
+She turned and entered the house, her head bent, thinking, thinking,
+thinking.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD.
+
+
+Less than a week after the events last related, and a family group
+surrounds the lunch table in the newly furnished morning room of
+Oakley.
+
+The fair and fascinating Mrs. Torrance had accomplished the purpose
+for which she came to Bellair.
+
+Truly had she said, "There is no fool like an old fool;" for John
+Arthur had been an easy victim. He had lost no time with his wooing,
+and so, a little less than two months from the day the fair widow came
+to Bellair, saw her mistress of John Arthur's household.
+
+A bridal tour was not to her taste, much to the delight of the
+bridegroom. So they set about refitting some of the fine old rooms of
+the mansion, Cora having declared that they were too gloomy to be
+inhabitable.
+
+As it was to her interest to keep up the deception of frank affection,
+she had been, during the two months of their honey-moon, a model wife.
+But the discovery that John Arthur could leave her nothing save his
+blessing, had now been made, and Cora, who was already weary of her
+gray-headed dupe, had been for a few days past less careful in her
+dissembling.
+
+For this reason John Arthur now sat with a moody brow, and watched her
+smile upon her brother with a feeling of jealous wrath.
+
+The bride had thrown off her badge of mourning, and was very glad to
+bloom out once more in azure and white and rose--hues which her soul
+loved.
+
+Opposite sat Miss Arthur, her sallowness carefully enameled over, her
+head adorned with an astonishing array of false braids and curls and
+frizzes, jetty in hue to match her eyes, which, so Cora informed
+Lucian in private, were "awfully beady."
+
+The lady was perusing a paper, which she suddenly threw down, and said
+languidly, while she stirred her chocolate carefully. "Should not this
+be the day on which my new maid arrives?"
+
+Miss Arthur, from perusing many novels of the Sir Walter Scott school,
+had acquired a very stately manner of speech, and, so she flattered
+herself, a very effective one.
+
+"I don't know why Miss Arthur can want a maid; her toilets are always
+perfection," remarked Mr. Davlin to the general assembly.
+
+Whereupon, Miss Arthur blushed, giggled, and disclaimed; Mrs. Arthur
+disappeared behind a newspaper; and Mr. Arthur emerged from the fog of
+thought that had enveloped him, to say brusquely:
+
+"Miss Arthur want a maid? what's all this? A French maid in a country
+house--faugh!"
+
+Miss Arthur gazed across at her brother, and said, loftily, and
+somewhat unmeaningly:
+
+"It is what I have chosen to do, John." Then to Mr. Davlin, sweetly:
+"It is so hard to dispense with a maid when you have been accustomed
+to one."
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"And this one comes so well recommended, you know, by Mrs. Overman and
+Mrs. Grosvenor. You have heard of these ladies in society, no doubt,
+Mr. Davlin?"
+
+"Oh, certainly," aloud, "not," aside.
+
+"And the name of the maid?" pursued Lucian.
+
+"Her name," referring to the letter, "Céline Leroque--French, I
+presume."
+
+"No doubt," dryly.
+
+"Stop him, Miss Arthur," interrupted Cora, prettily; "he will
+certainly ask if she is handsome, if you let him open his mouth
+again."
+
+Miss Arthur glanced at him suspiciously. "Not having seen her, I could
+not inform him," she said, coldly.
+
+"Don't believe my sister," said Davlin, quietly, as he passed his cup.
+"Cora, a little more chocolate, please. Miss Arthur, I met Mrs.
+Grosvenor at the seaside, two years ago. Her toilets were the marvel
+of the day; she protested that all credit was due her maid, who was a
+whole 'magazine of French art.' I thought this might be the same."
+
+"I most earnestly hope that it is," pronounced Miss Arthur.
+
+"And I most earnestly hope it isn't," grumbled her brother, who to-day
+felt vicious for many reasons, and didn't much care what the occasion
+was, so long as it gave him an excuse for growling.
+
+At this happy stage of affairs, the door was opened and the housemaid
+announced: "An old lady, who says I am to tell you that her name is
+Hagar, wants to see you, sir," addressing Mr. Arthur.
+
+The master of the house started, and an angry flush settled upon his
+face. "Send her away. I won't see the old beldam. Send her away."
+
+The girl bowed and was about to retire, when she was pushed from the
+doorway with little ceremony, and Nurse Hagar entered. Before the
+occupants of the room had recovered from their surprise, or found
+voice to address her, she had crossed the room, and paused before John
+Arthur. Placing a small bundle upon the table near him, she said:
+
+"Don't think you can order me from your door, John Arthur, when I
+choose to enter it. I shall never come to you without good reason, and
+I presume you will think me a welcome messenger when you know my
+errand."
+
+"Confound you," said the man, angrily, yet with an uneasy look in his
+eyes; "if you must chatter to me, come into the library." He arose and
+made a step toward the door.
+
+"There is no need," said Hagar, with dignity; "my errand may interest
+others here besides yourself. I bring a message from the dead."
+
+John Arthur turned ashen pale and trembled violently. All eyes were
+turned upon the speaker, however, and his agitation was unnoticed save
+by Hagar.
+
+"Last night," she continued, "a carriage stopped at my door and a
+woman came in, bringing that bundle in her hands."
+
+She paused and seemed struggling with her feelings.
+
+"She said," continued Hagar, "that she was requested to come by a
+dying girl, else she would have written the message given to her. She
+belonged to a charitable society, and visited the hospital every week.
+She brought flowers and fruit to one of the patients--a girl who died
+asking her to write down what is on this card," holding out a bit of
+white cardboard, "and not to tell the officers of the hospital her
+true name. She had entered under the name of Martha Gray, and wished
+to be buried as such. The lady promised; the girl gave her these
+articles, and the lady kept her word, and brought the message. There
+is the bundle," in a choking voice, "and here is the card. That is
+all. Good-by, John Arthur; be happy, if you can. And may God's curse
+fall upon all who drove her to her doom!"
+
+She gathered her shawl about her shoulders and, casting a meaning
+glance at Lucian Davlin, passed from the room and the house.
+
+John Arthur sat with eyes riveted upon the card before him. After a
+time he turned, and placing it in Davlin's hand, signed to him to read
+it, and hurriedly left the room.
+
+The hand that had first stricken the young life, placed the evidence
+that the end had come in the hand that had completed what the first
+began!
+
+Something of this Lucian Davlin felt, hardened as he was, for he knew,
+without waiting for the proof, that the true name of the girl who died
+in the hospital was familiar to them all.
+
+"Read!" ejaculated Cora, impatiently, "or give it to me."
+
+Lucian's eyes had scanned the card, and tossing it across to her, he
+pushed back his chair and walked to the window. Cora read for the
+benefit of her bewildered sister-in-law:
+
+     Madeline Payne, at St. Mary's Hospital, under name of Martha
+     Gray, died--brain fever--no friends but nurse.
+
+[Illustration: "May God's curse fall upon all who drove her to her
+doom."--page 134.]
+
+On the opposite side of the card was pencilled the full address of old
+Hagar, and this was all. Scant information, but it was enough.
+
+Cora pounced upon the bundle and opened it. It contained a little
+purse; a few trinkets, which any of the servants could identify as
+belonging to Madeline; the cloak she had worn the evening of her
+flight; and a pocket-handkerchief with her name embroidered in the
+corner.
+
+Satisfaction beamed in the face Cora turned toward Lucian, and away
+from Miss Arthur. She was mindful of the proprieties, however, and
+turning her eyes back upon the lady opposite, she pressed a dainty
+handkerchief to her countenance, and murmured plaintively:
+
+"How very, very shocking, and sad! Poor Mr. Arthur is quite overcome,
+and no wonder--that poor, sweet, young girl."
+
+Across Lucian's averted face flitted a smile of sarcasm. How little
+she knew of the truth, this fair hypocrite, and how unlikely she was
+ever to know now. If Madeline were dead, of what avail was any effort
+to break from the olden thraldom--for this is what had been in the
+mind of the scheming man.
+
+Cora brushed her handkerchief across her eyes and arose languidly. "I
+must go to Mr. Arthur, poor man," she murmured, shaking out her
+flounces. "He is terribly shocked, I fear."
+
+Studiously avoiding the necessity of glancing in the direction of Mr.
+Davlin, she glided from the room.
+
+And so the news fell in Madeline's home, and its inmates were affected
+no more than this:
+
+With Cora a renewal of tenderness toward "Dear John," and an increased
+stateliness toward Miss Arthur and the servants. More deference on
+Miss Arthur's part towards her brother, and less on his part toward
+her, as the possibility of being obliged to ask a small loan faded
+away into the past of empty purses and closed up coffers.
+
+Lucian took upon himself the responsibility of visiting the city and
+calling at St. Mary's, there to be reassured of the fact that one
+Martha Grey had died within its walls and been buried.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+MISS ARTHUR'S FRENCH MAID.
+
+
+After this the days flew by very much alike.
+
+Miss Arthur's maid arrived, and proved indeed a treasure, nor was she
+as obnoxious to Mr. John Arthur as he had evidently intended to find
+her. Perhaps Céline Leroque knew by instinct that the master of Oakley
+cherished an aversion to French maids in particular; or perhaps she
+was an exceptional French maid, and craved neither the smiles nor
+slyly administered caresses, that fell to the lot of pretty _femmes de
+chambre_, at least in novels. At any rate, certain it is that Miss
+Arthur's maid manifested no desire to be seen by the inmates of the
+household, and she had been domiciled for some weeks without having
+vouchsafed to either John Arthur or Lucian Davlin more than a fleeting
+glimpse of her maidship.
+
+Things were becoming very monotonous to some of the occupants of the
+Oakley manor; very, very dull and flavorless.
+
+Cora was growing restless. Not that the astute lady permitted signs of
+discontent to become manifest to the uninitiated, but Lucian Davlin
+saw, with a mingled feeling of satisfaction and dismay, that the
+_rôle_ of devoted wife had ceased to interest his blonde comrade in
+iniquity.
+
+The fact gave him a malicious pleasure because, as fate had dared to
+play against him, he would have felt especially aggrieved if a few
+thorns had not been introduced into the eider down that seemingly
+enveloped his fair accomplice.
+
+But he felt some dismay, for he knew by the swift flash of azure eyes
+under golden lashes, by the sway of her shoulders as she paced the
+terrace, by the nervous tapping of her slippered foot at certain times
+in the intervals of table chat--that Cora was _thinking_. And when
+Cora thought, something was about to happen.
+
+It was in obedience to one of those swift side glances, that he
+followed her from the morning room, one forenoon about three weeks
+after the news of Madeline's death had come to them. The day was
+bright but chill, and the woman had wrapped herself in a shawl of
+vivid crimson, but stood with bared head in the sunlight waiting the
+approach of her counterfeit brother.
+
+"Cover your head, you very thoughtless woman," was his brotherly
+salutation as he approached, plunging about in his pockets in search
+of a cigar the while.
+
+"Bother!" she ejaculated, tossing her golden locks; "my hair needs a
+sunbath. I only wish I dare indulge myself further! If you had any
+heart you wouldn't torture me so constantly with the odor of those
+magnificent Havanas, when you know how my very soul longs for a weed!"
+
+"Poor little woman," laughing maliciously; "fancy Mrs. John Arthur of
+Oakley smoking a _Perique_! Isn't it prime, Co.?" puffing out a cloud
+of perfumed smoke.
+
+"Prime! bah! I'd like to strangle you, or--"
+
+"Or?--" inquiringly.
+
+"Somebody," laughing nervously.
+
+"Just so; Miss Arthur would be a good subject and that would confer a
+favor on me, too, by Jove!"
+
+"I don't want to confer a favor on you. You had much better try and do
+me one, I think."
+
+"With all my heart, taking my ability for granted, of course; only
+tell me how."
+
+Cora shrugged her crimson-clad shoulders, and they paced forward in
+silence for a time. Then as if his stillness had been speech of a
+distasteful kind, she ejaculated, crossly, and without turning her
+head: "Stuff! you talk too much!"
+
+Lucian smiled maliciously, removed his cigar from between his lips,
+described a smoke wreath in mid-air, replaced his weed, and said: "Do
+I? then mum's the word;" and he relapsed into silence.
+
+He seemed bent on annoying her, for there was a laughing glimmer in
+his eye, and he obstinately refused to attempt to draw her out, and so
+make easier whatever she might have to say, for he knew that she had
+signaled him out to-day for a purpose.
+
+Mutely he walked by her side, and contentedly puffed at his cigar
+until, at length, she turned upon him, and struck petulantly at the
+hand that had just removed it from his lips. The weed fell from his
+fingers to the ground, and Cora set her slippered heel upon it, as if
+it were an enemy, and laughed triumphantly.
+
+"Now we are on a level," she cried. "Do you suppose I intend to give
+you that advantage over me?"
+
+"It seems not," with a shrug expressive of resignation and a smile
+hidden by his mustache.
+
+He was not the man to be angered, or even ruffled, by these little
+feminine onslaughts. In fact, they rather pleased and amused him, and
+he had become well accustomed to Cora's "little ways," as he called
+them. Deprived of his cigar, he thrust his hands into his pockets and
+whistled softly.
+
+"Lucian, if you don't stop looking so comfortable, and content, and
+altogether don't-care-ish, I shall do something very desperate," she
+exclaimed, pettishly.
+
+"No?" raising his eyebrows in mock incredulity; "you don't tell me. I
+thought you were in a little heaven of your own, Mrs. Arthur."
+
+"Oh! you did? Very clever of you. Well, Mr. Davlin, has it occurred to
+you that heaven might not be a congenial climate for me?"
+
+"Not while your wings are so fresh, surely? You have scarcely entered
+your paradise, fair peri."
+
+"Haven't I?" ironically. "Well, I am tired of manna, anyhow." Cora was
+not always strictly elegant in her choice of expressions. "Now,
+Lucian, stop parleying, and tell me, when is this going to end?"
+
+"When?"
+
+He stopped and looked down at her intently. Twice they had traversed
+the terrace, and now they paused at the termination furthest from the
+house. Just before them a diminutive flight of stone steps led down to
+a narrow graveled walk, that skirted a velvety bit of lawn, and was in
+its turn hedged by some close and high-growing shrubs from the
+"Bellair woods," as they were called. Beyond the steps was a gap in
+the hedge, and this, cut and trimmed until it formed a compact and
+beautiful arch, was spanned by a stile, built for the convenience of
+those who desired to reach the village by the shortest route, the
+Bellair woods.
+
+"Don't repeat like a parrot, Lucian." Cora raised her voice angrily.
+"I say, when is this to end? and how?"
+
+They were just opposite the gap in the hedge and Lucian, looking down
+upon Cora, stood facing the opening. As the words crossed her lips,
+his eyes fell upon a figure just behind her, and he checked the
+conversation by an involuntary motion of the hand.
+
+The figure came toward them. It was Miss Arthur's French maid, and she
+carried in her hand a small parcel. Evidently she was returning from
+some errand to the village. Miss Arthur's maid had black hair, dressed
+very low on the forehead; eyes of some sort, it is to be presumed, but
+they were effectually concealed by blue glasses; a rather pasty
+complexion; a form that might have been good, but if so, its beauties
+were hidden by the loose and, as Cora expressed it, "floppy," style of
+jacket which she habitually wore. She passed them with a low "_Bon
+jour, madame_," and hurried up the terrace. At least she was walking
+swiftly, but not very smoothly, up the terrace when Lucian cast after
+her a last disapproving glance.
+
+"Your lady's maid is not a swan nor a beauty," he said, as they by
+mutual consent went down the steps.
+
+Cora made no reply to this, seeming lost in thought. They walked on
+for a moment in silence.
+
+But Céline Leroque did not walk on. She dropped her package and,
+stooping to recover it, cast a swift glance after the pair. They were
+sauntering slowly down the hedgerow walk, their backs toward her.
+
+Probably the falling parcel had reminded the French maid of something
+forgotten, for she turned swiftly, silently, and without any of her
+previous awkwardness retraced her steps and disappeared beyond the
+stile.
+
+"What's the row, Co.?" asked Lucian, kicking a pebble with his boot
+toe. "You are getting restive early in the game. Can't you keep to
+the track for another two months?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What then?"
+
+"This. We must get that fool out of the way."
+
+"Meaning who?"
+
+"She, of course--Ellen Arthur. The woman will make a raving maniac of
+me in two months more."
+
+"By Jove! and of me, too, if I don't get out of this."
+
+"We must get rid of her."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I don't know--somehow, anyhow."
+
+"And then?"
+
+"And then--" she gave him a side glance, and laughed unpleasantly.
+
+"And then? You have a plan, my blonde. Out with it; I am a listener."
+
+And he did listen.
+
+Slowly down the hedgerow path they paced, and at the end, halted and
+stood for a time in earnest consultation. There was some difference of
+opinion, but the difference became adjusted. And they turned toward
+the house, evidently satisfied with the result of the morning's
+consultation.
+
+Not long after, Miss Arthur's maid returned also.
+
+"I see by the papers that Dr. LeGuise has come back from Europe,
+Cora," announced Mr. Davlin from his seat at the lunch table that day.
+
+"Dr. LeGuise! how delightful! Now one will not be afraid to be
+sick--our old family physician, you know," to Miss Arthur; "and _so_
+skillful. He has been in Europe a year. The dear man, how I long to
+see him!"
+
+"Well!" laughed Lucian, "I will carry him any amount of affection,
+providing it is not too bulky. I find that I must run up to the city
+to-morrow, and of course will look him up."
+
+"Oh!" eagerly, "and find out if he saw the D'Arcys in Paris; and those
+delightful Trevanions!" Then, regretfully, "can't you stay another
+week, dear?"
+
+"Out of the question, Co., much as I regret it," glancing expressively
+at Miss Arthur. "But I shan't forget you all."
+
+"Pray do not," simpered the spinster. "And when do you return?"
+
+"Not for two or three weeks, I fear. But rest assured I shall lose no
+time, when once I am at liberty."
+
+During his lazy, good-humored moments, Mr. Davlin had made most
+ridiculous love to Miss Arthur, and that lady had not been behind in
+doing her part. Now, strange to say, the face which she bent over her
+napkin wore upon it a look, not of sorrow, but of relief. And why?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.
+
+
+"Take especial care with my toilet this morning, Céline," drawled Miss
+Arthur, as she sat before a mirror in her luxuriously appointed
+dressing-room.
+
+Wise Cora had seen the propriety of giving to this unwelcome
+sister-in-law with the heavy purse, apartments of the best in the
+newly fitted-up portion of the mansion.
+
+"I want you to be _especially_ careful with my hair and complexion,"
+Miss Arthur continued.
+
+"Yes, mademoiselle," demurely. Then, as if the information might bear
+upon the question of the toilet, "Does mademoiselle know that Monsieur
+Davlin left an hour ago?"
+
+"Certainly, Céline, but I expect a visitor. He may arrive at any time
+to-day, and you must do your very best with my toilet."
+
+"Mademoiselle _est charmante_; slight need of Céline's poor aid,"
+cooed the little hypocrite, and the toilet proceeded.
+
+At length, the resources of art having been exhausted, Miss Arthur
+stood up, and approved of Céline's handiwork.
+
+"I really do look nicely, Céline; you have done well, very. Now go
+send me a pot of chocolate and a bit of toast."
+
+"Yes, mademoiselle."
+
+"And a bit of chicken, or a bird's wing."
+
+"Oui."
+
+"And a French roll, Céline, with perhaps an omelette."
+
+"Pardonne, mademoiselle, but might I suggest we must not forget this,"
+touching Miss Arthur's tightly laced waist.
+
+"True, Céline, quite right; the toast, then. And, Céline, remain
+down-stairs and when Mr. Percy comes," (her maid visibly started at
+the name) "show him into the little parlor, and tell him I am
+somewhere in the grounds--you understand? Then come and let me know. I
+prefer to have him fancy me surprised, you see," smiling playfully.
+
+"I see; mademoiselle has _such_ tact," and the French maid
+disappeared.
+
+"Mr. Percy?" muttered the French maid, in very English accents; "I
+will certainly look for your coming, Mr. Percy. Can it be that I am to
+meet you at last?"
+
+Mrs. John Arthur was restless that morning. She fidgeted about after
+the departure of her brother; tried to play the agreeable to her
+husband, but finding this a difficult task, left him to his cigar and
+his morning paper, in the solitude of his sanctum, and seizing her
+crimson shawl, started out for a turn upon the terrace.
+
+The "little parlor," as it was called, commanded a view of one end of
+the terrace walk, but no portion of it was visible from the immediate
+front of Oakley mansion, the terrace running across the grounds in the
+rear of the dwelling, and being shut off from the front by a thicket
+of flowering shrubs and trees.
+
+The hall facing the front entrance to Oakley was deserted now, save
+for the figure of Céline Leroque, who was ensconsed in one of the
+windows thereof. She had been watching there for more than an hour,
+and Cora had promenaded the terrace half that time, when a gentleman
+approached the mansion from the front gate-way.
+
+Céline's eyes were riveted upon the coming figure, as it appeared and
+disappeared among the trees and shrubbery along the winding walk. At
+length he emerged into open space and approached nearer.
+
+Céline Leroque suppressed a cry of astonishment as she anticipated his
+ring and ushered him in. A very blonde man, with the lower half of his
+face covered with a mass of yellow waving beard; pale blue, searching,
+unfathomable eyes; pale yellow hair; a handsome face, the face she had
+seen pictured in Claire's souvenir!
+
+Céline Leroque led the way toward the little parlor with a heart
+beating rapidly.
+
+"Miss Arthur is in the grounds," she said, in answer to his inquiry.
+"I will go look for her;" and she turned away.
+
+Mr. Percy placed his hat upon a little table and tossing back his fair
+hair, said: "I think I can see her now."
+
+Approaching the window he looked down upon the terrace.
+
+Céline looked, too, and catching a gleam of crimson, said: "That is
+not Miss Arthur."
+
+"Stop a moment, my girl," the man exclaimed.
+
+He was gazing down at Cora, who was walking away from them, with a
+puzzled look. "Good God!" he ejaculated, as she turned and he saw her
+face.
+
+He checked himself, and withdrawing hastily from the window, took up
+his hat as if about to depart. Approaching the window once again, he
+looked cautiously forth, and seeing Cora still pacing the terrace in
+evident unconcern, he muttered to himself, but quite audibly, "Thank
+goodness, she did not see me."
+
+Then turning to Céline: "Girl, who is that woman?"
+
+The girl approached the window: "That, monsieur, is Madame Cora
+Arthur."
+
+"A widow, eh?"
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur. Mr. Arthur is the master of Oakley."
+
+"Oh! and madame--how long has she been his wife?"
+
+"She is still a bride, monsieur."
+
+"Still a bride, is she? How exceedingly pleasant." Mr. Percy had
+evidently recovered from his panic. "Was she a miss when she married
+the master of Oakley?"
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur; a widow."
+
+"Widow?" stroking his whiskers caressingly. "What name?"
+
+"Madame Torrance, monsieur."
+
+"Madame Torrance, eh? Well, my good girl, take this," offering a bank
+note. "I really thought that Madame Torrance, I mean Arthur, was an
+old friend; however, it seems I was mistaken. Now, my girl, go and
+tell that lady that a gentleman desires to see her, and do not
+announce me to Miss Arthur yet. May I depend upon you?" glancing at
+her keenly.
+
+"You may, monsieur."
+
+Taking the offered money, she made an obeisance, and withdrew.
+
+The little parlor had but one means of egress--through the door by
+which Mr. Percy had entered. This door was near the angle of the room;
+so near that, as it swung inward, it almost grazed against a huge
+high-backed chair, stiff and grim, but reckoned among the elegant
+pieces of furniture that are always, or nearly always, uncomfortable.
+This chair occupied the angle, and behind its capacious back was
+comfortable room for one or two persons, should they fancy occupying a
+position so secluded. The act of opening the door completely screened
+this chair from the view of any person not directly opposite it, until
+such time as the door should be again closed.
+
+As Céline Leroque opened the door and disappeared one might have
+fancied, had they been gazing at that not-very-interesting object,
+that the high-backed chair moved ever so little.
+
+Céline flew along the hall and down the stairway, tearing viciously at
+something as she went. Once in the open air, the brisk autumn breezes
+caught something from her hand, and sent little fragments whirling
+through space--paper scraps, that might have been dissected particles
+of a bank note.
+
+Cora listened in some surprise to the messenger, who broke in upon her
+meditations with a trifle less of suavity than was usual in Miss
+Arthur's maid.
+
+"A gentleman, to see me! Are you quite sure, Céline?"
+
+Mrs. Arthur, for various reasons, received but few friends, and Céline
+thought now that she looked a trifle annoyed.
+
+"Well, Céline, where is the gentleman? Stop," as if struck by a sudden
+thought, and changing color slightly, "tell him I am out, but not
+until I have got up-stairs," she said; "not until I have had an
+opportunity to see him, myself unseen," she thought.
+
+"But, madame," hesitated Céline, "he is in the little parlor. He saw
+madame at the upper end of the terrace."
+
+"Confusion! What did he say, girl?" excitedly.
+
+"He said, madame, that he wished to speak with you; that he was an old
+friend."
+
+"Well, go along," sharply. "I will see the man."
+
+Céline turned about and Cora followed her almost sullenly. She had
+some apprehension as to this unknown caller, but he had seen her, and
+whoever he was she must face him, for Cora was no coward.
+
+Céline tripped along thinking intently.
+
+"This man is Edward Percy--Edward Percy, the lover of two women. He
+was frightened when he saw this Mrs. Arthur, and my words reassured
+him; why? At the mention of a strange caller, she must needs see him
+before she permits him an interview--for that is what she meant. Do
+they know each other? If so, the plot thickens."
+
+Edward Percy had certainly been agitated at sight of Mrs. Arthur, and
+had as certainly recovered when assured that the lady _was_ Mrs.
+Arthur. He looked the image of content now, as he lounged at the
+window. Under the blonde mustaches, a smile of cunning and triumph
+rested; but his eyes looked very blue, very, very calm, very
+unfathomable.
+
+"Madame Arthur, sir."
+
+Céline opens the door gently, and admits the form of Cora. Then, as
+the two face each other in silence, the door quietly closes, neither
+one having glanced toward the girl, who has disappeared.
+
+Cora stands before him, the folds of the crimson shawl falling away
+from the plump, graceful shoulders, and mingling with the sweep of her
+black cashmere wrapper in rich, graceful contrast. One fair hand
+gathers up the crimson fabric and, instinctively, the other thrusts
+itself out in a repellant gesture, as the soft voice utters, in tones
+of mingled hate and fear: "_You!_"
+
+He laughs softly. "Yes, I. I knew you would be delighted." All the
+time he is gazing at her critically, apparently viewing her loveliness
+with an approving eye.
+
+And now the woman feels through her whole being but the one
+instinct--hate. She has forgotten all fear, and stands before him
+erect, pallid, but with eye and lip expressing the bitterness that
+rages within her.
+
+"You won't say you are glad to see me? Cruel Alice," he murmurs,
+plaintively. "And after all these years, too; how many are they, my
+dear?"
+
+"No matter!" fiercely. "They have given the devil ample time to claim
+his own, and yet you are upon earth!"
+
+"Yes," serenely; "both of us."
+
+"Both of us, then. How dare you seek me out?"
+
+"My dear wife, I never did you so much honor. I came to this house for
+another purpose, and Providence, kind Providence, has guided me to
+you."
+
+The woman seemed recalled to herself. Again the look of fear
+overspread her face, and looking nervously about her, she said. "For
+God's sake, hush! What you wish to say say out, but don't let your
+voice go beyond these walls."
+
+"Dear Alice, my voice never was vulgarly loud, was it? recollect, if
+you please," in an injured tone.
+
+"Well! well! what do you want with me? Percy Jordan, I warn you--I am
+not the woman you wronged ten years ago."
+
+"No; by my faith, you are a handsomer woman, and you carry yourself
+like a duchess. Why didn't you do that when you were Mrs.--"
+
+"Hush!" she cried; "you base liar, it did not take me long to find you
+out, even then. Don't forget that you have lived in fear of me for ten
+long years."
+
+"Just so," serenely; "haven't they been long? But they are ended now,
+my dear; my incubus is dead and--"
+
+"But documents don't die," she interrupted; "don't forget that!"
+
+"Not for worlds. For instance, I remember that in a certain church register
+may be seen the marriage lines of Alice Ford and--ahem--myself. And
+somewhere, not far away, there must be on record the statement that Mr.
+Arthur, of Oakley, has wedded the incomparable Mrs. Torrance, a blonde
+widow--ahem. Where did you go, my dear, when you left my bed and board so
+very unceremoniously?
+
+    "'What had I done, or what hadst thou,
+    That through this weary world till now
+        I've walked with empty arms.'"
+
+He stretched out those members tragically.
+
+"And I don't forget that I was never legally your wife, as you had
+another living," cried Cora, ignoring the latter part of his speech.
+
+"No; of course not. Does Mr. John Arthur know that you were once my--"
+
+"Dupe? no," she interrupted. "Come, time passes; tell me what you
+know, and what you want."
+
+"Softly, softly, Mrs. Arthur. I know enough to insure me against being
+turned out of Oakley by you; and I want a wife and a fortune."
+
+"I don't understand you."
+
+[Illustration: "The soft voice utters, in tones of mingled hate and
+fear, '_You?_'"--page 149.]
+
+"Possibly not, Madame Arthur." Then, with mock emotion: "Might I,
+dare I, ask you to give to my keeping, that incomparable maiden, that
+houri of houris, your young and lovely sister-in-law, Miss Ellen
+Arthur?"
+
+The woman looked at him in silence for a time, and then, flinging
+herself upon a couch, burst into a peal of soft laughter. She
+understood it all now.
+
+"So you are the expected lover!" she ejaculated, laughing afresh; "and
+she is up-stairs, in bright array, waiting for you."
+
+"And I am down here, pleading for permission to address this pearl of
+price."
+
+Cora arose and gathered her crimson wrap about her shoulders. "And how
+is it to be between us?" she asked coolly.
+
+"My sweet Alice, if you were John Arthur's widow instead of John
+Arthur's wife, it should be as if the past ten years were but a
+dream."
+
+"Indeed--provided, of course, I were John Arthur's heiress as well."
+
+"Certainly!"
+
+"And how is it that you are once more fortune hunting? Five years ago
+you inherited wealth sufficient for your every need."
+
+The elegant Mr. Percy went through the pantomime of shuffling and
+dealing cards, then looked at her with a grimace.
+
+"All?" she inquired, as if the action had been words.
+
+"Every ducat," solemnly. "So what is to be my fate, fair destiny?"
+
+Cora mused, then laughed again. "After all, you may prove a friend in
+need," she said. "I shan't interfere between you and Miss Arthur; be
+sure of that."
+
+Then they fell to settling the preliminaries of a siege upon the heart
+of Miss Arthur, together with other little trifles that occurred as
+they talked. They had both thrown off their air of hostility, and
+were seated opposite each other, conversing quite comfortably, when
+the door swung open, and Miss Arthur stood before them; Miss Arthur,
+in the full glory of snowy cashmere, with cherry satin facings; Miss
+Arthur, with curls waving, and in all her war-paint.
+
+The two plotters arose, and saluted her with much empressement.
+
+Miss Arthur advanced a step and stood beside the high-backed chair,
+one hand still resting upon the door. Percy came toward her with
+outstretched hands.
+
+"Ah-h-h!" screeched the spinster, "what was that?"
+
+Turning quickly she encountered nothing more formidable than her
+French maid, who had evidently hurried to the spot, for she breathed
+rapidly, and said, in an anxious manner:
+
+"Pardon, mademoiselle, it is I,--did mademoiselle ring? I thought so."
+
+"You stepped on my dress, girl," said Miss Arthur, sharply. "No, I did
+not ring; perhaps Mrs. Arthur did."
+
+"I did ring, Ellen," lied Cora, sweetly, wondering what lucky
+providence sent the girl to the door just then. "I rang for you, as
+Mr. Percy here, in whom I have discovered a Long Branch acquaintance,
+would hardly treat me civilly, so impatient has he been to see Miss
+Arthur."
+
+Miss Arthur looked somewhat appeased. "You may go, Céline," she said,
+with her most stately air.
+
+Thus she sailed forward to meet Mr. Percy.
+
+Céline departed, smiling an odd little smile. She went to her own room
+and sitting down upon the bedside, meditated. Presently she arose, and
+walking over to her mirror, gazed at her reflected image, and shaking
+her head at it, murmured:
+
+"What a nice little maid you are, Céline Leroque--and how these
+people will love you by and by! You now hold in your hands the thread
+that will unravel this mixture of mystery, and when the reckoning
+comes, it will not be you that falls."
+
+Thoughtfully she paced the little apartment. By and by she threw
+herself upon the bed and closed her eyes, still thinking. If she could
+only know just how these two had separated--Edward Percy and Cora
+Arthur; and what part Lucian Davlin had played in that separation
+drama. Did Cora know Lucian ten years ago--did Percy know him for his
+rival? Suddenly the girl sprang up, and smiting her two palms
+together, exclaimed:
+
+"If these two men were rivals, then we may yet find a reason why
+Lucian Davlin should attempt the life of Edward Percy!"
+
+And now what should she do?
+
+Claire Keith's bright face rose before her as she asked herself the
+question. Claire must be warned and saved; but how? The girl's brow
+darkened.
+
+"She will scorn the man," she muttered, between pale lips, "and then
+she will learn to value that other. She will grieve for a time,
+perhaps, but not for long; then--then she will become _his_ wife,
+while I--What right has she to all the blessings?"
+
+The girl stood motionless, with hands tightly clasped. The conflict
+lasted but a moment when, in a firm, clear voice she continued:
+
+"It would be base not to save her from this wretch--and save her I
+will; and I will restore to Olive Girard her husband; is that not
+payment enough for all they have done for me? But he, Clarence, my
+hero--why must I yield him up without a struggle? She does not love
+him; she never will love him if I say the word; she is as generous
+as--as I am base, I think. No, it is not base to love him, to try to
+win him. And why not? I must think, think, think."
+
+All that day and night the girl pondered deeply. In the morning she
+arose weary, unrefreshed.
+
+"I will save Claire Keith from the suffering that befell me," she
+said. "But she shall not have all the good things of this life, and I
+none."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+CORA AND THE FRENCH MAID MEASURE SWORDS.
+
+
+During the day, Miss Arthur communicated to her maid the fact that Mr.
+Percy would remain in Bellair for the present. He was going away for a
+day on business; then he would return and take up his abode at the
+Bellair inn.
+
+"Would monsieur be absent to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Then, as mademoiselle would not especially need her, would she
+graciously give her the day? Her sister had just returned from Paris,
+and would very soon leave the city _en route_ for Washington. Her
+sister was in the service of Mrs. General Delonne--of course
+mademoiselle had heard of Madame Delonne; knew her, perhaps. Céline
+much desired to see this sister, and expected to get some valuable
+hints from her regarding the very latest French _coiffeurs_, etc.,
+etc. In short, could mademoiselle spare her to-morrow, just for one
+little day?
+
+Mademoiselle, after due deliberation, perhaps in consideration of the
+new _coiffeurs_, graciously consented. This matter was settled while
+the dinner toilet of the lady was in progress; and Céline spared no
+pains to make her mistress satisfied with herself and all about her.
+
+"How long had Mr. Percy been in the little parlor, Céline, before I
+came down?" questioned the lady.
+
+She was still a trifle dissatisfied at having found her lover so
+cosily _tête-á-tête_ with her fascinating sister-in-law.
+
+"Oh, a very short time, my lady--I mean mademoiselle."
+
+"And how did he meet Mrs. Arthur?" anxiously.
+
+"Madame was just entering from the terrace; they met in the hall,"
+glibly.
+
+"And did they meet like old friends, Céline?"
+
+"Oh, no! mademoiselle; quite formally. At first I fancied he was
+really displeased at meeting her--but of course mademoiselle knew the
+reason for that," slyly.
+
+"Hush, you foolish girl," said the flattered spinster; "it's all
+right, of course." And she relapsed into reverie.
+
+Miss Arthur had exhausted her patience waiting for her tardy admirer,
+and, finding her own apartments dull, had come down to the parlor,
+thus interrupting the interview, to the disgust of more than one of
+those interested.
+
+Mr. Percy had many questions yet to propound to his newly-found wife,
+as he called her, and she, knowing him so well, felt a trifle more
+uneasy than was comfortable, wondering what use, if any, he intended
+to make of the small amount of power he still possessed over her. She
+must hold another interview with him, and that soon. Meantime, she
+left him to the tender mercies of the happy spinster.
+
+It was late in the evening when she at last found a convenient
+opportunity, and crossed the hall in the direction of Miss Arthur's
+dressing-room. She was about to open the door and enter, when her
+movement was anticipated by Céline, who appeared upon the threshold in
+hat and shawl.
+
+Mrs. Arthur seemed not at all abashed, but pushing the girl back into
+the room, stepped in herself and closed the door. "You were going out,
+Céline?" smiling sweetly.
+
+"Yes, madame," respectfully.
+
+"May I ask where?"
+
+"Certainly, madame. I have leave to go and see my sister to-morrow. I
+am going to telegraph her that she may expect me. Can I serve madame?"
+
+Madame pondered a moment.
+
+"Céline," she said, abruptly. "Why did you pretend to answer a ring
+this morning, when your mistress came down to the little parlor?"
+
+"I trust madame was not offended," deprecatingly.
+
+"No, no," impatiently; "but I want to understand you."
+
+"Madame shall. Madame must know that my mistress is not always smooth
+in temper?"
+
+"Yes," laughing wickedly.
+
+"This morning she bade me admit the gentleman, tell him she was in the
+grounds, and then come to her. He came, and almost immediately saw
+you, madame, walking on the terrace."
+
+"Stop. How did he act when he saw me, Céline?"
+
+The girl looked at her in apparent hesitation. "Madame will not be
+angry with me?"
+
+"No, no."
+
+"He looked almost frightened, and took his hat, as if about to go."
+
+Cora uttered a low, triumphant, "Ah, did he?"
+
+"Then he called me back as I was leaving the room to summon my
+mistress, and asked me who you were. I told him. He looked relieved,
+said he had mistaken you for an old acquaintance, and bade me ask you
+to come to him, and say nothing to Miss Arthur until he desired it."
+
+"I see; but why did you follow her, when she came down? Did she know
+we were there?"
+
+"No, madame."
+
+"Then why--"
+
+"Pardon," with a sidelong glance at her face, "but madame is
+beautiful, and my mistress is jealous. I thought you might wish me to
+do as I did, and I desired to serve you, madame."
+
+Cora eyed her keenly. "But why serve me, Céline?"
+
+"Madame has ever been gracious to Céline," said the girl, lowering her
+eyes. "Even a servant appreciates kindness--my mistress never
+considers that."
+
+Cora's thoughts flew fast. If she could trust this girl, she might
+make her very useful. She had sought this interview to question her
+concerning the adventure of the morning, and now might she not be of
+still more service?
+
+A few more sharply-put questions were asked, and answered with
+corresponding shrewdness. Then Céline detailed, in her own way, her
+interview with her mistress on the subject of Mr. Percy's visit.
+
+Cora was at last fully satisfied that, for some reason, Miss Arthur
+had aroused a feeling of antagonism in the breast of her maid. She
+resolved to profit by this state of affairs. Accordingly, a few
+moments later, Céline Leroque flitted out from the house the bearer of
+two important messages.
+
+One, in writing, was a telegram to be sent to Lucian Davlin.
+
+The other was a verbal message to be delivered, in some way, to Mr.
+Percy before he quitted the grounds of Oakley.
+
+Pausing at a safe distance from the house, Céline produced from her
+pocket some waxen matches. She lighted one, having looked cautiously
+about her, and spreading open the telegram to Mr. Davlin, read these
+words:
+
+     Come down to-morrow without fail. It is most important.
+
+                                                        C.
+
+"So," muttered Miss Arthur's maid as, flinging away the match, she
+hurried on her way; "so he must be consulted; he must come down. In
+the absence of Percy, too. I wonder if he knows, this Percy, that
+Lucian Davlin at present personates the dutiful brother of his fair
+lost love." Such a sneer rested on the face of the French maid. "Well!
+Mr. Davlin must come and, unfortunately, I can't be present at this
+interview. However, I shall be able to judge pretty accurately by
+their future movements what was its portent."
+
+Edward Percy, as he chose to call himself, was not aware of the
+position held by Lucian Davlin in that household. Cora had seized an
+opportunity to murmur to Miss Arthur a soft warning.
+
+"Ellen, dear!" she had said, "pray don't mention Lucian to Mr. Percy,
+unless you wish to shorten his stay with us. The fact is, the two had
+a slight misunderstanding while we were all at Long Branch, about a
+horse or something. Lucian was very much to blame, I think, but they
+parted bad friends. It is best never to interfere in men's quarrels,
+so I have not mentioned Lucian's name to him at all."
+
+Cunning Céline! Her tact had made this explanation seem a quite
+probable one; and as Miss Arthur certainly had no desire to drive Mr.
+Percy from Oakley, she assured her "kind, thoughtful Cora," that she
+would be very guarded and never once mention Mr. Davlin's name in his
+enemy's presence.
+
+Of this fact, of course, Céline was in total ignorance, as she
+proceeded on her way, which was not to the telegraph office; at least
+not yet.
+
+Hurrying through the Oakley wood in the opposite direction from the
+village, she crossed the meadow and approached the cottage of Nurse
+Hagar. A light was dimly visible through the paper curtains, but no
+sound was heard from within. The girl listened at the door a moment,
+and then tapped softly.
+
+Presently slip-shod feet could be heard crossing the uncarpeted floor,
+and a key creaked in its lock, after which the door opened, a very
+little way, and the old woman's face peered cautiously out into the
+night. Then she hastily opened the door wide and admitted the visitor.
+
+"Is it you, dearie?" she asked, rather unnecessarily, surveying her
+critically by the light of a flaring tallow candle.
+
+"No, Aunt Hagar, it's not I," laughed the girl; "it's Miss Arthur's
+French maid that you see before you. And don't drop that tallow on her
+devoted head," lifting a deprecating hand.
+
+"Umph! we seem in great spirits to-night," leading the way back to the
+fire-place, beside which stood her easy splint-bottomed chair.
+
+"So we are," assented the girl; "and why shouldn't we be, pray? Aren't
+we a very happy French maid, and a very skillful one, and a very lucky
+one?"
+
+"How should I know?" grumbled the old woman; "what do I know? I'm only
+old Hagar; don't mind explaining anything to me!"
+
+"By which you mean, beware of your wrath if I don't explain things to
+you; eh, auntie?"
+
+[Illustration: "Céline looked cautiously around her."--page 159.]
+
+Hagar mumbled something, not exactly intended to be a speech but
+simply a small growl, illustrative of her mood. Then, as if her
+dignity had been sufficiently asserted, she relaxed her grimness,
+and looking kindly down upon the girl, and pushing her toward the big
+chair, said:
+
+"But law! child, you look fagged out. Sit down, sit down, and don't
+mind an old woman's grumbling."
+
+"Did I ever?" laughed the girl, sinking into the big chair as if
+indeed willing to rest. "But I can't sit here long, nursie; my day's
+work, or rather my night's work, is not yet finished."
+
+"Not yet? Oh, Madeline, my little nursling, give up these wild plans
+and plots; they will bring you no good."
+
+"Won't they?" nodding significantly. "I think they will do me good,
+and you, too, Nurse Hagar; and before very long, too. Why, bless you,
+these precious plotters won't wait for me to bring them into my net;
+they are tumbling in headlong--all of them. They are helping me, with
+all their might, to bring about their own downfall. Hagar," and the
+girl leaned suddenly forward and looked closely into the old woman's
+face, "I want you to come back to Oakley."
+
+Hagar started back as if struck by a knife. She was about to open her
+lips and set free a torrent of indignant protest, when the girl lifted
+her hand, interrupting her in the old characteristic way.
+
+"Wait until I explain, auntie. I want you to go to Oakley to-morrow,
+at the hour when Mr. John Arthur is always supposed to be taking his
+after-dinner nap. Just after dinner, I want you to see Madame Cora;
+manage it in your own way, but see her you must."
+
+"I won't!" broke in the old woman.
+
+"You will," said the girl, quietly, "when I have told you why."
+
+Drawing her chair close to that occupied by her companion, she resumed
+in a low voice:
+
+"Yesterday Miss Arthur sent me to the village to purchase some
+trifling articles for the adornment of her precious person. Returning
+through the woods, I came upon Mr. Davlin and his 'sister,' conversing
+very earnestly, just at the lower end of the terrace. I arrived at the
+hedgerow stile just in time to hear madame say, very emphatically,
+that something must be done immediately. They were going down the
+terrace steps when I passed them, pretending to be in a great hurry.
+As soon as their backs were toward me, I turned quickly, and without
+noise crossed the stile, followed them on the opposite side of the
+hedge, and listened."
+
+Here the speaker paused and looked up, but her auditor was gazing
+moodily into the fire, and never stirred nor spoke.
+
+"Madame was saying," resumed the narrator, "that she was heartily
+weary of the part she was playing; that its monotony sickened her;
+that they had secured the victims, and fate had been kind enough to
+remove the only stumbling block in their path, save the old man
+himself; that she considered my very sensible demise a direct answer
+to her pious prayers."
+
+The old woman shuddered and cast a look of horror upon the speaker.
+
+"They had evidently discussed this matter before, and partially
+settled their plans, only the man seemed to think it was too soon to
+begin to act. But madame declared that she should do worse if they did
+not commence operations at once, and finally she overruled him."
+
+"Of course," savagely.
+
+"Of course. Well, I now lost a little of their conversation, but I
+kept the thread of it. You see, I had to move very cautiously, and
+sometimes fall behind them a bit, when the leafage became less thick."
+
+Hagar nodded.
+
+"Their plan was a beautiful one, and they have already set it in
+motion."
+
+"Already?"
+
+"Already; don't interrupt, please; I will tell you how in good time.
+First, then, madame is to fall ill--not desperately ill, but just ill
+enough to be interesting, and to alarm the old man. By the way, Mr.
+Davlin left this morning for the city; that is one move. He is to
+remain in the city until after the illness of madame, who is to refuse
+to receive any of the village doctors. Finally, he is to be sent for,
+and admonished to bring with him their old family physician, who has
+but just returned from Europe. Well, they come, the brother and the
+family physician--do you follow me?"
+
+"Yes, yes!" nodding eagerly.
+
+"They come. And the doctor says madame is threatened with a malignant
+fever, and orders everybody out of the house. It is needless to say
+that Miss Arthur flies instantly; but _le docteur_, interviewing the
+half-sick, fidgety old man, discovers that he, too, is threatened with
+the fever. Of course, he can not leave then."
+
+Old Hagar's eyes were twinkling, and she was bending forward now in an
+eagerly attentive attitude. "No," she breathed, unconsciously.
+
+"Well, the heroic brother will refuse to fly from the fever, and will
+implore the skillful man of medicine to remain and minister unto the
+sick. The good doctor stays. Of course, such of the servants as are at
+all likely to prove troublesome, through possessing a trifle more
+brains than is usually alloted to an idiot, will be kindly told that,
+rather than endanger their lives, the household will dispense with
+their valuable services. Then a nurse, perhaps two, will come down
+from the city, and the plotters have the game in their own hands."
+
+Here the girl paused, and leaned back in her chair as if her story
+were done.
+
+"And then?" exclaimed Hagar.
+
+"And then!" echoed her companion, bending forward and resting her hand
+upon the old woman's wrist; "and then madame will recover--but John
+Arthur will remain an invalid and a prisoner! It will be said in the
+village that the fever has affected his brain, and his unpopularity,
+arising from the fact that he has always shunned and scorned the
+village folk, will insure them against intrusive investigators.
+Auntie, they have hatched a pretty plot."
+
+"But," objected Hagar, "they will have to stay at Oakley, if he is to
+be a prisoner. They won't dare leave him with keepers and--"
+
+"True," the girl interrupted. "I don't know how they will manage the
+rest; but having settled this much, madame and her 'brother' paused at
+the end of the path. I saw her as she looked up into his face, and
+this is what she said: 'When he is once a prisoner, what could be more
+natural than that a crazy, sick old man should _die_ some day?' Then
+the man replied, 'Nothing;' and they both returned to the house,
+without another word."
+
+For some moments silence reigned in Hagar's dwelling. The old woman
+seemed either unable, or unwilling, to utter a word of comment upon
+the story to which she had been so attentive a listener.
+
+Céline at length arose and said, as she began pacing to and fro before
+the old woman. "Well, have you anything to say to this?"
+
+"Yes," quietly.
+
+"Then why don't you speak out? Are you horribly shocked?"
+
+"No."
+
+"No? Well, so much the better!"
+
+Hagar arose, pushed back her chair, crossed the room, and, pulling
+back the curtain, looked out into the night. Then turning her
+inscrutable old face upon the girl she said, quite calmly:
+
+"Why should not others measure out to John Arthur the same bitter
+draught that he filled for your mother, years ago? Bah! it is only
+retribution!"
+
+"True," said the girl, sternly. Then, in a guarded tone: "And you
+would make no attempt to overturn their finely laid plans?"
+
+"I? _No!_" fiercely. "You? I thought you wanted revenge."
+
+"And so I do,--and will have it."
+
+"How, then?"
+
+"Will you go to Madame Arthur?"
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Ah, now you reason. I will tell you."
+
+Hurriedly she unfolded her plan; and after some differences of
+opinion, dame Hagar agreed to play her part in the coming drama.
+Having finally arranged Hagar's _rôle_ to their mutual satisfaction,
+Céline hurriedly recounted her day's adventures, saying, by way of
+_finale_:
+
+"So now you see, nursie, I must hasten and send madame's message on
+its way. I shall depend upon you to tell me if Mr. Davlin comes to
+Bellair to-morrow, for I have a fancy that madame will manage, in some
+way, to prevent his coming to the house, as it was fully settled that
+he was not to appear at Oakley until summoned to his sister's
+sick-bed."
+
+"I can easily learn if he appears at the Bellair station."
+
+"Exactly; that is all I wish to know. Now I must go and waylay Mr.
+Percy. So good night, auntie, and cheer up; our time is coming fast."
+
+"And trouble coming, too; God help us."
+
+The girl turned upon her swiftly, with flashing eyes. "Are you afraid?
+Do you want to give it up?"
+
+"I am afraid for you. But give up now; never!"
+
+"Brave old nursie!"
+
+The girl flung both arms about the old woman, and kissed her withered
+cheeks.
+
+"Never fear for me; my star is rising. Don't forget your mission,
+auntie; good-night."
+
+The "good-night" came back over her shoulder, as the girl was hurrying
+down the cottage steps, and Hagar closed the door behind her
+retreating figure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+FACE TO FACE.
+
+
+It is surprising to note how many pretexts a resolute, husband-hunting
+spinster can find for keeping a victim at her side, long after his
+soul has left her, and gone forth with yearning for a downy couch, a
+fragrant cheroot, or a fairer face.
+
+Edward Percy could be agreeable, for a reasonable length of time, to a
+very ugly woman. But even he felt himself an injured man when, at a
+late hour, he said good-night for the eleventh time to his fair
+enslaver--literally an enslaver, he thought. As the door of Oakley
+manor actually and audibly closed behind him, he heaved a sigh of
+gratification, and strode rapidly down the winding avenue.
+
+When the first group of trees had sheltered him from the view of the
+infatuated spinster, should she still be gazing after him, Mr. Percy
+paused, and standing in the shadow, produced a cigar and was
+proceeding to light it, when a hand fell lightly upon his arm, and he
+turned with a confused idea that she had followed him, and was about
+to lead him back a prisoner. But the figure that he dimly saw was,
+certainly, not that of Miss Arthur.
+
+"Pardon, monsieur! but I have a message for you."
+
+"Ye gods!" ejaculated the aggrieved man.
+
+Evidently the girl interpreted his thoughts, for she stifled a laugh
+as she said, quickly: "Not from Miss Arthur, monsieur; but from
+madame."
+
+"Oh, from madame," drawing a long breath. "Well, even madame will be a
+blessed relief; out with it, girl."
+
+"Madame will be grateful, I am sure," said the girl, mockingly.
+"Madame desires a word with you--now, to-night. Will you follow me?"
+
+"Where?"
+
+"To madame; she will be in the terrace arbor directly."
+
+"Oh, very well," replacing his cigar in his pocket; "lead on, then."
+
+Céline flitted on before, until the arbor became dimly visible down
+the pathway. Then she paused, pointed it out to her companion, and
+said: "Madame will soon join you there, sir. Now I must hasten to my
+mistress; I have kept her waiting too long."
+
+With a low, mischievous laugh she darted away in the direction of the
+house.
+
+Percy turned and gazed after her; then followed a few paces and
+watched again, until she disappeared under a wide portico. Heaving a
+sigh of relief he turned back toward the arbor.
+
+"I want no eavesdropping," he muttered; "and that minx might listen if
+she had time. She is no more a French maid than I am; she forgot her
+_monsieur_ just now. But a sham maid is very appropriate for a sham
+maiden; now for Alice;" and he entered the arbor.
+
+[Illustration: "I am afraid for you. But give up now; never!"--page
+167.]
+
+Had Mr. Percy been able to follow the retreating footsteps of the
+objectionable French maid, however, he might have found occasion
+to change his opinion of her lack of time for eavesdropping,
+and there was excellent opportunity for its practice about the
+shrubbery-surrounded arbor.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Meantime Ellen Arthur, having reluctantly bidden her "blonde demi-god"
+a last good-night, sought her chamber, swelling with satisfaction, and
+feeling somewhat hungry. Passing the door of her sister-in-law's
+rooms, she encountered Sarah, the romantic housemaid, who was just
+entering, bearing wine and a tiny glass. Glancing within, she
+encountered the gaze of Cora, who stood holding in her hand some black
+lace drapery.
+
+"Horribly late, isn't it?" yawned that lady, nodding good-naturedly.
+"Set down the wine, Sarah, and then you may go. I'm so dismally
+slumbersome that if I keep you to help me, I shall fall asleep on your
+hands. Have some wine, Ellen?"
+
+"No, thanks," said the spinster. "If you don't want Sarah, she may
+bring me up a nice lunch as soon as possible. I won't detain you any
+longer; good-night."
+
+And Miss Arthur, who had meditated entering and giving Cora the
+benefit of some of her maiden dreams and fancies, marched away, a
+trifle offended at the manner in which her sleepy sister-in-law had
+anticipated and warded off the interview. Cora's good-night floated
+after her as she sailed down the corridor. Then she heard the door
+closed and the bolt shot into the socket. A little later, the door
+opened noiselessly, and a female figure glided down the dark stairways
+out into the night, and toward the arbor.
+
+"Céline shall undo my hair," Miss Arthur thought, "and I'll have her
+try that new set of braids and puffs, if it is late. I don't feel as
+if I could sleep."
+
+But Céline was not dutifully waiting in her mistress's dressing-room.
+
+Sarah appeared with the lunch, and offered her services, but was
+summarily dismissed, for Miss Arthur did not deem it wise to initiate
+the house servants into the fearful and wonderful mysteries of her
+toilet. Therefore, she lunched in solitude and disgust, but heartily,
+notwithstanding, having just put off her very elaborate, but rather
+uncomfortable evening dress and donned a silken gown, acting as her
+own maid.
+
+Then she fidgeted herself into a most horrible temper, and sat
+deliberately down before the grate in a capacious dressing-chair,
+determined to wait until the girl came, and deliver a most severe and
+stately reprimand, the exact words of which she had already determined
+upon.
+
+The lady, sitting thus with her feet on the fender, her hands
+comfortably clasping the big arms of the dressing chair, and her head
+lolling rather ungracefully over its back, fell into slumber.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+If Mrs. John Arthur had made a midnight appointment with Lucifer, she
+would have fortified herself for the encounter by making a "stunning"
+toilet. It was one of her fixed principles--she had fixed
+principles--never to permit friend or foe of the male persuasion to
+gaze upon her charms when they would show at a disadvantage. So when
+she entered the arbor, which was suffused with a soft moonlight glow
+from a heavily-shaded lamp, for the arbor stood among dense shrubbery,
+and but for this lamp would have been in Egyptian darkness, she was
+indeed a personification of loveliness.
+
+Ungracious as was his mood, Percy would not have been a beauty-adoring
+mortal if he had not paid involuntary tribute to the charms of the
+woman who was his bitterest foe. Gazing down upon her a moment, he
+said in his soft legato:
+
+"I am almost angry at you for being so beautiful, after having taken
+yourself to other lovers, _Ma belle_."
+
+The woman smiled triumphantly, as she threw herself into an easy
+chair, and said in her softest, sweetest tone: "And did you expect me
+to go mourning for you all these years, sir?"
+
+"I don't think you were ever the woman to do that;" dropping lazily
+into a rustic seat near her. "May I smoke?"
+
+Cora nodded.
+
+"Are you sure we are quite safe here?" looking about him. "Somehow, I
+am suspicious of that sharp French maid."
+
+"Quite sure," nodding again. "Mr. Arthur was in bed before I came out;
+Miss Arthur was ordering up a lunch to her room, and the French maid
+must needs be in attendance for an hour or more; and besides, I know
+she is not at all dangerous. None of the other servants ever have
+occasion to come here, and most of them are in bed by now."
+
+"So your charming sister-in-law eats, does she? After parting from me,
+too; ugh!"
+
+"Eats? I should think so," laughing softly; "in her own room, when her
+stays are not too tight."
+
+"Spare me!"
+
+He held up both hands in mock deprecation; then, dropping his
+bantering tone, said, as he puffed at his cigar:
+
+"But now to business. You did not come out here in such bewitching
+toilet to tell me that my charmer eats?"
+
+"Hardly," with a pretty shrug.
+
+"For what, then?"
+
+"To come to an understanding with you," coolly.
+
+"As how?" in the same tone.
+
+"As to our future standing with each other."
+
+"I thought that was settled to-day?"
+
+"Did you? I don't think it was settled."
+
+"Well, what remains, fair Alice?"
+
+"Will you drop that name?"
+
+"For the present, yes; but with reluctance."
+
+"Oh, certainly!" bitterly. "Now, what are we to be henceforth?"
+
+"Friends, of course," knocking the ashes off his cigar.
+
+"You and I may be allies; we can never be friends," she said,
+scornfully.
+
+"Don't trouble yourself to be insulting, Mrs.--a--Arthur."
+
+"Then don't make me remember how I have hated you!"
+
+"Have you really hated me? How singular."
+
+"Very!" sarcastically; then: "If you don't drop that disagreeable tone
+we shall quarrel. I wish to know what you want with Ellen Arthur."
+
+"Shade of my grandmother! If you don't drop that disagreeable name, I
+shall expire. Haven't I had enough of her for one day? Alice, I know
+revenge is sweet, but spare me."
+
+"Bother! I must talk about her, else how can we settle anything? Do
+you suppose I am going to allow that sweet girl to be deceived?" This
+with mock indignation.
+
+"Oh, no; certainly not! Well, if I must, I must. First, then--"
+
+"First, what position do you intend to take towards me?"
+
+"That depends upon yourself."
+
+"On conditions?"
+
+"On conditions."
+
+"Name them."
+
+"I am to be received as an honored guest whenever I shall choose to
+visit Oakley."
+
+"Well."
+
+"Next, you are to do all in your power to further my suit with
+Miss--you know."
+
+"That's an easy task."
+
+"Lastly, you are to promise me not, now or at any future time, to
+declare to any one aught you may know that might be to my
+disadvantage."
+
+"That is to say, I am not to tell Ellen Arthur, or others, that you
+have two wives--"
+
+"Softly; one, my dear, _one_. Mrs. Percy Jordan, number one, is dead;
+you alone are left. You see, Alice, my dear, the thing is reversed.
+You have two husbands now, while I--"
+
+"Will have two wives as soon as you can get them!"
+
+"Just so."
+
+"And what guarantee have I that you will not betray me to Mr. Arthur?"
+
+"The very best in the world; mutual interest."
+
+Cora pondered. "I don't see but that you are right," she said, at
+last. "It certainly will not be to your interest to attempt to annoy
+me now, but how long is this truce to last?" looking at him keenly.
+
+Percy smoked away in tranquil silence.
+
+"Of course, I understand what you mean by a marriage with Miss
+Arthur," scornfully. "How long will it take you to squander her
+dollars? And after that, what will you do?"
+
+"Question for question, fair cross examiner; how long do you intend
+remaining so quietly here, the bond slave of this idiotic old man? And
+what will you do when this play is played out?"
+
+"Because I ran away from a profligate young husband, who had decoyed
+me into an illegal marriage--illegal for me, but sufficiently binding
+to have put you in the penitentiary for a bi--"
+
+"Don't say it, my dear; don't. It's an ugly word, and, after all, are
+we not both in the same boat?"
+
+"No," angrily. "Do you think I have been so poorly schooled during
+these years that you can make me think now that you have any hold upon
+me? Bah! your case is but a flimsy one. When you deceived me into a
+marriage with you, you had already another wife. You hid me away in a
+suburban box of a cottage, fancying I would be content, like a bird in
+a gilded cage. You never dreamed that meek little _I_ would follow
+you, and find out from the woman's own lips that she had a prior claim
+upon you!"
+
+"Candidly, I didn't credit you with so much pluck," said Percy,
+coolly.
+
+"No! and when I charged you with your perfidy, and wept and upbraided
+you, and then became pacified when you told me that every proof of
+your marriage with that other was in your control, you did not dream
+that I would feign submission until I had gained possession of the
+proofs of both your marriages, and then run away?"
+
+"And succeed in baffling my search for ten long years," supplemented
+he, grandiloquently. "No, fair dame, I did not."
+
+"Your search, indeed! It was not a very eager one."
+
+"Well, in truth it was not. The fact is, your beauty entrapped me into
+that very foolish marriage; but I was a trifle weary of blonde
+loveliness in tears, etc., so I didn't get out the entire police
+force, you see."
+
+"And you wouldn't have found me if you had."
+
+"Indeed! why not?"
+
+"Because, if it will afford you any satisfaction to know at this late
+stage of the game, I sailed for Europe the very day I quitted your
+house."
+
+"No!" opening his eyes in genuine astonishment. "Had it all cut and
+dried? Well, I like that! Why, little woman, if you had only developed
+one half the pluck latent in you, before you flitted, I would never
+have given you 'just cause,' etc., for leaving me."
+
+The woman smiled triumphantly, but made no other answer.
+
+"Well, what next? I am really becoming interested in your career."
+
+"Sorry I can't gratify your curiosity. My career has been a very
+pleasant one--seeing the world; generally prosperous. And this brings
+me back to the starting point: why should you think, because I left
+you with good cause, ten years ago, that I must necessarily forsake,
+sooner or later, a husband who is kindness itself, and who leaves no
+wish of mine ungratified?"
+
+"First reason," checking them off on his fingers: "Because you don't
+love this old man, and love is the only bond that such women as you
+will not break."
+
+"Thanks!" ironically, bending her head.
+
+"Second, because a dull country house, be it ever so elegant, will not
+long satisfy you as an abiding place. I have not forgotten your
+girlish taste for pomp, pageant and all manner of excitement; a taste
+that has doubtless become fully developed by now. Third, because you
+have, at this present moment, a lover whom you prefer above all
+others, and to whom you will flee sooner or later."
+
+"Perhaps you can substantiate that statement," sneered Cora.
+
+"Well, not exactly; but I know women. My dear, say what you please to
+me, but don't expect to be believed if you will insist upon doing the
+devoted wife."
+
+"I insist upon nothing," said Cora, rising, "and I have not time for
+many more words. Let us come to the point at once: With my life, after
+I left you, you have nothing to do; you know nothing of it now, and
+you will learn no more from me. Of you, I know this much. I know that
+you clung, after your fashion, to the skirts of your unfortunate wife,
+spending her income and making her life miserable. I know that six
+years ago you inherited a fortune from a distant relative. I know that
+from that time you utterly neglected your wife, who had been an
+invalid for years; and that soon after she died, heart-broken and
+alone."
+
+Percy turned upon her, and scrutinized her face keenly; then, coming
+close to her, said, meaningly: "And then I wonder that you did not
+come back to me."
+
+For a moment the woman seemed confused, and off her guard. But she had
+not sought an interview with this man without fully reviewing her
+ground.
+
+"I had ceased to care for you," she said, lifting her unflinching eyes
+to his face; "and I did not need your money. Come, enough of the past;
+you have squandered your fortune, and now you want another. You want
+to put yourself still more into my power by marrying a third wife--so
+be it; I consent."
+
+"Not so fast. You are first to promise me to place in my hands, on my
+'marriage morn,' those unpleasant little documents which you hold
+against me. In return for which you will receive a sum of money, the
+amount of said sum to be hereafter arranged. Then we go our separate
+ways."
+
+"And if I refuse?"
+
+"Then, painful as it is, I must do my duty. You are to give me your
+answer when I return to Bellair; no time for tricks, mind. If the
+answer is no, then I interview Mr. John Arthur."
+
+"And you return?--"
+
+"The day after to-morrow."
+
+"Then you shall have my answer. Until then--"
+
+She swept him a stately courtesy, which he returned with a most
+elaborate bow.
+
+Without another word from either, they separated; she gliding swiftly
+and silently toward the house, he going once more in the direction of
+Bellair village.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+How long she had slept it never afterward occurred to Miss Arthur to
+inquire. Something recalled her from the land of visions, and starting
+up in her chair she saw Céline, standing demurely before her, her face
+wreathed in smiles, and no signs of any uncanny adventure lingering
+about her.
+
+Beholding her safe and sound Miss Arthur began to pour out upon the
+luckless head of Céline, the vials of wrath prepared for her benefit.
+
+The girl listened with a face indicative of some secret source of
+amusement. Noting her look of evident unconcern, and the laughter she
+seemed vainly striving to keep under, Miss Arthur brought her tirade
+to an abrupt termination, and demanded to know what Miss Céline
+Leroque saw, in her appearance, that was so very ludicrous.
+
+Whereupon Miss Céline Leroque dropped upon a hassock, at the feet of
+her irate mistress, and laughed outright--actually laughed
+unreservedly, in the presence and despite the rage of the ancient
+maiden!
+
+[Illustration: "Then you shall have my answer. Until then--"--page
+178.]
+
+Then observing that she was preparing another burst of wrath, the
+girl appeared to be struggling for composure, and vainly endeavoring
+to articulate something, of which Miss Arthur could only catch the
+name, "Mr. Percy." Thereupon she fairly bounced out of her chair,
+demanding to know "what on earth" Mr. Percy had to do with her maid's
+reprehensible conduct.
+
+"Oh, mademoiselle, everything!" gasped Céline. "Only let me explain,
+and mademoiselle will laugh, too. Oh, _Mon dieu, Mon dieu_!"
+
+Calming herself by a violent effort, Céline told her story, and its
+magic dispelled the wrath of her much neglected, sorely aggrieved
+mistress. Such a pretty little story it was, interspersed with sly
+looks, knowing nods, and rippling bursts of laughter. Listened to
+with, first, disdainful silence; then, growing interest; last,
+spasmodic giggles, _apropos_ ejaculations, and much blushing and
+maidenly confusion.
+
+"You see, mademoiselle, after you had gone down, I went to my room, to
+take just a few little stitches upon some of my poor garments, that I
+must wear to-morrow. I don't know how it was, but I sat on my bedside
+thinking, after it was done, and fell off asleep."
+
+"Off the bed?"
+
+"Oh! no, no, mademoiselle; off into sleep, I mean. When I awoke I was
+anxious to know how much time I had slept away, and came down to your
+apartments. You were still in the drawing-room, and I passed on to the
+kitchen, surprised to find that it was very late. 'I will hasten,' I
+thought, 'and can so go to the village, and telegraph my sister before
+my mistress rings for me;' for I didn't think," with a sly look, "that
+you would be at liberty _very_ early in the evening. The--what you
+name him?--a--operateur, was out, and I had to wait a little time.
+Coming back so late, I became afraid of the woods, and took the path
+along the highway. Entering at the front and coming up the avenue, I
+was about to pass around by the east walk to the side entrance
+when,--" stifling a laugh.
+
+[Illustration: "O, Mademoiselle, every thing!" gasped Céline.--page
+180.]
+
+"Well?" impatiently.
+
+"When the front door opened and I, standing in the shadow, saw the
+light fall upon the face and figure of Monsieur Percy."
+
+"Yes; go on."
+
+"I mention this, mademoiselle, only to show you how I know so
+positively that it _was_ monsieur who--oh! oh!" laughing again softly.
+
+"Who?" with increased impatience; "who did what, girl?" eyeing her
+suspiciously.
+
+Céline composed herself and continued: "Seeing monsieur, I stopped,
+for I did not wish him to discover me abroad so late. So I stood in
+the thick shade until he should have passed. He came slowly toward me
+and, just about four paces from my hiding-place, paused, turned and
+looked, back at the house. I could see him gazing toward the upper
+windows, and presently I saw your shadow upon the blind as you entered
+your dressing-room. The light shone out from your window, too; and
+after looking for a while, I heard him murmur to himself: 'That must
+be her window; I believe I am bewitched, for I can't bear to lose its
+light,' and then--"
+
+"Stop laughing, you ridiculous girl! And what then?"
+
+"And then, mademoiselle, he began walking up and down within sight of
+your window--"
+
+"Ah!" rapturously.
+
+"Oui; and I--oh, mademoiselle, he was in the very path that I must
+take to approach the side entrance. And he walked and walked, and I
+waited and waited. Then I thought I would try getting around by the
+other way, and creep up carefully from the terrace. So I crept along
+to the other side, back of the arbor, and up the terrace, and managed
+to reach the entrance unseen. _Mon Dieu_, mademoiselle, the door was
+locked! I was shut out! What was I to do then? I sat me down in the
+shadow of the portico and waited once more. After a terribly long time
+I could see that he was not moving up and down. I peeped cautiously,
+and he seemed to be departing. Then I came out stealthy as a cat, and
+found that he was going away, and the reason--"
+
+"The reason?"
+
+"Oui, mademoiselle; the light in your room had disappeared."
+
+"Disappeared!"
+
+"Oui, mademoiselle. Then I bethought me there might yet be a chance. I
+came up to the front entrance and tried the door. It was not locked.
+My heart leaped for joy. I blessed the carelessness of the servants,
+and stole cautiously in. I came to this room. All was dark; but the
+coals there showed me your figure in the chair. I could not mistake
+the graceful outlines of mademoiselle. I entered very quietly,
+relighted your lamp--some little breeze must have flared it out while
+you slept. I was looking at you, and wondering what you would say if
+you knew how nearly crazy with love you had driven that stately,
+handsome Monsieur Percy, when you awoke."
+
+It is needless to say that, long before Céline had finished her
+recital, her mistress was in the best of humors. Indeed, Céline's
+volubly uttered, intensely flattering, highly probable recital, had an
+exhilarating effect upon her; so much so, that the lady found sleep
+now quite impossible. So poor Céline was doomed, after all, to build
+the new braids and puffs into a wonderful edifice upon the head of
+Miss Arthur, and to repeat over and again the sweet story of "how he
+loved her."
+
+The "wee sma'" hours were beginning to lengthen once more when Céline
+was released from duty, and went wearily up to her room; wearily, yet
+with undimmed eyes, and the mischievous dimples still lurking about
+the corners of her mouth.
+
+She muttered: "Bah! it is better than sleep, after all; if only the
+others were as easily duped as she!"
+
+By which words, a listener might have been led to suppose that Céline
+Leroque had been practising deception upon some confiding individual.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+GATHERING CLUES.
+
+
+Claire had been absent all the morning, had gone to make some call; at
+least she had said to Olive, at breakfast, "I think I will take the
+ponies, Olive, and drive into the city this morning. It is nice out of
+doors, and I have made no calls since I came here."
+
+Olive Girard sat alone in her cosy drawing-room. She had been reading,
+but the book was somehow not in tune with her mind or mood. She had
+allowed it to fall at her feet, where it lay, half opened, while she
+drifted away from the present in sorrowful reverie. Lifting her eyes,
+she saw a cab drive away from the villa gate, and a form hurrying
+along the marble pathway. Springing up, Olive herself threw open the
+door, and clasped her arms about--Miss Arthur's French maid! who
+returned the caress with much enthusiasm.
+
+"Madeline, my dear child, how glad I am to see you!"
+
+"Even in this disguise?" laughed the girl.
+
+"Even in blue glasses, and that horrid jacket," smiled Olive. "What an
+ugly thing it is. Come and take it off, _ma belle_; do," leading the
+way up the stairs.
+
+"I come, autocrat, and I shall much enjoy getting out of this
+head-gear," shaking her bewigged head. Then abruptly, "Where's
+Claire?"
+
+"Out for a drive and some calls," without looking back. "How surprised
+and glad she will be to see you. Now, come in and make a lady of
+yourself once more." She led the way into Madeline's room. "Are you
+tired, dear?"
+
+"Not at all."
+
+"Then come into my boudoir when you are dressed, and we will have a
+cosy chat while waiting for Claire."
+
+"I won't be long," responded the girl. "I have a good many things to
+say to you, which had better be said before Claire comes."
+
+"Very well; I await your ladyship," and Olive closed the door, leaving
+Miss Arthur's maid alone.
+
+"I thought so," muttered she, tearing off the blue glasses; "she has
+gone to meet Edward Percy. Poor dupe! it is indeed time to act."
+
+She discarded the ill-fitting jacket, flung away the ugly black wig,
+and, in a very few moments, stood arrayed in a pretty, neatly fitting
+gown, glowing and lovely,--Madeline Payne once more.
+
+"I wonder if I shall see or hear of _him_," she whispered to herself
+as she crossed to Olive's boudoir. "Oh, if I could! It would be one
+ray of sunlight only to clasp his hand!"
+
+Olive had been informed of all that Madeline herself knew, of the
+doings at Bellair, at the time when the girl went down, disguised as
+Céline Leroque. Now, therefore, Madeline lost no time in making Olive
+acquainted with, at least a part of, the events that had transpired
+during her sojourn in the Oakley mansion, in the capacity of maid. Of
+Edward Percy she said not a word, for reasons of her own, wishing to
+keep all knowledge of him from Olive for the present.
+
+"You see, I was just in time, Olive," she supplemented, when Mrs.
+Girard had expressed her astonishment at the startling revelations of
+the past four weeks. "I had not an hour to lose in setting my snare
+for these plotters. They little dream what is in store for them. Poor
+Kitty! I feel like a wretch when I think of the advantage I took of
+her, by making her poor dead body a weapon, as one might say, against
+a villain whom she would never have lifted a finger to injure in her
+life. But I could see no other way. Do you know, Olive, they are going
+to erect a stone over her, bearing my name?"
+
+Olive looked up in surprise. "No! is it possible?"
+
+"Yes, quite. I fancy John Arthur thinks he will feel more thoroughly
+assured of my demise, when he can see my name on a marble slab."
+
+"Now, tell me what especial purpose brought you up to town to-day."
+
+Madeline moved restlessly in her chair. "A medley," she said, laughing
+uneasily. "A woman's reason; things being quiet, I wanted recreation,
+and to tell you of my success thus far. Then, a detective's reason; to
+get from you some information bearing upon your own affairs, as
+connected with Lucian Davlin. Then I want to see Dr. Vaughan, in his
+professional capacity. But mind, Olive, not a word to him of my
+discoveries just yet."
+
+"Certainly not, if you do not wish it."
+
+And this was all the mention made by either of Clarence Vaughan.
+
+"You see," began Madeline, after a brief silence, "Mrs. John Arthur
+and her quondam brother, hold occasional private interviews. As they
+generally prove interesting, I make it a point to be present whenever
+possible. Now, from some chance words dropped at different times, I
+have been led to think that if I were more fully informed in regard to
+this Percy, I might find the missing link. Indeed, I may tell you I
+have found a clue, just the shadow of something that, if I could
+develop it, might prove of wonderful value to both of us."
+
+"Oh! if you could find out anything that would throw light upon this
+dark wrong they have done Philip, these men--"
+
+"Well, Olive, I think we may hope. Now, may I begin to cross-question
+you?"
+
+Olive smiled sadly. "Go on, my little lawyer."
+
+"First, then, were you personally acquainted with this Percy?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You have seen him?"
+
+"At the trial; yes."
+
+"Describe him."
+
+"A blonde man, handsome, some would call him, with a soft, languid
+voice. I did not observe further."
+
+"Would you know him if you saw him again?"
+
+"Certainly. His was a rather uncommon face, and then the
+association--"
+
+"Just so," interrupting her; "and would he know you?"
+
+"I think not. I was heavily veiled, by Philip's order."
+
+"Now, try to recall all that Philip has told you of this man."
+
+"They were college students together. Philip said that Percy was
+indolent and vain, and too fond of female society of any sort or
+grade. He made wonderful progress in such studies as he chose to apply
+himself to, and, had he been less of a sybarite, might have obtained
+high rank as a scholar. But he was erratic, full of queer conceits,
+and never made himself popular with either professors or students."
+
+"Social standing not good, eh? Now, as to his finances."
+
+Olive looked somewhat surprised at this question, but replied: "His
+parents were not well to do, but he was a favorite with a rich old
+uncle, who paid his college expenses and made him a liberal allowance.
+However, he fell into disgrace just before his class graduated, and
+his uncle cast him off. He never took his degree."
+
+"What was the occasion of his disgrace?"
+
+"Some scandalous affair with a mechanic's daughter; the particulars I
+did not learn."
+
+"Of course not. They are of no consequence. This happened how long
+ago?"
+
+Olive mused. "Philip is now thirty-three; this was twelve years ago."
+
+"Good! Did he hear of Mr. Percy after that?"
+
+"Yes; in less than a year, he married a wealthy woman, ten years his
+senior, and a widow, so it was reported. Percy, it is said, denied
+this marriage, and continued to live and go and come, like a bachelor.
+If the marriage ever occurred, it was kept, for some reason, very much
+under the rose. Be this as it may, Percy was always provided with
+money from some source. He used to gamble sometimes, but was not an
+habitual gamester. Philip said he was too much of a sybarite and
+ladies' man to be wedded to such sports."
+
+"Yet he played with Lucian Davlin, and lost heavily?"
+
+"True."
+
+"Well, is this all you have to tell of Mr. Percy?"
+
+"Not quite. About a year before the catastrophe of the hunting party,
+the uncle who had cared for him during his college career, died. Percy
+inherited his wealth, the old man, after all, making his will in favor
+of his graceless nephew." Olive paused for a moment, then added, "I
+believe that is all I can tell you of this man. I have not seen or
+heard of him since poor Philip was sent to prison."
+
+Madeline sat gazing abstractedly into the grate fire, her hands
+clasped in her lap, working restlessly, as was their habit, when she
+was thinking deeply. Suddenly a sharp exclamation broke from her lips,
+and Olive turned towards her a look of surprised inquiry. But Madeline
+was clasping and unclasping her hands nervously, with eyelashes
+lowered, and brow knitted in a frown.
+
+"Olive," she said, after a long cogitation, "you have put into my
+hands another thread, a very valuable one. Don't ask me any questions
+now; I want to get my ideas in shape."
+
+Olive's face wore an anxious look, but she had learned the lesson of
+patient waiting, so she quietly acquiesced, and then a long silence
+fell between them.
+
+Madeline resumed the conversation, or rather recommenced it. She made
+no further mention of that part of the subject nearest the heart of
+Olive Girard. She made inquiries as to affairs and recent events at
+the village, talked of Claire, and finally said:
+
+"Olive, I want you to go out with me during the day, and perhaps we
+had better go early. I must return to Bellair by to-morrow morning's
+train, you know."
+
+"Yes; and I am sorry that you stay with us such a very short time.
+Where do you intend going, Madeline?"
+
+"To a detective,--that is, if you will repeat your generous offer,
+which I so cavalierly declined not long ago, to be my banker for an
+indefinite time."
+
+"Gladly, dear child; now you are beginning to be sensible. But the
+detective,--may I venture to inquire?" with assumed hesitation.
+
+"You may," laughed Madeline. "And don't give me credit for all the
+ingenuity. True, I have racked my poor feminine brain and feminine
+instinct, coupled with the knowledge obtained by some keen experience
+with Treachery, Despair, and Hate. These grim but very efficient
+instructors have aided me materially, simple, inexperienced girl as I
+was so recently--or so long ago, as it seems to me. And good old Aunt
+Hagar, who has been in this woful world many years--years full of
+vicissitudes and sharp life-lessons--is my counsellor and adviser. She
+aids me greatly with her shrewdness, and knowledge of the world and
+the folk in it. So we have discussed this point together and concluded
+that, in order to leave no loopholes open in our nice little net, we
+had better have the movements of Mr. Lucian Davlin closely watched
+while he is in the city."
+
+"To discover--"
+
+"Who he calls upon, and what manner of man he will choose to assume
+the _rôle_ of 'physician from Europe,' etc. Without putting the full
+facts of the case into the hands of the officer, we will arrange to
+know all about the man who will help Davlin carry out their last
+scheme. No train shall leave the city on which he would, by any
+possibility, set out for Bellair accompanied by this sham physician,
+without the knowledge of our man, or men, of skill. All discoveries
+made are to be reported, through you, to Mademoiselle Céline Leroque,
+who will receive said reports in _propria persone_, at the Bellair
+post-office. Then I must proffer a request, that Doctor Vaughan will
+hold himself in readiness to come to Oakley, should I find it
+necessary to summon him, accompanied by another physician, or not, as
+shall be hereafter decided."
+
+"I don't just see how all this is to end, but these two steps appear
+to me to be in the right direction. I am ready to undertake your
+commissions, and to act as your banker to the fullest extent of your
+needs."
+
+After a few more words they decided that, as Claire did not return,
+and time was precious, they would order a carriage immediately after
+luncheon, and pay a visit to the detective forthwith. Accordingly,
+half an hour earlier than usual, a light repast was served, and
+sparingly partaken of. Then having left a message for Miss Keith, who
+was momentarily expected, the two friends drove into the city.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WIELDS THE SURGEON'S KNIFE.
+
+
+Returning two hours later, they found Claire impatiently waiting their
+arrival, radiantly beautiful, and overflowing with joy at sight of her
+beloved Madeline.
+
+"You delightfully horrible girl!" she exclaimed, after greetings had
+been exchanged, and they had all seated themselves in the
+drawing-room. "To think that you are growing more lovely every day,
+and that you go and hide all your beauty under an old fright of a wig,
+nasty blue spectacles, and deformities of jackets! I declare, it's too
+bad! And then to wait on an old spinster who wears no end of false
+hair, and false teeth, and false--"
+
+"Puzzled already. So much for not being a lady's maid; Now, I can
+enumerate every 'falsehood' assumed by that lady."
+
+Then Madeline gave a ludicrous description of Miss Arthur and her
+peculiarities, causing even grave Olive to laugh heartily, and Claire
+to exclaim that she should watch the advertisements, and try playing
+ladies' maid herself.
+
+Madeline once more recounted, in brief, the state of affairs now
+existing at Oakley, or as much as she had told Olive, during which
+recital impulsive Claire kept up a running fire of comments,
+indicative of surprise, indignation, disgust, and very one-sided
+interest.
+
+"I never heard of such a nest of vultures," she exclaimed, excitedly,
+when Madeline had completed her story. "Why, it's worse than a chapter
+out of a French drama. Goodness gracious, Madeline Payne, I only wish
+I could help you deal out justice to these wretches! Where is my fairy
+godmother now, that she don't come and convert me into a six-foot
+brother, to take some of this burden out of your little weak hands?"
+
+"Not so weak as you may think, you little warrior. These hands,"
+holding them up to view, "have a very strong cause, let me tell
+you--and you think you would like to help me?" laughing oddly.
+
+"Wouldn't I!" with a fierce nod that made her two companions laugh
+again.
+
+The afternoon was wearing away, and Madeline began to grow restless,
+at finding no opportunity for saying a word in private to Claire. At
+last fortune favored her. Olive, seeing her gardener digging about a
+little summer-house, which was a favorite retreat on a warm afternoon,
+bethought herself of a plan for adding to its comfort, by laying down
+certain vines, etcetera, for next season's growing. So she bade the
+girls note how she should have improved her arbor by another season,
+and hurried out to begin an argument, that from previous experience
+she knew would be hotly contested.
+
+[Illustration: "You delightfully horrible girl!"--page 191.]
+
+This was Madeline's opportunity. And as soon as Olive was out of
+hearing, she turned to Claire saying:
+
+"Claire, I have not told you, nor Olive, all that I have discovered.
+For reasons, which you will understand later, I have thought it best
+to make them known to you first. We must invent some excuse for
+absenting ourselves from the parlor for a while."
+
+Claire looked grave and somewhat startled for an instant, but
+recovering her composure she said, simply: "I am at your disposal,
+dear."
+
+"I think I had better go to my room and lie down," meaningly. "Tell
+Olive, when she comes in, that I feel fatigued, and have gone to my
+room to rest. Then you had better plead letters to write, and follow
+me. Can you manage it?"
+
+"Easily," smiled Claire. "Why, Bonnie, Aileen, this becomes more and
+more mysterious and interesting."
+
+"Wait before you pass judgment; now I am gone."
+
+Madeline quitted the drawing-room and sauntered leisurely up-stairs.
+
+When Olive reappeared, Claire carried out the little programme, as
+arranged, and hastened to join Madeline, musing as she went:
+
+"What could have induced that odd darling to confide in stupid little
+me, while she leaves wise, thoughtful Olive in the dark?"
+
+Madeline was pacing the floor when Claire entered the room. She
+motioned her to a chair, and pushed the bolt in the door, thus
+rendering intrusion impossible.
+
+"What _can_ you be thinking of, Madeline, with that gloomy face?"
+exclaimed Claire, nestling into an easy chair as she spoke.
+
+"I am thinking, Claire," replied Madeline, gazing down at her sadly,
+"of the first time I ever saw your sister, and of the errand on which
+she came to me. How full of hope I was that morning! How radiant the
+day seemed, and how confident I was of happiness to come; as confident
+as you are to-day, Claire, darling."
+
+There was something in Madeline's tone that sounded almost like pity,
+as she uttered these last words. Claire started and colored, but still
+was silent.
+
+"Olive did a brave, generous deed, but at that time I almost hated her
+for it," musingly.
+
+"Oh, no, Madeline," interposed Claire, "you don't mean just that, I am
+sure. You never really hated our noble, unhappy Olive."
+
+"I felt very wicked, I assure you," smiling faintly. Then, abruptly:
+"How should you have felt, similarly placed?"
+
+"I?" wonderingly; "mercy! I can't tell."
+
+"Claire, think," in a tone almost of entreaty. "I want to know--I must
+know."
+
+"You must know? Why, Madeline?"
+
+"Because--because I want to find out what is in you; how strong you
+are."
+
+Claire looked more and more mystified. "State your case, then," she
+said, quietly. "I will try and analyze myself."
+
+"Good; now, Claire Keith, suppose that you love some man very much,
+and you trust him without knowing why, for no other reason than that
+you love him. When you are happiest, because you have but just parted
+from your lover--"
+
+Claire started and colored a little.
+
+"When you are thinking of the time, not far away, when you shall not
+part from him any more--suppose that just then I, a friend whom you
+have loved, come to you and say: 'This hero of yours is false; he is a
+two-faced villain; he has deceived you; he is not honorable; he will
+betray you if he can.' What would you answer me?"
+
+Claire lifted her head proudly. "I would make you take back every word
+you had uttered, or prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt!"
+
+"And if I proved it?"
+
+"Then I would thank you; and hate myself for having been deceived, and
+him for having deceived me."
+
+"Would you grieve for him, Claire?"
+
+Quick as thought came the answer:
+
+"Grieve for him! No; I could no more love a liar and a villain than I
+could caress a viper! I tell you, Madeline, I understand your feelings
+when you say that you hate Lucian Davlin," shuddering.
+
+"And you would not hate me also for rudely undeceiving you?"
+
+"Hate my best friend; my benefactor? No!"
+
+"I am thankful!"
+
+"But, Madeline, what does all this mean? Is this what you wanted to
+say to me? What can my feelings have to do with your case?"
+
+"Claire,"--Madeline's face was very sad again--"this case is _our_
+case."
+
+"_Our_ case?"
+
+"Yes, ours; Olive's, yours, mine. And now I am going to test your
+strength."
+
+Claire did not look very strong just then.
+
+"You saw Edward Percy to-day."
+
+Claire Keith sprang to her feet. "How do you know that? And what has
+he to do with the case?"
+
+"I know it because we, Mr. Percy and myself, came to this city by the
+same train, and I could easily surmise that his business here was with
+you."
+
+"Well?" haughtily.
+
+"Ah!" sadly; "you are almost angry with me now. But listen, Claire.
+Are you perfectly familiar with all the facts connected with poor
+Philip Girard's sad disgrace?"
+
+"I think so," coldly.
+
+"You know that he was convicted upon the testimony of Lucian Davlin
+and another?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you recall the name of the man who was wounded, so said the jury,
+by Mr. Girard?"
+
+Up sprang Claire, her eyes blazing. "Madeline," she cried, "I see what
+you are coming at. You have got into your head the ridiculous idea
+that this man Percy and Edward Percy are the same. It is absurd!"
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because--because it _is_!" Then, as if the matter were
+quite settled, "why, he must have been in Europe at the time."
+
+"Claire, you are getting angry with me, and I have a long story to
+tell you. But there is an easy way to settle this matter. Are you
+willing to let me take the picture you have of Edward Percy, and
+accompany me into Olive's presence while I ask her if she ever saw the
+original?"
+
+Nothing else could have so effectually quenched Claire's wrath. She
+saw that Madeline had some strong reason for her strange words.
+Sitting down with paling cheeks and trembling limbs, she thought. Then
+looking across at Madeline, she said, wearily:
+
+"I can't understand you at all, Madeline. It never once occurred to
+me to connect the man who brought all that trouble upon poor Philip
+with my Edward Percy. It does not seem possible that they could be the
+same. I had supposed the other Percy to be a man like--like Davlin."
+
+"My dear, did you ever see Davlin?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And you have fancied him a sort of handsome horse jockey, and this
+Percy one of the same brotherhood?"
+
+"Perhaps;" smiling a little.
+
+"Claire, Lucian Davlin is an Apollo in person, a courtier in manner,
+and a Mephistopheles at heart. And Percy is an abridgement of Davlin."
+
+"I can't see," said Claire, rather frostily, "even if Edward Percy is
+the man who was wounded by some unknown person five years ago, why he
+must of necessity be a villain and a deceiver. It would be very, very
+unpleasant, of course, to find that such were the case. But I could
+not hate Edward Percy for that, even if the fact must separate us."
+
+"Claire, Edward Percy is not only the man who helped send your
+sister's husband to prison, but he is a villain doubly perjured; a
+deceiver, a betrayer. If justice ever gets her due he will end his
+days in the penitentiary."
+
+Then, seeing that Claire was about to speak: "Let me finish; now you
+shall have your proof."
+
+She recounted all there was to tell, from the day when Claire showed
+her the picture and she distrusted the face, to the present moment.
+
+Claire Keith listened in immovable silence; not a muscle quivered. For
+many minutes after Madeline had finished her recital, she sat staring
+straight before her, like a statue. At length she arose and crossed to
+the door, drew back the bolt with a steady hand, put up a warning
+finger, and said, in a voice like frozen silver: "Wait;" then
+disappeared.
+
+Madeline scarcely had time to wonder what she meant, before Claire was
+back, standing before her, calm and cold as an iceberg. She held in
+her hand the picture of Edward Percy, with the face turned away, and
+this she extended to Madeline.
+
+"It is best that we make no mistakes," she said, quietly; "go show
+that to Olive. Don't tell her how it came into your possession; ask
+her if it is he. Then come back to me."
+
+"Shall I tell her--" began Madeline.
+
+"Tell her nothing until you have brought me back the picture."
+
+She pushed her toward the door.
+
+Madeline walked down-stairs, sorely puzzled, but thinking fast. "She
+fights these facts bravely," she muttered. "Does she doubt, I wonder?"
+
+Olive was sitting before the window, watching the movements of John,
+the gardener, when Madeline entered the parlor. Going straight to her,
+she placed the picture in her hand, and said:
+
+"Do you know that face?"
+
+Olive Girard gave a startled cry.
+
+"Madeline, how did you come by this?"
+
+"No matter," calmly; "do you know the picture?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"The man who sent my husband to prison--Percy."
+
+Madeline took the picture from her hand. "Are you sure?"
+
+"I could swear to the face after these five years."
+
+"Thank you, Olive. Now be patient; I must go back to my room for a
+little while. Don't ask me any questions yet. When I come down I will
+tell you how I obtained this, and why I have talked to you so much of
+this man."
+
+Madeline walked out of the room, leaving Olive staring after her in
+bewilderment.
+
+Claire was sitting in the same attitude as when she left her. "Well?"
+she said, raising her eyes.
+
+"She recognized it immediately. She would swear that it is the man who
+sent her husband to prison."
+
+"Thank you, dear."
+
+Claire took the picture from her hands, and without once glancing at
+it, she bent forward and dropped it into the grate.
+
+Madeline threw herself on her knees at the girl's side. "Oh, Claire,
+Claire! I have made you miserable; forgive me."
+
+"What for? You have done me a great service. Do you think I want that
+man's love?"
+
+"But Claire--"
+
+"I loved an ideal; that ideal, see;" pointing to the grate. "Do you
+think I shall cry after a pinch of ashes?" looking her full in the
+face. Then, with a shrug of annoyance. "You have roused poor Olive's
+curiosity; she must hear of this miserable discovery of ours, or
+yours--bah," stamping her foot angrily, "my pride is hurt more than my
+heart!"
+
+"Your pride need not suffer more than it does already, Claire. You
+have seen me humbled to the dust; see me so still; and surely it won't
+be so very bitter to think that poor Madeline knows that your sunny
+life has suffered one little shadow. I will tell Olive all I know of
+Edward Percy, save that you have ever seen him. The knowledge that he
+has crossed your path can in no way benefit her, or aid us in
+unmasking him. Evidently, he does not know that you are in any way
+connected with the fortunes of Philip Girard. Let this rest between
+us. If this plan suits you, perhaps I had better go and tell my
+story to Olive. I have twice postponed a revelation to-day."
+
+[Illustration: "She bent forward, and dropped it into the
+grate."--page 200.]
+
+"The plan does suit me. Many, many thanks, dear Madeline," said
+Claire, calmly and gently. "And now, as I must, of course, be supposed
+to first hear this story after it has been told to Olive, or at that
+time, I would prefer being present when you enlighten her. Let us
+dress for dinner, go down together, and--I leave the rest to your
+tact."
+
+Madeline could readily comprehend that it would be easier for Claire
+to sit, with Olive, a listener, than to wait and hear the story from
+the lips of her sister. If it were left to Olive to tell, Claire's
+face might betray her heart, perhaps. But now, hearing it from
+Madeline, and with Olive, whose surprise and dismay at the revelation
+would quite effectually cover up any signs of emotion Claire might
+manifest, the thing did not appear so difficult.
+
+Madeline signified her approval, and they separated to dress for
+dinner.
+
+Claire Keith made her toilet with swift, firm fingers, and all the
+while she was thinking fiercely, scornfully. She was not stunned by
+the blow that had stricken her love and her pride. Rather, it seemed,
+she was quickened into unusual activity and clearness of thought.
+
+After a time, perhaps, she would feel more the sadness, the cruelty,
+of the hurt; now she felt the outrage to her pride, and a fierce
+self-scorn that she could have ever loved a man so base. She hated
+Edward Percy for having deceived her, and equally she despised herself
+for having been thus deceived by this specious flatterer.
+
+"You little fool!" she scoffed at her image reflected back from her
+mirror. "You are a very idiot among idiots! I wonder where are all
+your high notions now. So," giving her hair an angry jerk, "you
+perched yourself aloft on a pinnacle, didn't you? You looked down upon
+all your sisterhood who were deceived, or betrayed, or sorrowing; and
+you wondered how women could be so weak; how they _could_ be deluded
+by base men. You looked upon poor dead Kitty, and wondered what was
+the flaw in her intellect that made her the slave of a gambler and a
+villain. You argued that only an unsophisticated school girl could be
+deceived as was poor Madeline. Oh, you have been very proud, and very
+high has been your standard of manly worth, Miss Claire Keith! So high
+that the man who has occupied it might easily slip from that pedestal
+to--Haman's gallows!"
+
+At this point in her tirade, something suspiciously like a sob arose
+in her throat, and checked her utterance. But it did not retard her
+activity, and in a much shorter time than she usually spent upon an
+evening toilet, Miss Keith stood, accoutered and defiantly calm, at
+Madeline's door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+A DUAL RENUNCIATION.
+
+
+Madeline Payne had lingered over her toilet, pondering the
+incomprehensible manner of Claire Keith. She now stood before her
+mirror, brush in hand, thinking.
+
+"Not ready yet?"
+
+If Madeline could believe her eyes, Claire was actually smiling!
+
+"I thought you would be waiting for me," continued Claire, composedly,
+pulling a big chair forward, and sitting down where she could look
+full in Madeline's face. "But it is just as well; there is something
+that I want to say, before we go down. Why don't you go on with your
+hair?"
+
+Madeline's hand, brush and all, had dropped to her side, and she was
+silently staring at her friend. Without a word she resumed her
+employment, looking more at Claire than at her own reflected image.
+
+"You guessed rightly, when you accused me of having seen Mr. Percy
+to-day," pursued Claire.
+
+"Accused, Claire?"
+
+"Well, informed, then. I did see him. He wrote me a letter; it was
+posted at Bellair; you see," smiling bitterly; "that I have no reason
+for doubting anything you have told me."
+
+A new light broke over Madeline's face. "Do you doubt?" she asked,
+quickly.
+
+"Not one word!"
+
+"Oh!" drawing a breath of relief. "You were so composed I thought--"
+
+"That I was hoping to disprove your statements? Not at all. And why
+should I not be composed? Do you think my heart could break for such a
+man?"
+
+"Hearts don't break so easily," said Madeline, gloomily, "but they
+ache sometimes."
+
+"Do they?" placing her hand over her heart and smiling faintly. "Well,
+mine don't ache either, yet; but it burns."
+
+Madeline stayed her brush again. "No," she murmured, "it don't ache
+_yet_."
+
+Claire made a gesture of impatience. "Oh, I know what you mean,
+Madeline! By and by my heart will ache, of course--I know that, having
+discovered, quite recently, that I am human. One can't feel outraged
+and angry always, and sometimes, I suppose, my day-dreams will come
+back and haunt me. Well, that is a part of the price we have to pay
+for intruding into dreamland when we are not asleep. But this is not
+what I began to say. Edward Percy met me to-day, and this is what he
+told me: He said he was going away, upon some geological expedition,
+and would most likely be gone a year. He wanted me to promise to hold
+myself free until he could return and claim me. He would exact no
+other promise now, only pledging himself. At the end of a year, all
+obstacles to our open engagement would be removed. I, of course,
+supposed, then, that the 'obstacles' referred to, were business and
+financial ones. Don't think, Madeline, that we have been in the habit
+of meeting clandestinely. He visited me openly in Baltimore, but not
+often enough to excite remark; and we frequently met at other places,
+as he went in the best society there."
+
+Claire paused, but Madeline went on with her toilet in grave silence.
+
+"Madeline, darling, I can't thank you enough for opening my eyes
+before it was too late, while it was no worse--and I can't explain my
+feelings. I despise him, and I despise myself for being thus duped. It
+is my pride that is suffering now but, of course, I know that, despise
+the man as I may, my heart will be heavier and my life darker, because
+of what I believed him to be. Now let us go to Olive."
+
+Madeline Payne threw her arms impulsively about her friend and
+murmured, brokenly:--"Claire, Claire! you are braver than I, and far,
+far more worthy. You have a right to be happy, and you shall be."
+
+And in that moment the girl renounced a resolve she had taken, and a
+hope she had cherished.
+
+As they descended the stairs together Claire fancied that she looked
+paler, and a thought sadder than before.
+
+They found Olive and dinner waiting. As they took their places about
+the luxury-laden board, three lovelier women or three sadder hearts
+could not have been found in a day's journey.
+
+Of the three, Claire Keith was the calmest, the most self-possessed.
+All that was to be related by Madeline, all that Olive was waiting in
+anxious expectation to hear, she knew already. The best and the worst
+had been revealed to her; her own course was clear before her. So she
+ate her dinner with composure, and bore a large share in the table
+talk that, but for her, would have been rather vague and spasmodic.
+
+Dinner was an ordeal for Olive, at least, on that day, for her mind
+was filled with thoughts of Philip, and wonderment as to how the
+picture of the man who had been his ruin came into the possession of
+Madeline, who was making herself more and more of a mystery.
+
+Madeline, too, was restless. She wished the revelation were made and
+done with. She wondered if she could control the future so far as
+Olive was concerned, for she had made her plans, and did not propose
+to let the work be taken out of her hands.
+
+When Madeline had related to Olive the events that had been
+transpiring at Oakley, she had narrated faithfully the scenes between
+Cora and Percy, but she had withheld the name of the latter, a fact
+which was not even noticed by Olive, who had not been especially
+interested in this last actor upon the scene.
+
+Now, when dinner was over, and they had grouped themselves about the
+grate, its ruddy glow illuminating the twilight that was fast giving
+place to evening shadows, Madeline retold the story of Percy's first
+interview with Cora on his arrival, and his second, in the
+summer-house, the overhearing of which had caused that long absence
+from Miss Arthur's dressing-room, which necessitated her ingenious and
+highly improbable explanation to the aggrieved spinster, with which
+the reader is already acquainted.
+
+During this recital the face of Olive Girard was a study. It changed
+from curiosity to wonder; from wonder to a dawning hopefulness of
+finding in all this a possible clue, that might help her husband to
+his freedom. Then despair took the place of hope, as the clue seemed
+to elude her grasp. At the end, astonishment and incredulity fairly
+took away her breath. She sank back in her chair without uttering a
+word.
+
+Madeline waited for comments, but Claire was the first to speak.
+During the recital she had been able to think, and to some purpose. As
+the disjointed fragments were joined together by Madeline, Claire was
+drawing shrewd and close inferences. Now she lifted her head and
+asked:
+
+"Madeline, have you formed any sort of a theory, as to how all this
+might affect Olive and Philip?"
+
+Madeline looked up in surprise at the question, and answered it by
+asking another: "Have you?"
+
+"Yes, but I think Olive would rather hear yours; and mine is, as yet,
+but half formed."
+
+Olive had regained a measure of her composure, and now she sat erect,
+and said, eagerly:
+
+"Madeline, I have been too much surprised and shocked to think
+clearly. Think for me, child, and for mercy's sake, tell me at once
+all that you suspect."
+
+"I suspect much," replied the girl, gravely; "but what we want is
+_proof_. First we want to find out who is the party who accompanied
+Madame Cora, or Alice, as Percy called her, to Europe, for to Europe
+she went. Did she know Lucian Davlin ten years ago? Did they go
+together to Europe?"
+
+"You want to know, first of all," said Claire, interrupting her, "when
+the intimacy of those two did begin. The woman may not have known him
+ten years ago. It would be easier to find out if they have been allies
+during the past five years."
+
+Madeline turned a look of surprised admiration upon the speaker as she
+replied:
+
+"You are right, Claire, and keener than I. Yet, my theory is, that
+they were friends before the woman fled from her cottage in the
+suburbs. I think the stealing of the marriage certificate has a strong
+savor of a man's thoughtful cunning. The woman could not have been so
+deep a schemer in those days. Now, Olive, let us suppose that these
+two were plotting in unison. Edward Percy's first wife dies, and no
+one the wiser about the marriage. Then he inherits his uncle's wealth.
+If Edward Percy were to die then, the woman, Cora, could come forward
+as his widow, display the proofs of their marriage, and inherit his
+fortune. He seems to have no living relatives, but, even should other
+heirs appear, she would claim her widow's portion."
+
+"Good heavens!" gasped Olive.
+
+"Wait," pursued Madeline; "now, don't you see, supposing all the rest
+true, that if Lucian Davlin attempted the life of this man, with the
+view of getting his money, and if he failed in some manner
+unknown,--don't you see that, holding over Percy's head the fear of
+the law, and the proofs of his having committed bigamy, he might thus
+silence him? Then, that the two disliking Philip Girard, and finding
+the opportunity to throw suspicion upon him by circumstantial
+evidence, would naturally do so."
+
+Olive Girard was fearfully agitated, but, after a few moments, had in
+a measure recovered her self-possession. Then the three seemed seized
+with a desire to talk all at once. And talk they did,--fast,
+earnestly, excitedly at times.
+
+At last, out of many words, they evolved a plan of action, and having
+arrived at a definite conclusion, they settled down into partial calm
+once more; a calm that was broken by a most agreeable ripple.
+
+Doctor Clarence Vaughan was announced, and ushered into their
+presence, all in the same moment.
+
+Doctor Vaughan was glad to see Madeline; that was evident. But while
+he expressed his pleasure in frank, brotherly fashion, his eyes
+wandered from her face to that of Claire Keith.
+
+It was only a look, but Madeline Payne would have exchanged all the
+smiles, hand clasps, and brotherly words she could ever hope to
+receive from him, for one such glance from his eyes. But the tender
+wistfulness was all for Claire--blind Claire, who saw nothing of it.
+
+Madeline withdrew her hand from his clasp, uttering, as she did so, a
+flippant commonplace in response to his hearty greeting, but Claire
+had caught the look in his eyes, and the false gayety in Madeline's
+voice, and it caused her to wonder.
+
+Heretofore she had lived in a dream of her own, and had been careless
+of the varying expressions of those about her. Her dream had been
+dispelled, and she seemed now to have a keener eye for the emotion of
+others. Troubles of our own, sometimes, open our eyes to the fact that
+our friends are not all supremely happy. Then we naturally fall to
+speculating as to the cause. This was the case with Claire. She
+speculated a little as to why the eyes of Dr. Vaughan rested upon her,
+with that half-sad expression in them. Then she wondered why the
+spirit of perversity had possessed Madeline, and induced her to extend
+to Doctor Vaughan so shabby a welcome. Then, without realizing it, she
+fell to observing the manner of these two more closely.
+
+"Well, Miss Payne, what report do you bring from the enemy's country?"
+he asked, after a few commonplaces between himself and the mistress of
+the house.
+
+"I have not been in the enemy's country, Doctor Vaughan; the enemies
+are infesting mine."
+
+"As you please, little warrior," smiled he. "Then may I ask, how goes
+the battle?"
+
+"Oh, yes! you may ask," crossing over and seating herself beside
+Olive, "but your curiosity must wait. It's a ridiculous, tiresome
+story, and wouldn't amuse you much, or interest you, either. I am
+going to let Mrs. Girard inflict it upon you, when she thinks you need
+a penance."
+
+"I think _you_ need a penance now, Miss Payne, for accusing me of too
+much curiosity, and too little interest."
+
+"Oh, I didn't mean that, exactly," shrugging her shoulders carelessly.
+"I suppose, of course, a physician is interested to a certain extent
+in all his subjects, living or dead; but I can't let you dissect my
+mind to-night. Besides," laughing maliciously, "I know you would
+recommend leeches and blisters, and maybe a straight jacket, and I
+can't be stopped in my charming career just yet."
+
+Clarence Vaughan seemed not in the least offended by the girl's cool
+insolence. He smiled indulgently, and when Olive ventured a gentle
+remonstrance, he murmured to Claire, with a half laugh: "Miss Madeline
+is incomprehensible to me; do you understand her, Miss Keith?"
+
+[Illustration: "Dr. Vaughan was ushered into their presence."--page
+209.]
+
+And Claire, looking across at her friend, replied, oddly: "I love
+her, Doctor Vaughan, and I begin to understand her, I think."
+
+"Do you?" smiling down upon her. "Then some day will you not interpret
+her to me?"
+
+Claire's answer was again given oddly, as, lifting her eyes to his
+face, she said, quite gravely: "If it is necessary to do so, perhaps I
+will."
+
+Then conversation became general; rather Dr. Vaughan talked, and they
+all listened.
+
+Claire found herself thinking that Doctor Vaughan was a noble-looking
+man; not alluringly handsome, as was Edward Percy; not possessing the
+magnetic fascination that Madeline had described as belonging to
+Lucian Davlin. But he had a fine face, nay, a grand face, full of
+strength and sweetness; not devoid of beauty, but having in it
+something infinitely better, truer, and more godlike than mere
+physical beauty can impart to any face.
+
+Then she thought of Madeline, of her loneliness, her sorrow, and her
+need of just such a strong, gentle nature to lean upon, to look up to,
+and to obey. "She would obey _him_," quoth Claire to herself.
+
+Next she fell to watching Madeline, through half-closed eyelashes. She
+saw how the girl listened to his every word; how, when his eyes were
+not upon her, she seemed to devour him with a hungry, longing,
+sorrowful gaze.
+
+"As if she were taking leave of him forever," thought Claire.
+
+And that is what Madeline was doing. When she came to the city, it was
+with the determination to win the love of this man, if it could be
+won; to let nothing stand between herself and the fulfillment of that
+purpose. But all this had been changed, and seeing how bravely Claire
+bore the shock of her lover's baseness, how proudly, how nobly, she
+commanded herself, Madeline had abandoned her purpose.
+
+"I am not worthy of him, and she is," she told herself.
+
+When she declared that Claire should be happy, she bade farewell to
+her own hope of future happiness. She would help him to win the girl
+he loved, and then she would be content to die; aye, more than
+content.
+
+To-night, therefore, she was saying in her heart a farewell to this
+man, who was so dear to her. She had almost hoped that she should not
+meet him again for the present, and yet she was so glad to have seen
+him once more. She was glad of his presence, yet fearful lest her good
+resolution might be shaken. She would not let him be too kind to her,
+rather let him think her ungrateful, anything--what could it matter
+now?
+
+"Shall you not come back to the city soon, Miss Payne? Surely your old
+home can not be the most charming place, in your eyes," questioned
+Clarence, after a time.
+
+"I don't intend returning to the city--at least, not for some time,
+Doctor Vaughan."
+
+Clarence looked perplexed.
+
+To break the silence that ensued, Claire crossed to the piano and
+began playing soft, dreamy fragments of melody.
+
+Presently Olive took up the conversation, and when Madeline again
+turned her face toward him, he was listening to Olive and looking at
+Claire. It was the same look, yearning, tender.
+
+Claire, all unconscious of his gaze, was looking at Madeline, as she
+played softly on.
+
+As Olive and Clarence talked, Claire saw the face of the girl grow
+dark; she saw her eyes full of a hungry, despairing light, and
+gradually there crept upon her the remembrance that she had seen that
+same look, only not so woful, in the eyes of Clarence Vaughan; that
+same look fixed upon herself. Involuntarily her fingers slipped from
+the keys, and she turned from the instrument to encounter the same
+gaze fastened upon her now; ardent, tender, longing eyes they were,
+and her own fell before them.
+
+Claire Keith was troubled. She wanted to be alone, to think. She
+murmured an excuse; her head ached; she would retire.
+
+Clarence had noted an unusual brightness in her eye, and a feverish
+flush upon her cheek. Now, however, she was quite pale, and as she
+extended her hand to him with a strange, new sensation of diffidence
+and consciousness, he clasped it for a moment in his own, and said,
+earnestly: "You do not look at all well, Miss Keith; you are sure it
+is only a headache?"
+
+"Quite sure," smiling faintly.
+
+"Then good-night. I shall enquire after your head to-morrow."
+
+"Thank you," she murmured.
+
+Then nodding to her sister and Madeline, she glided from the room.
+
+It had _all_ come upon her at once. Edward Percy was an impostor;
+Edward Percy, as she had believed in him, had never existed. The love
+that she had believed hers was hers no longer, or, if it were, she no
+longer desired it. Almost simultaneously with this knowledge, came the
+unspoken assurance that she was the possessor of a worthier love, a
+manlier heart.
+
+She could not feel glad to know this, yet she was not sorry. Somehow
+it soothed her to know that she was not a forsaken, loveless maiden.
+It was something to possess the love of so good a man, even if she
+could make it no return.
+
+But Madeline. Poor Madeline; she loved this man; she needed his love,
+she must have it.
+
+Claire pulled back the curtains from her window, and gazed out into
+the starlit night. "She needs this love," the girl murmured. "Clarence
+Vaughan shall learn to love her, if I can bring it about. Yes, _even
+if I loved him_, I would give him up to her."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE.
+
+
+When Claire left the drawing-room, Madeline had started up as if about
+to follow her. Recalling herself, she sat down again, keeping, as
+before, near to Olive, and taking as little share in the conversation
+as was possible. She dared not trust herself too much; her good
+resolves were strong, but not stronger than was the charm of his voice
+and presence.
+
+"Let them think me uncivil," she murmured to herself; "what does it
+matter now?"
+
+But her trial was not over. Olive and Clarence had held frequent
+council together concerning the wayward girl, and how they could best
+influence her aright without breaking the letter or spirit of their
+promise to her. And the absence of Claire added to their freedom of
+speech.
+
+Olive had intimated to Doctor Vaughan that Madeline had taken some,
+perhaps unsafe, steps in the pursuit of her enemies. He, understanding
+the impetuosity of the girl, as well as her reckless fearlessness,
+could not conceal the anxiety he felt.
+
+Acting under an impulse of disinterested kindness, Clarence Vaughan
+crossed the room and sat down by Madeline's side.
+
+"Miss Madeline," he said, as respectfully as if to an empress, "we,
+Mrs. Girard and myself, cannot get rid of the idea that somehow you
+partly belong to us; that we ought to be given a little, just a very
+little, authority over you."
+
+There was a shade of bitterness in the girl's answer. "You have the
+_right_ to exercise authority over me, if you choose to do so. You are
+my benefactors."
+
+They felt the reproof of her words. This keen-witted, uncontrollable
+girl, was putting up barrier upon barrier between herself and their
+desire to serve her. Very quietly he answered her:
+
+"You do us an injustice, when you suggest that we claim your
+confidence on the score of any indebtedness on your part. It has been
+our happiness to serve you. If we have not your esteem, if we may not
+stand toward you in the light of a brother and sister, anxious only
+for your welfare and happiness, then we have no claim upon you."
+
+"My happiness!"
+
+The face was averted, but the lips were pale and drawn, and the words
+came through them like a moan.
+
+Olive stirred uneasily. She could see that the girl was suffering,
+although she did not guess at the cause.
+
+"Yes," continued Clarence, laying his hand gently upon hers;
+"Madeline,--will you let me call you Madeline?--will you let me be
+your brother? I have no sister, almost no kin; I won't be an exacting
+brother," smilingly. "I won't overstep the limits you set me, but we
+must have done with this nonsense about benefactors, and gratitude,
+and all that."
+
+No answer, eyes down dropped, face still half-averted, and looking as
+if hardening into marble.
+
+"What is my fate?" still holding her hand. "Can you accept so unworthy
+a brother?"
+
+"Yes," in such a cold, far-away tone.
+
+He lifted the hand to his lips. "Thank you, Madeline," he said, as if
+she had done him high honor.
+
+Madeline felt her courage failing her. How could she listen to him,
+talk to him, with anything like sisterly freedom, and not prove false
+to her resolve to further his cause with Claire? And yet how could she
+refuse him the trust he asked of her?
+
+It was very pleasant to know that he was thus interested in her; she
+felt herself slipping quickly into a day-dream in which nothing was
+distinct save that there existed a bond between them, that he had
+claimed the right to exercise authority over her, and that she was
+very, very glad even to be his slave. Listening to his voice, a smile
+crept to her lips, and--
+
+                "The eyes smiled too,
+    But 'twas as if remembering they had wept,
+    And knowing they would some day weep again."
+
+"I don't intend to give up my claims upon Madeline; I elected her my
+sister, when I brought her home with me. And I had been flattering
+myself that I was to have a companion, but I am afraid she will run
+away from me. She ought to take Claire's place in my home, ought she
+not? Claire is with me so little," said Olive.
+
+Madeline smiled sadly. "I could never do that," she said; "I could no
+more fill Claire's place than I could substitute myself for the rays
+of the sun."
+
+"Claire would laugh at you for that speech," said Olive.
+
+"But it is true; is it not?" appealing to Doctor Vaughan.
+
+He colored slightly under her gaze. "We don't want two Claires," he
+said; "but you can be yourself, and that will make us happy."
+
+The girl let her eyes fall, and rest upon her clasped hands.
+
+"I would like to make you happy," she said, softly.
+
+"Really?"
+
+"Really," lifting her eyes to his face.
+
+"Then, promise us that you will let us help to right your wrongs, and
+that you will come back, like a good sister, and stay with Mrs.
+Girard."
+
+Her face hardened. "I can not," she said, briefly.
+
+"You will not," seriously.
+
+No answer.
+
+"Madeline, what is it you wish to do?"
+
+"What I wish to do, I can not. I can tell you what I intend to do,"
+sitting very erect.
+
+"Then what do you intend?"
+
+"I intend," turning her eyes away from them both, and fixing them
+moodily upon the fire, "to follow up the path in which I have set my
+feet. I intend to oust a base adventuress from the home that was my
+mother's; to wrest the fortune that is mine from the grasp of a bad
+old man, and make him suffer for the wrong he did my mother. I intend
+to laugh at Lucian Davlin, when he is safe behind prison bars; to hunt
+down and frustrate an impostor, and by so doing, clear the name of
+Philip Girard before all the world." Her voice was low, but very firm,
+dogged almost, in its tone.
+
+He turned a perplexed face toward Olive.
+
+"What does it all mean?" he asked.
+
+"What she says," replied Mrs. Girard, flushing with suppressed
+excitement. "She has found a clue that may lead to Philip's release."
+
+He moved nearer to the girl, and taking her hand, drew her toward him,
+until she faced him. "Madeline, is this true?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will hold me to a promise not to lift a hand to help clear
+the name of my friend?" reproachfully.
+
+"Yes," unflinchingly.
+
+"Are you doing right, my sister?"
+
+She attempted to draw away her hand.
+
+"Child, what can you do?"
+
+She turned her eyes toward Olive. "She will tell you what I have done.
+I can do much more."
+
+Olive came suddenly to her side. "Oh, Madeline!" she said, "let him
+take all this into his hands. It is not fit work for you. It will
+harden you, make you bitter, and--"
+
+Madeline wrested her hand away and sprang up, standing before them
+flushed and goaded into bitterness.
+
+"Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say it. It will harden
+me; it has already. It will make me bitter and bad, unfit for your
+society, unworthy of your friendship. I shall be a liar, a spy, a
+hypocrite--but I shall succeed. You see, you were wrong in offering me
+your friendship, Doctor Vaughan. I shall not be worthy to be called
+your sister, but," brokenly, "you need not have feared. I never
+intended to presume upon your friendship; I never intended to trouble
+you after--after my work is done. Ah! how dared I think to become one
+of you--I, whom you rescued from a gambler's den; I who go about
+disguised, and play the servant to people whom you would not touch.
+You are right; after this I will go my way alone."
+
+Her voice became inarticulate, the last word was a sob, and she turned
+swiftly to leave the room.
+
+Olive sprang forward with a remorseful cry, but Clarence Vaughan
+motioned her back, and with a quick stride was at the door, one hand
+upon it, the other firmly clasping the wrist of the now sobbing girl.
+Closing the door, which she had partially opened, he led her back,
+very gently, but firmly, and placing her in a chair, stood beside her
+until the sobs ceased. Then he drew a chair close to her own, and
+said, softly:
+
+"My little sister, we never meant this. These are your own morbid
+fancies. Because you are playing the part of amateur detective, you
+are not necessarily cut off from all your friends. We would not give
+you up so easily, and there is too much that is good and noble in you
+to render your position so very dangerous to your womanhood. You have
+grieved Mrs. Girard deeply by imputing any such meaning to her words.
+Can't you understand, child, that it is because we care for you,
+because we want to shield you from the hardships you must of necessity
+undergo, that we wish you to let us work with and for you?"
+
+Madeline shivered and gave a long, sobbing sigh. He took both listless
+hands in his own.
+
+"Now, sister mine, won't you make me a promise, just one?"
+
+Her hands trembled under his. How could she resist him when his
+strong, firm clasp was upon her; when he was looking into her eyes
+pleadingly, even tenderly; when his breath was on her cheek, and his
+voice murmured in her ear? She sat before him, contrite, conquered,
+strangely happy; conscious of nothing save a wish that she might die
+then and there, with her hands in his. She was afraid to speak and
+break the spell. He had said that he cared for her, was not that
+enough?
+
+"Tell me, Madeline."
+
+"Yes," she breathed, rather than uttered.
+
+[Illustration: "Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say
+it"--page 219.]
+
+"Thank you. Now, sister, we are going to trust to your sagacity in
+this matter. But you must promise me, as your brother, who is bound to
+look after your welfare, that you will take no decisive steps without
+first informing us, and that as soon as the work becomes too heavy for
+your hands, you will call upon me to help you. My sister will surely
+do nothing that her brother cannot sanction?"
+
+She dropped her eyes and said, simply: "I will do what you wish me
+to."
+
+"You will give me your confidence, then?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Am I to hear a complete history of all that has happened thus far
+from Mrs. Girard?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And, after hearing it, may I communicate with you?"
+
+She glanced up in surprise.
+
+"Or," continued he; "better still, may I come down to Bellair and talk
+things over with you, should I deem it advisable?"
+
+"If you wish;" looking glad.
+
+"Mind, I don't want to intrude; I will not come if you don't desire
+it; but I shall wish to come. And you may manage our interviews as you
+see fit. I will do nothing to compromise you in the eyes of the people
+you are among. May I come?"
+
+"Yes;" very softly, and trembling under his hand.
+
+"Then we will say no more about all this to-night. You have already
+abused your strength, and if you don't get rest and sleep we shall
+have you ill again, and then what would become of our little
+detective?"
+
+Olive came forward with outstretched hands and pleading eyes. "I can't
+wait any longer to be forgiven for my thoughtless words," she said.
+"Madeline, you will forgive me?"
+
+"Of course Madeline will," replied Clarence. "Now you had better
+forgive Madeline for putting such a perverse construction upon your
+words, and then we will send her away to get the rest she must have."
+
+"I was abominable, Olive," said the girl, so ruefully that Clarence
+laughed outright. "Of course, I know you are too kind to say a cruel
+thing. I--I believe I was trying to quarrel with you all; do forgive
+me."
+
+"Of course you were trying to quarrel with us; and I haven't a bit of
+faith in your penitence now, young lady," said Clarence, rising and
+smiling. "I can't believe in you until I am assured that you will go
+to bed straightway, and swallow every bit of the wine I shall send up
+to you."
+
+"With something nice in it," suggested Olive.
+
+"With something very nice in it, of course. Now, will you obey so
+tyrannical a brother, and swallow his first brotherly prescription
+without making a face?"
+
+All his kindness and care for her comfort brought a thrill of gladness
+to the girl's heart, and some of the old _debonnaire_, half-defiant
+light back to her eyes, as she replied, while rising from her chair,
+in obedience to a gesture of playful authority from Clarence, "Will I
+accept a scolding and go to bed, that means."
+
+Then making a wry face and evidently referring to the wine: "Is it
+very bitter?"
+
+"Not very; but you must swallow every drop."
+
+"And I will order the wine," said Olive, touching the bell. "You know,
+Dr. Vaughan, that Madeline leaves us in the morning?"
+
+"No?" in surprise. "Must you go so soon?"
+
+"Yes," demurely, "unless I am forbidden."
+
+"We are too wise to forbid you to do anything you have set your heart
+on. Then I must tell you good-by here and now, for a little time."
+
+"Or a long one," gravely.
+
+"Not for a long one. 'If the mountain won't come,' you know;--well, if
+I don't get _very_ satisfactory reports from you, look out for me."
+
+"You can't get at me," wickedly.
+
+"Can't I? Wait and see. I'll come as your grandfather, or your maiden
+aunt."
+
+"Please don't," laughing, "one spinster is enough."
+
+"Well, I won't, then; I think I'll come as your father confessor."
+
+At this Olive joined in the laugh.
+
+"Good-night, Dr. Vaughan."
+
+"Good-night, Miss Payne," with exaggerated emphasis and dignity, but
+holding fast to her hand.
+
+She looked at the hand doubtfully, then up into his face.
+"Good-night--brother," with pretty shyness.
+
+"That is better," releasing the little hand. "Good-night, sister mine.
+Mind you drink every drop of the wine."
+
+"I will!" quite seriously. "Good-night, Olive."
+
+Olive stooped and kissed her cheek. "Good-night, dear," she said, "and
+happy dreams."
+
+Dr. Vaughan opened the door for her, and smiled after her as she
+looked back from the foot of the stairs. Then closing the door he came
+back, and stood on the hearth-rug, looking thoughtful.
+
+"It is a difficult nature to deal with, and in her present mood, a
+dangerous one. She is painfully sensitive, and possesses an
+exceedingly nervous temperament. Then, that episode with Davlin was
+very humiliating to her, and it is constantly in her mind. Evidently
+she has lately been under much excitement, and she is hardly herself
+to-night. I think, however, if I were you, I would make no further
+effort to dissuade her from her purpose. It will do no good, and harm
+might come of it."
+
+"Indeed, I will not," said Olive. "How thankful I am that you were
+here; your calmness and tact has saved us something not pleasant. I
+don't think I could have managed her myself."
+
+"Probably not; and now I will prepare a soothing and sleeping draught,
+and then, as it is late, will detain you no longer. Perhaps you had
+better see that the draught is administered."
+
+Olive gladly accepted the charge, and shortly after Doctor Vaughan
+took his departure, wise and yet blind; blind as to the true cause of
+Madeline's outbreak and subsequent submissiveness.
+
+Madeline obeyed to the letter the instructions of Doctor Vaughan. As a
+result, she fell asleep almost immediately, before calm thought had
+come to dispel her mood of dreamy happiness.
+
+In the morning she awoke quieted, refreshed, and quite mistress of
+herself. She did not once refer to the events of the previous evening.
+Only, before taking leave of Claire, she whispered in her ear:
+
+"Dear Claire, you can make a noble man happy. Let his love atone to
+you for this present bitterness. God bless you both."
+
+It was an odd speech, truly. But as Madeline turned her back upon the
+pretty villa, and was driven swiftly to the railroad depot, she
+wondered why Claire had responded to it only with a passionate kiss
+and with tears in her beautiful eyes.
+
+And Claire, having seen her driven from the door, fled precipitately
+to her room. Locking herself in, she fell upon her knees beside a low
+chair. Burying her face in her hands she wept bitterly,--not for
+herself, but for the girl who was so heroically resigning to another
+the man she loved; who was going forth, alone, to encounter hardship,
+perhaps danger, to fight single-handed, not only her own battles, but
+those of her friends as well.
+
+"And I dared to judge her," said the girl, indignantly. "I presumed to
+criticise the delicacy of this grand, brave nature! Why, I ought to be
+proud to claim her friendship, and I am!"
+
+From that hour, let Madeline's course seem ever so doubtful, let Olive
+fear and doubt as she would, Claire Keith stoutly defended every act,
+and averred that Madeline could do nothing wrong. And from that hour,
+Claire began to plot upon her own responsibility.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In due course Doctor Vaughan called, and was closeted with Olive a
+very long time--rather, with Olive and Claire, for this young lady had
+surprised her sister, by expressing a desire to hear what Doctor
+Vaughan would say of Madeline's adventures. To tell the truth, Claire
+had fancied that Clarence would criticise more or less, and it was in
+the capacity of champion for the absent that she appeared at the
+interview.
+
+After the matter had been fully discussed, Doctor Vaughan addressed
+himself to Claire: "Miss Keith, you have been a good listener. Won't
+you give us your opinion as to the achievements of our little friend?"
+
+Claire came forward, with a charming mixture of frankness and
+embarrassment: "First, let me make the _amende honorable_, Doctor
+Vaughan. I presented myself at this interview with the full intention,
+and for the express purpose, of waging war upon you both, if
+necessary, and I had no doubt that it would be."
+
+Doctor Vaughan looked much astonished.
+
+"But," pursued Claire, "I have misjudged you. I did not think you
+would so heartily approve of Madeline's course, and I was bristling
+with bayonets to defend her."
+
+"I must own to being of Claire's opinion," interposed Olive, looking
+somewhat amused.
+
+Clarence smiled and then looked thoughtful.
+
+"I can easily understand," he said, seriously, "how you ladies might
+have looked upon the course Miss Payne has taken, as an objectionable,
+even an improper, one. The position in which she has placed herself
+is, certainly, an unusual, a startling one for a woman of refinement
+and delicacy. But we must consider that the occasion is also an
+unusual one, and ordinary measures will not apply successfully to
+extraordinary cases. As to the impropriety, no one need fear to trust
+his or her honor in the keeping of a woman as brave and noble as
+Madeline Payne is proving herself."
+
+"Then you do not censure Madeline for refusing to trust the matter in
+the hands of a detective?" questioned Olive.
+
+"The matter _is_ in the hands of a detective, Mrs. Girard; in the
+hands of the shrewdest and ablest little detective that could, by any
+possibility, have been found. Why, Madeline has accomplished, in a
+short time, what the best detectives on our regular force might have
+labored at for a year, and then failed of achieving!"
+
+Claire threw a look of triumph at her sister. "Oh, how glad I am to
+hear you say all this, and how glad Madeline would be." Then she
+checked herself suddenly.
+
+"I can suggest but one improvement upon the present state of things,"
+said Clarence, after a moment's reflection. "That is, if we can
+persuade Madeline to permit it, and I think we can, we should set two
+men at work, neither one to be aware of the employment of the other.
+One to trace out as much of the past of this man Percy, as may be. The
+other to perform the same office for Davlin. Of course, they would not
+be advised of the actual reason for these researches, and so their
+investigations would in no way interfere with Madeline's pursuit of
+the game at Oakley. I don't think we could improve upon the present
+arrangement there."
+
+"And how do you propose to bring this about?" questioned Olive.
+
+"By going down to Bellair, as soon as I can get the necessary
+permission from our little _generalissimo_, and talking the matter
+over with her. I think she will see the propriety of the move, don't
+you?" appealing to Claire.
+
+"I think she will follow your advice," gravely.
+
+"I hope she will," said Olive.
+
+"I _know_ she will do exactly right," asserted Claire, so positively
+that they both smiled.
+
+"I think I may venture to agree with you, Miss Keith," said Dr.
+Vaughan.
+
+"You had better, both of you, where Madeline is concerned," looking
+ferocious.
+
+"I begin to think that valor is infectious," laughed Olive, and
+Clarence joined in the laugh.
+
+Altogether the result of their council was pleasing to each of the
+three. Olive was hopeful; Clarence was full of enthusiasm, and more
+deeply in love than ever with generous Claire; and she was pleased
+with his frank admiration of Madeline's courage, and full of hope for
+Madeline's future.
+
+"He admires her now. He will love her by and by," she assured herself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+HAGAR AND CORA.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Lucian Davlin had hastened to Bellair in response to Cora's
+summons, full of conjectures as to what had "turned up."
+
+When the noon train from the city puffed up to the little platform,
+Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end of the depot
+platform stood the dainty phæton of Mrs. John Arthur. That lady
+herself reined in her prancing ponies, and the whole formed an object
+of admiration for the few depot loungers.
+
+As Lucian Davlin crossed the platform and took his seat beside the
+lady, an old woman hobbled across the track. Casting a furtive glance
+in the direction the ponies were taking, she hobbled away toward the
+wood.
+
+Miss Arthur's maid had surmised aright. It was no part of Cora's plan
+to permit the inmates of Oakley a view of Mr. Davlin on this occasion.
+So the ponies were driven briskly away from the town, and when that
+was left behind, permitted to walk through the almost leafless woods,
+while Cora revealed to Lucian the extent of the fresh calamity that
+had befallen them in the advent of Mr. Percy.
+
+"Well, what have you to say to all this?" demanded the lady,
+pettishly, after she had disburdened herself of the story, with its
+most minute particulars. "This is a pretty state of affairs, is it
+not? I am worn out. I wish Oakley and the whole tribe were at the
+bottom of the sea!"
+
+"Stuff!" with much coolness; then taking a flask containing some amber
+liquid from a breast pocket he held it between his eyes and the light
+for critical examination.
+
+"Stuff? where? In that flask?"
+
+"No, in your words. This," shaking the amber liquid, "is simon pure;
+best French. Have some? I felt as if I needed a 'bracer' this
+morning."
+
+"Up all night, I presume," eyeing him askant.
+
+"Pretty much;" indifferently. "Won't take any? Then, here's confusion
+to Percy," and he took a long draught. "Now, then," pocketing the
+brandy and turning toward her, briskly, "I'm ready for business. How
+the deuce did we let this fellow pounce down upon us like this? I
+thought he was safe in Cuba?"
+
+"He will never be safe anywhere, until he gets to--"
+
+"Heaven," suggested he.
+
+"I suppose it was stupid," she went on, gloomily. "But when Ellen
+Arthur raved of her dear friend Mr. Percy, how was I to imagine that
+among all the Percys on earth, this especial and particular one should
+be _the_ Percy. I wrote you that she had a lover of that name; did it
+occur to you that it might be he?" maliciously.
+
+"Well, candidly, it did not."
+
+"We were a pair of stupid fools, and we are finely caught for our
+pains."
+
+"First statement correct," composedly; "don't agree with the last,
+however."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Does he know I am on deck?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Didn't inquire after me, or say anything about the documents?"
+
+"No special inquiries."
+
+"Well, then, where is the great danger?"
+
+"Where?" much astonished.
+
+"Yes, where? If you told me all the truth concerning yourself ten
+years ago, we can make him play into our hands."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Don't go too fast. When you told me that he believed you to have left
+home because of an unkind step-mother, was that true?"
+
+"It was true. I did leave home and come to the city when I was but
+sixteen, because my father was a drunkard, and my step-mother abusive,
+and we were poor and I was proud."
+
+"Don't doubt that fact;" with an outward gesture of the supple hand.
+"But you told him that you had two big step-brothers!"
+
+Cora laughed. "A big brother is an excellent weapon to hold over the
+heads of some men," she suggested.
+
+"True," with an amused look. "Why didn't you brandish one over me?"
+
+"Over you?" laughing again. "You and Percy were two different men."
+
+"Much obliged," lifting his hat with mock gravity. "Well, we are 'two
+different men,' still; just let your pretty little head rest, and
+leave Percy to me."
+
+"I wish to Heaven you had made an end--"
+
+"'Ah-h-h. I have sighed to rest me,'" warbled Davlin. "Cora, my love,
+never put your foot on too dangerous ground."
+
+"Well, I do wish so, all the same," said she, with feminine
+pertinacity.
+
+"Now, tell me what your plan is. We want to understand each other, and
+have no more bungling."
+
+"All you will have to do will be to keep quiet and follow my cue. When
+I come down, we must manage it that I meet Percy in Miss Arthur's
+absence. The rest is easy; this Mr. Percy will not find his path free
+from obstacles, I think."
+
+"What game will you play?"
+
+"Precisely what I am playing now. I am your brother. That will explain
+some things that puzzled him some time ago," dryly. "I am your sole
+protector, saving the old chap, don't you see."
+
+The woman pondered a moment. "I think it will answer," she said, at
+last. "At any rate, it is the best we can do now."
+
+A little more conversation, and Cora was quite satisfied with that and
+other arrangements. Then the ponies were headed toward the village,
+and driven at a brisk pace, thus enabling Mr. Davlin to catch the
+afternoon train back to the city. No one at Oakley was any the wiser
+for his visit. It was no uncommon thing for Cora to drive out
+unattended, and she returned to the manor in a very good humor,
+considering the situation.
+
+Cora's drive had given her an appetite, and she had partaken of no
+luncheon. She therefore ordered a very bounteous one to be served in
+the red parlor. Mr. Arthur was enjoying his usual afternoon siesta;
+Miss Arthur was invisible, for which Cora felt duly thankful; and so
+she settled herself down to solitude, cold chicken and other edibles,
+and her own thoughts.
+
+Ever and anon she gazed listlessly from the window, letting her eyes
+rove from the terrace to the hedgerow walk, the woods beyond, and back
+again to the terrace. Suddenly she bent forward, and looked earnestly
+at some object, moving toward the stile from the grove beyond. A
+moment later, it appeared in the gap of the hedge.
+
+Cora leaned back in her chair, still observant, muttering:
+
+"I thought so! It is that ugly old woman. Now, what in the world does
+she want here, for--yes, she is entering the grounds, coming up the
+terrace."
+
+True enough, old Hagar was coming slowly along the terrace, taking a
+leisurely survey of the window facing that walk, as she did so.
+Casting her eyes upward, they met the gaze of Mrs. Arthur. Then, much
+to the surprise of that lady, she paused and executed a brief
+pantomime, as grotesque as it was mysterious.
+
+Cora drew back in some astonishment, pondering as to whether or no the
+old woman might not be partially insane, when Susan, the maid of the
+romantic mind, appeared before her, and announced that the object of
+her thoughts was in the kitchen, and begged that Mrs. Arthur would
+permit her an interview.
+
+Cora was still more surprised. "What can she possibly want with me?"
+she asked herself, quite audibly.
+
+"If you please, ma'am," volunteered Susan, "she said that it was
+something important; and that she never would have put her foot inside
+this house, begging your pardon, only for you."
+
+Flattering though this statement might be, it did not enlighten her
+much. So, after a moment's reflection, Mrs. Arthur bade the girl,
+"show the old person up."
+
+Accordingly, in another moment almost, old Hagar was bowing very
+humbly before the lady with the silken flounces. Susan retired
+reluctantly, deeply regretting that she could find no time to stop up
+the key-hole with her ear, thus rendering it impossible for prying
+eyes to peep through that orifice.
+
+"Well, old woman," began Cora, rather inelegantly, it must be
+confessed, "what on earth were you making such a fuss about, down on
+the terrace? And what do you want with me?"
+
+A close observer of the human countenance divine would never have
+judged, from the small amount of expression that was manifest in the
+face of Hagar, that her reply would have been such a very humble one.
+"I want to serve you, dear lady."
+
+The "dear lady" pursed up her lips in surprise. "You--want--"
+
+"To warn you, madame."
+
+Cora was dumb with astonishment, not unmingled with apprehension. What
+had broken loose now?
+
+"I am only a poor old woman, lady, and nobody thinks that old Hagar
+has a heart for the wrongs of others. I said that I would never cross
+John Arthur's threshold again; but I have seen your pretty face, going
+to and fro through the village streets, and I knew there was no one to
+warn you but me."
+
+"Oh, you did," remarked Cora, not knowing whether to be alarmed or
+amused, at the old woman's earnestness. "Well, old--what's your name?"
+
+"Hagar, lady."
+
+"Well, old Hagar, do you mean to tell me that I am in any particular
+danger just at present?"
+
+"Is the dove in danger when it is in the nest of the hawk?" said
+Hagar, closing her eyes tight as she uttered the words, but looking
+otherwise very tragical.
+
+Cora laughed musically. "Good gracious, old lady!" She was modifying
+her titles somewhat, probably under the influence of Hagar's
+flatteries. "You mean to compare me to a dove," laughing afresh,
+"in--a hawk's nest? Oh, dear! oh, dear!" wiping her eyes. "Now, then,
+please introduce me to the wicked hawk."
+
+Hagar was getting tired of her part, and she made a direct rush at the
+point of the business, and with very good dramatic effect. "I mean
+your husband," she said, vehemently. "I mean John Arthur. He is a bad
+man. If he has not done it already, he will make you miserable
+by-and-by."
+
+Cora drew herself up and tried to look severe. "Old lady," she said,
+with supernatural gravity, "don't you know that it is very improper
+for you to come and talk to me, like this, about my husband?"
+
+"Just hear her!" sniffed Hagar, rather unnecessarily; "all because I
+think she is too young, and too pretty, to be sacrificed like the
+others--"
+
+"Like the others? What others?"
+
+"Like his first wife. She was young, like you, and a lovely lady. His
+cruelty was her death. And then he must worry and abuse her poor
+daughter, until she runs away and comes to an untimely end. And now--"
+
+"Now, you fear he will make an end of me?" briskly. "Sit down, old
+lady," becoming still more affable. "So Mr. Arthur ill-used his first
+wife, my predecessor?"
+
+"Thank you, dear lady; you are very kind to a poor old woman," seating
+herself gingerly on the edge of a chair opposite Cora. "Yes, indeed,
+he did ill-use her. She was my mistress, and I shall always hate him
+for it."
+
+Cora mused. Here was an old servant who hated the master of Oakley;
+might she not prove useful, after a time? At any rate, it would be
+well to sound her.
+
+"You were very much attached to the lady, no doubt?" insinuatingly.
+
+"Yes; and who would not be? She was very sweet and good, was my poor
+mistress. Oh, he is a bad, bad man, madame, and you surely cannot be
+very happy with him."
+
+"And he was unkind to his step-daughter, too?" ignoring the last
+supposition.
+
+"Unkind? He was a wretch. Oh, I could almost murder him for his
+cruelty to that poor dead lassie!" fiercely.
+
+"Perhaps he was none too kind to you," suggested Cora.
+
+"Oh, he never treated me like a human being. He hated me because I
+tried to stand between her and harm. But he could not get rid of the
+sight of me. I have a little home where he can't avoid seeing me
+sometimes. I believe, if I kept always appearing before him, he would
+go raving mad, he hates me to that extent."
+
+"Um-m! Is that so?"
+
+"Yes, indeed. Why, lady, if I were without house or home, and you, out
+of the kindness of your heart, were to take me into your employment as
+the very humblest of your servants, I believe he would kill us both."
+
+"You think he would?"
+
+Cora actually seemed to encourage the old woman in her garrulity.
+
+"Oh, I know it. It's not much in the way of charity, or kindness, you
+will be able to do in _this_ house. If he don't imprison you in one of
+these old closed-up musty rooms, you will be lucky. He is very
+dangerous. Sometimes I used to think he must be insane."
+
+Cora started. "Well, Hagar," she said, sweetly, "it's very good of you
+to take so much interest in me. He is very cross sometimes, but,
+perhaps, it won't be so bad as you fear."
+
+"I hope it won't," rising to go and shaking her head dubiously; "but I
+am afraid for you."
+
+"Well," laughing, "I'll try and not let him lock me up, at any rate.
+Now, is there anything I can do for you?"
+
+[Illustration: If ever you want to make him feel what it is to make
+others suffer, Hagar will help you.--page 238.]
+
+"Oh, no, lady. You looked so pretty, and so good, that I wanted to
+warn you; that is all. I should be glad if I could serve you, too, but
+I could never serve him. I don't want for anything, dear lady. Now the
+old woman will go."
+
+"I won't forget you, Hagar, if I ever need a friend."
+
+Hagar turned toward her. "If you ever want to make him feel what it is
+to make others suffer, Hagar will help you."
+
+There was a vindictive light in the old woman's eyes, and she hobbled
+out of the room, looking as if she meant all she had said.
+
+Cora sat, for a time, pondering over the interview, and trying to
+trace out some motive for insincerity on the old woman's part. But she
+could see none. She resolved to investigate a little, and all that
+evening was the most attentive and agreeable of wives. Abundant and
+versatile was her conversation. Deftly she led the talk up to the
+proper point, and then said, carelessly:
+
+"Driving through the village, to-day, I passed that queer old
+woman--Hagar, do they call her? She glared at me, oh! so savagely."
+
+"She is an old hag!" Mr Arthur answered, with unnecessary fierceness.
+"I don't see what Satan has been about, all these years, that he's not
+taken her away to her proper atmosphere."
+
+"Why," in pretty surprise, "I thought she used to be one of your
+servants?"
+
+"She was a servant to my first wife," moodily. "I got rid of the
+baggage quick enough, when Mrs. Arthur died. She is an old viper, and
+put more disobedience into that girl Madeline's head, than I ever
+could get out."
+
+"What a horrid old wretch she must be!" shuddering.
+
+Then the conversation dropped, and Cora was satisfied.
+
+"The old woman shall be my tool," she thought, triumphantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+TO BE, TO DO, TO SUFFER.
+
+
+On the day that followed the events last related, Madeline Payne
+returned to Oakley to resume her self-imposed task.
+
+Leaving the train, the girl took the path through the woods. When she
+had traversed it half way, she came upon old Hagar, who was seated
+upon a fallen log awaiting her. Looking cautiously about, to assure
+herself that the interview would have no spectators, Madeline, or
+Céline, as we must now call her, seated herself to listen to the
+report of Davlin's visit, and the success of Hagar's interview with
+Cora.
+
+Expressing herself fully satisfied with what she heard, Céline made
+the old woman acquainted with the result of her visit to the city, or
+as much of it as was necessary and expedient. Then, after some words
+of mutual council, and a promise to visit her that evening, if
+possible, the girl lost no time in making her way to the manor, and
+straight into the presence of her mistress.
+
+Considering that her maid was--her maid, Miss Arthur welcomed her with
+an almost rapturous outburst. Céline had held high place in the
+affections of Miss Arthur, truth to tell, since her astonishing
+discovery of Mr. Edward Percy, in the character of young Romeo,
+promenading within sight of his lady's window.
+
+"Céline," simpered Miss Arthur, while the damsel addressed was
+brushing out her mistress's hair, preparatory to building it into a
+French wonder; "Céline, I may be wrong in talking so freely to you
+about myself and my--my friends, but I observe that you never presume
+in the least--"
+
+"Oh, mademoiselle, I could never do that!" cooed the girl, with wicked
+double meaning.
+
+"And," pursued Miss Arthur, graciously, "you are really quite a
+sagacious and discreet young person."
+
+"Thanks, miladi." Then, as if recollecting herself, "Pardon,
+_mademoiselle_, but you are so like her ladyship, _Madame Le Baronne
+De Orun_, my very first mistress--"
+
+"Oh, I don't mind it at all, Céline. As I was saying, you seem quite a
+superior young person, and no doubt I am not the first who has made
+you a sort of _confidante_.
+
+"Merci! no; my lady. _Madame Le Baronne_ used to trust me with
+_everything_, and often deigned to ask my advice. But French ladies,
+oui, mademoiselle, always put confidence in their maids. And a maid
+will die rather than betray a good mistress--"
+
+"Exactly, Céline--are you going to put my hair so high?"
+
+"Very high, _miladi_."
+
+"Oh, well; will it be becoming?"
+
+"Oui; La mode la Francaise," relapsing into ecstacy and French. _"Le
+coiffeur comme il faut! Chere amie, le-chef-a-oeuvre!_"
+
+Miss Arthur collapsed, and Céline continued to build up an atrociously
+unbecoming pile of puffs and curls in triumphant silence.
+
+Céline never indulged in her native tongue, so she assured her
+mistress, except when carried away by momentary enthusiasm, or
+unwonted emotion. It was bad taste, she averred, and she desired to
+cultivate the beautiful American language.
+
+Presently Miss Arthur made another venture, feeling quite justified
+in following in the footsteps of so august a personage as _Madame Le
+Baronne_.
+
+"Did you see Mr. Percy after you left Bellair?"
+
+"No, mademoiselle."
+
+"Did you observe if he returned in the same train with yourself?"
+
+"No, mademoiselle." Then, with a meaning little laugh: "Monsieur will
+not remain long from Oakley."
+
+Miss Arthur tried to look unconscious, and succeeded in looking
+idiotic.
+
+"Pardon, mademoiselle, but I can't forget that night. Mademoiselle is
+surely relieved of one fear."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"The fear of being wooed because of her wealth."
+
+Miss Arthur started, then said: "There may be something in that,
+Céline; and it is not impossible that I may inherit more."
+
+"Ah?" inquiringly.
+
+"Yes. Possibly you have learned from the servants that Mr. Arthur lost
+a young step-daughter not long ago; just before you came, in fact."
+
+"I don't remember. Did she die, mademoiselle?"
+
+"Yes. She was a very wild, unruly child, a regular little
+heathen--oh!"
+
+"Pardon, oh, pardon, did it hurt?" removing a long, spiky hair pin,
+with much apparent solicitude.
+
+"A--a little; yes. As I was saying, this ridiculous girl was sent to
+school and no expense spared to make a lady of her."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Yes; and then she rewards my brother for all his kindness by running
+away."
+
+"_Merci_, mademoiselle!" suddenly recalling her French.
+
+"And then she died among strangers, just as provokingly as she had
+lived. She must even run away to die, to make it seem as if her home
+was not a happy one."
+
+"What a very wicked young person; how you must have been annoyed."
+
+"We were all deeply grieved."
+
+"And I don't suppose that dead young woman was even grateful for
+that."
+
+"Oh, there was no gratitude in her."
+
+"Of course not! Now, mademoiselle, let me do your eyebrows," turning
+her about.
+
+"But," pursued Miss Arthur, "when she died, my brother acquired
+unconditional control of a large fortune, and you must see that my
+brother is getting rather old. Well, in case of his death, a part, at
+least, of this fortune will become mine."
+
+"Yes, madame."
+
+"My brother is too much afraid to face the thought of death and make a
+new will, and papers are in existence that will give me the larger
+portion of his fortune. Of course, Mrs. Arthur will get her third."
+
+Céline was now surprised in earnest.
+
+Miss Arthur had spoken the truth. With shrewd foresight, she had made
+John Arthur sign certain papers two years before, in consideration of
+sundry loans from her. And of this state of affairs every one, except
+their two selves and the necessary lawyer, had remained in ignorance.
+
+The girl's eyes gleamed. This was still better. It would make her
+vengeance more complete.
+
+And now Miss Arthur was thrown into a state of girlish agitation by
+the appearance of Susan, who announced that Mr. Percy was in the
+drawing-room, awaiting the pleasure of his inamorata.
+
+She bade Céline make haste with her complexion and, after the lapse of
+something like half an hour, swept down to welcome her lover, with a
+great many amber silk flounces following in her wake.
+
+Céline Leroque gazed after her for a moment and then closed the door.
+Flinging herself down "at ease" in the spinster's luxurious dressing
+chair, she pulled off the blue glasses and let the malicious triumph
+dance in her eyes as much as it would.
+
+"Oh, you are a precious pair, you two, brother and sister! The one a
+knave, the other a fool! It is really pathetic to see how you mourn my
+loss. I have a great mind to--"
+
+Here something seemed to occur to her that checked her mutterings, and
+sent her off into a deep meditation. After a long stillness she
+uttered a low, mocking laugh that had, too, a tinge of mischief in it.
+Rising slowly from the dressing chair she said, as she nodded
+significantly to her image reflected back from Miss Arthur's dressing
+glass:
+
+"I'll put that idea into execution some nice night, and then won't
+there be a row in the castle? Ah! my charming mistress, if you had
+spoken one kind or regretful word for poor Madeline, it would have
+been better for you!"
+
+What was the girl meditating now? What did she mean?
+
+"Yes, good people at Oakley, I believe I'll take a little private
+amusement out of you _all_, while I feel quite in the mood. I won't be
+too partial."
+
+Then she betook herself to her own room and let her thoughts fly back
+to Olive and Claire and--Clarence.
+
+Presently, for she was very weary, spite of the previous night's
+repose, she fell asleep.
+
+Late that evening she flitted through the woods and across the meadow
+to the cottage of old Hagar. Sleep had refreshed her and she had
+dreamed pleasant dreams. She felt stout of heart, and firm of nerve.
+
+Old Hagar was overjoyed to see a smile in her nursling's face, and to
+hear, at times, a laugh, low and sweet, reminding her of olden days.
+The girl remained with her old nurse for nearly an hour. When they
+parted there was a perfect understanding between them, in regard to
+future movements and plans.
+
+No one at Oakley was aware of Lucian Davlin's flying visit; thus much
+Céline knew. But of the purport and result of that visit, she knew
+nothing. Nor could she guess. She must bide her time, for there seemed
+just now little to disturb the monotony of waiting.
+
+One thing was, however, necessary. When the time came for Miss Arthur
+to leave Oakley, Céline must remain. To that end she must contrive to
+fall out with the spinster, and "fall in" with Madame Cora. If that
+lady could not be beguiled into retaining her at Oakley, she must
+resort to a more hazardous scheme. She had already taken a step toward
+ingratiating herself with Mrs. Arthur, and with tolerable success. She
+was maturing her plans and waiting for an opportunity to put them into
+action.
+
+No doubt but that by the time she had accomplished her object, if it
+could be accomplished, the opposite forces would come into conflict.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+SETTING SOME SNARES.
+
+
+Three days had now passed since Madeline's return from the city. On
+the morning of the fourth day, she seized the first leisure moment for
+a visit to the post-office. Instead of the single letter from Olive
+that she had expected, she found three.
+
+They were enclosed in one wrapper. This she removed on her way back to
+Oakley, and found the first, as was the wrapper, addressed in Olive's
+hand. The penmanship of the second was fairy-like and beautiful, and
+she recognized it as Claire's. At sight of the third, her heart gave a
+great bound, and then almost stood still. It was superscribed in a
+firm, manly hand, and was, it must be, from Dr. Vaughan.
+
+Once securely locked in her room, Madeline opened the first of her
+letters with eager fingers. Yes, Olive's first. The desire to see what
+_he_ had said was strong in her heart, but she had decided not to
+humor her heart. She held his letter caressingly for a moment and then
+putting it beside Claire's opened and read Olive Girard's letter.
+
+It was like Olive's self; sweet, womanly, hopeful, yet sad:
+
+     DEAR MADELINE:
+
+     I am only now beginning to realize the new life and hope you
+     have put into my heart. As I think again of what you have
+     done and are doing, I cannot but feel faith in your success.
+     Oh, if I could but work with you; for you and for Philip!
+
+     Again and again I implore you to pardon me for ever doubting
+     your wisdom or strength. If at any time I can aid you--such
+     poor aid--my purse is yours, as your cause is mine.
+
+     Claire and Doctor Vaughan will speak for themselves. And as
+     I dare make no more suggestions to so wise a woman, I only
+     put in a faint little plea. Do, pray, grant Doctor Vaughan's
+     request, and may God aid you in all that you do.
+
+                                                   OLIVE.
+
+"Doctor Vaughan's request!" repeated the girl. "Would that I could
+grant him not only all his requests, but all his wishes!"
+
+Then she opened Claire's letter.
+
+     MY GRAND MADELINE:
+
+     How proud I am to claim you for my friend! I shall never
+     again conduct myself with any degree of meekness toward
+     people who have not the happiness of knowing you. And you
+     should hear Doctor Vaughan extol you! He says you are wiser
+     and braver than any detective. That he would trust you in
+     any emergency. That if any one can lift the cloud that hangs
+     over poor Philip, it is you.
+
+     My heart tells me that you will yet prove the good angel of
+     Philip and Olive, as already you have been mine; and soon, I
+     pray, you will become that and more to Doctor Vaughan; you
+     must and shall. I shall have no wish ungratified when I can
+     see your trials at an end; and yourself, surrounded by us
+     who love you, happy at last. Don't let all these other
+     claimants push me out of your heart; always keep one little
+     place for your loving, grateful
+
+                                                 CLAIRE.
+
+Madeline's eyes were moist when she lifted them from the perusal of
+this letter.
+
+"Bright, beautiful, brave Claire," she murmured; "who could help
+loving her?"
+
+Then her eyes fell again upon the letter, and she started:
+
+"'You will become that and more to Doctor Vaughan,'" she read. "What
+can she mean? Can it be possible that, after all, I have betrayed
+myself to her?"
+
+She re-read the letter from beginning to end, her face flushing and
+paling.
+
+"Oh!" she whispered softly, "she has read my heart, and we are playing
+at cross purposes! What a queer rivalry," the girl actually laughed;
+"a rivalry of renunciation. Does she yet know how he loves her, I
+wonder?" Then, her face growing graver, "she won't be long in making
+that discovery now."
+
+She took up Clarence Vaughan's letter, almost dreading to break the
+seal.
+
+     MY BRAVE LITTLE SISTER:
+
+     You perceive, I have commenced my tyranny. And instead of
+     being able to grant favors to my new sister, I am reduced to
+     the necessity of begging them at her hands. In a word, I
+     want to come to Bellair. Not to be a meddlesome adviser; I
+     am too firmly a convert to your method of procedure for
+     that. Besides, I should have to declare war upon Miss Keith
+     if I presumed thus far. But I do desire to further your
+     plans, and to this end would make a suggestion that has
+     occurred to me since hearing of your marvelous detective
+     work.
+
+     Believe me, I cannot express the admiration I feel for your
+     daring and tact. I have no longer the faintest scruple as to
+     trusting this issue, so important to all of us, in your
+     hands. And I am more than proud of such a sister.
+
+     May I come to Bellair, say on Monday next? I will stop at
+     the little station a few miles this side of the village, and
+     walk or drive over, and find my way to the cottage of your
+     old nurse, where you can meet me, unless you have a better
+     place to suggest. I shall anxiously await your answer, and
+     am your brother to command.
+
+                                     C. E. VAUGHAN.
+
+Madeline's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining.
+
+"How they all trust me!" she ejaculated; "and they always shall. I
+will never be false to their friendship; no, not if to serve them my
+heart's blood must become wormwood and gall."
+
+She re-read all her letters, but would not allow herself to linger too
+long over that of Clarence Vaughan. She had resolved to have no more
+weakness, no more outbreaks of passion. She was very stern with
+herself. Even as a friend and brother, she would not allow her
+thoughts to dwell too much upon him, until she grew stronger, and more
+perfect in her renunciation.
+
+Then she sat down at her humble little table, and answered her
+letters.
+
+To Olive she wrote a sweet, cheery note, telling of her gratitude, her
+affection, her hope for the future; and then she added a womanlike P.
+S. as follows:
+
+     Please say to Doctor Vaughan that I will be at Hagar's
+     cottage on Monday evening, but can't tell the precise time I
+     may be able to appear. If he follows the main road through
+     the village, until he has passed the grounds of Oakley, he
+     will have no difficulty in finding the cottage. It stands
+     alone, almost in the middle of a field, facing the west, and
+     is the first habitation after Oakley.
+
+"I cannot write to him," she said; "at least not now."
+
+Then she wrote Claire a long, cheery letter, saying little of herself,
+and much of her friends,--of all save Doctor Vaughan. She _would_ not
+mention him tenderly, she _could_ not mention him lightly; so she
+would say of him nothing at all.
+
+But if Madeline was astute, Claire, too, was beginning to develop that
+quality. So when the latter young lady read this letter, she smiled
+and said: "The dear little hypocrite! As if she could deceive me by
+this evidently studied neglect. Oh! you proud, stiff-necked, little
+detective!"
+
+And their game of cross purposes went on.
+
+Madeline had sealed her letters, and was about to reach for her hat
+preparatory to hastening with them to the post office, when her
+attention was arrested by a sound, slight but unusual, and not far
+away. She stood erect, silent, motionless, listening intently.
+Presently the sound was repeated, and then a look of intelligence
+passed over the girl's face.
+
+"Some one is in the deserted rooms," she thought. And she abandoned
+for the present her purpose of going out.
+
+There was but one way to approach the closed-up rooms, and that way
+led past the door of Madeline's room.
+
+A few paces beyond her door, the hall connecting the west wing with
+the more modern portion, made a sharp curve and opened into the main
+hall of that floor. Céline Leroque opened her door cautiously, having
+first donned her not very becoming walking attire. Then she took up
+her position just outside the angle of the western hall, and so close
+to it that if an approach was made from below, she could easily retire
+behind the angle.
+
+[Illustration: "She stood erect, silent, motionless."--page 248.]
+
+She had grown heartily tired of her sentinel task when, at last, a
+soft rustle was heard near at hand. Céline turned so quickly into the
+narrower hall that she fairly ran upon and stopped--Mrs. John Arthur!
+who uttered a sharp exclamation expressive of surprise and annoyance.
+
+Céline poured forth a mixture of French and English, expressive of her
+contrition and horror at having "almost overturned madame," and wound
+up by saying, "Madame has been to my room? Madame has desired some
+service, perhaps? If so, she has only to command."
+
+Cora drew a breath of relief, having sufficiently recovered from the
+collision and accompanying confusion, to draw a breath of any kind,
+and at once rallied her forces.
+
+"Yes, Céline, I wanted you to do something for me, if you will."
+
+"Anything, madame."
+
+Madame was collecting her thoughts. "I--I wanted to ask if you could
+find time to come to my room and try and do something with my hair.
+Your hair-dressing is perfect, and I am so tired of my own."
+
+Céline would be only too happy. Should she come now? She had just
+returned from the village; she would put off her hat and be at
+madame's disposal. But madame was not inclined to be manipulated just
+then. Céline might come to her dressing room and do her hair for
+dinner--after she was done with Miss Arthur, of course.
+
+So they separated, mutually satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+A VERITABLE GHOST.
+
+
+What a day of glory it had been to the spinster, this day on which
+Madeline had read her three letters, and Cora had explored the shut-up
+wing.
+
+And what a day of torture to fastidious Edward Percy, who would have
+welcomed any third presence, even Cora or John Arthur--any one,
+anything, was better than that long slavery at the feet of a painted
+and too-visibly ancient mistress. But even the longest days have an
+end. At last he was set at liberty, and he hurried back to the little
+inn, literally kicking his way through the Autumn darkness.
+
+The old house of Oakley stood, with its last light extinguished, tall
+and somber, against a back-ground of black sky and blacker trees. At
+last every soul under its roof was asleep--all but one. That one was
+very wide awake and intent on mischief.
+
+Love-making, dear reader, although you may not know it, is a wearisome
+business, even if ever so agreeable. Especially is it wearisome to
+those like Miss Arthur--maidens whose waists are too tight, whose
+complexions will ill-endure lip service, and whose tresses are liable
+to become not only dishevelled but dislocated. Therefore, when Miss
+Arthur had dismissed her lover, with a sigh of regret, she lost no
+time in doffing her glories with a sigh of relief.
+
+Even a very rich and hearty luncheon, which her maid had provided, was
+gormandized rather than enjoyed, so tempting did her couch look to the
+worn-out damsel.
+
+Miss Arthur had refreshed herself with an hour's uninterrupted repose,
+and was revelling in a dreamy Arcadia, hand in hand with her beloved,
+when something cold falling on her cheek dispelled her visions. She
+started broad awake, and face to face with a horrible reality.
+
+The moon was pouring a flood of silvery light in through the two
+windows, facing the south, whose curtains were drawn back, making the
+room almost as light as at mid-day.
+
+And there, near her bed, almost within reach of her hand, stood
+_Madeline Payne_, all swathed in white clinging cerements, ghastly as
+a corpse, hollow-eyed and awful, but, nevertheless, Madeline Payne!
+Over her white temples dropped rings of curly, yellow hair, and across
+the pale lips a mocking smile was flitting.
+
+Miss Arthur gasped and closed her eyes very tight, but they would not
+stay closed. They flew open again to behold the vision still there.
+The spinster was transfixed with horror. Cold drops of perspiration
+oozed out upon her forehead and trickled down her nose. She clutched
+at the bedclothes convulsively, and gazed and gazed.
+
+Wider and wider stared her eyes, but no sound escaped her lips. She
+gazed and gazed, but the specter would not vanish. Poor Miss Arthur
+was terror-stricken almost to the verge of catalepsy.
+
+In consideration of the persistence with which they return again and
+again, according to good authority, ghosts in general must be endowed
+with much patience. Be this as it may of the average ghost, certain it
+is that this particular apparition, after glaring immovably at the
+spinster for the space of five minutes, began to find it monotonous.
+
+Slowly, slowly from among the snowy drapery came forth a white hand,
+that pointed at the occupant of the bed with silent menace.
+
+[Illustration: "Near the bed, almost within reach of her hand, stood
+_Madeline Payne_, all swathed in white!"--page 252.]
+
+The spell was broken. The lips of Miss Arthur were unclosed, and
+shrieks, one following the other in rapid succession, resounded in the
+ears of even the most remote sleepers.
+
+With the utterance of her first yell, Miss Arthur had made a desperate
+plunge to the further side of her bed, away from the specter; and,
+turning her face to the wall, shut out thus the appalling white
+vision.
+
+Having once found her voice, Miss Arthur continued to clutch at the
+bed clothes, glare at the wall, and shriek spasmodically, even after
+her "inner consciousness" must have assured her that the room now held
+others beside herself and the ghost, supposing it to be still on the
+opposite side of the bed.
+
+Cora, in a state of wild _deshabille_; John Arthur, ditto, and armed
+with a cane; Susan and Mary, half in the room and half out; then
+Céline Leroque, apparently much frightened, without knowing at what.
+
+A volley of questions from the master of the house, and a return of
+courage to the mistress. But Miss Arthur only gathered herself
+together, took in a fresh supply of breath, and embarked in another
+series of howls.
+
+Nothing was amiss in the room; it could not have been a burglar. The
+night lamp was burning dimly behind its heavy shade; on the table were
+the fragments of Miss Arthur's lunch; and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur had
+found easy access through the closed, but unbolted door.
+
+After a time, a long time, during which Cora and Céline administered
+sal volatile and other restoratives, Mr. Arthur douched her with oaths
+and ice water, and the servants whispered in a group, the maiden found
+voice.
+
+It was a very feeble voice, and it conveyed to her audience the
+astounding intelligence that she had seen a ghost--Madeline Payne's
+ghost.
+
+Upon hearing her story, John Arthur seemed at first a little startled.
+But Cora only laughed, and Céline, glancing significantly at the lunch
+table, said, with a slight smile:
+
+"Mademoiselle has nerves, and she may have lunched heartily before
+retiring."
+
+John Arthur strode across the room and viewed the _débris_ of
+luncheon. "Humph!" he grunted. "Oysters and salads, potted meat and
+pastry; strong coffee and lemon syllabub with brandy. Good Lord, I
+don't know what should have kept the contents of an entire cemetery
+from sweeping down upon your slumbers, you female gourmand. Ghosts
+indeed!"
+
+And he stamped out of the room in high dudgeon. His tirade was wholly
+lost upon his sister, however, for that lady was whimpering
+comfortably and putting all her feeble energy into the effort.
+
+Cora glanced up as the door banged after her lord and master, and
+ordered the servants back to bed. Then she turned toward Céline,
+saying:
+
+"That door was certainly not locked when we came to it, for I was here
+even sooner than Mr. Arthur."
+
+Céline smiled again: "Mademoiselle dismissed me before she had
+finished her luncheon. I had disrobed her previously, and she said she
+should retire as soon as she drank her coffee. She may have forgotten
+the door."
+
+Cora turned toward the bed. "Did you lock your door, Ellen?"
+
+But Ellen did not know; she could not remember if she had or had not.
+
+Then Cora said to Céline: "I am glad to find you so sensible. We shall
+have hard work now to convince those ridiculous servants that there is
+not a ghost in every corner."
+
+"I do not think that graves open," replied the girl, seriously.
+
+Then she gave her undivided attention to her mistress, who bade fair
+to be hysterical for the rest of the night.
+
+Miss Arthur would not be left alone again. No argument could convince
+her that the specter was born of her imagination, and therefore not
+likely to return. So Cora bade Céline prepare to spend the remainder
+of the night in Miss Arthur's dressing room.
+
+Accordingly, Céline withdrew to her own apartment, where her
+preparations were made as follows:
+
+First, she shook out the folds of a sheet that hung over a chair, and
+restored it to its proper place on the bed. Then she removed from her
+dressing stand a box of white powder, and brushed away all traces of
+said powder from her garments and the floor. Next, she carefully hid
+away a key that had fallen to the floor and lay near the classically
+folded sheet. These things accomplished, she made a few additions to
+her toilet, extinguished the light, locked her door carefully, trying
+it afterward to make assurance doubly sure, and retraced her steps to
+relieve Cora, who was dutifully sitting by the spinster's bed, and
+beginning to shiver in her somewhat scanty drapery.
+
+As the night wore on, and Miss Arthur became calmed and quiet, the
+girl lay back in the big dressing chair, gazing into the grate, and
+thinking. Her thoughts were sometimes of Claire, sometimes of
+Clarence; of the Girards, and of Edward Percy; then of her success as
+a ghostess, and at this she would almost laugh.
+
+But from every subject her mind would turn again and again to one
+question, that repeated itself until it took the form of a goblin and
+danced through her dreams, when at last she slept, whispering over and
+over:
+
+"What is it that Cora Arthur carries in a belt about her waist? what
+is it? what is it?"
+
+For the girl had made a strange discovery while Cora was sitting
+beside Miss Arthur's bed, clad only in night's scanty drapery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+SOME DAYS OF WAITING.
+
+
+Doctor Vaughan had written that he could find his way with ease to
+Nurse Hagar's cottage, and he did.
+
+Swinging himself down upon the dark end of the platform, when the
+evening train puffed into Bellair village, he crossed the track, and
+walked rapidly along the path that led in the direction of the
+cottage. He strode on until the light from the cottage window gleamed
+out upon the night, and his way led over the field. Half way between
+the stile and the cottage, a form, evidently that of a woman, appeared
+before him, and coming in his direction.
+
+The figure came nearer, and a voice, that was certainly not
+Madeline's, said: "Is the gentleman going to old Hagar's cottage?"
+
+"Are you Hagar?" replied Clarence, Yankee fashion.
+
+"I am Hagar; and you are?"
+
+"Doctor Vaughan."
+
+"Then pass on, sir; the one you seek is there."
+
+And the old woman waved her hand toward the light and hobbled on.
+
+Clarence stared after her for a moment; but the darkness had devoured
+her, and he resumed his way toward the cottage.
+
+In hastening to meet a friend we naturally have, in our mind, a
+picture. Our friend will look so, or so. Thus with Clarence Vaughan.
+Expecting to meet a pair of deep, sad, beautiful eyes, lifted to his
+own; to behold a fair forehead shadowed by soft, shining curls; judge
+of Clarence's surprise when the opened door revealed to him a small
+being of no shape in particular; a very black head of hair, surmounted
+by an ugly maid's cap; and a pair of unearthly, staring blue glasses.
+
+Madeline had chosen to appear "in character" at this interview. She
+intended to keep her own personality out of sight, and she felt that
+she needed the aid and concealment that her disguise would afford. She
+would give Claire's schemes no vantage ground.
+
+So Madeline Payne was carefully hidden away under the wig and pigment
+and padding; and Céline Leroque courteseyed demurely as she held the
+door open to admit him, and said:
+
+"Good evening, _Monsieur le Docteur_; you perceive I am here before
+you."
+
+"Rather, I don't perceive it. _You_ are here before me in a double
+sense of the word; yes. And I suppose you call yourself--"
+
+"Céline Leroque, at your service; maid-in-waiting to Miss Arthur, of
+Oakley."
+
+Doctor Vaughan laughed.
+
+"Well, won't you shake hands with an American of no special
+importance, Céline Leroque?"
+
+She placed her hand in his and then drew forward a chair.
+
+"I hope you found no difficulty in getting out to-night?" he said,
+sitting down and looking at her with a half-amused, half-grave
+countenance.
+
+"None whatever; I have been suffering with a sick-headache all day."
+
+"And you can get in again unseen?"
+
+"Easily; in the evening the servants are all below stairs."
+
+"But what an odd disguise! Do they never question your blue glasses?"
+
+"Not half so much as they would question the eyes without them. They
+believe my eyes were ruined by close application to fine needle-work.
+And then--" she pushed up the glasses a trifle, and he saw that the
+eyelid, and a line underneath the eye, were artistically
+_rouged_--"they all acknowledge that my eyes look very weak."
+
+"I fancy they'll find those eyes have looked too sharply for them, by
+and by."
+
+She laughed lightly. "I hope so."
+
+Sitting there in her prim disguise, the girl felt glad to gaze upon
+him; felt as if, look as much as she would, she was gazing from a safe
+distance.
+
+Dr. Vaughan came straight to the point of his visit, beginning by
+requesting a repetition of such portion of the facts she had
+discovered as related most particularly to the two men, Davlin and
+Percy. Then he made his suggestion. To his surprise it was a welcome
+one to the girl.
+
+"That is just what I have had in mind," she said, thoughtfully. "After
+reflecting, I have changed my plans somewhat, and I don't see my way
+quite so clearly as before."
+
+He was looking at her attentively, but asked no questions.
+
+"Since I came from the city," she resumed, with some hesitation, "I
+have thought that I would be glad to talk again with all of you. But
+it won't do to incur the risk of more absences, for if I do not
+mistake the signs, things will be pretty lively up there," nodding in
+the direction of Oakley, "before many days. So perhaps we had better
+see what our two heads can develop in the way of counterplot, and you
+can make known the result to Olive."
+
+"If your own invention will not serve, I fear mine will be at an utter
+loss. But you know how glad I shall be to share your confidence."
+
+"My invention must serve," she said, firmly, and quite ignoring the
+latter clause of his speech; "and so must yours. You see, my plan
+before going to the city was a comparatively simple one. I intended to
+work my way into the confidence of Mrs. John Arthur. Failing in that,
+Hagar must have been reinstated, and then the _denouement_ would have
+been easy: to get possession of specimens of the medicine prescribed
+for Mr. Arthur; to hunt down this sham doctor they are to introduce
+into the house; to show John Arthur the manner of wife he has; to make
+my own terms with him, and then expose and turn out the whole pack.
+But all this must be changed."
+
+"Changed? And how?"
+
+"I can't turn them out of Oakley. I must keep them there, every one of
+them, at any cost."
+
+Dr. Vaughan looked puzzled. "We can't allow them to kill that old man,
+not even to vindicate poetical justice," he said, gravely.
+
+"No; we can't allow just that. But don't you see, if we turn these
+people away now, we defeat a chief end and aim--the liberation of
+Philip Girard?"
+
+"True."
+
+"Well, this is why I have changed my plan."
+
+He looked at her with an admiration that was almost homage.
+
+"And you will give up your own vengeance, for the sake of Olive and
+her happiness?"
+
+She laughed oddly. "Not at all. I only defer it, to make it the more
+complete. Now, listen to what I propose to do, and see if you can
+suggest anything safer or better."
+
+And then she unfolded a plan that made Clarence Vaughan start in
+amazement, but which, after it was fully revealed, he could not amend
+nor condemn. He could see no other way by which all that they aimed at
+could be accomplished.
+
+"Of course, the plan has its risks," concluded the girl. "But we could
+try no other scheme without incurring the same, or greater. And I
+_believe_ that I shall not fail."
+
+"I wish it were not necessary that you should undergo so much; think
+what it will be for you," gently.
+
+"Oh, for me, ..." indifferently; "I shall be less of a spy, and more
+of an actress,--that is all."
+
+"Then I shall set the detectives at work?"
+
+"Immediately."
+
+"Have you any further instructions, any clue, to give them?"
+
+"Nothing; it is to be simply a research. Neither must know to what end
+the information is desired. It will be better to employ your men from
+different Agencies, so that one may not know of the other, or his
+business."
+
+"And is there nothing more I can do?"
+
+"Nothing, for the present. When once we get these men together, we
+shall all have our hands full. Then you can help me, perhaps, as I
+suggested."
+
+"Well," sighing, and looking at his watch, "it's a strange business,
+and a difficult, for a young girl like you. But we are in your hands;
+you are worth a thousand such as I."
+
+"Nonsense," she said, almost angrily. Then, abruptly, "When does
+Claire return to Baltimore?"
+
+He started and flushed under her gaze. "I--I really don't know."
+
+"Then, as my brother, I command you to know all about Claire. She is
+my special charge to you. And you are to tell her, from me, that I
+won't have her go away."
+
+"Then I must do all in my power to detain her? Your command will have
+more effect than all of my prayers," he said, softly.
+
+"Well, keep on reiterating my commands and your prayers, then; by and
+by she won't be able to distinguish the one from the other. What time
+is it?"
+
+He smiled at the sudden change of tone and subject. "Half-past nine,"
+he said.
+
+While the words were on his lips, Old Hagar entered.
+
+Clearly it was time to end the interview. Doctor Vaughan must be ready
+for the return train, which flew cityward soon, and Céline Leroque
+must not be too long absent. So there were a few words more about
+their plans, a few courteous sentences addressed to Hagar by Doctor
+Vaughan, and then they separated.
+
+The next day two men were at work,--following like sleuth hounds the
+trail on which they were put, unravelling slowly, slowly, the webs of
+the past that had been spun by the two men who were to be hunted down.
+
+And now came a time of comparative dullness at Oakley. Even eventful
+lives do not always pace onward to the inspiring clang of trumpet and
+drum. There is the bivouac and the time of rest, even though sleeping
+upon their arms, for all the hosts that were ever marshalled to
+battle.
+
+[Illustration: "Well, it's a strange business and a difficult."--page
+261.]
+
+Céline Leroque found life rather more dreary than she had expected
+during these days of inaction. After all, it is easier to be brave
+than to be patient. So, in spite of her courage and her
+self-sacrifice, she was restless and unhappy.
+
+And she was not alone in her restlessness. It is curious to note what
+diverse causes produce the same effects. Cora Arthur was restless,
+very restless. The fruit of her labor was in her hands, but it was
+vapid, tasteless, unsatisfying. What _her_ soul clamored for, was the
+opera, the contact of kindred spirits, the rush and whirl, the smoke
+and champagne, and giddiness of the city; the card-won gold, and
+painted folly that made the be-all and end-all of life to such as she.
+
+She did not lose sight of the usefulness she trusted to find in Céline
+Leroque, however. During these days of _ennui_ and quietude, the two
+came to a very good understanding; not all at once, and not at all
+definite. Only, by degrees, Cora became convinced that Céline Leroque
+cherished a very laudable contempt for her would-be-girlish mistress,
+and that she was becoming rather weary in her service. Once, indeed,
+the girl had said, as if unable to restrain herself, and while
+dressing Mrs. Cora's yellow hair--a task which she professed to
+delight in:
+
+"Ah! madame, if only it was _you_ who were my mistress! It is a
+pleasure to dress a beautiful mistress, but to be constantly at war
+against nature, to make an old one young--faugh! it is labor."
+
+And Cora had been much amused and had held out a suggestion that, in
+case of any rupture between mistress and maid, the latter should apply
+to her.
+
+But if existence was a pain to Céline, and a weariness to Cora, it was
+anguish unutterable to Edward Percy. He would have been glad to put a
+long span of miles between his inamorata and himself had he not felt
+that, with Cora in the same house as his fair one, it were more
+discreet to be on the ground, and watch over his prey pretty closely.
+But to this man, who made love to every pretty woman as a child eats
+_bon bons_, the task of wooing where his eye was not pleased, his ear
+was not soothed, and his vanity not in the least flattered, was
+intensely wearisome.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK.
+
+
+The first thing that Doctor Vaughan did on returning from Bellair, was
+to seek an interview with Henry, the dark servant of Lucian Davlin.
+
+It was a mixed motive that had first prompted Henry to espouse the
+cause of a helpless, friendless girl; a motive composed of one part
+inward wrath, long nourished, against the haughty and over-exacting
+Lucian, and one part pity for the young girl who, as his experienced
+eyes told him, was not such as were the women who had usually been
+entertained by his master.
+
+He had expected to assist her to escape from the place, to enjoy his
+master's chagrin, and to see the matter end there. But Madeline's
+illness had changed the current of events, and strengthened his
+determination to stand her friend, if need be, more especially when
+Olive, pressing upon him a generous gift, had signified her wish that
+he should continue in Madeline's service. She had added that when he
+chose to leave his present master, she would see that he fell into no
+worse hands, for so long as the sick girl remained under that shelter,
+Olive felt that the man must be their servant, not Davlin's. And, to
+do him justice, Henry had long since become truly attached to the two
+ladies.
+
+He lost no time in responding to the summons of Doctor Vaughan, and
+was eager to know of the welfare of the "young lady" and Mrs. Girard.
+Doctor Vaughan satisfied him on this point, and then said:
+
+"I am authorized by Miss Payne to see you, and ask some questions that
+she thinks you may be able to answer. First, then," said the doctor,
+in his kindly manner, "how long have you been with your present
+master?"
+
+"Nearly three years, sir."
+
+"And how long has the woman whom he calls Cora been known to you?"
+
+"She has been known to me all that time, sir," replied Henry.
+
+"You first saw her in company with Davlin?"
+
+"No, sir; she came to his rooms when I had been there but a few days,
+and ordered me about like a countess. I didn't know the ropes then,
+but she made me know my duty soon enough," dryly.
+
+"Evidently, then, she and your master were friends of long standing,
+even at that time?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"You used to hear them talk often, I suppose?"
+
+"I used to hear parts of their talks. They seemed not to care to have
+even so much of a machine as I, hear them at all times."
+
+"Now, will you try and recall some of these fragments of talk? Think
+if you heard them speak of their travels, together or separately; and
+if you can recall the names of any persons or places they have
+mentioned."
+
+Henry pondered. "I think," he said, after a time, "that they have been
+in Europe together. In fact, I am sure of it."
+
+Doctor Vaughan started. "Oh! that is to the point. You don't recall
+any time mentioned?"
+
+"No, sir. They used to talk of luck with the cards, and sometimes
+spoke of operas or plays, and almost always disagreed. Sometimes I
+would hear him describing men to her, and she seemed to be getting
+ready for a part in some 'game' that he was trying to play."
+
+"Very likely."
+
+"Once I heard them having high words about some old man that she had
+been fleecing, and he said that she had carried the thing too far; and
+that if she did not keep out of the old man's way, she might get into
+trouble. I heard the name," putting a forefinger to his forehead and
+wrinkling his brows; "it was--was--Verage; 'Old Verage,' she called
+him."
+
+"Verage!"
+
+"That was the name; I am sure, sir."
+
+Clarence took out a note-book, and made an entry.
+
+"When did this conversation take place?" he asked.
+
+"Not more than two months before the young lady was brought there,
+sir."
+
+"Ah!" Evidently a fresh glimmer of light had been thrown on the
+subject. "And you heard nothing more about this old man?"
+
+"No, sir. I think she must have gone away from town at that time, for
+I did not see her again, until--" here Henry seemed to catch at some
+new thought.
+
+"Until when?" asked Doctor Vaughan, with some eagerness.
+
+"The day before the young lady came," said Henry, in a low tone, and
+moving a step nearer the doctor. "Madame Cora came dashing up in a
+close carriage, and she wore a heavy veil. I noticed that because she
+was rather fond of displaying her face and hair, and I hardly ever saw
+her wear anything that would hide them. She came up-stairs and ordered
+me to send a telegram, which she had already written, to my master. I
+sent it, and she stayed there all day. She sent me out for her meals,
+and I served them in the large room. She spent the most of the time in
+walking up and down--that was her way when she was worried or
+angry--and looking out between the curtains. My master answered the
+telegram, but when the midnight train came in, a man who went down in
+the country with him, a sort of tool and hanger-on of his, came to me
+while I was waiting below, and told me to tell Mistress Cora that the
+train was a few minutes late."
+
+"Stop a moment. This man, who was Davlin's companion,--what was his
+name?"
+
+"I never heard him called anything but 'The Professor.'"
+
+"The Professor! And how did he look?" making another entry in the
+note-book.
+
+"He was a middle-aged man, sir, not so tall as master, rather square
+in the shoulders, and stout built. He wore no beard, and was always
+smoking a pipe."
+
+"Very good," writing rapidly. "Now, then, let us return to the lady."
+
+"Well, sir, she was very impatient until my master came, and then they
+had a long talk. I heard him speak of the old man Verage again, and
+she seemed a little afraid, or annoyed, I don't know which. Then he
+seemed to be telling her of some new scheme, and there was a great
+deal of planning and some chaffing about her going into the country.
+Just at daybreak they sent me for a carriage, and she went away in it,
+closely veiled as before. He told her he would join her without fail.
+I have not seen her since. That same morning he brought the beautiful
+young lady to his rooms, and," smiling so as to show all his white
+teeth, "I think you know all the rest, sir."
+
+Clarence nodded and then appeared lost in thought. Finally, he lifted
+his head from the hand that had supported it, and said:
+
+"Since your master has returned to town, how does he employ his time?"
+
+"Very much as usual."
+
+"And that is in--"
+
+"Gaming."
+
+"Is it true, Henry, that the room below your master's apartments is
+fitted up for private gambling?"
+
+Henry stirred uneasily, and looked his answer.
+
+Doctor Vaughan smiled. "I see how it is," he said. "Well, then, this
+man, the Professor, do you see much of him of late?"
+
+"A great deal, sir; he is very often with my master at his rooms, but
+they never go out together. They have had a great deal of privacy
+lately; something new is afoot."
+
+"The man is a sort of decoy-duck, I fancy?"
+
+"Yes; what the gamblers call a capper, or roper-in."
+
+"Well, Henry, I think I won't detain you longer now. Take this,"
+putting into his hand a twenty-dollar bill, "and keep your eyes and
+ears open. If your master leaves town, observe if the Professor
+disappears at the same time."
+
+Henry expressed his gratitude and his entire willingness to keep an
+eye upon the doings of Mr. Davlin and the Professor, and bowed himself
+out, muttering as he went: "They will make it lively for my fine
+master before very long, and I think I am on the side that will win."
+
+Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, quick in thought and action, was hurrying
+on his gloves preparatory to a sally forth on a new mission. Henry had
+given him a hint that might turn out of much value, for among the
+patients then on the young doctor's visiting list, was one Verage,
+old, ugly, and fabulously rich.
+
+First of all, Clarence Vaughan called at the Agency which had been
+decided upon as the best one to entrust with the investigation
+relative to Mr. Edward Percy. He gave his man no clue to the present
+whereabouts of his subject, but set him back ten years or more,
+sending him to visit the scenes of school episode, and bidding him
+trace the life of the man, with the aid of such clues as he thought
+best to give, up to that time. Next, he visited another Agency, and
+placed a man upon the track of Lucian Davlin.
+
+Then he called a carriage and drove straight to the residence of old
+Samuel Verage. It was early in the day for a professional visit or for
+a visit of any kind. Nevertheless, Doctor Vaughan was admitted without
+delay, to the presence of the master of the house.
+
+Old Samuel Verage sat in his large, softly-cushioned armchair, in a
+gorgeously beflowered dressing gown.
+
+He was glowering over the dainty dishes which had lately contained a
+bountiful breakfast. Evidently he fancied that the doctor had called
+in anticipation of a serious morning attack, or to choke off his too
+greedy appetite, for he chuckled maliciously as Clarence entered the
+room, and greeted him with,
+
+"Oh! You thought you were ahead of me this time, didn't you? I say,
+now, _did_ you think I would be worse this morning?"
+
+Clarence surveyed his patient with considerable amusement.
+
+"You won't suffer from a hearty breakfast. It is the supper that you
+must look out for. But my call this morning was, in part, to inquire
+about a lady."
+
+"About a lady! Of course, of course; go ahead; who is she?"
+
+"That's precisely what I want to know. The fact is, my business is
+rather peculiar, and delicate."
+
+The old man rubbed his hands gleefully. "Good! very good! A mystery
+about a woman! Come out with it; don't be backward."
+
+"Very well; the woman that I want to inquire about has been known as
+Cora Weston."
+
+Old Verage fairly bounced out of his seat as he yelled: "Cora Weston!
+Where is she? What do you know about her?"
+
+"Not quite enough, or I should not have ventured to inquire of you,"
+said Clarence, calmly.
+
+Old Verage tumbled into his chair again. "Then you don't know where
+she is?" sharply.
+
+"What could you do if I put her in your power?"
+
+"Lock her up in jail, if I wanted to," fiercely.
+
+Little by little Clarence Vaughan extracted from the old man the
+details of the plausible scheme by which Davlin and Cora had succeeded
+in transferring a very considerable amount of cash from his pockets to
+their own. He felt elated at the result of this interview. It placed a
+weapon in his hands that might be wielded with telling effect when
+time served.
+
+"Well, you may be able to get even with her yet," he said, rising to
+go, after Verage had concluded his tirade; "many thanks for giving me
+some information. I may be able to return the compliment soon."
+
+"But hold on!" cried Verage, as if seized by a new thought; "I say,
+now, what is all this questioning about?"
+
+"Some of her sharp practice has come to my knowledge, and she has
+made a little trouble for one of my friends. I want to know all that I
+can about her, for it may be necessary to put a stop to her career."
+
+With a renewed expression of his thanks for the information given,
+Clarence bowed himself out of the old man's presence, with a sense of
+relief at inhaling the fresh, pure air of the outer world. Then he
+turned his steps homeward, assured that it had been a good day's work
+well done.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+CLAIRE TURNS CIRCE.
+
+
+There was more to tell than to learn, when Clarence called, a day or
+two later, at the villa.
+
+The expert who had been dogging the steps of Lucian Davlin, had made
+his report, it is true. But that report was a very unsatisfactory
+affair:
+
+A man, whom Clarence readily identified with the Professor, was an
+almost constant visitor at the rooms of the Man of Luck, but they,
+that is, the Professor and Davlin, were never seen on the street
+together, nor, indeed, anywhere else. In short, Lucian Davlin had been
+closely shadowed, but with no success to speak of. He came and went
+just as such a man usually does. And no person that might be made to
+answer for a doctor, had been visited by him or had visited him
+unless, and this began to appear possible, the Professor himself was
+the man.
+
+After a long and serious discussion of the pros and cons of the case,
+Olive and Clarence decided they would instruct the detective to
+transfer his attentions to the Professor, only keeping a general
+_surveillance_ over Davlin. They began to fear that they were watching
+the wrong man.
+
+Those were pleasant days to Doctor Vaughan; the days when he rode down
+to the pretty villa to consult with Olive and to look at Claire.
+
+And those were pleasant days to Claire as well. Once, and that not
+long before, she had taken but little interest in Clarence Vaughan.
+She had thought of him very much as had Madeline that first night of
+their meeting, when she looked at him sitting near her in a railway
+carriage, and regarded him as just a "somewhat odd young man with a
+good face." Now, Madeline thought him not only the noblest but the
+handsomest of men. And Claire was beginning to agree with her.
+
+But on one thing she was determined. Doctor Vaughan must learn to look
+upon her only as a friend, and he must learn to love Madeline. So
+Claire and Clarence vied with each other in chanting the praises of
+Madeline Payne, and learned to know each other better because of her.
+
+One day when he called, Claire chanced to be alone. Somehow she found
+it hard to be quite at her ease when there was no Olive at hand,
+behind whom to screen her personality from the eyes that might
+overlook that sisterly barrier, but could not overleap it. If his eyes
+had said less, or if she could have compelled her lips to say more!
+But her usually active tongue seemed to lack for words and she found
+herself talking in a reckless and somewhat incoherent manner upon all
+sorts of topics, which she dragged forward in order to keep in check
+the words which the look in his eyes heralded so plainly.
+
+When she was almost at her wit's end, and tempted to flee ingloriously
+in search of Olive, that lady entered and Claire felt as if saved
+from lunacy. But she could not quite shake off the consciousness that
+had awakened in her, and soon framed an excuse for leaving the room.
+Once having escaped, she did not return, nor did Olive see her again
+until she came down to dinner, and Doctor Vaughan had gone.
+
+While lingering over that meal, Olive said, after they had talked of
+Madeline through three courses, "I think, by-the-by, that Doctor
+Vaughan expected to see you again before he went."
+
+If I were writing of impossible heroines, I might say that Claire
+looked conscious; but real women who are not all chalk and water, do
+not display their feelings so readily to their mothers and sisters. So
+Claire Keith looked up with the countenance of an astonished kitten.
+
+"To see me? What for?"
+
+"How should I know, if you don't?" smiling slightly.
+
+"And _how_ should I know?" carelessly.
+
+"Well, perhaps I was mistaken. But why have you kept your room all
+this afternoon?"
+
+"I have been packing. Please pass the marmalade."
+
+"Packing!" mechanically reaching out the required dainty.
+
+"Yes, packing. You don't think I came to spend the winter, do you?"
+
+"But this is so sudden."
+
+"Now, just listen, you unreasonable being!" assuming an air of grave
+admonition. "Don't you know that I have overstayed my time by almost a
+month?"
+
+"Yes, but--"
+
+"Well, don't you know that if I tell you beforehand that I am going,
+you always contrive excuses and hatch plots, to keep me at least three
+weeks longer?"
+
+"I plead guilty," laughed Olive.
+
+"Well, you see I have staid out my days of grace already. And knowing
+your failing, and feeling sure that I could not humor it, I have just
+taken advantage of you, and packed my trunks."
+
+"And you won't stay just one more little week?"
+
+Claire laughed gleefully. "What did I say? It is your old cry. Now,
+dear, be reasonable. Mamma wants me, and the boys want me. You have
+plenty of occupation just now. It will take you one-third of the time
+to keep me informed of all that happens."
+
+"Well," sighed Olive, "of course you must go sometime; but you don't
+mean to go to-morrow?"
+
+"I do, though."
+
+"What will Doctor Vaughan say?"
+
+"Whatever Doctor Vaughan pleases. I can't lose a day to say good-by to
+him, can I?"
+
+"But why didn't you tell him good-by to-day?"
+
+Claire looked up in some surprise. "Upon my word, I never thought of
+it."
+
+And she told the truth. She had thought only of how she could avoid
+another meeting.
+
+Olive looked puzzled. "And I supposed that you liked Doctor Vaughan,"
+she said, after a moment's pause.
+
+"Why, and so I do; I was very careless. Olive, dear, pray make my
+adieus to him, and all the necessary excuses. I do like the doctor,
+and don't want him to think me rude."
+
+And Olive accepted the commission, and was deceived by it. For she,
+absorbed in her own fears and hopes, was not aware of the drama of
+love and cross purposes that was being enacted under her very eyes.
+
+When Clarence called, on the next day but one, he found, to his
+surprise and sorrow, that the bright face of the girl he loved so well
+was to smile upon him no more, at least for a time. Making his call an
+unusually brief one, he rode back to the city in a very grave and
+thoughtful mood. Or, rather, the gravity and thoughtfulness usual in
+him was tinged with sadness.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the same day, almost at the same hour, Claire Keith stood in her
+mother's drawing-room, answering the thousand and one questions that
+are invariably poured into the ears of a returned traveler.
+
+By and by, drawing back the satin curtain, that shaded the windows of
+the drawing-room, Claire gazed out upon the familiar street which
+seemed smiling her a welcome in the Autumn sunshine. Finally she
+uttered an exclamation of surprise, and turned to Mrs. Keith.
+
+"_Merci!_ Mamma! what has happened to the people across the way? Why,
+I can't catch even one glimpse of red and yellow damask, not one
+flutter of gold fringe; have the _parvenus_ been taking lessons in
+good taste? Positively, every blind is closed, and there isn't a
+liveried being to be seen."
+
+Mrs. Keith laughed softly. "I don't know what has happened to the
+_parvenus_, my dear, but whether good or bad it has taken them away,
+liveries and all. The house has a new tenant, who is not so amusing,
+perhaps, but is certainly more mysterious. So, after all, the exchange
+may not have been a gain to the neighborhood."
+
+Claire peeped out again. "A mysterious tenant, you say, mamma? That
+must be an improvement. What is the Mystery like?"
+
+Mrs. Keith smiled indulgently on her daughter.
+
+"There is not much to tell, my love. I don't know whether the lady
+who has taken the house is young or old, handsome or ugly, married or
+single. She lives the life of a recluse; has never been seen, at least
+by any of us, to walk out. But she drives sometimes in a close
+carriage, and always with a thick veil hiding her face. She is tall,
+dresses richly, but always in black, although the fabric is not that
+usually worn as mourning. She moves from the door to her carriage with
+a languid gait, as if she might be an invalid. No one goes there, and
+I understand she is not at home to callers, although, of course, I
+have not made the experiment myself. There, my dear, I think that is
+about all."
+
+"She seems to be a woman of wealth?"
+
+"Evidently; her horses are very fine animals, and her carriage a
+costly one. Her servants wear a neat, plain livery, and apparently her
+house is elegantly furnished."
+
+"And mamma," said Robbie, who had been standing quietly at her side,
+"you forget the flowers."
+
+"True, Robbie. Every day, Claire, the florist leaves a basket of white
+flowers at her door."
+
+"I like that," asserted Claire. "She must have refinement."
+
+"She certainly has that air."
+
+"Well," said Claire, laughing lightly, "I shall make a study of the
+woman across the way."
+
+With that the subject dropped for the time. But as the days went on,
+and she settled herself once more into the home routine, Claire found
+that not the least among the things she chose to consider interesting
+was the mysterious neighbor across the way.
+
+And now, having put considerable distance between herself and Edward
+Percy, she wrote him a few cool lines of dismissal.
+
+And here again the individuality of the girl was very manifest. Many a
+woman would have written a scathing letter, telling the man how
+thoroughly unmasked he stood in her sight, letting him know that she
+was acquainted with all his past and his present, and bidding him make
+the most of the infatuation of the last victim to his empty pockets,
+the ancient Miss Arthur.
+
+What Claire did was like Claire; and perhaps, after all, she best
+comprehended the nature she dealt with. Certainly no tirade of
+accusing scorn could have so wounded the self-love of the selfish,
+conscienceless man as did her cool farewell missive.
+
+Edward Percy was in a very complaisant mood when Claire's letter
+reached him. True, he had received no reply to his two last effusions;
+but knowing that Claire must be soon returning to her home, if she had
+not already gone, he assured himself that it was owing to this that he
+had received no letter as yet. He never doubted her attachment to
+himself. That was not in his nature.
+
+Opening a rather heavy packet, as he sat in his cosy sitting-room, out
+dropped two letters; two letters full of poetry and fine sentiment,
+that his own flexible hand had penned and addressed to Miss Claire
+Keith. His letters, and returned with the seals unbroken. He could
+scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. His handsome,
+treacherous, light-blue eyes darkened and widened with astonishment
+and anger.
+
+He never moved in a hurry, never spoke in a hurry, never thought in a
+hurry. And slowly it dawned upon his mind to investigate further and
+find some clue that would make this unheard-of thing appear less
+incomprehensible. Accordingly he took up the envelope that had
+contained his rejected letters, and drew from them a brief note:
+
+                                   BALTIMORE, Saturday, 6th.
+
+     It will scarcely surprise Mr. Percy to learn that Miss Keith
+     desires now to end an acquaintance that has been, doubtless,
+     amusing "intellectually" and "socially" to both.
+
+     Of course, a gentleman so worldly-wise as himself can never
+     have been misled by the semblance of attachment, that has
+     seemed necessary in order to make such an acquaintance as
+     ours at all interesting. A flirtation based upon a "sympathy
+     of intellect," must of necessity end sooner or later, and
+     has, no doubt, been as harmless to him as to CLAIRE KEITH.
+
+Yes, without doubt Claire knew how to hurt this man most. He was not
+permitted to know that she felt the keen humiliation, which a proud
+nature must suffer when it discovers that it has trusted an unworthy
+object. Instead, he was to feel himself the injured one; the one
+humiliated. He, the deceiver, must own himself deceived. When he
+believed himself loved, he was laughed at. His own words were flung in
+his teeth in an insolent mockery. "A sympathy of intellect;" yes, he
+had used these words so often. He had obeyed the beckoning of a Circe,
+and now she held out to him his swine's reward of husks.
+
+Edward Percy had been dissatisfied with others, with circumstances,
+and surroundings, many a time and oft; but to-day, for the very first
+time, he felt dissatisfied with himself.
+
+And Claire had revenged her wrongs twofold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE MIMIC STAGE.
+
+
+Always, in life, little events pave the way for great catastrophes.
+The mine burns slowly until the explosive point is reached, and then--
+
+Fate was taking a leisurely gait, seemingly, and moving affairs at
+Oakley with a deliberation that was almost hesitating. Nevertheless,
+things were moving, and in the wake of little events, great ones
+could already be discerned by the plotters and counter-plotters, who
+waited and watched.
+
+Céline Leroque was in better spirits than usual, in these days.
+Indeed, considering how exceedingly probable it seemed that she would
+be turned adrift at any hour by her present mistress, Céline was very
+cheerful.
+
+And Miss Arthur had cause to complain. Beyond a doubt her French maid
+was becoming careless, very careless. Sometimes Miss Arthur was
+inclined to think that her scant locks of well-dyed hair were pulled
+quite unnecessarily, while her head was under Céline's hands. But this
+she endured like a Spartan, only exclaiming when the torture became
+unbearable. And when she finally ventured a protest, disastrous was
+the outcome.
+
+With many an apology, Céline fingered the curls and braids, inquiring
+with every touch of the hand or adjustment of a hair-pin: "Does that
+hurt, mademoiselle?"
+
+Being assured, when the hair-dressing was done, that she had
+accomplished the task without inflicting so much as a single twinge of
+pain, she held open the door for her mistress, cooing her satisfaction
+and beaming with delight.
+
+But alas for the poor spinster! Before she had been half an hour in
+the society of her beloved _fiancé_, her unfortunate habit of tossing
+and wriggling her head brought Céline's gingerly architecture to
+grief. A sudden twist tumbled down full half of the glossy "crown of
+glory" from Miss Arthur's head to Mr. Percy's feet, and--we draw a
+veil over the confusion of the unhappy spinster.
+
+The lady having retired to her dressing-room to relieve her feelings
+and repair damages, a scene was enacted in which the lady did the
+histrionics and the maid apologized and giggled alternately, until the
+one had exhausted her anthem of wrath and the other her accompaniment
+of penitence and giggles.
+
+Then a truce was patched up, which lasted for several days.
+
+Céline had advanced to the verge of disrespect, when speaking of Mr.
+Percy, on more than one occasion. Several times she had said that he
+"had a familiar look," and she fancied she had seen him somewhere. But
+she had always checked herself on the very border-land of
+impertinence, and never had been able to tell if she really had before
+seen the gentleman or no.
+
+But she had put the spinster on the defensive, and had also excited
+her curiosity.
+
+During this time Mrs. John Arthur was slowly dropping into her _rôle_
+of invalid. First, she gave up her habitual walks about the grounds
+and on the terrace. Then, her drives became too fatiguing. Next, she
+found herself too languid to appear at breakfast, and that meal was
+served in her room. She was not ill, she protested; only a trifle
+indisposed. Let no one be at all concerned for her; she should be as
+well as usual in a few days. And Céline, who was very sympathetic, and
+was the first to suggest that a physician be consulted, was laughingly
+assured that if madame were sick, she, Céline, should be her head
+nurse.
+
+Mrs. Arthur had been absent from the family breakfast table for two
+days, when Miss Arthur met with a fresh grievance at the hands of
+Céline.
+
+Céline had been unusually garrulous, and had been regaling her
+mistress with descriptions of the great people, and the magnificent
+toilets she had seen, while with some of her former _miladis_.
+Suddenly she dropped the subject of a grand ball which had transpired
+in Baltimore, where her mistress was the guest of the honorable
+somebody, to exclaim:
+
+"It has just come to me, mademoiselle, where I must have seen Monsieur
+Percy. It was in Baltimore, and they said--" Here she became much
+confused, and pretended to be fully occupied with the folds of her
+mistress's dress.
+
+Miss Arthur looked down upon her sharply, and asked, "What did they
+say?"
+
+Céline stammered: "Oh, it was only gossip, mademoiselle; nothing worth
+repeating, I assure you."
+
+The curiosity and jealousy of the spinster were fully aroused. "Don't
+attempt any subterfuges, Céline," she said, in her loftiest tone. "I
+desire to know what was said of my--Mr. Percy."
+
+The girl arose to her feet, and with much apparent reluctance,
+replied:
+
+"They said, mademoiselle--of course, it was only gossip--that he was
+very much of a fortune-hunter, and that he was engaged to some woman
+much older than himself, who was immensely rich."
+
+Miss Arthur sat down and looked hard at her maid. "How do you know
+that Mr. Percy is that man?"
+
+"Oh! I don't know, my lady--mademoiselle. I only said that I thought I
+have seen him in Baltimore; the Mr. Percy they used to talk of there,
+must have been another."
+
+Miss Arthur looked like an ancient Sphinx. "Do you think that Mr.
+Percy is that man?" she asked.
+
+"_Merci!_ my lady, how can I tell that? It might have been he; and the
+old woman there might have disappointed him, you know," artlessly.
+
+Miss Arthur was literally speechless with rage. Without replying, she
+rose and swept into the adjoining room, closing the door behind her
+with a bang.
+
+Céline smiled comfortably, and went to minister unto Cora, to whom she
+confided her belief that Miss Arthur was dissatisfied with her, and
+meant to discharge her. "And only think, madame," she said
+plaintively, "it is all because, in an unguarded moment, I compared
+her to an old woman. It is so hard to remember, always, that you must
+not tell an old woman she is not young."
+
+And Cora laughed immoderately, for she much enjoyed her
+sister-in-law's discomfiture.
+
+But Miss Arthur did not dismiss the matter from her mind, when she
+banged the door upon Céline. Angry as she had been with that damsel,
+it was not anger alone that moved her. Jealousy was at work, and
+suspicion.
+
+That evening, sitting beside her lover, she said to him, carelessly:
+"By the way, Edward, were you ever in Baltimore?"
+
+The gentleman stroked his blonde whiskers, and smiled languidly as he
+answered: "In Baltimore? Oh, yes; I think there are few cities I have
+not visited." And then something in the face of Miss Arthur made him
+inquire, with a slight acceleration of speech: "But why do you ask?"
+
+Miss Arthur considered for a moment, and replied: "My maid, Céline,
+thinks that she has seen you there."
+
+She was watching him keenly, and fancied that he looked just a trifle
+annoyed, even when he smiled lazily at her, saying: "Indeed! And when
+is your maid supposed to have seen me there?"
+
+"I don't know when,"--Miss Arthur was beginning to feel injured; "I
+suppose you are well known in society there?"
+
+He smiled and still caressed his chin. "So so," he said,
+indifferently.
+
+"Edward!"--the spinster could not suppress the question that was heavy
+on her mind--"were you ever engaged to a lady in Baltimore?"
+
+He turned his blue eyes upon her in mild surprise. "Never," he said,
+nonchalantly.
+
+She looked somewhat relieved, but still anxious, and the man, after
+eyeing her for a moment, placing one hand firmly upon her own, said,
+in a tone that was half caress, half command,
+
+"Ellen, you have been listening to gossip about me. Now, let me hear
+the whole story, for I see it has troubled you, and I will not have
+that."
+
+She, glad to unburden her mind, told him what Céline had said. Perhaps
+Céline had counted upon this, and was making, of the unconscious Mr.
+Percy, a tool that should serve her in just the way that he did. At
+all events, while he listened to the spinster, he assured himself that
+if the French maid were not, for some reason, an enemy, she was
+certainly a meddler, and that she must quit Miss Arthur's service.
+
+He said nothing to this end that evening. But he fully satisfied Miss
+Arthur that he was not the person referred to by the girl. And to
+guard against further inquiries or accidents, he told her of several
+men of the name of Percy, who were much in society, and might be, any
+one of them, the man in question.
+
+And his _fiancé_ was calmed and happy once more.
+
+She was as clay in the potter's hands, and Mr. Percy found it an easy
+matter to convince her, a few days later, that her invaluable maid was
+not the proper person to have about her. Accordingly, one fine
+morning, Céline was informed, in the spinster's loftiest manner, that
+her services were no longer desired, and a month's wages were tendered
+her, with the assurance that Miss Arthur "had not been blind to her
+sly ways, and trickery, and that she had only retained her until she
+could suit herself better."
+
+Céline took her _congé_ in demure silence, and sought Mrs. Arthur
+forthwith. Cora was really glad that she could at last command the
+girl, for many reasons, and they quickly came to an understanding.
+
+Great was the surprise and inward wrath of the spinster when, within
+ten minutes from the time Céline had left her presence, a maid without
+a mistress, she appeared again before her, and laying upon the
+dressing case the month's wages she had received in lieu of a warning,
+said:
+
+"Mademoiselle will receive back the month's wages, as I have not been
+in the least a loser by her dismissal. I enter the service of madame
+immediately."
+
+And then Céline had smiled blandly, bowed, and taken her departure,
+leaving the spinster to wonder how on earth she should manage her
+hair-dressing, and to wish that Edward had not insisted upon setting
+the girl adrift until a substitute had been found.
+
+The fact that the girl was retained in the house annoyed Mr. Percy not
+a little. But it did not surprise him that Cora should wish to keep
+her. He had long before made the discovery that the sisters-in-law
+were not more fond of each other than was essential to the comfort of
+both.
+
+Céline had been but two days in the service of her new mistress when
+that lady found herself too ill to be dressed for breakfast, even in
+her own room, and she kept her bed all day.
+
+John Arthur, in some alarm, had declared his intention of calling a
+physician. But Cora objected so strongly that he had refrained. Before
+evening came, however, Céline sought him, as he was sitting in what he
+chose to call his "study," and said:
+
+"Pardon my intrusion, monsieur, but I am distressed about madame. This
+afternoon she is not so well, and surely she should have some
+medicine."
+
+The old man wrinkled his brows in perplexity, as he replied: "Yes,
+yes, girl; but she won't let me call a doctor."
+
+Céline sighed, and moving a step nearer, murmured: "Monsieur, I will
+venture to repeat what madame but now said to me, if I may."
+
+He signed her to proceed.
+
+"Madame said that a stranger would only make her worse; that she would
+distrust anyone she did not know; but that if her dear old physician,
+who had attended her always in sickness, could see her, she would be
+glad. Alas! he was in New York, and she did not like to ask that he
+might be sent for. It would seem to you childish."
+
+Of course this speech had been made at Cora's instigation, but it had
+the desired effect. John Arthur bounded up, and bade Céline precede
+him to his wife's chamber; and the result of his visit was what the
+invalid had intended it to be. She was so pretty, and so pathetic, and
+so very ill! Céline declared that she was growing more fevered every
+moment, and as for her pulse, it was like a trip-hammer.
+
+John Arthur had an unutterable fear of illness, and after trying in
+vain to persuade Cora to see one of the village doctors, whom, he
+declared, were very good ones, he announced his intention to telegraph
+to the city for the doctor who had been her adviser in earlier days.
+
+And to this Cora reluctantly consented. "It seems foolish," she said,
+plaintively, "and yet I don't think I _ought_ to refuse to send for
+Doctor Le Guise. I feel as if I were really about to be very ill, hard
+as I have tried to fight off the weakness that is coming over me."
+
+"And madame is so flushed, and wanders so in her sleep,"--this, of
+course, from Céline.
+
+John Arthur arose from the side of the couch with considerable
+alacrity, saying: "I will telegraph at once. What is the address?"
+
+Cora lay back among her pillows, with closed eyes, and made no sign
+that she heard. He spoke again, and the eyes unclosed slowly, and she
+said, with slow languor:
+
+"Send to my brother; he will find him." Then closing her eyes, she
+murmured, "I want to sleep now."
+
+Céline turned toward him an awe-struck countenance and motioned him to
+be silent. He tip-toed from the room, thoroughly frightened and
+nervous, and sent a message to Lucian Davlin forthwith.
+
+When he was safely away, Cora awoke from her nap, and desired Céline
+to let in more light. This done, she propped herself up among her
+pillows, and taking from underneath one of them a novel, bade her maid
+tell everybody that she was not to be disturbed, while she read and
+looked more comfortable than ill.
+
+Towards evening, John Arthur looked in, or rather tried to look in,
+upon his wife. But Céline assured him that her mistress was sleeping
+fitfully and seemed much disturbed and agitated at the slightest
+sound, so his alarm grew and increased.
+
+When the evening train came he hoped almost against reason that it
+would bring the now eagerly looked for Dr. Le Guise.
+
+But no one came. Later, however, a telegram from Lucian arrived, which
+read as follows:
+
+     Doctor can't get off to-night. Will be down by morning
+     train.
+
+                              D----.
+
+In the morning, Cora was much worse. She did not recognize her
+husband, and called Miss Arthur, Lady Mallory, which made a great
+impression upon that spinster.
+
+Céline, who seemed to know just what to do, turned them both out,
+which did not displease either greatly, as the brother and sister were
+equally afraid of contagion, and were nervous in a sick-room.
+
+At length the doctor arrived, and with him Lucian Davlin, the latter
+looking very grave and anxious, the former looking very grave and
+wise.
+
+Céline was summoned to prepare the patient for the coming of the
+physician. When this had been done, and the wise man arose to go to
+his patient, John Arthur and Lucian would have followed him. But he
+waved them back, saying: "Not now, gentlemen, if you please; let me
+examine my patient first. That is always safest and wisest."
+
+So the three, Lucian, Arthur, and his sister, sat in solemn silence
+awaiting the verdict of the doctor from Europe. At last he came, and
+the gravity of his face was something to marvel at. Advancing toward
+Mr. Arthur, the doctor seemed to be looking him through and through as
+he asked:
+
+"Will you tell me how lately you have been in your wife's room."
+
+John Arthur answered him with pallid lips. "We were there this
+morning, my sister and I."
+
+The doctor turned toward Miss Arthur, looking, if possible, more
+serious than ever.
+
+"I am sorry, very sorry," he said. "And I hope you have incurred no
+risks. But it is my duty to tell you that Mrs. Arthur is attacked with
+a fever of a most malignant and contagious type, and you have
+certainly been exposed."
+
+Mr. Arthur turned the color of chalk and dropped into the nearest
+chair. Miss Arthur, who could not change her color, shrieked and fell
+upon the sofa. Lucian groaned after the most approved fashion. And
+the man of medicine continued,
+
+"Above all things, don't agitate yourselves; be calm. I would advise
+you to retire to your own rooms, and remain there for the present. I
+will immediately prepare some powders, which you will take hourly. We
+will begin in time, and hope that you may both escape the contagion."
+
+[Illustration: "I am sorry, very sorry."--page 288.]
+
+Then he turned to Mr. Davlin. "My dear boy, you had better go back to
+the city; at least go away from the house. This is no place for you."
+
+But Lucian shook his head, and said that he would not leave while his
+sister was in danger.
+
+The following morning Dr. Le Guise presented himself at the door of
+Miss Arthur's dressing-room. After making many inquiries, such as
+doctors are wont to terrify patients with, he pronounced upon the
+case: She had thus far escaped contagion. But her system was not over
+strong; in fact, was extremely delicate. If there was any place near
+at hand, suited to a lady like herself, his advice was to go there
+without delay. She was not rugged enough to risk remaining where she
+was.
+
+Before sunset, Miss Arthur was quartered at the Bellair inn. She had
+dispatched Mr. Percy a note the day before, bidding him delay his
+visit. Now she was under the same roof with him, greatly to her
+delight, and his disgust.
+
+John Arthur had not fared so well at the hands of the learned
+physician. He had swallowed his powders faithfully and hopefully, but
+the morning found him languid and dismal, with aching brain and
+nauseated stomach.
+
+The doctor shook his head, and bade him prepare for a slight attack of
+the fever. It promised to be very slight, but he must keep his room,
+for a few days at least, and attend to his medicine and his diet.
+
+And so the drama had commenced in earnest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+A STARTLING EPISODE.
+
+
+Claire Keith had said truly that the woman across the way would prove
+interesting to her.
+
+She grew more and more fond of watching for the tall form, with its
+trailing robes of black, its proudly-poised, heavily-veiled head, and
+slow, graceful movement. Sometimes she saw a white hand pull away the
+heavy curtains, and knew that the owner of the hand was looking out
+upon the street. But the face was always in shadow. She could not
+catch the slightest glimpse of it.
+
+"She has strong reasons for not wishing to be seen and recognized; I
+wonder what they are?" Claire would soliloquize at such times.
+
+Then she would chide herself for being so curious. But the fits of
+wondering grew stronger, until she came to feel an attraction that was
+more than mere curiosity; a sort of proprietorship, as it were, in the
+strange lady. She began to wish that she might know her, and at last,
+in a very unexpected manner, the wish was gratified.
+
+Claire had returned from a grand ball, weary and somewhat bored.
+Disrobing with unusual haste, she sought her couch. She had supposed
+herself very sleepy, but no sooner was her head upon the pillow, than
+sleep abandoned her, and she tossed restlessly, and very wide awake.
+
+Finding sleep impossible, and herself growing nervous, Claire at
+length arose. Throwing on a dressing-gown, she pushed a large chair
+to the window, and flinging herself in it, drew back the curtain.
+Glancing across the way, she was startled by a light shining out from
+the upper windows of the mysterious house. She had looked at that
+house when quitting her carriage, because to look had become a habit.
+But there had been no light then; not one glimmer. And now the entire
+upper floor was brilliantly illuminated.
+
+Claire rubbed her eyes and looked again. Then, with a cry of alarm,
+she sprang to her feet and rang her bell violently.
+
+From the roof of the house a single flame had shot up, and Claire
+realized the cause of that strange illumination. The upper floor was
+in flames!
+
+She turned up the gas and commenced making a hurried toilet. By the
+time the sleepy servant appeared in answer to her ring, she was
+wrapping a worsted shawl about her head and shoulders, preparatory to
+going out.
+
+"Rouse papa and the servants, James!" she commanded, sharply. "Number
+two hundred is on fire! Go instantly!"
+
+Giving the startled and bewildered James a push in the direction of
+her father's sleeping-room, she darted down the stairs. She unbolted
+and unchained the street door, and hurried straight across to number
+two hundred, where she rang peal after peal.
+
+The tiny flame had grown a great one by this time, and almost
+simultaneously with her ring at the door, the hoarse fire-alarm bell
+roared out its warning.
+
+It seemed an age to the girl before she heard bolts drawn back. Then
+the face of an elderly male servant peered cautiously out through a
+six-inch opening. In sharp, quick tones Claire told him that the roof
+was in flames. The statement seemed only to paralyze the man.
+
+Claire gave the door an excited push and spoke to him again. But he
+never moved until a voice, that evidently belonged to the lady of the
+house, said: "What is it, Peter?"
+
+Claire answered for him: "Madame, the roof of your house is in flames!
+Alarm your servants and make your escape!"
+
+Through the doorway Claire saw a white hand laid on the man's
+shoulder, and suddenly he became galvanized into life.
+
+Then the chain fell, and the door opened wide.
+
+Claire and the mysterious lady were face to face.
+
+By this time the people were moving in the street, and from the
+windows of Claire's home, lights were flashing.
+
+The woman drew back at the sound of the first footstep, and seemed to
+hesitate, with a look of uneasiness upon her face. Instantly Claire
+spoke the thought that had been in her mind when she rang the bell:
+"Madame, your house will soon be surrounded by strangers. Secure such
+valuables as are at hand and come with me across to my home. There you
+will be safe from intruders."
+
+The lady raised her hand, and saying, simply, "Wait," hurried up the
+broad stairs.
+
+Now all was confusion. Down the street came the rushing fire engines;
+servants ran about frantically, and people went tearing past Claire in
+the crazy desire to seize something and smash it on the paving stones,
+thereby convincing themselves that they were "helping at a fire."
+Regardless of these, Claire stood at her post like a little sentinel.
+Just as the first engine halted before the house, the mistress of all
+that doomed grandeur crossed its threshold for the last time. Then she
+turned to Claire, and the two hurried silently through the throng, and
+across the street. The door was fortunately ajar. The servants and
+Mr. Keith were all outside, so the girl and her companion had been
+unobserved.
+
+Claire led the way straight to her own room. Ushering in her
+companion, she closed the door upon chance intruders, and turned to
+look at her. The stranger had appeared at the door in a dressing-gown
+of dark silk, and this she still wore, having thrown over it a long
+cloak, and wrapped about her head, so as to almost entirely conceal
+her features, a costly cashmere shawl. This she now removed, and
+revealed to the anxious gaze of Claire the face of a woman past the
+prime of life;--a face that had never been handsome, but which bore
+unmistakable signs of refinement and culture in every feature. The
+eyes were large, dark-gray, and undeniably beautiful. The hair was
+wavy and abundant; once it had been black as midnight, but now it was
+plentifully streaked with gray. The face was thin and almost
+colorless. The hands were still beautiful, with long slender fingers
+and delicate veining; the very _beau ideal_ of aristocratic hands.
+
+This much Claire saw almost at a glance. Then the lady said, in a low,
+sweet voice that was in perfect unison with the hands, and eyes, and
+general bearing:
+
+"I cannot tell you, dear young lady, how much I thank you for your
+courage and hospitality. I could not have endured the going out upon
+the street in that throng."
+
+Claire laughed softly, and said, with characteristic frankness: "I
+guessed that, madame, for I must confess to having, on more than one
+occasion, seen that you do not desire observation."
+
+[Illustration: "The mistress of all the doomed grandeur crossed the
+threshold for the last time."--page 293.]
+
+The stranger looked at her with evident admiration. "You were kinder
+and more thoughtful for a stranger than I have found most of our sex,
+Miss ----; I beg your pardon; I am so much of a hermit that I don't
+even know your name."
+
+"My name is Keith,--Claire Keith."
+
+Then the girl crossed to the window and looked over at the burning
+building, while the stranger sank wearily into a chair.
+
+"Your house is going fast, madame. I fear nothing can be saved," said
+Claire. "The upper floor is already gone."
+
+The stranger smiled slightly, but never so much as glanced out at her
+disappearing home.
+
+"I hope my landlord is well insured," she said. "As for me, I have my
+chiefest valuables here," drawing from underneath the cloak, which she
+had only partially thrown off, a small casket, and a morocco case that
+evidently contained papers. "I keep these always near me; as for the
+rest, there is nothing lost that money cannot replace."
+
+Claire looked a trifle surprised at her indifference to the
+destruction of her elegant furniture, but made no answer. And the
+stranger fell into thoughtful silence.
+
+A rap sounded on the door, and a gentle voice outside said: "Claire,
+dear, are you there?"
+
+The girl turned upon the stranger a look of embarrassed inquiry. "That
+is mamma," she said.
+
+The lady smiled half sadly at her evident perturbation, and replied,
+with a touch of dignity in her tone, "Admit your mother, my dear. I
+was about to ask for her."
+
+Claire drew a sigh of relief and opened the door.
+
+"My child," began Mrs. Keith, as she hurriedly entered the room,
+"James tells me that you--"
+
+Here she broke off as her eyes fell upon the stranger, and Claire
+hastened to say: "Mamma, this is the lady whose house is burning. I
+ran over there as soon as I saw the first flame and asked her to come
+here."
+
+Mrs. Keith was not only a lady, but a woman of good sense, and she
+turned courteously toward the intruder, saying, "You did quite right,
+my dear. I trust you have not been too seriously a loser by this
+misfortune, madame."
+
+The lady had risen. Now she stepped forward and said, in her
+unmistakably high-bred tones, "I have suffered no material injury, I
+assure you. And your daughter has done me a great kindness. I was
+about to ask if I might see you, as I felt that it was to you, as the
+mistress of this house, that I owed some explanation regarding myself,
+before accepting further hospitality from your daughter."
+
+Mrs. Keith bowed gravely, and the stranger continued,
+
+"My name is Mrs. Ralston. I have lived for nearly ten years a secluded
+life, having been an invalid. Messrs. Allyne & Clive are my bankers,
+and have been for years. Mr. Allyne is an old family friend. If you
+will ask your husband to call upon him, you will be assured that I am
+not a mysterious adventuress."
+
+Mrs. Ralston smiled slightly, and Mrs. Keith smiled in return as she
+said, cordially: "Your face and manner assure me of that, Mrs.
+Ralston. And now will you not permit me to show you a room where you
+can rest a little, for it is almost morning, and your night's repose
+has been sadly disturbed."
+
+"I must accept your hospitality, Mrs. Keith, and ask to be allowed to
+intrude upon you until I can communicate with Mr. Allyne, and he can
+find me a suitable place of residence."
+
+"Don't let that trouble you, pray. We shall be happy to have you
+remain our guest," and Mrs. Keith turned to leave the room.
+
+Mrs. Ralston held out her hand to Claire, and that impulsive young
+lady clasped it in both her own, as they bade each other good-night.
+And so the mysterious lady was actually under the same roof with the
+girl who had been so much interested in her and her possible history.
+
+Mr. Allyne was well known to Mr. Keith, and a man whom he highly
+esteemed. On the following day, at the request of Mrs. Ralston, he
+called at the banking-house of Allyne & Clive.
+
+On learning that Mrs. Ralston was the guest of his brother banker, and
+of the demolition of her house, Mr. Allyne was doubly surprised. And
+his statement concerning the lady was not only satisfactory but highly
+gratifying. She had been left an orphan in her girlhood, and was from
+one of the oldest and proudest of Virginia's old and proud families.
+She had now no very near relatives, and having separated from a
+worthless husband, had lived mostly in Europe. She had resumed her
+family name, and although the husband from whom she had withdrawn
+herself, had squandered nearly half her fortune, she was still a
+wealthy woman. He spoke in highest terms of praise of her mind and
+accomplishments, and assured Mr. Keith that she was not only a woman
+of unusual refinement and culture, but one also of loftiest principles
+and purest Christianity. If it were not that it would be the very
+place where this worthless husband would be likeliest to find her, he
+would not allow her to occupy any home save his own. And, lastly, Mr.
+Allyne stated that if he, Mr. Keith, could prevail upon Mrs. Ralston
+to remain under his roof, he would do Mr. Allyne a great favor.
+
+"For," concluded that gentleman, "she lives too secluded, and she is
+so well fitted for such society as that of your wife and daughter; she
+is a woman to grace any household."
+
+Mr. Keith returned home and faithfully reported all that he had heard
+concerning their guest.
+
+Claire had been very much in love with the grave, stately lady from
+the first, and after a morning's chat with her, Mrs. Keith was not far
+behind in admiration.
+
+And the woman who had lived alone so much, found this cheery little
+family circle very pleasant, so when Claire and her mother begged her
+with much earnestness to remain with them, she did not refuse.
+
+"I cannot resist the invitation which I feel to be so sincere," she
+said. "I will remain with you for a time, at least, but I am too much
+of a hermit to tarry long where there is such a magnet as this,"
+turning to Claire.
+
+And Claire laughingly declared that she would forswear society, and
+don a veil of any thickness, if only Mrs. Ralston would share her
+isolation.
+
+So she stayed with them, and soon became as a dearly loved sister to
+Mrs. Keith; while between herself and Claire, an attachment, as
+unusual as it was strong, sprang into being. They drove together, read
+together, talked together by the hour, and never seemed to weary of
+each other's society.
+
+Enthusiastic Claire wrote to Olive and Madeline, giving glowing
+descriptions of her new found friend. But because of the events that
+were making Olive and Madeline doubly dear to her, and because she
+could not speak of them to a stranger, however loved and trusted,
+Claire said little to Mrs. Ralston of her sister or of the little
+heroine of Oakley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+WAITING.
+
+
+The expert who had been tracing out the goings and doings of Percy,
+made his report.
+
+After it had been thoroughly reviewed by Clarence and Olive, they were
+forced to confess that they were not one whit the wiser. The detective
+had found how and where Percy had squandered much of his fortune, but
+had brought to light absolutely nothing that could be of use to his
+employers. And so they abandoned the investigation in that direction.
+
+But when the report of the Professor's case was sent in, they found
+more cause for congratulation. First, it had been discovered that the
+Professor had visited three different physicians, all of them men
+bearing reputations not over spotless. Next he had made sundry
+purchases from two different chemists; and third, last and all
+important, he had been dogged to the bazaar of a dealer in theatrical
+wares, where he had purchased a wig, beard, and other articles of
+disguise.
+
+Two days had passed since the above discoveries were reported. Then
+the detective called upon Dr. Vaughan and informed him that Mr. Davlin
+and the Professor, the latter disguised with wig, beard and
+spectacles, had taken the early morning train that very day, and that
+he, the detective, had been lounging so near that he heard Davlin call
+for two tickets to Bellair.
+
+And then they knew that the siege had begun.
+
+Three days later, Olive received the following letter, which speaks
+for itself:
+
+                                OAKLEY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
+
+     DEAR OLIVE:
+
+     The engagement has opened in earnest.
+
+     Last evening, Mr. D. and _le Docteur_, between them,
+     frightened the two maids out of the house. This morning I
+     succeeded in scaring away the old housekeeper, which made a
+     shortage in servants. Old Hagar happened along just then _by
+     some chance_, and declared herself not at all afraid of
+     contagion; so madame bade her brother employ her. The cook
+     remains, as _Monsieur_ and _le Docteur_ must eat. My meals
+     are served in madame's dressing-room, and shared by that
+     lady.
+
+     Courage, my friend, our time is almost here. And I am yours
+     till death,
+
+                                   M----.
+
+This letter was perused by Olive and Clarence with almost breathless
+eagerness and interest. And then they found themselves once more
+waiting eagerly for fresh tidings from the "seat of war," as Clarence
+termed it.
+
+At last came a letter from Madeline that aroused them as the clarion
+stirs those arrayed for battle. It ran as follows, bearing neither
+date nor signature:
+
+     TO ARMS, MY FRIENDS!
+
+     If you were among the village gossips to-day, this is what
+     you would hear, for it is what is fast spreading itself
+     through the town:
+
+     The lady up at the mansion has been very ill, but is now
+     better. Her husband took the fever from her, and, being old
+     and his constitution enfeebled by the dissipation of his
+     earlier days, he came near dying. Now they hope that he will
+     live, although the danger is not yet passed. But _if he does
+     live_ he will never be himself again. The fever has affected
+     his brain, and he will be _hopelessly mad_.
+
+     That is what the villagers know.
+
+     What they do not know is, that Mr. D---- and the _doctor_
+     have already fitted up two rooms in the most secluded part
+     of the closed-up wing, and that the "insane" man will be
+     removed to those rooms to-night.
+
+     One fact concerning _le Docteur_, your expert has failed to
+     discover, is that at some time the man has made a study of
+     medicine. This is only a theory of mine, not a discovery;
+     but when I tell you what he did, I think that you both will
+     agree with me. A few days ago the _doctor_ walked down to
+     the village one morning, and coolly presented himself at the
+     door of Doctor G----'s office.
+
+     Doctor G---- is the least popular and least skillful of the
+     three physicians here, but of course the city man was not
+     supposed to know that. He, the city doctor, informed Doctor
+     G---- that although his employer had not desired it, as he
+     had perfect confidence in the present treatment of Mr.
+     A----, still it was always his practice to consult with
+     another physician.
+
+     So he desired Doctor G---- to accompany him to O---- and see
+     his patient; not that he had any doubts about the disease,
+     but because, in case of a serious termination, it was always
+     a consolation to the friends to know that every precaution
+     had been taken. Doctor G---- came, to find the patient in a
+     bedrugged stupor. He endorsed everything _le Docteur_ chose
+     to say, and went away feeling much puffed-up because of
+     having been called in to consult with a New York physician.
+
+     You see they are moving very carefully, and do not intend to
+     have any doubts raised.
+
+     Miss A---- of course remains in the village, and receives
+     reports daily concerning her brother, and her Knight is
+     still at her elbow.
+
+     Henry has been here for a week, and does not dream of my
+     identity.
+
+     Hagar and myself, between us, have managed to get possession
+     of a specimen of every drug that has been administered to
+     Mr. A----, also of the harmless nostrums that are dealt out
+     to madame for appearance's sake.
+
+     There is but one thing more that I must accomplish, and that
+     must be done to-night, if possible. If I succeed in this,
+     two days more will see me _en route_ for the city. If I
+     fail--then I must remain here, if I can, and try again. In
+     any case, I must make my new move within the week. So look
+     out for the chrysalis; it remains for you to develop it into
+     the butterfly.
+
+This letter chanced to arrive during one of Doctor Vaughan's afternoon
+visits, and Olive read it aloud to him, saying at the end, and almost
+without taking breath,
+
+"Something she must accomplish first. If she has secured the
+medicines, and they are safe not to run away in her absence, then what
+is it she means?"
+
+Clarence shook his head, saying: "I have no idea. She speaks as if the
+thing, whatever it is, was attended with some risk."
+
+"And this explains Henry's absence," Olive said, tapping the letter in
+her lap. "No doubt he was summoned without any previous warning. Of
+course, he is a mere tool for his master. They will hardly dare let
+him see their game."
+
+"Hardly; but if they were not using him to Madeline's satisfaction,
+she would have revealed herself to him."
+
+"True."
+
+"We are approaching a crisis now. If this new movement fails,--but I
+hardly think it will."
+
+Olive looked up in alarm. "Oh, don't suggest failure," she exclaimed.
+"She _must_ succeed. What will become of poor Philip if she does not?"
+
+Clarence lifted his face reverently. "I believe that the Power above
+us, who permits evil to be because only from pain and sorrow comes
+purification, has not permitted the life of this beautiful young girl
+to be darkened in vain. Out of her wrongs, and her sorrows, and her
+humiliation, He will allow her own hands to shape not only a strong,
+true, earnest womanhood for herself, but the weapons which shall
+deliver the innocent, and bring the guilty to justice."
+
+And Olive felt comforted, and her hope took new wings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+MR. PERCY SHAKES HIMSELF.
+
+
+It was noontide at Oakley, and a December sun was shining coldly in at
+the window of Mrs. Cora Arthur's dressing-room. Within that cozy room,
+however, all was warmth and brightness. A cheerful fire was blazing
+and crackling in the grate. Sitting before the fire, wrapped in a
+becoming dressing-gown of white cashmere, was Cora herself, looking a
+trifle annoyed, but remarkably well withal. Wonderfully well,
+considering how very ill she had been.
+
+Lounging near her, his feet lazily outstretched toward the fire, was
+Lucian Davlin.
+
+"What did you write to Percy?" he inquired, consulting his watch.
+
+"Just what you told me; that I had something of importance to
+communicate, and desired him to call to-day at two," replied Cora.
+
+"But--aren't you looking a little too well for a lady who has been so
+desperately ill? It won't do to arouse his suspicions, you know."
+
+Cora crossed to her dressing-case, went carefully over her face with a
+puff-ball, and did some very artistic tracing in India ink under and
+over each eye. Then she turned toward him triumphantly. "There!" she
+exclaimed, "now I shall draw the curtains," suiting the action to the
+word, "and then, when I lie on this couch, my face will be entirely in
+the shadow, while from the further window there will come enough light
+to enable him to recognize you."
+
+At this moment a rap was heard at the door. Cora threw herself upon
+the invalid's couch, and lay back among the pillows. When she had
+settled herself to her satisfaction, Mr. Davlin opened the door,
+admitting Céline Leroque.
+
+"Monsieur Percy is below, madame," said the girl, glancing sharply at
+the form in the darkened corner.
+
+"Come and draw these coverings over me, Céline, and then go and bring
+him up," replied Cora.
+
+Then she glanced at Lucian, who said, carelessly: "Well, my dear, I
+will go down to the library."
+
+Céline adjusted the wraps and pillows and then went out, closely
+followed by Lucian. She was not aware that Mr. Percy was expected, the
+message having been sent by Henry. And she was not a little anxious to
+know the nature of the interview that was about to be held.
+
+Mr. Percy, conducted to Cora's door by Céline, entered the room with
+his usual lazy grace, and approached the recumbent figure in the
+darkened corner, saying, in a tone of hypocritical solicitude:
+
+"Madame, I trust you are not overtaxing your strength in thus kindly
+granting me an interview."
+
+He knew so well how to assume the manner best calculated to throw her
+off her guard and into a rage.
+
+But Cora, understanding his tactics, and her own failing, was prepared
+for him. In tones as smooth as his own she answered:
+
+"You are very good, and I find my strength returning quite rapidly. In
+fact," and here a double meaning was apparent, as she intended it
+should be, "I think I shall soon be _stronger_ than before my
+illness."
+
+There was silence for a moment. Evidently Mr. Percy was not inclined
+to help her to put into words whatever she had in her mind.
+
+"I sent for you," she continued, "because I have something to say
+before you meet with a person who, as you are likely to remain one of
+this pleasant family, you must of necessity, and for policy's sake,
+meet with the outward forms of politeness." Here she paused as if from
+exhaustion, and he, lifting his fine eyebrows slightly, kept silence
+still.
+
+Cora, beginning to find her part irksome, hurried to its conclusion.
+"You have heard, no doubt, of the presence of my brother in this
+house. I sent for you that you might meet him, and I desired my maid
+to show you to this room first, that I might venture a word of warning
+and advice. My brother is not the stranger that you evidently imagine
+him. Beyond the fact that you and I were once married, that I of my
+own will forsook you, and the reason, or part of the reason for so
+doing, he knows little of our affairs. For my sake he will make no use
+of that knowledge. But I think it best that you understand each other.
+Will you please ring that bell?"
+
+He obeyed her, looking much mystified and somewhat apprehensive.
+Céline appeared promptly, and disappeared again in answer to Cora's
+command:
+
+"Show my brother here, Céline."
+
+When the door opened, he turned slowly and met the cool gaze
+of--Lucian Davlin!
+
+That personage approached the invalid, saying: "You sent for me to
+introduce me to this gentleman, I suppose, Cora?"
+
+Mr. Percy arose slowly, and the two confronted each other, while Cora
+nodded her head, as if unable to answer his words.
+
+As Percy advanced the light from the one window that had been left
+unshrouded fell full upon the two men, who gazed upon each other with
+the utmost _sang froid_. Two handsomer scoundrels never stood at bay.
+And while the dark face expressed haughty insolence, the blonde
+features looked as if, after all, the occasion called for nothing more
+fatiguing than a stare of indolent surprise.
+
+Cora's voice broke the silence: "Mr. Davlin is my brother, Mr. Percy.
+Please stop staring at each other, gentlemen, and come to some sort of
+an understanding."
+
+"Really, this is a most agreeable surprise," drawled Percy, looking
+from one to the other with perfect coolness.
+
+[Illustration: "Mr. Percy arose slowly, and the two confronted each
+other."--page 306.]
+
+"And quite dramatic in effect," sneered Davlin, flinging himself
+into a chair. "Sit down, Percy; one may as well be comfortable. How's
+the fair spinster to-day?"
+
+Percy waved away the question, and resumed his seat and his languid
+attitude, saying: "Upon my word this _is_ quite dramatic."
+
+Davlin laughed, airily. "Even so. I hope the fact that this lady is my
+sister will explain some things to you more satisfactorily than they
+have hitherto been explained. And if so, we had better let bygones
+drop."
+
+Percy turned his eyes away from the speaker, and let them rest upon
+the face of Cora. Again ignoring the remark addressed to him, he said,
+slowly: "I don't see any very strong family resemblance."
+
+"I don't suppose you ever will," retorted Davlin, coolly.
+
+"And I don't precisely see the object of this interview," Percy
+continued.
+
+Davlin made a gesture of impatience, and said, sharply: "Hang it all,
+man, the object is soon got at! It's a simple question and answer."
+
+Percy brushed an imaginary particle of dust off his sleeve with the
+greatest care, and then lifted his eyes and said, interrogatively:
+"Well?"
+
+"Will you have war or peace?"
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Upon what?"
+
+"The terms."
+
+"Well!"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+Percy examined his finger nails, attentively, as if looking for his
+next idea there. "To be let alone," he said, at last.
+
+Davlin laughed. "And to let alone?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Then we won't waste words. Rely upon us to help, rather than hinder
+you. There's no use bringing up old scores. If you vote for an
+alliance of forces, very good."
+
+Percy nodded, and then rising, said: "Well, if that is all, I will
+take my leave. No doubt quiet is best for Mrs. Arthur," bowing
+ironically. "By-the-by," meaningly, "when you find yourself in the
+village, Davlin, it might not be amiss to show yourself at the inn."
+
+"Quite right," said Davlin, gravely. "Possibly I may look in upon you
+to-morrow."
+
+Mr. Percy nodded; made a graceful gesture of adieu to Cora, who
+murmured inaudibly in reply; and the two men quitted her presence.
+
+In a few moments Davlin returned to Cora, smiling and serene. "I told
+you we could easily manage him," he said. "He won't trouble himself to
+go to war, save in his own defence. You did the invalid beautifully,
+Co., and I feel quite satisfied with the present state of things."
+
+But Mr. Percy had not looked and listened for nothing. He went
+straight to his room, and shutting himself in, began to think
+diligently. Finally he summed up his case on his fingers as follows:
+
+"First, are they brother and sister? I don't believe it. Second,
+taking it for granted they are not, what is their game? If the old man
+dies, and if I can ferret out the mystery, for I believe there is one,
+_who knows but that two fortunes may come into my hands_? I must watch
+them, and to do that, Ellen must go back to Oakley, and they must
+invite me to be their guest!"
+
+Mr. Percy arose and shook himself, mentally and physically
+
+But alas for Céline! She had heard almost every word of the interview,
+through the key-hole of a door leading into an adjoining room, and it
+had told her nothing, save that there was to be peace between the two
+men, and that there had been, perhaps, war.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+A SILKEN BELT.
+
+
+Mr. Percy and Miss Arthur were openly engaged now, and were anxiously
+waiting for the recovery of the sick at Oakley, in order to celebrate
+their marriage.
+
+The spinster was in a frame of mind to grant almost any favor to her
+lover to-night. And when at last she, herself, led up to the subject
+she wished to broach, he foresaw an easy victory.
+
+"Oh, Edward," she sighed, with a very dramatic shudder, "you cannot
+think how I dread to-morrow's ordeal, the visit to my brother! Suppose
+poor John were to rave at me,--me, his own sister!"
+
+He took the hand that was quite as large as his own, and caressed it
+reassuringly. "I don't think there is the slightest danger, Ellen,
+dear, but I am convinced I must attend you to-morrow. I shall feel
+better to be with you."
+
+"Oh, Edward!" sighed the maiden, enraptured at this declaration of
+tenderness, "you are so careful of me."
+
+He smiled and still caressed her hand, saying: "Listen, darling,"
+drawing her nearer to him, "I don't like to have you here; it is not a
+fit place for you. And I find that remarks are being made. This I
+cannot endure. Besides, I do not think it right for you or me to leave
+your brother so entirely at the mercy of--Mrs. Arthur. Promise me that
+you will consult a physician to-morrow, and as soon as the danger of
+contagion is past, you will go back."
+
+"But I can't bear to leave _you_, Edward."
+
+"And you shall not. I will come to Oakley too."
+
+"You? Oh, how nice! Have they asked you to come?"
+
+"I saw Mrs. Arthur's brother to-day, and we settled that."
+
+"Oh, _did_ you? Then you are good friends again?"
+
+He turned upon her a look of inquiry. "Again?"
+
+"Yes; Cora told me not to speak of Mr. Davlin to you, as you were not
+good friends, and it might make you less free to come to the house."
+
+Mr. Percy's eyebrows went up perceptibly. "Mrs. Arthur is very
+thoughtful; but she was mistaken; our little misunderstanding has not
+made us serious enemies."
+
+"Oh, how nice!" rapturously.
+
+"_Very_ nice," dryly. "Now you will be a good girl and go back soon?"
+
+"I don't think Cora will be over anxious to have me come back," she
+said, looking like a meditative cat-bird. "I know she kept that Céline
+in the house to spite me."
+
+"I can readily understand how she might be jealous of you, dear.
+Perhaps she fears your influence over your brother. At any rate, your
+duty lies there. When it is time to do so, don't consult her or
+anyone; take possession of your former apartments, and stand by your
+brother in his hour of need."
+
+Miss Arthur promised to comply with her lover's request, and he
+managed at last to escape from her, and seek the repose which he
+preferred to such society.
+
+All this time John Arthur was a prisoner in the west wing. He was
+attended by the doctor sometimes, by Céline occasionally, and by Henry
+almost constantly since the arrival of that sable individual.
+
+Lucian Davlin, having no taste for the work, kept aloof as much as
+possible. Himself and Dr. Le Guise, as he called his confederate, had
+labored hard and, with the assistance of old Hagar, had put the rooms
+in proper condition for the occupancy of a lunatic. And a lunatic John
+Arthur certainly was. Once before his removal, and once since, he had
+been seized with a paroxysm of undeniable insanity.
+
+John Arthur had been, and still was, the dupe of his supposed
+brother-in-law and Dr. Le Guise. We have all heard of natures that can
+be frightened into sickness, almost into dying; of an imaginary
+disease. John Arthur's was one of these. And, with a little aid from
+Dr. Le Guise, he had been really quite ill.
+
+Henry had been constituted his keeper, a position which he filled with
+reluctance, and there was a fair prospect that sooner or later he
+would break into open mutiny. Although he could not guess at the
+nature of the game his master was playing, yet he felt assured that it
+was something desperate, if not dangerous.
+
+He had promised "his young lady," as he called Madeline, to remain in
+Mr. Davlin's service until she bade him withdraw, and but for this
+would hardly have submitted to remain John Arthur's keeper on any
+terms. Henry had a certain pride of his own, and that pride was in
+revolt against this new servitude.
+
+He had not met Cora here, and had no idea that she was an inmate of
+the house.
+
+Dr. Le Guise had relieved Henry on the morning of the day that Miss
+Arthur ventured, for the first time since her flight, within the walls
+of Oakley manor, escorted by Mr. Percy. He had detected some signs of
+fever, although Mr. Arthur declared himself feeling better, and
+administered a powder to check it.
+
+Soon the patient began to show signs of increasing restlessness, and
+by the time Henry appeared to announce that Miss Arthur desired an
+interview with Dr. Le Guise, he began to wrangle with his physician
+and gave expression to various vagaries.
+
+Consigning his charge to Henry, with the remark that he "must watch
+him close, and not let him get hold of anything," Dr. Le Guise hurried
+down to the drawing-room.
+
+The doctor listened to Miss Arthur attentively, while she made known
+her desire to return to the manor if the danger of contagion was at an
+end. Then he replied, hurriedly:
+
+"Quite right; quite admirable. But if you will take my advice, I
+should say, don't come just yet. There will be no danger to you, in
+going to your unfortunate brother for just a few moments--a very
+few--and then going straight out of the house into a purer atmosphere.
+But to remain here now, to breathe this air just yet--my dear lady, I
+could not encourage that; the danger would be too great."
+
+And then he led the way straight in to John Arthur's presence,
+explaining as they went that the cause of his removal from his own
+rooms was to escape the fever impregnations still clinging there.
+
+John Arthur was sitting in the middle of his bed, beating his pillows
+wildly, and imploring Henry, between shrieks of laughter, to come and
+kiss him, evidently mistaking him for some blooming damsel. As the
+damsel declined to come, the lunatic became furious, and hurled the
+pillows, and afterwards his night-cap, at him, with blazing eyes and
+cat-like agility. This done, he began to rock himself to and fro, and
+shout out the words of some old song to an improvised tune that was
+all on one note.
+
+Dr. Le Guise turned to Mr. Percy, whispering: "You see; that's the way
+he goes on, only worse at times."
+
+Mr. Percy turned away. The fair spinster who had been clinging to him
+in a paroxysm of terror, attempted to faint, but remembering her
+complexion thought better of it and contented herself with being half
+led, half carried out, in a "walking swoon." And both she and Mr.
+Percy felt there was no longer room to doubt the insanity of her
+brother.
+
+Having seen them depart, Dr. Le Guise sought out Mr. Davlin. Finding
+him in Cora's room, he entered and informed the pair of the desire
+Miss Arthur had manifested to come back to her brother's roof, and of
+his mode of putting off the evil day of her return.
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated Davlin, "what does it mean? I saw Percy in the
+village this morning, and he told me quite plainly that he desired an
+invitation to quarter himself upon us."
+
+"And what did you say?" gasped Cora.
+
+"Told him to come, of course, as soon as it was safe to do so."
+
+"Well!" said Cora, dryly, "I don't think it will be very safe for
+either of them to come just at present."
+
+"Oh, well," said the doctor, cheerfully, "we have got seven long days
+to settle about that. And if they insist upon coming, and _then catch
+the fever_, they mustn't blame me."
+
+And Dr. Le Guise looked as if he had perpetrated a good joke.
+
+John Arthur's insanity was as short-lived as it was violent. He lay
+for the rest of the day quiet and half stupefied. When night came on,
+he sank into a heavy slumber.
+
+At twelve o'clock that night, all was quiet in and about the manor.
+
+Cora Arthur was sleeping soundly, dreamlessly, as such women do sleep.
+In the room adjoining hers, Céline Leroque sat, broad awake and
+listening intently. At last, satisfied that her mistress was sleeping,
+Céline arose and stole softly into the room where she lay.
+
+Softly, softly, she approached the couch, passing through a river of
+moonlight that poured in at the broad windows. Then she drew from a
+pocket, something wrapped in a handkerchief.
+
+Noiselessly, swiftly, she moved, and then the handkerchief, shaken
+free from the something within, was laid upon the face of the sleeper,
+while the odor of chloroform filled the room.
+
+Nimbly her fingers moved, pulling away the coverings, and then the
+clothing, from the unconscious body. It is done in a moment. With a
+smothered exclamation of triumph, she draws away a _silken belt_, and
+removing the handkerchief, glides noiselessly from the room.
+
+She steals on to her own room in the west wing. Here she locks the
+door and, striking a light, hurriedly rips the silken band with a tiny
+penknife, and draws from thence two papers.
+
+One glance suffices. Replacing the papers, she binds the belt about
+her own body, and then envelopes herself in a huge water-proof, with
+swift, nervous fingers.
+
+And now, for the second time, this girl is fleeing away from Oakley.
+Out into the night that is illuminated now by a faint, faint moon;
+through the bare, leafless, chilly woods, and down the path that
+crosses the railway track not far from the little station. Once more
+she follows the iron rails; once more she lingers in the shadows,
+until the train thunders up; the night train for New York. Then she
+springs on board.
+
+For the second time, Madeline Payne is fleeing away from Oakley and
+all that it contains; fleeing cityward to begin, with the morrow, a
+new task, and a new chapter in her existence.
+
+But no lover is beside her now; for that love is dead in her heart.
+And no Clarence breathes in her ear a warning, for now it is not
+needed. Since that first June flitting, she has learned the world and
+its wisdom, good and evil.
+
+And the cloud that Hagar saw on that June night, hangs dark above the
+house of Oakley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+CROSS PURPOSES.
+
+
+An irate pair were seated at breakfast the morning after Céline's
+flitting. And while they ate little, they talked much and earnestly,
+sometimes angrily. They had arrived at the conclusion, which, although
+erroneous, had been foreseen by the astute Céline, namely: That the
+robbery had been committed at the instigation of Mr. Percy, and that
+Céline had been brought over and used by him as a tool.
+
+It was evident that something must be done, and that quickly.
+
+While these papers were in the hands of Percy, as undoubtedly they
+were at that moment, it were best to keep that gentleman as much as
+possible under their own eye.
+
+[Illustration: "With a smothered exclamation of triumph she draws away
+a _silken belt_!"--page 315.]
+
+Yesterday, it had seemed desirable that Miss Arthur and her _fiancé_
+should be kept out of the house of Oakley. To-day, they agreed that
+the quicker the pair took up their abode beneath its hospitable roof,
+the sooner they, Mr. Davlin and his accomplice, would breathe
+freely. If they could get the two in the same house with themselves,
+they might yet outwit Mr. Percy--with the aid of their friend and
+ally, the sham doctor, if in no other way. Meantime, they would not
+make the robbery known; or rather, they would inform the servants and
+all others whom it seemed desirable to enlighten, that the girl,
+Céline, had possessed herself of certain jewels and of Mrs. Arthur's
+purse, and fled with her spoils.
+
+Accordingly, Hagar was summoned and told of the base ingratitude of
+the French maid. Whereupon she was much astonished, and ventilated her
+opinions of French folk in general, and that one in particular.
+Through Hagar, the other servants, now few in number, were informed of
+the defalcation, and the extent of damage done by Miss Céline Leroque.
+Then the kitchen cabinet held a session forthwith, and settled the
+fate of their departed contemporary, being ably assisted by Hagar.
+
+The Professor was made no wiser than were the rest of the tools who
+served the plotters. But he was somewhat surprised upon being desired,
+by Mr. Davlin, to equip himself for a walk, the object of which was to
+allay the alarm of Miss Arthur and her friend, and invite them to the
+manor forthwith. Said invitations were to be followed up with the
+doctor's assurance that, having made a more minute examination, he was
+fully satisfied that there was no fear of contagion from Mrs. Arthur,
+and but little from her husband; none, in fact, unless they desired to
+be much in his room.
+
+The worthy pair set out for the village, and were so fortunate as to
+meet Mr. Percy on the very threshold of the inn. Having exchanged
+greetings and cigars, and having discussed the weather and various
+other interesting topics, the gentlemen sent up their compliments to
+Miss Arthur.
+
+They were soon admitted into the presence of that lady, where more
+skirmishing was done, during which Dr. Le Guise unburdened himself, as
+per programme, and then Mr. Davlin fired his first shot.
+
+"By-the-by, Miss Arthur, you may congratulate yourself that you did
+not retain that impostor of a French maid longer in your service."
+
+Lucian had purposely placed himself near the spinster, and where he
+could observe the face of Percy without seeming to do so. But that
+gentleman was glancing lazily out at the window, and his face was as
+expressionless as putty. Lucian uttered a mental, "Confound his _sang
+froid_," as he continued:
+
+"She has robbed my sister of jewels and money to the tune of a couple
+of thousand, and has cut and run."
+
+"Goodness gracious, Mr. Davlin!" shrieked the spinster.
+
+But Percy only turned his head lazily, and elevated his eyebrows in
+mute comment.
+
+"Yes," laughing lightly, "I suppose the hussy fancied that she had
+made a heavier haul still. My sister had about her person some papers,
+or rather _duplicates of papers that are deposited in a safer place_.
+The jade took these also, thinking, no doubt, that they were of value
+or, perhaps, without examining them to see that they were worse than
+worthless to her."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Davlin, what an artful creature! I was sure she was not quite
+to be trusted. But who would have supposed that she would dare--"
+gushed Miss Arthur.
+
+"Oh, she is no doubt a professional; belongs to some city 'swell mob,'
+begging your pardon. But I shall run up to the city to-night, I think,
+and try and see if the detectives can't unearth her."
+
+Still no sign from Percy; not so much as the quiver of an eyelid.
+
+So Mr. Davlin came straight to the issue, thinking that surely Mr.
+Percy would betray something here; perhaps would refuse to come to
+Oakley. In such case, Lucian felt that he should be tempted to spring
+upon and throttle him from sheer desperation.
+
+But again he was mistaken, for no sooner was his invitation extended,
+than Mr. Percy accepted it with evident gratification, saying, in his
+easy drawl: "Shall be delighted to change my quarters. Anything must
+be an improvement upon this. And as your--ah, Dr. Le Guise--says there
+is positively no danger, Miss Arthur will of course be rejoiced to
+return to her proper place."
+
+And of course Miss Arthur assented.
+
+Before leaving, Mr. Davlin arranged that the carriage should come for
+Miss Arthur the next day, and that a porter should immediately
+transfer their luggage to Oakley.
+
+"My faith," mused he, as he strode back to tell Cora of his mission;
+"but he carries it with a high hand. I didn't think there was so much
+real devil in him. He is playing a fine game, but I don't think he can
+dream that we suspect him. If we can deceive him in this, and get him
+into the house, we will be able to accomplish his downfall, I think."
+
+Meantime, Edward Percy was viewing the matter from his own
+stand-point.
+
+"Luck is running into my hand," he assured himself. "They are
+evidently a little bit afraid of me; there's nothing more
+awe-inspiring than a cool front, and I certainly carry that. Once at
+Oakley, it will be strange if I don't fathom their little mystery. If
+they are doing mischief there, I won't be behind in claiming the
+lion's share of the spoils."
+
+According to arrangement, Miss Arthur and her lover were transferred
+to Oakley on the following day, and there the game of cross purposes
+went on.
+
+Cora received Miss Arthur with much cordiality, averring that she had
+missed the society of "dear Ellen," more than she could tell, and
+declaring that now she should begin to get well in earnest.
+
+Messrs. Davlin and Percy affected much friendliness, and watched each
+other furtively, day and night.
+
+Dr. Le Guise reported an unfavorable change in his insane patient and
+forbade them, one and all, to enter his room.
+
+Cora and Davlin protested against the doctor's cruel order, but in
+vain. Mr. Percy made no objections, but kept his eyes open. One
+evening, the second of his stay at the manor, he saw, while coming up
+the stairs with slippered feet, the form of Mr. Davlin as it
+disappeared around the angle leading to the west wing. Then Mr. Percy
+stole on until he stood at the door of the wing. Satisfying himself
+that Davlin was actually within the forbidden room, he waited for
+nothing further, but glided quietly back to his own door, looking as
+imperturbable as ever and saying to himself:
+
+"There is a mystery; and we, _rather I_, am not to see Mr. Arthur at
+present. Well, I don't want to see him; but _I hold the clue_ to your
+little game, my fair second wife."
+
+Lucian Davlin went to the city, but he did not set a detective on the
+track of Céline Leroque. He chose his man, one who had served him
+before, and set him about something quite different. Then he returned,
+feeling quite satisfied and confident of success.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+A SLIGHT COMPLICATION.
+
+
+And what of Céline, or Madeline, as we may call her once more?
+
+She had said, when writing to Olive, that her stay in the city must be
+very brief. But even her strong will could not keep off the light
+attack of fever that was the result of fatigue and exposure to night
+breezes. And the morning following her arrival at the villa, found her
+unable to rise from her bed.
+
+Dr. Vaughan was summoned in haste, and his verdict anxiously waited
+for. "It was a slight fever attack," he said, "but the wearied-out
+body must not be hurried. It must rest."
+
+And he forbade Madeline to leave her room for a week at least, unless
+she wished to bring upon herself a return of her summer's illness.
+
+Much to his surprise and gratification, Madeline did not rebel, but
+replied, philosophically: "I can't afford to take any risks now; I
+will be good. But you must watch my interests."
+
+During the first day of her "imprisonment," as she laughingly called
+it, Clarence and Olive were put in possession of all the facts that
+had not already been communicated by letter.
+
+Upon one thing they were all agreed, namely, that it would be wise for
+Clarence to make another journey to Bellair.
+
+"They won't be able to accomplish much during the week that I must
+remain inactive," said Madeline. "But it will be safest to know just
+what they are about. Besides, I have reasons for thinking that Henry
+is growing dissatisfied, and it is to our interest to keep him where
+he is for the present. Had a suitable opportunity offered, I should
+have made him aware of my identity. But as it did not present itself,
+I left it with Hagar to inform him that he was serving me by
+remaining."
+
+Dr. Vaughan prepared to visit Bellair on the second day after the
+arrival of Madeline. But almost at the moment of starting there came a
+summons from one of his patients, who was taken suddenly worse.
+Thinking to take a later train he hastened to the sick man; but the
+hour for the last train arrived and passed, and still he stood at the
+bedside, battling with death. So it transpired that nearly three days
+had elapsed since the flitting of Céline Leroque, when Dr. Vaughan
+entered the train that should deposit him at dusk in the village of
+Bellair.
+
+It had been prearranged by Madeline and Hagar that, in case of any
+event which should delay the return of the former on the day
+appointed, the latter was to visit the post-office and look for
+tidings through that medium. Madeline had been due at Oakley the day
+before, and so, of course, to-day Hagar would be in attendance at the
+office.
+
+Dr. Vaughan had written, at the moment of quitting his office to visit
+his patient, a hasty supplement to Madeline's letter, stating that he
+was delayed one train, but not to give him up if he did not appear
+that evening. He would certainly come on the next day's train.
+
+Clarence was somewhat fatigued as he entered the railway carriage,
+having spent the entire previous night at the bedside of his patient.
+He went forward to the smoking car, thinking to refresh himself with a
+weed.
+
+Four men were engrossed in a game of cards not far from him. As they
+became more deeply interested, and their voices more distinct above
+the roar of the cars, something in the tones of one of the men caught
+his ear, reminding him of some voice he had sometime heard or known.
+The speaker sat with his back to the young man, and nothing of his
+countenance visible save the tips of two huge ears. These, too, had a
+familiar look.
+
+Clarence arose and sauntered to the end of the car, in order to get a
+view of the face that, he felt assured, was not unknown to him.
+
+The man was absorbed in his game and never once glanced up. Our hero
+having taken a good look at the not very prepossessing face, returned
+to his seat. He had recognized the man. It was Jarvis, the detective
+who had been recently employed by him to shadow Lucian Davlin.
+
+It was not a remarkable thing that Jarvis should leave the city on the
+same train with himself, but the circumstance, nevertheless, set
+Clarence thinking. Could it be possible that the man had found
+something to arouse his suspicions, and was he following up the clue
+on his own account?
+
+Clarence felt an unaccountable desire to know where the detective was
+going. If he were going to Bellair, then he must be bought over. If he
+were going to Bellair, he, Clarence, must know it before the village
+was reached. It was hardly probable that the man's destination was
+identical with his own, but he had now determined to run no risks.
+
+Throwing back his overcoat, and setting his hat a trifle on one side,
+Clarence sauntered up to the group of card players, assuming an
+appearance of interest in the game. As he paused beside them, Jarvis
+swept away the last trick of a closely-contested game, and then said,
+consulting his watch the while:
+
+"There's for you! I've got just three-quarters of an hour to clean you
+out in, so come on."
+
+[Illustration: "Jarvis swept away the last trick of a
+closely-contested game."--page 324.]
+
+Three-quarters of an hour! The exact time it would take to run to
+Bellair.
+
+Clarence shifted his position so as to put himself behind the two men
+seated opposite Jarvis. As he did so, the expert glanced up,
+encountering the eye of Dr. Vaughan.
+
+"How are you?" said that young man, nonchalantly.
+
+Jarvis shot him a keen glance of intelligence, and replied, in the
+same off-hand tone: "High, you bet!"
+
+Jarvis was attired like a well-to-do farmer; and Clarence guessed, at
+a glance, that his three companions were strangers, two of them being
+commercial tourists, without a doubt, and the third, a ruddy-looking
+old gent, who might have been anything harmless. Taking his cue from
+the "make up" of the detective, Clarence, after giving him an
+expressive glance, said, easily, "Sold your stock?"
+
+Jarvis cocked up one eye as he replied, while shuffling the cards:
+"Every horn!"
+
+"Want to buy?"
+
+Jarvis looked him straight in the eye. "Want to sell?"
+
+"Yes, rather."
+
+Jarvis dealt round with great precision, and then said: "All right,
+Cap. I'll talk with you when I get through this game."
+
+Clarence nodded, and presently sauntered away. As soon as his back was
+turned, Jarvis jerked his thumb toward him, saying, confidentially:
+
+"Young fellow; swell farmer; big stock-raiser." And then he plunged
+into the game with much enthusiasm.
+
+Clarence resumed his seat and, for a few moments, thought very
+earnestly. The words of the detective had confirmed his suspicion. He
+now felt assured that Jarvis was bound for Bellair, and if so he was,
+no doubt, in the employ of Lucian Davlin, for some unknown purpose.
+What that purpose was, he must know at any cost.
+
+By the time his plans were fairly matured, he observed that the group
+of card-players was breaking up. In another moment, Jarvis lounged
+lazily along and threw himself down upon the seat beside him.
+
+In little more than half an hour they would be due in Bellair, and
+what Clarence desired to say must be said quickly. Taking out his
+cigar-case, he offered the man a weed, which was accepted with
+alacrity, and while it was being lighted, Clarence said: "Are you
+especially busy now?"
+
+"N-o; only so-so."
+
+"Learned anything more in regard to my man?"
+
+"Davlin?" interrogatively.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"No," puffing contentedly; "we don't move in a case after it's paid
+off."
+
+"I see," smiling; and then, making his first real venture: "Could you
+do some work for me to-morrow?"
+
+Jarvis looked keenly at him, and Clarence hastened to say, with
+perfect, apparent, candor:
+
+"The fact is I have been put back by a patient, and my own personal
+affairs have been neglected. So I have been unable to look you up at
+the office, in order to put a little matter into your hands. To-day I
+am called away unexpectedly." Then, as if struck by a sudden thought,
+"How long will you be out of town?"
+
+Jarvis shook his head. "Don't know."
+
+"By Jove, what a pity. I'd rather have you than any other man, and I
+won't stand about money; but my work won't keep long."
+
+The doctor's flattery and the detective's avarice combined, had the
+desired effect. Jarvis unbent, and became more communicative. "Fact
+is," he said, squaring about, "I don't know my lay just yet."
+
+"No?" inquiringly: "Going far out?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well," as if about to drop the conversation, "I'm sorry you can't do
+the job. It's big pay and success sure. The truth is," lowering his
+voice confidentially, "there are two parties beside myself interested,
+and both have plenty of money. It's a snug sum to the man who does our
+work."
+
+The detective looked grave, and then became confidential in his turn.
+
+"The fact is,"--he was fond of using "facts" when it was possible to
+lug one in--"I am sent out to a small town as a sub."
+
+"A sub.?"
+
+"Yes; substitute. You see, one of our men was detailed to do some work
+for a chap who came to the Agency from this little town. It was a case
+of record hunting. Well, the man went out last night all O. K.; he was
+a little on the sport when off duty, but a tip-top chap when at work.
+Well, he got into a gambling brawl, and this morning they brought him
+in, done up."
+
+"Done up?"
+
+"Yes; killed, you know."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"And so, you see, I am ordered down here to take the instructions of
+my gentleman, in the place of my pard, who won't receive any more
+orders here below."
+
+"Then you don't yet know precisely what is required of you?"
+
+"No; I was packed off at half an hour's notice, and don't even know
+the name of my employer. I have my instructions and his address here,"
+tapping his breast pocket. "I believe the party lives out of town, at
+some manor or other."
+
+Clarence was thinking very fast. There was but one "Manor" in or near
+Bellair. He looked at his time-card; there was but one town between
+them and that village. Holding the card in his hand he said:
+
+"Well, I will try and tell you what I want done; that is, if there is
+time--how soon do you leave the train?"
+
+Jarvis now scented a fat job, and thinking only of getting the
+particulars of that replied, rather incautiously, as he consulted the
+time-card in the hand of Clarence.
+
+"By goshen! it's only two stations off--Bellair."
+
+"Oh! Bellair, eh?"
+
+Jarvis nodded ruefully, and then asked: "Where do you land?"
+
+Clarence smiled a little as he replied: "Wait until you hear my
+business, then you will know where I am going."
+
+"All right; fire away."
+
+And the expert settled himself into a listening attitude. "The truth
+is, Jarvis, I want you back on the old case."
+
+"What, the gambler's?"
+
+"Yes, Davlin; he is about at the end of his rope, and will, in a short
+time, be trying to quit the country. Did you ever see the woman who is
+his partner in iniquity? You heard considerable of her while looking
+up this business."
+
+"Heard of her? I should think so. Never saw her, though."
+
+"No matter; you may see her soon. You see, they are now at work upon a
+fine piece of rascality. She has actually married an old man,
+supposing him to be wealthy, and Davlin is figuring as her brother.
+In reality, the old man, their victim, holds only a life interest in
+the property. So you see, even if they succeed with the thing in hand,
+they won't make much. And the person who will inherit, after the old
+gentleman passes away, is aware of their real character and is ready
+to spring upon them at the proper moment."
+
+Jarvis gave a long, low whistle.
+
+"Now, then, there is another crime--one that occurred some years ago,
+with which this man and woman are connected, and they are allowed to
+go free for a little time in order to complete the evidence in this
+second case."
+
+Jarvis nodded sagely.
+
+"So you see there will be double fees, and large ones. First, from the
+heir, and next, from the parties interested in the last case. The two
+are friends, in fact, and work together. Of course, I should expect to
+act according to the rules of your office, and I know that you are
+paid by your manager, but--if you can put me in possession of all the
+movements of Lucian Davlin for the next week, in addition to the
+salary paid you by your head officials, I will promise you one
+thousand dollars. If, later, you can supply the missing evidence, it
+shall be five thousand."
+
+Jarvis looked hastily behind him. "Is he in this train?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then were the dev--"
+
+"Wait," interrupted Clarence. "I'll tell you where he is. But first
+you may attend to the business on which you came to Bellair. You may
+obey the instructions you shall receive to the letter. But I must know
+what it is you are bidden to do."
+
+Jarvis knitted his brows and finally said, as if giving up a knotty
+problem, "Make things plainer; I am befogged."
+
+"Plainly, then," said Clarence, "you are going to Bellair; and,"
+drawing out his pocket-book, "you are not retained as yet for this
+work?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well," placing a one hundred dollar bill in his hand, "I retain you
+for my case, here and now, and you may accept the other fee if you
+like."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Look at the address of your new client."
+
+Jarvis took from his pocket a number of cards, shuffled them off
+deftly and, selecting the right one at last, read slowly the name of
+his unseen employer. Then he glanced quickly up at Clarence, re-read
+his card, and leaning back upon the cushion, shook with silent
+laughter.
+
+"Well, if you ain't the rummest one yet! And I'm your man! Why, bless
+my soul, you are a lawyer and detective all in one!"
+
+Clarence smiled, but he knew this was the highest compliment that
+Jarvis was capable of. "Then I may depend upon you?" he asked.
+
+"You bet!"
+
+They were nearing the village of Bellair now, and Clarence, who did
+not intend to let Jarvis know too much concerning his movements, gave
+him some hasty instructions, and ended by asking: "When do you go back
+to the city to report?"
+
+"By the next train. Davlin is expecting me, and I shall take his
+orders and then go back."
+
+"Very well; I'll see you in town to-morrow. Now, as it won't do to
+risk the chance of being seen together, I will go into the other car."
+And Clarence sauntered away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+"THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT NAUGHT.
+
+
+Meanwhile, as they steamed into the village, which was the destination
+of both, Mr. Jarvis soliloquized, as he caressed his wallet pocket:
+
+"I know who will butter my bread. Davlin is as slippery as an eel, and
+will end in trouble. Dr. Vaughan is a man of his word, and I don't
+need his bond. I'm sure of one thousand, if not of five. And I never
+was over fond of this gentleman gambler."
+
+It may be remarked that Davlin was a man pretty well known by the
+police and detectives. A gambler riding the top wave of success might
+have found more favor in the eyes of Jarvis. But he knew, because of
+his previous investigations, that Davlin was not "flush" at that time.
+
+Clarence kept carefully out of sight when the train reached the
+village. Springing lightly to the ground, on the opposite side from
+the platform, he walked swiftly away, unnoticed in the darkness. Once
+more he crossed the field and knocked at the door of Hagar's cottage,
+and this time it was Hagar who admitted him.
+
+Eagerly he listened, while the old woman told him how very fast Cora
+was recovering now; how they had got Miss Arthur and Percy back into
+the house; and how very careful both Cora and Lucian were to treat
+them politely. Madeline had not confided to Hagar the story of Olive,
+and the old woman knew no more of Edward Percy than that he was, as
+she termed it, "a handsome hypocrite."
+
+Clarence questioned Hagar closely. Had they made any attempt to find
+the one who took the papers?
+
+"No," Hagar replied; "they had said that Céline Leroque had stolen
+money and jewels, but they had not said one word about any papers."
+
+Last of all, she told him how, fearing that Henry was becoming too
+restive, and fearing, also, the effect of too much of the Professor's
+medicine upon the somewhat enfeebled system of the prisoner, she had
+made known to Henry the fact that he was working in the cause of his
+young lady. On learning this, and having it proved to his
+satisfaction, for he was at first inclined to be skeptical, he had
+been much delighted, and had since carried out the orders of Madeline
+as transmitted through Hagar.
+
+Their conversation lasted a full hour, and then, having learned all
+that could be learned from that source, and having delivered all of
+the messages sent by Madeline, he bade the old woman a kind
+good-night, and retraced his steps across the field and back to the
+village.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the night train halted at Bellair, Jarvis seated himself in the
+smoking-car, feeling quite self-satisfied. When the train moved on, he
+lighted a very black cigar, and began to contemplate the situation.
+
+"Well, how do we stand now?"
+
+As the voice of Clarence Vaughan fell upon his ear, Jarvis bounded
+from his seat like an india rubber ball and stared wildly at the young
+man who had dropped down into the seat beside him as if from the
+ceiling.
+
+"Well, you are a rum one," said he, at last. "Might I ask where you
+came from?"
+
+"From the ladies' carriage."
+
+"Oh!" with the air of having made a discovery. "So you ride out of the
+city in a smoking-car for the purpose of riding back in the ladies'
+carriage?"
+
+Clarence laughed again, settled himself comfortably in his seat and
+took out his cigar case. "Not exactly," proceeding to light a weed. "I
+am on pretty much the same business that you are, to-night." Then,
+taking a big puff, "I have been to Bellair, like yourself."
+
+"The deuce you have!"
+
+"Yes; how did your business prosper?"
+
+Jarvis eyed him sharply. "Perhaps you know already."
+
+"Perhaps I do. You have not got to look for stolen diamonds, have
+you?"
+
+Jarvis laughed derisively.
+
+"Or stolen money?" pursued Clarence.
+
+Jarvis shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Or stolen--_papers_?"
+
+Jarvis began to look foxy.
+
+"Or a runaway young woman?"
+
+Jarvis thought furiously for a moment; then turning square upon his
+interlocutor, said, significantly: "So there are stolen papers?"
+
+Clarence smiled, but said nothing.
+
+"And," pursued Jarvis, "when one loses one's papers, say deeds, or
+a--marriage certificate, one naturally thinks of hunting the records
+for proofs that such papers existed."
+
+"And that is your work?"
+
+Jarvis nodded.
+
+"Take you out of the city?"
+
+"Only a few miles."
+
+Clarence reflected for a time, and then said: "You can do your work,
+but report all discoveries _to me_."
+
+Jarvis assented, and they continued to talk of the matter in hand
+until the city was reached. Then, having made an appointment for the
+coming day, and agreed to let the work of shadowing the gambler or,
+rather, his business, remain a "private spec." to Jarvis, they
+separated.
+
+Thoroughly wearied, Clarence sought his bachelor apartments and the
+repose he so much needed.
+
+Early the next day he was up, and after paying a visit to his patient,
+he turned his steps, or the steps of his horse, in the direction of
+the villa.
+
+He found Madeline sitting up, feeling much better, and looking
+altogether lovely. Drawing their chairs near together in front of the
+crackling grate fire, the three discussed the result of the journey to
+Bellair. Having first related the news imparted by Hagar, Dr. Vaughan
+turned to Madeline and asked:
+
+"What is your theory, sister mine, in regard to this change at Oakley?
+Why have they turned about and taken up Miss Arthur and her _fiancé_
+with such sudden affection. Have you guessed?"
+
+The girl smiled up at him as she replied: "Certainly; have not you?"
+
+"You incorrigible little lawyer! Yes, but give us yours first."
+
+"Why," said Madeline with a light laugh, "I suppose they have been
+suspecting the wrong party. They think that I was an emissary of Mr.
+Percy's."
+
+"Undoubtedly that is the truth," assented Clarence.
+
+"And," added Madeline, "believing the documents in his possession, it
+is easy to understand that they prefer having the gentleman under the
+same roof with themselves."
+
+"True; now, the question that interests us is, how long will it be
+before they find out their mistake?"
+
+"I think," said the girl, reflectively, "that their game will be
+covert, not open, attack, from the fact that they have kept the loss
+of the papers so carefully from the servants. If this is true, they
+will move cautiously, and aim to convince the man that they do not
+suspect him."
+
+Clarence nodded.
+
+"You see the necessity for action, do you not?" Madeline said, after a
+silence. "I must make my next move within a few days."
+
+"I don't fancy that we need fear any new developments that will be
+dangerous to our cause just yet."
+
+Then he told them of his meeting with the detective, and its results,
+adding: "You see, Jarvis can withhold his reports to suit our
+convenience, and you can grow strong, feeling secure."
+
+Meantime, Jarvis set about his task of record hunting. He was
+energetic and resolute as a sleuth hound on the scent; so he soon made
+one or two discoveries.
+
+One day, very cleverly gotten upon as a dapper lawyer, he dropped in
+at the office of Messrs. Lord & Myers, bankers. Mr. Lord was an old
+man with a shrewd, twinkling eye; and as the sham lawyer had selected
+his time wisely, he found the old banker alone.
+
+They were closeted in close converse for nearly half an hour, at the
+end of which time, the dapper lawyer took his departure, looking
+rather downcast; and Mr. Lord, with his little eyes brighter than
+ever, sat down and penned a letter to his friend and brother banker,
+Mr. Allyne, of Baltimore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+MR. LORD'S LETTER.
+
+
+The friendship that had sprung up between Claire Keith and Mrs.
+Ralston, grew and strengthened as the days went by.
+
+Claire's enthusiasm had overflowed in more than one letter to Olive.
+The oft-repeated wish that her new friend and her much loved sister
+might meet, had at last drawn from that somewhat preoccupied sister a
+very cordial invitation to bring Mrs. Ralston to New York.
+
+When this invitation came, Claire, feeling that it was now time to
+unfold to her friend the sad pages of Olive's history, sought her for
+that purpose. But as she deemed that the time had not yet come for
+telling anyone of the hoped-for lifting of the cloud, especially as to
+do so she must tell too of Madeline, she refrained from mentioning the
+names of the actors in that miserable drama.
+
+Mrs. Ralston was deeply interested in the story of Olive's sorrow; and
+having heard it, she felt a stronger desire than before to see this
+beautiful, sad-hearted sister, who was so beloved by Claire. Bending
+down she kissed the fair face, flushed with the excitement Claire
+always felt when recounting her sister's wrongs, and those of Philip
+Girard, and said, tenderly:
+
+"Thank your sister in my name, my darling. And tell her that I will
+certainly avail myself of her kind invitation, at some future time."
+
+Claire's eyes danced eagerly. "Oh, I wish we could go now--at least,
+soon."
+
+Fate chose to grant Claire's desire in a most unexpected manner, for
+while they were still sitting, talking, in the semi-twilight, the
+library door opened and a servant announced Mr. Allyne, to see Mrs.
+Ralston. At once Mrs. Keith and her daughter arose to leave the room.
+But Mrs. Ralston said, earnestly:
+
+"Pray, do not go; there can be no need for a private interview."
+
+And as at that moment Mr. Allyne himself appeared on the threshold,
+the ladies all advanced to welcome him, and, this ceremony being over,
+resumed their seats.
+
+"I have just received this letter from Mr. Lord," said Mr. Allyne,
+after some moments of general conversation. "Read it, and then tell me
+your opinion of its contents."
+
+The lady took the letter, looking the while somewhat anxious. As she
+read, the look of apprehension deepened. When at last she dropped the
+letter, her hands were trembling visibly, and her face was pale and
+agitated. For a moment she sat in silence, her eyes full of fear and
+her hands working nervously. Then she seemed to recover herself by a
+powerful effort of will. Taking up the letter, she placed it in the
+hand of Mrs. Keith, saying: "Read it, dear friend."
+
+Mrs. Keith took the letter and read:
+
+                                        NEW YORK, Dec. 7th.
+
+     WM. ALLYNE, ESQ.,
+
+     _Dear Sir:_--A man assuming to be a lawyer called on me this
+     afternoon, and requested information regarding our friend,
+     Mrs. Ralston. If I am not much mistaken he is in reality a
+     detective--I think I remember him in the Mallory case--and
+     is, doubtless, looking up evidence in regard to the lady's
+     second and most unfortunate marriage, either at the
+     instigation of her vagabond husband or some of his supposed
+     heirs.
+
+     If you know the present address of Mrs. R., it would be well
+     to communicate with her, as some of her old servants are now
+     in this city, at service, and this fellow might ferret out
+     something through them.
+
+     Having no authority to act in the matter, I could do no more
+     than baffle this man's inquiries so far as I was concerned,
+     much as I desire to serve the lady when I know the way.
+
+     One thing: the fellow evidently believes in the story of her
+     death.
+
+                     Yours, etc.,             J. M. LORD.
+
+The three, Mrs. Ralston, Claire and Mr. Allyne, listened in silence
+while Mrs. Keith read this letter. When at last she raised her eyes,
+Mrs. Ralston said:
+
+"I must go to New York immediately, Mrs. Keith, and do, pray, allow
+Claire to accompany me. I must accept of the hospitality of Mrs.
+Girard, and I can not go alone."
+
+Mrs. Keith looked grave for a moment. Then, she said: "Mr. Allyne, is
+it necessary that Mrs. Ralston should go at once?"
+
+"I think it advisable," replied Mr. Allyne. "Once in New York, Lord
+can receive Mrs. Ralston's instructions, and act for her. In cases
+like these I don't think it is best to trust to correspondence."
+
+"And, oh! don't let us delay a moment! Once there, I can keep my old
+servants, who are all true friends, from inadvertently betraying me.
+And I can trust Mr. Lord to find out who is the instigator of this
+search," said Mrs. Ralston, eagerly. "Mr. Allyne, when can we start;
+how soon?"
+
+"Not earlier than to-morrow morning."
+
+"Claire, can you be ready on such short notice?" asked the now anxious
+lady.
+
+"I? Oh, yes, indeed!" laughed the girl. "I could be ready in an hour!
+I do detest waiting--don't you, Mrs. Ralston?"
+
+"Very much, just now," said that lady, making an effort to smile;
+"forgive me, dear friends, but I am really unstrung. The thought of
+being hunted by that man is too horrible, after these years of
+peace."
+
+"Then don't think of it, dear Mrs. Ralston," cooed Claire. "You will
+be as safe as safe in the seclusion of my sister's villa. And you can
+set things straight soon, when we have arrived. There can't be much to
+fear, can there, Mr. Allyne?"
+
+"Nothing very formidable," said the banker, rising to take his leave.
+"Pray, don't exaggerate the trouble, Mrs. Ralston. Prompt attention,
+such as Lord will give the matter, will make all safe. Besides, he is
+not hunting _you_; the man thinks you dead."
+
+"True; I had forgotten," said the lady, looking somewhat reassured.
+"Claire, we will pack to-night, and then try and be content until it
+is time to go."
+
+"Meantime, I will telegraph to Lord and let him know that you will
+come, and when," said Mr. Allyne, taking up his hat to depart.
+
+The morning of their departure dawned clear and bright. Claire was in
+extravagant spirits, while even Mrs. Ralston seemed to catch the
+infectious cheeriness of the day, and her companion's mood.
+
+When they were about to enter the carriage that was to take them to
+the depot, a letter was put into the hand of Miss Keith. She flung
+back her veil and leaning back among the cushions perused it in
+attentive silence. Having finished, she looked up with a little frown
+upon her brow, and exclaimed:
+
+"How very provoking!"
+
+Mrs. Ralston looked alarmed. "Is your sister ill?"
+
+"Oh, no; it's Madeline."
+
+"The young girl I have heard you speak of?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Is _she_ ill?"
+
+"No; she got well, just to avoid me; she is gone."
+
+"Gone?"
+
+"Yes; or will be, when we arrive. Why, how stupid I am not to explain!
+Madeline Payne has been with Olive nearly a week. She has been sick,
+but is better, and will leave there to-day."
+
+Claire had said but little concerning Madeline, fearing lest in her
+enthusiasm she should say too much. But she had revolved many plans
+for bringing about a meeting between Mrs. Ralston and her "brave
+girl."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+"I HAVE COME BACK TO MY OWN!"
+
+
+Quite the pleasantest of all the rooms that had been so sumptuously
+fitted up, when "Mrs. Torrance" came to Oakley, a bride, was the back
+drawing-room. At least it was pleasantest in Winter. Its large windows
+faced south and west, and all of the Winter sunshine fell upon them,
+glowing through crimson curtains, and helping the piled-up anthracite
+in the grate to bathe the room in a ruddiness of crimson and golden
+bronze.
+
+On this particular December day, the air was crisp and cold, and full
+of floating particles of hoar frost, while the winter sun shone bright
+and clear. Outside, one felt that it was an exceedingly cold sun. But
+viewed from within, it looked inviting enough, and one felt inspired
+to dash out into the frosty air and try if they could not walk _a la_
+hippogriffe, without touching their feet to the ground.
+
+Some such thought was floating through the mind of Mrs. John Arthur,
+who was progressing in her convalescence very rapidly now, and who
+had, on this day, made her second descent to the drawing-rooms.
+
+She had donned, for the first time since her illness, a dinner-dress
+of rosy silk, its sweeping train and elbow sleeves enriched with
+flounces of black lace. As there was, at present, no need to play the
+invalid--herself and Davlin being the sole occupants of the room--she
+was sweeping up and down its length like a caged lioness.
+
+By and by she swerved from her course, and coming to the grate, put a
+daintily shod foot upon the bronze fender. Resting one hand on a
+chair, and looking down upon Davlin, who was lounging before the fire
+in full dinner costume, she said, abruptly:
+
+"How very interesting all this is!"
+
+Davlin made no sign that he heard.
+
+"Do you know how long we have been playing this little game, sir?"
+
+The man smiled, in that cool way, so exasperating always to her, and
+lifting one hand, began to tell off the months on his fingers.
+
+"Let me see, ball opened in June, did it not?"
+
+She nodded impatiently.
+
+"June!" He was thinking of his June flirting with Madeline Payne, and
+involuntarily glanced at the windows from whence could be seen the very
+trees under which they had wandered, himself and that fair dead girl, in
+early June. "Yes, the last of June--I remember,"--reflectively.
+
+"And pray, from what event does your memory date?" exclaimed Cora,
+with strong sarcasm.
+
+He glanced up quickly. "Why, _Ma Belle_, from your introduction to the
+hills and vales of Bellair, and the master of Oakley."
+
+"Oh, I thought it was from the time you received your pistol wound."
+
+Davlin smiled. "Yes, that scratch _was_ given in June; but I don't
+date from trifles, Co."
+
+"Oh! Well, I fancy it was not the fault of the hand that aimed the
+bullet, or rather of the _heart_, that you got a 'mere scratch.' I
+never believed in your card-table explanation of that affair, sir."
+
+"Well, don't call _me_ to account for _your_ want of faith."
+
+"I believe you promised yourself revenge on the fellow who shot at
+you. Why didn't you take it?"
+
+Lucian stooped down and brushed an imaginary speck from his boot toe,
+saying, as he did so: "I was forestalled."
+
+"How?"
+
+"The--fellow--is dead."
+
+"Oh, well, I don't care about dead men--what I am anxious about is
+this--"
+
+"Oh, yes," maliciously. "Return to subject under discussion. You
+embarked in this enterprise in June--"
+
+"Bother," impatiently.
+
+"Late in Summer, bagged your game; in early Autumn, fitted up this
+jolly old rookery--"
+
+Cora gave a sniff of disdain.
+
+"Next--well, you know what next. We haven't been two months at this
+last job."
+
+"Nevertheless I am tired of it."
+
+"No?"
+
+"I won't stay here a prisoner much longer!"
+
+Davlin came close to her, and letting one hand rest upon her shoulder,
+placed the other over hers, which still lay upon the chair back.
+
+"Cora, we won't quarrel about this. The situation is as trying to me
+as to you; more so. But our safety lies in moving with caution, and--I
+will not permit you to compromise us by any hasty act. You
+understand!"
+
+His eyes held her as in a spell, and when, after a moment, the hand
+fell from her shoulder and his eyes withdrew their mesmeric gaze, the
+woman shrunk from under the one detaining hand and turned sullenly
+away, looking like a baffled leopardess.
+
+Davlin resumed his seat and his former careless attitude. Cora walked
+to the window and looked down upon the scene below.
+
+At length the man asked, carelessly: "Where's Percy?"
+
+"Down there," nodding toward the terrace, a portion of which was
+visible from her point of view. "And, of course, my lady is in her
+room watching from her window. When he throws away his cigar, and
+turns toward the house, she will come down; not before."
+
+Davlin laughed at her emphasis, and while the sound still vibrated on
+the air, the woman turned, and flinging herself upon a divan, said:
+
+"There, she is coming!"
+
+Complain as she might in private, Cora had acted her part to
+perfection. Between herself and Miss Arthur, there now existed an
+appearance of great cordiality and friendliness. While she treated
+Percy with utmost politeness and hospitality, the remembrance of ten
+years ago acted as an effectual bar to anything like coquetry, where
+he was concerned.
+
+Scarcely had Cora settled herself comfortably upon her divan, when the
+door opened noiselessly, and Miss Arthur sailed in, diffusing through
+the room the odor of Patchouli as she came. She was, as usual, a
+marvel of beflounced silk, false curls, rouge, and pearl powder. Her
+face beamed upon Cora in friendliness as she approached her, saying,
+with much effusion:
+
+"Oh, you poor child, how delightful to see you once more among us, and
+looking like yourself."
+
+Lucian arose and gallantly wheeled forward a large easy chair, saying:
+"And how charming you look, Miss Ellen; you make poor Cora appear
+quite shabby by contrast."
+
+Cora cast a rather ungrateful glance at the gentleman, and the
+spinster simpered, "Oh, you horrid man! Brothers are so ungrateful!"
+
+At this juncture, as Cora had predicted, Mr. Percy presented himself,
+and the four fell into attitudes, in front of the grate--Percy leaning
+on the back of Miss Arthur's chair, and Cora and Davlin in their
+former places.
+
+"_Merci_," said Miss Arthur, pretending to stifle a yawn, "why can't
+we all be out in this keen air and sunshine? If there were but snow on
+the ground!"
+
+"Snow!" cried Cora, annoyed out of her usual assumption of feebleness;
+"don't mention it, if you don't want me to die. We won't have snow, if
+you please, until I can drive in a cutter."
+
+Percy laughed softly; his laugh was always disagreeable to Cora, as
+having an undercurrent of meaning intended for her alone. And Davlin
+said:
+
+"Hear and heed, all ye gods of the wind and weather."
+
+"Well, laugh," said Cora, half laughing herself, "but I am beginning
+to feel ambitious. Do let's try to set something afoot to make us feel
+as if we were alive, and glad that we were."
+
+"Agreed, Cora," cried Miss Arthur, gushingly, "only tell us what it
+shall be."
+
+"Suggest, suggest;" this from Davlin.
+
+The spinster glanced up coquettishly, "Edward, you suggest."
+
+Percy caressed his blonde whiskers thoughtfully, and letting his eyes
+rest carelessly on Cora, said, meaningly: "Let's poison each other!"
+
+"Or commit suicide!" retorted Cora, coolly.
+
+"Let's be more sensible," said Davlin. "Let's organize a matrimonial
+society, get up a wedding, and go on a journey."
+
+"Anything that will break the monotony," said Cora, while the fair
+spinster giggled and put her hands before her face.
+
+At that moment the monotony _was_ broken.
+
+While the words were still lingering on the lips of the fair
+convalescent, the door was opened wide by old Hagar, who said, as if
+she had been all her life announcing the arrival of great ones at the
+court of St. James:
+
+"_Miss Madeline Payne!_"
+
+Then she stepped back, and a vision appeared before them which struck
+them dumb and motionless with surprise.
+
+Across the threshold swept a young lady, richly robed in trailing silk
+and velvet and fur; with a face fair as a star-flower, haughty as the
+face of any duchess; with amber eyes that gazed upon them
+contemptuously, masterfully, fearlessly; with wave upon wave of golden
+brown hair, clustering about the temples and snowy neck; and with
+scarlet lips half parted in a scornful smile.
+
+She swept the length of the room with matchless grace and
+self-possession, and pausing before the astonished group, said, in a
+voice clear as the chime of silver bells:
+
+"Good-evening, ladies and gentlemen! I believe I have not the honor of
+knowing--ah, yes, this is Miss Arthur; _Aunt Ellen_, how do you do?"
+
+There are some scenes that beggar description, and this was such an
+one.
+
+[Illustration: "_Miss Madeline Payne!_"--page 346.]
+
+Miss Arthur, who clearly recognized in this lovely young lady the
+little Madeline of years ago, was so stricken with astonishment that
+she utterly forgot how appropriate it would be to faint.
+
+Cora sat like one in a nightmare.
+
+Percy was conscious of but one feeling. True to his nature even here,
+he was staring at this vision of beauty, thinking only, "how lovely!
+how lovely!"
+
+And Lucian Davlin? At the first sight of that face, the first sound of
+that voice, he had felt as if turning to stone, incapable of movement
+or speech. At that moment, had Cora once glanced toward him, his face
+must have betrayed his secret. But her eyes were fixed on Madeline.
+
+Davlin felt a tempest raging within his bosom. Madeline alive! This
+glowing, brilliant, richly robed, queenly creature--Madeline! Again in
+his ears rang her farewell words. Quick as lightning came the thought:
+she was his enemy, she would denounce him! And yet, throughout every
+fiber of his being, he felt a thrill of gladness. Again there surged
+in his heart the mad love that had sprung into being when she had so
+gloriously defied him. She was not dead, and he was glad!
+
+Old Hagar had closed the door after her young mistress; and now she
+stood near it, calm and immovable as a block of ice.
+
+Madeline Payne stood, for a moment, gazing laughingly into the amazed
+face of the spinster. Then she said: "Come, come, Aunt Ellen, don't
+stare at me as if I were a ghost! Introduce me to your friends. Is
+this lady my new step-mamma?"
+
+Cora roused herself from her stupor, and said, haughtily: "I am _Mrs.
+Arthur_, and the mistress of the house!"
+
+"Ah! then you _are_ my new step-mamma? And you have been very ill, I
+understand. Pray, don't rise, madame; you look feeble." Then, turning
+again to Miss Arthur: "Don't you intend to speak to me, Aunt Ellen?"
+
+"But," gasped the spinster, "I thought, that--you--"
+
+"Oh, I see! You thought that I was dead, and you have been grieving
+for me. Well, I will explain: I ran away from my respected papa
+because he had selected for me a husband not at all to my taste. Not
+desiring to return immediately, I seized an opportunity that came in
+my way, and bestowed my name upon a poor girl who died in the
+hospital, thus making sure that my anxious friends would abandon all
+search for me. However, I have thought better of my decision, and so I
+return to my own home to take my position under the _chaperonage_ of
+my pretty step-mamma, as the _Heiress of Oakley_!"
+
+These last words opened the eyes of Cora to the new "situation."
+Springing to her feet, she forgot for the moment all her weakness, and
+cried, wrathfully: "You cannot come here with such a trumped-up story!
+Madeline Payne is dead and buried. You are a base impostor!"
+
+Madeline turned tranquilly towards the spinster. "Aunt Ellen, _am_ I
+an impostor?"
+
+"No," said Ellen Arthur, sullenly; "you are Madeline Payne. Any one in
+the village could testify to that."
+
+Madeline turned to Cora. "Step-mamma, I forgive you. It _is_ hard to
+find the entailed estate of Oakley slipping out of your hands, no
+doubt, but this world is full of disappointments."
+
+Cora's eyes sought Lucian. That gentleman, who had, outwardly at
+least, regained his composure, telegraphed her to be silent.
+
+Miss Payne asked: "Which of these gentlemen is your brother, Mrs.
+Arthur?"
+
+Lucian stepped forward with his usual grace, saying; "I am Mrs.
+Arthur's brother, Miss Payne. Pray, let me apologize for her
+discourteous reception of you; she has been very ill, and is nervous."
+
+Madeline sank into a chair and surveyed him coolly, while she said:
+"It is not necessary to apologize for your sister, Mr.--"
+
+"Davlin," supplied Miss Arthur.
+
+"Davlin," repeated Madeline, as if the name had fallen upon her ears
+for the first time. "No doubt we shall be the best of friends by and
+by. I certainly have to thank her for making so marked an improvement
+in these old rooms," glancing about her.
+
+Here the still confused Miss Arthur, in obedience to a sign from her
+lover, said: "Miss Madeline, this is my friend, Mr. Percy."
+
+Mr. Percy advanced, bowing like a courtier. The young lady scrutinized
+him coolly, saying, with a gleam of mischief in her eyes: "I am
+delighted to meet any friend of my aunt's."
+
+Then she turned to Davlin again: "But where is my step-papa? I have
+kept myself partially informed of events here. Is he still unable to
+be about?"
+
+Davlin looked very serious: "Miss Payne, I fear that my unhappy
+brother-in-law will never recover his reason."
+
+Madeline uttered an exclamation expressive of concern, and said: "Oh,
+Mr. Davlin, then don't let him know that I am here; at least not yet.
+I am so afraid of the insane. I couldn't bear to see him now."
+
+Cora drew a breath of relief, on hearing this. But Lucian, who knew
+the girl better, began to fear her, and mentally resolved to define
+his own position as speedily as possible. One thing was evident; it
+was no part of her plan to betray him, at least not yet.
+
+"Nurse," said Madeline, turning to Hagar, "see that a room is prepared
+for me immediately, and send a servant to the station for my luggage.
+Also, prepare a room for my maid, who is below, and tell her to get me
+out a dinner dress immediately."
+
+Then turning to Cora, "Step-mamma, you look fatigued. Do go to your
+room and rest before dinner. Mr. Davlin, at what hour do you dine?"
+
+He explained their reason for dining so early, and she said, as she
+turned again to Cora,
+
+"Do lie down, step-mamma; there is still a half-hour before dinner.
+And now I will go look after my maid."
+
+She swept them all a stately courtesy, and Percy springing forward to
+open the door, she thanked him with a charming side glance, and passed
+from the room like a young princess.
+
+There was dead silence among them for a full minute after the door had
+closed behind her. Then Percy turned with a disagreeable smile upon
+his face, and said:
+
+"You don't stand in need of something exciting _now_, do you,--Mrs.
+Arthur?"
+
+This was too much. Cora sprang to her feet and casting one meaning
+glance toward Davlin, swept from the room, erect and firm, utterly
+regardless of the fact that her exit was quite incompatible with the
+invalid _rôle_ she had been sustaining.
+
+An angry flush overspread the face of Lucian Davlin, as he realized,
+after one quick look at the face of Percy, how thoroughly she had
+betrayed herself. He was too good a diplomat, however, to quit the
+field without a stroke in his own behalf. So giving a low whistle he
+turned toward the spinster, saying:
+
+"See what excitement will do. One would think she had the strength of
+two of us."
+
+To which Percy responded, dryly: "She certainly did not step like an
+invalid."
+
+Then the three stood looking aimlessly at each other or anything,
+seemingly not at all inclined to converse.
+
+After a few moments of listless gazing out at the window, Lucian
+turned upon his heel and quitted the room. He was too wise to approach
+Cora in her present mood. Even had he thought it advisable, he felt
+little inclination to see and converse with her or anyone then. Like a
+man in a dream, he wandered out and down the wide hall. Almost
+unconsciously he opened the library door, and crossing to the great
+double window, leaned against the casement and looked out.
+
+Again his eyes rested upon the grove where he had so often wandered
+with the lovely girl who, to-day, had so coolly ignored him. Then she
+had clung to him with trusting affection; now,--how did she look upon
+him now? Could the love that she surely had felt for him in those
+Summer days, have entirely died out in her heart? Did not a woman's
+love outlast her anger? And was he not the same man, with the same
+will-power, and the same strength of magnetism?
+
+Where had she been all these months? And how came she here now, robed
+liked a princess; she, who had certainly left her home penniless?
+Clearly, she had found friends. Who were they? And what did they know
+of matters here at Oakley?
+
+For once Mr. Davlin was at a loss how to act. Would it be safe to
+stay? Would it be wise to go? Would he be able to control Cora in this
+new emergency? One thing was certain: The heiress of Oakley meant to
+be mistress in her mother's house, and she was in a fair way to
+possess the throne.
+
+Lucian turned away from the window, and from the scene that mocked
+him, muttering: "I will see her alone, let come what will. I will make
+one struggle to regain my power over her, and if I succeed--"
+
+Evidently the wily gambler could not testify as to what would be
+likely to follow. For the second time since his partnership with Cora,
+he found that lady a stumbling-block by no means despicable.
+
+On leaving the drawing-room, Cora rushed up the stairs, and throwing
+open the door of her dressing-room, fairly precipitated herself across
+the threshold, forgetting in her blind rage to close the door behind
+her. She stood still for an instant, and then, springing to the
+window, threw it wide open, letting in a flood of wintry air. For a
+moment she leaned across the sill, drinking in deep draughts of the
+frosty ether. Then dashing down the sash, she turned swiftly, and
+encountered a pair of bright black eyes that looked in at her from the
+secure darkness of the hall. Sweeping across the room, she confronted
+the owner of the eyes, demanding haughtily:
+
+"Who are you? And how dare you spy at my door?"
+
+The woman--for it was a woman--came forward and said, respectfully:
+"If you please, I am Miss Payne's maid, and I was just bringing up
+some things from the hall, ma'am," lifting to view a chatelaine and
+shawl strap. "I didn't mean to annoy you. I was only surprised to see
+such a pretty young lady here."
+
+Miss Payne's maid was a large woman of a very uncertain age, arrayed
+in sober black, not at all like the usual ladies' maid. But she seemed
+so very respectful, and full of contrition at having annoyed such a
+"pretty lady," that Cora made no further assault upon her, but closed
+the door with unusual emphasis instead, and gave way once more to the
+wrath that was filling her soul.
+
+To be baffled like this now; now, when her schemes were approaching
+fruition; now, when this fair domain, this splendid fortune, was just
+within her grasp, to have it plucked from her hand by a mere girl, who
+mocked her while she said, "this wealth is mine, this house is mine;
+woman, you have schemed in vain!"
+
+And this was not all. She had bound herself hand and foot. She had
+jeopardized her liberty, for what might not occur, now that this girl
+could demand access to the imprisoned old man, her step-father? If she
+dared, she would go away that very night. But no; this would only
+confirm suspicion, if suspicion were entertained.
+
+Not the least drop in her cup of bitterness, was the knowledge that
+Edward Percy was secretly enjoying her discomfiture. As she thought of
+him, and his look when she swept past him, Cora stopped short in her
+angry promenade, and frowned fiercely. Then she crossed to her mirror
+and surveyed her agitated face, saying, half aloud:
+
+"At least I will rob him of that pleasure; baffled as I may be, he
+shall never enjoy my discomfiture! I can act a part yet. And Edward
+Percy shall find that if my schemes are to be overthrown, his, too,
+may suffer. He rejoices to see me thwarted; I will thwart him, let it
+cost what it may!"
+
+And Cora began to smooth her rumpled locks, and put her somewhat
+disarranged toilet in order, with swift, firm fingers. While she was
+thus occupied, there came a tap upon her door. Recognizing it at once,
+as Davlin's knock, she said, "come," and never once lifted her eyes
+from her task.
+
+Lucian, finding that the dinner hour was at hand, and beginning to
+fear that Cora might still further commit herself, had thought it
+wisest to come and see what was the state of her feelings, and
+endeavor to persuade her to play out her part. He entered the room
+with some apprehension; but seeing her so composed, came close as she
+stood before her dressing-glass and said, as he gazed down at the
+flounce she was busy adjusting:
+
+"Now is the time for pluck, Co. You will come down?"
+
+Cora gave a last touch to the silk and lace and then, letting the
+sweeping train fall from her hand, and standing very erect before him,
+said:
+
+"Yes, I shall go down. Do you suppose I will let that man think that I
+am completely annihilated? There; don't talk to me now! I shall not
+forget myself again, never fear. But after dinner, come to me here.
+You were wise enough to bring me into this charming 'corner,' now let
+your wisdom take me out of it, or I will extricate myself in my own
+way."
+
+Again the iron hand fell upon her shoulder, as her partner in iniquity
+hissed in her ear:
+
+"And I intend that you shall not be a fool! Our game is not lost. Let
+me once get the lay of the land, and we may win yet."
+
+She turned her eyes upon him with angry incredulity. "How, pray?"
+
+"Wait and see!"
+
+She made no reply, but, taking up her dainty handkerchief, turned to
+leave the room, motioning him to precede her. In the hall, she paused
+at the head of the stairs, saying:
+
+"Go down; I will come directly."
+
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+"Go down," she repeated; "I know what I am doing."
+
+She went slowly down the hall in the direction of the room before
+which stood Madeline's luggage that had just arrived from the little
+station.
+
+Lucian gazed after her in some amazement, watched her tap softly,
+heard the door open, saw her enter the room, and then went slowly
+down-stairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+CORA UNDER ORDERS.
+
+
+When Cora entered the room, Madeline Payne stood before her mirror,
+while her maid, kneeling beside her, arranged the folds of lustrous
+azure silk that fell about the slender form.
+
+The door had been opened by Hagar, who could scarcely keep her eyes
+off the beautiful face and form of her young mistress, and who was, in
+consequence, making very slow progress with the work of putting away
+the garments that had been discarded in favor of the lovely dinner
+dress.
+
+Madeline realized fully that the part she was now playing was even
+more difficult and distasteful than that which she had abandoned. But
+she was resolute. To go back now would be worse than death. While she
+felt a thrill of repugnance as she saw the fair, sensual face of John
+Arthur's wife reflected in her mirror, she turned with smiling
+countenance, saying:
+
+"Is it you, step-mamma? How kind of you! Am I delaying the dinner?"
+
+"No more than I am," smiled Cora, in return. "I thought you might like
+me to wait for you, as you are so much of a stranger to your old
+home."
+
+"Oh, I am not at all timid, I assure you; but it is nicer to go
+together. Am I almost ready, Strong?"
+
+"Almost, Miss Payne."
+
+"How quickly your maid dresses you," said Cora, resolved to keep the
+conversational ball rolling.
+
+"Oh, yes; Strong knows how to pack things so that what you want first
+is uppermost, and I had my dinner dress in a hand traveling-case."
+Then, turning about she asked, abruptly: "Have you a good maid,
+step-mamma?"
+
+Cora laughed nervously as she replied: "I have no maid, good or bad.
+My maid ran away a week ago, after robbing me and nearly killing me
+with chloroform."
+
+"Mercy, what a wretch! What have you done with her?"
+
+"We have not found her."
+
+"Did you look?"
+
+"Yes; detectives are looking for her now."
+
+"Well, I hope they will find her. Now I am ready; come, step-mamma."
+
+And together the two descended the stairs.
+
+Three faces reflected three degrees of surprise, as the ladies entered
+the drawing-room with every appearance of good feeling and mutual
+satisfaction. Davlin and Percy took their cue immediately. The only
+one whom an observer would have pronounced not quite at ease, was Miss
+Ellen Arthur, who stared from one to the other rather more than was
+polite, and who sustained her part in the conversation in a very
+nervous, fragmentary manner.
+
+Dinner being announced, Mr. Davlin promptly offered his arm to
+Madeline, who accepted it with perfect nonchalance. They followed Cora
+to the dining-room, themselves followed by Miss Arthur and Percy.
+
+Where four people separately, and each for his own end, determine to
+appear cordial and perfectly at ease, each one bent upon completely
+blinding the other three, there must of a necessity be much
+conversation, and more or less hilarity, whether real or assumed.
+
+These four, who were waging upon each other secret and deadly war, ate
+and drank together; and while Madeline regaled them with a fictitious
+account of herself during the time she had been supposed dead, the
+others listened and commented, and vied with each other in paying
+hypocritical court to the heiress of Oakley.
+
+"You see, step-mamma," said Madeline, as they lingered over their
+dessert, "I was never ignorant of what was going on here. My old nurse
+kept me informed. When I sent you the fiction of my death, I had no
+intention of returning, for I had determined never to live at Oakley
+during my step-father's reign. But upon hearing of his insanity, I
+resolved to come back, being now, of course, the real head of the
+house. Mr. Arthur being _non compos mentis_, I, as heiress, assume
+control of my own."
+
+If a wish could have killed, Cora would have closed forever that
+insolent smiling mouth. But she felt herself powerless.
+
+Davlin, with inimitable tact, came to her rescue: "Cora will be only
+too glad to welcome the queen back to her own. Indeed, she has been
+for some time declaring her intention of abdicating, for a time at
+least, and taking Mr. Arthur south to some medicinal springs. But the
+doctor fears the change will not benefit him."
+
+Madeline turned her eyes upon Cora. "She can't go just yet," she said,
+with odd decision; "I want her society. Where is your doctor, Mr.
+Davlin?"
+
+"He is up-stairs with his patient, Miss Payne. He usually joins us at
+breakfast, but not often at dinner."
+
+The truth was that Lucian, not feeling upon safe ground, had advised
+the "doctor" to keep discreetly out of the way of this shrewd young
+lady for the present, lest her keen questions should draw out
+something not to their advantage.
+
+Miss Payne turned to Cora again. "You have perfect confidence in the
+skill of this doctor, step-mamma?"
+
+"Oh, yes!" said Cora, positively; "he has been known to me a very long
+time. Besides, we had in one of the Bellair doctors, who agreed with
+Dr. Le Guise in every particular."
+
+"Well, I must see this learned gentleman to-morrow, and my step-papa
+also, I think. Step-mamma, you look fatigued; dining is too much for
+your strength. Let us leave the gentlemen to their wine and cigars."
+
+As if she had been presiding at that table all her life, Miss Payne
+arose, bowed to the two men, and preceding the two astonished ladies,
+swept from the dining-room.
+
+Cora, as she followed the graceful figure, could hardly restrain her
+mortification and rage. She felt a longing amounting almost to frenzy,
+to spring upon the girl and stab her in the back.
+
+The two men did not linger long in the dining-room. Each felt anxious,
+for reasons of his own, to be again in the presence of Miss Payne, and
+so soon joined the ladies in the drawing-room.
+
+After a little more hypocrisy on all their parts, Cora arose to retire
+to her apartments, declaring that the excitement of Miss Payne's
+arrival had made her forgetful of herself and her health, and that she
+began to feel her fictitious strength departing.
+
+Madeline, too, arose, and offering her arm to Cora, said that she
+would also retire. Nodding a careless good-night to the three deserted
+ones, she left the room, with the fair invalid leaning languidly upon
+her arm.
+
+To the surprise and dissatisfaction of Cora, Madeline not only
+accompanied her to her own apartment, but entered with her. Having
+closed the door carefully behind them, she turned about, and dropping
+all her assumed gayety and friendliness, said with the air of a queen
+commanding a subject:
+
+"Now, Mrs. Arthur, let us understand each other!"
+
+The sudden and marked change of her voice and manner startled the
+woman out of all her self-possession. She stood staring in the stern
+face of the girl with all of the audacity frightened out of her own.
+
+Cora was an adventuress to the tips of her fingers. She was fond of
+intrigue; she possessed a certain kind of courage; but she was, after
+all, at heart, a coward. She was quite willing to compromise her soul
+for gain, but not her body. In short, she loved herself too well to
+find any piquancy in personal danger.
+
+Since the loss of the papers and the flight of Céline Leroque had
+shaken her feeling of security, Cora had been restive and anxious to
+bring this plot to a climax. She had found it not at all to her taste
+to have Percy holding over her head a sword, be it ever so slender.
+And now, as she confronted Madeline, all her selfishness was alarmed.
+She waited in absolute fear the next words from the lips of her enemy.
+
+"You need not weary yourself by playing the invalid in my presence,
+madame," pursued the girl. "I am quite well aware that your illness
+has been all a sham. I know, too, that you have found the _rôle_ of
+invalid very irksome."
+
+The eyes of Cora widened still more, and all the color fled from her
+lips. But she made a fierce struggle and, although she could not
+summon up her usual insolence, she managed to gasp out, half
+defiantly: "What do you mean?"
+
+"You understand my meaning," replied the girl, with contempt. "I mean
+that you are in my power, and that you must obey my will."
+
+For a moment Cora's anger outweighed her fear. She came a step nearer
+and said, sneeringly: "Indeed, Miss Payne! That remains to be seen!"
+
+"True," assented Madeline, coldly. "First, then, you had better
+instruct your friend, Dr. Le Guise, not to administer _hasheesh_ to
+Mr. Arthur to-morrow, in order to have him properly insane when I
+visit him."
+
+Cora's knees bent under her, and all the color fled out of her face.
+But she rallied her flying courage enough to say: "Explain yourself,
+Miss Payne."
+
+Madeline drew toward her Cora's easiest lounging chair, and seated
+herself therein with much deliberation, saying, as she did so:
+
+"You had better sit down, Mrs. Arthur; there is no necessity for a
+display of anger, or for any more attempts at deception. The one is as
+useless as the other is transparent. And I have considerable to say to
+you."
+
+Cora moved sullenly toward a chair and sank into it, feeling like a
+woman in a nightmare.
+
+"First, then, for your position," pursued Madeline. "It is sufficient
+to say that I know of your scheme to dispose of Mr. Arthur and inherit
+the wealth you supposed to be his."
+
+Cora was beginning to feel a return of combativeness, and she
+exclaimed quickly: "That is false!"
+
+"I know," pursued her inquisitor, ignoring her retort, "that this man
+you call 'Dr. Le Guise,' is your tool and--_I have had every drug that
+has been prescribed by him analyzed by city physicians!_"
+
+Cora saw that she was indeed undone, and began to fight with the
+recklessness of despair. "I don't believe you!" she cried, reckless
+that she was committing herself. "That old spy, Hagar, has fancied
+these things. How could you get the medicines?"
+
+"Not through Hagar."
+
+"How then?"
+
+"_Just as I got the certificate of your marriage with Mr. Percy._"
+
+The woman sprang to her feet. "You--you are--"
+
+"Céline Leroque, madame!" with an imitation of the ladies' maid
+accent.
+
+Cora fell back in her chair panting.
+
+"Now," resumed Madeline, "why don't you reflect that, if it were my
+intention to denounce you, I could have done that long ago. Are you
+not aware that my step-father is my enemy?"
+
+"Not--in that way."
+
+"In that way precisely. John Arthur tortured my mother until she died
+heart-broken. He made my childhood miserable, and shut me up in a
+convent to pass my girlhood in loneliness. He bartered me in marriage
+to a man older and uglier than himself, for ten thousand dollars. Then
+I defied him to his face; swore to revenge upon him my mother's wrongs
+and mine; and ran away. Do you understand now why I have allowed you
+to persecute John Arthur?"
+
+Cora's courage began to revive. "I think I do," she said, slowly.
+
+"You see, Mrs. Arthur, it is in my power to arrest you; first, for
+Bigamy, and second, for Attempted Poisoning."
+
+Cora looked at her coolly. "But you won't do either," she said.
+
+"Won't I? And why not?"
+
+"Because, to do either, you must bring your own name into too
+prominent notice."
+
+Madeline laughed scornfully.
+
+[Illustration: "You--you are--!" "_Céline Leroque_, madame."--page
+362.]
+
+"You forget," she said, "I left my home for revenge. I feigned to be
+dead--I returned to Oakley in disguise--for revenge. Do you think that
+I will let my pride stay me when, by exposing you, I can complete my
+vengeance upon John Arthur?"
+
+Cora's countenance fell. She had not viewed the matter in just that
+light. She made no answer, and Madeline continued:
+
+"Don't flatter yourself that I shall hesitate, if I cannot effect my
+purpose otherwise. I am not disposed just now to war with you, but if
+you do not see fit to accept my terms, then I must turn against you."
+
+"What do you want of me?" sullenly.
+
+"I want you to continue as we have begun. I want Miss Arthur, Mr.
+Percy, and your brother, to believe us the best of friends. Above all,
+I want John Arthur to think us allies."
+
+"And what then?"
+
+"Then, you will be safe so far as I am concerned. Then, when I have
+accomplished my purpose and hold in my hands the keys to the Oakley
+coffers, you shall have money, and shall go hence to resume your
+career in whatever field you choose."
+
+"What security have I for all this?"
+
+"My word!"
+
+"And if I reject your terms?"
+
+Madeline smiled oddly.
+
+"What is to prevent my leaving this place now, to-night?" said Cora.
+
+Madeline laughed, saying: "Do you want to try that?"
+
+"If I did, what then?"
+
+"Then--you would not be permitted to leave these premises!"
+
+"Ah! you have spies in this house!"
+
+"Yes; and out of it. There is no chance for you to escape. There is
+no chance for any one to escape. Mrs. Arthur, is this man that you
+call your brother really such, or is he, too, in your plot?"
+
+Cora looked at her keenly, but it was no part of Madeline's plan to
+let her know that she had ever seen Lucian Davlin before that evening.
+Her face was as calm and inscrutable as the face of the sphinx.
+
+"No," said Cora, at length "my brother does not know of it."
+
+"I am glad of that," replied Madeline. "But, for fear of any
+deception, he will be kept under _surveillance_; and if anything is
+communicated to him I shall surely know it."
+
+"Why did you rob me of those papers?" asked Cora, abruptly.
+
+"Because," said Madeline, leaning forward, "you and I have a common
+enemy."
+
+"What! not Percy?"
+
+"Yes, Percy!"
+
+Cora looked amazed. "But--have you known him before?"
+
+"I never saw him until he came to Oakley."
+
+"I can't see how he has incurred your enmity here."
+
+"He has not incurred my enmity here. I hated him before I ever saw
+him."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he has wronged a friend who is as dear to me as life."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"Don't puzzle your brain over this; you won't be enlightened. It is
+sufficient for you to know that you can serve me if you choose,
+because we are both enemies of the same men." Then, rising, "Now
+choose; will you remain here as my ally, or leave in disgrace, and a
+prisoner, as my enemy?"
+
+Cora reflected, and finally said: "I accept your terms."
+
+"Very good; and now for precautions. You must allow me to supply you
+with a maid."
+
+"What?"
+
+"You are an invalid; I am well and strong. What could be more natural
+than that I should desire you to have every care and comfort that I
+can desire? I shall give you my maid; she will supply the place of
+Céline Leroque."
+
+"I won't have her," cried Cora, angrily. "I won't have a jailer."
+
+"Certainly not; you will have my maid, however. I will get another
+to-morrow."
+
+"I won't have her!"
+
+"Nonsense." Madeline stepped quickly to the door and opened it.
+"Strong," she said, softly.
+
+Instantly in stepped Strong, who had been just outside awaiting the
+orders of her mistress.
+
+"Strong," said Madeline, "I am going to let you wait upon Mrs. Arthur.
+She is in delicate health, and needs a maid. You must be _very
+attentive_, and don't let her get into any draughts. You can sleep in
+the dressing-room; and if she is not _well cared for_, I shall hold
+you accountable."
+
+Cora looked at the big, robust woman, so appropriately called Strong,
+and felt that she was indeed a prisoner.
+
+Strong bowed in silent submission to the will of her late mistress,
+and turned her broad visage upon her new one.
+
+Madeline moved to leave the room, saying, with a return to her former
+manner: "Good-night, step-mamma; try and go down to breakfast with me
+in the morning, won't you?"
+
+Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and swept across the
+hall, and Cora heard her door close behind her. Not deigning a single
+glance at Strong, Cora sat tapping her foot upon the carpet and
+reviewing the situation. After some angry musing, the practical side
+of her nature began to assert itself. She reflected that she was not,
+after all, in immediate danger; and that she would be still, to all
+outward appearance, the mistress of Oakley. There was not much to fear
+just now, and she would keep her eyes open.
+
+Meantime, she would not be unnecessarily uncomfortable. And so, being
+by nature indolent, she decided to make the most of the unwelcome
+Strong. Turning toward the statue-like figure near the door, she
+galvanized it into life by saying:
+
+"Strong, get my dressing-gown from that closet, and then take off my
+dress."
+
+And Strong commenced her duties with cheerful alacrity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+MYSTIFIED PEOPLE.
+
+
+John Arthur sat before a smoldering fire, gazing moodily down at the
+charred embers that had lost their glow and only showed a dark red
+light here and there, as if to assure one that there was fire in the
+grate.
+
+He was thinner than of old. His face wore a sickly pallor. His hands
+that clutched the arms of his invalid's chair worked incessantly,
+indicating surely that his nerves were in anything but a state of
+calm. He was feeble, too, in body; but his mind, spite of the verdict
+of the Bellair physician and the drugs of the Professor, was still
+unimpaired.
+
+In the solitude of the two rooms, out of which he had not once
+stepped since first he was removed to the west wing, he had had ample
+time for reflection; but he had by no means arrived at a state of
+mental beatitude.
+
+He had found it useless to struggle, useless to bluster, to argue or
+to plead. Henry was a merciless jailer, and Dr. Le Guise a sarcastic
+one.
+
+His breakfast had been served, and stood upon the table beside him;
+but he scarcely glanced at it. When Henry came in from the ante-room
+to remove the things, he said, without looking up: "Go ask Le Guise to
+come to me."
+
+Henry carried away the tray, deposited it in the ante-room, locked the
+door of the chamber carefully, and made his way to the breakfast-room.
+
+At that moment, the incongruous mixture called the family, were there
+assembled, including the Professor. The latter was just then
+discussing the condition of his patient with Miss Payne, in blissful
+ignorance of the fact that the young lady was fully conversant with
+his mode of treatment, and the true condition of her step-father's
+health.
+
+"You see, my dear young lady," the Professor said, pompously, "his is
+the worst form of insanity; the very worst. When a patient raves
+constantly we know precisely what to do with him. But when he is, at
+times, to all appearance, as sane as yourself, and yet liable at any
+moment to blaze out a perfect madman, one dislikes to treat him as a
+madman, and yet it is not safe to consider him a sane being."
+
+Madeline nodded, with a splendid assumption of profound interest.
+
+"It's a sad case," she said, pensively. "I almost dread the
+interview."
+
+"I think he is quite collected this morning, and he may be calm
+throughout. I hope so, for I should not like to have you witness one
+of his tantrums."
+
+"I have seen him in tantrums when he was considered sane," said the
+girl, with an odd intonation.
+
+Then looking up, she saw Henry, who had entered the room and stood
+staring at her in speechless amazement. Hagar had informed him that
+his young mistress was in the house. But he was not prepared for the
+vision of loveliness that the girl presented, as she turned toward him
+clad in her morning robe of snowy cashmere bordered with swansdown,
+and trailing after her like a train of snow. Luckily no one noted his
+start of surprise and quick glance of recognition, and Madeline said:
+
+"Is not that my step-father's attendant, doctor? I think he wants
+you."
+
+The "doctor" beckoned Henry to approach, and said, affably: "Well, and
+how is our patient, Henry?"
+
+"About as usual, sir. But he wants to see you."
+
+"Oh, he does? Poor soul, I'll come directly, Henry." Then, turning to
+Madeline: "Shall I break to him the news of your arrival?"
+
+"No; not unless you think it unsafe to surprise him."
+
+"On the contrary, an agreeable surprise might prove beneficial."
+
+The Professor, who had received sundry instructions from Davlin,
+assumed to be ignorant of the fact that the patient supposed his
+step-daughter dead.
+
+Smiling a little at the hypocrisy of the man, who pretended to have at
+heart the interest of a patient supposed to be in an excessively
+nervous state, yet was quite ready to expose that patient to the shock
+of meeting, without previous preparation, one supposed to be dead and
+in her grave, Madeline turned, and with a gesture brought Cora to her
+side.
+
+"Is Dr. Le Guise aware that my step-papa believes me to be dead?" she
+asked.
+
+Cora and the Professor looked dubiously at one another for an instant.
+Then the former, seeing her cue in the face of the latter, said: "He
+is not."
+
+"Well, step-mamma, I am going up to see him soon, and, on second
+thought, it will be best to have the doctor inform him of my
+resurrection."
+
+Cora nodded.
+
+"And," pursued the girl, "I will only say that I desire you, doctor,
+to inform him that I feigned death for reasons of my own. That I am
+here in the flesh, and will appear in his presence soon. When you have
+prepared him for my coming, have the goodness to come down and tell
+me."
+
+Saying this she turned away, after which the Professor quitted the
+room to obey the summons of his patient.
+
+Lucian Davlin had witnessed the interview, the summons and the
+departure, from a distance. He had found no opportunity for conversing
+with Cora, as yet, and was sorely puzzled by the present aspect of
+affairs.
+
+He had watched the two narrowly, but he found himself unable to read
+the true meaning lurking beneath the soft words that fell from the
+lips of Madeline. He could hear no jar in the music of her voice,
+could catch no glance that would give the lie to her honeyed words.
+She was playing her part like a born actress.
+
+He had not expected to see Cora accept the situation without a
+struggle. He was glad to find that there was to be no scene, and
+yet--somehow he felt himself at a disadvantage.
+
+He had viewed the situation from his stand-point, however, and had
+decided upon his course of action.
+
+First, he was resolved not to quit the field until he had made a
+desperate attempt to regain his power over the heiress of Oakley.
+Second, he would use stratagem in order to obtain an interview with
+her.
+
+In due time, Dr. Le Guise came among them once more, and announced to
+Madeline his readiness to conduct her into the presence of his
+patient.
+
+"He is quite prepared to see me, then?" questioned Madeline.
+
+"Quite, although I left him a trifle agitated and upset."
+
+As they paused at the door leading from the hall of the west wing, she
+said:
+
+"I will go in alone, Dr. Le Guise."
+
+"As you please." Then, as it were an afterthought. "I really believe,
+for your own safety, you had better keep Henry near you."
+
+"I shall be in no danger," she replied, and entered the outer chamber,
+closing and locking the door after herself.
+
+In answer to her knock, the door of the ante-chamber was unlocked and
+opened by Henry. Madeline swept across the threshold and extended her
+hand to the faithful fellow, saying:
+
+"Henry, I am glad to see you. I hope you do not find your present
+duties too heavy?"
+
+"Not since I knew I was serving you, miss," said the man,
+respectfully.
+
+"You are serving me, Henry. I need you here very much; and rest
+assured you shall have your reward for all you have done or may do for
+me."
+
+Evidently the prospect of reward was not unpleasing to him. His
+countenance beamed satisfaction.
+
+"And, Henry," continued his mistress, "attend to this. You are not, on
+any account, to give your charge any more of the medicine prepared for
+him by the doctor."
+
+A look of surprise shone from the eyes of the negro, but he answered
+simply, like the well-trained servant he was: "Yes, miss."
+
+"Above all, Henry, you are to let the doctor think that you administer
+all that he gives you."
+
+Henry signified that he fully understood and would obey his
+instructions. Then he opened the inner door, and John Arthur and
+Madeline Payne stood once more face to face!
+
+For a moment, the two eyed each other in silence. Then John Arthur
+said, with a sneer on his lip, and in a tone which proved clearly that
+time and imprisonment had not taught him meekness:
+
+"So, you young jade, what escapade have you been up to now? And how
+dare you come back here like a young princess? Why don't you keep out
+of my house?"
+
+Madeline laughed scornfully. "_Your_ house!--But I forgive you,
+step-papa; of course you are not accountable for your words."
+
+Her tone was mockery itself. The man found it difficult to restrain
+his wrath as he looked in her scornful face and said: "Don't dare to
+pretend to believe that I am crazy! Are you in league against me,
+too?"
+
+Wishing to draw from him just how much of the baseness of Cora he
+believed in, or suspected, she dropped her voice and asked, in assumed
+surprise: "Is it possible that you believe some one to be plotting
+against you?"
+
+"Is it _possible_! How else could I be kept shut up a prisoner in my
+own house?"
+
+The girl seemed to ponder. "Who is your enemy?" she asked.
+
+"Every one in this house."
+
+"What! Surely not your wife?"
+
+"I'm not so certain of that."
+
+"But she, too, has been sick."
+
+"Have they locked _her_ up?" snapped he.
+
+Madeline smiled. "Well, not exactly; she is not allowed much liberty,
+though."
+
+"Why won't she come and see me?"
+
+"Mercy! She is too delicate."
+
+"Seems to me you are well informed for one so lately arrived."
+
+"I _am_ well informed, Mr. Arthur. But I am not a late arrival."
+
+"What do you mean?" sullenly.
+
+"Just what I say," with an odd laugh. "I have been in this house since
+you were first put in these rooms."
+
+He sat like one stupefied. At last he sprang up and fairly yelled, "In
+the fiend's name, explain this chicanery. Why are you here? Who is
+keeping me a prisoner, and wherefore? Is it _you_, you little virago?"
+
+"Softly, step-papa; one thing at a time. I am here because _you_ are
+here," she said in a voice of unruffled calm. "Who is keeping you a
+prisoner, you ask? I am."
+
+Once more he seemed on the point of giving way to a paroxysm of rage,
+but controlled himself and said, sullenly:
+
+"I suppose I may thank you for my imprisonment from first to last."
+
+"You may thank me if you choose, but it will be bestowing your
+gratitude upon the wrong party. I did not lock you up. I simply
+permitted it."
+
+"And why have you leagued with my wife--curse her--to shut me up like
+a thief?"
+
+"Why?" her voice rising in angry scorn, "Do you ask me _why_? Why did
+you make my mother almost a prisoner in her own home? Why did you
+crush her in life, and blaspheme her in death? Why did you drive her
+daughter from the home that was hers, to escape from your cruelty,
+your insults, your avarice? John Arthur, how dare you ask me _why_ you
+are here!"
+
+Again the flashing eye, the ringing, wrathful voice, the white,
+uplifted hand. They menaced him again, as on that June evening when
+she had defied him and then fled out into the darkness, not to return,
+save in dreams, until now.
+
+Again he felt a thrill of terror, and he sat before her mute and
+cowering. At last he found voice to say: "Do you mean that you intend
+to keep me a prisoner?"
+
+Her eyes met his full. They were cold as snow and resolute as fate.
+"You will never leave these rooms until you accede to the terms I have
+to propose."
+
+Her audacity fairly stunned him. He fell back a pace as he said:
+"What--terms?"
+
+"First, you are to agree to resign the guardianship of my property.
+Second, you are to leave Oakley forthwith and forever, and to keep
+ever and always away from me and all that is mine."
+
+"Bah!" he cried, angrily, "do you think I am a fool? I won't resign my
+guardianship; the property is _mine_, not yours!"
+
+"Then I will choose a new guardian immediately. How ignorant of law
+you are, step-papa! Don't you know that you are legally _dead_? Don't
+you know that a lunatic can't hold property? Legally, I can choose a
+guardian to-morrow."
+
+"You she-devil! But I am not a lunatic!" sneered he.
+
+"How obtuse you are, step-papa! You _are_ a lunatic; we have the
+certificates of two physicians to that effect; and that is all the law
+requires. Now, be reasonable; what can you do?"
+
+"I'll get out, by heavens," he yelled; "and I'll put you in State's
+prison for false imprisonment!"
+
+She turned upon him with the utmost composure. "My dear sir, you have
+not one witness to prove that you are a sane man. There are many to
+prove that you have been subject to violent fits of madness."
+
+She turned again, and he, no longer seeking to control his rage,
+sprang toward her, uttering a volley of curses.
+
+During their entire interview, Henry had stood like a sentinel at the
+outer door of the ante-room, while that leading into the chamber of
+the prisoner stood wide open. At the first accent of rage, he darted
+forward; and as the girl sprang away from her step-father, that
+gentleman felt himself seized and hurled with scant ceremony to the
+middle of the room.
+
+"Don't you try that, sir!" cried Henry, in high wrath. "You won't find
+me a friend, if you do."
+
+"So," panted the old man, "this is one of your hirelings, is it? And
+pray, sir, what is this young fiend to pay you for your services?"
+
+"That's my affair," responded the man, coolly. "You can't buy me off;
+and if you try that game again, you will get yourself into a straight
+jacket."
+
+Madeline laughed, and said: "There, Henry, you need not be alarmed for
+me. But when you report this attack to the doctor, tell him that I
+think he had better take measures to secure his safety and yours, in
+case your patient should be again seized with a fit of violence."
+
+John Arthur immediately saw that he had damaged his own cause.
+
+"You had better sleep upon my proposition, Mr. Arthur," said Madeline,
+from the threshold. "If you pine for liberty, send for me. And don't
+think, for a moment, that I shall allow you to go free without taking
+the necessary precautions to insure myself against any trouble you
+might desire to make me. Adieu, Mr. Arthur." And she swept from the
+room.
+
+John Arthur stood for many minutes in the same place and attitude.
+When his anger would permit him, he began to wonder. She had come and
+gone, and how much the wiser was he? Where had she been all these
+months? Why had she allowed them to think her dead? Who were her
+friends, for friends she must have found? Why had her presence in the
+house, if she had been here, been kept from him? How had she gained
+the ascendancy over every one in that house? He thought so long and
+intensely that he started up, at last, almost beginning to fear that
+he was becoming mad.
+
+When Dr. Le Guise again came into his presence, he began to question
+him. But it was labor lost. Dr. Le Guise would not admit that he was a
+sane man. Dr. Le Guise knew nothing, absolutely nothing, outside the
+range of his professional duties. He was sorry for his patient; very
+sorry. He assumed to take all assertions on the part of Mr. Arthur as
+so many fresh evidences of insanity.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't try that, sir!" cried Henry, in high
+wrath.--page 375.]
+
+He was very grave, was Dr. Le Guise, but not to be moved. In fact, the
+prisoner fancied that he could observe in the doctor's tone, manner,
+and countenance, an unusual degree of complacency, and relish for his
+position and authority. And the prisoner was right. The reason for
+the doctor's placidity of manner was simply this:
+
+Madeline on leaving the rooms of the west wing, had encountered the
+worthy "doctor" just at the turn of the passage, and she had paused,
+saying:
+
+"Dr. Le Guise, you were right about my unfortunate step-father. He is
+quite mad, and really a dangerous charge. An ordinary fee is too
+little to offer you, considering what you have undertaken. I don't
+know what terms my step-mamma has made with you, but I will volunteer
+to double her price. You will be amply remunerated, and must consider
+the house and everything in it at your disposal, so long as you keep
+your patient safe, and do not permit him to do any mischief."
+
+The astute Professor had taken in the full meaning of her words, which
+served to quiet the fears that had haunted him since the advent of
+Miss Payne; fears that the young lady would prove to be an enemy, and
+one keen enough to fathom the secret they were keeping hidden in the
+west wing.
+
+He had seen that, for some reason, neither Cora nor Davlin dared, or
+did, oppose her. Now he fancied he understood the reason; it was
+because they did not fear her, for her interests were in common with
+theirs.
+
+"He is certainly a dangerous man," said the Professor, gravely; "I
+will obey your instructions to the letter."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+DAVLIN'S "POINTS."
+
+
+Madeline having left the morning-room, accompanied by the too
+observant Professor, Lucian saw at once his opportunity for a few
+words with Cora. Without too great an appearance of haste, he moved
+across the room, pausing before the fire, in front of which Miss
+Arthur was seated, and addressing to her a few careless words. Then he
+glanced at Percy, who sat at the most remote corner of the room,
+assuming to be much interested in some geological specimens in a
+little cabinet.
+
+Cora divined his intention. She knew, too, that this was the very best
+place for an interview, which she desired to make a brief one, being
+somewhat afraid of committing herself if she allowed him to ask too
+many questions. So she moved over to the window, and seated herself in
+a low chair.
+
+She had decided upon her own present course of action. She would play
+her part well while she remained at Oakley, and she would escape from
+it as soon as she had succeeded in blinding the eyes of her jailers,
+for she mentally acknowledged them as such.
+
+When Davlin at length crossed the room, and dropped carelessly down in
+the chair at her side, she lifted her eyes to his, and said,
+inquiringly: "Well?"
+
+He looked at her keenly for a moment. Then, not to lose any time by
+useless words, came straight at the point.
+
+"Time's precious, Co. We can't attract attention by a long dialogue,
+and yet we must talk things over. When can I find you alone?"
+
+"Not at all for a day or two."
+
+"Why not?" elevating his eyebrows.
+
+Cora rested her head upon her hand in such a way as to conceal from
+those at the opposite end of the room, the expression of her face, and
+said:
+
+"Because I want to be sure that we can talk without being observed.
+Miss Payne seems very friendly, and has given me her maid because,
+she says, an invalid needs waiting on, and she sleeps in my
+dressing-room. I don't want to excite suspicion by sending her away,
+in order to admit you, and--I don't see that there is much to be
+said."
+
+Lucian seemed weighing her words for a moment. Then he asked: "What do
+you make of Miss Payne?"
+
+"What do you make of her?" she retorted, quickly.
+
+"Nothing, as yet."
+
+"No more do I."
+
+Another brief silence, and then he asked: "Do you think there is any
+immediate danger--for us?"
+
+"As how?"
+
+"From him: Arthur."
+
+Now came Cora's grand coup. She felt pretty sure that Lucian knew of
+her interview with Madeline, and believed that she would be telling
+him no news when she said:
+
+"Listen! She went with me to my room last night, and she asked a good
+many questions about him. And I am sure of this: she is no friend to
+him, and if she sees no reason for suspecting any of us, she won't
+trouble herself about him. She told me that she ran away from home
+because she had been so oppressed by him, and that his attempt to
+marry her off, in order to put money in his own pocket, was only one
+among many of the things she had endured at his hands. Of one thing I
+am sure: the old man may be a stumbling-block to us, but he is an
+object of positive hatred to her."
+
+Cora uttered this combination of truth and falsehood without the least
+compunction. If she could have warned him of the danger hanging over
+them without jeopardizing herself, she would have done so. But that,
+she knew, was impossible.
+
+He had planned this "game" which now bade fair to be such an utter
+failure, and if anyone must suffer, why, let it be him. And then, too,
+she reasoned, she had not gathered from the words of Madeline that she
+suspected Mr. Davlin of duplicity of any kind. As for the Professor,
+Cora cared little what became of him. She could gain nothing and
+might, doubtless would, lose much by warning him.
+
+Lastly, Cora assured herself that were their positions reversed, and
+Lucian the one who saw that his own safety lay in leaving her to her
+fate, he would not scruple to make her his scapegoat. And in this she
+was quite right.
+
+Again the man seemed to puzzle over some knotty, mental question. Then
+he arose, and leaning against the window frame in a favorite attitude,
+glanced across at Percy and the spinster as he asked, slowly: "Did she
+say anything about me?"
+
+Cora looked up in genuine surprise. "About you? No; why should she?"
+
+"I mean," he said, "did she say anything to cause you to think that
+she suspected us?"
+
+"No," shortly; "why should she? She never saw either of us until
+yesterday."
+
+"What do you think brought her back here just now?"
+
+"It's easy enough to see why she came back. She has heard of the
+insanity of Mr. Arthur, and has come, as she said, to take possession
+of her own."
+
+Another pause; then Cora said: "Is the Professor 'up' to anything
+new?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then don't let him take the alarm. It would hurt us. We can't run
+now, and I don't think we have much to fear. We will lose the
+money--that's all."
+
+Lucian looked out upon the evergreens and graveled walks of Oakley,
+and said, under his breath: "Will we?"
+
+Then he turned upon his heel and sauntered out of the room.
+
+The question that was then uppermost in his mind, the question that
+had been since the first shock of her reappearance had given him time
+to think, was, why had Madeline returned to Oakley?
+
+Was it, as she alleged, because she had changed her mind, and wanted
+to be mistress of her own? Or was it because he was there? If he could
+convince himself that the latter reason was the true one, then he
+would know how to act.
+
+She had kept herself informed of affairs at Oakley. Then she must have
+known of the fact that the so-called brother of John Arthur's wife was
+Lucian Davlin. She must have known that. Of course she knew it. Did
+not her manner on the evening of her arrival prove that? Not for one
+instant did she lose her self-possession. Had his presence been
+unexpected, she could hardly have restrained every sign of emotion, of
+recognition. Clearly, she was prepared for their meeting.
+
+Ah! now he was getting at things. If she came to Oakley, knowing him
+to be established there as a member of the family, she came
+_expecting_ to meet him. She was not afraid of him, then. She was not
+averse to meeting him. Perhaps--he began to think it highly
+probable--she came solely to meet him. If so, did she come for love,
+or--for revenge?
+
+If she came for revenge why did she not denounce him? But no, she
+would hardly do that. What woman would? But she might have assumed
+toward him a more hostile attitude.
+
+Finally, his masculine vanity helped him to a conclusion. A woman
+seldom forgets her first love so easily, and he could meet her so
+differently now. She had _not_ forgotten her love for him. He could
+win it back, and her forgiveness with it. And then--then, if he could
+but manage Cora, what would hinder him from marrying her, and being
+in clover ever after! He was tired of roving; they could go to the
+city; he need not give up gaming, and--he really loved the girl; had
+loved her since the day she had escaped from his snare.
+
+Having arrived at this stage in his day-dream, he began to feel
+buoyant. And when he heard from the Professor the result of Madeline's
+visit to her step-father, his complacency was at high tide.
+
+"It's all in a nutshell to me," said the Professor, as they smoked
+their confidential cigars in the privacy of Lucian's own room. "Mind,
+I don't suppose she _is_ up to our game; she can't be, you know; but
+she is pretty thoroughly convinced that what she thinks is his
+insanity, is but temporary."
+
+"How do you know that?" interrupted Lucian, sharply.
+
+"Not from anything _she_ said; I had very few words with her. But look
+here, Davlin, isn't this a clear case enough? When I went up to see
+the old fool, after their interview, I find him in a paroxysm of rage.
+Of course he makes his complaint; his _ravings_ informed me of this:
+She told him that she did not really think him very crazy herself, but
+two doctors _did_, and she didn't feel called to dispute them. She
+told him that he could not prove himself sane in any court in America;
+and that he, being insane, was dead in law; and she was going to
+choose another guardian."
+
+Lucian Davlin fairly bounded from the chair. "That's it!" he
+ejaculated under his breath.
+
+"Then," pursues the Professor, puffing away tranquilly, "she comes
+straight from this interview and meets me, to whom she says that, 'It
+is a most deplorable and dangerous case; that he is really liable to
+attack me or Henry at any moment; that I must take every precaution
+and guard against his sudden attack, even if I were forced to confine
+him still more closely; and that she had suspected him of partial
+insanity long ago.' Now, what do you think of that?"
+
+Precisely what he thought it was not Mr. Davlin's intention to tell.
+One idea, however, he expressed promptly enough: "I think," he said,
+leaning a little forward and looking full at his companion, "that you
+had better take the advice of Miss Payne. Confine him close, the
+closer the better; but don't drug him any more at present!"
+
+The Professor nodded serenely as he said: "Right, quite right. Just
+what I was about to suggest."
+
+He might have added that he had resolved upon taking the course
+indicated, even if the suggestion had not been made. "The young lady
+holds the winning cards," he had assured himself. "I will take her
+orders before I get myself in too deep!" His "too deep" meant deep as
+the grave.
+
+And now Lucian had a new subject for conjecture. If Miss Payne
+proposed to appoint for herself a guardian, who would she select? Who
+had been caring for her during all these months? Was it man or woman?
+
+The only information she had volunteered had been implied rather than
+spoken. In answer to Miss Arthur's rather abrupt query at the
+breakfast table, as to how she had managed to prosper so well in a
+strange city where she had no friends, the girl had replied, with a
+little laugh:
+
+"I suppose it has never occurred to either yourself or Mr. Arthur that
+I might have found out some of my mother's friends. I was put in
+possession of my mother's journal on the very day that I ran away from
+Oakley. I am not so friendless as you may think."
+
+Lucian was again puzzled, but knowing the girl as he did, he was not
+prepared to believe that a guardian, in the form of a lover, would
+appear. He was now convinced that Cora, whom at first he had somewhat
+doubted, was not for some unknown reason attempting to deceive him.
+
+The Professor's story had corroborated hers, and given him, as he
+expressed it, "a fresh point" in his game. But alas for Lucian! Every
+fancied discovery only beguiled him farther and farther from the
+truth, and rendered him more and more blind to the chains that were
+being forged about him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+THE DAYS PASS BY.
+
+
+Several days passed and still Lucian Davlin had not found the much
+wished for opportunity to converse with Madeline. Neither had he been
+able to find Cora alone. Visit her room when he would, there was the
+burly waiting-maid. Finally Cora had warned him, with some asperity,
+that his "actions looked rather suspicious," and then he obeyed her
+gentle hint and remained aloof.
+
+Two days after the bestowal of Strong, the maid, upon the
+not-too-grateful Cora, an angular, grenadier-looking female presented
+herself at the servants' entrance, announcing that she was "the new
+maid;" and she was installed as high priestess of Madeline's
+apartments without loss of time.
+
+The servants below stairs made comments, as servants will. Even Miss
+Arthur, Percy, and Davlin agreed in calling the two maids,
+respectively, "Grenadier" and "Griffin."
+
+But only Cora knew that the two were better learned in the art of
+spying than in matters of the toilet. She knew herself to be under
+continual surveillance. Above stairs or below, Madeline or Hagar,
+Strong or Joliffe were not far away. And yet she had not abandoned her
+plan of escaping.
+
+One morning, Cora, looking from the window of her dressing room, saw
+two men moving about in the grounds below. Upon commenting upon their
+presence there, Strong had answered, readily;
+
+"Yes, madame, Joliffe tells me that they are here to sink a well. Miss
+Payne has decided to have a fountain among those cedar trees, and they
+are to go to work immediately."
+
+"But a well in winter! They can't dig."
+
+"They don't dig; they bore. It's to be a fountain, madame."
+
+But in spite of the "fountain" explanation, Cora knew that the house
+was guarded from without as well as from within.
+
+"It's no use to warn Lucian, or anybody, now," she thought. "It would
+only get us all into worse trouble."
+
+But still she did not abandon the thoughts of her own escape.
+
+And now began a time of trial for poor Ellen Arthur. Madeline Payne,
+after studiously ignoring the two men for some days, began to unbend.
+She commenced by conversing with Percy, listening to his slow and
+stately sentences, smiling her approval, and completely captivating
+that susceptible gentleman. Then, by degrees, she drew Lucian into the
+conversation, and smiled upon and listened to him.
+
+All this Cora observed, wondering what the girl was trying to do;
+while the spinster looked on in untold agony, fearful lest this fair
+sorceress should avenge herself for some of her childish grievances by
+robbing her of her lover.
+
+Meanwhile Lucian Davlin interpreted all this in his own favor. "She
+is proud and still resentful," he thought. "And she is using Percy as
+a medium of approach to me."
+
+At last Lucian, growing impatient, resorted to an old, old trick. He
+watched his opportunity, and one evening, as Madeline was following
+Cora from the drawing-room, the door of which he was holding open for
+their exit, he pushed into her hand a small scrap of paper.
+
+She would have dropped it; her first impulse was to do so, but Cora
+turned as her hand was about to loosen its clasp upon the fragment. So
+she passed on, carrying it with her to her own room. There she opened
+it and read these pencilled words:
+
+     For God's sake do not torture me longer. You have condemned
+     me without a hearing. Be as merciful as you are strong and
+     lovely. At least let me see you alone, when I can plead for
+     myself.
+
+Half an hour later, Hagar tapped at his door. When he opened it, she
+put in his hand a bit of paper, on which were these faintly-pencilled
+lines:
+
+     If you desire my friendship, you must date our acquaintance
+     from this week. You never knew me in the past.
+
+"And she is right," muttered he; "the Madeline Payne of last summer,
+and the Madeline Payne of now, are to each other as the chrysalis to
+the butterfly, in beauty; as the kitten to the panther, in spirit; as
+the babe to the woman, in mind. That Madeline pleased me; this one, I
+love."
+
+So he accepted the position, and did not give up striving to draw from
+her some special word, or look, or tone, that he need not feel
+belonged as much to Percy as to himself.
+
+Meantime Percy was revolving various things in his learned head.
+
+He had been, as a matter of course, deeply impressed with her beauty,
+and he had been much puzzled as well.
+
+Having witnessed her arrival, he had fully expected rebellion from
+Cora, for Cora was not the woman to be barred out from a prospective
+fortune and make no sign. But there was no war, and no indications of
+battle. Cora and the heiress were wonderfully friendly. Mr. Percy
+could not understand it.
+
+The manner of Davlin toward him had not changed in the least,
+remaining as studiously polite as when he was so cordially invited to
+take up his abode under the hospitable roof of Oakley.
+
+That of Cora was decidedly different. While before she addressed him
+with a sort of conciliating courtesy, and had seemed desirous of
+furthering his plans and hastening on his marriage with Miss Arthur,
+she now manifested an almost contemptuous indifference, not only to
+himself, but to his _fiancé_.
+
+True to her nature, Cora was gathering up what gleams of satisfaction
+she could. When she had become assured that it was not Percy who held
+possession of her stolen papers, and that the girl in whose hands they
+were was more his enemy than hers, she rejoiced in his discomfiture to
+come. Seeing that it was no longer necessary to propitiate her enemy,
+she indulged in the luxury of acting out her hatred, when she could
+without betraying to Davlin this change, which might require an
+explanation.
+
+That some sort of understanding existed between Miss Payne and Cora,
+Percy instantly surmised, and every day confirmed the belief. That
+Miss Payne held the power, he also believed. So believing, he began to
+wonder if it were not better to "be off with the old love," and seek
+to win the heiress, for the vanity of Mr. Percy inspired him to
+believe that it would not be a hopeless task. He had heard, however,
+of that person who, "between two stools," fell to the ground, and he
+was careful not to reveal to Miss Arthur the laxity of his affections.
+
+And so the days moved on.
+
+Percy dividing his attention between his _fiancé_ and Miss Payne;
+studying the latter, and closely watching Davlin and Cora.
+
+That last named lady smiling and lounging below stairs, sulking and
+smoking above, and always under surveillance.
+
+Davlin, having assured Cora that he was acting from motives politic,
+paying open court to Madeline.
+
+That young lady calmly acting her part, thoroughly understanding and
+heartily despising them all.
+
+John Arthur alternately raging and sulking, obdurately refusing to
+accede to his step-daughter's terms, and vowing to escape and wreak
+vengeance upon every one of them.
+
+"Dr. Le Guise," calm as a Summer morning, and taking more real ease
+and comfort than all the others combined.
+
+Hagar watchful and anxious.
+
+The two new maids making themselves popular in the kitchen, and
+"sleeping with their eyes open."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And still no clue by which Madeline and her efficient _aides de camp_
+could unravel the web of doubt that still clung about, and kept a
+prisoner, the long-suffering Philip Girard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.
+
+
+After some days of outward calm, came a ripple upon the surface of
+events.
+
+It had been a dull, cloudy day, with occasional gusts of wind and
+rain; wind that chilled to the very marrow, and rain that froze as it
+fell.
+
+The three men, Davlin, Percy and the Professor, had been constrained
+to abandon their customary morning walk, with cigar accompaniment, up
+and down the terrace. And the well-borers had been obliged to stop
+their work.
+
+Mrs. Arthur had kept her room and her bed all day long, afflicted by a
+raging toothache. Strong was kept at her side, almost constantly
+applying hot water, laudanum and various other local applications. As
+the day advanced, the sufferer seemed growing worse; and when Madeline
+came in to administer consolation, and see if the woman were really
+ill, Cora sent for Dr. Le Guise, vowing she would have the tooth out,
+and every other one in her head, if the pain did not stop. But when
+the Professor arrived, her courage failed her. She drew back at the
+sight of the formidable forceps, saying that she would "try and endure
+it a little longer; it seemed a bit easier just then."
+
+All this Madeline noted. Retiring from the room she signaled to Strong
+to follow her out. "What do you think of her?" questioned Madeline of
+the latter, as the door closed between them and Cora.
+
+Strong looked dubious. "I really don't know what to think, Miss
+Payne," she said. "If it is shamming, it is the best I ever saw."
+
+"True," answered Madeline; "I am at a loss. You had better apply some
+test, Strong, and--keep all your medicines out of her reach. Don't let
+her get any laudanum, or anything; and presently report to me. She
+must not be left alone, however; when I send Joliffe in, do you come
+to me."
+
+Madeline passed on to her own room, and Strong returned to her
+patient.
+
+When Joliffe went to her relief, Strong presented herself before
+Madeline, saying: "I can't think she is shamming, Miss Payne. I
+suggested a mustard blister, and she never made a murmur. I put it on
+awful strong, and she declared that it was nothing to the pain. When I
+took it off her cheek was red as flannel, and she wanted it put on
+again. She says it relieves her, and thinks if the pain don't come
+back she will sleep. I made sure of the bottles all the same," added
+Strong. "I have used a lot of chloroform on her, but of course some
+would evaporate." And she held up to view a half-filled chloroform
+vial.
+
+She was right; full half an ounce had "evaporated," during the brief
+minute when she had stood in the hall to confer with Madeline.
+
+Altogether, Strong had a hard day.
+
+Cora kept her continually on her feet. The blinds must be opened, and
+shut again, every fifteen minutes. The room was too hot, and the fire
+must be smothered. Then it was too cold, and the fire must be
+stimulated to a blaze. And no one could wait upon her but Strong.
+
+As night came on, the paroxysms of pain returned in full force, and
+Strong was implored once more to apply the soothing mustard.
+
+When Madeline looked in at ten o'clock, Cora was groaning in misery,
+and Strong was applying a blister. When she again looked in, an hour
+later, the invalid, with blistered face and fevered eyes, feebly
+declared herself a "trifle easier," and Strong was bathing her head
+with _eau de Cologne_.
+
+Madeline soon retired to her room, and her couch. But for half an
+hour longer, Cora kept the now yawning Strong at her side. Then she
+said:
+
+"Go now and get some rest, Strong. Leave the mustard on my face, and
+then I think I can sleep. I am getting drowsy now."
+
+Strong replaced the mustard, and raked up the fire. Then she looked
+carefully to the fastenings of the doors, and returned to the bedside.
+Already her mistress was in a heavy slumber.
+
+Putting in her pocket the keys of both doors, Strong retired to the
+dressing-room and, loosening her garments, threw herself down wearily
+upon a couch, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the just, and
+breathing heavily.
+
+For some moments after the loud breathing told that her maid was
+asleep, Cora lay quietly, but with eyes wide open. Then she stirred,
+making a slight noise, but the heavy breathing continued as before.
+
+Cora now raised herself up on her elbow and again listened. Still the
+heavy breathing. Again she moved audibly, at the same time calling
+softly: "Strong!"
+
+But Strong slumbered on.
+
+Quickly snatching the bandages from her much enduring face, Cora
+sprang lightly from the bed. Taking something from under her pillows,
+she stole noiselessly into the dressing-room and up to the couch of
+the sleeping Strong. In another instant there was a pungent odor in
+the room, and something white and moist lay over the musical proboscis
+of the slumbering giantess.
+
+In five minutes more, Cora Arthur stood arrayed in a dark traveling
+suit, with a pair of walking boots in one hand, and the key of her
+chamber door in the other. Swiftly and silently as a professional
+house-breaker, she opened the door and passed out, closing it quietly
+behind her.
+
+Like a shadow she glided down the now unlighted stairway, and through
+the dark and silent hall, in the direction of the dining-room. Turning
+to the left, she paused before a side door, the very door through
+which Madeline had escaped on a certain eventful June night, and
+noiselessly undid the fastenings. In another moment she was outside,
+and the door had closed behind her.
+
+She drew a long breath of relief, and sat down to put on her shoes.
+Her escape was well timed; the train for the city, the midnight
+express, was due in twenty minutes. Strong would hardly waken before
+that time, and then--she would be flying across the country at the
+heels of the iron horse.
+
+Rising to her feet, she took one step in the darkness--only one. Then
+a light suddenly flashed before her eyes, a heavy hand grasped her
+arm, and a gruff voice said: "This is a bad night for ladies to be
+abroad. You had better go back, ma'am!"
+
+Cora made a desperate effort to free herself, but the hand held her as
+in a vise, and the bull's eye of the dark lantern flashed in her face
+as the speaker continued:
+
+"Yes, you are the identical one I am looking for. Got a red
+face--toothache didn't make you a trifle lightheaded, did it? Come,
+turn about, quick!"
+
+And Cora knew that Madeline Payne had not been as blind as she had
+seemed. It was useless to struggle, useless to protest. The strong
+hand pushed her toward the entrance. The man gripped the lantern in
+his teeth, while he opened the door, and pushing her through, followed
+after. Closing the door again, and never once releasing his hold upon
+her, he forced her unwilling feet to retrace their steps, saying, as
+they ascended the stairs:
+
+"Show the way to your own room, if you don't want me to rouse the
+house."
+
+Quivering with rage, Cora pointed to the door, and was immediately
+ushered, with more force than politeness, back into her own
+dressing-room and the presence of her still insensible maid.
+
+"Now, then," said her tormentor, "where is Miss Payne's room? No
+nonsense, mind; I'm not a flat."
+
+Cora, thoroughly convinced of the truth of this statement, sullenly
+directed him to Madeline's door.
+
+"Stand where you are," was the next command of the man; "it might jar
+your tooth to move."
+
+And Cora stood where he had left her, while he aroused Miss Payne and
+communicated to her the news of the night's exploit.
+
+In a very few moments Joliffe appeared, and without so much as casting
+a glance at Cora, set herself to arouse the stupefied Strong--a feat
+which was soon accomplished, for the woman had nearly exhausted the
+effects of her sleeping potion. A moment later, and Madeline appeared
+upon the threshold. After surveying the scene in silence for an
+instant, she entered the room, closed the door, and said with a laugh
+that set Cora's blood boiling: "So you were tired of our society, and
+fancied that you could outwit me? Undeceive yourself, madame; it is
+not in your power to escape from my hands, and whatever fate I choose
+to adjudge you."
+
+Then turning to the man, she said: "You have done well, Morris; this
+kind of work you will find more profitable than well-boring. You may
+go now."
+
+The man bowed respectfully, and silently quitted the room.
+
+Then Madeline addressed Joliffe: "You will stay here the remainder of
+the night. Let Strong sleep; she is not to blame for permitting her
+charge to escape, and she will be more wary in future."
+
+[Illustration: "This is a bad night for ladies to be abroad!"--page
+393.]
+
+Then turning again to Cora, who had flung herself in a chair and sat
+gazing from one to the other in sullen silence, she said, with a smile
+on her lips: "You should not work against your own interests, Mrs.
+Arthur. Had you succeeded in escaping on the midnight express, who,
+think you, would have been summoned to meet you on your arrival in the
+city?"
+
+"Doubtless an officer," replied the woman, doggedly. "I might have
+known you for a sleuth hound who would guard every avenue."
+
+"Thanks; you do me honor. I should not have summoned an officer,
+however; there is some one else waiting anxiously to welcome you
+there."
+
+"Indeed," sarcastically; "who?"
+
+"_Old Verage._"
+
+Cora started up in her chair. "For God's sake, _what_ are you?"
+
+"A witch," said the girl, demurely. "I am as old as the world, and can
+fly through the air on a broomstick, so don't think to escape me
+again, step-mamma. I trust you will enjoy your brief repose, for it
+will soon be morning, and if I don't see your fair face at the
+breakfast table, I shall not be content."
+
+Cora put two fingers to her blistered cheek, saying: "You can't ask me
+to come down with this face."
+
+"True, I can't. Good-night, step-mamma; it would have been better if
+you had let the doctor pull that tooth."
+
+And Miss Payne swept away, leaving the would-be fugitive to her own
+reflections.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+THE DOCTOR'S WOOING.
+
+
+Mrs. Ralston had become to Olive Girard as one of the family. There
+was a strange affinity between the two women, who had known so much of
+sorrow, so many dark, dark days. As yet, however, there was not entire
+confidence. Mrs. Ralston knew nothing of the movements then on foot to
+liberate the husband of her hostess; and Olive knew no more of Mrs.
+Ralston's past than had been communicated by Claire, which was in
+reality but very little.
+
+Dr. Vaughan had become an ardent admirer of the grave, sweet, pale
+lady, who had, in her turn, conceived a very earnest admiration for
+him.
+
+Always a close student of the human countenance, Mrs. Ralston had not
+been long in reading in the face of the young man his regard for
+Claire Keith. Having discovered this, she studied him still more
+attentively, coming, at last, to the conclusion that he was worthy of
+her beloved Claire.
+
+But Claire appeared ever under a strange restraint in the presence of
+Dr. Vaughan. She seemed always to endeavor to keep either her sister
+or her friend at her side, as if she found herself more at ease while
+in their proximity. Evidently she was keeping close guard over
+herself. And just as evidently she was glad to be in the presence of
+Clarence Vaughan when supported by her sister and friend, and safe
+from a _tête-á-tête_.
+
+Mrs. Ralston was really troubled by this apparent misunderstanding, or
+whatever it might be, that rendered Claire less cordial towards Dr.
+Vaughan than she would have been to one who was only a friend, and far
+less worthy of friendship. She mentally resolved, when a fitting
+opportunity should occur, to endeavor to win the confidence of the
+girl, for she saw that two natures, formed to love each other, were
+drifting apart, with no prospect of a better understanding. And that
+opportunity came sooner than she had expected.
+
+One day, a day destined to be always remembered by the chief actors in
+our strange drama, Mrs. Ralston seated herself at a davenport in Mrs.
+Girard's pretty library to write a letter to Mr. Lord. The promptness
+and energy of that good man had completely baffled the acute
+detective, and the danger which Mrs. Ralston had so much feared, the
+danger of being discovered by her worthless husband, was now past.
+
+She had entered the library through the drawing-room and, both rooms
+being untenanted, had left the door of communication between them half
+open.
+
+Sitting thus, she heard the door of the drawing-room open, and the
+rustle of feminine garments betokened the entrance of one of her
+friends. Presently soft ripples of music fell upon her ear, and she
+knew that it was Claire who was now at the piano, playing dreamily,
+softly, as if half fearful of awakening some beloved sleeper.
+
+After a few moments, the ripple changed to a plaintive minor
+accompaniment, that had in it an undertone as of far-off winds and
+waves. Then the full, clear voice of the girl rang out in that most
+beautiful of songs, which alone should make famous the genius of Jean
+Ingelow and Virginie Gabriel:
+
+    "When sparrows build and the leaves break forth,
+        My old sorrow wakes and cries."
+
+The singer sang on, all unconscious that two listeners were noting the
+passion and pain in her voice:
+
+    "How could I tell I could love thee to-day,
+       When that day I held not dear?
+    How could I know I should love thee, away,
+       When I did not love thee near?"
+
+As the last note died away in sorrowful vibrations, Mrs. Ralston, in
+the library, was conscious of tears trickling down her cheek.
+
+At the same moment there was a discordant crash among the piano keys,
+and Claire's voice was saying, almost angrily: "Dr. Vaughan! how came
+you here? How dared you--"
+
+There was a suspicious tremor in her voice, and she stopped speaking,
+as if too proud to show how very much she had been thrown off her
+guard.
+
+"Forgive me, Miss Keith," the deep voice of Clarence Vaughan
+responded. "Believe me, I did not intend my presence as an
+impertinence. Your servant admitted me, and I thought it not wrong to
+enter unannounced, although I hardly hoped to find you alone. Surely
+you do not blame me for my silence while you sang?"
+
+Claire made no reply. She was strongly tempted to fly and let Clarence
+Vaughan think what he would. But before she could stir, he had moved a
+step nearer and was looking straight down in her eyes.
+
+"Claire," he said, in tones of reverential tenderness, "I have waited
+for the time to come when I might say to you what you must let me say
+now. You have seemed to avoid me of late; I can not guess why. And
+to-day, as I listened to your song, a new thought, a new fear, has
+entered my mind. Claire, tell me, have you read the love that has
+been in my heart since I first saw your face, and have you sought to
+shun me because you love another?"
+
+While he was uttering this speech, Claire Keith had regained her
+self-command, and her answer now came low and clear: "Dr. Vaughan, you
+have not guessed aright. I have not avoided you because I love
+another."
+
+"Claire, nature did not make you an actress. There was love in your
+voice when you sang that song!"
+
+"Thank you," coolly; "I have been taught to sing with expression."
+
+"Claire, Claire Keith, I beg you answer me truly; do you really
+dislike me? You say you do not love another; could you learn to love
+me?"
+
+No answer.
+
+"Tell me, Claire, do you not know how deeply I love you?"
+
+Silence.
+
+"Claire, Claire, speak to me. End this suspense. Will you not try to
+love me?"
+
+She moved away from him, and avoiding his eyes, answered in an odd,
+hard voice: "No, Dr. Vaughan, I will not try to love you."
+
+His next words were uttered almost tremulously. "Ah! I understand. I
+have displeased you; tell me how."
+
+"You have never displeased me. You are goodness itself. Let me pass,
+Doctor Vaughan; I must not listen to you."
+
+"Must not? Then you do avoid me?"
+
+"Yes," almost inaudibly.
+
+"Why?" stepping before her and cutting off her retreat.
+
+"I won't tell you. Yes, I will, too. Oh, how blind you are! How can
+you love me when--when there is some one better, better a thousand
+times, and braver, too. Some one whose life needs your love, because
+it has been so loveless always. I won't love you. I won't listen to
+you. If you want me to be your friend, make the life that is giving
+its best to others, as happy as it deserves to be. And--don't ever
+talk--like this--to me again."
+
+Before he could open his lips, or put out a hand to detain her, she
+had rushed from the room.
+
+Clarence Vaughan gazed after the flying form in speechless grief and
+amazement. Then flinging himself into a chair, he bowed his head upon
+his hands in sorrowful meditation. Sitting thus he did not perceive
+the approach of some one, who laid a hand lightly upon his bowed head,
+murmuring: "Blind! blind! blind!"
+
+Starting up, he saw the face of Mrs. Ralston bending toward him and
+wearing an expression of mingled compassion and amusement.
+
+"Forgive me," she said, her countenance resuming its usual gravity. "I
+was in the library, and heard all. I listened willfully, too, for I
+have been observing you and Claire, and I want to help you."
+
+Clarence dropped disconsolately back in his chair. "If you have heard
+all," he said, "you know that it is useless to try to help me."
+
+Mrs. Ralston laughed outright. "If you were not blind you would not
+need my help," she said. "As it is, you do."
+
+"Mrs. Ralston, what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean that your battle is half won. If you will explain to me one
+half her words, I will explain to you the other half."
+
+"You are laughing at me," he said, wearily. "What can you explain?"
+
+"That ridiculous girl commanded you to bestow your love upon some more
+worthy object; some one who was living for others; or some such words.
+Whom did she mean, may I ask?"
+
+He started up as if inspired by a new thought. "I see!" he exclaimed;
+"She must have meant--a very dear friend of hers."
+
+He could not say the name that was in his thought. It would sound like
+egotism.
+
+"That is sufficient," said the lady. "Now, I am going to betray
+Claire, as she has betrayed this other one. You foolish fellow, can't
+you see that the child loves you and is striving to do a Quixotic
+thing by giving you up to her friend? Think over her words and manner,
+and don't take her at her bidding. If this other, to whom Claire
+commands you to turn, is a true woman, she would not thank you for the
+offer of a preoccupied heart."
+
+"She is a true woman," said Clarence, emphatically. "And as dear to me
+as a sister could be, but--"
+
+"Then let her be a sister still," said Mrs. Ralston, quietly. "And
+don't lose any time in persuading Claire that she is wronging herself
+as well as you; and that you would be wronging still more this friend
+whom you both love, were you to offer her so pitiful a thing as a hand
+without a heart. She is a true woman, you say. If so, she would never
+forgive that. Believe me, Dr. Vaughan, there are even worse depths of
+sorrow than to have loved worthily--and lost."
+
+Mrs. Ralston turned and went softly from the room.
+
+For a few moments, Clarence Vaughan stood wrapped in thought. Then his
+face became illuminated as he said, half aloud: "What a fool I have
+been, that I should have so misunderstood that dear girl! Oh, I can be
+patient now, and bide my time."
+
+And now his reverie was broken in upon by Olive, who entered
+hurriedly, saying: "Doctor Vaughan, are you here alone? I thought
+Claire was with you."
+
+He made no answer to this remark, but said, as he took her proffered
+hand: "I ran down to tell you that I have taken the detectives off.
+Jarvis is still in our pay, in case of emergency. He has sent his
+report to Davlin, and a scant one it was. Of course, Davlin is glad to
+have him withdraw; that is, if he knows, as he must, that the papers
+are not in Percy's hands."
+
+"Then all depends upon Madeline now?"
+
+"All depends upon Madeline."
+
+"Poor Philip," sighed Olive, "what would he say if he knew that his
+fate rests in the hands of a mere girl?"
+
+"If he knew of that 'mere girl' what we know, he would say that his
+fate could not rest in better hands. No man ever had a more efficient
+champion, nor one half so brave and beautiful."
+
+They had not dared to tell Philip of the hope that was daily growing
+stronger in their hearts; if they failed, he should be thrust back
+into no gulf of black darkness because they had cheated him with a
+false hope.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+A FRESH COMPLICATION.
+
+
+On leaving so abruptly the companionship of Dr. Vaughan, Claire rushed
+straight to her room. Closing and locking the door, she flung herself
+down upon a couch and indulged in a hearty cry. She was at once happy
+and sorry, angry and pleased. Presently, Claire sat up and began to
+review things more calmly.
+
+"What a wretched little dunce I am!" she soliloquized. "And what must
+he think of me! Well!" with a little sigh, "the worse his opinion of
+me, the better for Madeline. And here I am this minute, in spite of
+myself, actually rejoicing in my heart because he has not done the
+very thing I have resolved that he should do. But he never will know
+it. Neither shall any one else. I won't give him another chance to
+talk to me; no, not if I have to take to my heels ten times a day.
+It's only right that I should give him up; I, indeed, who fancied
+myself in love with a white-handed, yellow-haired villain."
+
+At this point in her meditations, some one rapped softly at her door.
+
+"Claire, dear," said a soft voice, "open your door; I want to come
+in."
+
+It was Mrs. Ralston, and Claire advanced slowly and turned the key in
+the lock.
+
+"I--I thought it was somebody else," she said, hypocritically. "Come
+in, Mrs. Ralston."
+
+Thus invited, the lady entered. Without making a comment on the
+disturbed appearance of her young friend, she crossed to the window,
+and sitting down in a cosy dressing-chair, said: "Come directly here,
+young lady, and sit down on that ottoman."
+
+Looking somewhat surprised, the girl obeyed.
+
+"Claire, my child, I have a confession to make. I was in the library
+while you sang: 'When sparrows build.'"
+
+The girl's cheek flushed and then paled; but she made no answer.
+
+"And," pursued Mrs. Ralston, "I heard more than your song."
+
+No reply.
+
+"And more than your words!"
+
+"More than--my--my words?"
+
+"Yes; I heard your heart's secret."
+
+Claire's face drooped. "What do you mean?" she asked, deprecatingly.
+
+"My darling, I mean that your heart spoke through your voice, and it
+belied your words. Why did you deny your love for so noble a man?"
+
+Claire raised her head. "I didn't!" she said, suddenly, as if driven
+to bay.
+
+"No," smiled Mrs. Ralston. "You were a wily little serpent. But you
+deceived him."
+
+"I don't care," doggedly.
+
+"Now you are telling a fib!"
+
+"Well, I am not sorry, then," getting hold of her monitor's hand. "Why
+do you turn against poor me, when I am trying to do my duty?"
+
+"Because you are not doing your duty."
+
+"Yes, I am; indeed, I am. You don't know."
+
+"Then tell me, and let me be your friend and adviser."
+
+"But you can't advise," objected Claire, "because you don't know
+the--the other one."
+
+"Well, I do know you."
+
+"There it is!" burst forth the champion of the absent. "You know me,
+but you don't know what a worthless, unattractive little imp I am
+compared to her. You don't know her, but you shall! And when you do,
+poor me will have to take a seat lower down in the tabernacle of your
+affections."
+
+"I wonder if this 'other' would so readily resign her lover to you?"
+she said.
+
+"Would she!" flashed Claire. "Would she _not_? Has she not? Ah, if you
+knew her, you would never say that!" Then suddenly capturing the other
+hand of the lady, she said, in quieter but very grave tones: "Can you
+listen to a long story, Mrs. Ralston; rather to several stories
+combined in one? I am going to tell you what I have so much wanted you
+to know--the story of Madeline Payne."
+
+Mrs. Ralston expressed her more than willingness to hear all that
+Claire had to tell, and the girl settled down comfortably on the
+ottoman at the feet of her friend, and began at the beginning. It was
+indeed a long story, for Claire omitted nothing. As she told how
+Madeline had exposed to her the baseness of Percy, Mrs. Ralston
+started up, her face pale as death, and then sank back in her chair.
+
+"Percy!" she cried. "What--what is his other name?"
+
+Claire stared at her in amazement. "What is it, Mrs. Ralston--you are
+ill?"
+
+"No," almost gasped the lady; "tell me--his name."
+
+"I did not intend to speak his name," Claire said, slowly. "It is
+Edward Percy."
+
+Mrs. Ralston was on her feet in an instant, her face flushing with
+excitement. "Come with me!" she almost shrieked. "Quick! to my room."
+
+Wondering vaguely, Claire followed.
+
+Mrs. Ralston almost flew to her apartment. She flung open the door,
+and in an instant was on her knees beside a trunk, opening trays and
+searching for something eagerly.
+
+"Look!" she cried, suddenly thrusting out something toward Claire;
+something from which she averted her own face. "Look, did you ever see
+that face?"
+
+The girl gave one glance and uttered a sharp cry. It was a miniature
+painted on ivory; painted years ago, but she knew it only too well.
+
+Mrs. Ralston regained her feet, trembling so that she could scarcely
+stand.
+
+"Where did you get it?" cried Claire. "It is he; Edward Percy!"
+
+Mrs. Ralston started forward and took the picture from her hand. "_It
+is my husband!_" she whispered.
+
+With the words on her lips, she fell heavily to the floor, in a dead
+faint.
+
+When Mrs. Ralston awoke to consciousness, she was lying upon her bed,
+with Dr. Vaughan bending over her, Olive standing near, and Claire a
+little aloof, looking pale and anxious. Her first thought was of the
+picture.
+
+"Where is it?" she murmured, addressing Claire, who stepped forward
+eagerly.
+
+"It is here, dear Mrs. Ralston," said Claire. "I caught it from your
+hand after you fell. I thought--" And then she hesitated.
+
+"I understand," she said, looking at the girl fixedly. "Drop it from
+your hand, Claire; drop it _there_," pointing to the grate. "It has
+done its work; we need never look upon it again."
+
+Claire obeyed her silently. For the second time she had consigned to
+the flames the pictured face of Edward Percy.
+
+To the surprise of the three who had so lately seen her coming slowly
+back from the swoon, so like death, Mrs. Ralston raised herself to a
+sitting posture, and then slowly arose from the bed and stood upright
+before them, and there was a flush on her cheek, and a light in her
+eyes that was new to that usually pale, sad face.
+
+"Dear friends," she said, turning toward Clarence and Olive, who had
+been watching the burning of the picture with surprised and somewhat
+curious eyes, "I am quite recovered; and I want to think. Will you
+please leave me alone, quite alone, for a little while?"
+
+Olive, Claire and Clarence went slowly and silently down to the
+drawing-room, Claire keeping very close to her sister and carefully
+avoiding the eyes of the young man. Seating herself beside Olive,
+Claire told, in her own way, all that she knew of the affair.
+
+"I wanted to tell Mrs. Ralston of Madeline," she commenced, "and, not
+to omit anything, I told her poor Philip's story,--all about the two
+men, and how the man, Percy, had appeared at Oakley as the lover of
+Miss Arthur. When I spoke his name, she ran to her room, almost
+dragging me with her, and--"
+
+Suddenly she paused, horrified at a sudden thought. How could she
+explain to these two, who knew nothing of her "affair" with Edward
+Percy--who did not dream that she had ever seen his face--her ability
+to recognize the picture Mrs. Ralston had shown her?
+
+"And?" interrogated Olive.
+
+Clarence Vaughan saw that there was a reason for her hesitation, and
+while wondering what it could be, came to her rescue. "And fainted, of
+course," said he. "Well, she is better now, and perhaps we shall hear
+the conclusion of the mystery all in good time."
+
+If she had dared, Claire would have given him a glance of gratitude.
+As it was, she only averted her face and felt herself a great
+hypocrite.
+
+Doctor Vaughan was to remain for lunch; and while he talked quietly
+with Olive, Claire sat considering what they would say if they knew
+all. Presently her reverie was interrupted by the entrance of a
+servant, who said:
+
+"Mrs. Ralston wishes Miss Keith to come to her."
+
+Claire started up, and without a word to either her lover or her
+sister, hurried into the presence of her friend.
+
+Mrs. Ralston advanced to meet the girl as she entered the room, and
+laying a hand upon her shoulder, said: "I understood you to say that
+your sister knows nothing of your acquaintance with that man. Am I
+right?
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you do not wish her to know?"
+
+Claire hesitated. "I did not then think it was wrong to conceal it
+from her," she said, finally; "but now, if you think it best, I will
+try and tell her."
+
+"But I do not think it best, my darling. I should have been convinced
+of his identity even had I not used the picture as a test. We will say
+nothing on that subject. And now, let us go down-stairs, for we have
+work to do!"
+
+So saying, she led the way from the room and Claire followed,
+wondering how all this was to end.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+MRS. RALSTON'S STORY.
+
+
+Mrs. Ralston entered the drawing-room with the light of a new and
+strong purpose shining in her eyes.
+
+"Dear friends," she said, "sit near me and give me your attention. I
+have a story to tell, and I must not fatigue myself too much in the
+telling."
+
+Without a word, Clarence moved forward an easy chair. As she seated
+herself, they all grouped about her with grave, expectant faces.
+
+"I will make brief mention of myself," said the lady, sinking back in
+the luxurious chair with a slightly weary smile. "My life has never
+been a bright one. Married for the first time at the age of sixteen,
+my childhood was prematurely blighted, and my first real trouble fell
+upon me. It was not a happy marriage, and during the years of my first
+husband's life, I became more and more alienated from my relatives.
+
+"When at last my husband died, I was thirty-six years old, and owing
+to ill-health, looked much older. But--I was wealthy. Then I met a
+man, younger than myself, and very handsome. I was weak and foolish. I
+believed in him and--married him. For four years he squandered my
+money and made my life a burden. At last, when I could endure no
+longer, and when, because he had inherited a fortune from some
+relative, I knew he would trouble himself little as to particulars, I
+caused him to believe me dead and buried.
+
+"In reality I was in better health than usual, and while he was
+spending his new fortune and fancying me in the grave, I sailed for
+Europe. Before I departed, however, I saw him once more, myself
+unseen. It is this part of my story that will make your hearts glad."
+
+She paused for a moment, and her three listeners gazed into each
+other's faces in silent wonder.
+
+"I was going to Europe in company with some friends of Mrs. Lord who,
+of course, knew my secret. They twice postponed their time for
+sailing, and while waiting for them I went with my maid to a little
+mountain inn where travelers only came for a day, and then went on up
+the mountain.
+
+"When I first arrived, the garrulous hostess made frequent mention of
+a hunting party that had gone up the mountain a few days before,
+stopping for dinner at the inn. I had been nearly two weeks in my
+mountain retreat when my maid came rushing in, one day, crying out
+that the hunting party had come back, and that one of their number had
+been badly hurt.
+
+"Well, they brought the wounded man up-stairs, and put him in the room
+that adjoined my sleeping apartment. The partitions between were of
+the sham kind--merely boards papered over. After he was settled, and
+the hum of many voices died away, I went into my little bed-room.
+
+"I had scarcely entered when a voice from the next room, a man's
+voice, deep and full, although then subdued, startled me. I listened
+unthinkingly. 'There's no use in being weak about this business,' he
+said. 'Of course, you can make me trouble if you like, but hang me,
+Percy, I can't see how it will benefit you.'
+
+"I see you are amazed, Doctor Vaughan, and Mrs. Girard is turning
+pale. You are beginning to guess the truth. Yes, it _was_ Edward Percy
+who answered the first speaker, and--Edward Percy is my husband."
+
+Again she paused for a moment. One could have heard a pin drop, so
+breathlessly eager, so silent, were her listeners. No one stirred or
+spoke, and she soon resumed:
+
+"At the first sound of the other voice, I sank down sick with fear
+lest the man should, in some way, find me out. Sitting there, I heard
+him say, in the half fretful, wholly languid tones that I knew so
+well, 'It's easy to talk as you do; show me wherein it will be to my
+advantage, if you don't want me to knock down your pretty story. Curse
+you, what did you try to murder me for?"
+
+"Then the other answered impatiently: 'I tell you, man, I was
+mistaken. I took you for him. Now listen: Neither you nor I love the
+fellow, and we each hold a trifle of power over the other. You can
+refute my statement, if you like, and accuse me of attacking you. In
+that case I may be imprisoned; but that won't keep you above water
+long. If I am arrested for assault with intent to kill, you will soon
+find yourself in the next cell, accused of the still more serious
+crime of bigamy. On the other hand, if you let the matter rest as it
+is, and let _him_ take his chances, I won't use those little documents
+I hold, which prove conclusively that you married a second wife while
+the first was living. Come, what do you say?'
+
+"I remember their very words; not one syllable escaped me then, or has
+drifted from my mind since. And I could have predicted what the next
+words of my husband would be. I know his weakness so well, and I knew,
+too, then, for the first time, that my vague suspicions had been too
+true--that he had indeed been false to me, more than false.
+
+"'I will do this,' said he, halting at every few words. 'If you will
+give me back the money you won from me up there, and will give me up
+those papers, we will not quarrel over this affair. We will let His
+Majesty take the consequences of your act, if you choose. I like him
+even less than I do you. But the money I must have.'
+
+"The other replied: 'I'll do it.' Then the money was counted out and
+the 'papers' changed hands.
+
+"While they talked, I was seized with an unaccountable desire to see
+the man I had once loved. I heard my maid moving in the next room, and
+I arose and went to her. She was a quick-witted creature, and knew
+just what to do. She made me put on a hat and veil, and throw a shawl
+about me, and then bade me go down-stairs, while she knocked at the
+door of the sick-room. When I heard it open I was to come up, and
+while she made a pretense of offering her services, in case of need, I
+could obtain, over her shoulder, a view of the occupants of the room.
+Her ruse was successful. When I ascended the stairs, I obtained a full
+view of the two men. I should know the dark face of the tall stranger
+if I came upon it in Africa.
+
+"To do myself justice, I never once thought of the wrong they were
+doing their victim; never realized that it was my duty to denounce
+them. Having seen the face of my husband I had but one idea, one
+desire; to get away, anywhere, the farther the better.
+
+"Early the next morning, I was _en route_ to the city, and there, to
+my infinite relief I found my friends ready to sail. When at last I
+was actually on the ocean, and realized that I was safe from
+discovery, I began to think of the victim whose name I had not heard.
+But it was too late then, and I tried to ease my conscience by
+thinking that, after all, as Edward was not dangerously hurt, it might
+not turn out a serious matter. I watched the papers, but somehow the
+accounts of the trial all missed me."
+
+As she ceased speaking, her eyes rested sadly upon the face of Olive,
+and she started forward suddenly, saying: "Doctor, she is going to
+faint!"
+
+"No," gasped Olive, half-rising, "I, I--"
+
+And she fell forward to be caught in the ready arms of Clarence
+Vaughan. When at last they succeeded in arousing her from that
+death-like stupor, and she could sit up and look about her, slowly
+recalling events, Mrs. Ralston stepped readily into the position of
+leader, and turning to Claire, said:
+
+"Go and see that lunch is served immediately, dear. We have much to do
+before night, and must not work fasting."
+
+"Oh," cried Olive, as Claire disappeared, "is this true? Will Philip
+be released at last, released with every doubt cleared away, every
+suspicion removed? Tell me, I cannot realize it."
+
+"It is true, dear Mrs. Girard; and now you must not give way to
+weakness. We dare not lose time. Dr. Vaughan, yourself, and I, in
+putting these facts in the hands of the right parties, must hasten the
+legal process by which Philip will be released."
+
+When Claire Keith returned, she found them deep in a discussion as to
+the quickest way of effecting the release of Philip Girard.
+
+"Let me settle it," she said, imperiously. "To-day you will go to see
+Philip's lawyers, and when this stupid law process is put in motion,
+Olive--I know her--will go straight and set herself down outside the
+very prison gates. But your beautiful laws can lock an honest man up
+much quicker than they can let him out, and can serve a warrant sooner
+than do a tardy act of justice. So, if you please, I am going down to
+Oakley to arrest that vile Lucian Davlin, and get him off poor
+Madeline's hands."
+
+"You!" cried the two ladies in the same breath.
+
+"Yes, I! Philip won't want anyone but Olive, and Olive will snub me
+unmercifully if I venture to offer myself as an escort. I'm going to
+do myself the honor of seeing Mr. Davlin arrested."
+
+"Claire is right," said Mrs. Ralston; "the man must be arrested
+immediately."
+
+"And," interrupted Olive, "you must all three go to Bellair; that is,"
+looking at Mrs. Ralston, "if--"
+
+"If I will go?" interrupted that lady. "Yes, I, too, intend to be
+present when Miss Payne gives her enemy up to justice."
+
+[Illustration: "No!" gasped Olive, half rising; "I--I--"--page 413.]
+
+"Are you in earnest about going to Bellair, Miss Keith?" Clarence
+Vaughan asked. "Shall you go, really?"
+
+Claire bestowed upon him a willful little nod over her shoulder,
+saying, as she did so: "I shall, 'really.' I am confident that
+something will happen there, and I want a chance to faint!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+CORA "STIRS UP THE ANIMALS."
+
+
+It was evening--the evening of the day on which Mrs. Ralston had made
+her startling revelation. Madeline Payne stood alone in her own room,
+looking moodily out upon the leafless grove that was fast taking on a
+covering of snow.
+
+The storm that had been impending for days, had broken at last. For
+two hours the snow had been falling thickly, steadily, in great
+feather-like flakes, which quickly covered the brown earth, and
+clothed the naked treetops with a fair, white garment.
+
+Madeline had been standing, motionless and moody, for many minutes.
+Her eyes were full of dissatisfaction, and her lips were compressed.
+She had been taking a mental review of the situation, and its present
+aspect was far from pleasing.
+
+"What a knot," she soliloquized; "what a difficult, baffling,
+miserable knot! To be kept thus inactive just because the last knot in
+the tangle will not come straight--good gracious, how like a pun that
+sounds! How much longer must I smile upon these wretches? How much
+longer must I conceal my real feelings? I will put my forces into
+action, and make my last, desperate venture, for this is becoming
+intolerable. I must force, or buy, this secret from Edward Percy, at
+the cost of his safety, or my fortune, if need be."
+
+She pressed her face against the frosted pane, peering down through
+the gathering night and the snow.
+
+"Mercy!" she ejaculated, "who on earth can be plowing through this
+storm? And on what errand? It looks like--and, as I live, it is, yes,
+it is, Mr. Edward Percy! He is too dainty to expose himself for
+nothing. I must look into this."
+
+While she was musing at the window, Cora, curled up behind one of the
+crimson curtains of the red parlor, had become the possessor of a
+valuable secret.
+
+She had entered the room but a few moments before. Finding it dimly
+lighted, and heated to a Summer temperature, she ensconced herself _a
+la Sultana_ in one of the deep window embrasures, and lay sulkily
+watching the flying snowflakes and the fast coming night. Presently
+the sound of approaching footsteps, and almost simultaneously the
+opening of the door, disturbed her quiet. With a quick movement, she
+drew the curtains together and sat, a silent listener, to a brief
+dialogue.
+
+The new comers were Miss Arthur and Edward Percy. After a few
+sentences had been interchanged, Percy left the room, and then it was
+that Madeline saw him take his way toward the village.
+
+Presently Miss Arthur also quitted the room; and going straight
+up-stairs, Cora knocked at Madeline's door. "Now, then," muttered she,
+"I'll stir up the animals."
+
+Madeline did not look especially gratified at sight of her visitor,
+but Cora entered with scant ceremony. Pushing the door shut with
+unnecessary emphasis, she turned upon her, saying, rather
+ungraciously:
+
+"I have made a discovery of which, I think, you will thank me for
+telling you. And I am going to tell you because I can't spoil their
+plans, but you can, and I want to see them spoiled."
+
+"Your frankness is commendable," said Madeline, ironically. "Go on!"
+
+"Percy and the old maid are going to be privately married to-morrow
+morning."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+Cora related the particulars of her ambush, and gave a concise report
+of the conversation of the lovers.
+
+"He has gone to the village on that very business now," Cora said.
+"She is to walk down to the clergyman's house, and he is to meet her
+there. Then they will come back, and no one to be the wiser."
+
+Madeline laughed. "Be at ease," she said. "I will try and prevent the
+necessity for such a disagreeable walk as that would be for so fragile
+a lady. We won't have a wedding just yet."
+
+"What a cool one you are!" cried Cora. "If you were not my enemy, I
+could admire you vastly."
+
+"Don't, I beg of you," said the girl, gravely. "I am sufficiently
+humiliated by being obliged to deal with you as an enemy."
+
+Cora flushed angrily. "Then I should think the humiliation of being
+made love to by my brother, would overcome you," she sneered.
+
+"It does, almost," replied the girl, wearily.
+
+"Then let me do you another favor. Mr. Davlin is no more my brother
+than he is yours."
+
+Madeline's answer fairly took her breath away. "Madame, you are very
+good, but I have known that from the first."
+
+"What!" gasped the woman; adding, after a moment of silence, "Is he
+your lover as well as--"
+
+"Yours?" finished Madeline. "And what then, Mrs. Arthur?"
+
+"Then," hissed Cora; "then, I hate you both."
+
+Madeline laughed bitterly. "As you have told me a secret, and as I
+don't want to remain in your debt, I will tell you one in return.
+Lucian Davlin _is_ my lover, but I am his bitterest foe!"
+
+Cora came closer and looked her eagerly in the face. "What has he done
+to you?" she asked, breathlessly.
+
+"You may find out later; just now we are even. Understand, no word of
+warning to him, if you value your safety. Obey my wishes, and when I
+am done with you, you may go free. Attempt any treachery, and I will
+give you up to justice."
+
+"I shan't put myself in jeopardy for him now, whatever I might have
+done. You may believe that."
+
+"I think I may," replied Madeline, dryly.
+
+When Cora retired to her own room, to chuckle over the discomfiture in
+store for the spinster and Mr. Percy, and to wonder wrathfully what
+the mystery concerning Miss Payne and Lucian could mean, Madeline
+stood for many minutes lost in thought.
+
+Finally she threw herself down upon a couch, uttering a half sigh, and
+looking utterly weary and perplexed. A moment later, Joliffe entered
+noiselessly, as usual, and the girl said to her:
+
+"When Miss Arthur retires for the night, which won't be for some time,
+do you see Mr. Percy when he is _alone_, mind, and tell him Miss Payne
+desires him to wait her pleasure in the library."
+
+Joliffe bowed and went out again like a cat.
+
+When, at last, the other members of that incongruous family circle
+were safely out of the way, Madeline, warned by the everpresent,
+soundless Joliffe, awaited in the library the coming of Mr. Percy.
+
+Wondering much what the haughty heiress could have to communicate to
+him, and dimly hoping that the tide was turning in his favor, Mr.
+Percy entered the presence of the arbiter of his fate. Bowing like a
+courtier, he approached her.
+
+"Miss Payne has deigned to honor me with an interview," he said, in
+his slowest, softest, most irresistible manner. "I can never be
+sufficiently grateful."
+
+Madeline motioned him to a seat opposite her own, saying, with an odd
+smile: "You shall, at least, have an opportunity for repaying your
+debt of gratitude, sir, and that immediately."
+
+Percy took the seat indicated and bowed gravely. "Command me, Miss
+Payne."
+
+"It rests with you," Madeline began, "whether we shall be from
+to-night neutral toward each other, or enemies."
+
+"Enemies!" he exclaimed. "Oh, that would be impossible."
+
+Madeline was full of inward rage. She longed to lean across the table
+and dash her hand full in that smiling blonde face. But she looked at
+him instead quite tranquilly, and said, with a queer smile: "Then you
+would do me a favor, even at your own personal--inconvenience, Mr.
+Percy?"
+
+"Would I not?" fervently. "Only command me, Miss Payne."
+
+"I will take you at your word, then. Mr. Percy, you will oblige me
+very much by putting off your marriage with Miss Arthur one week
+longer."
+
+Here was a bomb-shell. It electrified the languid gentleman. He became
+suddenly animated by fear. "What--what do you mean, Miss Payne?"
+starting half out of his seat and nervously sitting down again.
+
+"Precisely what I say, sir. It does not please me to have my relative
+leave my house to be married in this clandestine manner. There, don't
+ask me how I discovered what you thought was a profound secret. You
+see I did discover it. Will you put off this romantic marriage--to
+oblige me?"
+
+Percy was trying very hard to think. If he could believe it was
+because he had found favor in her eyes, that she asked this. But no;
+even his vanity could not credit that suggestion. Of late she had
+openly shown a preference for Davlin. What, then, could be her motive?
+Could it be that at the instigation of Cora she had sought this
+interview?
+
+He rallied his forces and replied: "Miss Payne, you have taken me by
+storm. If I may not ask how you made this discovery, may I not, at
+least, beg to know why you make this demand?"
+
+"I have told you; it shocks my sense of propriety."
+
+"Pardon me if I say there must be another motive."
+
+"You are pardoned," coolly; "now, do you grant my request?"
+
+Percy arose from the table flushed and angry. "Pardon me, Miss Payne,
+you demand too much."
+
+"Nevertheless, I _do_ demand it."
+
+"And I beg to decline."
+
+"Then I must deal with Miss Arthur. The knowledge that you have one
+wife in the grave, and another under this very roof, may have the
+desired effect upon _her_."
+
+Percy dropped back in his chair, pale as ashes. All was lost, then.
+Cora had betrayed him! But he resolved not to commit himself. Perhaps
+Madeline had only verbal information. While he was trying to frame a
+speech, however, she knocked this last prop from under him.
+
+"I may as well assure you that parleying is useless. I have known,
+from the first moment you entered this house, just upon what terms you
+stood with Mrs. Arthur. Don't trouble yourself to ask how I know.
+Perhaps you have been puzzled to know why Mrs. Arthur and her brother
+so suddenly became cordial and invited you to Oakley, where you so
+much desired to be. Let me enlighten you. They fancied that you had
+regained possession of important documents--two marriage certificates,
+in fact--for they had lost them."
+
+"What?" ejaculated Percy.
+
+"And--I found them," added Madeline.
+
+His countenance fell again.
+
+"They are in my possession," pursued she. "Shall I show them to Miss
+Arthur, or not?"
+
+"It can't make much difference now," said the man, sullenly.
+
+"Let us understand each other fully," said Madeline. "I am not acting
+in concert with Cora Arthur. She is even more in my power than you
+are. I have no desire to undeceive Miss Arthur. Neither do I wish you
+to leave Oakley. On the contrary, I want you here; you can be of
+service to me, by and by. And I pledge you my word that so long as you
+remain under this roof, those papers shall not be used against you."
+
+"And if I don't choose to remain?"
+
+Madeline laughed. "Then you must take the consequences," she said,
+carelessly.
+
+"And what will they be?"
+
+"Exposure and arrest."
+
+Percy drew pen, ink, and paper toward him. "What shall I write to the
+clergyman?" he asked, sullenly.
+
+"Whatever you choose. And I will send it. Make your peace with Miss
+Arthur, too, in your own way."
+
+"And when I leave Oakley, what then?" he grunted.
+
+"Then, if you have fulfilled the conditions, I will burn the papers in
+your presence, and you are free henceforth."
+
+"There is the note," he said, flinging it toward her as soon as
+written. "After all, I may as well be in your power as in hers," and
+again he arose to go from the room.
+
+"I am glad you take so sensible a view of it," retorted she, looking
+up from her perusal of his note. "Good-night, Mr. Percy."
+
+And thus cavalierly dismissed, Mr. Percy bowed, somewhat less
+gallantly than when entering, and left the room.
+
+"So, that is nipped in the bud," soliloquized Madeline, as she went
+wearily to her own room once more. "When will this miserable
+complication unravel itself, or be unraveled?"
+
+Little did she dream how soon she would receive an answer to this
+question.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
+
+
+The next morning dawned clear and beautiful. Over head, one unbroken
+expanse of blue; under foot, a mantle of soft, white ermine. All the
+trees were transformed into fairy-like, silver-robed, pearl-studded,
+plume-adorned wonders. Diamonds floated in the air, and sunbeams
+lighted up the whole with dazzling brilliancy. Everything was white,
+pure, wonderful, and the whole enclosed in a monster chrysolite;
+earth, air, and sky, were shut within a radiant sphere that had never
+an outlet.
+
+Madeline had passed an almost sleepless night. But when she arose,
+with the first gleam of sunlight, and looked upon this new, white,
+imprisoned world, she felt strong for a fresh day's battle.
+
+"I must go out," she said to herself; "out into this sparkling air. I
+can breathe in the brightness; I know I can. I almost feel as if I
+could catch it, and weave it into my life."
+
+She hastily donned her wraps and set off for a brisk walk, no matter
+where, through that glorious Winter glow.
+
+Under the snow-laden arms of the grand old trees, out of the grounds
+of Oakley. Before she realized it she was half way down the path
+leading to the village.
+
+Something that jarred upon her sense of the beautiful, awakened her to
+herself, and she turned suddenly about.
+
+"How dare ugly little brown bears come out in the white glitter," she
+muttered, whimsically. "I will turn about; he spoils the fairy
+picture. I had forgotten there were boys, or men, in the world."
+
+Something came panting behind her. The "brown bear" had accelerated
+his pace, and now came up at a round trot.
+
+"Hold on a minit; darned if I can see who ye air in this snow," he
+cried, pausing before her and rubbing his eyes vigorously. "All right;
+I thought it was you," he added, after considerable blinking. "I've
+got a tellygram for ye, Miss Payne; orders were not to give it to
+anyone but you, so I chased ye sharp."
+
+Madeline laughed outright as she took the telegram from his hand. The
+boy, without waiting for her words of thanks, took to his heels,
+shouting back over his shoulder: "No answer!"
+
+Madeline gazed for a moment after the flying figure, and wonderingly
+opened the message. This is what she read:
+
+     Be at H----'s to-night when evening train comes down. We are
+     ready for action; have found a witness.
+
+                                              C. V.
+
+Madeline lifted her eyes from the scrap of paper and looked about her
+incredulously, as if she expected to find some explanation shining in
+the air.
+
+"Ready for action," she murmured. "That means--can it mean that Lucian
+Davlin is at last in our power? Can those detectives have solved the
+mystery? Oh! how can I wait until night!"
+
+She fairly flew along now, eager to keep in motion. On, on she went,
+over the stile, through the glittering white-robed grove; on, until
+she reached Hagar's cottage. It was locked and deserted, as she knew,
+but she cared not for that. She must walk somewhere, then why not
+here?
+
+For a moment she stood on the snow-laden door stone, and gazed about
+her. Then swiftly, as swiftly as before, she flew down the path--the
+same path she had taken on the Summer day when she had heard from
+Hagar's lips her mother's story. When she reached the tree in whose
+arms she had nestled so often, where she had listened to the bargain
+between her step-father and decrepit old Amos Adams, and where she had
+been wooed by Lucian Davlin--she paused. There, coming toward her, was
+Lucian Davlin himself.
+
+"What a fatality!" muttered the girl. "He is coming to meet me; has
+been watching me, perhaps."
+
+She stood calmly gazing up at the snow-laden branches, and again she
+saw herself standing underneath them, a hesitating girl, wondering if
+she could let her lover go away alone. Then she turned her head and
+her eyes met those of Lucian Davlin.
+
+"Good morning, Miss Payne," he said, lifting his hat with his usual
+grace. "I am happy to know that we have one taste in common--a love of
+nature in this disguise. Is not the wintry world beautiful?"
+
+"Beautiful, indeed," replied Madeline, resuming her walk homeward.
+"The trees are fairy palaces. It is lovelier than Summer, is it not?"
+
+"It is very lovely," gazing not at the trees but down into her face,
+"but--so cold."
+
+She understood his meaning and replied, calmly: "Cold? Yes; it is not
+Summer."
+
+"No," he assented, with a sad intonation, "it is not Summer. Miss
+Payne, Madeline, will it ever be Summer again?"
+
+Madeline looked up and about her, and smiled as she did so. "Yes," she
+replied, "it will be Summer--soon."
+
+He had turned and retraced his steps at her side. She was walking
+swiftly again, and for some time neither spoke. When they entered the
+grounds of the manor, he said, half deprecatingly:
+
+"Madeline, may I ask this one question?"
+
+"Yes," quietly.
+
+"I saw you pause under that tree and look about you," he said, slowly;
+"was it because you thought of other days, and of me?"
+
+Slowly she turned her face toward him, saying, simply: "Yes."
+
+They were nearing the entrance, and he half stopped to ask his next
+question. "Will you tell me what were your thoughts, Madeline?"
+
+Slowly she ascended the steps, and at the door turned and faced him:
+"I will tell you to-night."
+
+And with a ripple of laughter on her lips, she entered the hall of
+Oakley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+THE SWORD OF FATE.
+
+
+Evening at Oakley.
+
+At last the long day was done: the day that to Madeline Payne had
+seemed almost endless. At last, too, the early evening hours had
+dragged themselves away, and the time of her triumph was at hand.
+
+From out Hagar's cottage a silent party issued, and took their way
+across the snow to the little stile just above the terrace walk. Here
+they paused for a moment. Some one was loitering on the terrace, where
+the shadows fell thickest. Madeline stepped through the gap, saying
+softly: "Joliffe!"
+
+Immediately the form emerged from the shadow. It was the cat-like
+waiting-maid.
+
+"It's all right, Miss," she said, in a whisper. "They are all in the
+drawing-room, but I think they are getting uneasy."
+
+"Well, I will not keep them in suspense long," said Madeline, and in
+the darkness she smiled triumphantly. "Lead on, Joliffe."
+
+Silently they moved on, and paused again at the side entrance; the one
+from which Cora had endeavored to escape but a short time before.
+Madeline opened the door, and in another moment she, with Mrs.
+Ralston, Claire Keith, Clarence Vaughan and two strangers, stood
+within the walls of Oakley.
+
+They moved on like shadows to the rear end of the hall, up the
+servant's stairway, and straight to the west wing. Evidently they
+were expected here too, for in obedience to a light tap, the door
+opened, and they passed quietly within the outer room of John Arthur's
+prison suite.
+
+"Close the door, Henry," said Madeline.
+
+This being done, she turned and surveyed her comrades.
+
+"So far, good," she pronounced. "Now, can you make yourselves
+comfortable here for a little while? Hagar and Joliffe will know just
+what to do as soon as I have, myself, viewed the field of battle; or
+perhaps I had better pilot you in person."
+
+"As you please," said the foremost of the strangers. "I think we
+understand each other."
+
+"Then we won't lose time," said Madeline. "Henry, call Dr. Le Guise."
+
+Henry tapped at the door of the inner room, and in a trice the worthy
+Professor stood in their midst. He glanced from one to another in
+amazement, and the look of confidence forsook his face. He had not
+been prepared to see these strangers, and his first thought was, of
+course, for his own safety.
+
+"Have no uneasiness, sir," said Madeline, seeing the fear in his face;
+"these ladies and gentlemen will not interfere with you. They are here
+because it is desirable that the people below should not know of their
+proximity just yet. You are about to aid us, and need have no fear for
+yourself."
+
+The Professor drew a breath of relief.
+
+While this conversation was going on, Mrs. Ralston and Claire had
+removed their wraps, as if they knew quite well what they were about,
+which, indeed, they did. Now, as Madeline did likewise, preparatory to
+entering the room of the prisoner, they seated themselves, looking
+grave, but perfectly composed. Dr. Vaughan said a few quiet words to
+Henry, and the two strangers stood "at ease," looking as indifferent
+as statues.
+
+Entering the inner room; in company with the Professor, Madeline found
+John Arthur pacing restlessly up and down.
+
+"I wish you to go down-stairs with us for a few moments," said
+Madeline. "It is to your own interest to do so. It is the easiest and
+surest way of imparting to you what you must know, and, when you know
+all, I shall be your jailer no longer. It shall then remain for you to
+decide whether you will accept my terms, and end your days with at
+least a semblance of honor, or whether you will remain here to be
+pointed at as a man disgraced and dishonored, and deservedly so. When
+you have seen justice done to those who have wronged you more than
+they have me, for little as I desire to serve you circumstances have
+constituted me your avenger--you will be free to act as you may see
+fit."
+
+With this she turned and abruptly quitted the room, leaving John
+Arthur fairly stunned by her words, yet utterly unable to comprehend
+their full meaning. Returning to the ante-room, Madeline found Hagar
+awaiting her.
+
+"Well, Hagar," said the girl, "we are ready to go down; is the library
+lighted?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Madeline."
+
+"And the door leading to the drawing-room?"
+
+"Is closed, Miss."
+
+"Then go down, Hagar; open the library door, and leave it open. Move
+the fire screen opposite the door leading to the drawing-room. When we
+are all within the library turn out the light. That is all."
+
+Hagar moved away to do her bidding, smiling grimly.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Time was dragging, in the drawing-room.
+
+Cora was there, not from choice, but because Madeline had so ordered
+it, and the aggrieved lady was not at all inclined to conversation.
+
+Miss Arthur, who was hoping for a _tête-á-tête_ with her lover, was
+alarmingly glum. She had accepted, in good faith, his statement that
+he had received a note from the clergyman, saying that he had been
+suddenly called away and would be absent some days, but she did not
+quite understand why another would not do as well. Somehow, all that
+day, she had found no opportunity for hinting to her lover that a
+Unitarian minister lived quite near.
+
+Finding the ladies so little disposed to be entertained, the two men
+retired within themselves, each after his own peculiar fashion.
+
+Lucian Davlin lounged, in his favorite manner, in a big arm chair, and
+absorbed himself in the mazes of "_Lalla Rookh_."
+
+Percy, seated sidewise on a sofa directly opposite a large mirror,
+gazed languidly at his own reflected image, and furtively at the two
+women opposite, stroking his handsome blonde whiskers the while.
+
+At last Miss Arthur broke the silence by saying, with a side glance
+toward Cora: "There is one thing that I have not yet asked to be
+enlightened about. Perhaps you could explain the mystery, Mrs. Arthur?
+I mean the appearance of Madeline at my bedside not long ago--or her
+ghost."
+
+Cora uttered a disagreeable laugh, and then replied: "How should I be
+able to explain? I am not the keeper of Miss Payne, or 'her ghost.'"
+
+"Probably not; however, you are so friendly, so sisterly, I might say,
+that I thought perhaps--"
+
+"You thought perhaps my step-mamma was in the secret?" said the voice
+of a new comer.
+
+All eyes were turned toward the library, where Madeline Payne stood,
+clad in a walking dress, and looking fairly radiant with suppressed
+excitement.
+
+"You misjudge my step-mamma, Aunt Ellen." As she speaks, Madeline
+advances toward the silent group, leaving the library door ajar. "I
+will explain that singular phenomenon. I intend to clear up all the
+mysteries to-night--here--now. First, then, about the ghost: It was I,
+Miss Arthur, Madeline Payne, in the flesh."
+
+Lucian Davlin's book lies on his knee neglected now.
+
+Edward Percy's face has lost its look of languor.
+
+Cora is flushing red and then paling, while she wonders inwardly if
+her time has come; if she is to be exposed to a last humiliation.
+
+"We will settle another point," continues Madeline, imperturbably, while
+she rests one arm upon a cushioned chair back, and looks coolly from one to
+another. "Some of you have felt sufficient interest in me to wonder why I
+sent home, to my sorrowing friends, the false statement of my death. I will
+explain that. When I left home it was with wrath in my heart, and on my
+lips the vow that I would come back and with power in my hands. I had
+wrongs to avenge, and I swore to be mistress of my own, and to bring home
+to a bad man the heartache and bitterness he had measured out to another.
+Well, I did not know just how this was to be accomplished, but Providence,
+or fate, showed me the way. Then I saw the necessity for coming back to
+Oakley, and to pave the way for my new advent, I sent Nurse Hagar with the
+false account of my death. A girl had died in the hospital--a poor,
+heart-broken, homeless, friendless, wronged, little unfortunate,--'Kitty
+the Dancer' she was called in the days when she was fair to see, and men,
+bad men, set snares for her feet."
+
+What ails Lucian Davlin? He is compressing his lips, and struggling
+hard for an appearance of composure.
+
+Madeline goes calmly on. "The poor girl died forlorn. She had been
+wooed by a vile man, a gambler. She had been to meet him and was
+returning from a rendezvous when the carriage that was conveying her
+to her poor lodging was overturned, and she was taken up a helpless,
+bleeding mass, and carried to the hospital. Then she sent for this
+heartless villain, again and again. She implored him to come to her,
+at least to send assistance, for she was destitute--a pauper. He
+refused, this thing, unworthy the name of man. He was setting other
+snares. He had no time, no pity, for his dying victim. Well, she died,
+and was buried as Madeline Payne, while I, standing beside her coffin,
+prayed to God to make my head wise, and my heart strong, that I might
+hunt down, and drive out from the haunts of men, her soulless
+destroyer."
+
+Madeline pauses, and three pair of eyes gaze at her with genuine
+wonder. But the eyes of Lucian Davlin are fixed upon vacancy, and with
+all the might of his powerful will he is struggling to appear calm.
+
+Madeline turns her eyes calmly from his face to Cora's, and seems to
+see nothing of this, as she resumes:
+
+"Some strange fatality had made this man the bane of other lives, that
+were to be brought into contact with mine. I found that the happiness
+of two noble beings was being wrecked by this same man. One of these
+two had been my benefactor, had saved me from a fate worse than death,
+so I set myself to hunt this man down. And here I found that I could
+accomplish two objects at one stroke. I found that the man was playing
+into my hands. I followed him in disguise. Little by little I gained
+the knowledge of his secrets, enough to send him to State's prison,
+and more than enough. But one thing was wanting. For that I waited;
+for that I breathed the same air with creatures whom my soul loathed,
+and now that one missing link is supplied. At last, I am free! At
+last, I can throw off the mask! At last, I can say to the destroyer of
+poor Kitty, to the man who swore away the liberty of another to screen
+himself--Lucian Davlin, I have hunted you down! I have held you here
+to be taken like a rat in a trap! Officers, seize him! He has been my
+prisoner long enough!"
+
+Was it a transformation scene?
+
+While she is uttering those last words, suddenly the room becomes full
+of people, and Lucian Davlin is writhing in the grasp of the two
+officers; struggling hopelessly, baffled completely, maddened with
+rage and shame. When at last he has ceased to struggle, because
+resistance is so utterly useless, he turns his now glaring eyes upon
+the brave girl whose life he had sought to wreck, and hisses:
+
+"Don't forget to mention how you first came to the conclusion that I
+had wronged you! Don't forget to state that you ran away from Bellair
+with me; that you lodged in my bachelor quarters; that--"
+
+A heavy hand comes in forcible contact with the sneering mouth, as one
+of the officers says, gruffly: "None o' that, my lad. I'd sooner gag
+you than not, if you give me another chance."
+
+But Madeline answers him with a scornful laugh: "That I shot you in
+your own den? Coward! do you think my friends do not know all? Here
+stands the man who saw me in your company that night," pointing to
+Clarence Vaughan; "and here," turning to Claire, "is the sister of the
+woman who came to me, at Dr. Vaughan's request, and told me who and
+what you were! It was these two who nursed me during my illness, and
+who have been, from first to last, my friends. Bah! man, you have been
+only a dupe. Your servant, your doctor, your detectives, are all in my
+service! I have fooled you to the top of your bent, and kept you under
+this roof until we had found the proof that it was you, and not Philip
+Girard, who struck this man," pointing to Percy, "and robbed him, five
+years ago."
+
+With a muttered curse, Lucian Davlin flings himself down in the seat
+he had lately occupied, the watchful officers, pistol in hand,
+standing on either side of him.
+
+Edward Percy, for the first time since her entrance, withdraws his
+eyes from Madeline's face and casts a frightened glance about him.
+Having done this, he feels anything but reassured.
+
+Near the outer door stand the two "well-diggers," who have entered
+like spirits, and now look as if, for the first time since their
+advent in Oakley, they feel quite at home. Nearest to Madeline stands
+Clarence Vaughan. Back of these, a little in the shadow, two
+others--two women. One stands with her face turned away, and he can
+only tell that the form draped in the rich India shawl is tall and
+graceful. But the other--she moves out from the shadow and her eyes
+meet his full.
+
+Great heavens! it is Claire Keith!
+
+He moves restlessly, his fair face flushing and paling. The first
+impulse of his coward heart is flight. But the two "well-diggers" are
+not surmountable obstacles. He turns his face again toward the Nemesis
+who is now gazing scornfully at him.
+
+"I have no intention of neglecting any one of you four," she says,
+icily. "Edward Percy, I told you last night that I would burn certain
+papers in your presence. I am quite ready to keep my word. There will
+be no use for them after to-night. But I shall not stifle the
+testimony of living witnesses against you." Then she raised her voice
+slightly. "Dr. Le Guise, bring in your patient."
+
+John Arthur, pallid with fear and rage, stands upon the threshold of
+the drawing-room, closely attended by the Professor and Henry.
+
+Then Madeline turned to the now terror-stricken Cora. "Come forward,
+Mrs. John Arthur," she says, scornfully. "It is time to let you
+speak!"
+
+When Edward Percy turns his eyes toward Claire, she has instinctively
+moved nearer to Madeline's side, at the same time favoring him with a
+look so fraught with contempt that the villain lowers his eyes, and
+turns away his face. As Madeline now addresses the fair adventuress,
+Claire again moves. She has been standing directly between Cora and
+her Nemesis. Now she takes up a position quite apart from her friends,
+and near the officer who guards Lucian Davlin on the right.
+
+Cora sees that all is lost. But she recalls the promises of safety
+given her by Madeline, and nerves herself for a last attempt at cool
+insolence. Her quick wits have taken in the situation. Now she
+understands why Madeline has led Davlin on, and why her hatred of him
+is so intense. Now she knows the meaning of the words that last night
+seemed so mysterious: "Lucian Davlin is my lover, but I am his
+bitterest foe." Now, as she steps forward, the hate she feels shining
+in her eyes, and with a growing air of reckless bravado as she glances
+at him, Cora, too, is Lucian Davlin's bitter foe.
+
+"Cora!" The name comes from the lips of John Arthur, almost in a cry.
+
+But she never once glances toward him. She fixes her eyes upon
+Madeline's face and doggedly awaits her command.
+
+"Tell us what you know of this man," Madeline says, pointing to Edward
+Percy: "and be brief."
+
+Cora turns her eyes slowly upon the man. She surveys him with infinite
+insolence, and then she turns with wonderful coolness toward Ellen
+Arthur.
+
+"Miss Arthur," she says, with a malicious gleam in her eyes, "this
+will interest you. I knew that man ten years ago. I was making my
+first venture out in the world, and it was a very bad one. I fell in
+love with his pretty face, and married him. Before long I discovered
+that matrimony was a mania of Mr. Percy's--by-the-by, he sailed under
+another name then. I found that he had another wife living; a woman he
+had married for her money. Well, being sensitive, I took offense, and
+after a little, I ran away from him, carrying with me the certificates
+of his two marriages, which I had taken some pains to get possession
+of. After that--"
+
+Cora pauses suddenly and glances toward Madeline.
+
+"After that you went to Europe. You may pass over the foreign tour,
+and take up the story five years later," subjoins Madeline, coldly.
+
+"After that, I went to Europe," echoes Cora. "And five years later
+found me in Gotham."
+
+"Be explicit now, please: no omissions," commands Madeline.
+
+"Five years ago, then," resumes Cora, "that gentleman there,"
+motioning to Davlin, but never turning her face toward him, "came to
+me one day with the information that my dear husband was a rich man,
+thanks to some deceased old relative, and that his other wife was
+dead. For some reason this other marriage had been kept very secret,
+and my friend there argued that in case anything happened to Percy, I
+might come in as his widow, and claim his fortune. Well, Mr. Percy did
+not die, more's the pity. Instead of that he lived and squandered his
+money in less than three years. He was hurt, somehow, and a certain
+Mr. Philip Girard was falsely accused and convicted for attempted
+murder."
+
+"Who was the real would-be assassin?" asked Madeline, sternly.
+
+"Lucian Davlin," emphatically.
+
+Madeline turns swiftly to Percy. "Mr. Percy, explain, if you wish to
+lighten your own burden, by what means did that man persuade you to
+let him go free?"
+
+"By--threatening me with an action for--"
+
+"Bigamy!" finished Cora.
+
+The villain, bereft of all hope and courage, stood white and
+trembling, under the eyes of his accusers and judges.
+
+"I am letting these people hear you tell these things because I want
+that man,"--pointing to John Arthur, who had long since collapsed into
+a big chair--"to hear all this from your own lips," says Madeline.
+
+Turning again to Cora, she says:
+
+"Lucian Davlin made use of the papers--the certificates you had stolen
+from Edward Percy--to intimidate that gentleman, and secure himself
+from danger. Am I correct?"
+
+"Yes," replies Cora, casting a malignant glance from one to the other
+of the accused men.
+
+"Very good. Now we will pass on four or more years. You were in some
+little trouble last June, Mrs. Arthur. Explain how you came to
+Bellair."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Yes, for what purpose. And at whose instigation."
+
+Cora hesitated, and Davlin moved uneasily.
+
+"Don't think that you will damage your cause by making a full
+statement," suggested Miss Payne, meaningly. "Answer my questions,
+please."
+
+Again Cora glances at Davlin. Then turning toward Madeline she assumes
+an air of defiant recklessness, and answers the questions promptly. "I
+came at Lucian Davlin's suggestion, and because he had induced me to
+think that I could easily become--what I am."
+
+"And that is--"
+
+"Mrs. Arthur, of Oakley!" with a mocking laugh.
+
+The old man in the chair utters a loud groan, but no one heeds him.
+All eyes are fixed upon Madeline and Cora.
+
+"You plotted to become John Arthur's wife?" pursues Madeline,
+relentlessly.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And--his widow?"
+
+No reply.
+
+"You planned to keep him a prisoner?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And Lucian Davlin, your pretended brother, was your accomplice?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Madeline turns swiftly toward her step-father, as she does so moving
+nearer toward Edward Percy.
+
+"John Arthur, are you satisfied?" she asks, sternly. "Shall the
+knowledge of your disgrace go beyond this room? Do you choose to
+remain here and be pointed at by every boor in Oakley, as the man who
+married an adventuress, a gambler's accomplice? or will you accept my
+terms?"
+
+John Arthur lifts his head, then staggers to his feet. "Curse you!" he
+cries. "Curse you all! What proof have I that these people will
+respect my feelings?"
+
+"You have my word," replies the girl, coolly. "These gentlemen of the
+Secret Service are not given to gossip. Mr. Davlin will have but
+little opportunity for circulating scandal where he is going. Mr.
+Percy, and your wife, will hardly remain in the neighborhood long
+enough to injure you here, unless by your own choice. Your sister will
+scarcely betray you, and the rest are my friends. Choose!"
+
+Pallid with rage and shame, the old man turned toward Cora.
+
+"You she-devil!" he screams, "this is your work--"
+
+"No," interposes Madeline, calmly, "it is _your_ work, John Arthur!
+What you have sown, you are reaping. Will you have all your guilty
+past, your shameful present, made known? Or will you leave my mother's
+home and mine, and cease to usurp my rights? Choose!"
+
+Every eye is turned upon the old man and his questioner. Every ear is
+intently listening for his answer.
+
+Every ear, do we say? No; one man is only feigning rapt attention; one
+mind is turning over wicked possibilities, while the others await,
+with different degrees of eagerness or curiosity, John Arthur's
+answer.
+
+"Needs must when the devil drives," says the baffled old man, turning
+toward the door. "I will go, and I leave my curse behind me!"
+
+This is the moment which Lucian Davlin has watched. While all eyes are
+turned toward John Arthur, he bends suddenly forward. He has wrenched
+the pistol from one of his guardians, and the weapon is aimed at
+Madeline's heart!
+
+Instantaneously there is a quick, panther-like spring, and Claire
+Keith's little hand strikes the arm that directs the deadly weapon.
+There is a sharp report, but the direction of the bullet is changed.
+
+Madeline Payne stands erect and startled, while Edward Percy falls to
+the floor, the blood gushing from a wound in his breast. In another
+instant, Lucian Davlin lies prostrate, felled by a blow from one
+detective, while the other bends over him and savagely adjusts a pair
+of manacles.
+
+The others, even to Cora, group themselves about the wounded man. Dr.
+Vaughan kneels beside him a moment, then he lifts his eyes to meet
+those of Madeline.
+
+"It is a death wound," he says.
+
+"Prepare a couch in the next room directly. He must not be carried
+up-stairs."
+
+When this order has been obeyed, and the injured man has been removed,
+Madeline returns to the drawing-room, untenanted now save by the
+officers and their prisoner. They are waiting there until the midnight
+train shall be due, and the time approaches. Moving quite near to the
+now silent, sullen villain, the girl surveys him with absolute
+loathing.
+
+"The goddess you worship has deserted you, Lucian Davlin," she says,
+slowly. "It was not in the book of chance that you should triumph over
+or outwit me. The bullet you designed for me has completed the work
+you began five years ago. Go, to live a convict, or die on the
+scaffold, and when you think upon the failure of your villainous
+schemes, remember that this retribution has been wrought by a woman's
+hand! Officers, take him away!"
+
+Through the darkness they hurry him, from the sights and scenes of
+Oakley and Bellair--forever. His goddess has indeed forsaken him. When
+the two officers take leave of him at the prison, he has had his last
+glimpse of the outside world.
+
+[Illustration: "Edward Percy falls to the floor, the blood gushing
+from a wound in the breast!"--page 439.]
+
+From the moment when he failed in his attempt upon the life that had
+defied him, no word had escaped his lips. Silent, moody, and utterly
+hopeless, this proud-spirited, evil-hearted Son of Chance, enters
+the prison gates, and, as they close upon him, we have done with
+Lucian Davlin, a _convict for life_!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+AS THE FOOL DIETH.
+
+
+Edward Percy is dying--was dying when they lifted him from the
+drawing-room carpet, and gently laid him on the couch hastily prepared
+by Hagar and the frightened servants. They have watched beside him
+through the night, and now, in the gray of the morning, Clarence
+Vaughan still keeps his vigil.
+
+The wounded man moves feebly, and turns his fast dimming eyes toward
+the watcher. "I thought--I saw--some one," he says, brokenly, "when--I
+fell. Who--was--the lady?"
+
+His voice dies away, as Clarence, bending over him, answers gently:
+"You mean the lady that stood near the door, whose face was turned
+away?"
+
+"Yes," in a whisper; "was it--my--wife?"
+
+Clarence turns toward the window where Mrs. Ralston sits, out of view
+of the sick man.
+
+She moves forward a little. "Tell him," she says, in a low voice.
+
+Edward Percy is a dying man, but his mind was never clearer. He
+perfectly comprehends the explanations made by Clarence. He had
+recognized the face of his wife when he lay bleeding at her feet. He
+closes his eyes and is silent for some moments. Then he asks, in that
+dying half-whisper, the only tone he ever will use: "You
+think--I--will--die?"
+
+"You cannot live," replies Clarence, gravely.
+
+Again the wounded man shuts his eyes and thinks; then: "How long--will
+I--last?" he questions.
+
+"I can keep you alive twenty-four hours--not longer," says Clarence,
+after a pause.
+
+"Then--I must talk now."
+
+Clarence goes to a table, and pours something into a tiny glass. This
+he brings, and putting it to the lips of the patient, says: "Try and
+swallow this. It is a stimulant. Then lie quiet for a few moments;
+after that you may talk."
+
+This is done, and for a time there is silence in the room. Then the
+wounded man whispers, with an appearance of more strength: "Tell
+_her_--to come here."
+
+Mrs. Ralston moves forward, and he looks at her long and attentively.
+Then, with a turn of his olden coolness: "You grew tired of me," he
+said.
+
+"Yes," she replies, in a low, sad voice, "I grew tired of you; very
+tired. But don't talk of those days now. You are too near the end;
+think of that!"
+
+"I do," he said, slowly. "But I can't alter the past--and--I don't
+know--about the future. I want--to see a--notary."
+
+"Don't you want to see a clergyman?"
+
+"What for? If I am dying--it's of no use to play--hypocrite. I don't
+believe in--your clergyman. I admit that--I wronged--you," he
+continues, gazing at Mrs. Ralston, "and I deceived Miss Keith. If you
+two--can forgive me--I will take my chances--for the rest."
+
+Mrs. Ralston bends above him with a face full of pity, but in which
+there is no love. "I forgive you, Edward; and so will Claire, fully.
+But you did her very little harm. She was not long deceived. Do you
+want to see her?"
+
+"Yes; and--don't let Alice--Cora, you call her--come near me."
+
+Truly, this dying sinner is not a meek one, not a very repentant one.
+
+When they ask him if he will see Miss Arthur, his reply is
+characteristic. "Does she want--to see--me?"
+
+No; she has not asked to see him, they say. But of course she would be
+glad to come to him.
+
+"Let her alone," he says, "she don't want to see me. If she did, it
+would be to scratch out--my eyes--because she is--cheated out
+of--being married. She isn't hurt. She is too big a fool."
+
+When Claire comes to his bedside, accompanied by Madeline, he says:
+"Miss Claire--I loved you better than any woman I ever knew--truly.
+If--you had been Mr. Keith's heiress--I would never have come to
+Oakley. I thought you were--his heiress when--I wooed you--in
+Baltimore. But you are the only woman--who ever beat me--and puzzled
+me. You did not care much, after all."
+
+To Madeline he says, after he has swallowed a second stimulant: "But
+for you, I would not be here. You women have hunted me down. But you
+are as brave--as a lioness--a little Nemesis. I--won't--bear malice."
+
+At noon, the notary comes, and Edward Percy makes an affidavit as to
+the truth of the testimony that will convict Lucian Davlin. It is the
+affidavit of a fast dying man.
+
+All day Mrs. Ralston sits beside him. And Clarence Vaughan watches the
+slowly ebbing life tide. Once he seems struggling to say something,
+and his wife bends down to catch what may be some word of penitence.
+
+"Bury--me like a gentleman."
+
+This is what he says, and Clarence Vaughan smiles bitterly as he
+thinks, "selfish and egotistical to the last."
+
+Night comes on and the end is very near. Over the dying face flits a
+malignant shadow, and he makes a last effort to speak. Again the
+watchers bend nearer.
+
+"I hope--they will--hang Davlin," he breathes, feebly.
+
+The two listeners recoil with horror, at the sound of the vindictive
+wish from dying lips.
+
+These are the last words of Edward Percy. Slowly go the minutes, and
+deeper grow the shadows. Again Clarence Vaughan bends above the couch,
+and then he says: "Your vigil is ended, Mrs. Ralston. He is dead."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+That night, while the house is hushed to a quiet, one portion of the
+household asleep, the other keeping the death-watch, Cora again tries
+to escape from Oakley. But this time Strong is not to be caught
+napping, and the vanquished adventuress resigns herself to her fate.
+
+Two days more, and then Edward Percy is buried, according to his
+request, "like a gentleman."
+
+All that is known outside of Oakley concerning his death is that he
+was shot by Lucian Davlin, between whom, and himself, some feud had
+existed.
+
+And John Arthur and Cora remain, and "keep up appearances" to the
+last.
+
+Dr. Le Guise, or the Professor, has stayed too, for appearance sake.
+But the day after they have buried Edward Percy, he goes, and very
+gladly, back to the city. Madeline keeps her promise; he goes free,
+and none save the few ever know that Dr. Le Guise is an impostor.
+
+At the same time John Arthur turns his back upon Oakley forever.
+"Appearances" are observed to the last. He goes, tenderly attended by
+the Professor, by Cora, and by his sister. Goes much muffled, and
+enacting the _rôle_ of invalid.
+
+They are taking the sick man South; this is what the villagers think.
+
+But when the train reaches the city, this select party disbands. John
+Arthur becomes active once more and, with his sister, hurries away in
+the nearest cab, while the Professor and Cora separate by mutual
+consent.
+
+And here we will leave them--all but Cora.
+
+She has escaped Scylla only to fall upon Charybdis. As she hurries
+along through the familiar streets, her plans are laid. She will go to
+Lucian Davlin's rooms; nobody will be there to dispute her possession
+for a day or two to come, and she has possessed herself of the keys,
+left behind as useless by their outlawed owner.
+
+When she ascends the steps, some one, who is lounging past the
+premises, looks at her narrowly. As she disappears behind the swinging
+outer door, this lounger becomes wonderfully alert, and hastens away
+as if he had just discovered his mission.
+
+Two hours later, as Cora descends the stairs and emerges into the
+street, the vision of a monkey-faced old man appears before her. And
+while another lays a firm detaining hand upon her arm, the old man,
+fairly dancing with glee, cries out:
+
+"Ah, ha! here you are, my pretty sharper! I didn't have these premises
+watched for nothing, did I? Now I have got you! Bring her along,
+officer, bring her along. She won't dodge us this time."
+
+And Cora is hurried into a cab, closely followed by old Verage, who
+chatters his doubtful consolation, and laughs his eldritch laughter,
+and finally consigns her to prison to answer to a charge of
+swindling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+"AND THEN COMES REST."
+
+
+At last Oakley is rid of its _intriguants_, its plotters and
+impostors.
+
+And Madeline and Claire sit alone in the chamber of the former,
+talking of the strange events that have so lately transpired--of
+Philip Girard's vindication, of Lucian Davlin's punishment, of Edward
+Percy's death.
+
+It is the day following that of the burial, and Mrs. Ralston is lying
+asleep in her own room, with old Hagar in near attendance.
+
+"Poor Mrs. Ralston," says Claire, after a long pause in their
+converse. "She is thoroughly worn out, and yet, weary as she was, she
+must have talked with you for hours, Madeline, after we came back from
+the grave."
+
+Over Madeline's face flits an odd, half-sad smile, as she replies,
+dreamily:
+
+"Yes, we talked a long time, dear; Mrs. Ralston was then in the mood
+for talking. Can't you understand how one may be nervously active, may
+be at just that stage of bodily weariness when the mind is intensely
+alive? The excitement of all she had lately undergone was still upon
+her, and the mind could not resign itself to rest while anything
+remained unsettled or under a cloud."
+
+"Oh, I can understand how that may be." Then, after a pause, "so
+something remained to be settled?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And, between you, you disposed of the difficulty?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Another silence. Then Madeline turns to look at her companion.
+
+"Why don't you ask me what the 'difficulty' was?"
+
+No answer.
+
+"But you want to know?"
+
+Claire laughs nervously.
+
+"And I want to tell you," pursues Madeline. "First, we talked of
+ourselves."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculates Claire, looking immensely relieved.
+
+"Yes, we talked of ourselves first; and we have become great friends."
+
+"Of course!" cries Miss Enthusiasm; "I knew you would."
+
+"We have decided to give our new friendship a severe test."
+
+"How?" asks Claire, forgetting her caution.
+
+"By visiting Europe in each other's society."
+
+Claire springs up excitedly. "Madeline Payne, you don't mean it! You
+_can't_! You _shall_ not; there! Europe, indeed. You are crazy! I
+won't hear of it!" stamping her foot emphatically.
+
+Madeline leans back in her chair and laughs; then suddenly becomes
+grave.
+
+"But I do mean it, Claire, my darling," she says, softly. "And I'll
+tell you what else I mean. Sit down here, close beside me and listen."
+
+Instinctively Claire obeys.
+
+"Now, then," continues Madeline, "you know what an odd, uncultivated
+sort of a life mine has been, and you know that this little world of
+mine has not been a very bright one. Well, ever since I could read and
+think, I have longed to see Italy, and France, and England, and
+Germany, and the Holy Land. My work is done here. There is nothing now
+to prevent my going--no duty to perform, no one to keep me here. I
+could not find a better friend and companion than Mrs. Ralston, and
+she is very anxious to go, and to take me with her. You are all very
+dear to me, but no one needs me now more than she, nor so much. And,
+Claire, don't make any mistakes about me. I am not going away
+sorrowfully, or with any heavy weight upon my spirits. I am going to
+enjoy and make the most and best of the life and youth God has given
+me. I am going for change, and recreation, and rest. I have been
+acting the part of an avenger here, a stern, unforgiving Nemesis, but
+I would do over again all that I have done, if need be. I am not half
+so good as you. I can not submit with meekness to injustice and wrong.
+I shall fight my enemies, if I have more to fight, until the end of
+the chapter. And now I have a confession to make."
+
+Claire stirs uneasily. "Don't," she says, deprecatingly: "I don't want
+to hear a confession."
+
+"But I want to make one, and you must listen. First, however, let me
+tell you that during my talk with Mrs. Ralston, I heard about a
+certain interview, wherein a ridiculous young lady discarded the man
+she loved, because she fancied she would wrong some one else if she
+admitted her love for him, and accepted his. Well--don't turn your
+face away--that was foolish. But my blunder was a downright wicked
+one. Yes, Claire, I will tell all the truth. When you and I stood
+together out under the trees, and talked of Clarence Vaughan; when you
+showed me the picture and told me the little pastoral about Edward
+Percy; I knew that Clarence Vaughan loved you--and I thought I loved,
+nay, I did love, _him_.
+
+"When I came down here and found so soon that Edward Percy was--so
+utterly unworthy, we will say, because he is dead, I felt at once that
+you must be undeceived.
+
+"Then a great temptation came to me, and I said to myself, 'When she
+becomes disenchanted, and ceases to love this man, she will learn to
+value the other and more noble lover; she will learn to love him!'
+
+"All night long, before I came to undeceive you, and to warn Olive, I
+battled with a great temptation. And I yielded to it. Listen, Claire,
+while I tell you how base I was.
+
+"When I set out for the city in the morning, I said to myself: 'Claire
+Keith is the soul of truth and honor. She is generous to a fault. If I
+let her see how much I care for Clarence Vaughan, I shall appeal to
+her pity and her honor, without the aid of words. She will never
+listen to his suit; she will try to advance my interest; she will
+become my ally.' See, dear, how truly I judged you.
+
+"Well, I came. I told you of Percy's baseness, and when I saw how
+brave you were; how full of scorn for the dishonest man; how
+impossible it was for one so unworthy to drag you down, or darken your
+life because of his baseness; I was filled with shame and remorse. I
+knew then that I was unworthy your friendship, or of a good man's
+love.
+
+"Standing in your presence, humiliated by your pure nobility, I
+repented, and I resolved to give up all thought of Clarence Vaughan. I
+did give him up.
+
+"But, Claire, although I did not know it, my very penitence must have
+committed me, and while I was renouncing my designs, you were
+resolving to further them. In some manner I must have betrayed
+myself."
+
+There is a moment's pause. Claire Keith's face is buried in her hands,
+and Madeline, bending toward her, cries out, remorsefully:
+
+"Claire! Claire! Look up and believe me. As God hears me, that is past
+and dead. See how I am humbling myself, and do not doubt me."
+
+Claire's head rears itself suddenly. She flings herself forward
+impetuously, and clasps her arms about her friend.
+
+"Madeline, stop!" she cries, brokenly; "I won't hear you slander
+yourself. Don't I know you too well to doubt you! But I won't have a
+lover; I won't love any one but you."
+
+Again the laugh comes to Madeline's lips.
+
+"Little Miss Impulse!" she says, tenderly. "But, sister Claire, I am
+not done yet. I am going to put you on the penitent's stool now. Just
+imagine yourself in my place for a little. Do you think I could have
+made this confession to you if my weakness were not a thing of the
+past? You know I never could. I am not ashamed to confess that I did
+love Clarence. But I should be more than ashamed, under all the
+circumstances, if I could not say with truth that that love is a thing
+of the past. As my dearest friend, my brother, if you will, I shall
+always love him; but no more than that. I am not sorry that I have
+loved him, for I am a better woman because of it. But, I repeat it,
+that love is a thing of the past. Claire, do you not believe?"
+
+They gaze into each other's eyes for a moment. Then Claire says: "I
+believe, Madeline."
+
+A smile brightens the brown eyes now, and their owner says: "Then
+don't you see that you have made a mistake--one that, for my sake, you
+must rectify?"
+
+Claire begins to look rebellious. "No, I don't," she cries, blushing
+scarlet. "You wicked girl, you have been getting me into a trap!"
+
+Madeline says, very gravely:
+
+"Claire, I want you to trust me in this, as you all have in other
+things. I want you to let me feel that I have not made the friends I
+love best, unhappy. I shall leave you soon: if I have been your
+friend, let me have my way in this one thing. If you don't, all the
+rest will have been in vain. See, my drama is ended; my enemies are
+punished. Now let me make my dear ones happy. Do you know, John Arthur
+has put a new thought in my head. 'Confound you,' he growled; it was
+his parting benediction, 'I might have known your father's blood ruled
+you. I might have looked for cunning and intrigue from that confounded
+Expert's Daughter.' It is true, Claire; I am the daughter of an
+Expert, a detective, brave and shrewd. Hagar says that I am like my
+father, and that I have inherited his talents. When I recall the knot
+we have just unravelled, the war we have just waged, I can but think
+that my father's chosen calling may have become mine. If the world
+ever grows stale, if I pine for change or excitement or absorbing
+occupation, I can go to my father's chief and say, 'I am the daughter
+of Lionel Payne, the Expert, and I have inherited a measure of my
+father's talents.' Do you think he will trust his knotty cases to the
+Expert's Daughter?"
+
+"I think he will, if he is wise. But, Madeline, all this is folly. You
+will never leave us. Olive wants you; we all want you."
+
+"And you will all have enough of me. But, Claire, do not ask me to
+stay now. It is better for me, better for all, that I go away. I must
+let old memories die out. I want to forget old scenes. I want rest. I
+need to school my wayward nature, to teach my heart to beat calmly,
+my soul to possess itself in peace. Claire, I must go."
+
+Just here, some one taps softly. It is a servant who holds in her
+hands a telegram from Olive to Madeline, which runs thus:
+
+     All is well. Philip and I start for home to-night. Meet us
+     there without fail, all of you.
+
+                                        OLIVE.
+
+They read it together, and then Claire burst into tears--tears of joy
+and thankfulness.
+
+"Philip is free once more! Oh, Madeline, Madeline; and it was you who
+saved him; it was _you_!"
+
+Madeline pushes the message into her hand, saying: "If I have done
+such wonderful things, why do you refuse to obey me? Go, now, and take
+this good news to Clarence Vaughan. And mind you, don't come back, for
+I am going to tell Mrs. Ralston."
+
+Half laughing, half crying, Claire is compelled to go down to the
+library alone. Clarence Vaughan is there, pacing thoughtfully up and
+down.
+
+Claire enters softly, the paper ostentatiously displayed in her hand.
+But he looks straight at the blushing, bashful, tear-stained face. Her
+eyes, half glad, half shy, wholly tell-tale, fall before his own. And
+the lover who has waited in patience for his opportunity, seizes it
+now and makes it a moment of victory.
+
+"I have brought you good news, Dr. Vaughan."
+
+He comes straight toward her, and imprisons both little hands,
+together with the "news" they contain.
+
+"You have brought me yourself, then, and I have been lying in wait for
+this opportunity. Claire, shall you ever run away from me again?"
+
+It is useless to rebel. His voice tells her that he knows too much,
+and that he will not be evaded any more.
+
+She gives him one glimpse of her face, and then she is clasped in his
+strong, loving arms, and from this safe haven, after a time, she tells
+her good news, struggling prettily to free herself from the loving
+imprisonment.
+
+"Philip is free, and is coming home."
+
+"Of course; why not, darling? There is no accusation against him now."
+
+"Madeline is going away with Mrs. Ralston. Don't you think she is too
+bad? Can't we make her stay?"
+
+A look of regretful sadness rests for a moment upon his countenance.
+Then he says, very tenderly:
+
+"My little darling, Madeline has earned the right to her own perfect
+liberty. After the fierce schooling through which she has passed,
+believe me, there is nothing left for us to teach her. She has grown
+beyond us. Let her have her will, for she knows best what will give
+her the rest, the forgetfulness, the absorbing interest in other
+things, that her strong nature needs. Madeline has much to unlearn,
+much to forget; and she knows this. She is growing to understand her
+strong, brave self, to value her strength. She will never be an idler,
+never sink into the ranks of the commonplace. If, after a time, she
+finds for herself a worthy love, she will be the tenderest, the truest
+of wives. But she is sufficient unto herself. She has beauty, genius,
+force, a strong will, a splendid intellect. We shall watch her course
+from afar, and I am much mistaken if we do not, some day, hear great
+things of our Madeline."
+
+Claire draws herself gently from the restraining arm, and turns her
+blue eyes upon him.
+
+[Illustration: "She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs the
+restfulness, the peace, the white, pure glory of the dawn."--page
+456.]
+
+"Madeline will never marry," she says softly, sadly. "You are right;
+she is above us, beyond us. God has made her sufficient unto herself."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It is dawn, gray dawn.
+
+Madeline Payne rises from a long untroubled sleep, and flings wide her
+shutters.
+
+What is this that she sees?
+
+All below her an unbroken mantle of white; all about and above, the
+waving of snowy plumes, and floating, misty-white loveliness.
+
+The world is clothed in a new garment; the foot-prints of her enemies
+are hidden, are blotted from the face of the earth. The pathway to the
+cemetery where they lately bore Edward Percy, is obliterated, too. The
+grave of the erring man is covered with heaven's whitest, purest
+mantle of charity and forgetfulness.
+
+Above, below, all about her, is silence and whiteness and peace.
+
+She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs into herself the
+restfulness, the peace, the white, pure glory, of the dawn.
+
+"It is a token," she murmurs, softly. "It is God's benediction on my
+new day, on my new life. It is the beginning of rest. There is nothing
+old in this fresh, white world. Let the snow mantle rest thus upon my
+past life. Ah, how rich I am! How rich in friends; how strong in that
+I have been able to do some good, to make my beloved happy. Never let
+me repine at my fate. I am rich, and strong, and free. This new,
+white, beautiful world is mine, when I wish to wander. My friends are
+mine, when I wish to rest, and find a home."
+
+Ah, 'tis good to know--
+
+    "God's greatness shines around our incompleteness;
+        Round our restlessness, _His rest_."
+
+Up from the east shoots an arrow of gold, and a bar of roseate light.
+Higher yet, and the world is aglow with mystic, glittering loveliness.
+Diamonds sparkling everywhere; snow plumes waving; the earth's white
+unbroken mantle gleaming and sparkling, and stretching away to meet
+the golden glow at the horizon's edge.
+
+Kneeling there, with her white hands clasped upon the window ledge,
+the glory of the morning falls over her like a benediction; lighting
+up the golden hair; pouring its radiance into the solemn brown eyes;
+kissing the pure pale cheeks; breathing peace, and rest, and hope into
+the long-tried, but conquering heart of THE EXPERT'S DAUGHTER.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+POPULAR BOOKS.
+
+
+_A Mountain Mystery; or, The Outlaws of the Rockies._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 37 original Engravings.
+    Price, $1.50.
+
+    A stirring story of detectives' adventures among the mountain
+    outlaws and stage robbers of the Far West. Our old friends
+    Stanhope and Vernet, reappear in new roles.
+
+
+_Dangerous Ground; or, The Rival Detectives._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 45 original Engravings.
+    Price, $1.50.
+
+    Its incidents are splendidly handled. There is not a dull
+    page or line in it. Dick Stanhope is a character to be
+    admired for his courage; while one's deepest sympathies twine
+    about the noble, tender-hearted Leslie Warburton.
+
+
+_Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 44 original Engravings.
+    Price, $1.50.
+
+    "One of the most fascinating of modern novels. It combines
+    the excitement that ever attends the intricate and hazardous
+    schemes of a detective, together with as cunningly elaborated
+    a plot as the best of Wilkie Collins' or Charles Reade's."
+
+
+_Out of a Labyrinth._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 36 original Engravings.
+    Price $1.50.
+
+    "We have so often spoken of Mr. Lynch's superb abilities that
+    further praise is scarcely essential. Suffice it to say that
+    this work is in no way inferior to those which have preceded
+    it."--_Aurora News._
+
+
+_The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated by 41 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    An exciting story of adventures in Australia, in the early
+    days, when the discovery of gold drew thither a motley crowd
+    of reckless daring men.
+
+
+_The Bushrangers; or, Wild Life in Australia._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated. Price, $1.50.
+
+    The record of a second voyage to that land of mystery and
+    adventure--Australia--by the "Gold Hunters," and replete with
+    exciting exploits among lawless men.
+
+
+_The Gold Hunters in Europe; or, The Dead Alive._
+
+    By WM. H THOMES. Illustrated by 34 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    The heroes of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures" seek excitement
+    in a trip through Europe, and meet with a constant succession
+    of perilous adventures.
+
+
+_A Slaver's Adventures on Sea and Land._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated by 40 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    A thrilling story of an exciting life on board a slaver,
+    chased by British gunboats, and equally interesting
+    adventures in the wilds of Africa and on the Island of Cuba.
+
+
+_A Whaleman's Adventures on Sea and Land._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated by 36 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    A vivid story of life on a whaler, in the Pacific Ocean, and
+    of adventures in the Sandwich Islands, and in California in
+    the earlier days.
+
+
+_Running the Blockade._
+
+By WM. H THOMES. Profusely illustrated. Price, $1.50.
+
+    A tale of adventures on a Blockade Runner during the
+    rebellion, by a Union officer acting in the Secret Service of
+    the United States.
+
+Sold on all Railroad Trains, by all Booksellers, or will be sent
+post-paid on receipt of price by
+
+ALEX. T. LOYD & CO.,
+
+133 LASALLE STREET, CHICAGO.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+A NEW DETECTIVE STORY.
+
+By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH.
+
+Author of "Shadowed by Three," "Madeline Payne," etc.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't pull, boys; I've got the drop on ye!" Page 50.]
+
+DANGEROUS GROUND;
+
+OR THE
+
+RIVAL DETECTIVES.
+
+The author's latest and greatest work; intensely interesting. 45
+Elegant Illustrations.
+
+PRICE $1.50.
+
+Sold on all Railroad Trains and by all Booksellers.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+THE GOLD HUNTERS' ADVENTURES;
+
+OR, WILD LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
+
+By WM. H. THOMES, author of "The Bushrangers," "The Gold Hunters in
+Europe," "A Whaleman's Adventures," "Life in the East Indies,"
+"Adventures on a Slaver," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.
+
+[Illustration: "Now for a rush.--Cut them to pieces!"]
+
+A FASCINATING STORY OF ADVENTURE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+A SLAVER'S ADVENTURES
+
+ON SEA AND LAND.
+
+[Illustration: "We saw many species of wild animals." Page 89.]
+
+By WM. H. THOMES,
+
+Author of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia," "The
+Bushrangers," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.
+
+ILLUSTRATED WITH FORTY ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS
+
+SOLD ON ALL RAILWAY TRAINS AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+A Whaleman's Adventures
+
+AT SEA, IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS AND CALIFORNIA.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+By WM. H. THOMES,
+
+Author of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia," "The
+Bushrangers," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.
+
+Illustrated with Thirty-Six Fine Engravings.
+
+SOLD ON ALL RAILWAY TRAINS AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S
+DAUGHTER***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 26482-8.txt or 26482-8.zip *******
+
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+<body>
+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter, by
+Lawrence L. Lynch</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter</p>
+<p>Author: Lawrence L. Lynch</p>
+<p>Release Date: August 29, 2008  [eBook #26482]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>E-text prepared by Sankar Viswanathan, Suzanne Shell,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="450" height="655" alt="Cover"  />
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img class="img1" src="images/title_page.jpg" width="450" height="659" alt="Title Page"  />
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="400" height="554" alt="&quot;Yes,&quot; she cried, wildly, &quot;I know; you need not say it&quot;&mdash;page 219."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Yes,&quot; she cried, wildly, &quot;I know; you need not say it&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_219">page 219.</a></span></div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h4>THE GREAT DETECTIVE STORY.</h4>
+
+<h1>MADELINE PAYNE,</h1>
+
+<h4>THE</h4>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Detective's Daughter.</span></h3>
+
+<h3>BY</h3>
+
+<h2>LAWRENCE L. LYNCH,</h2>
+
+<h4>(OF THE SECRET SERVICE.)</h4>
+
+<h4>Author of "Shadowed by Three," "The Diamond Coterie,"<br />
+"Out of a Labyrinth," etc., etc.
+</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h3>CHICAGO:</h3>
+
+<h3>ALEX. T. LOYD &amp; CO.</h3>
+
+<h3>1888.</h3>
+
+
+<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1883,<br />
+DONNELLEY, LOYD &amp; CO.,<br />
+CHICAGO.</h5>
+
+<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1883,<br />
+ALEX. T. LOYD &amp; CO.,<br />
+CHICAGO.
+</h5>
+
+<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1884,<br />
+ALEX. T. LOYD &amp; CO.,<br />
+CHICAGO.
+</h5>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<table summary="Contents">
+<tr>
+  <td class="tocch f1">CHAPTER</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tocpg f1">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> I.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">MAN PROPOSES</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> II.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE OLD TREE'S REVELATIONS</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> III.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_III">THE STORY OF A CRIME</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> IV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">THE DIE IS CAST</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> V.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">A SHREWD SCHEME</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> VI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A WARNING</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> VII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">A STRUGGLE FOR MORE THAN LIFE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> VIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">THREADS OF THE FABRIC</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> IX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">GONE!</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> X.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_X">BONNIE, BEWITCHING CLAIRE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">A GLEAM OF LIGHT</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">MISS ARTHUR'S FRENCH MAID</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XIV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CORA AND THE FRENCH MAID MEASURE SWORDS</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XVI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">FACE TO FACE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XVII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">GATHERING CLUES</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XVIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WIELDS THE SURGEON'S KNIFE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XIX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">A DUAL RENUNCIATION</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">HAGAR AND CORA</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">TO BE, TO DO, TO SUFFER</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">SETTING SOME SNARES</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXIV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">A VERITABLE GHOST</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">SOME DAYS OF WAITING</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXVI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXVII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CLAIRE TURNS CIRCE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXVIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE MIMIC STAGE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXIX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">A STARTLING EPISODE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">WAITING</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_299">299</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">MR. PERCY SHAKES HIMSELF</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">A SILKEN BELT</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_310">310</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">CROSS PURPOSES</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXIV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">A SLIGHT COMPLICATION</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_322">322</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">"THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT NAUGHT</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_332">332</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXVI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">MR. LORD'S LETTER</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXVII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">"I HAVE COME BACK TO MY OWN!"</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXVIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CORA UNDER ORDERS</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XXXIX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">MYSTIFIED PEOPLE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_367">367</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XL.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">DAVLIN'S "POINTS."</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_378">378</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">THE DAYS PASS BY</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_385">385</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_389">389</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">THE DOCTOR'S WOOING</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_397">397</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLIV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">A FRESH COMPLICATION</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_403">403</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLV.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLV">MRS. RALSTON'S STORY</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_409">409</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLVI.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI">CORA "STIRS UP THE ANIMALS."</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_416">416</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLVII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVII">THE BEGINNING OF THE END</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLVIII.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVIII">THE SWORD OF FATE</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> XLIX.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIX">AS THE FOOL DIETH</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_442">442</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tocch"> L.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td><a href="#CHAPTER_L">"AND THEN COMES REST."</a></td>
+  <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_447">447</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_002.jpg" width="400" height="558" alt="&quot;Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end of the
+depot platform stood the dainty ph&aelig;ton of Mrs. John Arthur.&quot;&mdash;page
+229."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end of the
+depot platform stood the dainty ph&aelig;ton of Mrs. John Arthur.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_229">page 229.</a></span></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p>
+<h2>MADELINE PAYNE,</h2>
+<h3>THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER.</h3>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<h2>MAN PROPOSES.</h2>
+
+
+<p>"H'm! And you scarcely remember your mother, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Lucian; I was such a mere babe when she died, I
+have often wondered what it would be like to have a mother.
+Auntie Hagar was always very kind to me, however; so kind,
+in fact, that my step-father, fearing, he said, that I would grow
+up self-willed and disobedient, sent her away, and procured the
+services of the ugly old woman you saw in the garden. Poor
+Auntie Hagar," sighed the girl, "she was sorely grieved at our
+parting and, that she might be near me, bought the little cottage
+in the field yonder."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" ejaculated the man, more as if he felt that he was expected
+to say something, than as if really interested in the subject
+under discussion. "Ah&mdash;er&mdash;was&mdash;a&mdash;was the old lady a property
+holder, then? Most discharged servants go up and down
+on the earth, seeking what they may devour&mdash;in another situation."</p>
+
+<p>"That is the strangest part of the affair, Lucian; she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>
+money. Where it came from, I never could guess, nor would
+she ever give me any information on the subject. It was a
+legacy&mdash;that was all I was to know, it seemed.</p>
+
+<p>"I remember," she continued, musingly, "how very much
+astonished I was to receive, from my step-father, a lecture on
+this head. He took the ground that my childish curiosity was
+unpardonably rude, and angrily forbade me to ask further
+questions. And I am sure that since that one instance of wonderful
+regard for the feelings of Aunt Hagar, he has not deigned
+to consider the comfort and happiness of any, save and always
+himself."</p>
+
+<p>As the girl's voice took on a tone of scornful sarcasm; as her
+cheeks flushed and her eyes flashed while memory recalled the
+many instances of unfeeling cruelty and neglect, that had
+brought tears to her childish eyes and pain to her lonely heart&mdash;the
+eyes of Lucian Davlin became bright with admiration, and
+something more; something that might have caused her honest
+eyes to wonder and question, if she had but intercepted the
+glance. But her thoughts had taken a backward turn. Without
+looking up, perceiving by his silence that he had no desire
+to interrupt her, she proceeded, half addressing herself:</p>
+
+<p>"I used to ask him about my mother, and was always informed
+that he 'didn't care to converse of dead folks.' Finally,
+he assured me that he was 'tired of seeing my sickly, ugly face,'
+and that, as I would have to look after myself when he was
+dead and gone, I must be educated. Therefore, I was sent to
+the dreary Convent school at M&mdash;&mdash;. And there I studied hard,
+looking forward to the time when, having learned all they could
+teach me, I might breathe again outside the four stone walls;
+for, by my step-papa's commands, I was not permitted to roam
+outside the sisters' domains until my studies should reach an end.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+Then they brought me back, and my polite step-papa called me
+an 'educated idiot;' and my good old Hagar cried over me; and
+I made friends with the birds, and the trees. Ever since,
+always avoiding my worthy ancestor-in-law, I have been wondering
+what it would be like to be happy among true friends,
+in a bright spot somewhere, far away from this place, where I
+never have been happy for a day at a time, even as a child."</p>
+
+<p>"Never, little girl?" The eyes were very reproachful, and
+the man's hand was held out entreatingly. "Never, darling?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked up in his face shyly, yet trustfully, and then putting
+her hand in his, said: "Never, until I knew you, Lucian;
+and always since, I think, except&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She hesitated, and the color fled out of her face.</p>
+
+<p>"Except when I think that the day draws near when you will
+leave me. And when the great world has swallowed you up,
+you will forget the 'little girl' you found in the woods, perhaps."</p>
+
+<p>A smile flitted across the face of the listener, and he turned
+away for a moment to conceal the lurking devil gleaming out of
+his eyes. Then, flinging away his half finished cigar, he took
+both her hands in his, and looking down into her clear eyes,
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Then don't let me go away from you, beauty. Don't stay
+here to make dismal meditations among the gloomy trees.
+Don't pass all the weary Winter with Curmudgeon, who will
+marry you to an old bag of gold. Come with me; come to the
+city and be happy. You shall see all the glories and beauties
+of the gay, bright world. You shall put dull care far behind
+you. You shall be my little Queen of Hearts, to love and care
+for always. Sweetheart, will you come?"</p>
+
+<p>He was folding her close now, and she nestled in his arms
+with perfect trustfulness, with untold happiness shining in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+bright eyes. She was in no haste to answer his eager question,
+and he smiled again; and once more the lurking devil laughed
+out of his eyes. But he held her tenderly to him, in silence for
+a time, and then lifted the blushing face to meet his own.</p>
+
+<p>"Look up, Aileen, my own! Is it to be as I wish? Will
+you leave this place with me to-morrow night?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl drew back with a start of surprise. "You&mdash;you
+surely are not going to-morrow, Lucian," and the gentle voice
+trembled.</p>
+
+<p>"I must, little one&mdash;have just received a letter calling me
+back to the city. Your sweet face has already kept me here too
+long. But I shall take it back with me, shall I not, love; and
+never lose it more?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl was silent. She loved him only too well, and yet
+this peremptory wooing and sudden departure struck upon her
+naturally sensitive nerves as something harsh and unpleasant.
+She would not leave behind much love, would be missed by few
+friends, and yet&mdash;to leave her home once was to leave it forever,
+and it was home, after all. She looked at the man before her,
+and a something, her good angel perhaps, seemed, almost against
+herself, to move her to rebel.</p>
+
+<p>"Why must I go like a runaway, Lucian? I can't bear to
+bid you go, and yet, if you must, why not leave me for a little
+time? My father will never consent, I well know, but let me
+tell him, and then go openly, after he has had time to become
+familiar with the idea."</p>
+
+<p>"After he has had time to lock you up! Recollect, you are
+not of age, Aileen. After he has had time to force you into a
+marriage with your broken-backed old lover. After he has had
+time to poison your mind against me&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian! as if he could do <i>that</i>; <i>he</i>, indeed!" The girl
+laughed scornfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_003.jpg" width="400" height="565" alt="&quot;She nestled in his arms with perfect trustfulness.&quot;&mdash;page 11."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;She nestled in his arms with perfect trustfulness.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_11">page 11.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It is not difficult to guess how this affair would have terminated.
+The man was handsome and persuasive; the girl trustful,
+loving, and, save for him, so she thought, almost friendless.</p>
+
+<p>But an unexpected event interrupted the eloquence flowing
+from the lips of Lucian Davlin, and set the mind of the girl
+free to think one moment, unbiased by the mesmeric power of
+his mind, eye, and touch.</p>
+
+<p>They were standing in a little grove, near which ran the footpath
+leading into the village of Bellair. Suddenly, as if he had
+dropped from one of the wide spreading trees, a very fat boy,
+with a shining face and a general air of "knowingness," appeared
+before them.</p>
+
+<p>"I beg pardin, sir," proclaimed he, "but as you told me if a
+tellergram come for you, to fetch it here, so I did."</p>
+
+<p>And staring at Madeline the while, he produced a yellow
+envelope from some interior region, and presented it to Lucian
+Davlin, who tore open the cover, and took in the purport of the
+message at one glance. His face wore a variety of expressions:
+Annoyance, satisfaction, surprise, all found place as he read.
+He stood in a thoughtful attitude for a brief time, and then, as
+if he had settled the matter in his own mind, said:</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Mike. Go back now, and tell Bowers to prepare
+to leave to-night. I'll come down and send the required answer
+immediately. Here, take this."</p>
+
+<p>Tossing him a piece of money, Lucian turned to Madeline,
+over whose face a look of sorrowful wonder was creeping.</p>
+
+<p>"'Man proposes,' my dear! Well, I am 'disposed of' for a
+time. It is only one night sooner, and, after all, what matter?
+Will you decide for me at once, Maidie? Nay, I see you hesitate
+still, and time just now is precious. Think till to-night,
+then; think of the lonely days here without me; think of me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+alone in the big world, wishing and longing for <i>you</i>. I could
+not even write you in safety. Think fast, little woman; and
+when evening comes, meet me here with your answer. If it
+must be separation for a time, dear, tell me when I shall come
+back for you."</p>
+
+<p>The girl drew a breath of relief. He would come back&mdash;that
+would be better. But seeing his anxiety to be gone, she
+only said: "Very well, Lucian, I will be here."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, good-by till evening."</p>
+
+<p>A swift kiss, and a strong hand clasp, and he strode away.</p>
+
+<p>Trampling down the wayside daisies and tender Spring
+grasses; insensible to the beauties of earth and sky; smiling
+still that same queer, meaning smile, he took the path leading
+back to the village. Reaching the site, where the woody path
+terminated in the highway, he turned. Yes, she was looking
+after him; she would be, he knew. He kissed his hand, lifted
+his hat with a courtly gesture, and passed out of her sight.</p>
+
+<p>"Gad!" he ejaculated, half aloud, "she is a little beauty;
+and half inclined to rebel, too. She won't go with me to-night,
+I think; but a few weeks of this solitude without me, and my
+Lady Bird will capitulate. The old Turk, her step-father, won't
+raise much of a hue and cry at her flight, I fancy. Wonder what
+is the secret of his antipathy to Miss Payne."</p>
+
+<p>He paced on, wrinkling his brow in thought a moment, and
+then whistling softly as his fancies shaped themselves to his liking.
+Suddenly he stopped, turned, and looked sharply about
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do it!" he exclaimed. "Strange if I can't extract from
+a broken down old woman any items of family history that
+might serve my purpose. I'll call on the nurse&mdash;what's her
+name&mdash;to-night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He glanced across the meadow to where stood the cottage of
+Nurse Hagar, and, as if satisfied with himself and his brilliant
+last idea, resumed his walk. Presently his pace slackened again,
+and he looked at the crumpled paper which he still retained in
+his hand, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"It's queer what sent Cora to the city for this flying visit.
+I must keep my Madeline out of her way. If they should
+meet&mdash;whew!"</p>
+
+<p>Evidently, direful things might ensue from a meeting between
+Madeline Payne and this unknown Cora, for after a prolonged
+whistle, a brief moment of silence, and then a short
+laugh, Davlin said:</p>
+
+<p>"I should wear a wig, at least," and he laughed again. "I
+wonder, by Jove! I wonder if old Arthur's money bags are
+heavy enough to make a card for Cora. Well, I'll find that
+out, too."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE OLD TREE'S REVELATIONS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Meanwhile, strange feelings filled the heart, and troublesome
+thoughts the head, of Madeline Payne.</p>
+
+<p>She looked about her sorrowfully. The leafy wood seemed
+one of her oldest, truest friends. Since her mother's death, she
+had lived, save for the faithful regard of old Hagar, an unloved
+life. In the only home she knew, she felt herself an object of
+dislike, and met only cold neglect, or rude repulsion. So she
+had made a friend of the shady wood, and welcomed back the
+birds, in early Springtime, with joyful anticipation of Summer
+rest under green branches, lulled and soothed by their songs.</p>
+
+<p>Wandering here, the acquaintance between herself and Lucian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+Davlin had begun. Here six long, bright weeks of the Springtime
+had passed, each day finding them lingering longer among
+the leafy shadows, and drawing closer about them both the cords
+of a destiny sad for one, fatal for each.</p>
+
+<p>Standing with hands clasped loosely before her, eyes down
+dropped, and foot tapping the mossy turf, Madeline presented
+a picture of youth and loveliness such as is rarely seen even in
+a beauty-abounding land. A form of medium height which
+would, in later years, develop much of stately grace; a complexion
+of lily-like fairness; and eyes as deep and brown, as tender
+and childlike, as if their owner were gazing, ever and
+always, as infants gaze who see only great, grand wonders, and
+never a woe or fear.</p>
+
+<p>With a wee, small mouth, matching the eyes in expression,
+the face was one to strike a casual observer as lovely&mdash;as childishly
+sweet, perhaps. Yet there was something more than
+childishness in the broad brow, and firm chin. The little white
+hands were shapely and strong, and the dainty feet pressed down
+the daisies softly yet firmly, with quiet but steady movement.</p>
+
+<p>Many a man has been mistaken in baby mouth, and sweetly-smiling
+eyes. And whoso should mistake Madeline Payne, in
+the time to come, for "just a child and nothing more," would
+reckon unwisely, and mayhap learn this truth too late.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline sat down upon a fallen tree, where she had so often
+talked with her lover. She looked up into the wide spreading
+branches overhead. There was the crooked bough where she
+had, often and often, in past days, sought refuge when troubled
+by her father's harshness, or haunted by dreams of the mother
+she had hardly known. It looked cool and inviting, as if she
+could think to better purpose shrouded by the whispering leaves.
+She stepped upon the fallen trunk, and springing upward, caught<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+a bending limb, and was soon seated cosily aloft, smiling at
+the thought of what Lucian would say could he see her there. Long
+she pondered, silent, motionless. Finally, stirring herself and
+shaking lightly an overhanging friendly branch she exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"That will be best! I'll stay here for the present. I'll tell
+step-papa that I love Lucian, and will never marry his friend,
+Amos Adams, the old fright! I'll try and be very calm, and
+as dutiful as maybe. Then, if he turns me out, very well. If
+he shuts me up&mdash;" Her eyes flashed and she laughed; but there
+was little of mirth in the laughter&mdash;"Why, then, I <i>would</i> lead
+him a life, I think! Yes, I'll bid Lucian good-by, for a little
+while, and I'll try and not miss him too much, for&mdash;Oh!"</p>
+
+<p>She had been very busy with her own half-spoken thoughts,
+else she must have sooner discovered their approach, for now
+they were almost underneath her, and they were no less personages
+than her step-father, John Arthur, and her would-be
+suitor, Amos Adams.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline was about to make known her presence, but her
+ear caught the fragment of a sentence in which her name held
+prominent place. Acting upon impulse, she remained a silent,
+unsuspected listener.</p>
+
+<p>And so began in her heart and life that drama of pain and
+passion, sin and mystery, that should close round, and harden
+and blight, the darkening future of Madeline Payne.</p>
+
+<p>A more marked contrast than the two men presented could
+scarcely be imagined.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_004.jpg" width="400" height="566" alt="&quot;Madeline presented a picture
+of youth and loveliness.&quot;&mdash;page 17."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Madeline presented a picture
+of youth and loveliness.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_17">page 17.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>John Arthur might have been, evidently had been, a handsome
+man, years ago. But it did not seem possible that, even
+in his palmiest days, Amos Adams could have been called anything
+save a fright. He was much below the medium height.
+His head was sunken between his shoulders, and thrust forward,
+and each feature of his ugly face seemed at war with every other;
+while the glance of his greenish gray eye was such as would
+cause a right-minded person involuntarily to cross himself and
+utter, with perfect propriety, the Pharisee's prayer.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The mischief fly away with you, man," said Mr. Arthur,
+seating himself upon the fallen tree, and striking at the ground
+fiercely with his cane; "what is my dead wife to you? Madeline
+makes my life a burden by these same queries. It's none
+of your business why the departed Mrs. Arthur left her property
+to me during my life, and tied it up so as to make me only
+nominal master&mdash;mine to use but not sell, not one acre, not a tree
+or stone; all must go intact to Miss Madeline, curse her, at my
+death."</p>
+
+<p>"Um-m, yes. Does the girl know anything of this?"</p>
+
+<p>"If she did, your chances would be slim," said the other,
+scornfully. "No; I have taken good care that she should not.
+She has a vixenish temper, if she should get waked up to imagine
+herself 'wronged,' or any such school-girl nonsense. I
+shall not live many years&mdash;this heart disease is gaining on me
+fast; and if the girl is your wife, in case of my death the fortune
+is as good as yours, you know. I want to have peace while
+I do live; and for this reason, I say, I will give you my step-daughter
+in marriage, and you shall give me the note you hold
+against me for that old debt, the payment of which would
+compel me to live like a beggar for the remainder of my days,
+and the sum of ten thousand dollars."</p>
+
+<p>"It's making a wife a rather expensive luxury," quoth old
+Amos, seating himself; "but the girl's a beauty&mdash;no disputing
+that point; and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_005.jpg" width="400" height="571" alt="&quot;What is my dead wife to you?&quot;&mdash;page 20."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;What is my dead wife to you?&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_20">page 20.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"Of course she is," broke in Arthur, impatiently; "worth
+that, and more, to whoever wants her, which, fortunately for
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>you, I don't; she is only a kill-joy to me. If you want the
+girl, take her, and be blessed&mdash;I'll give away the bride with all
+the pleasure in the world&mdash;and 'live happy ever after.'"</p>
+
+<p>There was not much room for argument between these two.
+It was simply a question of exchange, and when old Amos had
+decided that he was not paying too dearly for so fair a piece of
+flesh and blood, they came to terms without more ado, and being
+agreed that "it's always best to strike while the iron is hot,"
+Mr. Arthur suggested that his friend return with him, accept a
+seat at his hospitable board, and hear himself announced formally
+to Miss Madeline, as her future lord and master. John
+Arthur had ever exacted and received passive obedience from
+his step-daughter. He had little fear of rebellion now. How
+could she rebel? Was she not dependent upon his bounty for
+her daily bread, even?</p>
+
+<p>Old Amos troubled his ugly head little if any on this point.
+He recognized no higher potentate than gold. He had bought
+him a wife; he had but to pay the price and take possession of
+the property.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>Madeline Payne sat long on her leafy perch, thinking fast
+and hard, the expressions of her face changing rapidly as she
+revolved, in her mind, different phases of the situation. Surprise
+gave place to contempt, as she eyed the departing plotters
+from her green hiding-place. Contempt merged into amusement,
+as she thought of the wonderful contrast between the two
+wooers who had proffered their respective suits, in a manner so
+very different, beneath that self-same tree. A look of fixed resolve
+settled down upon her countenance at last, and uncurling
+herself, she dropped lightly upon the ground.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_006.jpg" width="400" height="555" alt="&quot;Slowly she turned away and very
+thoughtful was her face.&quot;&mdash;page 24"  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Slowly she turned away and very
+thoughtful was her face.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_24">page 24</a></span></div>
+
+<p>Madeline had made up her mind. That it would be useless
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>to say aught of Lucian, she now knew too well. That she could
+never defy her father's commands, and still dwell beneath her
+father's roof, she also knew. She hesitated no longer. Fate,
+stronger than she, had decided for her, she reasoned. Her mind
+once made up, she gave in it no place to fears or misgivings.
+The strength of will and the spirit of rebellion, that were dormant
+in her nature, began to stir into life, roused by the injustice
+that would rob her of her own. She not only had a way of
+escape, but that way her own inclinations lured her. With
+never a fear, never a thought of the days to come, she turned
+from her mockery of a home, from her parent, unnatural, unloving,
+and unloved, to an unknown, untried world, which was
+all embodied in one word&mdash;Lucian.</p>
+
+<p>The past held for her many dark shadows; the future held
+all that she craved of joy and love&mdash;Lucian.</p>
+
+<p>In her outraged heart there was no room for grief. She had
+heard her dead mother scorned, and by him who, more than all
+others, should have cherished her memory and honored her
+name. She had heard herself bartered away, as a parcel of
+goods, and her very life weighed in the balance as a most objectionable
+thing. Her happiness was scoffed at; her wishes
+ignored as if without existence, and contrary to all nature; even
+her liberty was menaced.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly she turned away, and very thoughtful was her face as
+she went, but fixed in its purpose as fate itself: and fearless still
+as if life had no dark places, no storm clouds, no despair.</p>
+
+<p>Oh! they were lovely, innocent eyes; and oh! it was a sweet,
+sweet mouth! But the eyes never wavered, and the mouth had no
+trace of weakness in its dainty curves. You have reckoned
+without your host, John Arthur. It is no commonplace school-girl
+with whom you have to deal. Madeline Payne possesses a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>
+nature all untried, yet strong for good or evil. Intense in love
+or hate, fearless to do and dare, she will meet the fate you bring
+upon her&mdash;but woe to those who have compassed her downfall!
+If your hand has shaped the destiny of her life, she will no
+less overrule your future and, from afar&mdash;perhaps unrecognized,
+unseen&mdash;mete out to you measure for measure!</p>
+
+<p>The grand old tree is sighing out a farewell. The sunlight is
+casting fantastic shadows where her foot, but a moment since,
+rested. The leaves glisten and whisper strange things. The
+golden buttercups laugh up in the sun's face, as if there were
+no drama of loving and hating, sin and atonement, daily enacted
+on their green, motherly bosom. And Madeline Payne
+has put her childhood behind her, and turned her face to the
+darkness beyond.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE STORY OF A CRIME.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Nurse Hagar was displeased. She plied her knitting-needles
+fiercely, and seemed to rejoice in their sharp clicking. She
+rocked furiously backwards and forwards, and sharply admonished
+the cat to "take himself away," or she "would certainly
+rock on his tail." She "wanted to do something to somebody,
+she did!" She looked across the fields in the direction of Oakley,
+and dropping her knitting and bringing her chair to a tranquil
+state, soliloquized:</p>
+
+<p>"It's always the way with young folks; they don't never remember
+that old uns have feelings. They run away after a
+new face, and if it's a young one and a handsome one, they turn
+everybody out of their thoughts; everybody else. Not that I
+think that city fellow's a handsome chap; by no means," she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+grumbled; "but Maidie does; that's certain sure. And she
+won't let me say a word about him&mdash;oh, no; I'm a poor old
+woman, and my advice is not wanted!"</p>
+
+<p>Hagar resumed her knitting and her rocking with fresh vigor.
+But her face relaxed a measure of its grimness as, looking up,
+her eye rested on a dainty nosegay, tossed in at the window
+only that morning, by this same neglectful young girl.</p>
+
+<p>"She don't mean to forget me, to be sure," she resumed.
+"She is always kind and gentle to her old nurse. She is lonesome,
+of course, and should have young company, like other
+girls, but&mdash;" here the needles slacked again&mdash;"drat that city
+chap! I wish he had stayed away from Bellair."</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness, auntie, what a face! I am almost afraid to
+come in."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed, despite her anxiety, as Aunt Hagar permitted
+her opinion of the "city feller" to manifest itself in
+every feature.</p>
+
+<p>"Get that awfully defiant look out of your countenance,
+auntie," continued Madeline; "for I'm coming in to have a
+long talk with you, and I must not be frightened in the beginning."</p>
+
+<p>The lovely face disappeared from the open window, and in a
+moment reappeared in the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>To permit herself to be propitiated in a moment, however,
+was not in the nature of Dame Hagar.</p>
+
+<p>"I s'pose you think it's very respectful to pop your saucy
+head in at an old woman's window, and set her all of a tremble
+and then tell her, because she is not grinning for her own
+amusement, that she looks awfully cross, and that you are
+afraid she will bite you. You are a nice one to talk of being
+afraid; you, who never showed an atom of fear of anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+from your cradle up. If you were a bit afraid, when you
+were out in the woods, for instance, and meet a long-legged
+animal with a smooth tongue, and eyes that ought to make
+you nervous, 'twouldn't be to your discredit, I think. Of course,
+I don't mean to say that you don't meet him quite by accident;
+oh, no! And I don't <i>say</i> that he ain't a very nice, respectable
+sort of chap, whatever I may <i>think</i>. You are just like your
+poor mother, and if this fellow with a name that might as well
+be Devil, and done with it&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"There, now, auntie&mdash;" Madeline's face flushed, and she put
+the cat down with sudden emphasis; "I won't let you say bad
+things of Mr. Davlin, for I think you would be sorry for it afterward."</p>
+
+<p>She drew a low seat to the side of the old lady, and looking
+her full in the face, spoke in a voice low, intense, full of purpose.</p>
+
+<p>"Auntie, it is time you told me more about my mother. You
+have evaded, my step-father has forbidden, my questioning, but
+if I am ever to know aught of my dead mother's history, I intend
+to hear it from your lips to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Surprise for a time held the old woman speechless; a look of
+sorrow and affection drove the querulousness out of her face
+and voice.</p>
+
+<p>"What ails you, child?" she said, wonderingly. "Do you
+want to make Mr. Arthur hate me more, and keep you from me
+entirely? Don't you know, dearie, how he swore that the day
+I told you these things, he would forbid you to visit me; and
+if you disobeyed, take you away where I could not even hear of
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>Tears were in Hagar's eyes, and she held out her wrinkled
+hands imploringly. "Don't tease your old nurse, dearie; don't.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+I can't tell you these things now, and they could not make you
+any happier, child. Wait a little; the time will come&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"So will old age, auntie; and death, and all the knowledge we
+want, I suppose, when it is too late to make it profitable. Well,
+auntie, I will tell you something in exchange for my mother's
+story, and to make it easier for you to relate it. But first, will
+you answer a few questions?&mdash;wait, I know what you would
+say," as the old woman made a deprecating movement, and essayed
+to speak. "Hear me, now."</p>
+
+<p>Hagar looked at the girl earnestly for a moment, and then
+said, quietly:</p>
+
+<p>"Go on then, dearie."</p>
+
+<p>"First," pursued Madeline; "my father dislikes me very
+much; is this the truth?" Hagar nodded assent.</p>
+
+<p>"He dislikes you because you were always good to me."
+Here she paused, and Hagar again nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Because you were attached to my mother." Again she
+paused, and again the old woman bowed assent.</p>
+
+<p>"And because"&mdash;the girl fixed the eyes of the old nurse with
+her own,&mdash;"because you were too familiar with my mother's past,
+and his, and knew too well the secret of his hatred of me!"</p>
+
+<p>Hagar sat silent and motionless, but Madeline, who had
+read her answer in the troubled face, continued: "Very good;
+I knew all this before, and I'll tell you what else I know. I
+know why Mr. John Arthur hates me!"</p>
+
+<p>Hagar opened her mouth, and shut it again quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"He hates me," pursued Madeline, "because my mother left
+him her fortune so tied up that he can only use it; never dispose
+of it. And at his death it reverts to me."</p>
+
+<p>Hagar still looked her amazement, and Madeline condensed
+the remainder of her force into one telling shot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"If I would be kind enough to die, he would consider it a
+great favor. But as I evidently intend to live long, he desires,
+of course, to see me happy. Therefore he has bargained me in
+marriage to Amos Adams, for the splendid consideration of a
+few thousand dollars, and the promise of a few thousand more
+<i>if I die young</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>Still the bewildered look rested upon the old woman's face,
+and still she gazed at the young girl before her. Suddenly, she
+leaned forward, and taking the fair head between two trembling
+hands, gazed long at her. As if satisfied at last with her scrutiny,
+she drew a deep, sighing breath and leaned back in her
+chair.</p>
+
+<p>"It's true," groaned Hagar; "it's too true! She has found it
+out, and my little girl has gone away;&mdash;my Baby Madeline is
+become a woman! There was never a coward in all the race,
+and a Payne never forgave! It has come at last," she wailed,
+"and now, what will she do?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline lost not a look nor tone; and when the old woman
+ceased her rocking and moaning, she suggested, with a half
+smile:</p>
+
+<p>"Hadn't I better marry old Adams, auntie, worry them both
+into untimely graves, and be a rich young widow?"</p>
+
+<p>Hagar gazed at her in silence. And Madeline, taking her
+hand in her own, said: "Shall I tell you how I discovered all
+this, auntie, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, child; go on." And she bent upon the girl a look of
+attention.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline drew close to her side, and briefly related what had
+transpired while she sat in her favorite tree; not stating, by the
+bye, how it occurred that she was in the grove at that very
+opportune time. Hagar's indignation was unbounded, but she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+continued to gaze at Madeline in a strange, half fearful, half
+wondering, wholly expectant way, that the girl could not
+interpret.</p>
+
+<p>"And now, Aunt Hagar," pursued Madeline, seriously, "I
+want to understand this matter more fully, and I will not say a
+word of my plans until you have told me what I came to hear.
+I shall not come to you again for this information; it is surely
+my right, and time now is precious."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline half rose, seeing that her nurse still rocked dismally
+and looked irresolute. "I can bide my time, and fight my
+battles alone, if need be," she continued, coldly. "I won't
+trouble you again, nurse," turning as if to go.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop, child!" cried Hagar; "let an old woman think. I'll
+tell you all I can; all I know. Don't turn away from your
+old nurse, dearie; her only thought is for your good. Yes;
+you must not be left in the dark now,&mdash;sit down child; sit
+down."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline resumed her seat, and old Hagar, after another
+season of moaning and rocking, proceeded to relate, with many
+wanderings from the point, and many interpolations and
+opinions of her own, the brief, sad story of Mrs. Arthur's married
+life and early death. Bereft of Hagar's ornamental extras,
+it was as follows:</p>
+
+<p>Madeline Harcourt, an orphan, and the adopted daughter of
+a wealthy bachelor uncle, had incurred his displeasure by loving
+and marrying Lionel Payne, handsome, brave to a fault,
+with no other wealth than his keen intellect, his unsullied honor,
+and his loving, manly heart.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_007.jpg" width="400" height="557" alt="&quot;I can bide my time, and
+fight my battles alone if need be.&quot;&mdash;page 30"  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I can bide my time, and
+fight my battles alone if need be.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_30">page 30.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>Lionel Payne had entered upon the study of law, but circumstances
+threw in his way certain mysteries that had long
+been puzzling the heads of the foremost detectives, and the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>young law student discovered in himself not only a marked
+taste for the study of mysteries, but a talent that was remarkable.
+So he gave up his law studies to become a detective. He
+rose rapidly in his new profession, giving all the strength of
+his splendid ability to the study of intricate and difficult cases,
+and became known among detectives, and dreaded among
+criminals, as "Payne, the Expert."</p>
+
+<p>He had lived two happy years with his young wife, and been
+six months the proud father of baby Madeline, when he fell a
+victim to his dangerous pursuit, shot dead by a bullet from the
+hand of a fleeing assassin.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur had been a fellow law student with Lionel
+Payne, and he had followed the career of the young expert
+with curious interest, being, as much as was possible to his selfish
+nature, a friend and admirer of the rising young detective.
+And Lionel Payne, open and manly himself, and seeing no trace
+of the serpent in the seeming disinterestedness of Arthur, introduced
+him proudly into his happy home. Arthur was struck
+by the beauty of the young wife, and became a frequent and
+welcome visitor.</p>
+
+<p>One day, there came to the office where John Arthur earned
+his bread reluctantly, as a salaried clerk, the uncle of Madeline
+Payne. He had come to make a will, in which he left all his
+possessions to his beloved niece, Madeline, and her heirs forever
+after. This was several months before the sudden death of
+Lionel Payne.</p>
+
+<p>Ten months after she became a widow, Madeline's uncle died.
+Left alone with her little child, and with no resources but her
+own efforts, Madeline's mother struggled on, ever the object of
+the kind watchfulness and unobtrusive care of John Arthur,
+who professed to adore the child for the sake of the father, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>
+through the baby Madeline, gradually won his way in the
+mother's esteem. Mrs. Payne was deeply grateful, and her
+mother's heart was touched by the devotion of Arthur to her
+little child. So it came about that, after a time, she gave him
+her hand, and all of her heart that was not buried with Lionel.
+A little later she learned that her uncle was dead, and she became
+mistress of a handsome fortune.</p>
+
+<p>Soon came the knowledge that her husband's heart was not
+all gold, and the suspicion, as well, that her uncle's will and its
+purport had long been no secret to him. But, partly from force
+of habit, and partly because he was not yet quiet hardened, John
+Arthur kept up his farce of affection for the child. And while
+his wife awoke to a knowledge of many of his short-comings,
+she always believed in his love for her little one.</p>
+
+<p>The two elements that were strongest in the nature of John
+Arthur were selfishness and pride. From his youth up his
+idols had been gold and self. Born into the world minus that
+"golden spoon" for which he sighed in youth, and schemed in
+later years, he had ever felt towards said world a half-fledged
+enmity. As he reached the age of manhood, his young sister
+was formally adopted by the only surviving relatives of the
+two; and becoming in due course of time and nature sole possessor
+of a very nice little fortune, afterwards held her head
+very high. Later, in consequence of some little indiscretions
+of her brother at the time when he was set free in the world&mdash;the
+result of the popular superstition held by him that "the
+world owed him a living,"&mdash;she held herself aloof from and
+ignored him completely.</p>
+
+<p>By degrees Mrs. Arthur's eyes became opened to the true
+character of the man she had married. Moments she had of
+doubting, and then of fearing that she wronged him too deeply,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+for her nature was a just one. It was in one of these latter
+moods that she made her will, before she had become aware that
+even his love for her little girl was only a well acted lie; believing
+her secure of love and care during his life, she made
+sure that, at his death, her darling should be supplied with all
+that money could give. She had long been in the fatal toils of
+that dread destroyer, heart disease, and suddenly, before she had
+found opportunity for securing her little daughter further, as
+she had since begun to realize it was needful to do, she was
+seized with a paroxysm that snapped the frail cord of life.</p>
+
+<p>A short time before her death, she had given into the keeping
+of old Hagar, a package, to be delivered to little Madeline when
+she should become a woman, and with the express wish that,
+should John Arthur prove a kind guardian meanwhile, she
+would burn the journal it contained, unread.</p>
+
+<p>Old Hagar now placed in Madeline's hands the package, which
+was found to contain her mother's most valuable jewels, and the
+tear-stained journal, which the girl seated herself to peruse, with
+sorrowful awe.</p>
+
+<p>The last page being turned, and the sad life of her mother
+fully revealed, Madeline bowed her head and wept bitterly, heedless
+of the attempt of old Hagar to comfort her, until the name
+of her step-father upon the old woman's lips brought her suddenly
+to her feet, the tears still on her cheeks, but her eyes flashing,
+and on her countenance a look that might have been a
+revelation to John Arthur, had that gentleman been there to see.
+Taking the old woman's hand, and holding it tightly in her own,
+the girl said:</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, auntie, for recalling me. I have no time for tears
+now. Listen, and don't interrupt me. My poor mother died
+with a heart filled with fears for my future, left to that man's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+keeping. At the time of her death, he believed himself her
+unconditional heir. She feared for her life with him, and her
+sickness was aggravated in every possible manner by him, and I
+fully believe that, in intent if not in deed, John Arthur is my
+<i>mother's murderer</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>The old woman's face expressed as plainly as words could do,
+that she shared in this belief. The girl went on, in the same
+rapid, firm tone:</p>
+
+<p>"He killed the mother for gold, and now he would sell her
+child. He will fail; and this is but the beginning. As he
+drove my mother into her grave, I will hunt him into his! He
+shall suffer all that she suffered, and more! I know where you
+obtained your independence now, Aunt Hagar; and he hates
+you doubly because my mother's love provided for you a home,
+and for her child a haven in time of need. It was well. Keep
+the old cottage open for me, Aunt Hagar. Keep an eye on John
+Arthur, for my sake. Never fear for me, whatever happens.
+Expect to hear from me at any time, to see me at any moment.
+Don't answer any questions about me. A thousand thanks for
+all your love and kindness, auntie; good-by."</p>
+
+<p>Before the old woman could recover from her astonishment,
+or utter a word, Madeline had kissed her, swiftly taken up the
+precious package, and was gone! Hagar hastened to the door,
+but the girl was speeding swiftly down the path, and was quickly
+lost to view.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh!" moaned Hagar, seating herself in the doorway;
+"her father's passion and her mother's pride! Sorrow
+and trouble before her, and she all alone; dark, dark, dark;
+the world against her! Sorrow and trouble&mdash;it's in the blood!
+And she'll never give it up! She'll fight her wrongs to the
+bitter end. Oh, my precious girl!" and she buried her head in
+her apron and wept.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The sun's last ray had faded from the highest hill-top. The
+little birds had folded their wings and hushed their warblings.
+Dark clouds came sweeping up from the west, and one, heavy
+and black, passed above the roof of Oakley, bent down, and
+rested there. Hagar, still sorrowing in the doorway, saw and
+interpreted. Dark days to come to the master of that overshadowed
+house. Dreary days and bitter nights&mdash;ah, how
+many, before that cloud should be lifted from over it, or light
+hearts beat beneath its roof.</p>
+
+<p>"I beg pardon, madame, you appear in trouble; perhaps I
+intrude?"</p>
+
+<p>It was Lucian Davlin's soft, lazy voice, and that disagreeable
+half smile lurked about the corners of his eyes and mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"I've had more welcome visitors," said the old woman, with
+more truth than politeness, and rubbing her eyes with the corner
+of her apron, "what do you want?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only a small matter of information, which I believe you
+can give me."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Hagar, testily.</p>
+
+<p>"I want to make a few inquiries about Mr. Arthur of
+Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>"About Miss Madeline, I suppose you mean. I won't tell
+you a word&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, good woman, I don't ask nor wish any information
+regarding that young lady&mdash;my inquiries solely concern the
+father. He is said to be wealthy!"</p>
+
+<p>"What is John Arthur or his money to you?" she questioned,
+eying him with much disfavor.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing whatever," he indifferently replied. "I merely inquire
+on behalf of a friend."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll throw him off the scent if he does mean Madeline,"
+thought the old woman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. whatever your name is, if it will satisfy your
+friend to know that Mr. John Arthur is master of Oakley, and
+everybody knows there's no finer property in the State, and that
+he has a yearly income of ten thousand or more, why, tell him
+or her so. And you may as well say, at the same time, that he
+is too stingy and mean to keep the one in repair, or spend decently
+the other. And when he dies"&mdash;here she suddenly
+checked herself&mdash;"well, when he dies, his heirs, whoever they
+may be, will inherit all the more because of his meanness."</p>
+
+<p>"And who, pray, may be his heirs?"</p>
+
+<p>"How should I know who a stingy old reprobate will choose
+to inherit after him? I think he has a sister somewhere, but I
+don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"H'm, thank you&mdash;for my friend. Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>Smiling that same Mephistophelian smile, Lucian Davlin
+sauntered away, apparently satisfied with himself and what was
+passing in his mind.</p>
+
+<p>"He'll do," he muttered; "and she'll do him. It will be a
+good thing for her, just now, and very convenient for me into
+the bargain. Cora's a marvellously fine woman, but little Madeline
+is fresh as a rose, and a few months of the city will make
+her sharp enough. Only let me keep them apart; that's all."
+Satisfaction beamed in his eye and smiled on his lip. "Pretty
+Madeline will be the envy of half the boulevard."</p>
+
+<p>Now he has neared the trysting tree. "I think I'll just
+smoke here, and wait for my pretty bird; this is the place and
+almost the time."</p>
+
+<p>He smoked and he waited; the time came, and passed; his
+cigar expired; the shadows deepened&mdash;but still he waited.</p>
+
+<p>And he waited in vain. No light form advanced through,
+the gathering night; no sweet voice greeted him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The time was far past now, and, muttering an oath, the disappointed
+lover strode away, and was lost in the night.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline was standing in her own room, the threshold of
+which John Arthur had never crossed since the day when a
+silent form was borne from it, and laid in that peaceful home,
+the churchyard. She had just received the summons, for which,
+only, she lingered&mdash;the command of Mr. Arthur to attend at
+the altar of hospitality, and pour, for Mr. Amos Adams, the
+tea.</p>
+
+<p>She was attired in a neat dark garment which was vastly becoming.
+She had made her toilet with more than usual care,
+as if, perhaps, to do honor to her ancient suitor&mdash;at least so
+thought Mr. Arthur, when she presented herself before him.</p>
+
+<p>She had put her chiefest treasures in a little, a very little,
+travelling bag. And now she threw across her arm a large
+cloak, took her hat, veil, and bag, and descended softly to the
+hall below. It was faintly lighted from the lower end, and
+Madeline deposited her belongings in a darkened niche near a
+door, peeped put into the night that had come on cloudy and
+starless, and entered the room where waited the two conspirators,
+and supper.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur was more bland and smiling than Madeline had
+ever before known him, while as for old Amos, he nearly lost
+himself in a maze of grins and chuckles, but displayed a very
+unloverlike appetite, nevertheless, and divided his attention
+pretty evenly between the beautiful face of Madeline, and the
+viands on the table.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline betrayed no sign of surprise at her step-papa's unwonted
+cordiality, and no annoyance at the ogling and chuckling
+of her antiquated suitor. In truth, she favored him with
+more than one expressive smile, the meaning of which he little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+guessed, as she contrasted him once more with handsome Lucian
+Davlin, and smiled again at the picture of his coming defeat.</p>
+
+<p>The meal was partaken of in comparative silence, all apparently
+quite satisfied with their own thoughts&mdash;ah, how different!
+It was not until old Jane, the servant, had been dismissed
+that Mr. Arthur drew his chair a trifle nearer that of
+his friend, and leaning his arms upon the table, looked across
+at Madeline, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, I believe you are aware of the honor this gentleman
+desires to confer upon you? I think I have hinted at the
+truth upon one or two occasions?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline veiled her too expressive eyes behind their long
+lashes, but made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"It is my desire," he continued, surveying with satisfaction
+the appearance of humility with which his words were received,
+"and the desire of Mr. Adams as well, that we should come to
+a satisfactory understanding to-night. We will, therefore, settle
+the preliminaries at once:&mdash;this is your desire, I think, Mr.
+Adams?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, certainly! Oh, yes, yes," ejaculated old Amos, in a
+transport of grins.</p>
+
+<p>"And this will, I trust,"&mdash;he was growing more stately and
+polite every moment&mdash;"this, of course, is satisfactory to you,
+Miss Madeline?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly." She looked him full in the face now, and somehow
+her glance slightly impaired his feeling of dignity and
+security.</p>
+
+<p>"Very good; and now having formally accepted the proffered
+hand of Mr. Adams&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me, sir, you are too fast. Mr. Adams has not offered
+himself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense,"&mdash;Mr. Arthur suddenly forgot his politeness&mdash;"haven't
+I just stated his offer?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline leaned back in her chair, and looked from one to
+the other with a tranquil smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps; but unfortunately there is a law in existence which
+prohibits a man from marrying his grandmother, and likewise
+objects, I believe, to a young woman's espousing her step-papa,
+however much adored. And as you can't marry me, my dear
+parent and guardian, why I object to listening to a proposal
+from your lips."</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur gazed in angry consternation upon the girl's
+still smiling face, but before the impatient words that he would
+have uttered could find voice, old Amos, who had interpreted
+her smiles as being favorable to himself, came gallantly to the
+rescue.</p>
+
+<p>"Right! quite right," he chuckled. "Of course, you know,
+Arthur&mdash;Miss Madeline, ahem&mdash;that's what I meant, you know.
+It's the proper way," he gasped; and the general expression of
+his countenance did not tend to make his observations the more
+lucid&mdash;"I meant, you know&mdash;ah, well&mdash;will you honor me
+Miss Madeline&mdash;by&mdash;by your hand, you know?"</p>
+
+<p>This effort of oratory was received with smiling attention by
+the girl, who now addressed herself entirely to him, without
+heeding the effect of her words upon her step-father, or his interpolations,
+as she proceeded.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Adams;"&mdash;she spoke in a low, even tone, and gradually
+permitted the real feelings that were seeking for expression to
+show themselves in her every feature&mdash;"Mr. Adams, I think I
+appreciate <i>as it deserves</i> the honor you desire to bestow upon
+me; believe me, too, when I say that I am as grateful as it is
+proper I should be. But, Mr. Adams, I am only a mere girl,
+and you might pay too dearly for me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What the deuce does the fool mean?" growled Mr. Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't dispute the fact that I am a perfectly marketable
+commodity, and it is very right and proper that my dear step-papa&mdash;who
+dotes on me, whose idol I have been for long years&mdash;should
+set a high valuation upon my unworthy head. Yet
+this little Arcadian transaction is really not just the thing for
+the present century and country. And so, Mr. Adams, I must
+beg leave to thank you for the honor you proffer, and, thanking
+you, to decline it!"</p>
+
+<p>For a moment no one spoke; there was neither sound nor
+movement in the room. John Arthur was literally speechless
+with rage, and old Amos was just as speechless from astonishment;
+while Madeline gazed from one to the other
+unmoved. As soon as he could articulate, John Arthur confronted
+her, and taking her roughly by the shoulder, demanded:</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean, you ungrateful jade? What are you
+talking about?"</p>
+
+<p>"About your contract in flesh and blood, Mr. Arthur. About
+your very worthy scheme for putting money in your pockets by
+making me this man's wife. If I am to be sold, sir, I will
+make my own bargain; be very sure of that; and <i>this</i> is not my
+bargain!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk to me of bargains, you little idiot! Do you
+think to defy me? Do you dare to defy me?"</p>
+
+<p>His rage passed all bounds. She put the width of the table
+between them and surveyed him across it, mockingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen, girl, I am your lawful guardian; you shall obey
+me!"</p>
+
+<p>"Really, now, don't, step-papa; you are actually purple in
+the face! You might die, you know; think of your heart, do,
+and take a glass of water."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Old Adams collapsed in the remote corner whither he had
+fled. The miser was not at home in a tempest, and this was
+already beyond his depth. He gasped in speechless amaze and
+affright. Was this the girl he had thought to mold as his wife,
+this fearless, defiant creature? Already he began to congratulate
+himself upon his lucky escape. "She would murder me
+some day," he thought, shuddering.</p>
+
+<p>For the time being, John Arthur was a madman. Defied,
+mocked, by this girl who had been a burden to his very life!
+He raged, he raved, he cursed; and so raging and raving, he
+cursed her, and then in vile, bitter words hurled his anathema
+at her dead mother's memory.</p>
+
+<p>Then the mocking smile was gone, the taunting voice changed
+its tone; and as it changed, old Amos, cowering in his corner,
+shuddered afresh. Her whole face underwent a transformation.
+Her form dilated, she sprang before her step-father and
+the ring of her voice checked the imprecations on his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop," she cried; "don't add the last drop to your already
+overfull measure! Don't double the force of the thunderbolt
+that will strike you some day! Is it not enough that you have
+hated me all my life through; that you have loaded down my
+childhood with unkind words, curses, and wishes for my death?
+Not enough that you follow me with your hatred because my
+mother's own will be mine at your death? Not enough that
+you would barter my life&mdash;yes, my <i>life</i>&mdash;for gold, sell my
+heart's blood for your own ease and comfort? And now must
+you pollute the name of my mother, as you polluted her life?
+Never breathe her name again; never <i>dare</i> to name her! I, her
+daughter, tell you that for her every tear, every heart pang,
+every sigh, <i>you</i> shall pay dearly; <i>dearly!</i> I will avenge my
+mother's wrongs, some day; for <i>you are her murderer</i>!"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_008.jpg" width="400" height="556" alt="&quot;I will avenge my mother&#39;s wrongs some day; for you are her murderer.&quot;&mdash;page 42."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I will avenge my mother&#39;s wrongs some day; for you are her murderer.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_42">page 42.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>John Arthur gazed in speechless amaze into the space before
+him&mdash;but she was gone! The stern, vengeful, set face was no
+longer there. The proud, ringing voice was no longer sounding
+in his ear. The uplifted, warning, threatening hand menaced
+him only in memory. And before the might of her purpose,
+and the force of her maledictions, he stood as in a trance.</p>
+
+<p>When he had so far recovered himself as to think of her
+sudden disappearance, he went out quickly. The entrance door
+stood wide open; the dim light flickered on an empty hall and
+stairway; the sky was black with clouds, and never a star; the
+wind moaned about the house; and across the meadow came
+the doleful howl of old Hagar's watch-dog.</p>
+
+<p>But Madeline was not to be found.</p>
+
+<p>Always, in the days to come, he remembered her face as it had
+looked on him that night. Often in dreams he would start and
+cry out, haunted by the sound of her scornful voice, the spectre
+of her threatening hand.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE DIE IS CAST.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin paced the platform of the Bellair depot, in a
+very unpleasant frame of mind.</p>
+
+<p>His companion,&mdash;half servant, half confederate, wholly and
+entirely a rascal,&mdash;discerning his mood and, as ever, adapting
+himself to it, had withdrawn to a respectful distance. Only
+the shine of his cigar, glowing through the darkness, betokened
+his proximity, or the fact that the dark platform was not in the
+sole possession of the sullen man who paced its brief length,
+and questioned the Fate in which he trusted, and which, for once,
+had played him a sorry trick.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_009.jpg" width="400" height="563" alt="&quot;Gad! to be baffled like this!&quot;&mdash;page 46."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Gad! to be baffled like this!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_46">page 46.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He had been deceived by a mere school-girl. She had not
+even deigned him a farewell word. He had lost a fair prize.</p>
+
+<p>"Gad!" he muttered, biting viciously at his cigar, "to be
+baffled like this; to lose that little beauty; to be foiled like a
+moon-struck idiot and never know how or why! I can't write
+her, with that cursed old step-father to interfere. I can't return
+again very soon. And she <i>is</i> such a little beauty!"</p>
+
+<p>He paused at the end of the darkened platform, and looked
+down the track; in the direction of the grove where they had
+met, and of Madeline's home. It was almost time for the train.
+At the upper end of the platform, the station master flashed
+his lantern, tumbled the luggage closer to the track and examined
+the checks critically; while the Man of Tact came out
+from his retirement and overlooked the proceeding.</p>
+
+<p>Something was coming down the track, swiftly, silently.
+He could just discern a shape moving toward him. It came
+nearer, and he moved up a few paces, and turned again where
+the lantern's rays fell upon him. It came nearer yet and paused
+in the shadow. It was a woman's form, and it beckoned. He
+approached carelessly.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian!" She came close to him, and placed her hand upon
+his arm, drawing her breath hard and quick.</p>
+
+<p>He drew her farther into the shadow and clasped his arms
+about her. "Little one! You have walked fast,&mdash;how your
+heart beats! I had given you up. Is it 'good by,' dear?"</p>
+
+<p>She silently held up the little chatelaine, which he felt rather
+than saw, and took from her hand. In the darkness, he smiled
+again the old exultant smile not good to see, and pressing her
+closer in his arms, said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't try to talk, sweet one; see, yonder comes our fiery
+horse and soon we will be far on our way. Take my arm, little
+one, and trust him who loves you. Look your last at the
+scene of your past loneliness,&mdash;to-morrow comes the gay
+world."</p>
+
+<p>Rattling and shrieking, the train approached. Lucian hurried
+his companion upon the rear platform; and neither his
+comrade, who entered the smoking car without looking about
+him, nor the station master, busy with his trunks and valises,
+observed that a third passenger quitted Bellair station on the
+night express.</p>
+
+<p>About them, the passengers nodded, yawned or slept. Outside,
+swiftly passing darkness. And every moment was hurrying
+her farther and farther away from all familiar scenes and
+objects, out to a life all untried, a world all new and strange.
+But she never thought of this. She was not elated, neither was
+she cast down. She felt no fear;&mdash;and, afterwards, she remembered
+that she indulged in no bright visions of the future during
+her swift flight.</p>
+
+<p>She had prepared herself to relate her story, to describe the
+scene she had just passed through, to tell him all. But he had
+other things to occupy his mind, and bidding her to rest and
+save all she might have to relate until the morrow, he relapsed
+into silence and thought, only now and then gently speaking a
+word, and looking after her comfort with a happy grace possessed
+by few, and so powerful in the winning of a woman.</p>
+
+<p>On, on, through the black night&mdash;youth and age, joy and
+sorrow, hope and despair, good and evil; on together through
+the night; on, on. Near to the great city; near to the welcome,
+dark or bright, awaiting the journey's end. Blacker grew
+the night, wilder shrieked the wind in angry protest against the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+defiant, fiery, resistless monster upon whom its rage fell impotent.
+Now pausing; now rushing on with a shriek and a roar;
+nearer, nearer to the scene of the new life, dawning grimly upon
+the fair girl, all unconscious, unheeding.</p>
+
+<p>They halted at a wayside station&mdash;just one of those little
+hamlets only a few miles removed from, and really a part of
+the great city. One passenger came on board, sauntering down
+the coach's length listlessly, wearily. He threw himself into a
+reversed seat in a half reclining attitude, and so his careless,
+wandering gaze fell first upon Madeline, seated opposite and
+very near.</p>
+
+<p>She sees him just as she sees the rest, vaguely. She remembers,
+later, that he had a good face and that she had thought it
+then. But confused and wearied in mind and body, she feels
+no inclination to observe or think. So they were hurried on,
+and no whisper of her heart, no quickening of the pulses, or
+sensation of joy or fear, warned her that she was sitting under
+the gaze and in the presence of the good and the evil forces that
+were to compass and shape her life.</p>
+
+<p>Open your eyes, oh, Madeline, before it is too late. See the
+snare that is spreading beneath your feet; read aright the bright
+glance that shines on you from those handsome, fateful eyes.
+Interpret truly the smile turned on you now. Alas! what
+woman ever saw guile in the eyes of the man she loved? Never
+one, until those eyes have ceased to smile upon her, and her
+fate is sealed. What one ever yet recognized the false ring of
+the voice that had never, as yet, addressed her save in honeyed
+tones, that seemed earth's sweetest music to her ears? None,
+until the voice had changed and forgotten its love words; none,
+until it was too late.</p>
+
+<p>What Madeline saw, was a man who was to her the embodiment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>
+of all manly grace, her all of joy and love, of truth and
+trust. And, sitting opposite, just a young man with fair curling
+hair, and frank blue eyes; with a fine manly face, and an
+air of refinement. A very nice young man; but not like her
+hero.</p>
+
+<p>Not like her hero? No, thank heaven for that, Madeline,
+else your way would have been far more drear, else your life
+might have known never a ray of sunlight, in the long days to
+come.</p>
+
+<p>On, on; nearer and yet nearer the long journey's end. Both
+thinking of her, but how differently!</p>
+
+<p>One pityingly, sadly, fearing for her fate, longing to save
+her from the precipice which she could not see and still wear
+that look of sweet trustfulness.</p>
+
+<p>One triumphantly, as of a fair prize gained; a new tribute to
+his power and strength; another smile from Chance; one more
+proof that he was a favored one of Fortune, and that life ever
+gave him good things from out the very best.</p>
+
+<p>They are very near their journey's end now, and Lucian
+Davlin whispers briefly to Madeline, and lounges out to give
+some necessary directions to the neglected companion of his
+wanderings.</p>
+
+<p>Hastily the young man opposite rises, and crossing to Madeline
+bends over her, speaking hurriedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me, madame, but are you a stranger to the city?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes." After giving her answer she wonders why she did
+it, remembering that it is from a stranger the question comes,
+and that it is therefore an impertinence.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought as much!"&mdash;the blue eyes look troubled, and the
+manly voice hurries on. "The time may come, I hope it will
+not, when you will need a friend. If so, this card bears my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+address,&mdash;take it, keep it, and believe me, I speak from honest
+motives and a desire to serve you."</p>
+
+<p>He drops a card in her lap, and as she makes a gesture of
+repulsion, he says, entreatingly: "Take it; <i>in the name of your
+mother</i> I ask it."</p>
+
+<p>She snatches up the card impulsively, and looks for one moment
+straight in his eyes. Then drawing a long sighing breath
+says, simply, "I will," and turns away as she puts it in her
+pocket, never so much as glancing at it.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you." He lifts his hat, and resumes his seat and his
+former attitude just as Lucian reappears.</p>
+
+<p>Now all was bustle and confusion, the journey's end was
+reached; and through the hurrying, jostling crowd, past flickering
+lamps, and sleepy guards, they went under the dusky
+arches of the mammoth city station, out among the bawling
+'bus drivers and brawling hackmen, past them, until a carriage,
+that seemed to be in waiting for them just beyond the noisy
+crowd, was reached. Stepping into this, they were about to
+drive away when, in the shadow, and very near them, Madeline
+discerned the form of the Unknown of the railway train.
+Then Lucian gave the order from the carriage window, and
+they rolled away.</p>
+
+<p>The man in the shadow heard, and stepping into the nearest
+carriage, repeated the order given by Lucian the moment before,
+adding: "Quick; don't lose a moment!"</p>
+
+<p>And thus it was that a carriage passed swiftly by that which
+contained Davlin and his companion, and the flash of their
+vehicle's lamp showed Madeline the face looking from its window.</p>
+
+<p>Again that face seen in the shadow&mdash;how strange, thought she;
+but her lover was speaking and she forgot all else.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_010.jpg" width="400" height="560" alt="&quot;Take it; in the name of
+your mother I ask it.&mdash;page 50."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Take it; in the name of
+your mother I ask it.&mdash;<a href="#Page_50">page 50.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"Darling, I must leave you soon. I came up to-night on a
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>matter of business, and to meet a friend who will leave to-morrow
+early. I must therefore keep my appointment to-night,
+late as it is; or rather this morning, for it is midnight and past.
+You will not be afraid, dear, left alone for a little while in a
+great hotel?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not afraid, Lucian, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But lonely; is that it? Well, sweetheart, it's only for a
+little while, and to-morrow I will come for you, and all shall be
+arranged. We'll have no more separations then. Rest well
+and at noon to-morrow be ready; I will be with you then.
+Meantime, your every want will be supplied, and let the morrow
+find my little treasure bright-eyed and blooming."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Lucian, Lucian! how strange this seems. I can't realize
+it at all."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed lightly. "Not afraid, little one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not afraid, Lucian, no; but I can't explain or describe my
+feelings. I suppose I need rest; that is all."</p>
+
+<p>"That is all, depend upon it; and here we are. One kiss,
+Madeline, the last till to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>He folded her tenderly in his arms, and then sprang lightly
+from the carriage.</p>
+
+<p>Up and down, far as the eye could see, the street lamps glittered,
+and as Madeline stepped from the carriage she observed
+another roll away. High above her loomed the great hotel, and
+after midnight though it was, all here was life and bustle. The
+scene was novel to the half bewildered girl. Clinging to her
+lover's arm, she entered the reception-room and, sitting opposite
+the door, saw a form pass in the direction Lucian had taken,
+as he went to register her name and order for her "all that the
+house could afford."</p>
+
+<p>"I did not give your real name, because of your step-father,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+you know," said Lucian, upon his return. "I registered you as
+Miss Weir, that name being the first to occur to me."</p>
+
+<p>She looked a trifle disturbed, but said nothing. A few words
+more and a servant appeared.</p>
+
+<p>"To conduct you to your room," said Lucian.</p>
+
+<p>Together they moved towards the door; there he lifted his
+hat, with profound courtesy, and said in a very audible tone:
+"Good-night, Miss Weir; I will call to-morrow noon; pleasant
+dreams."</p>
+
+<p>"To-morrow noon," she echoed.</p>
+
+<p>As she watched his retreating figure, another passed her; a
+man who, meeting her eye, lifted <i>his</i> hat and passed out.</p>
+
+<p>"He again!" whispered the girl to herself; "how very strange."</p>
+
+<p>Alone in her room, the face of this man looked at her again,
+and sitting down, she said, wearily: "Who is he? what does he
+mean? His name&mdash;I'll look at the card."</p>
+
+<p>Taking it from her pocket, she read aloud: Clarence Vaughan,
+M. D., No. 430 B&mdash;&mdash; street.</p>
+
+<p>"Clarence Vaughan, M. D.," she repeated. "What did he
+mean? I must tell Lucian to-morrow; to-night I am too weary
+to think. Search for me, John Arthur; find me if you can!
+To-morrow&mdash;what will it bring, I wonder?"</p>
+
+<p>Weary one, rest, for never again will you sleep so innocently,
+so free from care as now. Sleep well, nor dream!</p>
+
+<p>She slept. Of the three who had been brought into contact
+thus strangely, Madeline slept most soundly and dreamed the
+brighter dreams.</p>
+
+<p>It was the last ray of her sunlight; when the day dawned,
+her night began.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<h2>A SHREWD SCHEME.</h2>
+
+
+<p>An elegant apartment, one of a suite in a magnificent block
+such as are the pride of our great cities.</p>
+
+<p>Softest carpets, of most exquisite pattern; curtains of richest
+lace; lambrequins of costly texture; richly-embroidered and
+velvet-covered sleepy-hollows and lounging chairs; nothing stiff,
+nothing that did not betoken abandonment to ease and pleasure;
+downy cushions; rarest pictures; loveliest statuettes; finest
+bronzes; delicate vases; magnificent, full length mirrors, a bookcase,
+itself a rare work of art, containing the best works of the
+best authors, all in the richest of bindings&mdash;nothing here that
+the most refined and cultivated taste could disapprove, and yet
+everything bespoke the sybarite, the voluptuary. A place wherein
+to forget that the world held aught save beauty; a place for
+luxurious revelry, and repose filled with lotus dreams.</p>
+
+<p>Such was the bachelor abode of Lucian Davlin, as the glowing
+gas lights revealed it on the dark night of the arrival of this
+gentleman in the city.</p>
+
+<p>Moving restlessly about, as one who was perfectly familiar
+with all this glowing richness, only because movement was a
+necessity to her; trailing her rich dress to and fro in an impatient
+promenade, and twisting recklessly meantime a delicate
+bit of lace and embroidery with plump, white fingers&mdash;a woman
+waited and watched for the coming of Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>A woman, fair of face, hazel-eyed, sunny-haired, with a form
+too plump to be quite classical, yet graceful and prepossessing in
+the extreme. A very fair face, and a very wise one; the face of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+a woman of the world, who knows it in all its phases; who is
+able, in her own peculiar manner, to guide her life bark successfully
+if not correctly, and who has little to acquire, in the way
+of experience, save the art of growing old gracefully and of
+dying with an acquitted conscience.</p>
+
+<p>No unsophisticated girl was Cora Weston, but a woman of
+eight-and-twenty; an adventuress by nature and by calling, and
+with beauty enough, and brains enough, to make her chosen
+profession prosperous, if not proper.</p>
+
+<p>She paused before a mirror, carefully adjusting her fleecy
+hair, for even in pressing emergencies such women never forget
+their personal appearance. This done, she pondered a moment
+and then pulled the bell. A most immaculate colored gentleman
+answered her summons and, bowing low, stood waiting her
+will.</p>
+
+<p>"Henry, is it not time that your master were here? The
+train is certainly due; are you sure he will come? What did he
+telegraph you?"</p>
+
+<p>"That he would arrive on the one o'clock express, madame;
+and he never fails."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well. If he does not appear soon, Henry, you must
+go and inquire if the train has been delayed, and if so, telegraph.
+My business is imperative."</p>
+
+<p>The well trained servant bowed again, and, at a signal from
+her, withdrew. Left alone, she continued her silent march,
+listening ever, until at length a quick footstep came down the
+passage. Flinging herself into the depths of a great easy chair,
+she assumed an air of listless indifference, and so greeted the
+new comer.</p>
+
+<p>"Gracious heavens, Cora! what brings you here like this?
+I thought you had sailed, and was regretting it by this time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He hurried to her side and she half rose to return his caress.
+Then sinking back, she surveyed him with a lazy half smile.
+"I wonder if you are glad to see me, Lucian, my angel; you are
+such a hypocrite."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed lightly, and threw himself into a seat near her.
+"Candid Cora, you are not a hypocrite,&mdash;with me," and he
+looked admiringly yet impatiently at her. "Come," he said, at
+length, as she continued to tap her slender foot lazily, and to regard
+him silently through half closed lashes: "what does it all
+mean? Fairest of women, tell me."</p>
+
+<p>"It means, <i>Mon Brave</i>, that I did not sail in the <i>Golden Rose</i>;
+I only sent my hat and veil."</p>
+
+<p>"Wonderful woman! Well, thereby hangs a tale, and I
+listen."</p>
+
+<p>"I came back to see&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Not old Verage?" he interrupted, maliciously.</p>
+
+<p>"No, hush: he saw me safely on board the <i>Golden Rose</i>&mdash;very
+gallant of him, wasn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Rather&mdash;yes, considering. And if I did not know Miss
+Cora Weston so very well, I should be surprised at all this mystery;
+as it is, I simply wait to be enlightened."</p>
+
+<p>"And enlightened you shall be, monsieur."</p>
+
+<p>She threw off her air of listlessness and arose, crossing over
+and standing before him, leaning upon a high-backed chair, and
+speaking rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian, meantime, produced a cigar case, lit a weed, and assuming
+the attitude and manner she had just abandoned, bade
+her proceed.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," she said, "I did not like the idea of quitting the
+country because of a little difference of opinion between myself
+and an old idiot like Verage."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"A difference of some thousands out of pocket for him; well,
+go on."</p>
+
+<p>"Just so, comrade mine. Well, fortune favored me; she
+generally does. I learned, at almost the last moment, that a
+lady of my acquaintance had taken passage in the same vessel.
+I interviewed her, and found her in the condition of the good
+people in novels who have seen better days; her exchequer was
+at low ebb, and, like myself, she had reasons which induced her
+to emigrate. I did not inquire into these, having no reason to
+doubt the statement, but I accompanied her on board the <i>Golden
+Rose</i>, bade her a fond farewell, and bequeathed to her my street
+apparel and a trifling sum of old Verage's money. In exchange,
+I donned her bonnet and veil, and adopted her rather awkward
+gait, and so had the satisfaction of seeing, on my return to terra
+firma, old Verage gazing enraptured after my Paris bonnet and
+floating veil as it disappeared with my friend, outward bound."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what next? All the world, your world, supposes
+you now upon the briny deep. Old Verage will be rejoiced to
+find you here in the city; what then?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think he will," said Cora, dryly, "when he does find me.
+I did not come here in the dark to advertise my arrival."</p>
+
+<p>"Bravo, Cora," he patted her hands softly; "wise Cora.
+You are a credit to your friends, indeed you are, my blonde
+beauty."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed softly;&mdash;a kittenish, purring laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Lucian, time flies and I throw myself on your mercy.
+Recommend me to some nice quiet retreat, not too far from the
+city, but at a safe distance; put me in a carriage, at daylight,
+which will carry me out to some by-station, where I can take
+passage behind the iron horse, unmolested, for fresh fields and
+pastures new."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Davlin pondered a moment as if he had not already decided
+upon his course of action. He knew the woman he had to deal
+with, and shaped his words accordingly. "A retired spot,&mdash;let
+me see. I wonder, by Jove,"&mdash;brightening suddenly, "I
+think I have the right thing for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, when Lucian Davlin 'thinks' he has a point, that
+point is gained; proceed, man of might."</p>
+
+<p>"You see," began Lucian, in a business-like tone, "I took
+one of my 'skips' for change of scene and recreation."</p>
+
+<p>"And safe quarters until the wind shifted," interrupted she.
+"Well, go on."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed softly, "Even so. We children of chance do
+need to take flying trips sometimes, but I did not set out for
+Europe, Cora mine, and I wore my own clothes home."</p>
+
+<p>"Bravo! But old Verage don't want you, and the wind <i>has</i>
+changed; proceed."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, as usual, I found myself in luck, and if I had been
+a nice young widow, might have taken Summer quarters in the
+snug little village of Bellair."</p>
+
+<p>"Not being a widow, relate your experience as a rusticating
+gentleman at large. You excite my curiosity."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian removed his cigar from between his lips, and lazily
+contemplated his fair <i>vis a vis</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"How long a time must elapse before the most magnificent
+of blondes will think it fitting, safe, and," with a slight smile,
+"expedient to return and resume her sovereignty here, on this
+hearth, and," striking his breast theatrically, "in this heart?"</p>
+
+<p>The "most magnificent of blondes" looked first, approvingly,
+at her image displayed in the full length mirror opposite, then
+coolly at her interrogator.</p>
+
+<p>"Hum! that depends. The lady you so flatter can't abide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>
+dullness and inaction, and too much stupidity might overcome
+her natural timidity, in which case even my ardent old pursuer
+could not scare me into submission and banishment. If I could
+only find an occupation, now, for my&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Peculiar talents," he suggested; "that's just the point.
+And now, I wonder if you wouldn't make a remarkably charming
+young widow?"</p>
+
+<p>"So you have an idea, then, Lucian? Just toss me a bunch of
+those cigarettes, please,&mdash;thank you. Now a light; and now,
+if it's not asking too much, will you proceed to explain yourself,
+and tell me what fortunate being you desire me, in the character
+of a fair widow, to besiege? What he is like; and why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Admirable Cora! what other woman could smoke a cigarette
+with such a perfect air of doing the proper thing; so much of
+Spanish grace."</p>
+
+<p>"And so much genuine enjoyment," she added, comfortably.
+"Smoke is my poetry, Lucian. When far from my gaze, and I
+desire to call up your most superb image, I can do so much more
+comfortably and satisfactorily inspired by my odorous little
+Perique."</p>
+
+<p>"Blessed Perique! Cora shall have them always. But back
+to my widow; an absence of six months, perhaps, would be a
+judicious thing just now, you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"More would be safer," she smiled, "if the Peri can keep
+aloof from Paradise so long."</p>
+
+<p>"How would the Peri fancy taking up her permanent abode
+outside the walls of Paradise?"</p>
+
+<p>She removed the fragrant gilded cigar in miniature from
+between two rosy, pursed-up lips, and surveyed him in mute
+astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Provided," he proceeded, coolly, "provided she found a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>
+country home, bank account, and equipage to her liking, with
+everything her own way, and ample opportunities for trips to
+Paradise, making visits to her brother and her city friends&mdash;and
+a fine prospect of soon becoming sole possessor of said country
+mansion, bank stock, etc.?"</p>
+
+<p>She placed the tiny weed once more between her lips, and
+sending up perfumed, curling little volumes of smoke, settled
+herself more comfortably and said, nonchalantly, "That depends;
+further particulars, please."</p>
+
+<p>It was wonderful how these two understood each other. She
+knew that he had for her a plan fully matured, and wasting no
+time in needless questionings, waited to hear the gist of the whole
+matter, assured from past experience that he would suggest nothing
+that would be an undertaking unworthy of her talent, and
+he knew that she would weigh his suggestions while they were
+being made, and be ready with her decision at the close.</p>
+
+<p>Long had they plotted and prospered together, these two
+Bohemians of most malevolent type; and successfully and oft
+played into each other's hands. Never yet had the good fortune
+of the one been devoid of profit to the other; knowing this, each
+felt safe in accepting, unquestioned, the suggestions of the other;
+and because of this, she felt assured now that, in this present
+scheme, there was something to be gained for him as well as herself.</p>
+
+<p>When the looker-on wonders idly at the strength of ties such
+as those which bound together these two, and the length of their
+duration, he has never considered their nature&mdash;the similarity of
+tastes, similarity of pursuits, and the crowning fact of the mutual
+benefit derived from such association.</p>
+
+<p>Find a man who lives by successful manipulations of the
+hand-book of chance, and who bows to the deity of three aces;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>
+who finds victims in fortified places, and whose most hazardous
+scheme is surest of success; who walks abroad the admired
+of his contemporaries, who envy him his position as fortune's
+favorite in proportion as they ply their own similar trade near
+the foot of the ladder of chance; who shows to men the dress
+and manner of a gentleman, and to the angels the heart of a
+fiend&mdash;and you will find that man aided and abetted, upheld
+and applauded, by a woman, his fitting companion by nature or
+education. She is unscrupulous as he, daring as he, finding
+him victims that his arm could not reach; plying the finer
+branch of a dangerous but profitable trade; sharing his prosperity,
+rescuing from adversity; valued because necessary, and
+knowing her value therefore fearing no rival.</p>
+
+<p>Cora was beautiful in Davlin's eyes, and secure in his affections,
+because she was valuable, even necessary, to him. He cared for
+her because in so doing he was caring for himself, and placing
+any "card" in her hands was only the surest means of enlarging
+his own pack. While she, for whether a woman is good or bad she
+is ever the slave of her own heart, recognizing the fact of the
+mutual benefit resulting from their comradeship, and improving,
+in her character of a woman of the world, every opportunity to
+profit by him, yet she saw in him the one man who possessed her
+love. Though the life she had led had worn out all the romantic
+tendencies of her nature, and had turned the "languishing of
+her eye" into sharp glances in the direction of the main chance,
+still she lavished upon him the best of her heart, and held his
+interest ever the equal of her own. After the manner of such,
+they were loyal to each other.</p>
+
+<p>"Then," pursued Lucian, "listen, and a tale I will unfold."</p>
+
+<p>In his own way, he proceeded to describe the intended victim;
+his home, his wealth, his state of solitude, together with the facts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+he had gathered up here and there relative to his leading characteristics
+and weaknesses, whereby he might be successfully
+manipulated by skilled hands. The boldness of his plan made
+even Cora start, and instead of her usually ready decision and
+answer, she favored him with a wondering, thoughtful stare.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," concluded Lucian, "he can't live forever at the
+worst, and the estate is a handsome one. You could easily make
+yourself queen absolute of the situation, and go and come at
+your own sweet will. I think as a good brother I should be a
+magnificent success, and an ornament to your country mansion
+in the lazy Summer."</p>
+
+<p>"And if I don't approve of the speculation after a trial, I can
+commit suicide or vanish," Cora said, meditatingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," laughed he; "and take the spoons."</p>
+
+<p>"You are sure there are no incumbrances; perfectly sure of
+that?" she questioned.</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly sure. There was a step-daughter, but she ran
+away with some foreigner;" here he smiled, and veiled his eyes,
+lest she should read aright their expression. "He would not give
+her a penny, or a crust of bread, were she to return. He hated
+her from her earliest day; but she is not likely to reappear in
+any case."</p>
+
+<p>"If she should, you might marry her, you know," she suggested,
+maliciously.</p>
+
+<p>"So I might," he said, shutting his eyes again; "and we
+would all settle down into respectable members of society&mdash;charming
+picture. But, jesting aside, how do you like the prospect?"</p>
+
+<p>She tossed away her cigarette and, rising, paced the room in
+silence for a few moments.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian whistled, softly, a few bars from a favorite opera;
+then lighted a fresh cigar, and puffed away, leaning lazily back
+and watching her face furtively out of half closed eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I think," she said, resuming her seat, "that I will take a
+nearer view of this 'prospect' of yours."</p>
+
+<p>He nodded his head and waited for her to proceed.</p>
+
+<p>"I think the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of widow might interest me for a little
+time, so I'll take myself and my 'delicate constitution' down to
+your promising haven of rest. I'll 'view the landscape o'er,'
+and the prospect of an opportunity for a little sharp practice will
+make my banishment more endurable; of course, my resignation
+will increase as the situation becomes more interesting."</p>
+
+<p>"Which it is sure to do," he said, rising quickly and crossing
+to the window. "The thing is as good as done; you always accomplish
+what you undertake; and you'll find the game worth
+the powder. The fact is, Cora," he continued, seriously, "you
+and I have engineered so many delicate little affairs successfully,
+here in the city, that, as a combination, we are pretty well known
+just now; too well, in fact, for our own ease and comfort.
+Your supposed trip to Europe was a lucky thing, and will throw
+all officiously-interested ones off your track completely. I shall
+limit my operations here for a time; shall make this merely headquarters,
+in fact, and 'prospect,' like yourself, in fresh fields.
+And now, it being nearly morning, and quite necessary that you
+should be on your victorious march, let us consider final ways
+and means."</p>
+
+<p>In a concise, business-like way, they arranged and discussed,
+the result of the whole being briefly this:</p>
+
+<p>Cora would drive at early dawn to a suburban station, and
+from thence go by rail to a village midway between the city and
+her final destination; and there await her luggage, and the arrival
+of Lucian. He would join her shortly, and proceed with
+her to Bellair, in his character of brother; see her comfortably
+settled, and leave her to her new undertaking.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And thus it was that in the gray of morning a veiled lady,
+sweet-voiced and elegant in manner, stepped from a close carriage
+at a little wayside station, and sped away at the heels of
+the iron horse.</p>
+
+<p>And thus it was that Lucian Davlin, reappearing in Bellair
+and listening in well simulated surprise to the story of the sudden
+disappearance of John Arthur's step-daughter, effectually
+put to flight any idea&mdash;forming in the brains of the few who
+knew, or conjectured, that these two had met&mdash;that he had aught
+to do with her mysterious flitting. In truth, none save old
+Hagar knew of the frequency of their clandestine meetings, and
+she never breathed to others the thoughts and suspicions that
+haunted her brain.</p>
+
+<p>And thus it was, too, that Cora Weston, in her new <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of
+languishing widow, secluded carefully from the vulgar gaze,
+heard never a word of Madeline's flight. And when, later, the
+fact was revealed to her, none save old Hagar could have named
+the precise date of the event. So even wise Cora never connected
+the fate of the unfortunate girl with the doings of Lucian
+Davlin.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<h2>A WARNING.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Early morning in the great city, but the buzz and clamor were
+fairly under way, and the streets as full of busy, pushing, elbowing
+life as if night and silence had never rested above the tall
+roofs and chimney pots.</p>
+
+<p>With the rattle of the first cart wheel on the pavement,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+Madeline had started broad awake. As the din increased, and
+sleep refused to return to the startled senses, all unused to these
+city sounds, she arose, and completing her toilet with some haste,
+seated herself at her window to look out upon the scene so new
+to her.</p>
+
+<p>What a world of strange emotions passing and repassing beneath
+her eye! What hopes and fears; what carelessness and
+heartache! How they hurried to and fro, each apparently intent
+upon his own thoughts and purposes.</p>
+
+<p>She gazed down until her vision wearied of the motley, ever-changing,
+yet ever the same crowd; and then she reclined in the
+downy depths of a great easy chair, closed her eyes, and thought
+of Lucian. After all, what meaning had this restless moving
+throng for her? Only one; Lucian. What was this surging
+sea of humanity to her save that, because of its roar and clamor,
+they two were made more isolated, therefore nearer to each other?</p>
+
+<p>The morning wore away, and she began to realize how very
+soon she should be with her hero, and then no more of separation.
+Her heart bounded at this thought.</p>
+
+<p>Some one tapped softly at her door. She opened it quickly,
+thinking only of Lucian. It was not Lucian, however, but a
+veiled woman who stepped within the room, closing the door as
+she came.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline fell back a pace, and gazed at the intruder with a
+look of startled inquiry which was, however, free from fear.
+She had not thought of it before, it flashed across her mind now
+that this fact was odd; but in all her morning's ruminations,
+she had not once thought of the mysterious stranger of the railway
+episode. Yet now the first words that took shape in her
+mind, at the entrance of this unexpected visitor, were "Clarence
+Vaughan, M. D." She almost spoke them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>With a quick, graceful movement, the stranger removed the
+shrouding veil; and Madeline gazed wonderingly on the loveliest
+face she had ever seen or dreamed of. It was a pure, pale
+face, lighted by lustrous dark eyes, crowned by waving masses
+of dark silky hair; exquisitely molded features, upon which
+there rested an expression of mingled weariness and resignation,
+the look of</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"A soul whose experience<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Has paralyzed bliss."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>One could imagine such a woman lifting to her lips the full
+goblet of life's sparkling elixir, and putting it away with her
+own hand, lest its intoxicating richness should shut from her
+senses the fragrance of Spring violets, and dim her vision of
+the world beyond.</p>
+
+<p>They formed a decided contrast, these two, standing face to
+face.</p>
+
+<p>One, with the calm that comes only when storm clouds have
+swept athwart life's sky, leaving behind marks of their desolating
+progress, but leaving, too, calm after tempest; after restlessness,
+repose.</p>
+
+<p>The other, stretching out her hand like a pleased child to woo
+the purple lightning from the distance, buoyant with bright
+hopes, with nothing on brow or lip to indicate how that proud
+head would bear itself after it had been bowed before the passing
+storm.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me," said the lady, in a sweet contralto. "I think
+I am not mistaken; this is the young lady who arrived last
+evening, and is registered,"&mdash;she looked full in the girl's eyes&mdash;"as
+Miss Weir?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's eyes drooped before that searching gaze, but she
+answered, simply: "Yes."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_011.jpg" width="400" height="550" alt="&quot;I have not yet introduced myself. Here is my card.&quot;&mdash;page 68."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I have not yet introduced myself. Here is my card.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_68">page 68.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You are naturally much astonished to see me here, and my
+errand is a delicate one. Since I have seen you, however, I
+have lost every doubt I may have entertained as to the propriety
+of my visit. Will you trust me so far as to answer a few simple
+questions?"</p>
+
+<p>The words of the stranger had put to flight the first idea
+formed in her mind, namely, that this visit was a mistake. It
+was intended for her, and now, who had instigated it? She
+looked up into the face of her visitor and said, with her characteristic
+frankness of speech:</p>
+
+<p>"Who sent you to me?"</p>
+
+<p>The abruptness of the question caused the stranger to smile.</p>
+
+<p>"One who is the soul of honor and the friend of all womankind,"
+she said, with a soft light in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's eyes still searched her face. "And his name is
+that," she said, putting the card of Clarence Vaughan upon the
+table between them.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and this reminds me, I have not yet introduced myself.
+Here is my card."</p>
+
+<p>She placed in the hand of Madeline a delicate bit of cardboard
+bearing the name, "Olive Girard."</p>
+
+<p>Silence fell between them for a moment, and then Olive Girard
+spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't you ask me to be seated, and hear what I wish to say,
+Miss Weir?"</p>
+
+<p>She hesitated over the name, and Madeline, perceiving it,
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"You think Weir is not my name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Frankly, I do," smiled Mrs. Girard; "but just now the
+name matters little. Pardon me, but I am more interested in
+your face than your name. I came here because it seemed my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+duty, and to oblige a friend; now I wish to serve you for your
+own sake, to be your friend, if you will let me."</p>
+
+<p>Still Madeline's brain kept thinking, thinking; and she put
+her questions rather as commentaries on her own thoughts than
+as her share in a conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did Mr. Vaughan send you to me?"</p>
+
+<p>They had seated themselves, at a sign from Madeline, and
+Mrs. Girard drew her chair nearer to the girl as she answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Because he feared for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Because he <i>feared for me</i>!" Madeline's face flushed hotly;
+"feared what?"</p>
+
+<p>"He feared," said Olive Girard, turning her face full upon
+her questioner, "what I feel assured is the truth, having seen
+you&mdash;simply that you do not know aright the man in whose company
+you came to this place."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turned her eyes upon her guest and the blood went
+slowly out of her face, but she made no reply, and Mrs. Girard
+continued:</p>
+
+<p>"I will ask you once more, before I proceed further, do you
+object to answering a few questions? Of course I am willing
+to be likewise interrogated," she added, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>Over the girl's face a look was creeping that Aunt Hagar,
+seeing, could readily have interpreted. She nodded her head,
+and said briefly: "Go on."</p>
+
+<p>"First, then," said her interrogator, "are you entirely without
+friends in this city? Except, of course," she added, quickly,
+"your escort of last night."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes." Madeline's countenance never altered, and she kept
+her eyes fully fixed on her companion's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Are&mdash;are you without parents or guardian?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"As I thought; and now, pardon the seeming impertinence
+of this question, did you come here as the companion of the man
+who was your escort, or did mere accident put you under his
+charge?"</p>
+
+<p>"The 'accident' that put me in the charge of Mr. Davlin was&mdash;myself,"
+said the girl, in a full, clear voice. "And he is my
+only guardian, and will be."</p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard pushed back her chair, and rising, came and
+stood before her, with outstretched hand and pleading, compassionate
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Just as I feared," she sighed; "the very worst. My poor
+child, do you know the character and occupation of this man?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline sprang to her feet, and putting one nervous little
+hand upon the back of the chair she had occupied, moved back
+a pace, and said, in a low, set tone:</p>
+
+<p>"If you have come to say aught against Lucian Davlin, you
+will find no listener here. I am satisfied with him, and trust
+him fully. When I desire to know more of his 'character and
+occupation,' I can learn it from his own lips. What warrant
+had that man," pointing to Clarence Vaughan's card, "for dogging
+me here, and then sending you to attempt to poison my
+mind against my best friend? I tell you, I will not listen!"</p>
+
+<p>A bright spot burned on either cheek, and the little hand
+resting on the chair back clinched itself tighter.</p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard drew a step nearer the now angry girl, and
+searched her face with grave eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"If I said you were standing on the verge of a horrible precipice,
+that your life and soul were in danger, would you listen
+then?" she asked, sternly.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Madeline, doggedly, drawing farther away as she
+spoke; "not unless I saw the danger with my own eyes. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+in that case I should not need your warning," she added, dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"And when your own eyes see the danger, it will be too late
+to avert it," said Olive, bitterly. "I know your feeling at this
+moment, and I know the heartache sure to follow your rashness.
+<i>What are you, and what do you hope or expect to be, to the man
+you call Lucian Davlin?</i>" She spoke his name as if it left the
+taste of poison in her mouth.</p>
+
+<p>The girl's head dropped until it rested on the hands clasped
+upon the chair before her; cold fingers seemed clutched upon her
+heart. Across her memory came trooping all his love words of
+the past, and among them,&mdash;she remembered it now for the first
+time,&mdash;among them all, the word <i>wife</i> had never once been uttered.
+In that moment, a thought new and terrible possessed her
+soul; a new and baleful light seemed shining upon the pictures
+of the past, imparting to each a shameful, terrible meaning.
+She uttered a low moan like that of some wounded animal,
+and suddenly uplifting her head, turned upon Olive Girard a
+face in which passion and a vague terror were strangely mingled.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you saying? What are you <i>daring</i> to say to me!"
+she ejaculated, in tones half angry, half terror-stricken, wholly
+pitiful. "What horrible thing are you trying to torture me
+with?"</p>
+
+<p>She would have spoken in indignation, but the new thought
+in her heart frightened the wrath from her voice. She dared
+not say "I am to be his wife," with these forebodings whispering
+darkly within her.</p>
+
+<p>She turned away from the one who had conjured up these
+spectres, and throwing herself upon a couch, buried her face in the
+cushions, and remained in this attitude while Olive answered her
+and for long moments after; moments that seemed hours to both.</p>
+
+<p>Olive's eyes were full of pity, and her tone was very gentle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>
+Her woman's quick instinct assured her that words of comfort
+were of no avail in this first moment of bitter awakening. She
+knew that it were better to say all that she deemed it her duty
+to say, now, while her hearer was passive; and stepping nearer
+the couch, she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Vaughan, who saw you in the company of a man so
+well known to him that to see a young girl in his society he
+knew could mean no good, came to me this morning with a
+brief account of your meeting of last night. He is too good a
+physiognomist not to have discovered, readily, that you were
+not such a woman as could receive no contamination from such
+as Lucian Davlin. He feared for you, believing you to be
+another victim of his treachery. Your coming to this hotel
+assured him that you were safe for the time, at least; and this
+being a subject so delicate that he, a stranger, feared to approach
+you with it, he desired me to come to you, and, in case his fears
+were well founded, to save you if I could. My poor, poor
+child! you have cast yourself upon the protection of a professional
+gambler; a man whose name has been associated for
+years with that of a notorious and handsome adventuress. If
+he has any fear or regard for anything, it is for her; and your
+very life would be worth little could she know you as her rival.
+Judge if such a man can have intentions that are honorable,
+where a young, lovely and unsophisticated girl like yourself is
+concerned."</p>
+
+<p>She paused here, but Madeline never stirred.</p>
+
+<p>"Come with me," continued Olive, drawing a step nearer the
+motionless girl; "accept me as your protector, for the present,
+at least. Believe me, I know what you are suffering now, and
+near at hand you will find that which will aid you to forget
+this man."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Madeline slowly raised herself to a sitting posture and turned
+towards the speaker a face colorless as if dead, but with never
+a trace of a tear. Her eyes were unnaturally bright, and her
+lips were compressed, as if she had made, and was strong to
+keep, some dark resolve.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it that I am to find?" she said, in a low, intense
+tone.</p>
+
+<p>"A girl, young as you, and once as beautiful," replied Olive,
+sadly, "who is dying of a broken heart, and her destroyer is
+Lucian Davlin."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline gazed at her absently for a moment. "I suppose I
+had ought to hate you," she said, wearily; "you have made my
+life very black. Lucian Davlin will soon be here,&mdash;will you
+please go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Surely you are going with me?" said Olive, in amaze.</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"You doubt me? Oh, I have not made you feel your danger!
+You think I am an impostor!"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the girl, in the same quiet tone; "something here,"
+putting her hand upon her bosom, "tells me that you are sincere.
+My own heart has abandoned me; it will not let me doubt you,
+much as I wish to. I cannot thank you for making my heart
+ache,&mdash;please go."</p>
+
+<p>Still with that air of unnatural calm, she arose and walked to
+the window.</p>
+
+<p>Of the two, Olive Girard was by far the more agitated. "Tell
+me," she said, in eager entreaty; "oh, tell me, you are not going
+with <i>him</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turned sharply around. "I shall not add myself
+to the list of his victims," she said, briefly.</p>
+
+<p>And then the two gazed at each other in silence for a moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"This is madness," said Olive, at length. "What rash thing
+do you meditate? I will not leave you to face this man alone;
+I dare not do it."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline came from the window and stood directly before
+her. "I am not the weak child you think me. You can do
+nothing but harm by remaining here. I will meet Lucian
+Davlin, and part with him in my own way," she said, between
+her teeth.</p>
+
+<p>Olive saw, in the set face, and stern eye, that she was indeed
+dealing with a character stubborn as death, and devoid of all
+fear. She dreaded to leave her thus, but felt assured that she
+could do nothing else.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you come to me afterward?" she asked. "You have
+no friends here, you tell me, and you need a friend now.
+Promise me this and I will go."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said the girl, wearily; "at least I promise to
+go to no one else; good-by."</p>
+
+<p>Turning away, she resumed her position at the window, and
+never looked once at Olive after that.</p>
+
+<p>"I will write my address on this card," said Olive. She did
+so; then turning on the girl a look full of pitying tenderness,
+said: "I need not tell you to be brave; I should rather bid you
+be cautious. Remember, your life is worth more than the love
+and loss of such a man. Put this behind you, and come to me
+soon, believing that you are not friendless."</p>
+
+<p>She lowered her veil and, casting one more wistful glance at
+the silent figure by the window, went out and closed the door
+softly.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<h2>A STRUGGLE FOR MORE THAN LIFE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>It is a fortunate provision of Providence that calamity comes
+upon us, in most cases, with a force so sudden and overwhelming
+that it is rather seen than felt. As we realize the full torture of
+an ugly wound, not when the blow is struck, but after the
+whole system has been made to languish under its effects, so a
+blow struck at the heart can not make itself fully felt while the
+mind is still unable to picture what the future will be like now
+that the grief has come. We only taste our bitterest grief when
+the mind has shaken itself aloof from the present woe, to travel
+forward and question what the future can hold for us, now that
+our life is bereft of this treasure.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's condition, after the departure of Olive Girard, was
+an exponent of this truth. Fast and hard worked her thoughts,
+but they only encountered the ills of the present, and never
+glanced beyond.</p>
+
+<p>She had set her lover aloft as her ideal, the embodiment of
+truth, honor, and manhood. He had fallen. Truth, honor,
+manhood, had passed out of existence for her. And she had
+loved him so well! She loved him even yet.</p>
+
+<p>The thought brought with it a pang of terror, and as if conjured
+up by it, the scenes of the day previous marshalled themselves
+again for review. Could it be possible? Was it only
+yesterday that she listened to his tender love words, beneath the
+old tree in Oakley woods? Only yesterday that her step-father
+was revealed in all his vileness,&mdash;his plots, his hopes, his fears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>
+Her mother's sad life laid bare before her; Aunt Hagar's story;
+her defiance of the two men at Oakley; her flight; Clarence
+Vaughan; the strange, great city; Olive Girard; and now&mdash;now,
+just a dead blank, with no outlook, no hope.</p>
+
+<p>And was this all since yesterday?</p>
+
+<p>What was it, she wondered, that made people mad? Not
+things like these; she was calm, very calm. She <i>was</i> calm;
+too calm. If something would occur to break up this icy stillness
+of heart, to convulse the numbed powers of feeling, and
+shock them back into life before it was too late.</p>
+
+<p>She waited patiently for the coming of her base lover, lying
+upon the soft divan, with her hands folded, and wondering if
+she would feel <i>much</i> different if she were dead.</p>
+
+<p>When the summons came, at last, she went quietly down to
+greet the man who little dreamed that his reign in her heart
+was at an end, and that his hold upon her life was loosening
+fast.</p>
+
+<p>When Madeline entered the presence of Lucian Davlin, she
+took the initiatory step in the part she was henceforth to play.
+And she took it unhesitatingly, as if dissimulation was to her no
+new thing. Truly, necessity, emergency, is the mother of much
+besides "invention." Entering, she gave him her hand with
+free grace, and smiled up at him as he bade her good-morning.</p>
+
+<p>He remarked on her pale cheeks, but praised the brightness
+of her eyes, and accepted her explanation that the bustle and
+the strangeness was unusual to her, as a natural and sufficient
+reason for the pallor.</p>
+
+<p>"You will soon grow accustomed to that," he said, as they descended
+to the carriage, "and be the rosiest, fairest little woman
+on the boulevard, for I mean to drive half the men jealous by
+taking you there often."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_012.jpg" width="400" height="571" alt="&quot;She wondered if she would feel much different if she were dead.&quot;&mdash;page 76."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;She wondered if she would feel much different if she were dead.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_76">page 76.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Madeline made no reply, and they entered the carriage.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin was not surprised at her silence; he was prepared for
+a little coyness; in fact, for some resistance, and expected to
+have occasion for the specious eloquence always at his command.
+Of course, the result would be the same,&mdash;he had no doubt of
+that, and so in silence they reached their destination.</p>
+
+<p>Up a broad flight of stairs, and then a door. Lucian rings,
+and an immaculate colored servant appears, who seems as well
+bred as an English baronet, and who expresses no surprise at
+the presence of a lady there.</p>
+
+<p>Up another flight of softly carpeted stairs, across a wide hall,
+and lo! the abode of the sybarite, the apartments of the disciple
+of Chance.</p>
+
+<p>"Welcome to your kingdom, fair queen," says Lucian, as
+they enter. "This is your abiding place, for a time, at least, and
+I am your slave for always," and he kneels playfully before
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turns away, and, finding it easiest to do, in her then
+state of mind, begins a careless tour of the rooms, making a
+pretense of criticism, and finding in even this slow promenade
+some relief from absolute quiet and silence.</p>
+
+<p>She guarded her face lest it should display too much of that
+locked, sullen calm underneath, and replied by an occasional
+word and nod to his running comments upon the different
+articles undergoing examination. Fingering carelessly the rare
+ornaments upon a fine set of brackets, her eye rested upon an
+elegant little gold mounted pistol. She turned away quickly,
+and they passed to other things.</p>
+
+<p>Her replies became more ready, and she began questioning
+gravely about this or that, listening with childlike wonder to
+his answers, and winning him into a pleasant bantering humor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Finally he threw himself upon a chair, and selecting a cigar
+proceeded to light it.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline continued to flit from picture to statuette, questioning
+with much apparent interest. At last, she paused again before
+the bracket which held the tiny toy that had for her a fascination.</p>
+
+<p>"What a pretty little pistol," she said. "Is it loaded?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," replied he, lazily. "Bring it to me; I will
+see."</p>
+
+<p>He was inwardly wondering at her cool acceptance of the
+situation; and felt inclined to congratulate himself. Seeing her
+look at the little weapon doubtfully, he laughed and strode to
+her side, taking it in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"It is not loaded," he said. "Did you ever fire a pistol?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; show me how to hold it."</p>
+
+<p>He placed it in her hand, and showed her how to manipulate
+the trigger, and to take aim.</p>
+
+<p>"I should like to see it loaded," she said, at last.</p>
+
+<p>"And so you shall."</p>
+
+<p>He smiled, and crossing the room took from a little inlaid box
+a handful of cartridges. Madeline watched him attentively, as
+he explained to her the operation of loading. At length expressing
+herself satisfied, and declining his invitation to try and
+load it herself, she turned away.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin extracted the cartridge from the pistol, and returned it
+to its place, saying: "You might wish to practice at aiming, and
+won't want it loaded."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall not want such practice," she replied.</p>
+
+<p>A rap at the door, and the servant announced that dinner was
+come.</p>
+
+<p>"I ordered our dinner here, to-day," explained Lucian,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>
+"thinking it would be more cosy. You may serve it, Henry,"
+to the servant.</p>
+
+<p>Dinner was accordingly served, and Lucian found occasion
+to criticise, very severely, the manner of his serving man. More
+than once, his voice took on an intolerant tone.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting opposite, Madeline saw the man, as he stood behind
+his master's chair, dart upon him a look of hatred. Her lips
+framed a smile quite new to them; and, after dessert was placed
+upon the table and the man dismissed, she said:</p>
+
+<p>"You don't like your servant, I judge?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he's as good as any," replied Lucian, carelessly. "They
+are pretty much alike, and all need a setting back occasionally;&mdash;on
+general principles, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so," assented Madeline, indifferently, as if the subject
+had lost all interest for her.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the afternoon wore on, moments seeming hours to the
+despairing girl. At length Lucian, finding her little inclined to
+assist him in keeping up a conversation, said:</p>
+
+<p>"I am selfish not to remember that you are very tired. I
+will leave you to solitude and repose for a little time, shall I?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you wish," she replied, wearily. "I suppose I need the
+rest."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I will look in upon some of my friends. I have almost
+lost the run of city doings during my absence. Meantime,
+ring for anything you may need, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will ring;" and she looked, not at him, but at the bracket
+beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"Then good-by, little sweetheart. It is now four; I will be
+with you at six."</p>
+
+<p>He embraced her tenderly, and went out with that <i>debonnair</i>
+grace which she had so loved. She looked after him with a
+hungry, hopeless longing in her eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, why does God make His foulest things the fairest?" she
+moaned. "Why did He put love in our hearts if it must turn
+our lives to ashes? Why must one be so young and yet so
+miserable? Oh, mother, mother, are all women wronged like
+us?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline arose and commenced pacing the floor restlessly,
+nervously. She had come here with no fixed purpose, nothing
+beyond the indefinite determination to defy and thwart the man
+who had entrapped her. She had never for a moment feared
+for her safety, or doubted her ability to accomplish her object.</p>
+
+<p>A plan was now taking shape in her mind, and as she pondered,
+she extended her march, quite unthinkingly, on into the adjoining
+room, the door of which stood invitingly open. The first object
+to attract her attention was the light traveling coat which Lucian
+had worn on the previous day; worn when he was pleading his
+suit under the trees of Oakley; and in a burst of anger, as if it
+were a part of him she was thinking of so bitterly, she seized
+and hurled it from her. As it flew across the room, something
+fell from a pocket, almost at her feet.</p>
+
+<p>She looked down at it; it was a telegram, the one, doubtless,
+that had called him back to the city the day before. A business
+matter, he had said. Into her mind flashed the words of Olive
+Girard, "a professional gambler." She would see what this
+"business" was. Stooping, she picked up the crumpled envelope,
+and quickly devoured its contents.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Must see you immediately. Come by first train; am waiting at your
+quarters.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">Cora.</span></p>
+
+<p>Madeline went back to the lighter, larger room, and seating
+herself, looked about her. Again the words of Olive rung in
+her ears.</p>
+
+<p>"Cora!" she ejaculated. "He obeyed her summons, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>
+brought <i>me</i> with him. And she was here only last night&mdash;and
+where has she gone? This must be the 'notorious,' the 'handsome.'
+Ah, Lucian Davlin, this is well; this nerves me for the
+worst! I shall not falter now. This is the first link in the chain
+that shall yet make your life a burden."</p>
+
+<p>She crossed the room and touched the bell.</p>
+
+<p>"Now for the first real step," said Madeline, grimly.</p>
+
+<p>The door opened and the dark face of Henry appeared, bowing
+on the threshold.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, Henry, and close the door," said Madeline, pleasantly.
+"I want you to do me a favor, if you will."</p>
+
+<p>Henry came in, and stood waiting her order.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you carry a note for me, Henry, and bring me back an
+answer? I want <i>you</i> to take it, because I feel as if I could trust
+you. You look like one who would be faithful to those who
+were kind to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, lady; indeed I would," said the man, in grateful
+tones.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline was quick to see the advantage to be gained by
+possessing the regard and confidence of this man, who must,
+necessarily, know so much that it was desirable to learn of the
+life and habits of him, between whom and herself must be waged
+a war to the very death.</p>
+
+<p>She reasoned rapidly, and as rapidly arrived at her conclusions.
+The first of those was, that Lucian Davlin, by his intolerance
+and unkindness, had fitted a tool to her hand, and she,
+therefore, as a preliminary step, must propitiate and win the
+confidence of this same tool left by his master within her reach.</p>
+
+<p>"And will you carry my letter, Henry, and return with an
+answer as soon as you can? You will find the person at this
+hour without any trouble."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Master ordered me to attend to your wants," replied the
+man, in a somewhat surly tone.</p>
+
+<p>She understood this somber inflection, and said: "He 'ordered'
+you? Yes, I see; is your master always as hard to please as to-day,
+Henry? He certainly was a little unkind."</p>
+
+<p>"He's always the same, madame," said the man, gloomily.
+Her words brought vividly before his mind's eye the many instances
+of his master's unkindness.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry he is not kind to you," said the girl, hypocritically.
+"And I don't want you to carry this letter because <i>he</i> ordered
+you. I want you to do it to oblige <i>me</i>, Henry, and it will make
+me always your friend."</p>
+
+<p>Ah, Henry, one resentful gleam from your eyes, as you stood
+behind the chair of your tyrant, has given to this slight girl the
+clue by which to sway you to her will. She was smiling upon
+him, and the man replied, in gratitude:</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do anything for you, madame."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Henry. I was sure I could trust you. Will
+you get me some writing material, please?"</p>
+
+<p>Henry crossed to the handsome davenport, and found it locked.
+But when taking this precaution, Davlin overlooked the fact that
+Cora's last gift&mdash;a little affair intended for the convenience of
+travelers, being a combined dressing case and writing desk, the
+dividing compartment of which contained an excellent cabinet
+photograph of the lady herself, so enshrined as to be the first
+thing to greet the eyes of whosoever should open the little receptacle&mdash;was
+still accessible.</p>
+
+<p>Failing to open the davenport, Henry turned to this; and
+pressing upon the spring lock, exposed to the view of Madeline,
+standing near, the pictured face of Cora. Spite of his grievances,
+the sense of his duty was strong upon him, and he put himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>
+between the girl and the object of her interest. Not so quickly
+but that she saw, and understood the movement. Stepping to
+his side, she put out her hand, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"What an exquisite picture&mdash;Madame Cora, is it not, Henry?"</p>
+
+<p>She was looking him full in the eyes, and he answered, staring
+in astonishment the while: "Yes, miss."</p>
+
+<p>"She is very handsome," mused the girl, as if to herself: "left
+just before my arrival, I think?" she added, at a venture.</p>
+
+<p>Again her eyes searched his face, and again he gave a surprised
+assent.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you like her, Henry?" questioned she, intent on her purpose.</p>
+
+<p>"She is just like <i>him</i>," he said, jerking his head grimly, while
+his voice took again a resentful tone. "She thinks a man who
+is <i>black</i> has no feelings."</p>
+
+<p>He placed pen, ink and paper on the table as he answered,
+and then looked to her inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"You may wait here while I write, if you will," she said, and
+took up the pen.</p>
+
+<p>She had brought away from the G&mdash;&mdash; House, the two cards
+of her would-be friends, and she now consulted them before she
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No. 52 &mdash;&mdash; street; is that far, Henry?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's a five minutes' walk," he answered. "I can go and
+come in twenty minutes, allowing time for an answer."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good," she said, abruptly, and wrote rapidly:</p>
+
+<p class="f3"><i>Clarence Vaughan.</i></p>
+
+<p class="f4">No. 52 &mdash;&mdash; street.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>&mdash;Having no other friend at hand, I take you at your word. I need
+your aid, to rescue me from the power of a bad man. Will you meet
+me, with a carriage, at the south corner of this block, in one hour, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>
+take me to Mrs. Girard, who has offered me a shelter? You <i>know</i> the
+danger I wish to escape. Aid me "<i>in the name of your mother</i>."</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">Madeline "Weir</span>."</p>
+
+<p>This is what she penned, and looking up she asked: "What
+is the number of this place, Henry?"</p>
+
+<p>"91 Empire block," he replied; "C&mdash;&mdash; street."</p>
+
+<p>She added this, and then folding and enclosing, addressed it
+to Clarence Vaughan, M. D., etc.</p>
+
+<p>"There, Henry, take it as quickly as you can; and some day
+I will try and reward you."</p>
+
+<p>She smiled upon him as she gave him the letter. He took it,
+bowed low, and hurried away.</p>
+
+<p>She listened until the sound of his footstep could be heard no
+longer. Then rising quickly, she opened the receptacle that held
+the portrait of the woman who, though unseen, was still an
+enemy. Long she gazed upon the pictured face, and when at
+last she closed the case, springing the lock with a sharp click,
+she muttered between set teeth:</p>
+
+<p>"I shall <i>know</i> you when I see you, madame."</p>
+
+<p>Crossing to the pistol bracket, she took the little weapon in
+her hand, and picking up one of the cartridges left by its careless
+owner, loaded it carefully. Having done this she placed
+the weapon in her pocket.</p>
+
+<p>She paced to and fro, to and fro; nothing would have been
+harder for her than to remain quiet then. Her eyes wandered
+often to the tiny bronze clock on the marble above the grate.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes; her letter was delivered, was being answered
+perhaps;&mdash;fifteen; how slowly the moments were going!&mdash;twenty;
+what if <i>he</i> should return, too soon? Instinctively she
+placed her hand upon the pocket holding the little pistol.
+Twenty-five minutes; what if her messenger should fail her?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>
+And that card had clearly stated "office hours three to five."
+Twenty-six; oh, how slow, how slow!&mdash;twenty-seven; had the
+clock stopped? no;&mdash;twenty-eight&mdash;nine&mdash;half an hour.</p>
+
+<p>Where was Henry?</p>
+
+<p>She felt a giddiness creeping over her; how close the air was.
+Her nerves were at their utmost tension; another strain upon
+the sharply strung chords would overcome her. She felt this
+vaguely. If she should be baffled now! She could take fresh
+heart, could nerve herself anew, if aid came to her, but if <i>he</i>
+should come she feared, in her now half frenzied condition, to
+be alone, she was so strangely nervous, so weak!</p>
+
+<p>How plainly she saw it, the face of Clarence Vaughan. Oh,
+it was a good face! When she saw it again she could rest. She
+had not felt it before, but she did need rest sorely.</p>
+
+<p>Thirty-five minutes,&mdash;oh, they had been hours to her; weary,
+weary time!</p>
+
+<p>How many a sad watcher has reckoned the flying moments as
+creeping hours, while sitting lonely, with heavy eyes, trembling
+frame, and heart almost bursting with its weight of suspense&mdash;waiting.</p>
+
+<p>Forty minutes&mdash;and a footstep in the passage! Her heart
+almost stopped beating. It was Henry.</p>
+
+<p>"I had to wait, as he was busy with a patient," said he,
+apologetically, handing her the letter she desired.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline tore open the missive with eager fingers, and read:</p>
+
+<p class="f3"><i>Miss Madeline W.</i>:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Thank you for your faith in me. I will meet you at the place and time
+appointed. Do not fail me. Respectfully,</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">C. Vaughan.</span></p>
+
+<p>She drew a long breath of relief.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Henry. Now I shall leave this place; promise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+me that you will not tell your master where I went or how.
+Will you promise?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will, miss," said the man, earnestly. "Is this all I can
+do?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you would be my true friend&mdash;if I might trust you,
+Henry&mdash;I would ask more of you. But I should ask you to
+work against your master. He has wronged me cruelly, and I
+need a friend who can serve me as you can quite easily. I should
+not command you as a servant, but ask you to aid me as a true
+friend, for I think your heart is whiter than his."</p>
+
+<p>And Henry was won. Starting forward, he exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"He treats me as if I were a dog; and you, as if I were
+white and a gentleman! Let me be your servant, and I will
+be very faithful; tell me what I can do."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Henry; I will trust you. To-morrow, at noon,
+call at Dr. Vaughan's office and he will tell you where you can
+find me. Then come to me. You can serve me best by remaining
+with your master, at present; and I will try, after I
+have left this place, to reward you as you deserve."</p>
+
+<p>"I will obey you, mistress," said the delighted servant. "I
+shall be glad to serve where I can hear a kind word. And I
+shall be glad to help you settle accounts with <i>him</i>. I will be
+there to-morrow, no fear for me."</p>
+
+<p>She turned, and put on her wrappings with a feeling of exultation.
+He would come soon, smiling and triumphant, and
+she would not be there! He should fret and wonder, question
+and search, but when they met again the power should be on
+her side.</p>
+
+<p>She turned to the waiting servant, saying: "I am ready,
+Henry."</p>
+
+<p>He opened the door as if for a princess. Before Madeline<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>
+had lifted her foot from the carpet, her eyes became riveted
+upon the open doorway.</p>
+
+<p>There, smiling and <i>insouciant</i>, stood <i>Lucian Davlin</i>!</p>
+
+<p>Madeline stood like one in a nightmare, motionless and
+speechless. Again, and more powerfully, came over her senses
+that insidious, creeping faintness; that sickening of body and
+soul together.</p>
+
+<p>It was not the situation alone, hazardous as it certainly was,
+which filled her with this shuddering terror; it was the feeling
+that vitality had almost exhausted itself. She suddenly realized
+the meaning of the awful lethargy that seemed benumbing her
+faculties. The "last straw" was now weighing her down, and,
+standing mute and motionless she was putting forth all her will
+power to comprehend the situation, grasp and master it.</p>
+
+<p>Like a dark stone image Henry stood, his hand upon the open
+door, his eyes fastened upon the man blocking the way.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin, whose first thought had been that the open door was
+to welcome his approach, realized in an instant as he gazed upon
+Madeline, that he was about to be defied. There was no mistaking
+the expression of the face, so white and set. He elevated
+his eyebrows in an elaborate display of astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Just in time, I should say," removing his hat with mock
+courtesy, and stepping across the threshold. "Not going out
+without an escort, my dear? Surely not. Really, I owe a debt
+of gratitude to my friends down town, for boring me so insufferably,
+else I should have missed you, I fear."</p>
+
+<p>No answer; no change in the face or attitude of the girl before
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Close that door, sir, and take yourself off," he said, turning
+to Henry.</p>
+
+<p>Remembering her words, "You can serve me best here,"
+Henry bowed with unusual humility, and went out.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_013.jpg" width="400" height="570" alt="&quot;There, smiling and insouciant, stood Lucian Davlin!&quot;&mdash;page 88."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;There, smiling and insouciant, stood Lucian Davlin!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_88">page 88.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I don't think she is afraid of him," he muttered, as he went
+down the hall; "anyhow, I won't be far away, in case she
+needs me."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin folded his arms with insolent grace, and leaning
+lazily against the closed door, gazed, with his wicked half
+smile, upon the pale girl before him.</p>
+
+<p>Thus for a few moments they faced each other, without a
+word. At length, she broke the silence. Advancing a step,
+she looked him full in the face and said, in a calm, even tone:</p>
+
+<p>"Open that door, sir, and let me pass."</p>
+
+<p>"Phew&mdash;w&mdash;w!" he half whistled, half ejaculated, opening
+wide his insolent eyes. "How she commands us; like a little
+empress, by Jove! Might the humblest of your adorers be permitted
+to ask where you were going, most regal lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not back to the home I left for the sake of a gambler and
+<i>roue</i>," she said, bitterly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," thought he, "she has just got her ideas awakened on
+this subject: believed me the soul of honor, and all that. Only
+a small matter this, after all."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't call hard names, little woman," he said aloud. "I'm
+not such a very bad man, after all. By the way, I shouldn't
+have thought it exactly in your line, to order up my servant for examination
+in my absence."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not indebted to your servant for my knowledge concerning
+you, sir. I wish to leave this place; stand aside and let
+me pass."</p>
+
+<p>The red flush had returned to her cheeks, the dangerous
+sparkle to her eyes; her courage and spirits rose in response to
+his sneering pleasantries. Her nerves were tempered like steel.
+He little dreamed of the courage, strength and power she could
+pit against him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He dropped one hand carelessly, and inserted it jauntily in his
+pocket.</p>
+
+<p>"Zounds; but you look like a little tigress," he exclaimed,
+admiringly. "Really, rage becomes you vastly, but it's wearisome,
+after all, my dear. So drop high tragedy, like a sensible
+girl, and tell me what is the meaning of this new freak."</p>
+
+<p>"I will tell you this, sir: I shall leave this place now, and I
+wish never to see your face again. Where I go is no concern
+of yours. Why I go, I leave to your own imagination."</p>
+
+<p>"Bravo; what a little actress you would make! But now
+for a display of my histrionic talents. Leave this place, against
+my will, you can not; and I wish to see your face often, for
+many days to come. Where you go I must go, too; and why
+you go, is because of a prudish scruple that has no place in the
+world you and I will live in."</p>
+
+<p>"The world <i>you</i> live in is not large enough for me too, Lucian
+Davlin. And you and I part, now and forever."</p>
+
+<p>"Not so fast, little one," he answered, in his softest, most persuasive
+tone. "See, I am the same lover you pledged yourself
+to only yesterday. I adore you the same as then; I desire to
+make you happy just the same. You have put a deep gulf between
+yourself and your home; you can not go back; you
+would go out from here to meet a worse fate, to fall into worse
+hands. Come, dear, put off that frown."</p>
+
+<p>He made a gesture as if to draw her to him. She sprang
+away, and placing herself at a distance, looked at him over a
+broad, low-backed chair, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Not a step nearer me, sir, and not another word of your
+sophistry. I will not remain here. Do you understand me?
+<i>I will not!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Lucian dragged a chair near the door, and throwing himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+lazily into it, surveyed the enraged girl with a look of mingled
+astonishment, amusement, and annoyance.</p>
+
+<p>"Really, this is rather hard on a fellow's patience, my lady.
+Not a step nearer the door, my dear; and no more defiance, if
+you please. You perceive I temper my tragedy with a little
+politeness," he added, parenthetically. "I will not permit you
+to leave me; do you hear me? <i>I will not!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>His tone of aggressive mockery was maddening to the desperate
+girl. It lent her a fresh, last impulse of wild, defiant
+energy. There was not the shadow of a fear in her mind or
+heart now. The rush of outraged feeling took full possession of
+her, and, for a second, deprived her of all power of speech or
+action. In another instant she stood before him, her eyes blazing
+with wrath, and in her hand, steadfast and surely aimed, a
+tiny pistol&mdash;his pistol, that he had taught her to load and aim
+not two short hours before!</p>
+
+<p>He was not a coward, this man; and rage at being thus
+baffled and placed at a disadvantage by his own weapon, drove
+all the mockery from his face.</p>
+
+<p>He gave a sudden bound.</p>
+
+<p>There was a flash, a sharp report, and Lucian Davlin reeled
+for a moment, his right arm hanging helpless and bleeding.
+Only for a moment, for as the girl sprang past him, he wheeled
+about, seized her with his strong left arm, and holding her close
+to him in a vice-like clutch, hissed, while the ghastly paleness
+caused by the flowing blood overspread his face:</p>
+
+<p>"Little demon! I will kill you before I will lose you now!
+You&mdash;shall&mdash;not&mdash;esca&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>A deathly faintness overcame him, and he fell heavily; still
+clasping the girl, now senseless like himself.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_014.jpg" width="400" height="562" alt="&quot;In her hand, steadfast and
+surely aimed, a tiny pistol&mdash;&quot;&mdash;page 92."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;In her hand, steadfast and
+surely aimed, a tiny pistol&mdash;&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_92">page 92.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>Hearing the pistol shot, and almost simultaneously a heavy
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>fall, Henry hurried through the long passage and threw open
+the door. One glance sufficed, and then he rushed down the
+stairs in frantic haste.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, punctual to the time appointed,
+had driven rapidly to the spot designated by Madeline. He
+was about to alight from the carriage, when he drew back suddenly,
+and sat in the shadow as a man passed up the street.</p>
+
+<p>It was Lucian Davlin, and he entered the building bearing
+the number Madeline had given in her note.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly Vaughan comprehended the situation. She had
+sent for aid in this man's absence, and his return might frustrate
+her plans. Pondering upon the best course to pursue, he descended
+from the carriage, and paced the length of the block.
+Turning in his promenade, his ear was greeted by a pistol shot.
+Could it come from that building? It sounded from there certainly.
+It was now five minutes past the time appointed; could
+it be there was foul play? He paused at the foot of the stairs,
+irresolute.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly there was a rush of feet, and Henry came flying
+down, the whites of his eyes looking as if they would never resume
+their natural proportions. Clarence intercepted the man
+as he essayed to pass, evidently without having seen him.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, sir!&mdash;Oh, doctor, come right up stairs, quick, sir," he
+exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Was that shot from here, my man?" inquired Doctor
+Vaughan, as he followed up the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," hurrying on.</p>
+
+<p>"Any people in the building besides your master and the lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir; not at this time. This way, sir."</p>
+
+<p>He threw open the door and stepped back. Entering the
+room, this is what Clarence Vaughan saw:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Lying upon the floor in a pool of blood, the splendid form of
+Lucian Davlin, one arm dripping the red life fluid, the other
+clasping close the form of a beautiful girl. His eyes were closed
+and his face pallid as the dead. The eyes of the girl were staring
+wide and set, her face expressing unutterable fear and horror,
+every muscle rigid as if in a struggle still. One hand was
+clenched, and thrown out as if to ward off that death-like grasp,
+while the other clutched a pistol, still warm and smelling of
+powder.</p>
+
+<p>It was the work of a moment to stop the flow of blood, and
+restore the wounded man to consciousness. But first he had removed
+the insensible girl from Davlin's grasp, laid her upon a
+bed in the inner room and, removing the fatal weapon from her
+hand, instructed Henry how to apply the remedies a skilful surgeon
+has always about him, especially in the city.</p>
+
+<p>At the first sure symptoms of slowly returning life, Doctor
+Vaughan summoned Henry to look after his master, whom he
+left, with rather unprofessional alacrity, to attend to the fair patient
+in whose welfare he felt so much interest. As he bent over
+the still unconscious girl, his face was shadowed with troubled
+thought. She was in no common faint, and feeling fully
+assured what the result would be, he almost feared to see the first
+fluttering return of life.</p>
+
+<p>At last a shudder agitated her form, and looking up with just
+a gleam of recognition, she passed into another swoon, thence
+to another. Through long weary hours she only opened her
+eyes to close them, blinded with the vision of unutterable woe;
+and so the long night wore away.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan had given brief, stern orders, in accordance with
+which Lucian Davlin had entrusted his wound to another surgeon
+for dressing, and then, still in obedience to orders, had swallowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+a soothing potion and betaken himself to other apartments.</p>
+
+<p>Henry had summoned a trusty nurse well known to Clarence
+Vaughan, to assist him at the bedside of Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>In the gray of morning, pallid and interesting, with his arm
+in a sling, Lucian reappeared in the sick room. Evidently he
+had not employed all of the intervening time in slumber, for his
+course of action seemed to have been fully matured.</p>
+
+<p>"She won't be able to leave here for many days, I should fancy?"
+he half inquired in a low tone, sinking languidly into a sleepy-hollow,
+commanding a view of the face of the patient, and the
+back of the physician.</p>
+
+<p>"Not alive," was the brief but significant answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Not alive! Great heavens, doctor, don't tell me that my
+miserable accident will cost the little girl her life!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! your accident: how was that?" bending over Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you see," explained Davlin, "She picked up the
+pistol, and not being acquainted with the use of fire-arms, desired
+to investigate under my instructions. Having loaded it,
+explaining the process by illustration, she, being timid, begged
+me to put it up. Laughing at her fear, I was about to obey,
+when moving around carelessly, my hand came in contact with
+that chair, setting the thing off. The sight of my bleeding arm
+frightened her so that I saw she was about to faint. As I caught
+her I myself lost consciousness, and we fell together. But how
+will she come out, doctor? tell me that; poor little girl!"</p>
+
+<p>"She will come out from this trance soon, to die almost immediately,
+or to pass through a fever stage that may result fatally
+later. Her bodily condition is one of unusual prostration from
+fatigue; and evidently, she has been sustaining some undue excitement
+for a considerable time."</p>
+
+<p>"Been traveling, and pretty well tired with the journey.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+That, I suppose, taken with this pistol affair&mdash;but tell me, doctor,
+what she will need, so that I may attend to it immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"If she is living at noon," said Dr. Vaughan, reflectively, "it
+will be out of the question to remove her from here, without
+risking her life for weeks to come. If she comes out of this, and
+you will leave her in my hands, I will, with the aid of this good
+woman," nodding toward the nurse, "undertake to pull her
+through. It will be necessary that she have perfect quiet, and
+sees no face that might in any manner excite her, during her illness
+and convalescence."</p>
+
+<p>Davlin mused for a few moments before making answer. He
+did not care to excite remark by calling in unnecessary attendants.
+Dr. Vaughan he knew by reputation as a skilful physician.
+As well trust him as another, he thought, and it was no
+part of his plan to let this girl die if skill could save her.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to his natural inquiry as to how the doctor was so
+speedily on the spot when needed, Henry had truthfully replied
+that he knew the medical man by sight, and that, fortunately, he
+was passing when he ran down to the street for assistance. Davlin
+was further convinced that he, Henry, knew nothing save that
+the young lady rang for him to show her out, and he, according
+to orders, had obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir," Davlin said, at last, "I shall leave the lady and
+the premises entirely in your hands, as soon as the crisis has
+passed. Then, as my presence might not prove beneficial,
+while I carry this arm in a sling, at least, I will run down into
+the country for a few days. My man, here, is entirely at your
+disposal. Don't spare any pains to pull her through safely,
+doctor. I will look in again at noon."</p>
+
+<p>He rose and went softly out of the room, the doctor having
+answered him only by a nod of assent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Zounds, how weak I feel," he ejaculated. "I hope the girl
+won't die. Anyhow, I have no notion of figuring at a death-bed
+scene. So I'll just keep myself out of the way until the
+thing is decided. Then, I'll run down and let Cora coddle
+me up a bit. I can explain my wounded arm as the result of
+a little affair at the card-table."</p>
+
+<p>Noon came, and slowly, slowly, stern Death relaxed his grasp
+upon the miserable girl, for Death, like man, finds no satisfaction
+in claiming willing victims. Slowly the life fluttered back
+to her heart; and because Death had yielded her up, and to retain
+it would be to lose her life, reason forsook her.</p>
+
+<p>Under the watchful care of the skilled nurse, and the ministrations
+of the young physician, she now lay tossing in the delirium
+of fever.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing worse to fear, for days at least, reported the doctor.
+So the afternoon train bore Lucian Davlin away from the
+city and his victim, to seek repose and diversion in the society of
+his comrade, Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"She will come out of this now, I think," he muttered.
+"Then&mdash;Oh! I'll tame your proud spirit yet, my lady! I
+would not give you up now for half a million."</p>
+
+<p>And he meant it.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>THREADS OF THE FABRIC.</h2>
+
+
+<p>What had become of Madeline Payne?</p>
+
+<p>The question went the round of the village, as such questions do.
+The servants of Oakley fed upon it. They held secret conferences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+in the kitchen, and grew loud and argumentative when
+they knew John Arthur was safely out of hearing. They bore
+themselves with an air of subdued, unobservant melancholy in
+his presence, and waxed important, mysterious and unsatisfactory,
+when in converse with the towns folk&mdash;as was quite right
+and proper, for were they not, in the eyes of mystery hunters,
+objects of curiosity secondary only to their master himself?</p>
+
+<p>The somber-faced old housekeeper gave utterance to a doleful
+croak or two, and a more doleful prophecy. But after a summons
+from John Arthur, and a brief interview with him in the
+closely shut sacredness of his especial den, not even the social intercourse
+of the kitchen and the inspiration that the prolonged
+absence of the master always lent to things below stairs, could
+beguile from her anything beyond the terse statement that "she
+didn't meddle with her master's affairs," and she "s'posed Miss
+Madeline knew where she was."</p>
+
+<p>The housemaid, who read novels and was rather fond of Miss
+Payne, grieved for a very little while, but found in this "visitation
+of providence," as John Arthur piously termed it, food for
+romance weaving on her own responsibility. She entertained
+Peter, the groom, coachman and general factotum, with divers
+suggestions and suppositions, each more soul harrowing than the
+last, making of poor Madeline a lay figure upon which she fitted
+all the catastrophes that had ever befallen her yellow-covered
+"heroinesses."</p>
+
+<p>The villagers talked. It was all they could do, and their
+tongues were very busy for a time until, in fact, a fresher sensation
+arrived. Nurse Hagar was viewed and interviewed; but
+beyond sincere expression of grief at her disappearance, and the
+unvarying statement that she had not even the slightest conjecture
+as to the fate of the lost girl, nothing could be gained from her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Hagar was somewhat given to rather bluntly spoken opinions
+of folk who happened to run counter to her notions in regard to
+prying, or, in fact, her notions on any subject. In the present
+emergency she became a veritable social hedgehog, and was soon
+left to solitude and her own devices.</p>
+
+<p>Whatever were Hagar's opinions on the subject, she kept them
+discreetly locked within her own breast. She had received, at
+their last interview, a revelation of the depth and force of character
+which lay dormant in the nature of Madeline; and she
+believed, even when she grieved most, that the girl would return,
+and that when she came she would make her advent felt.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur went to the city "to put the matter in the hands
+of the detectives," he said. But as he most fervently hoped and
+wished that he had seen the last of his "stumbling&mdash;block," and
+believed that of her own will she would not return, it is hardly
+to be supposed that the Secret Service was severely taxed.</p>
+
+<p>Be this as it may, the Summer days passed and he heard
+nothing of Madeline.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>Meantime, the neat little hotel that rejoiced in the name of
+the Bellair House, displayed on a fresh page of its register the
+signature of Lucian Davlin once more, and underneath it that
+of Mrs. C. Torrance.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. C. Torrance was a blonde young widow, dressed in weeds
+of most elegant quality and latest style, with just the faintest
+hint of an approaching season of half mourning.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Torrance had now been an inmate of Bellair House
+some days, and she certainly had no reason to complain that her
+present outlook was not all that could be desired. Already she
+had met the object of her little masquerade, and it was charming
+to see the alacrity with which John Arthur placed himself in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>
+the snare set for him by these plotters, and how gracefully he
+submitted as the cords tightened around him.</p>
+
+<p>Over and over again Davlin thanked his lucky star for having
+so ordered his goings that, on his previous visit, he had never
+been brought into immediate contact with John Arthur. Over
+and again he congratulated himself that his meetings with Madeline
+had been kept their own secret, for he knew nothing of the
+watchful, jealous eyes of old Hagar.</p>
+
+<p>On a fine summer morning, or rather "forenoon," for Mrs.
+Torrance was a luxurious widow, and her "brother," Mr.
+Davlin, not at all enamored of early rising,&mdash;on a fine forenoon,
+then, the pair sat in the little hotel parlor, partaking of breakfast.
+They relished it, too, if one might judge from the occasional
+pretty little ejaculations, expressive of enjoyment and appreciation,
+that fell from the lips of the widow.</p>
+
+<p>"More cream, monsieur? Oh, but this fruit is delicious!
+And I believe there is a grand difference in the qualities of city
+and country cream."</p>
+
+<p>"The difference in the favor of the country living, eh? I say,
+Co., don't you think your appetite is rather better than is exactly
+expected, or in order, for a widow in the second stage of
+her grief?"</p>
+
+<p>Things were moving just now as Mr. Davlin approved, and
+he felt inclined to be jocular.</p>
+
+<p>Cora laughed merrily. Then holding up a pretty, berry-stained
+hand, she said, with mock solemnity, "That is the last,
+my greatly shocked brother. But didn't you inform Mr. Arthur
+that we should accept of his kind offer to survey the woods
+and grounds of Oakley in his company, and isn't this the day,
+and almost the hour?"</p>
+
+<p>"So it is; I had forgotten."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was not long before the pair were equipped, and sauntering
+slowly in the direction of the Oakley estate.</p>
+
+<p>Their morning's enterprise was more than rewarded, and the
+cause of the widow was in a fair way to victory, when, after having
+politely refused to lunch with Mr. Arthur on that day, and
+gracefully promised to dine at Oakley on the next day but one,
+they bade adieu to that flattered and fascinated gentleman, and
+left him at the entrance of his grounds.</p>
+
+<p>Then they sauntered slowly back, keeping to the wooded path.
+Arriving at the fallen tree, the scene of so many interviews between
+Madeline and Lucian, Cora seated herself on the mossy
+trunk and announced her determination to rest.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly her escort threw himself upon the soft grass, and
+betook himself to his inevitable cigar, while he closed his eyes
+and allowed the vision of Madeline to occupy the place now
+usurped by Cora. Very absorbing the vision must have been, for
+he gave an almost nervous start as Cora's voice broke the stillness:</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian, did you ever see this runaway daughter of Mr.
+Arthur's?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucian started unmistakably now. Then he employed himself
+in pulling up tufts of the soft grass, pretending not to have
+heard.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian!" impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"Eh, Co., what is it?" affecting a yawn.</p>
+
+<p>"I ask, did you ever see this Madeline Payne, who ran away
+recently?"</p>
+
+<p>"I? Oh, no. Old fellow always kept her shut up too close,
+I fancy. They say she was pretty, and you are the first pretty
+woman I have seen in these parts, Co."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_015.jpg" width="400" height="565" alt="&quot;More cream, Monsieur?&quot;&mdash;page 101."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;More cream, Monsieur?&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_101">page 101.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"Well, then, I'm sorry you didn't," quoth Cora, "for from
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>motives of delicacy I really don't care to inquire of others, and I
+have just curiosity enough to wish to know how she looked."</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry I can't enlighten you, Co. Get it all out of the old
+fellow after the joyful event."</p>
+
+<p>"Umph! Well, <i>that</i> business prospers, <i>mon brave</i>. We shall
+win, I think, as usual."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and never easier, Co."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't anticipate much trouble in landing our fish.
+But come along, Lucian, this romantic dell might make you forget
+luncheon; it can't have that effect on me."</p>
+
+<p>Cora gathered her draperies about her, and prepared to quit
+the little grove, her companion following half reluctantly.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<h2>GONE!</h2>
+
+
+<p>Hours that seemed days; days that seemed years; weeks that
+seemed centuries; yet they all passed, and Madeline Payne scarce
+knew, when they were actually gone, that they were not all a
+dream.</p>
+
+<p>Life, after that first yielding of heart and brain, had been a
+delirium; then a conscious torture of mind and body; next a
+burden almost too great to bear; and then a dreamy lethargy.
+Heaven be praised for such moods; they are saviors of life and
+reason in crises such as this through which the stricken girl was
+passing.</p>
+
+<p>Madness had wrought upon her, and her ravings had revealed
+some otherwise dark places and blanks in her story to her guardian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>
+and nurses. Pain had tortured her. Death wrestled with
+her, and then, because he could inspire her with no fear of him,
+because she mocked at his terrors and wooed him, fled away.</p>
+
+<p>In his place came Life, to whom she gave no welcoming smile.
+But Life stayed, for Life is as regardless of our wishes as is
+Death.</p>
+
+<p>Forms had hovered about her; kindly voices, sweet voices,
+had murmured at her bedside. At times, an angel had held the
+cooling draught to her thirsty lips. At last these dream-creatures
+resolved themselves into realities:</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan, who had ministered to her with the solicitude
+of a brother, the gentleness of a woman, and the goodness
+of an angel.</p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard who, leaving all other cares, was ever at her
+bedside, and who came to that place at a sacrifice of feeling, after
+a wrestling with pride, bringing a bitterness of memory, and a
+patient courage of heart, that the girl could not then realize.</p>
+
+<p>Henry, too, black of skin, warm of heart; who waited in the
+outer court, and seemed to allow himself full and free respiration
+only when the girl was pronounced out of danger.</p>
+
+<p>Out of danger! What a misapplication of words!</p>
+
+<p>From the scene of conflict, at the last flutter of Death's gloomy
+mantle, comes the man of medicine; watch in hand, boots a
+tiptoe, face grave but triumphant. His voice bids a subdued
+farewell to the somberness proper to a probable death-bed, coming
+up just a note higher in the scale of solemnities, as it announces
+to the eager, trembling, waiting ones,</p>
+
+<p>"<i>The danger is past!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Death, the calm, the restful, the never weary; Death, the
+friend of long suffering, and world weariness and despair; Death,
+the rescuer, the sometime comforter&mdash;has gone away with empty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>
+arms and reluctant tread, and&mdash;Life, flushed, triumphant, seizes
+his rescued subject and flings her out into the sea of human
+lives, perchance to alight upon some tiny green islet or, likelier
+yet, to buffet about among black waters, or encounter winds and
+storms, upheld only by a half-wrecked raft or floated by a
+scarce-supporting spar.</p>
+
+<p>And she is out of danger!</p>
+
+<p>Hedged around about by sorrow, assailed by temptation, overshadowed
+by sin. And, "the danger is over!"</p>
+
+<p>Buffeted by the waves of adversity; longing for things out of
+reach; running after <i>ignis fatui</i> with eager outstretched hands,
+and careless, hurrying feet, among pitfalls and snares. And, out
+of danger!</p>
+
+<p>Open your eyes, Madeline Payne; lift up your voice in
+thanksgiving; you have come back to the world. Back where
+the sun shines and the dew falls; where the flowers are shedding
+their perfume and song birds are making glad music;
+where men make merry and women smile; where gold shapes
+itself into palaces and fame wreathes crowns for fair and noble
+brows; where beauty crowns valor and valor kisses the lips of
+beauty. And where the rivers sparkle in the sunlight, and,
+sometimes, yield up from their embrace cold, dripping, dead
+things, that yet bear the semblance of your kind&mdash;all that is left
+of beings that were once like you!</p>
+
+<p>Out of danger!</p>
+
+<p>Where want, and poverty, and&mdash;God help us!&mdash;vice, hide
+their heads in dim alleys and under smoky garret roofs. Where
+beaten mothers and starving children dare hardly aspire to the
+pure air and sunlight, the whole world for them being enshrined
+in a crust of bread. Where thieves mount upwards on ladders
+beaten from pilfered gold, and command cities and sway nations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>
+Where wantonness laughs and thrives in gilded cages, and
+starves and dies in mouldy cellars.</p>
+
+<p>Out of danger!</p>
+
+<p>Madeline, the place that was almost yours, in the land of the
+unknowable, is given to another. The waters of death have
+cast you back upon the shores of the living. You are "out of
+danger!"</p>
+
+<p>What was to become of Madeline, now that they had brought
+her back to life? This was a question which occurred to the two
+who so kindly interested themselves in the fate of the unknown
+and headstrong girl.</p>
+
+<p>While they planned a little, as was only natural, yet they
+knew from what they had seen of their charge that, decide for
+her how they would, only so far as that decision corresponded
+with her own inclinations would she abide by it. So they left
+Madeline's future for Madeline to decide, and found occupation
+for their kindliness in ministering to her needs of the
+present.</p>
+
+<p>Once during her illness, and just as the light of reason had
+returned to the lovely hazel eyes, Lucian Davlin came. But
+he found the door of the sick chamber closely shut and closely
+guarded. The slightest shock to her nerves would be fatal
+now,&mdash;they told him. And he, having done the proper thing,
+as he termed it, and not being in any way fond of the sight of
+pain and pallor, yielded with a graceful simulation of reluctance.
+Having been assured that with careful nursing, there
+was nothing to fear, he deposited a check on his bankers in the
+hands of her attendants, and went away contentedly, smiling
+under his mustache at the novelty of being turned away from
+his own door.</p>
+
+<p>He went back to Bellair, to Cora, and to the web they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+weaving, little dreaming whose hands would take up the thread
+and continue and complete what they had thus begun.</p>
+
+<p>And now the day has come for Madeline to leave the shelter
+that she hates. Pale and weak, she sits in the great easy chair
+that had served as a barrier between herself and her enemy, and
+converses with Olive Girard while they await the arrival of
+Clarence Vaughan, who is to take them from the place so distasteful
+to all three.</p>
+
+<p>It has been settled that, for the present, Madeline will be the
+guest of Olive. What will come after health and strength are
+fully restored, they have not discussed much. Olive Girard and
+Doctor Vaughan had agreed that all thoughts of the future
+must bring a grief and care with them, and the mind of the invalid
+was in no condition for painful thought and study. So
+Olive has been careful to avoid all topics that might bring her
+troubles too vividly to mind.</p>
+
+<p>But partly to divert Madeline's mind from her own woes,
+partly to enable the unfortunate girl to feel less a stranger among
+them, she has talked to her of Doctor Vaughan, of her sister, and
+at last of herself.</p>
+
+<p>And Madeline has listened to her description of merry, lovely
+Claire Keith, and wondered what she could have in common
+with this buoyant, care-free girl, who was evidently her sister's
+idol. Yet she found herself thinking often of Olive's beautiful
+sister. Once, in the brief absence of Olive, she had said to
+Doctor Vaughan:</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Girard has told me of her sister; is she very lovely?
+And do you know her well?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is very fair, and sweet, and good. You will love her
+when you know her, and I think you will be friends."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_016.jpg" width="400" height="564" alt="&quot;Pale and weak, she sits in the
+great easy chair.&quot;&mdash;page 108."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Pale and weak, she sits in the
+great easy chair.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_108">page 108.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>She had not needed this; the tell-tale eye was sufficient to
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>reveal the fact that it was not, as she had at first supposed, Olive
+Girard, but the younger sister, whom Clarence Vaughan loved.</p>
+
+<p>"I might have known," she murmured to herself. "Olive
+Girard has the face of one whose love dream has passed away
+and lost itself in sorrow; and he looks, full of strength and hope,
+straight into the future."</p>
+
+<p>As they sat together waiting, there was still that same contrast,
+which you felt rather than saw, between these two. They
+might have posed as the models of Resignation and Unrest.</p>
+
+<p>The look of patient waiting was five years old upon the face
+of Olive Girard. Five years ago she had been so happy&mdash;a
+bride, beautiful and beloved. Beautiful she was still&mdash;with
+the beauty of shadow; beloved too, but how sadly! Philip
+Girard had been convicted of a great crime, and for five long
+years had worn a felon's garb, and borne the anguish of one set
+apart from all the world.</p>
+
+<p>The hand that had darkened the life of Olive Girard, and the
+hand that had turned the young days of the girl Madeline into
+a burden, was one and the same.</p>
+
+<p>Afterwards Madeline listened to the pathetic history of Olive's
+sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting in that great lounging chair, Madeline looked very fair,
+very childlike. Sadly sweet were her large, deep eyes, and her
+hair, shorn while the fever raged, clustered in soft tiny rings
+about her slender, snowy neck and blue-veined temples. She
+had not been permitted to talk much during her convalescence,
+and Olive had as yet gleaned only a general outline of her story.</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Girard," said the girl, resting her pale cheek in the
+palm of a thin, tiny hand, "you once said something to me about&mdash;about
+some one who had been wronged by&mdash;" Something
+sadder than tears choked her utterance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As Olive turned her grave clear eyes away from the window,
+and fixed them in expectation upon her; Madeline's own eyes
+fell. She sat before her benefactress with downcast lids, and
+the hateful name unuttered.</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said Olive, after a brief silence; "I referred to a
+girl now lying in the hospital. She is very young, and has been
+cruelly wronged by him. She is poor, as you may judge, and
+earned her living in the ballet at the theater. She was thrown
+from a carriage which had been furnished her by <i>him</i>, to carry
+her home from some rendezvous&mdash;of course the driver took care
+of himself and his horses. The poor girl was picked up and
+carried to the hospital. She was without friends and almost
+penniless. She sent to him&mdash;for him; he returned no answer.
+She begged for help, for enough to enable her to obtain what
+was needed in her illness. Message after message was sent, and
+finally a reply came, brought by a messenger who had been
+bidden to insist upon receiving an answer. The servant said
+that his master had directed him to say to any messenger who
+called, that he was out of town."</p>
+
+<p>"The wretch! He deserves death!"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's eyes blazed, and she lifted her head with some of
+her olden energy.</p>
+
+<p>"Softly, my dear: 'Thou shalt do no murder.'"</p>
+
+<p>"It is not murder to kill a human tiger!"</p>
+
+<p>Olive made no answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Is she still very ill, this girl?" questioned Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"She can not recover."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I see her?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you wish to; do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Another long pause; then Madeline glanced up at her friend,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>
+and said listlessly: "What do you intend to do with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do with you?" smiling at her. "Make you well again,
+and then try and coax you to be my other sister. Don't you
+think I need one?"</p>
+
+<p>No answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Life has much in store for you yet, Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes;" bitterly again.</p>
+
+<p>"You are so young."</p>
+
+<p>"And so old."</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, you are too young for somber thoughts and repining."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall not repine."</p>
+
+<p>"Good! You will try to forget?"</p>
+
+<p>"Impossible!"</p>
+
+<p>"No; not impossible."</p>
+
+<p>"I do not wish to, then."</p>
+
+<p>"And why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait and see."</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, you will do nothing rash? You will trust me,
+and confide in me?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl raised her eyes slowly, in surprise. "I have not so
+many friends that I can afford to lose one."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, dear; then we will let the subject drop until we
+are stronger. And here is the carriage, and Doctor Vaughan."</p>
+
+<p>Out into the sunny Summer morning went Madeline, and
+soon she was established in a lovely little room which, Olive
+said, was hers so long as she could be persuaded to occupy it.
+Here the girl rested and, ministered unto by gentle hands, she
+felt life coming back.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>And Lucian?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Late in the afternoon of the day that saw Madeline depart
+from his elegant rooms, Mr. Davlin arrived, and found no one
+to deny him admittance. All the doors stood ajar, and Henry
+was flitting about with an air of putting things to rights. The
+bird had flown.</p>
+
+<p>He gained from Henry the following: "I don't know, sir,
+where she went. A gentleman came with a carriage, and the
+young lady and the nurse went away with him."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian was not aware what manner of nurse Madeline had
+had in her illness. And Henry, having purposely misled him,
+enjoyed his discomfiture.</p>
+
+<p>"She told me to give you this, sir," said he, handing his master
+a little package.</p>
+
+<p>Tearing off the wrapper, Lucian held in his hand the little
+pistol that had inflicted upon him the wounded arm. From its
+mouth he drew a scrap of paper, and this is what it said:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!</p></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<h2>BONNIE, BEWITCHING CLAIRE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Four months. We find Madeline standing in the late Autumn
+sunset, "clothed and in her right mind," strong with the strength
+of youth, and beautiful with even more than her olden beauty.</p>
+
+<p>Fair is the prospect as seen from the grounds of Mrs. Girard's
+suburban villa, and so, perhaps, Claire Keith is thinking.</p>
+
+<p>She is looking down the level road, and at the trees on either
+hand, decked in all their October magnificence of scarlet and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+brown and gold, half concealing coquettish villas and more
+stately residences.</p>
+
+<p>The eyes of Madeline were turned away from the vista of
+villas and trees, and were gazing toward the business thoroughfare
+leading into the bustle of the town; gazing after the receding
+figure of Doctor Clarence Vaughan as he cantered away from
+the villa; gazing until a turn of the road hid him from her
+view. Then&mdash;and what did she mean by it?&mdash;she turned her
+face toward Claire with a questioning look in her eyes&mdash;the
+question came almost to her lips. But the words were repressed.</p>
+
+<p>Bonnie Clair was thinking of anything but Clarence Vaughan
+just then. Presently she turned a bright glance upon her companion,
+who was gathering clusters of the fallen maple leaves,
+with face half averted.</p>
+
+<p>"A kiss for your thoughts, beautiful blonde Madeline. I certainly
+think it is ten minutes since Doctor Vaughan departed
+and silence fell upon us."</p>
+
+<p>She bent down, and taking her companion's head between two
+dimpled hands, pulled it back, until she could look into the
+solemn brown eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, now," coaxingly, "what were you thinking?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline extricated herself from Claire's playful grasp, and
+replied with a half laugh: "It must be mutual confession then,
+you small highwayman; how do you like my terms?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only so so," flushing and laughing. "I was meditating the
+propriety of telling you something some day, and was thinking
+of that something just now, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But," mimicked Madeline, with half-hearted playfulness;
+"what will you give me to relieve your embarrassment, and guess?"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't," emphatically.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_017.jpg" width="400" height="564" alt="&quot;When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!&quot;&mdash;page 113."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_113">page 113.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Can't I? We will see. My dear, I fear you have left a
+little corner of your heart behind you in far-away Baltimore.
+You didn't come to pay your annual visit to your sister, quite
+heart free."</p>
+
+<p>Anyone wishing to gain an insight into the character of Claire
+Keith might have taken a long step in that direction could he
+have witnessed her reception of this unexpected shot. She
+opened her dark eyes in comic amazement, and dropping into a
+garden chair, exclaimed, with a look of frank inquiry:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, how ever could you guess that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because," said Madeline, in a constrained voice, and with all
+the laughter fading from her eyes; "Because, I know the symptoms."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," dropping her voice suddenly. "Oh, Madeline, how
+I wish you could forget <i>that</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"Why should I forget my love dream," scornfully, "any
+more than you yours?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Madeline; but you said you had ceased to care for him;
+that you should never mourn his loss."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Mourn his loss!</i>" turning upon Claire, fiercely. "Do you
+think it is for him I mourn my <i>dead</i>; my lost happiness, my
+shattered dreams, my life made a bitter, burdensome thing.
+Mourn him? I have for Lucian Davlin but one feeling&mdash;hate!"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline, as she uttered these last words, had turned upon
+Claire a face whose fierce intensity of expression was startling.
+For a moment the two gazed into each other's eyes&mdash;the one
+with curling lip and somber, menacing glance, the other with a
+startled face as if she read something new and to be feared, in
+the eye of her friend.</p>
+
+<p>Claire had been an inmate of her sister's house for four weeks.
+When first she arrived, she had heard Madeline's story, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+Madeline's request, from the lips of her sister Olive, and now
+the girls were fast friends. Generous Claire had found much to
+wonder at, to pity and to love, in the story and the character of
+the unfortunate girl. Possessing a frank, sunshiny nature, and
+never having known an actual grief, she could lavish sweet sympathy
+to one afflicted. But she could not conceive what it
+would be like to live on when faith had perished and hope was
+a mockery. She had never known, therefore never missed,
+a father's love and care. Indeed, he who filled the place of
+father and guardian, her mother's second husband, was all that
+a real parent could be. Claire seldom remembered that Mr.
+James Keith was not her father, and very few, except the
+family of Keith, knew that "Miss Claire Keith, daughter of
+the rich James Keith, of Baltimore," was in truth only a step-daughter.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith, whose first husband was Richard Keith, cashier
+in his wealthy cousin's banking house, had buried that husband
+when Olive was five years old, and baby Claire scarce able to
+lisp his name. In a little less than two years she had married
+James Keith, the banker-cousin, and shortly after the marriage,
+James Keith had transferred his business interests to Baltimore,
+and there remained.</p>
+
+<p>So Claire's baby brothers had never been told that she was
+not their "very own" sister, for of Olive they knew little, her
+marriage having separated them at first, and subsequently her
+obdurate acceptance of the consequences of that marriage.</p>
+
+<p>When the law pronounced her husband a criminal, Mr. Keith
+had commanded Olive to abandon both husband and home, and
+return to his protection. This, true-hearted Olive refused to do.
+Her step-father, enraged at her obstinacy in clinging to a man
+who had been forsaken by all the world beside, bade her choose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>
+between them. Either she must let the law finish its work of
+breaking Philip Girard's heart by setting her free, or she must
+accept the consequences of remaining the wife of a criminal.</p>
+
+<p>Olive chose the latter, and thenceforth remained in her own
+lonely home, never even once visiting the place of her childhood.</p>
+
+<p>"He called my husband a criminal," she said, "and I will
+never cross his threshold until he has had cause to withdraw
+those words."</p>
+
+<p>Claire, however, announced her intention of visiting her sister
+whenever she chose, and she succeeded, in part, in carrying out
+her will, for every year she passed two months or more with
+Olive.</p>
+
+<p>What a picture the two girls now made, standing face to face.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline, with her lithe grace of form, her pure pale complexion
+lit up by those fathomless brown eyes, and rendering
+more noticeable and beautiful the tiny rosy mouth, with its satellite
+dimples; with such wee white, blue-veined hands, and such
+a clear ringing, yet marvelously sweet voice. Madeline was very
+beautiful, and Claire, as she looked at her, wondered how any
+man could bear to lose such loveliness, or have the heart to betray
+it; as if ever pure woman could fathom the depth of a bad
+man's wickedness.</p>
+
+<p>Bonnie, bewitching Claire! Never was contrast more perfect.
+A scarf, like scarlet flame, flung about her shoulders, set off the
+richness of her clear brunette skin, through which the crimson
+blood flamed in cheek and lip. Eyes, now black, now gray,
+changing, flashing, witching eyes: gray in quiet moments, darkening
+with mirth or sadness, anger or pain; hair black and
+silky, rippling to the rounded, supple waist in glossy waves.
+Not so tall as Madeline, and rounded and dimpled as a
+Hebe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Bringing her will into service, Madeline banished the gloom
+from her face and said, with an attempt at gayety:</p>
+
+<p>"I must be a terrible wet blanket when my ghost rises, Claire.
+But come, you have excited my curiosity; let us sit down while
+you tell me more of this mighty man who has pitched his tent
+in the wilderness of your heart, to the exclusion of others who
+might aspire."</p>
+
+<p>They seated themselves upon a rustic bench and Claire replied:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't anticipate too much, inquisitor; I have no acknowledged
+lover, but&mdash;" blushing charmingly, "I have every reason
+to think that I am loved fondly and sincerely. He is very
+handsome, Madeline, and&mdash;but wait, I will show you his
+picture."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline nodded, and Claire bounded away, to return
+quickly bearing in her hand a finely wrought cabinet photograph,
+encased in velvet and gilt, <i>a la souvenaire</i>. Placing it in her
+companion's hand, she sat down with a little triumphant sigh,
+and gazed over Madeline's shoulder with a proud, glad look in
+her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Blonde?" suggested Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," eagerly; "such lovely hair and whiskers,&mdash;perfect
+gold color; and fair as a woman."</p>
+
+<p>"So I should judge," and she continued to gaze.</p>
+
+<p>Blonde he was, certainly; hair thrown carelessly back from
+a brow broad and white; eyes, light, but with an expression
+that puzzled the gazer.</p>
+
+<p>"Eyes,&mdash;what color?" she said, without taking her own off
+the picture.</p>
+
+<p>"Blue; pale blue, but capable of <i>such</i> varying expression."</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," dryly; "they look mild and saintly here, but I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+think those eyes are capable of another expression. I could
+fancy the brain behind such eyes to be&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"What?" eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Cruel, crafty, treacherous."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Madeline!"</p>
+
+<p>"There, there; I didn't say that he,"&mdash;tapping the picture&mdash;"possessed
+these qualities. His eyes are unusual ones; did you
+ever see his mouth?"</p>
+
+<p>"What a question&mdash;through all those whiskers? no; but he
+has beautiful teeth."</p>
+
+<p>"So have tigers. There, dear, take the picture; I am no fit
+judge, perhaps. Remember, I once knew a man with the face
+of an angel, and the heart of a fiend. Your friend is certainly
+handsome; let us hope he is equally good."</p>
+
+<p>"He is; I know it," asserted Claire.</p>
+
+<p>Then she told her companion how she had met him at the
+house of a friend; how he was very learned and scientific;
+very grave and dignified; and very devoted to herself. And
+how, beyond these few facts, she knew little if anything of her
+blonde hero, Edward Percy.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline received this information in a grave silence, whose
+chill affected Claire as well, and after a few moments, as if by
+mutual consent, they arose and entered the house.</p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard had been absent a week; gone on a journey, sacred
+to her as any Meccan pilgrimage, a visit to the place of her husband's
+imprisonment. Every year she made this journey, returning
+home in some measure comforted; for she had seen her
+beloved.</p>
+
+<p>She came back on this evening, as the two girls were mingling
+their voices in gay bravura duets&mdash;by mutual consent they
+avoided all songs of a pathetic order, for reasons which neither
+would have cared to acknowledge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The evening having passed away, Claire found herself in her
+chamber gazing at her lover's pictured face and thinking how
+good, how noble, it was, and what a little goose she had been to
+allow anything Madeline had said to apply to him. A sudden
+thought occurred to her, and going to Madeline's door, she tapped
+gently. The door opened, and Claire, raising a warning finger,
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, I forgot to tell you that Olive knows nothing of
+Edward Percy, and&mdash;I don't want to tell her just yet. You
+will not mention it?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Then good-night, and pleasant dreams."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," in a grave voice; "good-night."</p>
+
+<p>Claire returned to her room and penned a long letter to
+Edward Percy, full of sweet confidence, gayety and trustfulness.
+She reperused his last letter, said her prayers, or rather read
+them, for Claire was a staunch little church-woman, and then
+slept and dreamed bright dreams.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<h2>A GLEAM OF LIGHT.</h2>
+
+
+<p>A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last
+time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered
+feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor. Passing Claire's
+door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in
+Olive Girard's bed-chamber.</p>
+
+<p>Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of
+waiting.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed
+to such interviews, and said in a low tone:</p>
+
+<p>"I am so glad you came to-night; are you too tired for a long
+talk?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; tell me all that has happened since I have been absent."</p>
+
+<p>"Olive, I must go away; back to Bellair," said Madeline,
+abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, you are mad! To Bellair? Why, <i>he</i> is there
+often now."</p>
+
+<p>"He will not find me out, never fear. I <i>must</i> go to Bellair
+within the week."</p>
+
+<p>Olive leaned forward and scanned the girl's face closely and
+long. At last, she said: "Madeline, what is it you meditate?
+tell me."</p>
+
+<p>"Going back to Bellair; keeping an eye upon the proceedings
+of Mr. Arthur; finding out what game that man and woman
+are playing there; and baffling and punishing them all."</p>
+
+<p>She had been kept informed, through Henry, into whose hands
+had fallen a letter in Cora's handwriting, bearing the Bellair
+postmark, and addressed to Lucian Davlin, who, so Henry said,
+"went down, on and off," and always appeared satisfied with
+the result of his journey.</p>
+
+<p>Olive argued long against this resolution, but found it impossible
+to dissuade Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"It is useless," the girl said, firmly. "I should have died
+but for the expectation of a time when I could be avenged, and
+this time I must bring about. All through my convalescence I
+have pondered how I could best avenge my mother's wrongs,
+and my own. Now Providence has thrown together the two
+men who are my enemies; why, I do not yet know, but perhaps
+it is that I may make the one a weapon against the other. And
+now I want to ask you some questions."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_018.jpg" width="400" height="570" alt="&quot;Olive knows nothing of Edward Percy, and&mdash;I don&#39;t want to tell her
+just yet.&quot;&mdash;page 121."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Olive knows nothing of Edward Percy, and&mdash;I don&#39;t want to tell her
+just yet.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_121">page 121.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Ask, then."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall touch upon a painful subject, and I will tell you why.
+After you went away, the story of your sorrow remained with
+me. So I thought the ground all over, and formed some conclusions.
+Do you wish to hear them?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive nodded, wearily.</p>
+
+<p>"You have told me," said Madeline, assuming a calm, business-like
+tone, "that Lucian Davlin testified against your husband
+at his trial. Now the wounded man, Percy, stated that he
+recognized the man who struck him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what was Davlin's testimony?"</p>
+
+<p>"That he saw my husband stealing in the direction of the
+place where the wounded man was found, but a few moments
+before he was struck, wearing the same hat and hunting-jacket
+that the injured man testified was worn by his would-be
+assassin."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" Madeline knitted her brows in thought a moment;
+then&mdash;"Was the coat and hat Mr. Girard's?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; he had thrown them off in the afternoon, while the
+heat was intense, and had fallen asleep. When he awoke, he
+heard them calling him to supper. It was late in the evening
+when he remembered his coat and hat, and went back to look
+for them. He went just at the time when the man must have
+been struck, and his absence told against him in the evidence."</p>
+
+<p>"Did he find his garments?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; they were found by others, not where he had left them,
+but nearer the scene of the crime."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Ah! And who was the first to discover the injured man?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I believe it was Mr. Davlin." Olive looked more
+and more surprised at each question. "Why do you ask these
+things, Madeline?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl made a gesture of impatience. "Wait," she said,
+"I will explain in good time." Again she considered. "Was
+there any ill-feeling between your husband and Davlin?"</p>
+
+<p>"There was no open misunderstanding, but I know there was
+mutual dislike. Philip saw that Davlin was making systematic
+efforts to win money from the party, and had therefore persuaded
+one or two of his friends to give gaming little countenance. No
+doubt he kept money out of the man's pocket."</p>
+
+<p>"And what was the standing of that man and the victim, this
+Percy?"</p>
+
+<p>"They were much together, and Philip tells me he had sometimes
+fancied that Davlin held some power over Percy. Davlin
+had won largely from him, and the man seemed much annoyed,
+but paid over the money without demur."</p>
+
+<p>"And now, how did your husband stand toward the injured
+man?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is the worst part of the story. They had had high
+words only that very day. Philip had been acquainted with
+Percy at school, and he knew so much that was not in his favor,
+that he was unable to conceal his real opinion of the man at all
+times. One day high words arose, and Philip uttered a threat,
+which was misconstrued, after the attack upon Percy. They
+said he threatened his life. But Percy knew that only his honor
+was meant. Davlin knew this, too; must have known it, for
+he was aware that the two had met before they came together
+with the party."</p>
+
+<p>"I can not see why Lucian Davlin should be your husband's
+enemy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I can understand that he hated Philip for the same
+reason that a thief hates the light, and Philip had balked his
+plans."</p>
+
+<p>"True; and yet&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And yet?" inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"Bad as the man is, I can see but one motive that could induce
+even him to swear away the liberty, almost the life, of a
+man who never wronged him."</p>
+
+<p>"Still, he did it," said Olive, with a weary sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"True; and he did it for a motive."</p>
+
+<p>"And that motive&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Was the strongest instinct of the human race."</p>
+
+<p>"What?" eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Self-preservation."</p>
+
+<p>Olive started up with a half cry. "Madeline, in heaven's
+name, <i>what</i> do you mean!"</p>
+
+<p>"That Lucian Davlin threw suspicion upon the innocent to
+screen the guilty," said the girl, in a low, firm tone.</p>
+
+<p>"And the guilty one, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Himself. Do you think him too good for it?" sneeringly.</p>
+
+<p>"No, no! oh, no! But this I had never thought of&mdash;yet it
+may be true."</p>
+
+<p>She fell into deep thought; after a time she started up. "I
+must consult a detective immediately," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"You must do no such thing," cried Madeline, springing to
+her feet; "why did not the detectives find this out before? Because
+they have not my reasons for hunting that man down.
+<i>I</i> found this clue, if it be one. I claim it; it is my right, and I
+will have it. If he is to be undone, it shall be by my hands.
+I swear it!"</p>
+
+<p>They faced each other in silence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Slowly Olive recalled to her countenance and voice its usual
+sweet calm, and then seated herself and talked long and earnestly
+with Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>The little bronze clock on the mantel was on the stroke of
+two when the conference ended, and Madeline retired to her
+own room, but not to sleep. She sat and thought until the dawn
+shone in at her window.</p>
+
+<p>One link was missing from the chain; no motive had been
+discovered for an attack on Percy by Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>"But I will find it," she muttered. Then, as a new thought
+occurred to her, she caught her breath. "Claire's lover is named
+Percy; can it be the same? Why did not this occur to me
+sooner? Why did I not ask for his first name, and a description
+of him? If this man and Edward Percy should be
+one and the same! Pshaw! the name is not an uncommon
+one, and it may be only a coincidence. But your face is a
+bad one, Edward Percy, and I shall know it when I see it
+again."</p>
+
+<p>The sun was not high in the heavens ere Madeline was astir,
+for her nature was such that strong excitement rendered rest impossible.
+Moving impatiently about the grounds, she saw a
+familiar form approaching through the shrubbery, and hastened
+to meet it.</p>
+
+<p>The black visage of Henry beamed with satisfaction as he
+made a hurried obeisance and placed in her hand a letter,
+saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Master was preparing for a two days' journey when this
+letter came. He threw it into his desk, and bade me lock it,
+and bring him the key. His back was turned, and I took the
+letter before I locked the desk. It was a long one, and from
+<i>her</i>; I thought you might want to see it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Right, Henry," said the girl, quietly, as she opened the
+letter. "You will wait for it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, miss; it must not be missing when he comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly not."</p>
+
+<p>She returned to the letter, and this is what she read:</p>
+
+<p class="f5"><span class="smcap">Oakley</span>, October 11.</p>
+
+<p class="f3"><span class="smcap">Lucian</span>, <i>Mon Brave</i>:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>I am in a fine predicament&mdash;have made a startling discovery. Mr. A&mdash;&mdash;
+has been sick, and the mischief is to pay; and his sickness has brought some
+ugly facts to light.</p>
+
+<p>The old man is <i>not</i> the sole proprietor of the Oakley wealth. That girl
+who ran away so mysteriously, and has never been heard of, will inherit at
+his death. He can bequeath his widow nothing. Oh, to know where that
+girl is! If she is alive, my work is useless, my time is wasted. I think the
+old chap must have driven her to desperation, for he raved in his delirium
+of her and her words at parting. They must have been "searchers."</p>
+
+<p>Well, to add to the general interest, Miss Arthur, aged fifty or so, is here.
+She is a juvenile old maid, who has a fortune in her own right, and so must
+be cultivated. She dresses like a sixteen-year-old, and talks like a fool,
+principally about a certain admirer, a "blonde demi-god"&mdash;her words&mdash;named
+Percy.</p>
+
+<p>Something must be done: things must be talked over. Come down and
+make love to Miss Arthur. <i>Her</i> money is not entailed.</p>
+
+<p>Bring me some Periques and a box of Alexis gloves&mdash;you know the
+number. Yours in disgust,</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">Cora Mme. Arthur</span>.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline dropped the letter, and stood amazed. What did
+it mean? "Cora <i>Mme.</i> Arthur!"</p>
+
+<p>Henry stooped for the letter, and the act recalled her to
+herself. She thanked him for the service he had done her;
+told him of her intended departure; gave him some last
+instructions, and dismissed him with a kind good-by.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_019.jpg" width="400" height="563" alt="&quot;I took the letter before I
+locked the desk.&quot;&mdash;page 127."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I took the letter before I
+locked the desk.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_127">page 127.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"It is time to act," she muttered. "Good heavens! the audacity
+of that man and woman! She is married to my step-father,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>if that letter does not lie; has married him for money,
+and is baffled there. She hoped to become <i>his widow</i>, aha! The
+plot thickens, indeed! Goodness! what a household! That bad
+old man, the still viler woman, dangerous Lucian Davlin, and
+that funny, youthful, cross, 'conceited spinster,' Ellen Arthur,
+who has a lover, and his name is&mdash;heaven save us&mdash;Percy!
+That name <i>will</i> mix itself up with my fate web, and why?
+Percy beloved of Claire; Percy who brought Philip Girard to
+his doom; Percy the lover of a rich old maid, are ye one and
+the same? Percy! Percy! Percy! I must cultivate the Percys
+at any cost."</p>
+
+<p>She turned and entered the house, her head bent, thinking,
+thinking, thinking.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<h2>A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Less than a week after the events last related, and a family
+group surrounds the lunch table in the newly furnished morning
+room of Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>The fair and fascinating Mrs. Torrance had accomplished the
+purpose for which she came to Bellair.</p>
+
+<p>Truly had she said, "There is no fool like an old fool;" for
+John Arthur had been an easy victim. He had lost no time
+with his wooing, and so, a little less than two months from the
+day the fair widow came to Bellair, saw her mistress of John
+Arthur's household.</p>
+
+<p>A bridal tour was not to her taste, much to the delight of the
+bridegroom. So they set about refitting some of the fine old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+rooms of the mansion, Cora having declared that they were too
+gloomy to be inhabitable.</p>
+
+<p>As it was to her interest to keep up the deception of frank
+affection, she had been, during the two months of their honey-moon,
+a model wife. But the discovery that John Arthur could
+leave her nothing save his blessing, had now been made, and
+Cora, who was already weary of her gray-headed dupe, had been
+for a few days past less careful in her dissembling.</p>
+
+<p>For this reason John Arthur now sat with a moody brow,
+and watched her smile upon her brother with a feeling of jealous
+wrath.</p>
+
+<p>The bride had thrown off her badge of mourning, and was
+very glad to bloom out once more in azure and white and rose&mdash;hues
+which her soul loved.</p>
+
+<p>Opposite sat Miss Arthur, her sallowness carefully enameled
+over, her head adorned with an astonishing array of false braids
+and curls and frizzes, jetty in hue to match her eyes, which, so
+Cora informed Lucian in private, were "awfully beady."</p>
+
+<p>The lady was perusing a paper, which she suddenly threw
+down, and said languidly, while she stirred her chocolate carefully.
+"Should not this be the day on which my new maid arrives?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur, from perusing many novels of the Sir Walter
+Scott school, had acquired a very stately manner of speech, and,
+so she flattered herself, a very effective one.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know why Miss Arthur can want a maid; her
+toilets are always perfection," remarked Mr. Davlin to the general
+assembly.</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon, Miss Arthur blushed, giggled, and disclaimed;
+Mrs. Arthur disappeared behind a newspaper; and Mr. Arthur
+emerged from the fog of thought that had enveloped him, to say
+brusquely:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Miss Arthur want a maid? what's all this? A French maid
+in a country house&mdash;faugh!"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur gazed across at her brother, and said, loftily,
+and somewhat unmeaningly:</p>
+
+<p>"It is what I have chosen to do, John." Then to Mr. Davlin,
+sweetly: "It is so hard to dispense with a maid when you have
+been accustomed to one."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so."</p>
+
+<p>"And this one comes so well recommended, you know, by
+Mrs. Overman and Mrs. Grosvenor. You have heard of these
+ladies in society, no doubt, Mr. Davlin?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, certainly," aloud, "not," aside.</p>
+
+<p>"And the name of the maid?" pursued Lucian.</p>
+
+<p>"Her name," referring to the letter, "C&eacute;line Leroque&mdash;French,
+I presume."</p>
+
+<p>"No doubt," dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop him, Miss Arthur," interrupted Cora, prettily; "he
+will certainly ask if she is handsome, if you let him open his
+mouth again."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur glanced at him suspiciously. "Not having seen
+her, I could not inform him," she said, coldly.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't believe my sister," said Davlin, quietly, as he passed his
+cup. "Cora, a little more chocolate, please. Miss Arthur, I met
+Mrs. Grosvenor at the seaside, two years ago. Her toilets were
+the marvel of the day; she protested that all credit was due her
+maid, who was a whole 'magazine of French art.' I thought
+this might be the same."</p>
+
+<p>"I most earnestly hope that it is," pronounced Miss Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>"And I most earnestly hope it isn't," grumbled her brother,
+who to-day felt vicious for many reasons, and didn't much care
+what the occasion was, so long as it gave him an excuse for
+growling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this happy stage of affairs, the door was opened and the
+housemaid announced: "An old lady, who says I am to tell
+you that her name is Hagar, wants to see you, sir," addressing
+Mr. Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>The master of the house started, and an angry flush settled
+upon his face. "Send her away. I won't see the old beldam.
+Send her away."</p>
+
+<p>The girl bowed and was about to retire, when she was pushed
+from the doorway with little ceremony, and Nurse Hagar entered.
+Before the occupants of the room had recovered from
+their surprise, or found voice to address her, she had crossed the
+room, and paused before John Arthur. Placing a small bundle
+upon the table near him, she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't think you can order me from your door, John Arthur,
+when I choose to enter it. I shall never come to you without
+good reason, and I presume you will think me a welcome messenger
+when you know my errand."</p>
+
+<p>"Confound you," said the man, angrily, yet with an uneasy
+look in his eyes; "if you must chatter to me, come into the
+library." He arose and made a step toward the door.</p>
+
+<p>"There is no need," said Hagar, with dignity; "my errand
+may interest others here besides yourself. I bring a message
+from the dead."</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur turned ashen pale and trembled violently. All
+eyes were turned upon the speaker, however, and his agitation
+was unnoticed save by Hagar.</p>
+
+<p>"Last night," she continued, "a carriage stopped at my door
+and a woman came in, bringing that bundle in her hands."</p>
+
+<p>She paused and seemed struggling with her feelings.</p>
+
+<p>"She said," continued Hagar, "that she was requested to
+come by a dying girl, else she would have written the message<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>
+given to her. She belonged to a charitable society, and visited
+the hospital every week. She brought flowers and fruit to one
+of the patients&mdash;a girl who died asking her to write down what
+is on this card," holding out a bit of white cardboard, "and
+not to tell the officers of the hospital her true name. She had
+entered under the name of Martha Gray, and wished to be
+buried as such. The lady promised; the girl gave her these
+articles, and the lady kept her word, and brought the message.
+There is the bundle," in a choking voice, "and here is the
+card. That is all. Good-by, John Arthur; be happy, if you
+can. And may God's curse fall upon all who drove her to her
+doom!"</p>
+
+<p>She gathered her shawl about her shoulders and, casting a
+meaning glance at Lucian Davlin, passed from the room and
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur sat with eyes riveted upon the card before him.
+After a time he turned, and placing it in Davlin's hand, signed
+to him to read it, and hurriedly left the room.</p>
+
+<p>The hand that had first stricken the young life, placed the evidence
+that the end had come in the hand that had completed what
+the first began!</p>
+
+<p>Something of this Lucian Davlin felt, hardened as he was, for
+he knew, without waiting for the proof, that the true name of
+the girl who died in the hospital was familiar to them all.</p>
+
+<p>"Read!" ejaculated Cora, impatiently, "or give it to me."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian's eyes had scanned the card, and tossing it across to
+her, he pushed back his chair and walked to the window. Cora
+read for the benefit of her bewildered sister-in-law:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Madeline Payne, at St. Mary's Hospital, under name of Martha Gray,
+died&mdash;brain fever&mdash;no friends but nurse.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_020.jpg" width="400" height="562" alt="&quot;May God&#39;s curse fall upon all who drove her to her doom.&quot;&mdash;page 134."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;May God&#39;s curse fall upon all who drove her to her doom.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_134">page 134.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the opposite side of the card was pencilled the full address
+of old Hagar, and this was all. Scant information, but it was
+enough.</p>
+
+<p>Cora pounced upon the bundle and opened it. It contained a
+little purse; a few trinkets, which any of the servants could
+identify as belonging to Madeline; the cloak she had worn the
+evening of her flight; and a pocket-handkerchief with her name
+embroidered in the corner.</p>
+
+<p>Satisfaction beamed in the face Cora turned toward Lucian,
+and away from Miss Arthur. She was mindful of the proprieties,
+however, and turning her eyes back upon the lady opposite,
+she pressed a dainty handkerchief to her countenance, and murmured
+plaintively:</p>
+
+<p>"How very, very shocking, and sad! Poor Mr. Arthur is
+quite overcome, and no wonder&mdash;that poor, sweet, young girl."</p>
+
+<p>Across Lucian's averted face flitted a smile of sarcasm. How
+little she knew of the truth, this fair hypocrite, and how unlikely
+she was ever to know now. If Madeline were dead, of
+what avail was any effort to break from the olden thraldom&mdash;for
+this is what had been in the mind of the scheming man.</p>
+
+<p>Cora brushed her handkerchief across her eyes and arose
+languidly. "I must go to Mr. Arthur, poor man," she murmured,
+shaking out her flounces. "He is terribly shocked, I
+fear."</p>
+
+<p>Studiously avoiding the necessity of glancing in the direction
+of Mr. Davlin, she glided from the room.</p>
+
+<p>And so the news fell in Madeline's home, and its inmates were
+affected no more than this:</p>
+
+<p>With Cora a renewal of tenderness toward "Dear John," and
+an increased stateliness toward Miss Arthur and the servants.
+More deference on Miss Arthur's part towards her brother, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+less on his part toward her, as the possibility of being obliged to
+ask a small loan faded away into the past of empty purses and
+closed up coffers.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian took upon himself the responsibility of visiting the
+city and calling at St. Mary's, there to be reassured of the fact
+that one Martha Grey had died within its walls and been buried.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>MISS ARTHUR'S FRENCH MAID.</h2>
+
+
+<p>After this the days flew by very much alike.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur's maid arrived, and proved indeed a treasure,
+nor was she as obnoxious to Mr. John Arthur as he had evidently
+intended to find her. Perhaps C&eacute;line Leroque knew by
+instinct that the master of Oakley cherished an aversion to
+French maids in particular; or perhaps she was an exceptional
+French maid, and craved neither the smiles nor slyly administered
+caresses, that fell to the lot of pretty <i>femmes de chambre</i>,
+at least in novels. At any rate, certain it is that Miss Arthur's
+maid manifested no desire to be seen by the inmates of the household,
+and she had been domiciled for some weeks without having
+vouchsafed to either John Arthur or Lucian Davlin more than
+a fleeting glimpse of her maidship.</p>
+
+<p>Things were becoming very monotonous to some of the occupants
+of the Oakley manor; very, very dull and flavorless.</p>
+
+<p>Cora was growing restless. Not that the astute lady permitted
+signs of discontent to become manifest to the uninitiated, but Lucian
+Davlin saw, with a mingled feeling of satisfaction and dismay,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+that the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of devoted wife had ceased to interest his
+blonde comrade in iniquity.</p>
+
+<p>The fact gave him a malicious pleasure because, as fate had
+dared to play against him, he would have felt especially aggrieved
+if a few thorns had not been introduced into the eider
+down that seemingly enveloped his fair accomplice.</p>
+
+<p>But he felt some dismay, for he knew by the swift flash of
+azure eyes under golden lashes, by the sway of her shoulders as
+she paced the terrace, by the nervous tapping of her slippered
+foot at certain times in the intervals of table chat&mdash;that Cora was
+<i>thinking</i>. And when Cora thought, something was about to
+happen.</p>
+
+<p>It was in obedience to one of those swift side glances, that he
+followed her from the morning room, one forenoon about three
+weeks after the news of Madeline's death had come to them.
+The day was bright but chill, and the woman had wrapped herself
+in a shawl of vivid crimson, but stood with bared head in
+the sunlight waiting the approach of her counterfeit brother.</p>
+
+<p>"Cover your head, you very thoughtless woman," was his
+brotherly salutation as he approached, plunging about in his
+pockets in search of a cigar the while.</p>
+
+<p>"Bother!" she ejaculated, tossing her golden locks; "my hair
+needs a sunbath. I only wish I dare indulge myself further!
+If you had any heart you wouldn't torture me so constantly with
+the odor of those magnificent Havanas, when you know how my
+very soul longs for a weed!"</p>
+
+<p>"Poor little woman," laughing maliciously; "fancy Mrs. John
+Arthur of Oakley smoking a <i>Perique</i>! Isn't it prime, Co.?"
+puffing out a cloud of perfumed smoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Prime! bah! I'd like to strangle you, or&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Or?&mdash;" inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody," laughing nervously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Just so; Miss Arthur would be a good subject and that
+would confer a favor on me, too, by Jove!"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to confer a favor on you. You had much
+better try and do me one, I think."</p>
+
+<p>"With all my heart, taking my ability for granted, of course;
+only tell me how."</p>
+
+<p>Cora shrugged her crimson-clad shoulders, and they paced
+forward in silence for a time. Then as if his stillness had been
+speech of a distasteful kind, she ejaculated, crossly, and without
+turning her head: "Stuff! you talk too much!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucian smiled maliciously, removed his cigar from between
+his lips, described a smoke wreath in mid-air, replaced his weed,
+and said: "Do I? then mum's the word;" and he relapsed
+into silence.</p>
+
+<p>He seemed bent on annoying her, for there was a laughing
+glimmer in his eye, and he obstinately refused to attempt to
+draw her out, and so make easier whatever she might have to say,
+for he knew that she had signaled him out to-day for a purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Mutely he walked by her side, and contentedly puffed at his
+cigar until, at length, she turned upon him, and struck petulantly
+at the hand that had just removed it from his lips. The
+weed fell from his fingers to the ground, and Cora set her slippered
+heel upon it, as if it were an enemy, and laughed
+triumphantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we are on a level," she cried. "Do you suppose I
+intend to give you that advantage over me?"</p>
+
+<p>"It seems not," with a shrug expressive of resignation and a
+smile hidden by his mustache.</p>
+
+<p>He was not the man to be angered, or even ruffled, by these
+little feminine onslaughts. In fact, they rather pleased and
+amused him, and he had become well accustomed to Cora's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+"little ways," as he called them. Deprived of his cigar, he
+thrust his hands into his pockets and whistled softly.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian, if you don't stop looking so comfortable, and content,
+and altogether don't-care-ish, I shall do something very
+desperate," she exclaimed, pettishly.</p>
+
+<p>"No?" raising his eyebrows in mock incredulity; "you don't
+tell me. I thought you were in a little heaven of your own,
+Mrs. Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! you did? Very clever of you. Well, Mr. Davlin,
+has it occurred to you that heaven might not be a congenial
+climate for me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not while your wings are so fresh, surely? You have
+scarcely entered your paradise, fair peri."</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't I?" ironically. "Well, I am tired of manna, anyhow."
+Cora was not always strictly elegant in her choice of
+expressions. "Now, Lucian, stop parleying, and tell me, when
+is this going to end?"</p>
+
+<p>"When?"</p>
+
+<p>He stopped and looked down at her intently. Twice they
+had traversed the terrace, and now they paused at the termination
+furthest from the house. Just before them a diminutive
+flight of stone steps led down to a narrow graveled walk, that
+skirted a velvety bit of lawn, and was in its turn hedged by
+some close and high-growing shrubs from the "Bellair woods,"
+as they were called. Beyond the steps was a gap in the hedge,
+and this, cut and trimmed until it formed a compact and beautiful
+arch, was spanned by a stile, built for the convenience of
+those who desired to reach the village by the shortest route, the
+Bellair woods.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't repeat like a parrot, Lucian." Cora raised her voice
+angrily. "I say, when is this to end? and how?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They were just opposite the gap in the hedge and Lucian,
+looking down upon Cora, stood facing the opening. As the
+words crossed her lips, his eyes fell upon a figure just behind
+her, and he checked the conversation by an involuntary motion
+of the hand.</p>
+
+<p>The figure came toward them. It was Miss Arthur's French
+maid, and she carried in her hand a small parcel. Evidently
+she was returning from some errand to the village. Miss Arthur's
+maid had black hair, dressed very low on the forehead; eyes of
+some sort, it is to be presumed, but they were effectually concealed
+by blue glasses; a rather pasty complexion; a form that
+might have been good, but if so, its beauties were hidden by the
+loose and, as Cora expressed it, "floppy," style of jacket which
+she habitually wore. She passed them with a low "<i>Bon jour,
+madame</i>," and hurried up the terrace. At least she was walking
+swiftly, but not very smoothly, up the terrace when Lucian
+cast after her a last disapproving glance.</p>
+
+<p>"Your lady's maid is not a swan nor a beauty," he said, as
+they by mutual consent went down the steps.</p>
+
+<p>Cora made no reply to this, seeming lost in thought. They
+walked on for a moment in silence.</p>
+
+<p>But C&eacute;line Leroque did not walk on. She dropped her package
+and, stooping to recover it, cast a swift glance after the pair.
+They were sauntering slowly down the hedgerow walk, their
+backs toward her.</p>
+
+<p>Probably the falling parcel had reminded the French maid of
+something forgotten, for she turned swiftly, silently, and without
+any of her previous awkwardness retraced her steps and disappeared
+beyond the stile.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the row, Co.?" asked Lucian, kicking a pebble
+with his boot toe. "You are getting restive early in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>
+game. Can't you keep to the track for another two months?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"What then?"</p>
+
+<p>"This. We must get that fool out of the way."</p>
+
+<p>"Meaning who?"</p>
+
+<p>"She, of course&mdash;Ellen Arthur. The woman will make a
+raving maniac of me in two months more."</p>
+
+<p>"By Jove! and of me, too, if I don't get out of this."</p>
+
+<p>"We must get rid of her."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know&mdash;somehow, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>"And then?"</p>
+
+<p>"And then&mdash;" she gave him a side glance, and laughed unpleasantly.</p>
+
+<p>"And then? You have a plan, my blonde. Out with it; I
+am a listener."</p>
+
+<p>And he did listen.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly down the hedgerow path they paced, and at the end,
+halted and stood for a time in earnest consultation. There was
+some difference of opinion, but the difference became adjusted.
+And they turned toward the house, evidently satisfied with the
+result of the morning's consultation.</p>
+
+<p>Not long after, Miss Arthur's maid returned also.</p>
+
+<p>"I see by the papers that Dr. LeGuise has come back from
+Europe, Cora," announced Mr. Davlin from his seat at the lunch
+table that day.</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. LeGuise! how delightful! Now one will not be afraid
+to be sick&mdash;our old family physician, you know," to Miss Arthur;
+"and <i>so</i> skillful. He has been in Europe a year. The dear
+man, how I long to see him!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well!" laughed Lucian, "I will carry him any amount of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>
+affection, providing it is not too bulky. I find that I must run
+up to the city to-morrow, and of course will look him up."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" eagerly, "and find out if he saw the D'Arcys in Paris;
+and those delightful Trevanions!" Then, regretfully, "can't
+you stay another week, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Out of the question, Co., much as I regret it," glancing expressively
+at Miss Arthur. "But I shan't forget you all."</p>
+
+<p>"Pray do not," simpered the spinster. "And when do you
+return?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not for two or three weeks, I fear. But rest assured I
+shall lose no time, when once I am at liberty."</p>
+
+<p>During his lazy, good-humored moments, Mr. Davlin had
+made most ridiculous love to Miss Arthur, and that lady had not
+been behind in doing her part. Now, strange to say, the face
+which she bent over her napkin wore upon it a look, not of
+sorrow, but of relief. And why?</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<h2>WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>"Take especial care with my toilet this morning, C&eacute;line,"
+drawled Miss Arthur, as she sat before a mirror in her luxuriously
+appointed dressing-room.</p>
+
+<p>Wise Cora had seen the propriety of giving to this unwelcome
+sister-in-law with the heavy purse, apartments of the best in the
+newly fitted-up portion of the mansion.</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to be <i>especially</i> careful with my hair and complexion,"
+Miss Arthur continued.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mademoiselle," demurely. Then, as if the information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>
+might bear upon the question of the toilet, "Does mademoiselle
+know that Monsieur Davlin left an hour ago?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, C&eacute;line, but I expect a visitor. He may arrive
+at any time to-day, and you must do your very best with my
+toilet."</p>
+
+<p>"Mademoiselle <i>est charmante</i>; slight need of C&eacute;line's poor
+aid," cooed the little hypocrite, and the toilet proceeded.</p>
+
+<p>At length, the resources of art having been exhausted, Miss
+Arthur stood up, and approved of C&eacute;line's handiwork.</p>
+
+<p>"I really do look nicely, C&eacute;line; you have done well, very.
+Now go send me a pot of chocolate and a bit of toast."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mademoiselle."</p>
+
+<p>"And a bit of chicken, or a bird's wing."</p>
+
+<p>"Oui."</p>
+
+<p>"And a French roll, C&eacute;line, with perhaps an omelette."</p>
+
+<p>"Pardonne, mademoiselle, but might I suggest we must not
+forget this," touching Miss Arthur's tightly laced waist.</p>
+
+<p>"True, C&eacute;line, quite right; the toast, then. And, C&eacute;line,
+remain down-stairs and when Mr. Percy comes," (her maid
+visibly started at the name) "show him into the little parlor, and
+tell him I am somewhere in the grounds&mdash;you understand?
+Then come and let me know. I prefer to have him fancy me
+surprised, you see," smiling playfully.</p>
+
+<p>"I see; mademoiselle has <i>such</i> tact," and the French maid
+disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Percy?" muttered the French maid, in very English
+accents; "I will certainly look for your coming, Mr. Percy.
+Can it be that I am to meet you at last?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. John Arthur was restless that morning. She fidgeted
+about after the departure of her brother; tried to play the
+agreeable to her husband, but finding this a difficult task, left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>
+him to his cigar and his morning paper, in the solitude of his
+sanctum, and seizing her crimson shawl, started out for a turn
+upon the terrace.</p>
+
+<p>The "little parlor," as it was called, commanded a view of one
+end of the terrace walk, but no portion of it was visible from
+the immediate front of Oakley mansion, the terrace running
+across the grounds in the rear of the dwelling, and being shut off
+from the front by a thicket of flowering shrubs and trees.</p>
+
+<p>The hall facing the front entrance to Oakley was deserted now,
+save for the figure of C&eacute;line Leroque, who was ensconsed in one
+of the windows thereof. She had been watching there for more
+than an hour, and Cora had promenaded the terrace half that time,
+when a gentleman approached the mansion from the front gate-way.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line's eyes were riveted upon the coming figure, as it appeared
+and disappeared among the trees and shrubbery along
+the winding walk. At length he emerged into open space and
+approached nearer.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line Leroque suppressed a cry of astonishment as she anticipated
+his ring and ushered him in. A very blonde man,
+with the lower half of his face covered with a mass of yellow waving
+beard; pale blue, searching, unfathomable eyes; pale yellow
+hair; a handsome face, the face she had seen pictured in Claire's
+souvenir!</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line Leroque led the way toward the little parlor with a
+heart beating rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Arthur is in the grounds," she said, in answer to his
+inquiry. "I will go look for her;" and she turned away.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy placed his hat upon a little table and tossing back
+his fair hair, said: "I think I can see her now."</p>
+
+<p>Approaching the window he looked down upon the terrace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line looked, too, and catching a gleam of crimson, said:
+"That is not Miss Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>"Stop a moment, my girl," the man exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>He was gazing down at Cora, who was walking away from
+them, with a puzzled look. "Good God!" he ejaculated, as she
+turned and he saw her face.</p>
+
+<p>He checked himself, and withdrawing hastily from the window,
+took up his hat as if about to depart. Approaching the
+window once again, he looked cautiously forth, and seeing Cora
+still pacing the terrace in evident unconcern, he muttered to himself,
+but quite audibly, "Thank goodness, she did not see me."</p>
+
+<p>Then turning to C&eacute;line: "Girl, who is that woman?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl approached the window: "That, monsieur, is Madame
+Cora Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>"A widow, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, monsieur. Mr. Arthur is the master of Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! and madame&mdash;how long has she been his wife?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is still a bride, monsieur."</p>
+
+<p>"Still a bride, is she? How exceedingly pleasant." Mr.
+Percy had evidently recovered from his panic. "Was she a
+miss when she married the master of Oakley?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, monsieur; a widow."</p>
+
+<p>"Widow?" stroking his whiskers caressingly. "What name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Madame Torrance, monsieur."</p>
+
+<p>"Madame Torrance, eh? Well, my good girl, take this,"
+offering a bank note. "I really thought that Madame Torrance,
+I mean Arthur, was an old friend; however, it seems I was mistaken.
+Now, my girl, go and tell that lady that a gentleman
+desires to see her, and do not announce me to Miss Arthur yet.
+May I depend upon you?" glancing at her keenly.</p>
+
+<p>"You may, monsieur."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Taking the offered money, she made an obeisance, and withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>The little parlor had but one means of egress&mdash;through the
+door by which Mr. Percy had entered. This door was near the
+angle of the room; so near that, as it swung inward, it almost
+grazed against a huge high-backed chair, stiff and grim, but
+reckoned among the elegant pieces of furniture that are always,
+or nearly always, uncomfortable. This chair occupied the angle,
+and behind its capacious back was comfortable room for one or
+two persons, should they fancy occupying a position so secluded.
+The act of opening the door completely screened this chair
+from the view of any person not directly opposite it, until such
+time as the door should be again closed.</p>
+
+<p>As C&eacute;line Leroque opened the door and disappeared one might
+have fancied, had they been gazing at that not-very-interesting
+object, that the high-backed chair moved ever so little.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line flew along the hall and down the stairway, tearing
+viciously at something as she went. Once in the open air, the
+brisk autumn breezes caught something from her hand, and sent
+little fragments whirling through space&mdash;paper scraps, that might
+have been dissected particles of a bank note.</p>
+
+<p>Cora listened in some surprise to the messenger, who broke
+in upon her meditations with a trifle less of suavity than was
+usual in Miss Arthur's maid.</p>
+
+<p>"A gentleman, to see me! Are you quite sure, C&eacute;line?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Arthur, for various reasons, received but few friends,
+and C&eacute;line thought now that she looked a trifle annoyed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, C&eacute;line, where is the gentleman? Stop," as if struck by
+a sudden thought, and changing color slightly, "tell him I am
+out, but not until I have got up-stairs," she said; "not until I
+have had an opportunity to see him, myself unseen," she thought.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But, madame," hesitated C&eacute;line, "he is in the little parlor.
+He saw madame at the upper end of the terrace."</p>
+
+<p>"Confusion! What did he say, girl?" excitedly.</p>
+
+<p>"He said, madame, that he wished to speak with you; that
+he was an old friend."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go along," sharply. "I will see the man."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line turned about and Cora followed her almost sullenly.
+She had some apprehension as to this unknown caller, but he had
+seen her, and whoever he was she must face him, for Cora was
+no coward.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line tripped along thinking intently.</p>
+
+<p>"This man is Edward Percy&mdash;Edward Percy, the lover of
+two women. He was frightened when he saw this Mrs. Arthur,
+and my words reassured him; why? At the mention of a
+strange caller, she must needs see him before she permits him
+an interview&mdash;for that is what she meant. Do they know each
+other? If so, the plot thickens."</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy had certainly been agitated at sight of Mrs.
+Arthur, and had as certainly recovered when assured that the
+lady <i>was</i> Mrs. Arthur. He looked the image of content now,
+as he lounged at the window. Under the blonde mustaches, a
+smile of cunning and triumph rested; but his eyes looked very
+blue, very, very calm, very unfathomable.</p>
+
+<p>"Madame Arthur, sir."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line opens the door gently, and admits the form of Cora.
+Then, as the two face each other in silence, the door quietly
+closes, neither one having glanced toward the girl, who has disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>Cora stands before him, the folds of the crimson shawl falling
+away from the plump, graceful shoulders, and mingling with the
+sweep of her black cashmere wrapper in rich, graceful contrast.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+One fair hand gathers up the crimson fabric and, instinctively,
+the other thrusts itself out in a repellant gesture, as the soft voice
+utters, in tones of mingled hate and fear: "<i>You!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>He laughs softly. "Yes, I. I knew you would be delighted."
+All the time he is gazing at her critically, apparently viewing
+her loveliness with an approving eye.</p>
+
+<p>And now the woman feels through her whole being but the
+one instinct&mdash;hate. She has forgotten all fear, and stands before
+him erect, pallid, but with eye and lip expressing the bitterness
+that rages within her.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't say you are glad to see me? Cruel Alice," he
+murmurs, plaintively. "And after all these years, too; how
+many are they, my dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"No matter!" fiercely. "They have given the devil ample
+time to claim his own, and yet you are upon earth!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," serenely; "both of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Both of us, then. How dare you seek me out?"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear wife, I never did you so much honor. I came to
+this house for another purpose, and Providence, kind Providence,
+has guided me to you."</p>
+
+<p>The woman seemed recalled to herself. Again the look of
+fear overspread her face, and looking nervously about her, she
+said. "For God's sake, hush! What you wish to say say out,
+but don't let your voice go beyond these walls."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear Alice, my voice never was vulgarly loud, was it? recollect,
+if you please," in an injured tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Well! well! what do you want with me? Percy Jordan, I
+warn you&mdash;I am not the woman you wronged ten years ago."</p>
+
+<p>"No; by my faith, you are a handsomer woman, and you
+carry yourself like a duchess. Why didn't you do that when
+you were Mrs.&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hush!" she cried; "you base liar, it did not take me long to
+find you out, even then. Don't forget that you have lived in
+fear of me for ten long years."</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," serenely; "haven't they been long? But they are
+ended now, my dear; my incubus is dead and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But documents don't die," she interrupted; "don't forget
+that!"</p>
+
+<p>"Not for worlds. For instance, I remember that in a certain
+church register may be seen the marriage lines of Alice Ford
+and&mdash;ahem&mdash;myself. And somewhere, not far away, there must
+be on record the statement that Mr. Arthur, of Oakley, has
+wedded the incomparable Mrs. Torrance, a blonde widow&mdash;ahem.
+Where did you go, my dear, when you left my bed and
+board so very unceremoniously?</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'What had I done, or what hadst thou,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">That through this weary world till now<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">I've walked with empty arms.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>He stretched out those members tragically.</p>
+
+<p>"And I don't forget that I was never legally your wife, as
+you had another living," cried Cora, ignoring the latter part of
+his speech.</p>
+
+<p>"No; of course not. Does Mr. John Arthur know that you
+were once my&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Dupe? no," she interrupted. "Come, time passes; tell me
+what you know, and what you want."</p>
+
+<p>"Softly, softly, Mrs. Arthur. I know enough to insure me
+against being turned out of Oakley by you; and I want a wife
+and a fortune."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand you."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_021.jpg" width="400" height="557" alt="&quot;The soft voice utters, in tones of mingled hate and fear, &#39;You?&#39;&quot;&mdash;page
+149."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;The soft voice utters, in tones of mingled hate and fear, &#39;You?&#39;&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_149">page 149.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"Possibly not, Madame Arthur." Then, with mock emotion:
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>"Might I, dare I, ask you to give to my keeping, that incomparable
+maiden, that houri of houris, your young and lovely
+sister-in-law, Miss Ellen Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>The woman looked at him in silence for a time, and then,
+flinging herself upon a couch, burst into a peal of soft laughter.
+She understood it all now.</p>
+
+<p>"So you are the expected lover!" she ejaculated, laughing
+afresh; "and she is up-stairs, in bright array, waiting for you."</p>
+
+<p>"And I am down here, pleading for permission to address
+this pearl of price."</p>
+
+<p>Cora arose and gathered her crimson wrap about her shoulders.
+"And how is it to be between us?" she asked coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"My sweet Alice, if you were John Arthur's widow instead
+of John Arthur's wife, it should be as if the past ten years were
+but a dream."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed&mdash;provided, of course, I were John Arthur's heiress
+as well."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly!"</p>
+
+<p>"And how is it that you are once more fortune hunting? Five
+years ago you inherited wealth sufficient for your every need."</p>
+
+<p>The elegant Mr. Percy went through the pantomime of
+shuffling and dealing cards, then looked at her with a grimace.</p>
+
+<p>"All?" she inquired, as if the action had been words.</p>
+
+<p>"Every ducat," solemnly. "So what is to be my fate, fair
+destiny?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora mused, then laughed again. "After all, you may prove
+a friend in need," she said. "I shan't interfere between you
+and Miss Arthur; be sure of that."</p>
+
+<p>Then they fell to settling the preliminaries of a siege upon the
+heart of Miss Arthur, together with other little trifles that occurred
+as they talked. They had both thrown off their air of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>
+hostility, and were seated opposite each other, conversing quite
+comfortably, when the door swung open, and Miss Arthur stood
+before them; Miss Arthur, in the full glory of snowy cashmere,
+with cherry satin facings; Miss Arthur, with curls waving, and
+in all her war-paint.</p>
+
+<p>The two plotters arose, and saluted her with much empressement.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur advanced a step and stood beside the high-backed
+chair, one hand still resting upon the door. Percy came toward
+her with outstretched hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-h-h!" screeched the spinster, "what was that?"</p>
+
+<p>Turning quickly she encountered nothing more formidable
+than her French maid, who had evidently hurried to the spot, for
+she breathed rapidly, and said, in an anxious manner:</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon, mademoiselle, it is I,&mdash;did mademoiselle ring? I
+thought so."</p>
+
+<p>"You stepped on my dress, girl," said Miss Arthur, sharply.
+"No, I did not ring; perhaps Mrs. Arthur did."</p>
+
+<p>"I did ring, Ellen," lied Cora, sweetly, wondering what lucky
+providence sent the girl to the door just then. "I rang for you,
+as Mr. Percy here, in whom I have discovered a Long Branch
+acquaintance, would hardly treat me civilly, so impatient has he
+been to see Miss Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur looked somewhat appeased. "You may go,
+C&eacute;line," she said, with her most stately air.</p>
+
+<p>Thus she sailed forward to meet Mr. Percy.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line departed, smiling an odd little smile. She went to her
+own room and sitting down upon the bedside, meditated. Presently
+she arose, and walking over to her mirror, gazed at her reflected
+image, and shaking her head at it, murmured:</p>
+
+<p>"What a nice little maid you are, C&eacute;line Leroque&mdash;and how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>
+these people will love you by and by! You now hold in your
+hands the thread that will unravel this mixture of mystery, and
+when the reckoning comes, it will not be you that falls."</p>
+
+<p>Thoughtfully she paced the little apartment. By and by she
+threw herself upon the bed and closed her eyes, still thinking.
+If she could only know just how these two had separated&mdash;Edward
+Percy and Cora Arthur; and what part Lucian Davlin
+had played in that separation drama. Did Cora know Lucian
+ten years ago&mdash;did Percy know him for his rival? Suddenly
+the girl sprang up, and smiting her two palms together, exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"If these two men were rivals, then we may yet find a reason
+why Lucian Davlin should attempt the life of Edward Percy!"</p>
+
+<p>And now what should she do?</p>
+
+<p>Claire Keith's bright face rose before her as she asked herself
+the question. Claire must be warned and saved; but how? The
+girl's brow darkened.</p>
+
+<p>"She will scorn the man," she muttered, between pale lips,
+"and then she will learn to value that other. She will grieve
+for a time, perhaps, but not for long; then&mdash;then she will
+become <i>his</i> wife, while I&mdash;What right has she to all the
+blessings?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl stood motionless, with hands tightly clasped. The
+conflict lasted but a moment when, in a firm, clear voice she continued:</p>
+
+<p>"It would be base not to save her from this wretch&mdash;and save
+her I will; and I will restore to Olive Girard her husband; is
+that not payment enough for all they have done for me? But
+he, Clarence, my hero&mdash;why must I yield him up without a
+struggle? She does not love him; she never will love him if
+I say the word; she is as generous as&mdash;as I am base, I think.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>
+No, it is not base to love him, to try to win him. And why
+not? I must think, think, think."</p>
+
+<p>All that day and night the girl pondered deeply. In the
+morning she arose weary, unrefreshed.</p>
+
+<p>"I will save Claire Keith from the suffering that befell me,"
+she said. "But she shall not have all the good things of this
+life, and I none."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<h2>CORA AND THE FRENCH MAID MEASURE SWORDS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>During the day, Miss Arthur communicated to her maid
+the fact that Mr. Percy would remain in Bellair for the present.
+He was going away for a day on business; then he would return
+and take up his abode at the Bellair inn.</p>
+
+<p>"Would monsieur be absent to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Then, as mademoiselle would not especially need her, would
+she graciously give her the day? Her sister had just returned
+from Paris, and would very soon leave the city <i>en route</i> for
+Washington. Her sister was in the service of Mrs. General
+Delonne&mdash;of course mademoiselle had heard of Madame Delonne;
+knew her, perhaps. C&eacute;line much desired to see this sister,
+and expected to get some valuable hints from her regarding
+the very latest French <i>coiffeurs</i>, etc., etc. In short, could
+mademoiselle spare her to-morrow, just for one little day?</p>
+
+<p>Mademoiselle, after due deliberation, perhaps in consideration
+of the new <i>coiffeurs</i>, graciously consented. This matter was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+settled while the dinner toilet of the lady was in progress; and
+C&eacute;line spared no pains to make her mistress satisfied with herself
+and all about her.</p>
+
+<p>"How long had Mr. Percy been in the little parlor, C&eacute;line,
+before I came down?" questioned the lady.</p>
+
+<p>She was still a trifle dissatisfied at having found her lover so
+cosily <i>t&ecirc;te-&aacute;-t&ecirc;te</i> with her fascinating sister-in-law.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, a very short time, my lady&mdash;I mean mademoiselle."</p>
+
+<p>"And how did he meet Mrs. Arthur?" anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Madame was just entering from the terrace; they met in the
+hall," glibly.</p>
+
+<p>"And did they meet like old friends, C&eacute;line?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no! mademoiselle; quite formally. At first I fancied he
+was really displeased at meeting her&mdash;but of course mademoiselle
+knew the reason for that," slyly.</p>
+
+<p>"Hush, you foolish girl," said the flattered spinster; "it's all
+right, of course." And she relapsed into reverie.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur had exhausted her patience waiting for her tardy
+admirer, and, finding her own apartments dull, had come down
+to the parlor, thus interrupting the interview, to the disgust of
+more than one of those interested.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy had many questions yet to propound to his newly-found
+wife, as he called her, and she, knowing him so well, felt
+a trifle more uneasy than was comfortable, wondering what use,
+if any, he intended to make of the small amount of power he
+still possessed over her. She must hold another interview with
+him, and that soon. Meantime, she left him to the tender mercies
+of the happy spinster.</p>
+
+<p>It was late in the evening when she at last found a convenient
+opportunity, and crossed the hall in the direction of Miss Arthur's
+dressing-room. She was about to open the door and enter, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>
+her movement was anticipated by C&eacute;line, who appeared upon
+the threshold in hat and shawl.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Arthur seemed not at all abashed, but pushing the girl
+back into the room, stepped in herself and closed the door.
+"You were going out, C&eacute;line?" smiling sweetly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madame," respectfully.</p>
+
+<p>"May I ask where?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, madame. I have leave to go and see my sister
+to-morrow. I am going to telegraph her that she may expect
+me. Can I serve madame?"</p>
+
+<p>Madame pondered a moment.</p>
+
+<p>"C&eacute;line," she said, abruptly. "Why did you pretend to answer
+a ring this morning, when your mistress came down to the
+little parlor?"</p>
+
+<p>"I trust madame was not offended," deprecatingly.</p>
+
+<p>"No, no," impatiently; "but I want to understand you."</p>
+
+<p>"Madame shall. Madame must know that my mistress is
+not always smooth in temper?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," laughing wickedly.</p>
+
+<p>"This morning she bade me admit the gentleman, tell him
+she was in the grounds, and then come to her. He came, and
+almost immediately saw you, madame, walking on the terrace."</p>
+
+<p>"Stop. How did he act when he saw me, C&eacute;line?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl looked at her in apparent hesitation. "Madame
+will not be angry with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, no."</p>
+
+<p>"He looked almost frightened, and took his hat, as if about
+to go."</p>
+
+<p>Cora uttered a low, triumphant, "Ah, did he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then he called me back as I was leaving the room to summon
+my mistress, and asked me who you were. I told him. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+looked relieved, said he had mistaken you for an old acquaintance,
+and bade me ask you to come to him, and say nothing to
+Miss Arthur until he desired it."</p>
+
+<p>"I see; but why did you follow her, when she came down?
+Did she know we were there?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, madame."</p>
+
+<p>"Then why&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon," with a sidelong glance at her face, "but madame
+is beautiful, and my mistress is jealous. I thought you might
+wish me to do as I did, and I desired to serve you, madame."</p>
+
+<p>Cora eyed her keenly. "But why serve me, C&eacute;line?"</p>
+
+<p>"Madame has ever been gracious to C&eacute;line," said the girl,
+lowering her eyes. "Even a servant appreciates kindness&mdash;my
+mistress never considers that."</p>
+
+<p>Cora's thoughts flew fast. If she could trust this girl, she
+might make her very useful. She had sought this interview to
+question her concerning the adventure of the morning, and now
+might she not be of still more service?</p>
+
+<p>A few more sharply-put questions were asked, and answered
+with corresponding shrewdness. Then C&eacute;line detailed, in her
+own way, her interview with her mistress on the subject of Mr.
+Percy's visit.</p>
+
+<p>Cora was at last fully satisfied that, for some reason, Miss
+Arthur had aroused a feeling of antagonism in the breast of
+her maid. She resolved to profit by this state of affairs. Accordingly,
+a few moments later, C&eacute;line Leroque flitted out from
+the house the bearer of two important messages.</p>
+
+<p>One, in writing, was a telegram to be sent to Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>The other was a verbal message to be delivered, in some way,
+to Mr. Percy before he quitted the grounds of Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>Pausing at a safe distance from the house, C&eacute;line produced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+from her pocket some waxen matches. She lighted one, having
+looked cautiously about her, and spreading open the telegram to
+Mr. Davlin, read these words:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Come down to-morrow without fail. It is most important.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f6">C.</p>
+
+<p>"So," muttered Miss Arthur's maid as, flinging away the
+match, she hurried on her way; "so he must be consulted; he
+must come down. In the absence of Percy, too. I wonder
+if he knows, this Percy, that Lucian Davlin at present
+personates the dutiful brother of his fair lost love." Such a
+sneer rested on the face of the French maid. "Well! Mr.
+Davlin must come and, unfortunately, I can't be present at this
+interview. However, I shall be able to judge pretty accurately
+by their future movements what was its portent."</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy, as he chose to call himself, was not aware of
+the position held by Lucian Davlin in that household. Cora
+had seized an opportunity to murmur to Miss Arthur a soft
+warning.</p>
+
+<p>"Ellen, dear!" she had said, "pray don't mention Lucian to
+Mr. Percy, unless you wish to shorten his stay with us. The
+fact is, the two had a slight misunderstanding while we were all
+at Long Branch, about a horse or something. Lucian was very
+much to blame, I think, but they parted bad friends. It is best
+never to interfere in men's quarrels, so I have not mentioned Lucian's
+name to him at all."</p>
+
+<p>Cunning C&eacute;line! Her tact had made this explanation seem a
+quite probable one; and as Miss Arthur certainly had no desire
+to drive Mr. Percy from Oakley, she assured her "kind,
+thoughtful Cora," that she would be very guarded and never once
+mention Mr. Davlin's name in his enemy's presence.</p>
+
+<p>Of this fact, of course, C&eacute;line was in total ignorance, as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+proceeded on her way, which was not to the telegraph office; at
+least not yet.</p>
+
+<p>Hurrying through the Oakley wood in the opposite direction
+from the village, she crossed the meadow and approached the
+cottage of Nurse Hagar. A light was dimly visible through the
+paper curtains, but no sound was heard from within. The girl
+listened at the door a moment, and then tapped softly.</p>
+
+<p>Presently slip-shod feet could be heard crossing the uncarpeted
+floor, and a key creaked in its lock, after which the door opened,
+a very little way, and the old woman's face peered cautiously out
+into the night. Then she hastily opened the door wide and admitted
+the visitor.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it you, dearie?" she asked, rather unnecessarily, surveying
+her critically by the light of a flaring tallow candle.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Aunt Hagar, it's not I," laughed the girl; "it's Miss
+Arthur's French maid that you see before you. And don't drop
+that tallow on her devoted head," lifting a deprecating hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Umph! we seem in great spirits to-night," leading the way
+back to the fire-place, beside which stood her easy splint-bottomed
+chair.</p>
+
+<p>"So we are," assented the girl; "and why shouldn't we be,
+pray? Aren't we a very happy French maid, and a very skillful
+one, and a very lucky one?"</p>
+
+<p>"How should I know?" grumbled the old woman; "what do
+I know? I'm only old Hagar; don't mind explaining anything
+to me!"</p>
+
+<p>"By which you mean, beware of your wrath if I don't explain
+things to you; eh, auntie?"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_022.jpg" width="400" height="568" alt="&quot;C&eacute;line looked cautiously
+around her.&quot;&mdash;page 159."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;C&eacute;line looked cautiously
+around her.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_159">page 159.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>Hagar mumbled something, not exactly intended to be a
+speech but simply a small growl, illustrative of her mood. Then,
+as if her dignity had been sufficiently asserted, she relaxed her
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>grimness, and looking kindly down upon the girl, and pushing
+her toward the big chair, said:</p>
+
+<p>"But law! child, you look fagged out. Sit down, sit down,
+and don't mind an old woman's grumbling."</p>
+
+<p>"Did I ever?" laughed the girl, sinking into the big chair as
+if indeed willing to rest. "But I can't sit here long, nursie;
+my day's work, or rather my night's work, is not yet finished."</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet? Oh, Madeline, my little nursling, give up these
+wild plans and plots; they will bring you no good."</p>
+
+<p>"Won't they?" nodding significantly. "I think they will do
+me good, and you, too, Nurse Hagar; and before very long, too.
+Why, bless you, these precious plotters won't wait for me to
+bring them into my net; they are tumbling in headlong&mdash;all
+of them. They are helping me, with all their might, to bring
+about their own downfall. Hagar," and the girl leaned suddenly
+forward and looked closely into the old woman's face, "I want
+you to come back to Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>Hagar started back as if struck by a knife. She was about to
+open her lips and set free a torrent of indignant protest, when the
+girl lifted her hand, interrupting her in the old characteristic way.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait until I explain, auntie. I want you to go to Oakley
+to-morrow, at the hour when Mr. John Arthur is always supposed
+to be taking his after-dinner nap. Just after dinner, I
+want you to see Madame Cora; manage it in your own way, but
+see her you must."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't!" broke in the old woman.</p>
+
+<p>"You will," said the girl, quietly, "when I have told you
+why."</p>
+
+<p>Drawing her chair close to that occupied by her companion,
+she resumed in a low voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Yesterday Miss Arthur sent me to the village to purchase<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>
+some trifling articles for the adornment of her precious person.
+Returning through the woods, I came upon Mr. Davlin and
+his 'sister,' conversing very earnestly, just at the lower end of
+the terrace. I arrived at the hedgerow stile just in time to hear
+madame say, very emphatically, that something must be done
+immediately. They were going down the terrace steps when I
+passed them, pretending to be in a great hurry. As soon as
+their backs were toward me, I turned quickly, and without noise
+crossed the stile, followed them on the opposite side of the hedge,
+and listened."</p>
+
+<p>Here the speaker paused and looked up, but her auditor was
+gazing moodily into the fire, and never stirred nor spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Madame was saying," resumed the narrator, "that she was
+heartily weary of the part she was playing; that its monotony
+sickened her; that they had secured the victims, and fate had
+been kind enough to remove the only stumbling block in their
+path, save the old man himself; that she considered my very
+sensible demise a direct answer to her pious prayers."</p>
+
+<p>The old woman shuddered and cast a look of horror upon the
+speaker.</p>
+
+<p>"They had evidently discussed this matter before, and partially
+settled their plans, only the man seemed to think it was
+too soon to begin to act. But madame declared that she should
+do worse if they did not commence operations at once, and
+finally she overruled him."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," savagely.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. Well, I now lost a little of their conversation,
+but I kept the thread of it. You see, I had to move very cautiously,
+and sometimes fall behind them a bit, when the leafage
+became less thick."</p>
+
+<p>Hagar nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Their plan was a beautiful one, and they have already set it
+in motion."</p>
+
+<p>"Already?"</p>
+
+<p>"Already; don't interrupt, please; I will tell you how in
+good time. First, then, madame is to fall ill&mdash;not desperately
+ill, but just ill enough to be interesting, and to alarm the old
+man. By the way, Mr. Davlin left this morning for the city;
+that is one move. He is to remain in the city until after the
+illness of madame, who is to refuse to receive any of the village
+doctors. Finally, he is to be sent for, and admonished to bring
+with him their old family physician, who has but just returned
+from Europe. Well, they come, the brother and the family
+physician&mdash;do you follow me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes!" nodding eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"They come. And the doctor says madame is threatened
+with a malignant fever, and orders everybody out of the house.
+It is needless to say that Miss Arthur flies instantly; but <i>le
+docteur</i>, interviewing the half-sick, fidgety old man, discovers
+that he, too, is threatened with the fever. Of course, he can
+not leave then."</p>
+
+<p>Old Hagar's eyes were twinkling, and she was bending forward
+now in an eagerly attentive attitude. "No," she breathed,
+unconsciously.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the heroic brother will refuse to fly from the fever,
+and will implore the skillful man of medicine to remain and
+minister unto the sick. The good doctor stays. Of course,
+such of the servants as are at all likely to prove troublesome,
+through possessing a trifle more brains than is usually alloted
+to an idiot, will be kindly told that, rather than endanger
+their lives, the household will dispense with their valuable
+services. Then a nurse, perhaps two, will come down from the
+city, and the plotters have the game in their own hands."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Here the girl paused, and leaned back in her chair as if her
+story were done.</p>
+
+<p>"And then?" exclaimed Hagar.</p>
+
+<p>"And then!" echoed her companion, bending forward and
+resting her hand upon the old woman's wrist; "and then madame
+will recover&mdash;but John Arthur will remain an invalid and a
+prisoner! It will be said in the village that the fever has
+affected his brain, and his unpopularity, arising from the fact
+that he has always shunned and scorned the village folk, will
+insure them against intrusive investigators. Auntie, they have
+hatched a pretty plot."</p>
+
+<p>"But," objected Hagar, "they will have to stay at Oakley, if
+he is to be a prisoner. They won't dare leave him with keepers
+and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"True," the girl interrupted. "I don't know how they will
+manage the rest; but having settled this much, madame and her
+'brother' paused at the end of the path. I saw her as she looked
+up into his face, and this is what she said: 'When he is once a
+prisoner, what could be more natural than that a crazy, sick old
+man should <i>die</i> some day?' Then the man replied, 'Nothing;'
+and they both returned to the house, without another word."</p>
+
+<p>For some moments silence reigned in Hagar's dwelling. The
+old woman seemed either unable, or unwilling, to utter a word
+of comment upon the story to which she had been so attentive a
+listener.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line at length arose and said, as she began pacing to and fro
+before the old woman. "Well, have you anything to say to this?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then why don't you speak out? Are you horribly shocked?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"No? Well, so much the better!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Hagar arose, pushed back her chair, crossed the room, and,
+pulling back the curtain, looked out into the night. Then turning
+her inscrutable old face upon the girl she said, quite calmly:</p>
+
+<p>"Why should not others measure out to John Arthur the
+same bitter draught that he filled for your mother, years ago?
+Bah! it is only retribution!"</p>
+
+<p>"True," said the girl, sternly. Then, in a guarded tone:
+"And you would make no attempt to overturn their finely
+laid plans?"</p>
+
+<p>"I? <i>No!</i>" fiercely. "You? I thought you wanted revenge."</p>
+
+<p>"And so I do,&mdash;and will have it."</p>
+
+<p>"How, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Will you go to Madame Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, now you reason. I will tell you."</p>
+
+<p>Hurriedly she unfolded her plan; and after some differences
+of opinion, dame Hagar agreed to play her part in the coming
+drama. Having finally arranged Hagar's <i>r&ocirc;le</i> to their mutual
+satisfaction, C&eacute;line hurriedly recounted her day's adventures,
+saying, by way of <i>finale</i>:</p>
+
+<p>"So now you see, nursie, I must hasten and send madame's
+message on its way. I shall depend upon you to tell me if Mr.
+Davlin comes to Bellair to-morrow, for I have a fancy that
+madame will manage, in some way, to prevent his coming to
+the house, as it was fully settled that he was not to appear at
+Oakley until summoned to his sister's sick-bed."</p>
+
+<p>"I can easily learn if he appears at the Bellair station."</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly; that is all I wish to know. Now I must go and
+waylay Mr. Percy. So good night, auntie, and cheer up; our
+time is coming fast."</p>
+
+<p>"And trouble coming, too; God help us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The girl turned upon her swiftly, with flashing eyes. "Are
+you afraid? Do you want to give it up?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid for you. But give up now; never!"</p>
+
+<p>"Brave old nursie!"</p>
+
+<p>The girl flung both arms about the old woman, and kissed
+her withered cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>"Never fear for me; my star is rising. Don't forget your
+mission, auntie; good-night."</p>
+
+<p>The "good-night" came back over her shoulder, as the girl
+was hurrying down the cottage steps, and Hagar closed the door
+behind her retreating figure.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<h2>FACE TO FACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>It is surprising to note how many pretexts a resolute, husband-hunting
+spinster can find for keeping a victim at her side,
+long after his soul has left her, and gone forth with yearning
+for a downy couch, a fragrant cheroot, or a fairer face.</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy could be agreeable, for a reasonable length of
+time, to a very ugly woman. But even he felt himself an injured
+man when, at a late hour, he said good-night for the
+eleventh time to his fair enslaver&mdash;literally an enslaver, he
+thought. As the door of Oakley manor actually and audibly
+closed behind him, he heaved a sigh of gratification, and strode
+rapidly down the winding avenue.</p>
+
+<p>When the first group of trees had sheltered him from the view
+of the infatuated spinster, should she still be gazing after him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>
+Mr. Percy paused, and standing in the shadow, produced a cigar
+and was proceeding to light it, when a hand fell lightly upon
+his arm, and he turned with a confused idea that she had followed
+him, and was about to lead him back a prisoner. But the figure
+that he dimly saw was, certainly, not that of Miss Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon, monsieur! but I have a message for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye gods!" ejaculated the aggrieved man.</p>
+
+<p>Evidently the girl interpreted his thoughts, for she stifled a
+laugh as she said, quickly: "Not from Miss Arthur, monsieur;
+but from madame."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, from madame," drawing a long breath. "Well, even
+madame will be a blessed relief; out with it, girl."</p>
+
+<p>"Madame will be grateful, I am sure," said the girl, mockingly.
+"Madame desires a word with you&mdash;now, to-night.
+Will you follow me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Where?"</p>
+
+<p>"To madame; she will be in the terrace arbor directly."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, very well," replacing his cigar in his pocket; "lead on,
+then."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line flitted on before, until the arbor became dimly visible
+down the pathway. Then she paused, pointed it out to her companion,
+and said: "Madame will soon join you there, sir. Now
+I must hasten to my mistress; I have kept her waiting too long."</p>
+
+<p>With a low, mischievous laugh she darted away in the direction
+of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Percy turned and gazed after her; then followed a few paces
+and watched again, until she disappeared under a wide portico.
+Heaving a sigh of relief he turned back toward the arbor.</p>
+
+<p>"I want no eavesdropping," he muttered; "and that minx
+might listen if she had time. She is no more a French maid
+than I am; she forgot her <i>monsieur</i> just now. But a sham maid
+is very appropriate for a sham maiden; now for Alice;" and he
+entered the arbor.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_023.jpg" width="400" height="573" alt="&quot;I am afraid for you.
+But give up now; never!&quot;&mdash;page 167."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I am afraid for you.
+But give up now; never!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_167">page 167.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Had Mr. Percy been able to follow the retreating footsteps of
+the objectionable French maid, however, he might have found
+occasion to change his opinion of her lack of time for eavesdropping,
+and there was excellent opportunity for its practice about
+the shrubbery-surrounded arbor.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>Meantime Ellen Arthur, having reluctantly bidden her
+"blonde demi-god" a last good-night, sought her chamber,
+swelling with satisfaction, and feeling somewhat hungry. Passing
+the door of her sister-in-law's rooms, she encountered Sarah,
+the romantic housemaid, who was just entering, bearing wine
+and a tiny glass. Glancing within, she encountered the gaze of
+Cora, who stood holding in her hand some black lace drapery.</p>
+
+<p>"Horribly late, isn't it?" yawned that lady, nodding good-naturedly.
+"Set down the wine, Sarah, and then you may go.
+I'm so dismally slumbersome that if I keep you to help me, I
+shall fall asleep on your hands. Have some wine, Ellen?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, thanks," said the spinster. "If you don't want Sarah,
+she may bring me up a nice lunch as soon as possible. I won't
+detain you any longer; good-night."</p>
+
+<p>And Miss Arthur, who had meditated entering and giving Cora
+the benefit of some of her maiden dreams and fancies, marched
+away, a trifle offended at the manner in which her sleepy sister-in-law
+had anticipated and warded off the interview. Cora's
+good-night floated after her as she sailed down the corridor.
+Then she heard the door closed and the bolt shot into the socket.
+A little later, the door opened noiselessly, and a female figure
+glided down the dark stairways out into the night, and toward
+the arbor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"C&eacute;line shall undo my hair," Miss Arthur thought, "and I'll
+have her try that new set of braids and puffs, if it is late. I
+don't feel as if I could sleep."</p>
+
+<p>But C&eacute;line was not dutifully waiting in her mistress's dressing-room.</p>
+
+<p>Sarah appeared with the lunch, and offered her services, but
+was summarily dismissed, for Miss Arthur did not deem it wise
+to initiate the house servants into the fearful and wonderful
+mysteries of her toilet. Therefore, she lunched in solitude and
+disgust, but heartily, notwithstanding, having just put off her
+very elaborate, but rather uncomfortable evening dress and donned
+a silken gown, acting as her own maid.</p>
+
+<p>Then she fidgeted herself into a most horrible temper, and sat
+deliberately down before the grate in a capacious dressing-chair,
+determined to wait until the girl came, and deliver a most severe
+and stately reprimand, the exact words of which she had already
+determined upon.</p>
+
+<p>The lady, sitting thus with her feet on the fender, her hands
+comfortably clasping the big arms of the dressing chair, and her
+head lolling rather ungracefully over its back, fell into slumber.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>If Mrs. John Arthur had made a midnight appointment with
+Lucifer, she would have fortified herself for the encounter by
+making a "stunning" toilet. It was one of her fixed principles&mdash;she
+had fixed principles&mdash;never to permit friend or foe of the
+male persuasion to gaze upon her charms when they would show
+at a disadvantage. So when she entered the arbor, which was
+suffused with a soft moonlight glow from a heavily-shaded
+lamp, for the arbor stood among dense shrubbery, and but for
+this lamp would have been in Egyptian darkness, she was indeed
+a personification of loveliness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Ungracious as was his mood, Percy would not have been a
+beauty-adoring mortal if he had not paid involuntary tribute to
+the charms of the woman who was his bitterest foe. Gazing
+down upon her a moment, he said in his soft legato:</p>
+
+<p>"I am almost angry at you for being so beautiful, after having
+taken yourself to other lovers, <i>Ma belle</i>."</p>
+
+<p>The woman smiled triumphantly, as she threw herself into an
+easy chair, and said in her softest, sweetest tone: "And did you
+expect me to go mourning for you all these years, sir?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think you were ever the woman to do that;" dropping
+lazily into a rustic seat near her. "May I smoke?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure we are quite safe here?" looking about him.
+"Somehow, I am suspicious of that sharp French maid."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite sure," nodding again. "Mr. Arthur was in bed before
+I came out; Miss Arthur was ordering up a lunch to her
+room, and the French maid must needs be in attendance for an
+hour or more; and besides, I know she is not at all dangerous.
+None of the other servants ever have occasion to come here, and
+most of them are in bed by now."</p>
+
+<p>"So your charming sister-in-law eats, does she? After parting
+from me, too; ugh!"</p>
+
+<p>"Eats? I should think so," laughing softly; "in her own
+room, when her stays are not too tight."</p>
+
+<p>"Spare me!"</p>
+
+<p>He held up both hands in mock deprecation; then, dropping
+his bantering tone, said, as he puffed at his cigar:</p>
+
+<p>"But now to business. You did not come out here in such
+bewitching toilet to tell me that my charmer eats?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hardly," with a pretty shrug.</p>
+
+<p>"For what, then?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"To come to an understanding with you," coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"As how?" in the same tone.</p>
+
+<p>"As to our future standing with each other."</p>
+
+<p>"I thought that was settled to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>"Did you? I don't think it was settled."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what remains, fair Alice?"</p>
+
+<p>"Will you drop that name?"</p>
+
+<p>"For the present, yes; but with reluctance."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, certainly!" bitterly. "Now, what are we to be henceforth?"</p>
+
+<p>"Friends, of course," knocking the ashes off his cigar.</p>
+
+<p>"You and I may be allies; we can never be friends," she said,
+scornfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't trouble yourself to be insulting, Mrs.&mdash;a&mdash;Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>"Then don't make me remember how I have hated you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Have you really hated me? How singular."</p>
+
+<p>"Very!" sarcastically; then: "If you don't drop that disagreeable
+tone we shall quarrel. I wish to know what you want
+with Ellen Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>"Shade of my grandmother! If you don't drop that disagreeable
+name, I shall expire. Haven't I had enough of her for
+one day? Alice, I know revenge is sweet, but spare me."</p>
+
+<p>"Bother! I must talk about her, else how can we settle anything?
+Do you suppose I am going to allow that sweet girl to
+be deceived?" This with mock indignation.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no; certainly not! Well, if I must, I must. First,
+then&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"First, what position do you intend to take towards me?"</p>
+
+<p>"That depends upon yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"On conditions?"</p>
+
+<p>"On conditions."</p>
+
+<p>"Name them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I am to be received as an honored guest whenever I shall
+choose to visit Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>"Well."</p>
+
+<p>"Next, you are to do all in your power to further my suit
+with Miss&mdash;you know."</p>
+
+<p>"That's an easy task."</p>
+
+<p>"Lastly, you are to promise me not, now or at any future time,
+to declare to any one aught you may know that might be to my
+disadvantage."</p>
+
+<p>"That is to say, I am not to tell Ellen Arthur, or others, that
+you have two wives&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Softly; one, my dear, <i>one</i>. Mrs. Percy Jordan, number one,
+is dead; you alone are left. You see, Alice, my dear, the thing
+is reversed. You have two husbands now, while I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Will have two wives as soon as you can get them!"</p>
+
+<p>"Just so."</p>
+
+<p>"And what guarantee have I that you will not betray me to
+Mr. Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>"The very best in the world; mutual interest."</p>
+
+<p>Cora pondered. "I don't see but that you are right," she
+said, at last. "It certainly will not be to your interest to attempt
+to annoy me now, but how long is this truce to last?" looking at
+him keenly.</p>
+
+<p>Percy smoked away in tranquil silence.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, I understand what you mean by a marriage with
+Miss Arthur," scornfully. "How long will it take you to
+squander her dollars? And after that, what will you do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Question for question, fair cross examiner; how long do you
+intend remaining so quietly here, the bond slave of this idiotic
+old man? And what will you do when this play is played out?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I ran away from a profligate young husband, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>
+had decoyed me into an illegal marriage&mdash;illegal for me, but
+sufficiently binding to have put you in the penitentiary for a
+bi&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't say it, my dear; don't. It's an ugly word, and, after
+all, are we not both in the same boat?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," angrily. "Do you think I have been so poorly
+schooled during these years that you can make me think now that
+you have any hold upon me? Bah! your case is but a flimsy
+one. When you deceived me into a marriage with you, you
+had already another wife. You hid me away in a suburban
+box of a cottage, fancying I would be content, like a bird in a
+gilded cage. You never dreamed that meek little <i>I</i> would follow
+you, and find out from the woman's own lips that she had
+a prior claim upon you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Candidly, I didn't credit you with so much pluck," said
+Percy, coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"No! and when I charged you with your perfidy, and wept
+and upbraided you, and then became pacified when you told me
+that every proof of your marriage with that other was in your
+control, you did not dream that I would feign submission until
+I had gained possession of the proofs of both your marriages,
+and then run away?"</p>
+
+<p>"And succeed in baffling my search for ten long years,"
+supplemented he, grandiloquently. "No, fair dame, I did not."</p>
+
+<p>"Your search, indeed! It was not a very eager one."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in truth it was not. The fact is, your beauty entrapped
+me into that very foolish marriage; but I was a trifle
+weary of blonde loveliness in tears, etc., so I didn't get out the
+entire police force, you see."</p>
+
+<p>"And you wouldn't have found me if you had."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed! why not?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Because, if it will afford you any satisfaction to know at
+this late stage of the game, I sailed for Europe the very day I
+quitted your house."</p>
+
+<p>"No!" opening his eyes in genuine astonishment. "Had it
+all cut and dried? Well, I like that! Why, little woman, if
+you had only developed one half the pluck latent in you, before
+you flitted, I would never have given you 'just cause,' etc.,
+for leaving me."</p>
+
+<p>The woman smiled triumphantly, but made no other answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what next? I am really becoming interested in your
+career."</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry I can't gratify your curiosity. My career has been a
+very pleasant one&mdash;seeing the world; generally prosperous.
+And this brings me back to the starting point: why should you
+think, because I left you with good cause, ten years ago, that I
+must necessarily forsake, sooner or later, a husband who is
+kindness itself, and who leaves no wish of mine ungratified?"</p>
+
+<p>"First reason," checking them off on his fingers: "Because
+you don't love this old man, and love is the only bond that
+such women as you will not break."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks!" ironically, bending her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Second, because a dull country house, be it ever so elegant,
+will not long satisfy you as an abiding place. I have not forgotten
+your girlish taste for pomp, pageant and all manner of
+excitement; a taste that has doubtless become fully developed
+by now. Third, because you have, at this present moment, a
+lover whom you prefer above all others, and to whom you will
+flee sooner or later."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you can substantiate that statement," sneered
+Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, not exactly; but I know women. My dear, say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>
+what you please to me, but don't expect to be believed if you
+will insist upon doing the devoted wife."</p>
+
+<p>"I insist upon nothing," said Cora, rising, "and I have not
+time for many more words. Let us come to the point at once:
+With my life, after I left you, you have nothing to do; you
+know nothing of it now, and you will learn no more from me.
+Of you, I know this much. I know that you clung, after your
+fashion, to the skirts of your unfortunate wife, spending her income
+and making her life miserable. I know that six years
+ago you inherited a fortune from a distant relative. I know
+that from that time you utterly neglected your wife, who had
+been an invalid for years; and that soon after she died, heart-broken
+and alone."</p>
+
+<p>Percy turned upon her, and scrutinized her face keenly; then,
+coming close to her, said, meaningly: "And then I wonder that
+you did not come back to me."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment the woman seemed confused, and off her guard.
+But she had not sought an interview with this man without fully
+reviewing her ground.</p>
+
+<p>"I had ceased to care for you," she said, lifting her unflinching
+eyes to his face; "and I did not need your money. Come,
+enough of the past; you have squandered your fortune, and now
+you want another. You want to put yourself still more into my
+power by marrying a third wife&mdash;so be it; I consent."</p>
+
+<p>"Not so fast. You are first to promise me to place in my
+hands, on my 'marriage morn,' those unpleasant little documents
+which you hold against me. In return for which you will receive
+a sum of money, the amount of said sum to be hereafter
+arranged. Then we go our separate ways."</p>
+
+<p>"And if I refuse?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then, painful as it is, I must do my duty. You are to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>
+give me your answer when I return to Bellair; no time for
+tricks, mind. If the answer is no, then I interview Mr. John
+Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>"And you return?&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"The day after to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you shall have my answer. Until then&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She swept him a stately courtesy, which he returned with a
+most elaborate bow.</p>
+
+<p>Without another word from either, they separated; she gliding
+swiftly and silently toward the house, he going once more in
+the direction of Bellair village.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>How long she had slept it never afterward occurred to Miss
+Arthur to inquire. Something recalled her from the land of
+visions, and starting up in her chair she saw C&eacute;line, standing
+demurely before her, her face wreathed in smiles, and no signs
+of any uncanny adventure lingering about her.</p>
+
+<p>Beholding her safe and sound Miss Arthur began to pour out
+upon the luckless head of C&eacute;line, the vials of wrath prepared
+for her benefit.</p>
+
+<p>The girl listened with a face indicative of some secret source
+of amusement. Noting her look of evident unconcern, and the
+laughter she seemed vainly striving to keep under, Miss Arthur
+brought her tirade to an abrupt termination, and demanded to
+know what Miss C&eacute;line Leroque saw, in her appearance, that
+was so very ludicrous.</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon Miss C&eacute;line Leroque dropped upon a hassock, at
+the feet of her irate mistress, and laughed outright&mdash;actually
+laughed unreservedly, in the presence and despite the rage of the
+ancient maiden!</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_024.jpg" width="400" height="566" alt="&quot;Then you shall have my answer.
+Until then&mdash;&quot;&mdash;page 178."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Then you shall have my answer.
+Until then&mdash;&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_178">page 178.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>Then observing that she was preparing another burst of wrath,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>the girl appeared to be struggling for composure, and vainly endeavoring
+to articulate something, of which Miss Arthur could
+only catch the name, "Mr. Percy." Thereupon she fairly bounced
+out of her chair, demanding to know "what on earth" Mr.
+Percy had to do with her maid's reprehensible conduct.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mademoiselle, everything!" gasped C&eacute;line. "Only let
+me explain, and mademoiselle will laugh, too. Oh, <i>Mon dieu,
+Mon dieu</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>Calming herself by a violent effort, C&eacute;line told her story, and
+its magic dispelled the wrath of her much neglected, sorely aggrieved
+mistress. Such a pretty little story it was, interspersed
+with sly looks, knowing nods, and rippling bursts of laughter.
+Listened to with, first, disdainful silence; then, growing interest;
+last, spasmodic giggles, <i>apropos</i> ejaculations, and much
+blushing and maidenly confusion.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, mademoiselle, after you had gone down, I went to
+my room, to take just a few little stitches upon some of my poor
+garments, that I must wear to-morrow. I don't know how it
+was, but I sat on my bedside thinking, after it was done, and
+fell off asleep."</p>
+
+<p>"Off the bed?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! no, no, mademoiselle; off into sleep, I mean. When I
+awoke I was anxious to know how much time I had slept away,
+and came down to your apartments. You were still in the
+drawing-room, and I passed on to the kitchen, surprised to find
+that it was very late. 'I will hasten,' I thought, 'and can so
+go to the village, and telegraph my sister before my mistress
+rings for me;' for I didn't think," with a sly look, "that you
+would be at liberty <i>very</i> early in the evening. The&mdash;what you
+name him?&mdash;a&mdash;operateur, was out, and I had to wait a little
+time. Coming back so late, I became afraid of the woods, and
+took the path along the highway. Entering at the front and
+coming up the avenue, I was about to pass around by the east
+walk to the side entrance when,&mdash;" stifling a laugh.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_025.jpg" width="400" height="569" alt="&quot;O, Mademoiselle, every thing!&quot;
+gasped C&eacute;line.&mdash;page 180."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;O, Mademoiselle, every thing!&quot;
+gasped C&eacute;line.&mdash;<a href="#Page_180">page 180.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well?" impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"When the front door opened and I, standing in the shadow,
+saw the light fall upon the face and figure of Monsieur Percy."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; go on."</p>
+
+<p>"I mention this, mademoiselle, only to show you how I know
+so positively that it <i>was</i> monsieur who&mdash;oh! oh!" laughing
+again softly.</p>
+
+<p>"Who?" with increased impatience; "who did what, girl?"
+eyeing her suspiciously.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line composed herself and continued: "Seeing monsieur,
+I stopped, for I did not wish him to discover me abroad so late.
+So I stood in the thick shade until he should have passed. He
+came slowly toward me and, just about four paces from my
+hiding-place, paused, turned and looked, back at the house. I
+could see him gazing toward the upper windows, and presently
+I saw your shadow upon the blind as you entered your dressing-room.
+The light shone out from your window, too; and after
+looking for a while, I heard him murmur to himself: 'That
+must be her window; I believe I am bewitched, for I can't bear
+to lose its light,' and then&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Stop laughing, you ridiculous girl! And what then?"</p>
+
+<p>"And then, mademoiselle, he began walking up and down
+within sight of your window&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!" rapturously.</p>
+
+<p>"Oui; and I&mdash;oh, mademoiselle, he was in the very path
+that I must take to approach the side entrance. And he
+walked and walked, and I waited and waited. Then I thought
+I would try getting around by the other way, and creep up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+carefully from the terrace. So I crept along to the other side,
+back of the arbor, and up the terrace, and managed to reach
+the entrance unseen. <i>Mon Dieu</i>, mademoiselle, the door was
+locked! I was shut out! What was I to do then? I sat me
+down in the shadow of the portico and waited once more.
+After a terribly long time I could see that he was not moving
+up and down. I peeped cautiously, and he seemed to be departing.
+Then I came out stealthy as a cat, and found that he
+was going away, and the reason&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"The reason?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oui, mademoiselle; the light in your room had disappeared."</p>
+
+<p>"Disappeared!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oui, mademoiselle. Then I bethought me there might yet
+be a chance. I came up to the front entrance and tried the door.
+It was not locked. My heart leaped for joy. I blessed the
+carelessness of the servants, and stole cautiously in. I came
+to this room. All was dark; but the coals there showed me
+your figure in the chair. I could not mistake the graceful outlines
+of mademoiselle. I entered very quietly, relighted your
+lamp&mdash;some little breeze must have flared it out while you
+slept. I was looking at you, and wondering what you would
+say if you knew how nearly crazy with love you had driven
+that stately, handsome Monsieur Percy, when you awoke."</p>
+
+<p>It is needless to say that, long before C&eacute;line had finished
+her recital, her mistress was in the best of humors. Indeed,
+C&eacute;line's volubly uttered, intensely flattering, highly probable
+recital, had an exhilarating effect upon her; so much so, that
+the lady found sleep now quite impossible. So poor C&eacute;line was
+doomed, after all, to build the new braids and puffs into a wonderful
+edifice upon the head of Miss Arthur, and to repeat over
+and again the sweet story of "how he loved her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The "wee sma'" hours were beginning to lengthen once more
+when C&eacute;line was released from duty, and went wearily up to
+her room; wearily, yet with undimmed eyes, and the mischievous
+dimples still lurking about the corners of her mouth.</p>
+
+<p>She muttered: "Bah! it is better than sleep, after all; if only
+the others were as easily duped as she!"</p>
+
+<p>By which words, a listener might have been led to suppose
+that C&eacute;line Leroque had been practising deception upon some
+confiding individual.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<h2>GATHERING CLUES.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Claire had been absent all the morning, had gone to make
+some call; at least she had said to Olive, at breakfast, "I
+think I will take the ponies, Olive, and drive into the city this
+morning. It is nice out of doors, and I have made no calls since
+I came here."</p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard sat alone in her cosy drawing-room. She had
+been reading, but the book was somehow not in tune with her
+mind or mood. She had allowed it to fall at her feet, where it
+lay, half opened, while she drifted away from the present in sorrowful
+reverie. Lifting her eyes, she saw a cab drive away from
+the villa gate, and a form hurrying along the marble pathway.
+Springing up, Olive herself threw open the door, and clasped
+her arms about&mdash;Miss Arthur's French maid! who returned the
+caress with much enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, my dear child, how glad I am to see you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Even in this disguise?" laughed the girl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Even in blue glasses, and that horrid jacket," smiled Olive.
+"What an ugly thing it is. Come and take it off, <i>ma belle</i>; do,"
+leading the way up the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>"I come, autocrat, and I shall much enjoy getting out of this
+head-gear," shaking her bewigged head. Then abruptly,
+"Where's Claire?"</p>
+
+<p>"Out for a drive and some calls," without looking back.
+"How surprised and glad she will be to see you. Now, come
+in and make a lady of yourself once more." She led the way
+into Madeline's room. "Are you tired, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Then come into my boudoir when you are dressed, and we
+will have a cosy chat while waiting for Claire."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't be long," responded the girl. "I have a good many
+things to say to you, which had better be said before Claire
+comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well; I await your ladyship," and Olive closed the
+door, leaving Miss Arthur's maid alone.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought so," muttered she, tearing off the blue glasses;
+"she has gone to meet Edward Percy. Poor dupe! it is indeed
+time to act."</p>
+
+<p>She discarded the ill-fitting jacket, flung away the ugly black
+wig, and, in a very few moments, stood arrayed in a pretty,
+neatly fitting gown, glowing and lovely,&mdash;Madeline Payne once
+more.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if I shall see or hear of <i>him</i>," she whispered to
+herself as she crossed to Olive's boudoir. "Oh, if I could! It
+would be one ray of sunlight only to clasp his hand!"</p>
+
+<p>Olive had been informed of all that Madeline herself knew,
+of the doings at Bellair, at the time when the girl went down,
+disguised as C&eacute;line Leroque. Now, therefore, Madeline lost no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>
+time in making Olive acquainted with, at least a part of, the
+events that had transpired during her sojourn in the Oakley
+mansion, in the capacity of maid. Of Edward Percy she said
+not a word, for reasons of her own, wishing to keep all knowledge
+of him from Olive for the present.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, I was just in time, Olive," she supplemented, when
+Mrs. Girard had expressed her astonishment at the startling
+revelations of the past four weeks. "I had not an hour to lose in
+setting my snare for these plotters. They little dream what is
+in store for them. Poor Kitty! I feel like a wretch when I
+think of the advantage I took of her, by making her poor dead
+body a weapon, as one might say, against a villain whom she
+would never have lifted a finger to injure in her life. But I
+could see no other way. Do you know, Olive, they are going
+to erect a stone over her, bearing my name?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive looked up in surprise. "No! is it possible?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, quite. I fancy John Arthur thinks he will feel more
+thoroughly assured of my demise, when he can see my name on
+a marble slab."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, tell me what especial purpose brought you up to town
+to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline moved restlessly in her chair. "A medley," she
+said, laughing uneasily. "A woman's reason; things being quiet,
+I wanted recreation, and to tell you of my success thus far.
+Then, a detective's reason; to get from you some information
+bearing upon your own affairs, as connected with Lucian Davlin.
+Then I want to see Dr. Vaughan, in his professional capacity.
+But mind, Olive, not a word to him of my discoveries just yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly not, if you do not wish it."</p>
+
+<p>And this was all the mention made by either of Clarence
+Vaughan.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You see," began Madeline, after a brief silence, "Mrs. John
+Arthur and her quondam brother, hold occasional private interviews.
+As they generally prove interesting, I make it a point
+to be present whenever possible. Now, from some chance words
+dropped at different times, I have been led to think that if I
+were more fully informed in regard to this Percy, I might find
+the missing link. Indeed, I may tell you I have found a clue,
+just the shadow of something that, if I could develop it, might
+prove of wonderful value to both of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! if you could find out anything that would throw light
+upon this dark wrong they have done Philip, these men&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Olive, I think we may hope. Now, may I begin to
+cross-question you?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive smiled sadly. "Go on, my little lawyer."</p>
+
+<p>"First, then, were you personally acquainted with this Percy?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"You have seen him?"</p>
+
+<p>"At the trial; yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Describe him."</p>
+
+<p>"A blonde man, handsome, some would call him, with a soft,
+languid voice. I did not observe further."</p>
+
+<p>"Would you know him if you saw him again?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly. His was a rather uncommon face, and then the
+association&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Just so," interrupting her; "and would he know you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think not. I was heavily veiled, by Philip's order."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, try to recall all that Philip has told you of this man."</p>
+
+<p>"They were college students together. Philip said that Percy
+was indolent and vain, and too fond of female society of any sort
+or grade. He made wonderful progress in such studies as he
+chose to apply himself to, and, had he been less of a sybarite,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>
+might have obtained high rank as a scholar. But he was erratic,
+full of queer conceits, and never made himself popular
+with either professors or students."</p>
+
+<p>"Social standing not good, eh? Now, as to his finances."</p>
+
+<p>Olive looked somewhat surprised at this question, but replied:
+"His parents were not well to do, but he was a favorite with
+a rich old uncle, who paid his college expenses and made him a
+liberal allowance. However, he fell into disgrace just before his
+class graduated, and his uncle cast him off. He never took his
+degree."</p>
+
+<p>"What was the occasion of his disgrace?"</p>
+
+<p>"Some scandalous affair with a mechanic's daughter; the
+particulars I did not learn."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not. They are of no consequence. This happened
+how long ago?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive mused. "Philip is now thirty-three; this was twelve
+years ago."</p>
+
+<p>"Good! Did he hear of Mr. Percy after that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; in less than a year, he married a wealthy woman, ten
+years his senior, and a widow, so it was reported. Percy, it is
+said, denied this marriage, and continued to live and go and
+come, like a bachelor. If the marriage ever occurred, it was
+kept, for some reason, very much under the rose. Be this as it
+may, Percy was always provided with money from some source.
+He used to gamble sometimes, but was not an habitual gamester.
+Philip said he was too much of a sybarite and ladies' man to be
+wedded to such sports."</p>
+
+<p>"Yet he played with Lucian Davlin, and lost heavily?"</p>
+
+<p>"True."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, is this all you have to tell of Mr. Percy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not quite. About a year before the catastrophe of the hunting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>
+party, the uncle who had cared for him during his college
+career, died. Percy inherited his wealth, the old man,
+after all, making his will in favor of his graceless nephew."
+Olive paused for a moment, then added, "I believe that is all I
+can tell you of this man. I have not seen or heard of him since
+poor Philip was sent to prison."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline sat gazing abstractedly into the grate fire, her hands
+clasped in her lap, working restlessly, as was their habit, when
+she was thinking deeply. Suddenly a sharp exclamation broke
+from her lips, and Olive turned towards her a look of surprised
+inquiry. But Madeline was clasping and unclasping her hands
+nervously, with eyelashes lowered, and brow knitted in a frown.</p>
+
+<p>"Olive," she said, after a long cogitation, "you have put into
+my hands another thread, a very valuable one. Don't ask me
+any questions now; I want to get my ideas in shape."</p>
+
+<p>Olive's face wore an anxious look, but she had learned the
+lesson of patient waiting, so she quietly acquiesced, and then a
+long silence fell between them.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline resumed the conversation, or rather recommenced it.
+She made no further mention of that part of the subject nearest
+the heart of Olive Girard. She made inquiries as to affairs and
+recent events at the village, talked of Claire, and finally said:</p>
+
+<p>"Olive, I want you to go out with me during the day, and
+perhaps we had better go early. I must return to Bellair by to-morrow
+morning's train, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and I am sorry that you stay with us such a very short
+time. Where do you intend going, Madeline?"</p>
+
+<p>"To a detective,&mdash;that is, if you will repeat your generous
+offer, which I so cavalierly declined not long ago, to be my
+banker for an indefinite time."</p>
+
+<p>"Gladly, dear child; now you are beginning to be sensible.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>
+But the detective,&mdash;may I venture to inquire?" with assumed
+hesitation.</p>
+
+<p>"You may," laughed Madeline. "And don't give me credit
+for all the ingenuity. True, I have racked my poor feminine
+brain and feminine instinct, coupled with the knowledge obtained
+by some keen experience with Treachery, Despair, and
+Hate. These grim but very efficient instructors have aided me
+materially, simple, inexperienced girl as I was so recently&mdash;or so
+long ago, as it seems to me. And good old Aunt Hagar, who
+has been in this woful world many years&mdash;years full of vicissitudes
+and sharp life-lessons&mdash;is my counsellor and adviser. She
+aids me greatly with her shrewdness, and knowledge of the world
+and the folk in it. So we have discussed this point together and
+concluded that, in order to leave no loopholes open in our nice
+little net, we had better have the movements of Mr. Lucian
+Davlin closely watched while he is in the city."</p>
+
+<p>"To discover&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Who he calls upon, and what manner of man he will choose
+to assume the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of 'physician from Europe,' etc. Without
+putting the full facts of the case into the hands of the officer, we
+will arrange to know all about the man who will help Davlin
+carry out their last scheme. No train shall leave the city on
+which he would, by any possibility, set out for Bellair accompanied
+by this sham physician, without the knowledge of our
+man, or men, of skill. All discoveries made are to be reported,
+through you, to Mademoiselle C&eacute;line Leroque, who will receive
+said reports in <i>propria persone</i>, at the Bellair post-office. Then
+I must proffer a request, that Doctor Vaughan will hold himself
+in readiness to come to Oakley, should I find it necessary to
+summon him, accompanied by another physician, or not, as shall
+be hereafter decided."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I don't just see how all this is to end, but these two steps
+appear to me to be in the right direction. I am ready to undertake
+your commissions, and to act as your banker to the fullest
+extent of your needs."</p>
+
+<p>After a few more words they decided that, as Claire did not
+return, and time was precious, they would order a carriage immediately
+after luncheon, and pay a visit to the detective forthwith.
+Accordingly, half an hour earlier than usual, a light repast
+was served, and sparingly partaken of. Then having left
+a message for Miss Keith, who was momentarily expected, the
+two friends drove into the city.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WIELDS THE SURGEON'S KNIFE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Returning two hours later, they found Claire impatiently
+waiting their arrival, radiantly beautiful, and overflowing with
+joy at sight of her beloved Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"You delightfully horrible girl!" she exclaimed, after greetings
+had been exchanged, and they had all seated themselves in
+the drawing-room. "To think that you are growing more
+lovely every day, and that you go and hide all your beauty under
+an old fright of a wig, nasty blue spectacles, and deformities of
+jackets! I declare, it's too bad! And then to wait on an old
+spinster who wears no end of false hair, and false teeth, and
+false&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Puzzled already. So much for not being a lady's maid;
+Now, I can enumerate every 'falsehood' assumed by that lady."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then Madeline gave a ludicrous description of Miss Arthur
+and her peculiarities, causing even grave Olive to laugh heartily,
+and Claire to exclaim that she should watch the advertisements,
+and try playing ladies' maid herself.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline once more recounted, in brief, the state of affairs
+now existing at Oakley, or as much as she had told Olive,
+during which recital impulsive Claire kept up a running fire of
+comments, indicative of surprise, indignation, disgust, and very
+one-sided interest.</p>
+
+<p>"I never heard of such a nest of vultures," she exclaimed,
+excitedly, when Madeline had completed her story. "Why,
+it's worse than a chapter out of a French drama. Goodness
+gracious, Madeline Payne, I only wish I could help you deal
+out justice to these wretches! Where is my fairy godmother
+now, that she don't come and convert me into a six-foot
+brother, to take some of this burden out of your little weak
+hands?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not so weak as you may think, you little warrior. These
+hands," holding them up to view, "have a very strong cause,
+let me tell you&mdash;and you think you would like to help me?"
+laughing oddly.</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't I!" with a fierce nod that made her two companions
+laugh again.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was wearing away, and Madeline began to
+grow restless, at finding no opportunity for saying a word in
+private to Claire. At last fortune favored her. Olive, seeing
+her gardener digging about a little summer-house, which was a
+favorite retreat on a warm afternoon, bethought herself of a
+plan for adding to its comfort, by laying down certain vines,
+etcetera, for next season's growing. So she bade the girls note
+how she should have improved her arbor by another season,
+and hurried out to begin an argument, that from previous experience
+she knew would be hotly contested.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_026.jpg" width="400" height="568" alt="&quot;You delightfully horrible
+girl!&quot;&mdash;page 191."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;You delightfully horrible
+girl!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_191">page 191.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This was Madeline's opportunity. And as soon as Olive was
+out of hearing, she turned to Claire saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, I have not told you, nor Olive, all that I have discovered.
+For reasons, which you will understand later, I have
+thought it best to make them known to you first. We must invent
+some excuse for absenting ourselves from the parlor for a
+while."</p>
+
+<p>Claire looked grave and somewhat startled for an instant, but
+recovering her composure she said, simply: "I am at your disposal,
+dear."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I had better go to my room and lie down," meaningly.
+"Tell Olive, when she comes in, that I feel fatigued,
+and have gone to my room to rest. Then you had better plead
+letters to write, and follow me. Can you manage it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Easily," smiled Claire. "Why, Bonnie, Aileen, this becomes
+more and more mysterious and interesting."</p>
+
+<p>"Wait before you pass judgment; now I am gone."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline quitted the drawing-room and sauntered leisurely
+up-stairs.</p>
+
+<p>When Olive reappeared, Claire carried out the little programme,
+as arranged, and hastened to join Madeline, musing as she went:</p>
+
+<p>"What could have induced that odd darling to confide in
+stupid little me, while she leaves wise, thoughtful Olive in the
+dark?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline was pacing the floor when Claire entered the room.
+She motioned her to a chair, and pushed the bolt in the door,
+thus rendering intrusion impossible.</p>
+
+<p>"What <i>can</i> you be thinking of, Madeline, with that gloomy
+face?" exclaimed Claire, nestling into an easy chair as she spoke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I am thinking, Claire," replied Madeline, gazing down at
+her sadly, "of the first time I ever saw your sister, and of the
+errand on which she came to me. How full of hope I was that
+morning! How radiant the day seemed, and how confident I
+was of happiness to come; as confident as you are to-day, Claire,
+darling."</p>
+
+<p>There was something in Madeline's tone that sounded almost
+like pity, as she uttered these last words. Claire started and
+colored, but still was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Olive did a brave, generous deed, but at that time I almost
+hated her for it," musingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, Madeline," interposed Claire, "you don't mean
+just that, I am sure. You never really hated our noble, unhappy
+Olive."</p>
+
+<p>"I felt very wicked, I assure you," smiling faintly. Then,
+abruptly: "How should you have felt, similarly placed?"</p>
+
+<p>"I?" wonderingly; "mercy! I can't tell."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, think," in a tone almost of entreaty. "I want to
+know&mdash;I must know."</p>
+
+<p>"You must know? Why, Madeline?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because&mdash;because I want to find out what is in you; how
+strong you are."</p>
+
+<p>Claire looked more and more mystified. "State your case,
+then," she said, quietly. "I will try and analyze myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Good; now, Claire Keith, suppose that you love some man
+very much, and you trust him without knowing why, for no
+other reason than that you love him. When you are happiest,
+because you have but just parted from your lover&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Claire started and colored a little.</p>
+
+<p>"When you are thinking of the time, not far away, when
+you shall not part from him any more&mdash;suppose that just then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>
+I, a friend whom you have loved, come to you and say: 'This
+hero of yours is false; he is a two-faced villain; he has deceived
+you; he is not honorable; he will betray you if he can.' What
+would you answer me?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire lifted her head proudly. "I would make you take back
+every word you had uttered, or prove it beyond the shadow of
+a doubt!"</p>
+
+<p>"And if I proved it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then I would thank you; and hate myself for having been
+deceived, and him for having deceived me."</p>
+
+<p>"Would you grieve for him, Claire?"</p>
+
+<p>Quick as thought came the answer:</p>
+
+<p>"Grieve for him! No; I could no more love a liar and a
+villain than I could caress a viper! I tell you, Madeline, I understand
+your feelings when you say that you hate Lucian
+Davlin," shuddering.</p>
+
+<p>"And you would not hate me also for rudely undeceiving you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hate my best friend; my benefactor? No!"</p>
+
+<p>"I am thankful!"</p>
+
+<p>"But, Madeline, what does all this mean? Is this what you
+wanted to say to me? What can my feelings have to do with
+your case?"</p>
+
+<p>"Claire,"&mdash;Madeline's face was very sad again&mdash;"this case is
+<i>our</i> case."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Our</i> case?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ours; Olive's, yours, mine. And now I am going to
+test your strength."</p>
+
+<p>Claire did not look very strong just then.</p>
+
+<p>"You saw Edward Percy to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Claire Keith sprang to her feet. "How do you know that?
+And what has he to do with the case?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I know it because we, Mr. Percy and myself, came to this
+city by the same train, and I could easily surmise that his business
+here was with you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well?" haughtily.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!" sadly; "you are almost angry with me now. But
+listen, Claire. Are you perfectly familiar with all the facts connected
+with poor Philip Girard's sad disgrace?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think so," coldly.</p>
+
+<p>"You know that he was convicted upon the testimony of
+Lucian Davlin and another?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you recall the name of the man who was wounded, so
+said the jury, by Mr. Girard?"</p>
+
+<p>Up sprang Claire, her eyes blazing. "Madeline," she cried,
+"I see what you are coming at. You have got into your head
+the ridiculous idea that this man Percy and Edward Percy are
+the same. It is absurd!"</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because&mdash;because it <i>is</i>!" Then, as if the matter were quite
+settled, "why, he must have been in Europe at the time."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, you are getting angry with me, and I have a long
+story to tell you. But there is an easy way to settle this matter.
+Are you willing to let me take the picture you have of Edward
+Percy, and accompany me into Olive's presence while I ask her
+if she ever saw the original?"</p>
+
+<p>Nothing else could have so effectually quenched Claire's wrath.
+She saw that Madeline had some strong reason for her strange
+words. Sitting down with paling cheeks and trembling limbs,
+she thought. Then looking across at Madeline, she said,
+wearily:</p>
+
+<p>"I can't understand you at all, Madeline. It never once occurred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>
+to me to connect the man who brought all that trouble
+upon poor Philip with my Edward Percy. It does not seem
+possible that they could be the same. I had supposed the other
+Percy to be a man like&mdash;like Davlin."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, did you ever see Davlin?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"And you have fancied him a sort of handsome horse jockey,
+and this Percy one of the same brotherhood?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps;" smiling a little.</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, Lucian Davlin is an Apollo in person, a courtier in
+manner, and a Mephistopheles at heart. And Percy is an
+abridgement of Davlin."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't see," said Claire, rather frostily, "even if Edward
+Percy is the man who was wounded by some unknown person
+five years ago, why he must of necessity be a villain and a deceiver.
+It would be very, very unpleasant, of course, to find
+that such were the case. But I could not hate Edward Percy
+for that, even if the fact must separate us."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, Edward Percy is not only the man who helped send
+your sister's husband to prison, but he is a villain doubly perjured;
+a deceiver, a betrayer. If justice ever gets her due he
+will end his days in the penitentiary."</p>
+
+<p>Then, seeing that Claire was about to speak: "Let me finish;
+now you shall have your proof."</p>
+
+<p>She recounted all there was to tell, from the day when Claire
+showed her the picture and she distrusted the face, to the present
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>Claire Keith listened in immovable silence; not a muscle
+quivered. For many minutes after Madeline had finished her
+recital, she sat staring straight before her, like a statue. At
+length she arose and crossed to the door, drew back the bolt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>
+with a steady hand, put up a warning finger, and said, in a voice
+like frozen silver: "Wait;" then disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline scarcely had time to wonder what she meant, before
+Claire was back, standing before her, calm and cold as an iceberg.
+She held in her hand the picture of Edward Percy,
+with the face turned away, and this she extended to Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"It is best that we make no mistakes," she said, quietly;
+"go show that to Olive. Don't tell her how it came into your
+possession; ask her if it is he. Then come back to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I tell her&mdash;" began Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell her nothing until you have brought me back the
+picture."</p>
+
+<p>She pushed her toward the door.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline walked down-stairs, sorely puzzled, but thinking
+fast. "She fights these facts bravely," she muttered. "Does
+she doubt, I wonder?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive was sitting before the window, watching the movements
+of John, the gardener, when Madeline entered the parlor.
+Going straight to her, she placed the picture in her hand, and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know that face?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard gave a startled cry.</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, how did you come by this?"</p>
+
+<p>"No matter," calmly; "do you know the picture?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"The man who sent my husband to prison&mdash;Percy."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline took the picture from her hand. "Are you sure?"</p>
+
+<p>"I could swear to the face after these five years."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Olive. Now be patient; I must go back to my
+room for a little while. Don't ask me any questions yet. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>
+I come down I will tell you how I obtained this, and why I
+have talked to you so much of this man."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline walked out of the room, leaving Olive staring after
+her in bewilderment.</p>
+
+<p>Claire was sitting in the same attitude as when she left her.
+"Well?" she said, raising her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"She recognized it immediately. She would swear that it is
+the man who sent her husband to prison."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, dear."</p>
+
+<p>Claire took the picture from her hands, and without once
+glancing at it, she bent forward and dropped it into the grate.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline threw herself on her knees at the girl's side. "Oh,
+Claire, Claire! I have made you miserable; forgive me."</p>
+
+<p>"What for? You have done me a great service. Do you
+think I want that man's love?"</p>
+
+<p>"But Claire&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I loved an ideal; that ideal, see;" pointing to the grate.
+"Do you think I shall cry after a pinch of ashes?" looking her
+full in the face. Then, with a shrug of annoyance. "You have
+roused poor Olive's curiosity; she must hear of this miserable
+discovery of ours, or yours&mdash;bah," stamping her foot angrily,
+"my pride is hurt more than my heart!"</p>
+
+<p>"Your pride need not suffer more than it does already, Claire.
+You have seen me humbled to the dust; see me so still; and
+surely it won't be so very bitter to think that poor Madeline
+knows that your sunny life has suffered one little shadow. I
+will tell Olive all I know of Edward Percy, save that you have
+ever seen him. The knowledge that he has crossed your path
+can in no way benefit her, or aid us in unmasking him. Evidently,
+he does not know that you are in any way connected
+with the fortunes of Philip Girard. Let this rest between us.
+If this plan suits you, perhaps I had better go and tell my story
+to Olive. I have twice postponed a revelation to-day."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_027.jpg" width="400" height="565" alt="&quot;She bent forward, and dropped
+it into the grate.&quot;&mdash;page 200."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;She bent forward, and dropped
+it into the grate.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_200">page 200.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The plan does suit me. Many, many thanks, dear Madeline,"
+said Claire, calmly and gently. "And now, as I must,
+of course, be supposed to first hear this story after it has been
+told to Olive, or at that time, I would prefer being present when
+you enlighten her. Let us dress for dinner, go down together,
+and&mdash;I leave the rest to your tact."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline could readily comprehend that it would be easier for
+Claire to sit, with Olive, a listener, than to wait and hear the
+story from the lips of her sister. If it were left to Olive to tell,
+Claire's face might betray her heart, perhaps. But now, hearing
+it from Madeline, and with Olive, whose surprise and dismay
+at the revelation would quite effectually cover up any signs of
+emotion Claire might manifest, the thing did not appear so
+difficult.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline signified her approval, and they separated to dress
+for dinner.</p>
+
+<p>Claire Keith made her toilet with swift, firm fingers, and all
+the while she was thinking fiercely, scornfully. She was not
+stunned by the blow that had stricken her love and her pride.
+Rather, it seemed, she was quickened into unusual activity and
+clearness of thought.</p>
+
+<p>After a time, perhaps, she would feel more the sadness, the
+cruelty, of the hurt; now she felt the outrage to her pride, and
+a fierce self-scorn that she could have ever loved a man so base.
+She hated Edward Percy for having deceived her, and equally
+she despised herself for having been thus deceived by this
+specious flatterer.</p>
+
+<p>"You little fool!" she scoffed at her image reflected back from
+her mirror. "You are a very idiot among idiots! I wonder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>
+where are all your high notions now. So," giving her hair an
+angry jerk, "you perched yourself aloft on a pinnacle, didn't
+you? You looked down upon all your sisterhood who were
+deceived, or betrayed, or sorrowing; and you wondered how
+women could be so weak; how they <i>could</i> be deluded by base
+men. You looked upon poor dead Kitty, and wondered what
+was the flaw in her intellect that made her the slave of a
+gambler and a villain. You argued that only an unsophisticated
+school girl could be deceived as was poor Madeline. Oh,
+you have been very proud, and very high has been your
+standard of manly worth, Miss Claire Keith! So high that
+the man who has occupied it might easily slip from that pedestal
+to&mdash;Haman's gallows!"</p>
+
+<p>At this point in her tirade, something suspiciously like a sob
+arose in her throat, and checked her utterance. But it did not
+retard her activity, and in a much shorter time than she usually
+spent upon an evening toilet, Miss Keith stood, accoutered and
+defiantly calm, at Madeline's door.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+<h2>A DUAL RENUNCIATION.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Madeline Payne had lingered over her toilet, pondering the
+incomprehensible manner of Claire Keith. She now stood before
+her mirror, brush in hand, thinking.</p>
+
+<p>"Not ready yet?"</p>
+
+<p>If Madeline could believe her eyes, Claire was actually smiling!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I thought you would be waiting for me," continued Claire,
+composedly, pulling a big chair forward, and sitting down where
+she could look full in Madeline's face. "But it is just as well;
+there is something that I want to say, before we go down. Why
+don't you go on with your hair?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's hand, brush and all, had dropped to her side, and
+she was silently staring at her friend. Without a word she resumed
+her employment, looking more at Claire than at her own
+reflected image.</p>
+
+<p>"You guessed rightly, when you accused me of having seen
+Mr. Percy to-day," pursued Claire.</p>
+
+<p>"Accused, Claire?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, informed, then. I did see him. He wrote me a
+letter; it was posted at Bellair; you see," smiling bitterly;
+"that I have no reason for doubting anything you have
+told me."</p>
+
+<p>A new light broke over Madeline's face. "Do you doubt?"
+she asked, quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Not one word!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" drawing a breath of relief. "You were so composed
+I thought&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"That I was hoping to disprove your statements? Not at
+all. And why should I not be composed? Do you think my
+heart could break for such a man?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hearts don't break so easily," said Madeline, gloomily, "but
+they ache sometimes."</p>
+
+<p>"Do they?" placing her hand over her heart and smiling
+faintly. "Well, mine don't ache either, yet; but it burns."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline stayed her brush again. "No," she murmured,
+"it don't ache <i>yet</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Claire made a gesture of impatience. "Oh, I know what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>
+you mean, Madeline! By and by my heart will ache, of course&mdash;I
+know that, having discovered, quite recently, that I am
+human. One can't feel outraged and angry always, and sometimes,
+I suppose, my day-dreams will come back and haunt me.
+Well, that is a part of the price we have to pay for intruding
+into dreamland when we are not asleep. But this is not what
+I began to say. Edward Percy met me to-day, and this is
+what he told me: He said he was going away, upon some
+geological expedition, and would most likely be gone a year.
+He wanted me to promise to hold myself free until he could return
+and claim me. He would exact no other promise now,
+only pledging himself. At the end of a year, all obstacles to
+our open engagement would be removed. I, of course, supposed,
+then, that the 'obstacles' referred to, were business and financial
+ones. Don't think, Madeline, that we have been in the habit
+of meeting clandestinely. He visited me openly in Baltimore,
+but not often enough to excite remark; and we frequently met
+at other places, as he went in the best society there."</p>
+
+<p>Claire paused, but Madeline went on with her toilet in grave
+silence.</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, darling, I can't thank you enough for opening
+my eyes before it was too late, while it was no worse&mdash;and I can't
+explain my feelings. I despise him, and I despise myself for
+being thus duped. It is my pride that is suffering now but, of
+course, I know that, despise the man as I may, my heart will be
+heavier and my life darker, because of what I believed him to
+be. Now let us go to Olive."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline Payne threw her arms impulsively about her friend
+and murmured, brokenly:&mdash;"Claire, Claire! you are braver than
+I, and far, far more worthy. You have a right to be happy,
+and you shall be."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And in that moment the girl renounced a resolve she had
+taken, and a hope she had cherished.</p>
+
+<p>As they descended the stairs together Claire fancied that she
+looked paler, and a thought sadder than before.</p>
+
+<p>They found Olive and dinner waiting.  As they took their
+places about the luxury-laden board, three lovelier women or
+three sadder hearts could not have been found in a day's journey.</p>
+
+<p>Of the three, Claire Keith was the calmest, the most self-possessed.
+All that was to be related by Madeline, all that Olive
+was waiting in anxious expectation to hear, she knew already.
+The best and the worst had been revealed to her; her own course
+was clear before her. So she ate her dinner with composure,
+and bore a large share in the table talk that, but for her, would
+have been rather vague and spasmodic.</p>
+
+<p>Dinner was an ordeal for Olive, at least, on that day, for her
+mind was filled with thoughts of Philip, and wonderment as to
+how the picture of the man who had been his ruin came into the
+possession of Madeline, who was making herself more and more
+of a mystery.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline, too, was restless. She wished the revelation were
+made and done with. She wondered if she could control the
+future so far as Olive was concerned, for she had made her plans,
+and did not propose to let the work be taken out of her hands.</p>
+
+<p>When Madeline had related to Olive the events that had been
+transpiring at Oakley, she had narrated faithfully the scenes between
+Cora and Percy, but she had withheld the name of the
+latter, a fact which was not even noticed by Olive, who had not
+been especially interested in this last actor upon the scene.</p>
+
+<p>Now, when dinner was over, and they had grouped themselves
+about the grate, its ruddy glow illuminating the twilight that
+was fast giving place to evening shadows, Madeline retold the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>
+story of Percy's first interview with Cora on his arrival, and
+his second, in the summer-house, the overhearing of which had
+caused that long absence from Miss Arthur's dressing-room,
+which necessitated her ingenious and highly improbable explanation
+to the aggrieved spinster, with which the reader is already
+acquainted.</p>
+
+<p>During this recital the face of Olive Girard was a study. It
+changed from curiosity to wonder; from wonder to a dawning
+hopefulness of finding in all this a possible clue, that might
+help her husband to his freedom. Then despair took the place
+of hope, as the clue seemed to elude her grasp. At the end,
+astonishment and incredulity fairly took away her breath. She
+sank back in her chair without uttering a word.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline waited for comments, but Claire was the first to
+speak. During the recital she had been able to think, and to
+some purpose. As the disjointed fragments were joined together
+by Madeline, Claire was drawing shrewd and close inferences.
+Now she lifted her head and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, have you formed any sort of a theory, as to how
+all this might affect Olive and Philip?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline looked up in surprise at the question, and answered
+it by asking another: "Have you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but I think Olive would rather hear yours; and mine
+is, as yet, but half formed."</p>
+
+<p>Olive had regained a measure of her composure, and now she
+sat erect, and said, eagerly:</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, I have been too much surprised and shocked to
+think clearly. Think for me, child, and for mercy's sake, tell me
+at once all that you suspect."</p>
+
+<p>"I suspect much," replied the girl, gravely; "but what we
+want is <i>proof</i>. First we want to find out who is the party who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>
+accompanied Madame Cora, or Alice, as Percy called her, to
+Europe, for to Europe she went. Did she know Lucian Davlin
+ten years ago? Did they go together to Europe?"</p>
+
+<p>"You want to know, first of all," said Claire, interrupting
+her, "when the intimacy of those two did begin. The woman
+may not have known him ten years ago. It would be easier to
+find out if they have been allies during the past five years."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turned a look of surprised admiration upon the
+speaker as she replied:</p>
+
+<p>"You are right, Claire, and keener than I. Yet, my theory
+is, that they were friends before the woman fled from her cottage
+in the suburbs. I think the stealing of the marriage certificate
+has a strong savor of a man's thoughtful cunning. The woman
+could not have been so deep a schemer in those days. Now,
+Olive, let us suppose that these two were plotting in unison.
+Edward Percy's first wife dies, and no one the wiser about the
+marriage. Then he inherits his uncle's wealth. If Edward
+Percy were to die then, the woman, Cora, could come forward
+as his widow, display the proofs of their marriage, and inherit
+his fortune. He seems to have no living relatives, but, even
+should other heirs appear, she would claim her widow's portion."</p>
+
+<p>"Good heavens!" gasped Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait," pursued Madeline; "now, don't you see, supposing
+all the rest true, that if Lucian Davlin attempted the life of
+this man, with the view of getting his money, and if he failed
+in some manner unknown,&mdash;don't you see that, holding over
+Percy's head the fear of the law, and the proofs of his having
+committed bigamy, he might thus silence him? Then, that the
+two disliking Philip Girard, and finding the opportunity to
+throw suspicion upon him by circumstantial evidence, would
+naturally do so."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Olive Girard was fearfully agitated, but, after a few moments,
+had in a measure recovered her self-possession. Then the three
+seemed seized with a desire to talk all at once. And talk they
+did,&mdash;fast, earnestly, excitedly at times.</p>
+
+<p>At last, out of many words, they evolved a plan of action,
+and having arrived at a definite conclusion, they settled down
+into partial calm once more; a calm that was broken by a most
+agreeable ripple.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Clarence Vaughan was announced, and ushered into
+their presence, all in the same moment.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan was glad to see Madeline; that was evident.
+But while he expressed his pleasure in frank, brotherly fashion,
+his eyes wandered from her face to that of Claire Keith.</p>
+
+<p>It was only a look, but Madeline Payne would have exchanged
+all the smiles, hand clasps, and brotherly words she
+could ever hope to receive from him, for one such glance from
+his eyes. But the tender wistfulness was all for Claire&mdash;blind
+Claire, who saw nothing of it.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline withdrew her hand from his clasp, uttering, as she
+did so, a flippant commonplace in response to his hearty greeting,
+but Claire had caught the look in his eyes, and the false
+gayety in Madeline's voice, and it caused her to wonder.</p>
+
+<p>Heretofore she had lived in a dream of her own, and had
+been careless of the varying expressions of those about her.
+Her dream had been dispelled, and she seemed now to have a
+keener eye for the emotion of others. Troubles of our own,
+sometimes, open our eyes to the fact that our friends are not all
+supremely happy. Then we naturally fall to speculating as to
+the cause. This was the case with Claire. She speculated a
+little as to why the eyes of Dr. Vaughan rested upon her, with
+that half-sad expression in them. Then she wondered why the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>
+spirit of perversity had possessed Madeline, and induced her to
+extend to Doctor Vaughan so shabby a welcome. Then, without
+realizing it, she fell to observing the manner of these two
+more closely.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Payne, what report do you bring from the
+enemy's country?" he asked, after a few commonplaces between
+himself and the mistress of the house.</p>
+
+<p>"I have not been in the enemy's country, Doctor Vaughan;
+the enemies are infesting mine."</p>
+
+<p>"As you please, little warrior," smiled he. "Then may I
+ask, how goes the battle?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes! you may ask," crossing over and seating herself
+beside Olive, "but your curiosity must wait. It's a ridiculous,
+tiresome story, and wouldn't amuse you much, or interest you,
+either. I am going to let Mrs. Girard inflict it upon you, when
+she thinks you need a penance."</p>
+
+<p>"I think <i>you</i> need a penance now, Miss Payne, for accusing
+me of too much curiosity, and too little interest."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I didn't mean that, exactly," shrugging her shoulders
+carelessly. "I suppose, of course, a physician is interested to a
+certain extent in all his subjects, living or dead; but I can't let
+you dissect my mind to-night. Besides," laughing maliciously,
+"I know you would recommend leeches and blisters, and maybe
+a straight jacket, and I can't be stopped in my charming career
+just yet."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence Vaughan seemed not in the least offended by the
+girl's cool insolence. He smiled indulgently, and when Olive
+ventured a gentle remonstrance, he murmured to Claire, with a
+half laugh: "Miss Madeline is incomprehensible to me; do you
+understand her, Miss Keith?"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_028.jpg" width="400" height="563" alt="&quot;Dr. Vaughan was ushered
+into their presence.&quot;&mdash;page 209."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Dr. Vaughan was ushered
+into their presence.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_209">page 209.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>And Claire, looking across at her friend, replied, oddly: "I
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>love her, Doctor Vaughan, and I begin to understand her, I
+think."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you?" smiling down upon her. "Then some day will
+you not interpret her to me?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire's answer was again given oddly, as, lifting her eyes to
+his face, she said, quite gravely: "If it is necessary to do so,
+perhaps I will."</p>
+
+<p>Then conversation became general; rather Dr. Vaughan
+talked, and they all listened.</p>
+
+<p>Claire found herself thinking that Doctor Vaughan was a
+noble-looking man; not alluringly handsome, as was Edward
+Percy; not possessing the magnetic fascination that Madeline
+had described as belonging to Lucian Davlin. But he had a
+fine face, nay, a grand face, full of strength and sweetness; not
+devoid of beauty, but having in it something infinitely better,
+truer, and more godlike than mere physical beauty can impart
+to any face.</p>
+
+<p>Then she thought of Madeline, of her loneliness, her sorrow,
+and her need of just such a strong, gentle nature to lean upon,
+to look up to, and to obey. "She would obey <i>him</i>," quoth
+Claire to herself.</p>
+
+<p>Next she fell to watching Madeline, through half-closed eyelashes.
+She saw how the girl listened to his every word; how,
+when his eyes were not upon her, she seemed to devour him
+with a hungry, longing, sorrowful gaze.</p>
+
+<p>"As if she were taking leave of him forever," thought
+Claire.</p>
+
+<p>And that is what Madeline was doing. When she came to
+the city, it was with the determination to win the love of this
+man, if it could be won; to let nothing stand between herself and
+the fulfillment of that purpose. But all this had been changed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>
+and seeing how bravely Claire bore the shock of her lover's
+baseness, how proudly, how nobly, she commanded herself,
+Madeline had abandoned her purpose.</p>
+
+<p>"I am not worthy of him, and she is," she told herself.</p>
+
+<p>When she declared that Claire should be happy, she bade
+farewell to her own hope of future happiness. She would help
+him to win the girl he loved, and then she would be content to
+die; aye, more than content.</p>
+
+<p>To-night, therefore, she was saying in her heart a farewell to
+this man, who was so dear to her. She had almost hoped that
+she should not meet him again for the present, and yet she was
+so glad to have seen him once more. She was glad of his
+presence, yet fearful lest her good resolution might be shaken.
+She would not let him be too kind to her, rather let him think
+her ungrateful, anything&mdash;what could it matter now?</p>
+
+<p>"Shall you not come back to the city soon, Miss Payne?
+Surely your old home can not be the most charming place, in
+your eyes," questioned Clarence, after a time.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't intend returning to the city&mdash;at least, not for some
+time, Doctor Vaughan."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence looked perplexed.</p>
+
+<p>To break the silence that ensued, Claire crossed to the piano
+and began playing soft, dreamy fragments of melody.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Olive took up the conversation, and when Madeline
+again turned her face toward him, he was listening to Olive
+and looking at Claire. It was the same look, yearning, tender.</p>
+
+<p>Claire, all unconscious of his gaze, was looking at Madeline,
+as she played softly on.</p>
+
+<p>As Olive and Clarence talked, Claire saw the face of the girl
+grow dark; she saw her eyes full of a hungry, despairing light,
+and gradually there crept upon her the remembrance that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>
+had seen that same look, only not so woful, in the eyes of
+Clarence Vaughan; that same look fixed upon herself. Involuntarily
+her fingers slipped from the keys, and she turned
+from the instrument to encounter the same gaze fastened upon
+her now; ardent, tender, longing eyes they were, and her own
+fell before them.</p>
+
+<p>Claire Keith was troubled. She wanted to be alone, to
+think. She murmured an excuse; her head ached; she would
+retire.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence had noted an unusual brightness in her eye, and a
+feverish flush upon her cheek. Now, however, she was quite
+pale, and as she extended her hand to him with a strange, new
+sensation of diffidence and consciousness, he clasped it for a
+moment in his own, and said, earnestly: "You do not look at
+all well, Miss Keith; you are sure it is only a headache?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite sure," smiling faintly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then good-night. I shall enquire after your head to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," she murmured.</p>
+
+<p>Then nodding to her sister and Madeline, she glided from the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>It had <i>all</i> come upon her at once. Edward Percy was an
+impostor; Edward Percy, as she had believed in him, had
+never existed. The love that she had believed hers was hers no
+longer, or, if it were, she no longer desired it. Almost simultaneously
+with this knowledge, came the unspoken assurance
+that she was the possessor of a worthier love, a manlier heart.</p>
+
+<p>She could not feel glad to know this, yet she was not sorry.
+Somehow it soothed her to know that she was not a forsaken,
+loveless maiden. It was something to possess the love of so
+good a man, even if she could make it no return.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But Madeline. Poor Madeline; she loved this man; she
+needed his love, she must have it.</p>
+
+<p>Claire pulled back the curtains from her window, and gazed
+out into the starlit night. "She needs this love," the girl murmured.
+"Clarence Vaughan shall learn to love her, if I can
+bring it about. Yes, <i>even if I loved him</i>, I would give him up
+to her."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+<h2>STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>When Claire left the drawing-room, Madeline had started up
+as if about to follow her. Recalling herself, she sat down again,
+keeping, as before, near to Olive, and taking as little share in
+the conversation as was possible. She dared not trust herself
+too much; her good resolves were strong, but not stronger than
+was the charm of his voice and presence.</p>
+
+<p>"Let them think me uncivil," she murmured to herself;
+"what does it matter now?"</p>
+
+<p>But her trial was not over. Olive and Clarence had held
+frequent council together concerning the wayward girl, and how
+they could best influence her aright without breaking the letter
+or spirit of their promise to her. And the absence of Claire
+added to their freedom of speech.</p>
+
+<p>Olive had intimated to Doctor Vaughan that Madeline had
+taken some, perhaps unsafe, steps in the pursuit of her enemies.
+He, understanding the impetuosity of the girl, as well as her
+reckless fearlessness, could not conceal the anxiety he felt.</p>
+
+<p>Acting under an impulse of disinterested kindness, Clarence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>
+Vaughan crossed the room and sat down by Madeline's side.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Madeline," he said, as respectfully as if to an empress,
+"we, Mrs. Girard and myself, cannot get rid of the idea that
+somehow you partly belong to us; that we ought to be given a
+little, just a very little, authority over you."</p>
+
+<p>There was a shade of bitterness in the girl's answer. "You
+have the <i>right</i> to exercise authority over me, if you choose to do
+so. You are my benefactors."</p>
+
+<p>They felt the reproof of her words. This keen-witted, uncontrollable
+girl, was putting up barrier upon barrier between herself
+and their desire to serve her. Very quietly he answered
+her:</p>
+
+<p>"You do us an injustice, when you suggest that we claim your
+confidence on the score of any indebtedness on your part. It
+has been our happiness to serve you. If we have not your
+esteem, if we may not stand toward you in the light of a brother
+and sister, anxious only for your welfare and happiness, then we
+have no claim upon you."</p>
+
+<p>"My happiness!"</p>
+
+<p>The face was averted, but the lips were pale and drawn, and
+the words came through them like a moan.</p>
+
+<p>Olive stirred uneasily. She could see that the girl was suffering,
+although she did not guess at the cause.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," continued Clarence, laying his hand gently upon hers;
+"Madeline,&mdash;will you let me call you Madeline?&mdash;will you let
+me be your brother? I have no sister, almost no kin; I won't
+be an exacting brother," smilingly. "I won't overstep the limits
+you set me, but we must have done with this nonsense about
+benefactors, and gratitude, and all that."</p>
+
+<p>No answer, eyes down dropped, face still half-averted, and
+looking as if hardening into marble.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What is my fate?" still holding her hand. "Can you accept
+so unworthy a brother?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," in such a cold, far-away tone.</p>
+
+<p>He lifted the hand to his lips. "Thank you, Madeline," he
+said, as if she had done him high honor.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline felt her courage failing her. How could she listen
+to him, talk to him, with anything like sisterly freedom, and not
+prove false to her resolve to further his cause with Claire? And
+yet how could she refuse him the trust he asked of her?</p>
+
+<p>It was very pleasant to know that he was thus interested
+in her; she felt herself slipping quickly into a day-dream in
+which nothing was distinct save that there existed a bond between
+them, that he had claimed the right to exercise authority
+over her, and that she was very, very glad even to be his slave.
+Listening to his voice, a smile crept to her lips, and&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i4">"The eyes smiled too,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But 'twas as if remembering they had wept,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And knowing they would some day weep again."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"I don't intend to give up my claims upon Madeline; I
+elected her my sister, when I brought her home with me. And
+I had been flattering myself that I was to have a companion,
+but I am afraid she will run away from me. She ought to take
+Claire's place in my home, ought she not? Claire is with me
+so little," said Olive.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline smiled sadly. "I could never do that," she said;
+"I could no more fill Claire's place than I could substitute myself
+for the rays of the sun."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire would laugh at you for that speech," said Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"But it is true; is it not?" appealing to Doctor Vaughan.</p>
+
+<p>He colored slightly under her gaze. "We don't want two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>
+Claires," he said; "but you can be yourself, and that will make
+us happy."</p>
+
+<p>The girl let her eyes fall, and rest upon her clasped hands.</p>
+
+<p>"I would like to make you happy," she said, softly.</p>
+
+<p>"Really?"</p>
+
+<p>"Really," lifting her eyes to his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, promise us that you will let us help to right your
+wrongs, and that you will come back, like a good sister, and stay
+with Mrs. Girard."</p>
+
+<p>Her face hardened. "I can not," she said, briefly.</p>
+
+<p>"You will not," seriously.</p>
+
+<p>No answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, what is it you wish to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"What I wish to do, I can not. I can tell you what I intend
+to do," sitting very erect.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what do you intend?"</p>
+
+<p>"I intend," turning her eyes away from them both, and fixing
+them moodily upon the fire, "to follow up the path in which I
+have set my feet. I intend to oust a base adventuress from the
+home that was my mother's; to wrest the fortune that is mine
+from the grasp of a bad old man, and make him suffer for the
+wrong he did my mother. I intend to laugh at Lucian Davlin,
+when he is safe behind prison bars; to hunt down and frustrate
+an impostor, and by so doing, clear the name of Philip Girard
+before all the world." Her voice was low, but very firm, dogged
+almost, in its tone.</p>
+
+<p>He turned a perplexed face toward Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"What does it all mean?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"What she says," replied Mrs. Girard, flushing with suppressed
+excitement. "She has found a clue that may lead to
+Philip's release."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He moved nearer to the girl, and taking her hand, drew her
+toward him, until she faced him. "Madeline, is this true?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"And you will hold me to a promise not to lift a hand to
+help clear the name of my friend?" reproachfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," unflinchingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you doing right, my sister?"</p>
+
+<p>She attempted to draw away her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Child, what can you do?"</p>
+
+<p>She turned her eyes toward Olive. "She will tell you what
+I have done. I can do much more."</p>
+
+<p>Olive came suddenly to her side. "Oh, Madeline!" she
+said, "let him take all this into his hands. It is not fit work
+for you. It will harden you, make you bitter, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline wrested her hand away and sprang up, standing
+before them flushed and goaded into bitterness.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say it.
+It will harden me; it has already. It will make me bitter and
+bad, unfit for your society, unworthy of your friendship. I
+shall be a liar, a spy, a hypocrite&mdash;but I shall succeed. You
+see, you were wrong in offering me your friendship, Doctor
+Vaughan. I shall not be worthy to be called your sister, but,"
+brokenly, "you need not have feared. I never intended to
+presume upon your friendship; I never intended to trouble you
+after&mdash;after my work is done. Ah! how dared I think to become
+one of you&mdash;I, whom you rescued from a gambler's den;
+I who go about disguised, and play the servant to people whom
+you would not touch. You are right; after this I will go my
+way alone."</p>
+
+<p>Her voice became inarticulate, the last word was a sob, and
+she turned swiftly to leave the room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Olive sprang forward with a remorseful cry, but Clarence
+Vaughan motioned her back, and with a quick stride was at the
+door, one hand upon it, the other firmly clasping the wrist of
+the now sobbing girl. Closing the door, which she had partially
+opened, he led her back, very gently, but firmly, and
+placing her in a chair, stood beside her until the sobs ceased.
+Then he drew a chair close to her own, and said, softly:</p>
+
+<p>"My little sister, we never meant this. These are your own
+morbid fancies. Because you are playing the part of amateur
+detective, you are not necessarily cut off from all your friends.
+We would not give you up so easily, and there is too much that
+is good and noble in you to render your position so very dangerous
+to your womanhood. You have grieved Mrs. Girard
+deeply by imputing any such meaning to her words. Can't you
+understand, child, that it is because we care for you, because we
+want to shield you from the hardships you must of necessity
+undergo, that we wish you to let us work with and for you?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline shivered and gave a long, sobbing sigh. He took
+both listless hands in his own.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, sister mine, won't you make me a promise, just one?"</p>
+
+<p>Her hands trembled under his. How could she resist him
+when his strong, firm clasp was upon her; when he was looking
+into her eyes pleadingly, even tenderly; when his breath was on
+her cheek, and his voice murmured in her ear? She sat before
+him, contrite, conquered, strangely happy; conscious of nothing
+save a wish that she might die then and there, with her hands in
+his. She was afraid to speak and break the spell. He had
+said that he cared for her, was not that enough?</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me, Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she breathed, rather than uttered.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_029.jpg" width="400" height="558" alt="&quot;Yes,&quot; she cried, wildly,
+&quot;I know; you need not say it&quot;&mdash;page 219."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Yes,&quot; she cried, wildly,
+&quot;I know; you need not say it&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_219">page 219.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"Thank you. Now, sister, we are going to trust to your
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>sagacity in this matter. But you must promise me, as your
+brother, who is bound to look after your welfare, that you will
+take no decisive steps without first informing us, and that as
+soon as the work becomes too heavy for your hands, you will
+call upon me to help you. My sister will surely do nothing
+that her brother cannot sanction?"</p>
+
+<p>She dropped her eyes and said, simply: "I will do what you
+wish me to."</p>
+
+<p>"You will give me your confidence, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Am I to hear a complete history of all that has happened
+thus far from Mrs. Girard?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"And, after hearing it, may I communicate with you?"</p>
+
+<p>She glanced up in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Or," continued he; "better still, may I come down to Bellair
+and talk things over with you, should I deem it advisable?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you wish;" looking glad.</p>
+
+<p>"Mind, I don't want to intrude; I will not come if you don't
+desire it; but I shall wish to come. And you may manage our
+interviews as you see fit. I will do nothing to compromise you
+in the eyes of the people you are among. May I come?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes;" very softly, and trembling under his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Then we will say no more about all this to-night. You have
+already abused your strength, and if you don't get rest and sleep
+we shall have you ill again, and then what would become of our
+little detective?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive came forward with outstretched hands and pleading
+eyes. "I can't wait any longer to be forgiven for my thoughtless
+words," she said. "Madeline, you will forgive me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course Madeline will," replied Clarence. "Now you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>
+had better forgive Madeline for putting such a perverse construction
+upon your words, and then we will send her away to get
+the rest she must have."</p>
+
+<p>"I was abominable, Olive," said the girl, so ruefully that
+Clarence laughed outright. "Of course, I know you are too
+kind to say a cruel thing. I&mdash;I believe I was trying to quarrel
+with you all; do forgive me."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you were trying to quarrel with us; and I haven't
+a bit of faith in your penitence now, young lady," said Clarence,
+rising and smiling. "I can't believe in you until I am assured
+that you will go to bed straightway, and swallow every bit of
+the wine I shall send up to you."</p>
+
+<p>"With something nice in it," suggested Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"With something very nice in it, of course. Now, will you
+obey so tyrannical a brother, and swallow his first brotherly prescription
+without making a face?"</p>
+
+<p>All his kindness and care for her comfort brought a thrill of
+gladness to the girl's heart, and some of the old <i>debonnaire</i>,
+half-defiant light back to her eyes, as she replied, while rising
+from her chair, in obedience to a gesture of playful authority
+from Clarence, "Will I accept a scolding and go to bed, that
+means."</p>
+
+<p>Then making a wry face and evidently referring to the wine:
+"Is it very bitter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not very; but you must swallow every drop."</p>
+
+<p>"And I will order the wine," said Olive, touching the bell.
+"You know, Dr. Vaughan, that Madeline leaves us in the
+morning?"</p>
+
+<p>"No?" in surprise. "Must you go so soon?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," demurely, "unless I am forbidden."</p>
+
+<p>"We are too wise to forbid you to do anything you have set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>
+your heart on. Then I must tell you good-by here and now,
+for a little time."</p>
+
+<p>"Or a long one," gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"Not for a long one. 'If the mountain won't come,' you
+know;&mdash;well, if I don't get <i>very</i> satisfactory reports from you,
+look out for me."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't get at me," wickedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't I? Wait and see. I'll come as your grandfather, or
+your maiden aunt."</p>
+
+<p>"Please don't," laughing, "one spinster is enough."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I won't, then; I think I'll come as your father confessor."</p>
+
+<p>At this Olive joined in the laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, Dr. Vaughan."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, Miss Payne," with exaggerated emphasis and
+dignity, but holding fast to her hand.</p>
+
+<p>She looked at the hand doubtfully, then up into his face.
+"Good-night&mdash;brother," with pretty shyness.</p>
+
+<p>"That is better," releasing the little hand. "Good-night,
+sister mine. Mind you drink every drop of the wine."</p>
+
+<p>"I will!" quite seriously. "Good-night, Olive."</p>
+
+<p>Olive stooped and kissed her cheek. "Good-night, dear,"
+she said, "and happy dreams."</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan opened the door for her, and smiled after her as
+she looked back from the foot of the stairs. Then closing the
+door he came back, and stood on the hearth-rug, looking thoughtful.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a difficult nature to deal with, and in her present mood,
+a dangerous one. She is painfully sensitive, and possesses an
+exceedingly nervous temperament. Then, that episode with
+Davlin was very humiliating to her, and it is constantly in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>
+mind. Evidently she has lately been under much excitement,
+and she is hardly herself to-night. I think, however, if I were
+you, I would make no further effort to dissuade her from her
+purpose. It will do no good, and harm might come of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, I will not," said Olive. "How thankful I am that
+you were here; your calmness and tact has saved us something
+not pleasant. I don't think I could have managed her myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Probably not; and now I will prepare a soothing and sleeping
+draught, and then, as it is late, will detain you no longer.
+Perhaps you had better see that the draught is administered."</p>
+
+<p>Olive gladly accepted the charge, and shortly after Doctor
+Vaughan took his departure, wise and yet blind; blind as to
+the true cause of Madeline's outbreak and subsequent submissiveness.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline obeyed to the letter the instructions of Doctor
+Vaughan. As a result, she fell asleep almost immediately, before
+calm thought had come to dispel her mood of dreamy happiness.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning she awoke quieted, refreshed, and quite mistress
+of herself. She did not once refer to the events of the
+previous evening. Only, before taking leave of Claire, she
+whispered in her ear:</p>
+
+<p>"Dear Claire, you can make a noble man happy. Let his
+love atone to you for this present bitterness. God bless you
+both."</p>
+
+<p>It was an odd speech, truly. But as Madeline turned her
+back upon the pretty villa, and was driven swiftly to the railroad
+depot, she wondered why Claire had responded to it only
+with a passionate kiss and with tears in her beautiful eyes.</p>
+
+<p>And Claire, having seen her driven from the door, fled precipitately
+to her room. Locking herself in, she fell upon her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>
+knees beside a low chair. Burying her face in her hands she
+wept bitterly,&mdash;not for herself, but for the girl who was so
+heroically resigning to another the man she loved; who was going
+forth, alone, to encounter hardship, perhaps danger, to fight
+single-handed, not only her own battles, but those of her friends
+as well.</p>
+
+<p>"And I dared to judge her," said the girl, indignantly. "I
+presumed to criticise the delicacy of this grand, brave nature!
+Why, I ought to be proud to claim her friendship, and I am!"</p>
+
+<p>From that hour, let Madeline's course seem ever so doubtful,
+let Olive fear and doubt as she would, Claire Keith stoutly defended
+every act, and averred that Madeline could do nothing
+wrong. And from that hour, Claire began to plot upon her
+own responsibility.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>In due course Doctor Vaughan called, and was closeted with
+Olive a very long time&mdash;rather, with Olive and Claire, for this
+young lady had surprised her sister, by expressing a desire to
+hear what Doctor Vaughan would say of Madeline's adventures.
+To tell the truth, Claire had fancied that Clarence
+would criticise more or less, and it was in the capacity
+of champion for the absent that she appeared at the interview.</p>
+
+<p>After the matter had been fully discussed, Doctor Vaughan
+addressed himself to Claire: "Miss Keith, you have been a
+good listener. Won't you give us your opinion as to the
+achievements of our little friend?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire came forward, with a charming mixture of frankness
+and embarrassment: "First, let me make the <i>amende honorable</i>,
+Doctor Vaughan. I presented myself at this interview with
+the full intention, and for the express purpose, of waging war<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>
+upon you both, if necessary, and I had no doubt that it would
+be."</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan looked much astonished.</p>
+
+<p>"But," pursued Claire, "I have misjudged you. I did not
+think you would so heartily approve of Madeline's course, and
+I was bristling with bayonets to defend her."</p>
+
+<p>"I must own to being of Claire's opinion," interposed Olive,
+looking somewhat amused.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence smiled and then looked thoughtful.</p>
+
+<p>"I can easily understand," he said, seriously, "how you
+ladies might have looked upon the course Miss Payne has
+taken, as an objectionable, even an improper, one.  The position
+in which she has placed herself is, certainly, an unusual, a
+startling one for a woman of refinement and delicacy.  But we
+must consider that the occasion is also an unusual one, and ordinary
+measures will not apply successfully to extraordinary cases.
+As to the impropriety, no one need fear to trust his or her
+honor in the keeping of a woman as brave and noble as
+Madeline Payne is proving herself."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you do not censure Madeline for refusing to trust the
+matter in the hands of a detective?" questioned Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"The matter <i>is</i> in the hands of a detective, Mrs. Girard; in
+the hands of the shrewdest and ablest little detective that could,
+by any possibility, have been found.  Why, Madeline has accomplished,
+in a short time, what the best detectives on our
+regular force might have labored at for a year, and then failed
+of achieving!"</p>
+
+<p>Claire threw a look of triumph at her sister.  "Oh, how glad
+I am to hear you say all this, and how glad Madeline would be."
+Then she checked herself suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>"I can suggest but one improvement upon the present state of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>
+things," said Clarence, after a moment's reflection.  "That is, if
+we can persuade Madeline to permit it, and I think we can, we
+should set two men at work, neither one to be aware of the employment
+of the other.  One to trace out as much of the past of
+this man Percy, as may be.  The other to perform the same
+office for Davlin.  Of course, they would not be advised of the
+actual reason for these researches, and so their investigations
+would in no way interfere with Madeline's pursuit of the game
+at Oakley. I don't think we could improve upon the present
+arrangement there."</p>
+
+<p>"And how do you propose to bring this about?" questioned
+Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"By going down to Bellair, as soon as I can get the necessary
+permission from our little <i>generalissimo</i>, and talking the matter
+over with her.  I think she will see the propriety of the move,
+don't you?" appealing to Claire.</p>
+
+<p>"I think she will follow your advice," gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope she will," said Olive.</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>know</i> she will do exactly right," asserted Claire, so positively
+that they both smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I may venture to agree with you, Miss Keith," said
+Dr. Vaughan.</p>
+
+<p>"You had better, both of you, where Madeline is concerned,"
+looking ferocious.</p>
+
+<p>"I begin to think that valor is infectious," laughed Olive, and
+Clarence joined in the laugh.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether the result of their council was pleasing to each of
+the three.  Olive was hopeful; Clarence was full of enthusiasm,
+and more deeply in love than ever with generous Claire; and
+she was pleased with his frank admiration of Madeline's
+courage, and full of hope for Madeline's future.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He admires her now. He will love her by and by," she assured
+herself.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+<h2>HAGAR AND CORA.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Meanwhile, Lucian Davlin had hastened to Bellair in response
+to Cora's summons, full of conjectures as to what had
+"turned up."</p>
+
+<p>When the noon train from the city puffed up to the little platform,
+Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end of
+the depot platform stood the dainty ph&aelig;ton of Mrs. John Arthur.
+That lady herself reined in her prancing ponies, and the whole
+formed an object of admiration for the few depot loungers.</p>
+
+<p>As Lucian Davlin crossed the platform and took his seat beside
+the lady, an old woman hobbled across the track. Casting
+a furtive glance in the direction the ponies were taking, she
+hobbled away toward the wood.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur's maid had surmised aright. It was no part of
+Cora's plan to permit the inmates of Oakley a view of Mr. Davlin
+on this occasion. So the ponies were driven briskly away from
+the town, and when that was left behind, permitted to walk
+through the almost leafless woods, while Cora revealed to Lucian
+the extent of the fresh calamity that had befallen them in the advent
+of Mr. Percy.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what have you to say to all this?" demanded the
+lady, pettishly, after she had disburdened herself of the story,
+with its most minute particulars. "This is a pretty state of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>
+affairs, is it not? I am worn out. I wish Oakley and the whole
+tribe were at the bottom of the sea!"</p>
+
+<p>"Stuff!" with much coolness; then taking a flask containing
+some amber liquid from a breast pocket he held it between his
+eyes and the light for critical examination.</p>
+
+<p>"Stuff? where? In that flask?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, in your words. This," shaking the amber liquid, "is
+simon pure; best French. Have some? I felt as if I needed a
+'bracer' this morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Up all night, I presume," eyeing him askant.</p>
+
+<p>"Pretty much;" indifferently. "Won't take any? Then,
+here's confusion to Percy," and he took a long draught. "Now,
+then," pocketing the brandy and turning toward her, briskly,
+"I'm ready for business. How the deuce did we let this fellow
+pounce down upon us like this? I thought he was safe in
+Cuba?"</p>
+
+<p>"He will never be safe anywhere, until he gets to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Heaven," suggested he.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose it was stupid," she went on, gloomily. "But when
+Ellen Arthur raved of her dear friend Mr. Percy, how was I to
+imagine that among all the Percys on earth, this especial and
+particular one should be <i>the</i> Percy. I wrote you that she had a
+lover of that name; did it occur to you that it might be he?"
+maliciously.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, candidly, it did not."</p>
+
+<p>"We were a pair of stupid fools, and we are finely caught for
+our pains."</p>
+
+<p>"First statement correct," composedly; "don't agree with the
+last, however."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Does he know I am on deck?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Didn't inquire after me, or say anything about the documents?"</p>
+
+<p>"No special inquiries."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, where is the great danger?"</p>
+
+<p>"Where?" much astonished.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, where? If you told me all the truth concerning yourself
+ten years ago, we can make him play into our hands."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't go too fast. When you told me that he believed you
+to have left home because of an unkind step-mother, was that
+true?"</p>
+
+<p>"It was true. I did leave home and come to the city when I
+was but sixteen, because my father was a drunkard, and my
+step-mother abusive, and we were poor and I was proud."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't doubt that fact;" with an outward gesture of the supple
+hand. "But you told him that you had two big step-brothers!"</p>
+
+<p>Cora laughed. "A big brother is an excellent weapon to hold
+over the heads of some men," she suggested.</p>
+
+<p>"True," with an amused look. "Why didn't you brandish
+one over me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Over you?" laughing again. "You and Percy were two
+different men."</p>
+
+<p>"Much obliged," lifting his hat with mock gravity. "Well,
+we are 'two different men,' still; just let your pretty little head
+rest, and leave Percy to me."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish to Heaven you had made an end&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-h-h. I have sighed to rest me,'" warbled Davlin.
+"Cora, my love, never put your foot on too dangerous ground."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I do wish so, all the same," said she, with feminine
+pertinacity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now, tell me what your plan is. We want to understand
+each other, and have no more bungling."</p>
+
+<p>"All you will have to do will be to keep quiet and follow
+my cue. When I come down, we must manage it that I meet
+Percy in Miss Arthur's absence. The rest is easy; this Mr.
+Percy will not find his path free from obstacles, I think."</p>
+
+<p>"What game will you play?"</p>
+
+<p>"Precisely what I am playing now. I am your brother.
+That will explain some things that puzzled him some time ago,"
+dryly. "I am your sole protector, saving the old chap, don't
+you see."</p>
+
+<p>The woman pondered a moment. "I think it will answer,"
+she said, at last. "At any rate, it is the best we can do now."</p>
+
+<p>A little more conversation, and Cora was quite satisfied with
+that and other arrangements. Then the ponies were headed toward
+the village, and driven at a brisk pace, thus enabling Mr.
+Davlin to catch the afternoon train back to the city. No one
+at Oakley was any the wiser for his visit. It was no uncommon
+thing for Cora to drive out unattended, and she returned to the
+manor in a very good humor, considering the situation.</p>
+
+<p>Cora's drive had given her an appetite, and she had partaken
+of no luncheon. She therefore ordered a very bounteous one
+to be served in the red parlor. Mr. Arthur was enjoying his
+usual afternoon siesta; Miss Arthur was invisible, for which
+Cora felt duly thankful; and so she settled herself down
+to solitude, cold chicken and other edibles, and her own
+thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>Ever and anon she gazed listlessly from the window, letting
+her eyes rove from the terrace to the hedgerow walk, the woods
+beyond, and back again to the terrace. Suddenly she bent
+forward, and looked earnestly at some object, moving toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>
+the stile from the grove beyond. A moment later, it appeared
+in the gap of the hedge.</p>
+
+<p>Cora leaned back in her chair, still observant, muttering:</p>
+
+<p>"I thought so! It is that ugly old woman. Now, what in
+the world does she want here, for&mdash;yes, she is entering the
+grounds, coming up the terrace."</p>
+
+<p>True enough, old Hagar was coming slowly along the terrace,
+taking a leisurely survey of the window facing that walk, as
+she did so. Casting her eyes upward, they met the gaze of
+Mrs. Arthur. Then, much to the surprise of that lady, she
+paused and executed a brief pantomime, as grotesque as it was
+mysterious.</p>
+
+<p>Cora drew back in some astonishment, pondering as to whether
+or no the old woman might not be partially insane, when Susan,
+the maid of the romantic mind, appeared before her, and
+announced that the object of her thoughts was in the kitchen, and
+begged that Mrs. Arthur would permit her an interview.</p>
+
+<p>Cora was still more surprised. "What can she possibly
+want with me?" she asked herself, quite audibly.</p>
+
+<p>"If you please, ma'am," volunteered Susan, "she said that it
+was something important; and that she never would have put
+her foot inside this house, begging your pardon, only for you."</p>
+
+<p>Flattering though this statement might be, it did not enlighten
+her much. So, after a moment's reflection, Mrs. Arthur bade
+the girl, "show the old person up."</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, in another moment almost, old Hagar was bowing
+very humbly before the lady with the silken flounces. Susan
+retired reluctantly, deeply regretting that she could find no time
+to stop up the key-hole with her ear, thus rendering it impossible
+for prying eyes to peep through that orifice.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old woman," began Cora, rather inelegantly, it must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>
+confessed, "what on earth were you making such a fuss about,
+down on the terrace? And what do you want with me?"</p>
+
+<p>A close observer of the human countenance divine would
+never have judged, from the small amount of expression that
+was manifest in the face of Hagar, that her reply would have
+been such a very humble one. "I want to serve you, dear lady."</p>
+
+<p>The "dear lady" pursed up her lips in surprise. "You&mdash;want&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"To warn you, madame."</p>
+
+<p>Cora was dumb with astonishment, not unmingled with apprehension.
+What had broken loose now?</p>
+
+<p>"I am only a poor old woman, lady, and nobody thinks that
+old Hagar has a heart for the wrongs of others. I said that I
+would never cross John Arthur's threshold again; but I have
+seen your pretty face, going to and fro through the village
+streets, and I knew there was no one to warn you but me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you did," remarked Cora, not knowing whether to be
+alarmed or amused, at the old woman's earnestness. "Well,
+old&mdash;what's your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hagar, lady."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old Hagar, do you mean to tell me that I am in any
+particular danger just at present?"</p>
+
+<p>"Is the dove in danger when it is in the nest of the hawk?"
+said Hagar, closing her eyes tight as she uttered the words, but
+looking otherwise very tragical.</p>
+
+<p>Cora laughed musically. "Good gracious, old lady!" She
+was modifying her titles somewhat, probably under the influence
+of Hagar's flatteries. "You mean to compare me to a dove,"
+laughing afresh, "in&mdash;a hawk's nest? Oh, dear! oh, dear!"
+wiping her eyes. "Now, then, please introduce me to the wicked
+hawk."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Hagar was getting tired of her part, and she made a direct
+rush at the point of the business, and with very good dramatic
+effect. "I mean your husband," she said, vehemently. "I
+mean John Arthur. He is a bad man. If he has not done it
+already, he will make you miserable by-and-by."</p>
+
+<p>Cora drew herself up and tried to look severe. "Old lady,"
+she said, with supernatural gravity, "don't you know that it is
+very improper for you to come and talk to me, like this, about
+my husband?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just hear her!" sniffed Hagar, rather unnecessarily; "all because
+I think she is too young, and too pretty, to be sacrificed
+like the others&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Like the others? What others?"</p>
+
+<p>"Like his first wife. She was young, like you, and a lovely
+lady. His cruelty was her death. And then he must worry
+and abuse her poor daughter, until she runs away and comes to
+an untimely end. And now&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you fear he will make an end of me?" briskly. "Sit
+down, old lady," becoming still more affable. "So Mr. Arthur
+ill-used his first wife, my predecessor?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, dear lady; you are very kind to a poor old
+woman," seating herself gingerly on the edge of a chair opposite
+Cora. "Yes, indeed, he did ill-use her. She was my mistress,
+and I shall always hate him for it."</p>
+
+<p>Cora mused. Here was an old servant who hated the master
+of Oakley; might she not prove useful, after a time? At any
+rate, it would be well to sound her.</p>
+
+<p>"You were very much attached to the lady, no doubt?" insinuatingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and who would not be? She was very sweet and good,
+was my poor mistress. Oh, he is a bad, bad man, madame, and
+you surely cannot be very happy with him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And he was unkind to his step-daughter, too?" ignoring
+the last supposition.</p>
+
+<p>"Unkind? He was a wretch. Oh, I could almost murder
+him for his cruelty to that poor dead lassie!" fiercely.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps he was none too kind to you," suggested Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he never treated me like a human being. He hated me
+because I tried to stand between her and harm. But he could
+not get rid of the sight of me. I have a little home where he
+can't avoid seeing me sometimes. I believe, if I kept always
+appearing before him, he would go raving mad, he hates me to
+that extent."</p>
+
+<p>"Um-m! Is that so?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed. Why, lady, if I were without house or home,
+and you, out of the kindness of your heart, were to take me into
+your employment as the very humblest of your servants, I believe
+he would kill us both."</p>
+
+<p>"You think he would?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora actually seemed to encourage the old woman in her garrulity.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know it. It's not much in the way of charity, or
+kindness, you will be able to do in <i>this</i> house. If he don't imprison
+you in one of these old closed-up musty rooms, you will
+be lucky. He is very dangerous. Sometimes I used to think
+he must be insane."</p>
+
+<p>Cora started. "Well, Hagar," she said, sweetly, "it's very
+good of you to take so much interest in me. He is very cross
+sometimes, but, perhaps, it won't be so bad as you fear."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope it won't," rising to go and shaking her head dubiously;
+"but I am afraid for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," laughing, "I'll try and not let him lock me up, at
+any rate. Now, is there anything I can do for you?"</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_030.jpg" width="400" height="563" alt="If ever you want to make him feel what it is to make others suffer,
+Hagar will help you.&mdash;page 238."  />
+<span class="caption">If ever you want to make him feel what it is to make others suffer,
+Hagar will help you.&mdash;<a href="#Page_238">page 238.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, lady. You looked so pretty, and so good, that I
+wanted to warn you; that is all. I should be glad if I could
+serve you, too, but I could never serve him. I don't want for
+anything, dear lady. Now the old woman will go."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't forget you, Hagar, if I ever need a friend."</p>
+
+<p>Hagar turned toward her. "If you ever want to make him
+feel what it is to make others suffer, Hagar will help you."</p>
+
+<p>There was a vindictive light in the old woman's eyes, and she
+hobbled out of the room, looking as if she meant all she had
+said.</p>
+
+<p>Cora sat, for a time, pondering over the interview, and trying
+to trace out some motive for insincerity on the old woman's
+part. But she could see none. She resolved to investigate a
+little, and all that evening was the most attentive and agreeable
+of wives. Abundant and versatile was her conversation.
+Deftly she led the talk up to the proper point, and then said,
+carelessly:</p>
+
+<p>"Driving through the village, to-day, I passed that queer
+old woman&mdash;Hagar, do they call her? She glared at me, oh!
+so savagely."</p>
+
+<p>"She is an old hag!" Mr Arthur answered, with unnecessary
+fierceness. "I don't see what Satan has been about, all these
+years, that he's not taken her away to her proper atmosphere."</p>
+
+<p>"Why," in pretty surprise, "I thought she used to be one of
+your servants?"</p>
+
+<p>"She was a servant to my first wife," moodily. "I got rid
+of the baggage quick enough, when Mrs. Arthur died. She is
+an old viper, and put more disobedience into that girl Madeline's
+head, than I ever could get out."</p>
+
+<p>"What a horrid old wretch she must be!" shuddering.</p>
+
+<p>Then the conversation dropped, and Cora was satisfied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"The old woman shall be my tool," she thought, triumphantly.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+<h2>TO BE, TO DO, TO SUFFER.</h2>
+
+
+<p>On the day that followed the events last related, Madeline
+Payne returned to Oakley to resume her self-imposed task.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving the train, the girl took the path through the woods.
+When she had traversed it half way, she came upon old Hagar,
+who was seated upon a fallen log awaiting her. Looking cautiously
+about, to assure herself that the interview would have no
+spectators, Madeline, or C&eacute;line, as we must now call her, seated
+herself to listen to the report of Davlin's visit, and the success
+of Hagar's interview with Cora.</p>
+
+<p>Expressing herself fully satisfied with what she heard, C&eacute;line
+made the old woman acquainted with the result of her visit to
+the city, or as much of it as was necessary and expedient. Then,
+after some words of mutual council, and a promise to visit her
+that evening, if possible, the girl lost no time in making her way
+to the manor, and straight into the presence of her mistress.</p>
+
+<p>Considering that her maid was&mdash;her maid, Miss Arthur welcomed
+her with an almost rapturous outburst. C&eacute;line had held
+high place in the affections of Miss Arthur, truth to tell, since
+her astonishing discovery of Mr. Edward Percy, in the character
+of young Romeo, promenading within sight of his lady's window.</p>
+
+<p>"C&eacute;line," simpered Miss Arthur, while the damsel addressed
+was brushing out her mistress's hair, preparatory to building it
+into a French wonder; "C&eacute;line, I may be wrong in talking so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>
+freely to you about myself and my&mdash;my friends, but I observe
+that you never presume in the least&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mademoiselle, I could never do that!" cooed the girl,
+with wicked double meaning.</p>
+
+<p>"And," pursued Miss Arthur, graciously, "you are really
+quite a sagacious and discreet young person."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, miladi." Then, as if recollecting herself, "Pardon,
+<i>mademoiselle</i>, but you are so like her ladyship, <i>Madame Le
+Baronne De Orun</i>, my very first mistress&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't mind it at all, C&eacute;line. As I was saying, you
+seem quite a superior young person, and no doubt I am not the
+first who has made you a sort of <i>confidante</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"Merci! no; my lady. <i>Madame Le Baronne</i> used to trust
+me with <i>everything</i>, and often deigned to ask my advice. But
+French ladies, oui, mademoiselle, always put confidence in their
+maids. And a maid will die rather than betray a good mistress&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly, C&eacute;line&mdash;are you going to put my hair so high?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very high, <i>miladi</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well; will it be becoming?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oui; La mode la Francaise," relapsing into ecstacy and
+French. <i>"Le coiffeur comme il faut! Chere amie, le-chef-a-&oelig;uvre!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur collapsed, and C&eacute;line continued to build up an
+atrociously unbecoming pile of puffs and curls in triumphant
+silence.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line never indulged in her native tongue, so she assured
+her mistress, except when carried away by momentary enthusiasm,
+or unwonted emotion. It was bad taste, she averred,
+and she desired to cultivate the beautiful American language.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Miss Arthur made another venture, feeling quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>
+justified in following in the footsteps of so august a personage as
+<i>Madame Le Baronne</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you see Mr. Percy after you left Bellair?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, mademoiselle."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you observe if he returned in the same train with yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, mademoiselle." Then, with a meaning little laugh:
+"Monsieur will not remain long from Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur tried to look unconscious, and succeeded in looking
+idiotic.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon, mademoiselle, but I can't forget that night. Mademoiselle
+is surely relieved of one fear."</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"The fear of being wooed because of her wealth."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur started, then said: "There may be something in
+that, C&eacute;line; and it is not impossible that I may inherit more."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah?" inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Possibly you have learned from the servants that Mr.
+Arthur lost a young step-daughter not long ago; just before you
+came, in fact."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember. Did she die, mademoiselle?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. She was a very wild, unruly child, a regular little
+heathen&mdash;oh!"</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon, oh, pardon, did it hurt?" removing a long, spiky
+hair pin, with much apparent solicitude.</p>
+
+<p>"A&mdash;a little; yes. As I was saying, this ridiculous girl was
+sent to school and no expense spared to make a lady of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and then she rewards my brother for all his kindness
+by running away."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Merci</i>, mademoiselle!" suddenly recalling her French.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And then she died among strangers, just as provokingly as
+she had lived. She must even run away to die, to make it seem
+as if her home was not a happy one."</p>
+
+<p>"What a very wicked young person; how you must have
+been annoyed."</p>
+
+<p>"We were all deeply grieved."</p>
+
+<p>"And I don't suppose that dead young woman was even
+grateful for that."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there was no gratitude in her."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not! Now, mademoiselle, let me do your eyebrows,"
+turning her about.</p>
+
+<p>"But," pursued Miss Arthur, "when she died, my brother
+acquired unconditional control of a large fortune, and you must
+see that my brother is getting rather old. Well, in case of his
+death, a part, at least, of this fortune will become mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madame."</p>
+
+<p>"My brother is too much afraid to face the thought of death
+and make a new will, and papers are in existence that will give
+me the larger portion of his fortune. Of course, Mrs. Arthur
+will get her third."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line was now surprised in earnest.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur had spoken the truth. With shrewd foresight,
+she had made John Arthur sign certain papers two years before,
+in consideration of sundry loans from her. And of this
+state of affairs every one, except their two selves and the necessary
+lawyer, had remained in ignorance.</p>
+
+<p>The girl's eyes gleamed. This was still better. It would
+make her vengeance more complete.</p>
+
+<p>And now Miss Arthur was thrown into a state of girlish agitation
+by the appearance of Susan, who announced that Mr.
+Percy was in the drawing-room, awaiting the pleasure of his
+inamorata.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>She bade C&eacute;line make haste with her complexion and, after
+the lapse of something like half an hour, swept down to welcome
+her lover, with a great many amber silk flounces following
+in her wake.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line Leroque gazed after her for a moment and then closed
+the door. Flinging herself down "at ease" in the spinster's
+luxurious dressing chair, she pulled off the blue glasses and let
+the malicious triumph dance in her eyes as much as it would.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you are a precious pair, you two, brother and sister!
+The one a knave, the other a fool! It is really pathetic to see
+how you mourn my loss. I have a great mind to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Here something seemed to occur to her that checked her mutterings,
+and sent her off into a deep meditation. After a long
+stillness she uttered a low, mocking laugh that had, too, a tinge of
+mischief in it. Rising slowly from the dressing chair she said,
+as she nodded significantly to her image reflected back from
+Miss Arthur's dressing glass:</p>
+
+<p>"I'll put that idea into execution some nice night, and then
+won't there be a row in the castle? Ah! my charming mistress,
+if you had spoken one kind or regretful word for poor Madeline,
+it would have been better for you!"</p>
+
+<p>What was the girl meditating now? What did she mean?</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, good people at Oakley, I believe I'll take a little private
+amusement out of you <i>all</i>, while I feel quite in the mood. I
+won't be too partial."</p>
+
+<p>Then she betook herself to her own room and let her thoughts
+fly back to Olive and Claire and&mdash;Clarence.</p>
+
+<p>Presently, for she was very weary, spite of the previous night's
+repose, she fell asleep.</p>
+
+<p>Late that evening she flitted through the woods and across the
+meadow to the cottage of old Hagar. Sleep had refreshed her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>
+and she had dreamed pleasant dreams. She felt stout of heart,
+and firm of nerve.</p>
+
+<p>Old Hagar was overjoyed to see a smile in her nursling's face,
+and to hear, at times, a laugh, low and sweet, reminding her of
+olden days. The girl remained with her old nurse for nearly
+an hour. When they parted there was a perfect understanding
+between them, in regard to future movements and plans.</p>
+
+<p>No one at Oakley was aware of Lucian Davlin's flying visit;
+thus much C&eacute;line knew. But of the purport and result of that
+visit, she knew nothing. Nor could she guess. She must bide
+her time, for there seemed just now little to disturb the monotony
+of waiting.</p>
+
+<p>One thing was, however, necessary. When the time came for
+Miss Arthur to leave Oakley, C&eacute;line must remain. To that end
+she must contrive to fall out with the spinster, and "fall in"
+with Madame Cora. If that lady could not be beguiled into retaining
+her at Oakley, she must resort to a more hazardous
+scheme. She had already taken a step toward ingratiating herself
+with Mrs. Arthur, and with tolerable success. She was
+maturing her plans and waiting for an opportunity to put them
+into action.</p>
+
+<p>No doubt but that by the time she had accomplished her object,
+if it could be accomplished, the opposite forces would come
+into conflict.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>SETTING SOME SNARES.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Three days had now passed since Madeline's return from the
+city. On the morning of the fourth day, she seized the first
+leisure moment for a visit to the post-office. Instead of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>
+single letter from Olive that she had expected, she found three.</p>
+
+<p>They were enclosed in one wrapper. This she removed on
+her way back to Oakley, and found the first, as was the wrapper,
+addressed in Olive's hand. The penmanship of the second
+was fairy-like and beautiful, and she recognized it as Claire's.
+At sight of the third, her heart gave a great bound, and then almost
+stood still. It was superscribed in a firm, manly hand, and
+was, it must be, from Dr. Vaughan.</p>
+
+<p>Once securely locked in her room, Madeline opened the
+first of her letters with eager fingers. Yes, Olive's first. The
+desire to see what <i>he</i> had said was strong in her heart, but she
+had decided not to humor her heart. She held his letter caressingly
+for a moment and then putting it beside Claire's opened
+and read Olive Girard's letter.</p>
+
+<p>It was like Olive's self; sweet, womanly, hopeful, yet sad:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Dear Madeline:</span></p>
+
+<p>I am only now beginning to realize the new life and hope you have
+put into my heart. As I think again of what you have done and are doing,
+I cannot but feel faith in your success. Oh, if I could but work
+with you; for you and for Philip!</p>
+
+<p>Again and again I implore you to pardon me for ever doubting your
+wisdom or strength. If at any time I can aid you&mdash;such poor aid&mdash;my
+purse is yours, as your cause is mine.</p>
+
+<p>Claire and Doctor Vaughan will speak for themselves. And as I dare
+make no more suggestions to so wise a woman, I only put in a faint little
+plea. Do, pray, grant Doctor Vaughan's request, and may God aid you
+in all that you do.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">Olive.</span></p>
+
+<p>"Doctor Vaughan's request!" repeated the girl. "Would
+that I could grant him not only all his requests, but all his
+wishes!"</p>
+
+<p>Then she opened Claire's letter.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Grand Madeline:</span></p>
+
+<p>How proud I am to claim you for my friend! I shall never again conduct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>
+myself with any degree of meekness toward people who have not
+the happiness of knowing you. And you should hear Doctor Vaughan
+extol you! He says you are wiser and braver than any detective. That
+he would trust you in any emergency. That if any one can lift the cloud
+that hangs over poor Philip, it is you.</p>
+
+<p>My heart tells me that you will yet prove the good angel of Philip and
+Olive, as already you have been mine; and soon, I pray, you will become
+that and more to Doctor Vaughan; you must and shall. I shall have no
+wish ungratified when I can see your trials at an end; and yourself, surrounded
+by us who love you, happy at last. Don't let all these other
+claimants push me out of your heart; always keep one little place for your
+loving, grateful</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">Claire</span>.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's eyes were moist when she lifted them from the
+perusal of this letter.</p>
+
+<p>"Bright, beautiful, brave Claire," she murmured; "who could
+help loving her?"</p>
+
+<p>Then her eyes fell again upon the letter, and she started:</p>
+
+<p>"'You will become that and more to Doctor Vaughan,'" she
+read. "What can she mean? Can it be possible that, after all,
+I have betrayed myself to her?"</p>
+
+<p>She re-read the letter from beginning to end, her face flushing
+and paling.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" she whispered softly, "she has read my heart, and we
+are playing at cross purposes! What a queer rivalry," the girl
+actually laughed; "a rivalry of renunciation. Does she yet
+know how he loves her, I wonder?" Then, her face growing
+graver, "she won't be long in making that discovery now."</p>
+
+<p>She took up Clarence Vaughan's letter, almost dreading to
+break the seal.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Brave Little Sister:</span></p>
+
+<p>You perceive, I have commenced my tyranny. And instead of being
+able to grant favors to my new sister, I am reduced to the necessity of
+begging them at her hands. In a word, I want to come to Bellair. Not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>
+to be a meddlesome adviser; I am too firmly a convert to your method of
+procedure for that. Besides, I should have to declare war upon
+Miss Keith if I presumed thus far. But I do desire to further your plans,
+and to this end would make a suggestion that has occurred to me since
+hearing of your marvelous detective work.</p>
+
+<p>Believe me, I cannot express the admiration I feel for your daring and
+tact. I have no longer the faintest scruple as to trusting this issue, so important
+to all of us, in your hands. And I am more than proud of such a
+sister.</p>
+
+<p>May I come to Bellair, say on Monday next? I will stop at the little
+station a few miles this side of the village, and walk or drive over, and
+find my way to the cottage of your old nurse, where you can meet me,
+unless you have a better place to suggest. I shall anxiously await your
+answer, and am your brother to command.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">C. E. Vaughan.</span></p>
+
+<p>Madeline's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining.</p>
+
+<p>"How they all trust me!" she ejaculated; "and they always
+shall. I will never be false to their friendship; no, not if to
+serve them my heart's blood must become wormwood and gall."</p>
+
+<p>She re-read all her letters, but would not allow herself to linger
+too long over that of Clarence Vaughan. She had resolved
+to have no more weakness, no more outbreaks of passion. She
+was very stern with herself. Even as a friend and brother, she
+would not allow her thoughts to dwell too much upon him, until
+she grew stronger, and more perfect in her renunciation.</p>
+
+<p>Then she sat down at her humble little table, and answered
+her letters.</p>
+
+<p>To Olive she wrote a sweet, cheery note, telling of her gratitude,
+her affection, her hope for the future; and then she added
+a womanlike P. S. as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Please say to Doctor Vaughan that I will be at Hagar's cottage on
+Monday evening, but can't tell the precise time I may be able to appear.
+If he follows the main road through the village, until he has passed the
+grounds of Oakley, he will have no difficulty in finding the cottage. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>
+stands alone, almost in the middle of a field, facing the west, and is the
+first habitation after Oakley.</p></div>
+
+<p>"I cannot write to him," she said; "at least not now."</p>
+
+<p>Then she wrote Claire a long, cheery letter, saying little of
+herself, and much of her friends,&mdash;of all save Doctor Vaughan.
+She <i>would</i> not mention him tenderly, she <i>could</i> not mention him
+lightly; so she would say of him nothing at all.</p>
+
+<p>But if Madeline was astute, Claire, too, was beginning to develop
+that quality. So when the latter young lady read this
+letter, she smiled and said: "The dear little hypocrite! As if
+she could deceive me by this evidently studied neglect. Oh! you
+proud, stiff-necked, little detective!"</p>
+
+<p>And their game of cross purposes went on.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline had sealed her letters, and was about to reach for her
+hat preparatory to hastening with them to the post office, when
+her attention was arrested by a sound, slight but unusual, and
+not far away. She stood erect, silent, motionless, listening intently.
+Presently the sound was repeated, and then a look of
+intelligence passed over the girl's face.</p>
+
+<p>"Some one is in the deserted rooms," she thought. And she
+abandoned for the present her purpose of going out.</p>
+
+<p>There was but one way to approach the closed-up rooms, and
+that way led past the door of Madeline's room.</p>
+
+<p>A few paces beyond her door, the hall connecting the west
+wing with the more modern portion, made a sharp curve and
+opened into the main hall of that floor. C&eacute;line Leroque opened
+her door cautiously, having first donned her not very becoming
+walking attire. Then she took up her position just outside the
+angle of the western hall, and so close to it that if an approach
+was made from below, she could easily retire behind the angle.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_031.jpg" width="400" height="553" alt="&quot;She stood erect, silent,
+motionless.&quot;&mdash;page 248."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;She stood erect, silent,
+motionless.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_248">page 248.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>She had grown heartily tired of her sentinel task when, at last,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>a soft rustle was heard near at hand. C&eacute;line turned so quickly
+into the narrower hall that she fairly ran upon and stopped&mdash;Mrs.
+John Arthur! who uttered a sharp exclamation expressive
+of surprise and annoyance.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line poured forth a mixture of French and English, expressive
+of her contrition and horror at having "almost overturned
+madame," and wound up by saying, "Madame has been
+to my room? Madame has desired some service, perhaps? If
+so, she has only to command."</p>
+
+<p>Cora drew a breath of relief, having sufficiently recovered from
+the collision and accompanying confusion, to draw a breath of
+any kind, and at once rallied her forces.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, C&eacute;line, I wanted you to do something for me, if you
+will."</p>
+
+<p>"Anything, madame."</p>
+
+<p>Madame was collecting her thoughts. "I&mdash;I wanted to ask
+if you could find time to come to my room and try and do something
+with my hair. Your hair-dressing is perfect, and I am
+so tired of my own."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line would be only too happy. Should she come now? She
+had just returned from the village; she would put off her hat and
+be at madame's disposal. But madame was not inclined to be
+manipulated just then. C&eacute;line might come to her dressing
+room and do her hair for dinner&mdash;after she was done with Miss
+Arthur, of course.</p>
+
+<p>So they separated, mutually satisfied.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2>
+
+<h2>A VERITABLE GHOST.</h2>
+
+
+<p>What a day of glory it had been to the spinster, this day on
+which Madeline had read her three letters, and Cora had explored
+the shut-up wing.</p>
+
+<p>And what a day of torture to fastidious Edward Percy, who
+would have welcomed any third presence, even Cora or John
+Arthur&mdash;any one, anything, was better than that long slavery at
+the feet of a painted and too-visibly ancient mistress. But even
+the longest days have an end. At last he was set at liberty, and
+he hurried back to the little inn, literally kicking his way
+through the Autumn darkness.</p>
+
+<p>The old house of Oakley stood, with its last light extinguished,
+tall and somber, against a back-ground of black sky and blacker
+trees. At last every soul under its roof was asleep&mdash;all but
+one. That one was very wide awake and intent on mischief.</p>
+
+<p>Love-making, dear reader, although you may not know it, is
+a wearisome business, even if ever so agreeable. Especially is
+it wearisome to those like Miss Arthur&mdash;maidens whose waists
+are too tight, whose complexions will ill-endure lip service, and
+whose tresses are liable to become not only dishevelled but dislocated.
+Therefore, when Miss Arthur had dismissed her lover,
+with a sigh of regret, she lost no time in doffing her glories with
+a sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>Even a very rich and hearty luncheon, which her maid had
+provided, was gormandized rather than enjoyed, so tempting
+did her couch look to the worn-out damsel.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur had refreshed herself with an hour's uninterrupted
+repose, and was revelling in a dreamy Arcadia, hand in hand with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>
+her beloved, when something cold falling on her cheek dispelled
+her visions. She started broad awake, and face to face with a
+horrible reality.</p>
+
+<p>The moon was pouring a flood of silvery light in through the
+two windows, facing the south, whose curtains were drawn back,
+making the room almost as light as at mid-day.</p>
+
+<p>And there, near her bed, almost within reach of her hand,
+stood <i>Madeline Payne</i>, all swathed in white clinging cerements,
+ghastly as a corpse, hollow-eyed and awful, but, nevertheless,
+Madeline Payne! Over her white temples dropped rings of
+curly, yellow hair, and across the pale lips a mocking smile was
+flitting.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur gasped and closed her eyes very tight, but they
+would not stay closed. They flew open again to behold the
+vision still there. The spinster was transfixed with horror.
+Cold drops of perspiration oozed out upon her forehead and
+trickled down her nose. She clutched at the bedclothes convulsively,
+and gazed and gazed.</p>
+
+<p>Wider and wider stared her eyes, but no sound escaped her lips.
+She gazed and gazed, but the specter would not vanish. Poor
+Miss Arthur was terror-stricken almost to the verge of catalepsy.</p>
+
+<p>In consideration of the persistence with which they return
+again and again, according to good authority, ghosts in general
+must be endowed with much patience. Be this as it may of the
+average ghost, certain it is that this particular apparition, after
+glaring immovably at the spinster for the space of five minutes,
+began to find it monotonous.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly, slowly from among the snowy drapery came forth a
+white hand, that pointed at the occupant of the bed with silent
+menace.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_032.jpg" width="400" height="559" alt="&quot;Near the bed, almost within reach of her hand, stood Madeline Payne,
+all swathed in white!&quot;&mdash;page 252."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Near the bed, almost within reach of her hand, stood Madeline Payne,
+all swathed in white!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_252">page 252.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>The spell was broken. The lips of Miss Arthur were unclosed,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>and shrieks, one following the other in rapid succession, resounded
+in the ears of even the most remote sleepers.</p>
+
+<p>With the utterance of her first yell, Miss Arthur had made a
+desperate plunge to the further side of her bed, away from the
+specter; and, turning her face to the wall, shut out thus the appalling
+white vision.</p>
+
+<p>Having once found her voice, Miss Arthur continued to
+clutch at the bed clothes, glare at the wall, and shriek spasmodically,
+even after her "inner consciousness" must have assured
+her that the room now held others beside herself and the ghost,
+supposing it to be still on the opposite side of the bed.</p>
+
+<p>Cora, in a state of wild <i>deshabille</i>; John Arthur, ditto, and
+armed with a cane; Susan and Mary, half in the room and half
+out; then C&eacute;line Leroque, apparently much frightened, without
+knowing at what.</p>
+
+<p>A volley of questions from the master of the house, and a return
+of courage to the mistress. But Miss Arthur only gathered
+herself together, took in a fresh supply of breath, and embarked
+in another series of howls.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing was amiss in the room; it could not have been a
+burglar. The night lamp was burning dimly behind its heavy
+shade; on the table were the fragments of Miss Arthur's lunch;
+and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur had found easy access through the
+closed, but unbolted door.</p>
+
+<p>After a time, a long time, during which Cora and C&eacute;line administered
+sal volatile and other restoratives, Mr. Arthur
+douched her with oaths and ice water, and the servants whispered
+in a group, the maiden found voice.</p>
+
+<p>It was a very feeble voice, and it conveyed to her audience
+the astounding intelligence that she had seen a ghost&mdash;Madeline
+Payne's ghost.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Upon hearing her story, John Arthur seemed at first a little
+startled. But Cora only laughed, and C&eacute;line, glancing significantly
+at the lunch table, said, with a slight smile:</p>
+
+<p>"Mademoiselle has nerves, and she may have lunched heartily
+before retiring."</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur strode across the room and viewed the <i>d&eacute;bris</i> of
+luncheon. "Humph!" he grunted. "Oysters and salads, potted
+meat and pastry; strong coffee and lemon syllabub with brandy.
+Good Lord, I don't know what should have kept the contents
+of an entire cemetery from sweeping down upon your slumbers,
+you female gourmand. Ghosts indeed!"</p>
+
+<p>And he stamped out of the room in high dudgeon. His tirade
+was wholly lost upon his sister, however, for that lady was
+whimpering comfortably and putting all her feeble energy into
+the effort.</p>
+
+<p>Cora glanced up as the door banged after her lord and master,
+and ordered the servants back to bed. Then she turned toward
+C&eacute;line, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"That door was certainly not locked when we came to it, for
+I was here even sooner than Mr. Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line smiled again: "Mademoiselle dismissed me before she
+had finished her luncheon. I had disrobed her previously, and
+she said she should retire as soon as she drank her coffee. She
+may have forgotten the door."</p>
+
+<p>Cora turned toward the bed. "Did you lock your door,
+Ellen?"</p>
+
+<p>But Ellen did not know; she could not remember if she had
+or had not.</p>
+
+<p>Then Cora said to C&eacute;line: "I am glad to find you so sensible.
+We shall have hard work now to convince those ridiculous
+servants that there is not a ghost in every corner."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I do not think that graves open," replied the girl, seriously.</p>
+
+<p>Then she gave her undivided attention to her mistress, who
+bade fair to be hysterical for the rest of the night.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur would not be left alone again. No argument
+could convince her that the specter was born of her imagination,
+and therefore not likely to return. So Cora bade C&eacute;line prepare
+to spend the remainder of the night in Miss Arthur's dressing
+room.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, C&eacute;line withdrew to her own apartment, where
+her preparations were made as follows:</p>
+
+<p>First, she shook out the folds of a sheet that hung over a chair,
+and restored it to its proper place on the bed. Then she removed
+from her dressing stand a box of white powder, and
+brushed away all traces of said powder from her garments
+and the floor. Next, she carefully hid away a key that had
+fallen to the floor and lay near the classically folded sheet.
+These things accomplished, she made a few additions to her
+toilet, extinguished the light, locked her door carefully, trying
+it afterward to make assurance doubly sure, and retraced her
+steps to relieve Cora, who was dutifully sitting by the spinster's
+bed, and beginning to shiver in her somewhat scanty drapery.</p>
+
+<p>As the night wore on, and Miss Arthur became calmed and
+quiet, the girl lay back in the big dressing chair, gazing into the
+grate, and thinking. Her thoughts were sometimes of Claire,
+sometimes of Clarence; of the Girards, and of Edward Percy;
+then of her success as a ghostess, and at this she would almost
+laugh.</p>
+
+<p>But from every subject her mind would turn again and again
+to one question, that repeated itself until it took the form of a
+goblin and danced through her dreams, when at last she slept,
+whispering over and over:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What is it that Cora Arthur carries in a belt about her
+waist? what is it? what is it?"</p>
+
+<p>For the girl had made a strange discovery while Cora was
+sitting beside Miss Arthur's bed, clad only in night's scanty
+drapery.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2>
+
+<h2>SOME DAYS OF WAITING.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan had written that he could find his way with
+ease to Nurse Hagar's cottage, and he did.</p>
+
+<p>Swinging himself down upon the dark end of the platform,
+when the evening train puffed into Bellair village, he crossed
+the track, and walked rapidly along the path that led in the
+direction of the cottage. He strode on until the light from the
+cottage window gleamed out upon the night, and his way led
+over the field. Half way between the stile and the cottage, a
+form, evidently that of a woman, appeared before him, and coming
+in his direction.</p>
+
+<p>The figure came nearer, and a voice, that was certainly not
+Madeline's, said: "Is the gentleman going to old Hagar's
+cottage?"</p>
+
+<p>"Are you Hagar?" replied Clarence, Yankee fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"I am Hagar; and you are?"</p>
+
+<p>"Doctor Vaughan."</p>
+
+<p>"Then pass on, sir; the one you seek is there."</p>
+
+<p>And the old woman waved her hand toward the light and
+hobbled on.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence stared after her for a moment; but the darkness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>
+had devoured her, and he resumed his way toward the cottage.</p>
+
+<p>In hastening to meet a friend we naturally have, in our mind,
+a picture. Our friend will look so, or so. Thus with Clarence
+Vaughan. Expecting to meet a pair of deep, sad, beautiful eyes,
+lifted to his own; to behold a fair forehead shadowed by soft,
+shining curls; judge of Clarence's surprise when the opened door
+revealed to him a small being of no shape in particular; a very
+black head of hair, surmounted by an ugly maid's cap; and a
+pair of unearthly, staring blue glasses.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline had chosen to appear "in character" at this interview.
+She intended to keep her own personality out of sight,
+and she felt that she needed the aid and concealment that her
+disguise would afford. She would give Claire's schemes no
+vantage ground.</p>
+
+<p>So Madeline Payne was carefully hidden away under the wig
+and pigment and padding; and C&eacute;line Leroque courteseyed
+demurely as she held the door open to admit him, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Good evening, <i>Monsieur le Docteur</i>; you perceive I am here
+before you."</p>
+
+<p>"Rather, I don't perceive it. <i>You</i> are here before me in a
+double sense of the word; yes. And I suppose you call yourself&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"C&eacute;line Leroque, at your service; maid-in-waiting to Miss
+Arthur, of Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, won't you shake hands with an American of no special
+importance, C&eacute;line Leroque?"</p>
+
+<p>She placed her hand in his and then drew forward a chair.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you found no difficulty in getting out to-night?" he
+said, sitting down and looking at her with a half-amused, half-grave
+countenance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"None whatever; I have been suffering with a sick-headache
+all day."</p>
+
+<p>"And you can get in again unseen?"</p>
+
+<p>"Easily; in the evening the servants are all below stairs."</p>
+
+<p>"But what an odd disguise! Do they never question your
+blue glasses?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not half so much as they would question the eyes without
+them. They believe my eyes were ruined by close application
+to fine needle-work. And then&mdash;" she pushed up the glasses a
+trifle, and he saw that the eyelid, and a line underneath the eye,
+were artistically <i>rouged</i>&mdash;"they all acknowledge that my eyes
+look very weak."</p>
+
+<p>"I fancy they'll find those eyes have looked too sharply for
+them, by and by."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed lightly. "I hope so."</p>
+
+<p>Sitting there in her prim disguise, the girl felt glad to gaze
+upon him; felt as if, look as much as she would, she was gazing
+from a safe distance.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan came straight to the point of his visit, beginning
+by requesting a repetition of such portion of the facts she
+had discovered as related most particularly to the two men,
+Davlin and Percy. Then he made his suggestion. To his surprise
+it was a welcome one to the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"That is just what I have had in mind," she said, thoughtfully.
+"After reflecting, I have changed my plans somewhat,
+and I don't see my way quite so clearly as before."</p>
+
+<p>He was looking at her attentively, but asked no questions.</p>
+
+<p>"Since I came from the city," she resumed, with some hesitation,
+"I have thought that I would be glad to talk again with
+all of you. But it won't do to incur the risk of more absences,
+for if I do not mistake the signs, things will be pretty lively up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span>
+there," nodding in the direction of Oakley, "before many days.
+So perhaps we had better see what our two heads can develop
+in the way of counterplot, and you can make known the result
+to Olive."</p>
+
+<p>"If your own invention will not serve, I fear mine will be
+at an utter loss. But you know how glad I shall be to share
+your confidence."</p>
+
+<p>"My invention must serve," she said, firmly, and quite ignoring
+the latter clause of his speech; "and so must yours. You
+see, my plan before going to the city was a comparatively simple
+one. I intended to work my way into the confidence of Mrs.
+John Arthur. Failing in that, Hagar must have been reinstated,
+and then the <i>denouement</i> would have been easy: to get
+possession of specimens of the medicine prescribed for Mr.
+Arthur; to hunt down this sham doctor they are to introduce
+into the house; to show John Arthur the manner of wife he has;
+to make my own terms with him, and then expose and turn
+out the whole pack. But all this must be changed."</p>
+
+<p>"Changed? And how?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't turn them out of Oakley. I must keep them there,
+every one of them, at any cost."</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan looked puzzled. "We can't allow them to kill
+that old man, not even to vindicate poetical justice," he said,
+gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"No; we can't allow just that. But don't you see, if we turn
+these people away now, we defeat a chief end and aim&mdash;the
+liberation of Philip Girard?"</p>
+
+<p>"True."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, this is why I have changed my plan."</p>
+
+<p>He looked at her with an admiration that was almost
+homage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And you will give up your own vengeance, for the sake of
+Olive and her happiness?"</p>
+
+<p>She laughed oddly. "Not at all. I only defer it, to make
+it the more complete. Now, listen to what I propose to do, and
+see if you can suggest anything safer or better."</p>
+
+<p>And then she unfolded a plan that made Clarence Vaughan
+start in amazement, but which, after it was fully revealed, he
+could not amend nor condemn. He could see no other way by
+which all that they aimed at could be accomplished.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, the plan has its risks," concluded the girl. "But
+we could try no other scheme without incurring the same, or
+greater. And I <i>believe</i> that I shall not fail."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish it were not necessary that you should undergo so
+much; think what it will be for you," gently.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, for me, ..." indifferently; "I shall be less of a
+spy, and more of an actress,&mdash;that is all."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I shall set the detectives at work?"</p>
+
+<p>"Immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any further instructions, any clue, to give
+them?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing; it is to be simply a research. Neither must know
+to what end the information is desired. It will be better to employ
+your men from different Agencies, so that one may not
+know of the other, or his business."</p>
+
+<p>"And is there nothing more I can do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing, for the present. When once we get these men together,
+we shall all have our hands full. Then you can help
+me, perhaps, as I suggested."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," sighing, and looking at his watch, "it's a strange
+business, and a difficult, for a young girl like you. But we are
+in your hands; you are worth a thousand such as I."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense," she said, almost angrily. Then, abruptly,
+"When does Claire return to Baltimore?"</p>
+
+<p>He started and flushed under her gaze. "I&mdash;I really don't
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, as my brother, I command you to know all about
+Claire. She is my special charge to you. And you are to tell
+her, from me, that I won't have her go away."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I must do all in my power to detain her? Your command
+will have more effect than all of my prayers," he said,
+softly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, keep on reiterating my commands and your prayers,
+then; by and by she won't be able to distinguish the one from
+the other. What time is it?"</p>
+
+<p>He smiled at the sudden change of tone and subject. "Half-past
+nine," he said.</p>
+
+<p>While the words were on his lips, Old Hagar entered.</p>
+
+<p>Clearly it was time to end the interview. Doctor Vaughan
+must be ready for the return train, which flew cityward soon,
+and C&eacute;line Leroque must not be too long absent. So there were
+a few words more about their plans, a few courteous sentences
+addressed to Hagar by Doctor Vaughan, and then they separated.</p>
+
+<p>The next day two men were at work,&mdash;following like sleuth
+hounds the trail on which they were put, unravelling slowly,
+slowly, the webs of the past that had been spun by the two men
+who were to be hunted down.</p>
+
+<p>And now came a time of comparative dullness at Oakley.
+Even eventful lives do not always pace onward to the inspiring
+clang of trumpet and drum. There is the bivouac and the time
+of rest, even though sleeping upon their arms, for all the hosts
+that were ever marshalled to battle.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_033.jpg" width="400" height="562" alt="&quot;Well, it&#39;s a strange business and a difficult.&quot;&mdash;page 261."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Well, it&#39;s a strange business and a difficult.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_261">page 261.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line Leroque found life rather more dreary than she had
+expected during these days of inaction. After all, it is easier to
+be brave than to be patient. So, in spite of her courage and
+her self-sacrifice, she was restless and unhappy.</p>
+
+<p>And she was not alone in her restlessness. It is curious to
+note what diverse causes produce the same effects. Cora Arthur
+was restless, very restless. The fruit of her labor was in her
+hands, but it was vapid, tasteless, unsatisfying. What <i>her</i> soul
+clamored for, was the opera, the contact of kindred spirits, the
+rush and whirl, the smoke and champagne, and giddiness of the
+city; the card-won gold, and painted folly that made the be-all
+and end-all of life to such as she.</p>
+
+<p>She did not lose sight of the usefulness she trusted to find in
+C&eacute;line Leroque, however. During these days of <i>ennui</i> and
+quietude, the two came to a very good understanding; not all at
+once, and not at all definite. Only, by degrees, Cora became
+convinced that C&eacute;line Leroque cherished a very laudable contempt
+for her would-be-girlish mistress, and that she was becoming
+rather weary in her service. Once, indeed, the girl had
+said, as if unable to restrain herself, and while dressing Mrs.
+Cora's yellow hair&mdash;a task which she professed to delight in:</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! madame, if only it was <i>you</i> who were my mistress! It
+is a pleasure to dress a beautiful mistress, but to be constantly
+at war against nature, to make an old one young&mdash;faugh! it
+is labor."</p>
+
+<p>And Cora had been much amused and had held out a suggestion
+that, in case of any rupture between mistress and maid, the
+latter should apply to her.</p>
+
+<p>But if existence was a pain to C&eacute;line, and a weariness to Cora,
+it was anguish unutterable to Edward Percy. He would have
+been glad to put a long span of miles between his inamorata and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>
+himself had he not felt that, with Cora in the same house as his
+fair one, it were more discreet to be on the ground, and watch
+over his prey pretty closely. But to this man, who made love
+to every pretty woman as a child eats <i>bon bons</i>, the task of
+wooing where his eye was not pleased, his ear was not soothed,
+and his vanity not in the least flattered, was intensely wearisome.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2>
+
+<h2>NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The first thing that Doctor Vaughan did on returning from
+Bellair, was to seek an interview with Henry, the dark servant
+of Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>It was a mixed motive that had first prompted Henry to
+espouse the cause of a helpless, friendless girl; a motive composed
+of one part inward wrath, long nourished, against the haughty
+and over-exacting Lucian, and one part pity for the young girl
+who, as his experienced eyes told him, was not such as were the
+women who had usually been entertained by his master.</p>
+
+<p>He had expected to assist her to escape from the place, to enjoy
+his master's chagrin, and to see the matter end there. But
+Madeline's illness had changed the current of events, and
+strengthened his determination to stand her friend, if need be,
+more especially when Olive, pressing upon him a generous gift,
+had signified her wish that he should continue in Madeline's service.
+She had added that when he chose to leave his present
+master, she would see that he fell into no worse hands, for so
+long as the sick girl remained under that shelter, Olive felt that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>
+the man must be their servant, not Davlin's. And, to do him
+justice, Henry had long since become truly attached to the two
+ladies.</p>
+
+<p>He lost no time in responding to the summons of Doctor
+Vaughan, and was eager to know of the welfare of the "young
+lady" and Mrs. Girard. Doctor Vaughan satisfied him on this
+point, and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"I am authorized by Miss Payne to see you, and ask some
+questions that she thinks you may be able to answer. First,
+then," said the doctor, in his kindly manner, "how long have
+you been with your present master?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nearly three years, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"And how long has the woman whom he calls Cora been
+known to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"She has been known to me all that time, sir," replied
+Henry.</p>
+
+<p>"You first saw her in company with Davlin?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir; she came to his rooms when I had been there but a
+few days, and ordered me about like a countess. I didn't know
+the ropes then, but she made me know my duty soon enough,"
+dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Evidently, then, she and your master were friends of long
+standing, even at that time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"You used to hear them talk often, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"I used to hear parts of their talks. They seemed not to care
+to have even so much of a machine as I, hear them at all times."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, will you try and recall some of these fragments of
+talk? Think if you heard them speak of their travels, together
+or separately; and if you can recall the names of any persons or
+places they have mentioned."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Henry pondered. "I think," he said, after a time, "that
+they have been in Europe together. In fact, I am sure of it."</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan started. "Oh! that is to the point. You
+don't recall any time mentioned?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir. They used to talk of luck with the cards, and
+sometimes spoke of operas or plays, and almost always disagreed.
+Sometimes I would hear him describing men to her, and she
+seemed to be getting ready for a part in some 'game' that he
+was trying to play."</p>
+
+<p>"Very likely."</p>
+
+<p>"Once I heard them having high words about some old man
+that she had been fleecing, and he said that she had carried the
+thing too far; and that if she did not keep out of the old man's
+way, she might get into trouble. I heard the name," putting
+a forefinger to his forehead and wrinkling his brows; "it was&mdash;was&mdash;Verage;
+'Old Verage,' she called him."</p>
+
+<p>"Verage!"</p>
+
+<p>"That was the name; I am sure, sir."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence took out a note-book, and made an entry.</p>
+
+<p>"When did this conversation take place?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Not more than two months before the young lady was brought
+there, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!" Evidently a fresh glimmer of light had been thrown
+on the subject. "And you heard nothing more about this old
+man?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir. I think she must have gone away from town at
+that time, for I did not see her again, until&mdash;" here Henry
+seemed to catch at some new thought.</p>
+
+<p>"Until when?" asked Doctor Vaughan, with some eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>"The day before the young lady came," said Henry, in a low
+tone, and moving a step nearer the doctor. "Madame Cora came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>
+dashing up in a close carriage, and she wore a heavy veil. I noticed
+that because she was rather fond of displaying her face and hair,
+and I hardly ever saw her wear anything that would hide them.
+She came up-stairs and ordered me to send a telegram, which
+she had already written, to my master. I sent it, and she stayed
+there all day. She sent me out for her meals, and I served them
+in the large room. She spent the most of the time in walking
+up and down&mdash;that was her way when she was worried or angry&mdash;and
+looking out between the curtains. My master answered the
+telegram, but when the midnight train came in, a man who went
+down in the country with him, a sort of tool and hanger-on of
+his, came to me while I was waiting below, and told me to tell
+Mistress Cora that the train was a few minutes late."</p>
+
+<p>"Stop a moment. This man, who was Davlin's companion,&mdash;what
+was his name?"</p>
+
+<p>"I never heard him called anything but 'The Professor.'"</p>
+
+<p>"The Professor! And how did he look?" making another
+entry in the note-book.</p>
+
+<p>"He was a middle-aged man, sir, not so tall as master, rather
+square in the shoulders, and stout built. He wore no beard,
+and was always smoking a pipe."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good," writing rapidly. "Now, then, let us return to
+the lady."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, she was very impatient until my master came, and
+then they had a long talk. I heard him speak of the old man
+Verage again, and she seemed a little afraid, or annoyed, I don't
+know which. Then he seemed to be telling her of some new
+scheme, and there was a great deal of planning and some chaffing
+about her going into the country. Just at daybreak they sent
+me for a carriage, and she went away in it, closely veiled as before.
+He told her he would join her without fail. I have not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>
+seen her since. That same morning he brought the beautiful
+young lady to his rooms, and," smiling so as to show all his
+white teeth, "I think you know all the rest, sir."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence nodded and then appeared lost in thought. Finally,
+he lifted his head from the hand that had supported it, and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Since your master has returned to town, how does he employ
+his time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very much as usual."</p>
+
+<p>"And that is in&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Gaming."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it true, Henry, that the room below your master's apartments
+is fitted up for private gambling?"</p>
+
+<p>Henry stirred uneasily, and looked his answer.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan smiled. "I see how it is," he said. "Well,
+then, this man, the Professor, do you see much of him of late?"</p>
+
+<p>"A great deal, sir; he is very often with my master at his
+rooms, but they never go out together. They have had a great
+deal of privacy lately; something new is afoot."</p>
+
+<p>"The man is a sort of decoy-duck, I fancy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; what the gamblers call a capper, or roper-in."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Henry, I think I won't detain you longer now.
+Take this," putting into his hand a twenty-dollar bill, "and
+keep your eyes and ears open. If your master leaves town, observe
+if the Professor disappears at the same time."</p>
+
+<p>Henry expressed his gratitude and his entire willingness to
+keep an eye upon the doings of Mr. Davlin and the Professor,
+and bowed himself out, muttering as he went: "They will
+make it lively for my fine master before very long, and I think
+I am on the side that will win."</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, quick in thought and action,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>
+was hurrying on his gloves preparatory to a sally forth on a new
+mission. Henry had given him a hint that might turn out of
+much value, for among the patients then on the young doctor's
+visiting list, was one Verage, old, ugly, and fabulously rich.</p>
+
+<p>First of all, Clarence Vaughan called at the Agency which
+had been decided upon as the best one to entrust with the investigation
+relative to Mr. Edward Percy. He gave his man
+no clue to the present whereabouts of his subject, but set him
+back ten years or more, sending him to visit the scenes of school
+episode, and bidding him trace the life of the man, with the aid
+of such clues as he thought best to give, up to that time. Next,
+he visited another Agency, and placed a man upon the track
+of Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>Then he called a carriage and drove straight to the residence
+of old Samuel Verage. It was early in the day for a professional
+visit or for a visit of any kind. Nevertheless, Doctor
+Vaughan was admitted without delay, to the presence of the
+master of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Old Samuel Verage sat in his large, softly-cushioned armchair,
+in a gorgeously beflowered dressing gown.</p>
+
+<p>He was glowering over the dainty dishes which had lately
+contained a bountiful breakfast. Evidently he fancied that the
+doctor had called in anticipation of a serious morning attack, or
+to choke off his too greedy appetite, for he chuckled maliciously
+as Clarence entered the room, and greeted him with,</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! You thought you were ahead of me this time, didn't
+you? I say, now, <i>did</i> you think I would be worse this morning?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence surveyed his patient with considerable amusement.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't suffer from a hearty breakfast. It is the supper
+that you must look out for. But my call this morning was, in
+part, to inquire about a lady."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"About a lady! Of course, of course; go ahead; who is
+she?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's precisely what I want to know. The fact is, my
+business is rather peculiar, and delicate."</p>
+
+<p>The old man rubbed his hands gleefully. "Good! very good!
+A mystery about a woman! Come out with it; don't be backward."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well; the woman that I want to inquire about has
+been known as Cora Weston."</p>
+
+<p>Old Verage fairly bounced out of his seat as he yelled:
+"Cora Weston! Where is she? What do you know about
+her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not quite enough, or I should not have ventured to inquire
+of you," said Clarence, calmly.</p>
+
+<p>Old Verage tumbled into his chair again. "Then you don't
+know where she is?" sharply.</p>
+
+<p>"What could you do if I put her in your power?"</p>
+
+<p>"Lock her up in jail, if I wanted to," fiercely.</p>
+
+<p>Little by little Clarence Vaughan extracted from the old man
+the details of the plausible scheme by which Davlin and Cora
+had succeeded in transferring a very considerable amount of cash
+from his pockets to their own. He felt elated at the result of
+this interview. It placed a weapon in his hands that might be
+wielded with telling effect when time served.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you may be able to get even with her yet," he said,
+rising to go, after Verage had concluded his tirade; "many
+thanks for giving me some information. I may be able to return
+the compliment soon."</p>
+
+<p>"But hold on!" cried Verage, as if seized by a new thought;
+"I say, now, what is all this questioning about?"</p>
+
+<p>"Some of her sharp practice has come to my knowledge, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span>
+she has made a little trouble for one of my friends. I want to
+know all that I can about her, for it may be necessary to put a
+stop to her career."</p>
+
+<p>With a renewed expression of his thanks for the information
+given, Clarence bowed himself out of the old man's presence,
+with a sense of relief at inhaling the fresh, pure air of the outer
+world. Then he turned his steps homeward, assured that it had
+been a good day's work well done.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2>
+
+<h2>CLAIRE TURNS CIRCE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>There was more to tell than to learn, when Clarence called, a
+day or two later, at the villa.</p>
+
+<p>The expert who had been dogging the steps of Lucian Davlin,
+had made his report, it is true. But that report was a very unsatisfactory
+affair:</p>
+
+<p>A man, whom Clarence readily identified with the Professor,
+was an almost constant visitor at the rooms of the Man of Luck,
+but they, that is, the Professor and Davlin, were never seen on
+the street together, nor, indeed, anywhere else. In short, Lucian
+Davlin had been closely shadowed, but with no success to speak
+of. He came and went just as such a man usually does. And
+no person that might be made to answer for a doctor, had been
+visited by him or had visited him unless, and this began to appear
+possible, the Professor himself was the man.</p>
+
+<p>After a long and serious discussion of the pros and cons of
+the case, Olive and Clarence decided they would instruct the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>
+detective to transfer his attentions to the Professor, only keeping
+a general <i>surveillance</i> over Davlin. They began to fear that
+they were watching the wrong man.</p>
+
+<p>Those were pleasant days to Doctor Vaughan; the days
+when he rode down to the pretty villa to consult with Olive
+and to look at Claire.</p>
+
+<p>And those were pleasant days to Claire as well. Once, and
+that not long before, she had taken but little interest in Clarence
+Vaughan. She had thought of him very much as had Madeline
+that first night of their meeting, when she looked at him sitting
+near her in a railway carriage, and regarded him as just a
+"somewhat odd young man with a good face." Now, Madeline
+thought him not only the noblest but the handsomest of men.
+And Claire was beginning to agree with her.</p>
+
+<p>But on one thing she was determined. Doctor Vaughan must
+learn to look upon her only as a friend, and he must learn to
+love Madeline. So Claire and Clarence vied with each other in
+chanting the praises of Madeline Payne, and learned to know
+each other better because of her.</p>
+
+<p>One day when he called, Claire chanced to be alone. Somehow
+she found it hard to be quite at her ease when there was
+no Olive at hand, behind whom to screen her personality from
+the eyes that might overlook that sisterly barrier, but could not
+overleap it. If his eyes had said less, or if she could have compelled
+her lips to say more! But her usually active tongue
+seemed to lack for words and she found herself talking in a
+reckless and somewhat incoherent manner upon all sorts of
+topics, which she dragged forward in order to keep in check the
+words which the look in his eyes heralded so plainly.</p>
+
+<p>When she was almost at her wit's end, and tempted to flee
+ingloriously in search of Olive, that lady entered and Claire felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span>
+as if saved from lunacy. But she could not quite shake off the
+consciousness that had awakened in her, and soon framed an excuse
+for leaving the room. Once having escaped, she did not
+return, nor did Olive see her again until she came down to
+dinner, and Doctor Vaughan had gone.</p>
+
+<p>While lingering over that meal, Olive said, after they had
+talked of Madeline through three courses, "I think, by-the-by,
+that Doctor Vaughan expected to see you again before he went."</p>
+
+<p>If I were writing of impossible heroines, I might say that
+Claire looked conscious; but real women who are not all chalk
+and water, do not display their feelings so readily to their mothers
+and sisters. So Claire Keith looked up with the countenance
+of an astonished kitten.</p>
+
+<p>"To see me? What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"How should I know, if you don't?" smiling slightly.</p>
+
+<p>"And <i>how</i> should I know?" carelessly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, perhaps I was mistaken. But why have you kept
+your room all this afternoon?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have been packing. Please pass the marmalade."</p>
+
+<p>"Packing!" mechanically reaching out the required dainty.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, packing. You don't think I came to spend the winter,
+do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"But this is so sudden."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, just listen, you unreasonable being!" assuming an air
+of grave admonition. "Don't you know that I have overstayed
+my time by almost a month?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, don't you know that if I tell you beforehand that I
+am going, you always contrive excuses and hatch plots, to keep
+me at least three weeks longer?"</p>
+
+<p>"I plead guilty," laughed Olive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see I have staid out my days of grace already.
+And knowing your failing, and feeling sure that I could not
+humor it, I have just taken advantage of you, and packed my
+trunks."</p>
+
+<p>"And you won't stay just one more little week?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire laughed gleefully. "What did I say? It is your old
+cry. Now, dear, be reasonable. Mamma wants me, and the
+boys want me. You have plenty of occupation just now. It
+will take you one-third of the time to keep me informed of all
+that happens."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," sighed Olive, "of course you must go sometime; but
+you don't mean to go to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do, though."</p>
+
+<p>"What will Doctor Vaughan say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever Doctor Vaughan pleases. I can't lose a day to
+say good-by to him, can I?"</p>
+
+<p>"But why didn't you tell him good-by to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire looked up in some surprise. "Upon my word, I never
+thought of it."</p>
+
+<p>And she told the truth. She had thought only of how she
+could avoid another meeting.</p>
+
+<p>Olive looked puzzled. "And I supposed that you liked
+Doctor Vaughan," she said, after a moment's pause.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, and so I do; I was very careless. Olive, dear, pray
+make my adieus to him, and all the necessary excuses. I do
+like the doctor, and don't want him to think me rude."</p>
+
+<p>And Olive accepted the commission, and was deceived by it.
+For she, absorbed in her own fears and hopes, was not aware of
+the drama of love and cross purposes that was being enacted
+under her very eyes.</p>
+
+<p>When Clarence called, on the next day but one, he found, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>
+his surprise and sorrow, that the bright face of the girl he loved
+so well was to smile upon him no more, at least for a time.
+Making his call an unusually brief one, he rode back to the city
+in a very grave and thoughtful mood. Or, rather, the gravity
+and thoughtfulness usual in him was tinged with sadness.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>On the same day, almost at the same hour, Claire Keith stood
+in her mother's drawing-room, answering the thousand and one
+questions that are invariably poured into the ears of a returned
+traveler.</p>
+
+<p>By and by, drawing back the satin curtain, that shaded the
+windows of the drawing-room, Claire gazed out upon the familiar
+street which seemed smiling her a welcome in the Autumn sunshine.
+Finally she uttered an exclamation of surprise, and
+turned to Mrs. Keith.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Merci!</i> Mamma! what has happened to the people across the
+way? Why, I can't catch even one glimpse of red and yellow
+damask, not one flutter of gold fringe; have the <i>parvenus</i> been
+taking lessons in good taste? Positively, every blind is closed,
+and there isn't a liveried being to be seen."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith laughed softly. "I don't know what has happened
+to the <i>parvenus</i>, my dear, but whether good or bad it has taken
+them away, liveries and all. The house has a new tenant, who
+is not so amusing, perhaps, but is certainly more mysterious.
+So, after all, the exchange may not have been a gain to the
+neighborhood."</p>
+
+<p>Claire peeped out again. "A mysterious tenant, you say,
+mamma? That must be an improvement. What is the Mystery
+like?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith smiled indulgently on her daughter.</p>
+
+<p>"There is not much to tell, my love. I don't know whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span>
+the lady who has taken the house is young or old, handsome or
+ugly, married or single. She lives the life of a recluse; has
+never been seen, at least by any of us, to walk out. But she drives
+sometimes in a close carriage, and always with a thick veil hiding
+her face. She is tall, dresses richly, but always in black, although
+the fabric is not that usually worn as mourning. She
+moves from the door to her carriage with a languid gait, as if
+she might be an invalid. No one goes there, and I understand
+she is not at home to callers, although, of course, I have not
+made the experiment myself. There, my dear, I think that is
+about all."</p>
+
+<p>"She seems to be a woman of wealth?"</p>
+
+<p>"Evidently; her horses are very fine animals, and her carriage
+a costly one. Her servants wear a neat, plain livery, and apparently
+her house is elegantly furnished."</p>
+
+<p>"And mamma," said Robbie, who had been standing quietly
+at her side, "you forget the flowers."</p>
+
+<p>"True, Robbie. Every day, Claire, the florist leaves a basket
+of white flowers at her door."</p>
+
+<p>"I like that," asserted Claire. "She must have refinement."</p>
+
+<p>"She certainly has that air."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Claire, laughing lightly, "I shall make a study
+of the woman across the way."</p>
+
+<p>With that the subject dropped for the time. But as the days
+went on, and she settled herself once more into the home routine,
+Claire found that not the least among the things she chose to
+consider interesting was the mysterious neighbor across the way.</p>
+
+<p>And now, having put considerable distance between herself
+and Edward Percy, she wrote him a few cool lines of dismissal.</p>
+
+<p>And here again the individuality of the girl was very manifest.
+Many a woman would have written a scathing letter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>
+telling the man how thoroughly unmasked he stood in her sight,
+letting him know that she was acquainted with all his past and
+his present, and bidding him make the most of the infatuation
+of the last victim to his empty pockets, the ancient Miss Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>What Claire did was like Claire; and perhaps, after all, she
+best comprehended the nature she dealt with. Certainly no
+tirade of accusing scorn could have so wounded the self-love of
+the selfish, conscienceless man as did her cool farewell missive.</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy was in a very complaisant mood when Claire's
+letter reached him. True, he had received no reply to his two
+last effusions; but knowing that Claire must be soon returning
+to her home, if she had not already gone, he assured himself
+that it was owing to this that he had received no letter as yet.
+He never doubted her attachment to himself. That was not in
+his nature.</p>
+
+<p>Opening a rather heavy packet, as he sat in his cosy sitting-room,
+out dropped two letters; two letters full of poetry and
+fine sentiment, that his own flexible hand had penned and addressed
+to Miss Claire Keith. His letters, and returned with the
+seals unbroken. He could scarcely believe the evidence of his
+senses. His handsome, treacherous, light-blue eyes darkened
+and widened with astonishment and anger.</p>
+
+<p>He never moved in a hurry, never spoke in a hurry, never
+thought in a hurry. And slowly it dawned upon his mind to
+investigate further and find some clue that would make this unheard-of
+thing appear less incomprehensible. Accordingly he
+took up the envelope that had contained his rejected letters, and
+drew from them a brief note:</p>
+
+<p class="f5"><span class="smcap">Baltimore</span>, Saturday, 6th.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>It will scarcely surprise Mr. Percy to learn that Miss Keith desires now
+to end an acquaintance that has been, doubtless, amusing "intellectually"
+and "socially" to both.</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p>
+<p>Of course, a gentleman so worldly-wise as himself can never have been
+misled by the semblance of attachment, that has seemed necessary in
+order to make such an acquaintance as ours at all interesting. A flirtation
+based upon a "sympathy of intellect," must of necessity end sooner or
+later, and has, no doubt, been as harmless to him as to <span class="smcap">Claire Keith</span>.</p></div>
+
+<p>Yes, without doubt Claire knew how to hurt this man most.
+He was not permitted to know that she felt the keen humiliation,
+which a proud nature must suffer when it discovers that it
+has trusted an unworthy object. Instead, he was to feel himself
+the injured one; the one humiliated. He, the deceiver, must
+own himself deceived. When he believed himself loved, he was
+laughed at. His own words were flung in his teeth in an insolent
+mockery. "A sympathy of intellect;" yes, he had used
+these words so often. He had obeyed the beckoning of a Circe,
+and now she held out to him his swine's reward of husks.</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy had been dissatisfied with others, with circumstances,
+and surroundings, many a time and oft; but to-day, for
+the very first time, he felt dissatisfied with himself.</p>
+
+<p>And Claire had revenged her wrongs twofold.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE MIMIC STAGE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Always, in life, little events pave the way for great catastrophes.
+The mine burns slowly until the explosive point is reached, and
+then&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Fate was taking a leisurely gait, seemingly, and moving affairs
+at Oakley with a deliberation that was almost hesitating.
+Nevertheless, things were moving, and in the wake of little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>
+events, great ones could already be discerned by the plotters and
+counter-plotters, who waited and watched.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line Leroque was in better spirits than usual, in these days.
+Indeed, considering how exceedingly probable it seemed that
+she would be turned adrift at any hour by her present mistress,
+C&eacute;line was very cheerful.</p>
+
+<p>And Miss Arthur had cause to complain. Beyond a doubt
+her French maid was becoming careless, very careless. Sometimes
+Miss Arthur was inclined to think that her scant locks of
+well-dyed hair were pulled quite unnecessarily, while her head
+was under C&eacute;line's hands. But this she endured like a Spartan,
+only exclaiming when the torture became unbearable. And
+when she finally ventured a protest, disastrous was the outcome.</p>
+
+<p>With many an apology, C&eacute;line fingered the curls and braids,
+inquiring with every touch of the hand or adjustment of a hair-pin:
+"Does that hurt, mademoiselle?"</p>
+
+<p>Being assured, when the hair-dressing was done, that she had
+accomplished the task without inflicting so much as a single
+twinge of pain, she held open the door for her mistress, cooing
+her satisfaction and beaming with delight.</p>
+
+<p>But alas for the poor spinster! Before she had been half an
+hour in the society of her beloved <i>fianc&eacute;</i>, her unfortunate habit
+of tossing and wriggling her head brought C&eacute;line's gingerly
+architecture to grief. A sudden twist tumbled down full half
+of the glossy "crown of glory" from Miss Arthur's head to
+Mr. Percy's feet, and&mdash;we draw a veil over the confusion of the
+unhappy spinster.</p>
+
+<p>The lady having retired to her dressing-room to relieve her
+feelings and repair damages, a scene was enacted in which the
+lady did the histrionics and the maid apologized and giggled alternately,
+until the one had exhausted her anthem of wrath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>
+and the other her accompaniment of penitence and giggles.</p>
+
+<p>Then a truce was patched up, which lasted for several days.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line had advanced to the verge of disrespect, when speaking
+of Mr. Percy, on more than one occasion. Several times she
+had said that he "had a familiar look," and she fancied she had
+seen him somewhere. But she had always checked herself on
+the very border-land of impertinence, and never had been able to
+tell if she really had before seen the gentleman or no.</p>
+
+<p>But she had put the spinster on the defensive, and had also
+excited her curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>During this time Mrs. John Arthur was slowly dropping into
+her <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of invalid. First, she gave up her habitual walks about
+the grounds and on the terrace. Then, her drives became too
+fatiguing. Next, she found herself too languid to appear at
+breakfast, and that meal was served in her room. She was not
+ill, she protested; only a trifle indisposed. Let no one be at all
+concerned for her; she should be as well as usual in a few days.
+And C&eacute;line, who was very sympathetic, and was the first to suggest
+that a physician be consulted, was laughingly assured that
+if madame were sick, she, C&eacute;line, should be her head nurse.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Arthur had been absent from the family breakfast table
+for two days, when Miss Arthur met with a fresh grievance at
+the hands of C&eacute;line.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line had been unusually garrulous, and had been regaling
+her mistress with descriptions of the great people, and the
+magnificent toilets she had seen, while with some of her former
+<i>miladis</i>. Suddenly she dropped the subject of a grand ball
+which had transpired in Baltimore, where her mistress was the
+guest of the honorable somebody, to exclaim:</p>
+
+<p>"It has just come to me, mademoiselle, where I must have
+seen Monsieur Percy. It was in Baltimore, and they said&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>
+Here she became much confused, and pretended to be fully occupied
+with the folds of her mistress's dress.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur looked down upon her sharply, and asked,
+"What did they say?"</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line stammered: "Oh, it was only gossip, mademoiselle;
+nothing worth repeating, I assure you."</p>
+
+<p>The curiosity and jealousy of the spinster were fully aroused.
+"Don't attempt any subterfuges, C&eacute;line," she said, in her loftiest
+tone. "I desire to know what was said of my&mdash;Mr. Percy."</p>
+
+<p>The girl arose to her feet, and with much apparent reluctance,
+replied:</p>
+
+<p>"They said, mademoiselle&mdash;of course, it was only gossip&mdash;that
+he was very much of a fortune-hunter, and that he was engaged
+to some woman much older than himself, who was immensely
+rich."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur sat down and looked hard at her maid. "How
+do you know that Mr. Percy is that man?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I don't know, my lady&mdash;mademoiselle. I only said
+that I thought I have seen him in Baltimore; the Mr. Percy
+they used to talk of there, must have been another."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur looked like an ancient Sphinx. "Do you think
+that Mr. Percy is that man?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Merci!</i> my lady, how can I tell that? It might have been
+he; and the old woman there might have disappointed him, you
+know," artlessly.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur was literally speechless with rage. Without replying,
+she rose and swept into the adjoining room, closing the
+door behind her with a bang.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line smiled comfortably, and went to minister unto Cora,
+to whom she confided her belief that Miss Arthur was dissatisfied
+with her, and meant to discharge her. "And only think,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>
+madame," she said plaintively, "it is all because, in an unguarded
+moment, I compared her to an old woman. It is so hard
+to remember, always, that you must not tell an old woman she
+is not young."</p>
+
+<p>And Cora laughed immoderately, for she much enjoyed her
+sister-in-law's discomfiture.</p>
+
+<p>But Miss Arthur did not dismiss the matter from her mind,
+when she banged the door upon C&eacute;line. Angry as she had been
+with that damsel, it was not anger alone that moved her. Jealousy
+was at work, and suspicion.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, sitting beside her lover, she said to him,
+carelessly: "By the way, Edward, were you ever in Baltimore?"</p>
+
+<p>The gentleman stroked his blonde whiskers, and smiled languidly
+as he answered: "In Baltimore? Oh, yes; I think
+there are few cities I have not visited." And then something
+in the face of Miss Arthur made him inquire, with a slight acceleration
+of speech: "But why do you ask?"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur considered for a moment, and replied: "My
+maid, C&eacute;line, thinks that she has seen you there."</p>
+
+<p>She was watching him keenly, and fancied that he looked just
+a trifle annoyed, even when he smiled lazily at her, saying:
+"Indeed! And when is your maid supposed to have seen me
+there?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know when,"&mdash;Miss Arthur was beginning to feel injured;
+"I suppose you are well known in society there?"</p>
+
+<p>He smiled and still caressed his chin. "So so," he said, indifferently.</p>
+
+<p>"Edward!"&mdash;the spinster could not suppress the question
+that was heavy on her mind&mdash;"were you ever engaged to a lady
+in Baltimore?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He turned his blue eyes upon her in mild surprise. "Never,"
+he said, nonchalantly.</p>
+
+<p>She looked somewhat relieved, but still anxious, and the man,
+after eyeing her for a moment, placing one hand firmly upon
+her own, said, in a tone that was half caress, half command,</p>
+
+<p>"Ellen, you have been listening to gossip about me. Now,
+let me hear the whole story, for I see it has troubled you, and I
+will not have that."</p>
+
+<p>She, glad to unburden her mind, told him what C&eacute;line had
+said. Perhaps C&eacute;line had counted upon this, and was making,
+of the unconscious Mr. Percy, a tool that should serve her in
+just the way that he did. At all events, while he listened to the
+spinster, he assured himself that if the French maid were not,
+for some reason, an enemy, she was certainly a meddler, and
+that she must quit Miss Arthur's service.</p>
+
+<p>He said nothing to this end that evening. But he fully
+satisfied Miss Arthur that he was not the person referred to by
+the girl. And to guard against further inquiries or accidents,
+he told her of several men of the name of Percy, who were much
+in society, and might be, any one of them, the man in question.</p>
+
+<p>And his <i>fianc&eacute;</i> was calmed and happy once more.</p>
+
+<p>She was as clay in the potter's hands, and Mr. Percy found
+it an easy matter to convince her, a few days later, that her invaluable
+maid was not the proper person to have about her.
+Accordingly, one fine morning, C&eacute;line was informed, in the
+spinster's loftiest manner, that her services were no longer desired,
+and a month's wages were tendered her, with the assurance
+that Miss Arthur "had not been blind to her sly ways, and
+trickery, and that she had only retained her until she could suit
+herself better."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line took her <i>cong&eacute;</i> in demure silence, and sought Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span>
+Arthur forthwith. Cora was really glad that she could at last
+command the girl, for many reasons, and they quickly came to
+an understanding.</p>
+
+<p>Great was the surprise and inward wrath of the spinster when,
+within ten minutes from the time C&eacute;line had left her presence,
+a maid without a mistress, she appeared again before her, and
+laying upon the dressing case the month's wages she had received
+in lieu of a warning, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mademoiselle will receive back the month's wages, as I have
+not been in the least a loser by her dismissal. I enter the service
+of madame immediately."</p>
+
+<p>And then C&eacute;line had smiled blandly, bowed, and taken her
+departure, leaving the spinster to wonder how on earth she should
+manage her hair-dressing, and to wish that Edward had not insisted
+upon setting the girl adrift until a substitute had been
+found.</p>
+
+<p>The fact that the girl was retained in the house annoyed Mr.
+Percy not a little. But it did not surprise him that Cora should
+wish to keep her. He had long before made the discovery that
+the sisters-in-law were not more fond of each other than was essential
+to the comfort of both.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line had been but two days in the service of her new mistress
+when that lady found herself too ill to be dressed for
+breakfast, even in her own room, and she kept her bed all day.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur, in some alarm, had declared his intention of
+calling a physician. But Cora objected so strongly that he had
+refrained. Before evening came, however, C&eacute;line sought him,
+as he was sitting in what he chose to call his "study," and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon my intrusion, monsieur, but I am distressed about
+madame. This afternoon she is not so well, and surely she
+should have some medicine."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The old man wrinkled his brows in perplexity, as he replied:
+"Yes, yes, girl; but she won't let me call a doctor."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line sighed, and moving a step nearer, murmured: "Monsieur,
+I will venture to repeat what madame but now said to me,
+if I may."</p>
+
+<p>He signed her to proceed.</p>
+
+<p>"Madame said that a stranger would only make her worse;
+that she would distrust anyone she did not know; but that if
+her dear old physician, who had attended her always in sickness,
+could see her, she would be glad. Alas! he was in New York,
+and she did not like to ask that he might be sent for. It would
+seem to you childish."</p>
+
+<p>Of course this speech had been made at Cora's instigation, but
+it had the desired effect. John Arthur bounded up, and bade
+C&eacute;line precede him to his wife's chamber; and the result of his
+visit was what the invalid had intended it to be. She was so
+pretty, and so pathetic, and so very ill! C&eacute;line declared that she
+was growing more fevered every moment, and as for her pulse,
+it was like a trip-hammer.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur had an unutterable fear of illness, and after trying
+in vain to persuade Cora to see one of the village doctors, whom,
+he declared, were very good ones, he announced his intention to
+telegraph to the city for the doctor who had been her adviser in
+earlier days.</p>
+
+<p>And to this Cora reluctantly consented. "It seems foolish,"
+she said, plaintively, "and yet I don't think I <i>ought</i> to refuse to
+send for Doctor Le Guise. I feel as if I were really about to
+be very ill, hard as I have tried to fight off the weakness that is
+coming over me."</p>
+
+<p>"And madame is so flushed, and wanders so in her sleep,"&mdash;this,
+of course, from C&eacute;line.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>John Arthur arose from the side of the couch with considerable
+alacrity, saying: "I will telegraph at once. What is the
+address?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora lay back among her pillows, with closed eyes, and made
+no sign that she heard. He spoke again, and the eyes unclosed
+slowly, and she said, with slow languor:</p>
+
+<p>"Send to my brother; he will find him." Then closing her
+eyes, she murmured, "I want to sleep now."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line turned toward him an awe-struck countenance and
+motioned him to be silent. He tip-toed from the room, thoroughly
+frightened and nervous, and sent a message to Lucian Davlin
+forthwith.</p>
+
+<p>When he was safely away, Cora awoke from her nap, and
+desired C&eacute;line to let in more light. This done, she propped
+herself up among her pillows, and taking from underneath
+one of them a novel, bade her maid tell everybody that she was
+not to be disturbed, while she read and looked more comfortable
+than ill.</p>
+
+<p>Towards evening, John Arthur looked in, or rather tried to
+look in, upon his wife. But C&eacute;line assured him that her mistress
+was sleeping fitfully and seemed much disturbed and agitated
+at the slightest sound, so his alarm grew and increased.</p>
+
+<p>When the evening train came he hoped almost against reason
+that it would bring the now eagerly looked for Dr. Le Guise.</p>
+
+<p>But no one came. Later, however, a telegram from Lucian
+arrived, which read as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Doctor can't get off to-night. Will be down by morning train.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f6">D&mdash;&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, Cora was much worse. She did not recognize
+her husband, and called Miss Arthur, Lady Mallory, which
+made a great impression upon that spinster.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line, who seemed to know just what to do, turned them both
+out, which did not displease either greatly, as the brother and
+sister were equally afraid of contagion, and were nervous in a
+sick-room.</p>
+
+<p>At length the doctor arrived, and with him Lucian Davlin,
+the latter looking very grave and anxious, the former looking
+very grave and wise.</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line was summoned to prepare the patient for the coming
+of the physician. When this had been done, and the wise man
+arose to go to his patient, John Arthur and Lucian would have
+followed him. But he waved them back, saying: "Not now,
+gentlemen, if you please; let me examine my patient first. That
+is always safest and wisest."</p>
+
+<p>So the three, Lucian, Arthur, and his sister, sat in solemn
+silence awaiting the verdict of the doctor from Europe. At
+last he came, and the gravity of his face was something to marvel
+at. Advancing toward Mr. Arthur, the doctor seemed to be
+looking him through and through as he asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Will you tell me how lately you have been in your wife's
+room."</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur answered him with pallid lips. "We were there
+this morning, my sister and I."</p>
+
+<p>The doctor turned toward Miss Arthur, looking, if possible,
+more serious than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry, very sorry," he said. "And I hope you have
+incurred no risks. But it is my duty to tell you that Mrs.
+Arthur is attacked with a fever of a most malignant and contagious
+type, and you have certainly been exposed."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Arthur turned the color of chalk and dropped into the
+nearest chair. Miss Arthur, who could not change her color,
+shrieked and fell upon the sofa. Lucian groaned after the
+most approved fashion. And the man of medicine continued,</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_034.jpg" width="400" height="560" alt="&quot;I am sorry, very sorry.&quot;&mdash;page 288."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;I am sorry, very sorry.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_288">page 288.</a></span></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Above all things, don't agitate yourselves; be calm. I
+would advise you to retire to your own rooms, and remain there
+for the present. I will immediately prepare some powders,
+which you will take hourly. We will begin in time, and hope
+that you may both escape the contagion."</p>
+
+<p>Then he turned to Mr. Davlin. "My dear boy, you had
+better go back to the city; at least go away from the house.
+This is no place for you."</p>
+
+<p>But Lucian shook his head, and said that he would not leave
+while his sister was in danger.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning Dr. Le Guise presented himself at the
+door of Miss Arthur's dressing-room. After making many inquiries,
+such as doctors are wont to terrify patients with, he pronounced
+upon the case: She had thus far escaped contagion.
+But her system was not over strong; in fact, was extremely
+delicate. If there was any place near at hand, suited to a lady
+like herself, his advice was to go there without delay. She was
+not rugged enough to risk remaining where she was.</p>
+
+<p>Before sunset, Miss Arthur was quartered at the Bellair inn.
+She had dispatched Mr. Percy a note the day before, bidding
+him delay his visit. Now she was under the same roof with
+him, greatly to her delight, and his disgust.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur had not fared so well at the hands of the learned
+physician. He had swallowed his powders faithfully and hopefully,
+but the morning found him languid and dismal, with
+aching brain and nauseated stomach.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor shook his head, and bade him prepare for a slight
+attack of the fever. It promised to be very slight, but he must
+keep his room, for a few days at least, and attend to his medicine
+and his diet.</p>
+
+<p>And so the drama had commenced in earnest.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2>
+
+<h2>A STARTLING EPISODE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Claire Keith had said truly that the woman across the way
+would prove interesting to her.</p>
+
+<p>She grew more and more fond of watching for the tall form,
+with its trailing robes of black, its proudly-poised, heavily-veiled
+head, and slow, graceful movement. Sometimes she saw
+a white hand pull away the heavy curtains, and knew that the
+owner of the hand was looking out upon the street. But the
+face was always in shadow. She could not catch the slightest
+glimpse of it.</p>
+
+<p>"She has strong reasons for not wishing to be seen and recognized;
+I wonder what they are?" Claire would soliloquize at
+such times.</p>
+
+<p>Then she would chide herself for being so curious. But the
+fits of wondering grew stronger, until she came to feel an attraction
+that was more than mere curiosity; a sort of proprietorship,
+as it were, in the strange lady. She began to wish that she
+might know her, and at last, in a very unexpected manner, the
+wish was gratified.</p>
+
+<p>Claire had returned from a grand ball, weary and somewhat
+bored. Disrobing with unusual haste, she sought her couch.
+She had supposed herself very sleepy, but no sooner was her
+head upon the pillow, than sleep abandoned her, and she tossed
+restlessly, and very wide awake.</p>
+
+<p>Finding sleep impossible, and herself growing nervous, Claire
+at length arose. Throwing on a dressing-gown, she pushed a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span>
+large chair to the window, and flinging herself in it, drew back
+the curtain. Glancing across the way, she was startled by a
+light shining out from the upper windows of the mysterious
+house. She had looked at that house when quitting her carriage,
+because to look had become a habit. But there had been no
+light then; not one glimmer. And now the entire upper floor
+was brilliantly illuminated.</p>
+
+<p>Claire rubbed her eyes and looked again. Then, with a cry
+of alarm, she sprang to her feet and rang her bell violently.</p>
+
+<p>From the roof of the house a single flame had shot up, and
+Claire realized the cause of that strange illumination. The upper
+floor was in flames!</p>
+
+<p>She turned up the gas and commenced making a hurried toilet.
+By the time the sleepy servant appeared in answer to her ring,
+she was wrapping a worsted shawl about her head and shoulders,
+preparatory to going out.</p>
+
+<p>"Rouse papa and the servants, James!" she commanded,
+sharply. "Number two hundred is on fire! Go instantly!"</p>
+
+<p>Giving the startled and bewildered James a push in the direction
+of her father's sleeping-room, she darted down the stairs.
+She unbolted and unchained the street door, and hurried straight
+across to number two hundred, where she rang peal after
+peal.</p>
+
+<p>The tiny flame had grown a great one by this time, and almost
+simultaneously with her ring at the door, the hoarse fire-alarm
+bell roared out its warning.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed an age to the girl before she heard bolts drawn back.
+Then the face of an elderly male servant peered cautiously
+out through a six-inch opening. In sharp, quick tones Claire
+told him that the roof was in flames. The statement seemed
+only to paralyze the man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Claire gave the door an excited push and spoke to him again.
+But he never moved until a voice, that evidently belonged to
+the lady of the house, said: "What is it, Peter?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire answered for him: "Madame, the roof of your house
+is in flames! Alarm your servants and make your escape!"</p>
+
+<p>Through the doorway Claire saw a white hand laid on the
+man's shoulder, and suddenly he became galvanized into
+life.</p>
+
+<p>Then the chain fell, and the door opened wide.</p>
+
+<p>Claire and the mysterious lady were face to face.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the people were moving in the street, and from
+the windows of Claire's home, lights were flashing.</p>
+
+<p>The woman drew back at the sound of the first footstep, and
+seemed to hesitate, with a look of uneasiness upon her face. Instantly
+Claire spoke the thought that had been in her mind when
+she rang the bell: "Madame, your house will soon be surrounded
+by strangers. Secure such valuables as are at hand and come
+with me across to my home. There you will be safe from intruders."</p>
+
+<p>The lady raised her hand, and saying, simply, "Wait," hurried
+up the broad stairs.</p>
+
+<p>Now all was confusion. Down the street came the rushing
+fire engines; servants ran about frantically, and people went
+tearing past Claire in the crazy desire to seize something and
+smash it on the paving stones, thereby convincing themselves
+that they were "helping at a fire." Regardless of these, Claire
+stood at her post like a little sentinel. Just as the first engine
+halted before the house, the mistress of all that doomed grandeur
+crossed its threshold for the last time. Then she turned to
+Claire, and the two hurried silently through the throng, and
+across the street. The door was fortunately ajar. The servants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span>
+and Mr. Keith were all outside, so the girl and her companion
+had been unobserved.</p>
+
+<p>Claire led the way straight to her own room. Ushering in
+her companion, she closed the door upon chance intruders, and
+turned to look at her. The stranger had appeared at the door
+in a dressing-gown of dark silk, and this she still wore, having
+thrown over it a long cloak, and wrapped about her head, so as
+to almost entirely conceal her features, a costly cashmere shawl.
+This she now removed, and revealed to the anxious gaze of
+Claire the face of a woman past the prime of life;&mdash;a face that
+had never been handsome, but which bore unmistakable signs
+of refinement and culture in every feature. The eyes were
+large, dark-gray, and undeniably beautiful. The hair was wavy
+and abundant; once it had been black as midnight, but now it
+was plentifully streaked with gray. The face was thin and almost
+colorless. The hands were still beautiful, with long slender
+fingers and delicate veining; the very <i>beau ideal</i> of aristocratic
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>This much Claire saw almost at a glance. Then the lady said,
+in a low, sweet voice that was in perfect unison with the hands,
+and eyes, and general bearing:</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot tell you, dear young lady, how much I thank you
+for your courage and hospitality. I could not have endured the
+going out upon the street in that throng."</p>
+
+<p>Claire laughed softly, and said, with characteristic frankness:
+"I guessed that, madame, for I must confess to having,
+on more than one occasion, seen that you do not desire observation."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_035.jpg" width="400" height="564" alt="&quot;The mistress of all the doomed grandeur crossed the threshold for the
+last time.&quot;&mdash;page 293."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;The mistress of all the doomed grandeur crossed the threshold for the
+last time.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_293">page 293.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>The stranger looked at her with evident admiration. "You
+were kinder and more thoughtful for a stranger than I have
+found most of our sex, Miss &mdash;&mdash;; I beg your pardon; I am
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>so much of a hermit that I don't even know your name."</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Keith,&mdash;Claire Keith."</p>
+
+<p>Then the girl crossed to the window and looked over at the
+burning building, while the stranger sank wearily into a chair.</p>
+
+<p>"Your house is going fast, madame. I fear nothing can be
+saved," said Claire. "The upper floor is already gone."</p>
+
+<p>The stranger smiled slightly, but never so much as glanced
+out at her disappearing home.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope my landlord is well insured," she said. "As for
+me, I have my chiefest valuables here," drawing from underneath
+the cloak, which she had only partially thrown off, a
+small casket, and a morocco case that evidently contained papers.
+"I keep these always near me; as for the rest, there is nothing
+lost that money cannot replace."</p>
+
+<p>Claire looked a trifle surprised at her indifference to the destruction
+of her elegant furniture, but made no answer. And
+the stranger fell into thoughtful silence.</p>
+
+<p>A rap sounded on the door, and a gentle voice outside said:
+"Claire, dear, are you there?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl turned upon the stranger a look of embarrassed inquiry.
+"That is mamma," she said.</p>
+
+<p>The lady smiled half sadly at her evident perturbation, and
+replied, with a touch of dignity in her tone, "Admit your
+mother, my dear. I was about to ask for her."</p>
+
+<p>Claire drew a sigh of relief and opened the door.</p>
+
+<p>"My child," began Mrs. Keith, as she hurriedly entered the
+room, "James tells me that you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Here she broke off as her eyes fell upon the stranger, and
+Claire hastened to say: "Mamma, this is the lady whose house
+is burning. I ran over there as soon as I saw the first flame
+and asked her to come here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith was not only a lady, but a woman of good sense,
+and she turned courteously toward the intruder, saying, "You
+did quite right, my dear. I trust you have not been too seriously
+a loser by this misfortune, madame."</p>
+
+<p>The lady had risen. Now she stepped forward and said, in
+her unmistakably high-bred tones, "I have suffered no material
+injury, I assure you. And your daughter has done me a great
+kindness. I was about to ask if I might see you, as I felt that
+it was to you, as the mistress of this house, that I owed some explanation
+regarding myself, before accepting further hospitality
+from your daughter."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith bowed gravely, and the stranger continued,</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Mrs. Ralston. I have lived for nearly ten
+years a secluded life, having been an invalid. Messrs. Allyne &amp;
+Clive are my bankers, and have been for years. Mr. Allyne is
+an old family friend. If you will ask your husband to call
+upon him, you will be assured that I am not a mysterious adventuress."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston smiled slightly, and Mrs. Keith smiled in return
+as she said, cordially: "Your face and manner assure me of
+that, Mrs. Ralston. And now will you not permit me to show
+you a room where you can rest a little, for it is almost morning,
+and your night's repose has been sadly disturbed."</p>
+
+<p>"I must accept your hospitality, Mrs. Keith, and ask to be
+allowed to intrude upon you until I can communicate with Mr.
+Allyne, and he can find me a suitable place of residence."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let that trouble you, pray. We shall be happy to
+have you remain our guest," and Mrs. Keith turned to leave the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston held out her hand to Claire, and that impulsive
+young lady clasped it in both her own, as they bade each other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span>
+good-night. And so the mysterious lady was actually under the
+same roof with the girl who had been so much interested in her
+and her possible history.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Allyne was well known to Mr. Keith, and a man whom
+he highly esteemed. On the following day, at the request of
+Mrs. Ralston, he called at the banking-house of Allyne &amp; Clive.</p>
+
+<p>On learning that Mrs. Ralston was the guest of his brother
+banker, and of the demolition of her house, Mr. Allyne was
+doubly surprised. And his statement concerning the lady was
+not only satisfactory but highly gratifying. She had been left
+an orphan in her girlhood, and was from one of the oldest and
+proudest of Virginia's old and proud families. She had now
+no very near relatives, and having separated from a worthless
+husband, had lived mostly in Europe. She had resumed her
+family name, and although the husband from whom she had
+withdrawn herself, had squandered nearly half her fortune, she
+was still a wealthy woman. He spoke in highest terms of praise
+of her mind and accomplishments, and assured Mr. Keith that
+she was not only a woman of unusual refinement and culture,
+but one also of loftiest principles and purest Christianity. If
+it were not that it would be the very place where this worthless
+husband would be likeliest to find her, he would not allow
+her to occupy any home save his own. And, lastly, Mr. Allyne
+stated that if he, Mr. Keith, could prevail upon Mrs. Ralston
+to remain under his roof, he would do Mr. Allyne a great favor.</p>
+
+<p>"For," concluded that gentleman, "she lives too secluded, and
+she is so well fitted for such society as that of your wife and
+daughter; she is a woman to grace any household."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Keith returned home and faithfully reported all that he
+had heard concerning their guest.</p>
+
+<p>Claire had been very much in love with the grave, stately lady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>
+from the first, and after a morning's chat with her, Mrs. Keith
+was not far behind in admiration.</p>
+
+<p>And the woman who had lived alone so much, found this
+cheery little family circle very pleasant, so when Claire and her
+mother begged her with much earnestness to remain with them,
+she did not refuse.</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot resist the invitation which I feel to be so sincere,"
+she said. "I will remain with you for a time, at least, but I
+am too much of a hermit to tarry long where there is such a
+magnet as this," turning to Claire.</p>
+
+<p>And Claire laughingly declared that she would forswear
+society, and don a veil of any thickness, if only Mrs. Ralston
+would share her isolation.</p>
+
+<p>So she stayed with them, and soon became as a dearly loved
+sister to Mrs. Keith; while between herself and Claire, an attachment,
+as unusual as it was strong, sprang into being. They
+drove together, read together, talked together by the hour, and
+never seemed to weary of each other's society.</p>
+
+<p>Enthusiastic Claire wrote to Olive and Madeline, giving glowing
+descriptions of her new found friend. But because of the
+events that were making Olive and Madeline doubly dear to
+her, and because she could not speak of them to a stranger,
+however loved and trusted, Claire said little to Mrs. Ralston of
+her sister or of the little heroine of Oakley.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2>
+
+<h2>WAITING.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The expert who had been tracing out the goings and doings of
+Percy, made his report.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After it had been thoroughly reviewed by Clarence and Olive,
+they were forced to confess that they were not one whit the
+wiser. The detective had found how and where Percy had
+squandered much of his fortune, but had brought to light absolutely
+nothing that could be of use to his employers. And so
+they abandoned the investigation in that direction.</p>
+
+<p>But when the report of the Professor's case was sent in, they
+found more cause for congratulation. First, it had been discovered
+that the Professor had visited three different physicians,
+all of them men bearing reputations not over spotless. Next he
+had made sundry purchases from two different chemists; and
+third, last and all important, he had been dogged to the bazaar
+of a dealer in theatrical wares, where he had purchased a wig,
+beard, and other articles of disguise.</p>
+
+<p>Two days had passed since the above discoveries were reported.
+Then the detective called upon Dr. Vaughan and informed him
+that Mr. Davlin and the Professor, the latter disguised with
+wig, beard and spectacles, had taken the early morning train
+that very day, and that he, the detective, had been lounging so
+near that he heard Davlin call for two tickets to Bellair.</p>
+
+<p>And then they knew that the siege had begun.</p>
+
+<p>Three days later, Olive received the following letter, which
+speaks for itself:</p>
+
+<p class="f5"><span class="smcap">Oakley, Wednesday Evening.</span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p><span class="smcap">Dear Olive:</span></p>
+
+<p>The engagement has opened in earnest.</p>
+
+<p>Last evening, Mr. D. and <i>le Docteur</i>, between them, frightened the two
+maids out of the house. This morning I succeeded in scaring away the
+old housekeeper, which made a shortage in servants. Old Hagar happened
+along just then <i>by some chance</i>, and declared herself not at all
+afraid of contagion; so madame bade her brother employ her. The cook
+remains, as <i>Monsieur</i> and <i>le Docteur</i> must eat. My meals are served in
+madame's dressing-room, and shared by that lady.</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span></p>
+<p>Courage, my friend, our time is almost here. And I am yours till
+death,</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2">M&mdash;&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>This letter was perused by Olive and Clarence with almost
+breathless eagerness and interest. And then they found themselves
+once more waiting eagerly for fresh tidings from the
+"seat of war," as Clarence termed it.</p>
+
+<p>At last came a letter from Madeline that aroused them as the
+clarion stirs those arrayed for battle. It ran as follows, bearing
+neither date nor signature:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">To Arms, My Friends!</span></p>
+
+<p>If you were among the village gossips to-day, this is what you would
+hear, for it is what is fast spreading itself through the town:</p>
+
+<p>The lady up at the mansion has been very ill, but is now better. Her
+husband took the fever from her, and, being old and his constitution
+enfeebled by the dissipation of his earlier days, he came near dying.
+Now they hope that he will live, although the danger is not yet passed.
+But <i>if he does live</i> he will never be himself again. The fever has affected
+his brain, and he will be <i>hopelessly mad</i>.</p>
+
+<p>That is what the villagers know.</p>
+
+<p>What they do not know is, that Mr. D&mdash;&mdash; and the <i>doctor</i> have already
+fitted up two rooms in the most secluded part of the closed-up wing,
+and that the "insane" man will be removed to those rooms to-night.</p>
+
+<p>One fact concerning <i>le Docteur</i>, your expert has failed to discover, is
+that at some time the man has made a study of medicine. This is only
+a theory of mine, not a discovery; but when I tell you what he did, I
+think that you both will agree with me. A few days ago the <i>doctor</i>
+walked down to the village one morning, and coolly presented himself
+at the door of Doctor G&mdash;&mdash;'s office.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor G&mdash;&mdash; is the least popular and least skillful of the three
+physicians here, but of course the city man was not supposed to know
+that. He, the city doctor, informed Doctor G&mdash;&mdash; that although his
+employer had not desired it, as he had perfect confidence in the present
+treatment of Mr. A&mdash;&mdash;, still it was always his practice to consult with
+another physician.</p>
+
+<p>So he desired Doctor G&mdash;&mdash; to accompany him to O&mdash;&mdash; and see his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span>
+patient; not that he had any doubts about the disease, but because, in
+case of a serious termination, it was always a consolation to the friends
+to know that every precaution had been taken. Doctor G&mdash;&mdash; came, to
+find the patient in a bedrugged stupor. He endorsed everything <i>le
+Docteur</i> chose to say, and went away feeling much puffed-up because of
+having been called in to consult with a New York physician.</p>
+
+<p>You see they are moving very carefully, and do not intend to have any
+doubts raised.</p>
+
+<p>Miss A&mdash;&mdash; of course remains in the village, and receives reports
+daily concerning her brother, and her Knight is still at her elbow.</p>
+
+<p>Henry has been here for a week, and does not dream of my identity.</p>
+
+<p>Hagar and myself, between us, have managed to get possession of a
+specimen of every drug that has been administered to Mr. A&mdash;&mdash;, also
+of the harmless nostrums that are dealt out to madame for appearance's
+sake.</p>
+
+<p>There is but one thing more that I must accomplish, and that must be
+done to-night, if possible. If I succeed in this, two days more will see
+me <i>en route</i> for the city. If I fail&mdash;then I must remain here, if I can, and
+try again. In any case, I must make my new move within the week. So
+look out for the chrysalis; it remains for you to develop it into the butterfly.</p></div>
+
+<p>This letter chanced to arrive during one of Doctor Vaughan's
+afternoon visits, and Olive read it aloud to him, saying at the
+end, and almost without taking breath,</p>
+
+<p>"Something she must accomplish first. If she has secured the
+medicines, and they are safe not to run away in her absence,
+then what is it she means?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence shook his head, saying: "I have no idea. She
+speaks as if the thing, whatever it is, was attended with some
+risk."</p>
+
+<p>"And this explains Henry's absence," Olive said, tapping the
+letter in her lap. "No doubt he was summoned without any
+previous warning. Of course, he is a mere tool for his master.
+They will hardly dare let him see their game."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hardly; but if they were not using him to Madeline's satisfaction,
+she would have revealed herself to him."</p>
+
+<p>"True."</p>
+
+<p>"We are approaching a crisis now. If this new movement
+fails,&mdash;but I hardly think it will."</p>
+
+<p>Olive looked up in alarm. "Oh, don't suggest failure," she
+exclaimed. "She <i>must</i> succeed. What will become of poor
+Philip if she does not?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence lifted his face reverently. "I believe that the Power
+above us, who permits evil to be because only from pain and
+sorrow comes purification, has not permitted the life of this
+beautiful young girl to be darkened in vain. Out of her wrongs,
+and her sorrows, and her humiliation, He will allow her own
+hands to shape not only a strong, true, earnest womanhood for
+herself, but the weapons which shall deliver the innocent, and
+bring the guilty to justice."</p>
+
+<p>And Olive felt comforted, and her hope took new wings.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2>
+
+<h2>MR. PERCY SHAKES HIMSELF.</h2>
+
+
+<p>It was noontide at Oakley, and a December sun was shining
+coldly in at the window of Mrs. Cora Arthur's dressing-room.
+Within that cozy room, however, all was warmth and brightness.
+A cheerful fire was blazing and crackling in the grate.
+Sitting before the fire, wrapped in a becoming dressing-gown of
+white cashmere, was Cora herself, looking a trifle annoyed, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span>
+remarkably well withal. Wonderfully well, considering how
+very ill she had been.</p>
+
+<p>Lounging near her, his feet lazily outstretched toward the fire,
+was Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>"What did you write to Percy?" he inquired, consulting his
+watch.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what you told me; that I had something of importance
+to communicate, and desired him to call to-day at two," replied
+Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"But&mdash;aren't you looking a little too well for a lady who has
+been so desperately ill? It won't do to arouse his suspicions, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>Cora crossed to her dressing-case, went carefully over her face
+with a puff-ball, and did some very artistic tracing in India ink
+under and over each eye. Then she turned toward him triumphantly.
+"There!" she exclaimed, "now I shall draw the curtains,"
+suiting the action to the word, "and then, when I lie on this
+couch, my face will be entirely in the shadow, while from the
+further window there will come enough light to enable him to
+recognize you."</p>
+
+<p>At this moment a rap was heard at the door. Cora threw
+herself upon the invalid's couch, and lay back among the pillows.
+When she had settled herself to her satisfaction, Mr. Davlin
+opened the door, admitting C&eacute;line Leroque.</p>
+
+<p>"Monsieur Percy is below, madame," said the girl, glancing
+sharply at the form in the darkened corner.</p>
+
+<p>"Come and draw these coverings over me, C&eacute;line, and then
+go and bring him up," replied Cora.</p>
+
+<p>Then she glanced at Lucian, who said, carelessly: "Well,
+my dear, I will go down to the library."</p>
+
+<p>C&eacute;line adjusted the wraps and pillows and then went out,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span>
+closely followed by Lucian. She was not aware that Mr. Percy
+was expected, the message having been sent by Henry. And
+she was not a little anxious to know the nature of the interview
+that was about to be held.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy, conducted to Cora's door by C&eacute;line, entered the
+room with his usual lazy grace, and approached the recumbent
+figure in the darkened corner, saying, in a tone of hypocritical
+solicitude:</p>
+
+<p>"Madame, I trust you are not overtaxing your strength in thus
+kindly granting me an interview."</p>
+
+<p>He knew so well how to assume the manner best calculated
+to throw her off her guard and into a rage.</p>
+
+<p>But Cora, understanding his tactics, and her own failing,
+was prepared for him. In tones as smooth as his own she
+answered:</p>
+
+<p>"You are very good, and I find my strength returning quite
+rapidly. In fact," and here a double meaning was apparent, as
+she intended it should be, "I think I shall soon be <i>stronger</i>
+than before my illness."</p>
+
+<p>There was silence for a moment. Evidently Mr. Percy was
+not inclined to help her to put into words whatever she had in
+her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"I sent for you," she continued, "because I have something
+to say before you meet with a person who, as you are likely to
+remain one of this pleasant family, you must of necessity, and
+for policy's sake, meet with the outward forms of politeness."
+Here she paused as if from exhaustion, and he, lifting his fine
+eyebrows slightly, kept silence still.</p>
+
+<p>Cora, beginning to find her part irksome, hurried to its conclusion.
+"You have heard, no doubt, of the presence of my
+brother in this house. I sent for you that you might meet him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span>
+and I desired my maid to show you to this room first, that I
+might venture a word of warning and advice. My brother
+is not the stranger that you evidently imagine him. Beyond the
+fact that you and I were once married, that I of my own will
+forsook you, and the reason, or part of the reason for so doing,
+he knows little of our affairs. For my sake he will make no
+use of that knowledge. But I think it best that you understand
+each other. Will you please ring that bell?"</p>
+
+<p>He obeyed her, looking much mystified and somewhat apprehensive.
+C&eacute;line appeared promptly, and disappeared again
+in answer to Cora's command:</p>
+
+<p>"Show my brother here, C&eacute;line."</p>
+
+<p>When the door opened, he turned slowly and met the cool
+gaze of&mdash;Lucian Davlin!</p>
+
+<p>That personage approached the invalid, saying: "You sent
+for me to introduce me to this gentleman, I suppose, Cora?"</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy arose slowly, and the two confronted each other,
+while Cora nodded her head, as if unable to answer his words.</p>
+
+<p>As Percy advanced the light from the one window that had
+been left unshrouded fell full upon the two men, who gazed upon
+each other with the utmost <i>sang froid</i>. Two handsomer scoundrels
+never stood at bay. And while the dark face expressed
+haughty insolence, the blonde features looked as if, after all, the
+occasion called for nothing more fatiguing than a stare of indolent
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>Cora's voice broke the silence: "Mr. Davlin is my brother,
+Mr. Percy. Please stop staring at each other, gentlemen, and
+come to some sort of an understanding."</p>
+
+<p>"Really, this is a most agreeable surprise," drawled Percy,
+looking from one to the other with perfect coolness.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_036.jpg" width="400" height="497" alt="&quot;Mr. Percy arose slowly, and
+the two confronted each other.&quot;&mdash;page 306."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Mr. Percy arose slowly, and
+the two confronted each other.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_306">page 306.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"And quite dramatic in effect," sneered Davlin, flinging
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span>himself into a chair. "Sit down, Percy; one may as well be comfortable.
+How's the fair spinster to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>Percy waved away the question, and resumed his seat and his
+languid attitude, saying: "Upon my word this <i>is</i> quite dramatic."</p>
+
+<p>Davlin laughed, airily. "Even so. I hope the fact that this
+lady is my sister will explain some things to you more satisfactorily
+than they have hitherto been explained. And if so, we
+had better let bygones drop."</p>
+
+<p>Percy turned his eyes away from the speaker, and let them
+rest upon the face of Cora. Again ignoring the remark addressed
+to him, he said, slowly: "I don't see any very strong family
+resemblance."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose you ever will," retorted Davlin, coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"And I don't precisely see the object of this interview," Percy
+continued.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin made a gesture of impatience, and said, sharply:
+"Hang it all, man, the object is soon got at! It's a simple
+question and answer."</p>
+
+<p>Percy brushed an imaginary particle of dust off his sleeve
+with the greatest care, and then lifted his eyes and said, interrogatively:
+"Well?"</p>
+
+<p>"Will you have war or peace?"</p>
+
+<p>"That depends."</p>
+
+<p>"Upon what?"</p>
+
+<p>"The terms."</p>
+
+<p>"Well!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well?"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want?"</p>
+
+<p>Percy examined his finger nails, attentively, as if looking
+for his next idea there. "To be let alone," he said, at last.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin laughed. "And to let alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then we won't waste words. Rely upon us to help, rather
+than hinder you. There's no use bringing up old scores. If
+you vote for an alliance of forces, very good."</p>
+
+<p>Percy nodded, and then rising, said: "Well, if that is all, I
+will take my leave. No doubt quiet is best for Mrs. Arthur,"
+bowing ironically. "By-the-by," meaningly, "when you find
+yourself in the village, Davlin, it might not be amiss to show
+yourself at the inn."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite right," said Davlin, gravely. "Possibly I may look
+in upon you to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy nodded; made a graceful gesture of adieu to Cora,
+who murmured inaudibly in reply; and the two men quitted
+her presence.</p>
+
+<p>In a few moments Davlin returned to Cora, smiling and
+serene. "I told you we could easily manage him," he said.
+"He won't trouble himself to go to war, save in his own defence.
+You did the invalid beautifully, Co., and I feel quite
+satisfied with the present state of things."</p>
+
+<p>But Mr. Percy had not looked and listened for nothing. He
+went straight to his room, and shutting himself in, began to
+think diligently. Finally he summed up his case on his
+fingers as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"First, are they brother and sister? I don't believe it.
+Second, taking it for granted they are not, what is their game?
+If the old man dies, and if I can ferret out the mystery,
+for I believe there is one, <i>who knows but that two fortunes may
+come into my hands</i>? I must watch them, and to do that, Ellen
+must go back to Oakley, and they must invite me to be their
+guest!"</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy arose and shook himself, mentally and physically<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But alas for C&eacute;line! She had heard almost every word of the
+interview, through the key-hole of a door leading into an adjoining
+room, and it had told her nothing, save that there was to be
+peace between the two men, and that there had been, perhaps,
+war.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2>
+
+<h2>A SILKEN BELT.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Mr. Percy and Miss Arthur were openly engaged now, and
+were anxiously waiting for the recovery of the sick at Oakley,
+in order to celebrate their marriage.</p>
+
+<p>The spinster was in a frame of mind to grant almost any
+favor to her lover to-night. And when at last she, herself, led
+up to the subject she wished to broach, he foresaw an easy
+victory.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Edward," she sighed, with a very dramatic shudder,
+"you cannot think how I dread to-morrow's ordeal, the visit to
+my brother! Suppose poor John were to rave at me,&mdash;me, his
+own sister!"</p>
+
+<p>He took the hand that was quite as large as his own, and
+caressed it reassuringly. "I don't think there is the slightest
+danger, Ellen, dear, but I am convinced I must attend you to-morrow.
+I shall feel better to be with you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Edward!" sighed the maiden, enraptured at this declaration
+of tenderness, "you are so careful of me."</p>
+
+<p>He smiled and still caressed her hand, saying: "Listen, darling,"
+drawing her nearer to him, "I don't like to have you
+here; it is not a fit place for you. And I find that remarks are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span>
+being made. This I cannot endure. Besides, I do not think it
+right for you or me to leave your brother so entirely at the
+mercy of&mdash;Mrs. Arthur. Promise me that you will consult a
+physician to-morrow, and as soon as the danger of contagion is
+past, you will go back."</p>
+
+<p>"But I can't bear to leave <i>you</i>, Edward."</p>
+
+<p>"And you shall not. I will come to Oakley too."</p>
+
+<p>"You? Oh, how nice! Have they asked you to come?"</p>
+
+<p>"I saw Mrs. Arthur's brother to-day, and we settled that."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, <i>did</i> you? Then you are good friends again?"</p>
+
+<p>He turned upon her a look of inquiry. "Again?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; Cora told me not to speak of Mr. Davlin to you, as
+you were not good friends, and it might make you less free to
+come to the house."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy's eyebrows went up perceptibly. "Mrs. Arthur
+is very thoughtful; but she was mistaken; our little misunderstanding
+has not made us serious enemies."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how nice!" rapturously.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Very</i> nice," dryly. "Now you will be a good girl and go
+back soon?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think Cora will be over anxious to have me come
+back," she said, looking like a meditative cat-bird. "I know
+she kept that C&eacute;line in the house to spite me."</p>
+
+<p>"I can readily understand how she might be jealous of you,
+dear. Perhaps she fears your influence over your brother. At
+any rate, your duty lies there. When it is time to do so,
+don't consult her or anyone; take possession of your former
+apartments, and stand by your brother in his hour of need."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur promised to comply with her lover's request, and
+he managed at last to escape from her, and seek the repose which
+he preferred to such society.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>All this time John Arthur was a prisoner in the west wing.
+He was attended by the doctor sometimes, by C&eacute;line occasionally,
+and by Henry almost constantly since the arrival of that
+sable individual.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin, having no taste for the work, kept aloof as
+much as possible. Himself and Dr. Le Guise, as he called
+his confederate, had labored hard and, with the assistance of
+old Hagar, had put the rooms in proper condition for the occupancy
+of a lunatic. And a lunatic John Arthur certainly was.
+Once before his removal, and once since, he had been seized
+with a paroxysm of undeniable insanity.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur had been, and still was, the dupe of his supposed
+brother-in-law and Dr. Le Guise. We have all heard of
+natures that can be frightened into sickness, almost into dying;
+of an imaginary disease. John Arthur's was one of these.
+And, with a little aid from Dr. Le Guise, he had been really
+quite ill.</p>
+
+<p>Henry had been constituted his keeper, a position which he
+filled with reluctance, and there was a fair prospect that sooner
+or later he would break into open mutiny. Although he could
+not guess at the nature of the game his master was playing, yet
+he felt assured that it was something desperate, if not dangerous.</p>
+
+<p>He had promised "his young lady," as he called Madeline, to
+remain in Mr. Davlin's service until she bade him withdraw,
+and but for this would hardly have submitted to remain John
+Arthur's keeper on any terms. Henry had a certain pride of
+his own, and that pride was in revolt against this new servitude.</p>
+
+<p>He had not met Cora here, and had no idea that she was an
+inmate of the house.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Le Guise had relieved Henry on the morning of the day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span>
+that Miss Arthur ventured, for the first time since her flight,
+within the walls of Oakley manor, escorted by Mr. Percy. He
+had detected some signs of fever, although Mr. Arthur declared
+himself feeling better, and administered a powder to check it.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the patient began to show signs of increasing restlessness,
+and by the time Henry appeared to announce that Miss Arthur
+desired an interview with Dr. Le Guise, he began to wrangle
+with his physician and gave expression to various vagaries.</p>
+
+<p>Consigning his charge to Henry, with the remark that he
+"must watch him close, and not let him get hold of anything,"
+Dr. Le Guise hurried down to the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor listened to Miss Arthur attentively, while she
+made known her desire to return to the manor if the danger of
+contagion was at an end. Then he replied, hurriedly:</p>
+
+<p>"Quite right; quite admirable. But if you will take my
+advice, I should say, don't come just yet. There will be no
+danger to you, in going to your unfortunate brother for just a
+few moments&mdash;a very few&mdash;and then going straight out of the
+house into a purer atmosphere. But to remain here now, to
+breathe this air just yet&mdash;my dear lady, I could not encourage
+that; the danger would be too great."</p>
+
+<p>And then he led the way straight in to John Arthur's presence,
+explaining as they went that the cause of his removal
+from his own rooms was to escape the fever impregnations still
+clinging there.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur was sitting in the middle of his bed, beating
+his pillows wildly, and imploring Henry, between shrieks of
+laughter, to come and kiss him, evidently mistaking him for
+some blooming damsel. As the damsel declined to come, the
+lunatic became furious, and hurled the pillows, and afterwards
+his night-cap, at him, with blazing eyes and cat-like agility.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span>
+This done, he began to rock himself to and fro, and shout out
+the words of some old song to an improvised tune that was all
+on one note.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Le Guise turned to Mr. Percy, whispering: "You see;
+that's the way he goes on, only worse at times."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy turned away. The fair spinster who had been
+clinging to him in a paroxysm of terror, attempted to faint, but
+remembering her complexion thought better of it and contented
+herself with being half led, half carried out, in a "walking
+swoon." And both she and Mr. Percy felt there was no longer
+room to doubt the insanity of her brother.</p>
+
+<p>Having seen them depart, Dr. Le Guise sought out Mr.
+Davlin. Finding him in Cora's room, he entered and informed
+the pair of the desire Miss Arthur had manifested to come back
+to her brother's roof, and of his mode of putting off the evil
+day of her return.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" ejaculated Davlin, "what does it mean? I saw
+Percy in the village this morning, and he told me quite plainly
+that he desired an invitation to quarter himself upon us."</p>
+
+<p>"And what did you say?" gasped Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"Told him to come, of course, as soon as it was safe to do so."</p>
+
+<p>"Well!" said Cora, dryly, "I don't think it will be very safe
+for either of them to come just at present."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well," said the doctor, cheerfully, "we have got seven
+long days to settle about that. And if they insist upon coming,
+and <i>then catch the fever</i>, they mustn't blame me."</p>
+
+<p>And Dr. Le Guise looked as if he had perpetrated a good
+joke.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur's insanity was as short-lived as it was violent.
+He lay for the rest of the day quiet and half stupefied. When
+night came on, he sank into a heavy slumber.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At twelve o'clock that night, all was quiet in and about the
+manor.</p>
+
+<p>Cora Arthur was sleeping soundly, dreamlessly, as such women
+do sleep. In the room adjoining hers, C&eacute;line Leroque sat,
+broad awake and listening intently. At last, satisfied that her
+mistress was sleeping, C&eacute;line arose and stole softly into the room
+where she lay.</p>
+
+<p>Softly, softly, she approached the couch, passing through a
+river of moonlight that poured in at the broad windows. Then
+she drew from a pocket, something wrapped in a handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>Noiselessly, swiftly, she moved, and then the handkerchief,
+shaken free from the something within, was laid upon the face
+of the sleeper, while the odor of chloroform filled the room.</p>
+
+<p>Nimbly her fingers moved, pulling away the coverings, and
+then the clothing, from the unconscious body. It is done in a
+moment. With a smothered exclamation of triumph, she draws
+away a <i>silken belt</i>, and removing the handkerchief, glides noiselessly
+from the room.</p>
+
+<p>She steals on to her own room in the west wing. Here she
+locks the door and, striking a light, hurriedly rips the silken
+band with a tiny penknife, and draws from thence two papers.</p>
+
+<p>One glance suffices. Replacing the papers, she binds the belt
+about her own body, and then envelopes herself in a huge water-proof,
+with swift, nervous fingers.</p>
+
+<p>And now, for the second time, this girl is fleeing away from
+Oakley. Out into the night that is illuminated now by a faint,
+faint moon; through the bare, leafless, chilly woods, and down
+the path that crosses the railway track not far from the little
+station. Once more she follows the iron rails; once more she
+lingers in the shadows, until the train thunders up; the night
+train for New York. Then she springs on board.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>For the second time, Madeline Payne is fleeing away from
+Oakley and all that it contains; fleeing cityward to begin, with
+the morrow, a new task, and a new chapter in her existence.</p>
+
+<p>But no lover is beside her now; for that love is dead in her
+heart. And no Clarence breathes in her ear a warning, for now
+it is not needed. Since that first June flitting, she has learned
+the world and its wisdom, good and evil.</p>
+
+<p>And the cloud that Hagar saw on that June night, hangs dark
+above the house of Oakley.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>CROSS PURPOSES.</h2>
+
+
+<p>An irate pair were seated at breakfast the morning after
+C&eacute;line's flitting. And while they ate little, they talked much
+and earnestly, sometimes angrily. They had arrived at the conclusion,
+which, although erroneous, had been foreseen by the
+astute C&eacute;line, namely: That the robbery had been committed at
+the instigation of Mr. Percy, and that C&eacute;line had been brought
+over and used by him as a tool.</p>
+
+<p>It was evident that something must be done, and that quickly.</p>
+
+<p>While these papers were in the hands of Percy, as undoubtedly
+they were at that moment, it were best to keep that gentleman
+as much as possible under their own eye.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_037.jpg" width="400" height="564" alt="&quot;With a smothered exclamation of
+triumph she draws away a silken belt!&quot;&mdash;page 315."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;With a smothered exclamation of
+triumph she draws away a silken belt!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_315">page 315.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>Yesterday, it had seemed desirable that Miss Arthur and her
+<i>fianc&eacute;</i> should be kept out of the house of Oakley. To-day, they
+agreed that the quicker the pair took up their abode beneath its
+hospitable roof, the sooner they, Mr. Davlin and his accomplice,
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span>would breathe freely. If they could get the two in the same
+house with themselves, they might yet outwit Mr. Percy&mdash;with
+the aid of their friend and ally, the sham doctor, if in no other
+way. Meantime, they would not make the robbery known; or
+rather, they would inform the servants and all others whom it
+seemed desirable to enlighten, that the girl, C&eacute;line, had possessed
+herself of certain jewels and of Mrs. Arthur's purse, and fled
+with her spoils.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, Hagar was summoned and told of the base ingratitude
+of the French maid. Whereupon she was much astonished,
+and ventilated her opinions of French folk in general,
+and that one in particular. Through Hagar, the other servants,
+now few in number, were informed of the defalcation, and the
+extent of damage done by Miss C&eacute;line Leroque. Then the
+kitchen cabinet held a session forthwith, and settled the fate of
+their departed contemporary, being ably assisted by Hagar.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor was made no wiser than were the rest of the
+tools who served the plotters. But he was somewhat surprised
+upon being desired, by Mr. Davlin, to equip himself for a walk,
+the object of which was to allay the alarm of Miss Arthur and
+her friend, and invite them to the manor forthwith. Said invitations
+were to be followed up with the doctor's assurance that,
+having made a more minute examination, he was fully satisfied
+that there was no fear of contagion from Mrs. Arthur, and but
+little from her husband; none, in fact, unless they desired to be
+much in his room.</p>
+
+<p>The worthy pair set out for the village, and were so fortunate
+as to meet Mr. Percy on the very threshold of the inn. Having
+exchanged greetings and cigars, and having discussed the weather
+and various other interesting topics, the gentlemen sent up their
+compliments to Miss Arthur.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They were soon admitted into the presence of that lady, where
+more skirmishing was done, during which Dr. Le Guise unburdened
+himself, as per programme, and then Mr. Davlin
+fired his first shot.</p>
+
+<p>"By-the-by, Miss Arthur, you may congratulate yourself that
+you did not retain that impostor of a French maid longer in your
+service."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian had purposely placed himself near the spinster, and
+where he could observe the face of Percy without seeming to do
+so. But that gentleman was glancing lazily out at the window,
+and his face was as expressionless as putty. Lucian uttered a
+mental, "Confound his <i>sang froid</i>," as he continued:</p>
+
+<p>"She has robbed my sister of jewels and money to the tune
+of a couple of thousand, and has cut and run."</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness gracious, Mr. Davlin!" shrieked the spinster.</p>
+
+<p>But Percy only turned his head lazily, and elevated his eyebrows
+in mute comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," laughing lightly, "I suppose the hussy fancied that
+she had made a heavier haul still. My sister had about her
+person some papers, or rather <i>duplicates of papers that are
+deposited in a safer place</i>. The jade took these also, thinking,
+no doubt, that they were of value or, perhaps, without
+examining them to see that they were worse than worthless to
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Mr. Davlin, what an artful creature! I was sure she
+was not quite to be trusted. But who would have supposed
+that she would dare&mdash;" gushed Miss Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, she is no doubt a professional; belongs to some city
+'swell mob,' begging your pardon. But I shall run up to the
+city to-night, I think, and try and see if the detectives can't
+unearth her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Still no sign from Percy; not so much as the quiver of an eyelid.</p>
+
+<p>So Mr. Davlin came straight to the issue, thinking that
+surely Mr. Percy would betray something here; perhaps would
+refuse to come to Oakley. In such case, Lucian felt that he
+should be tempted to spring upon and throttle him from sheer
+desperation.</p>
+
+<p>But again he was mistaken, for no sooner was his invitation
+extended, than Mr. Percy accepted it with evident gratification,
+saying, in his easy drawl: "Shall be delighted to change my
+quarters. Anything must be an improvement upon this. And
+as your&mdash;ah, Dr. Le Guise&mdash;says there is positively no danger,
+Miss Arthur will of course be rejoiced to return to her proper
+place."</p>
+
+<p>And of course Miss Arthur assented.</p>
+
+<p>Before leaving, Mr. Davlin arranged that the carriage should
+come for Miss Arthur the next day, and that a porter should
+immediately transfer their luggage to Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>"My faith," mused he, as he strode back to tell Cora of his
+mission; "but he carries it with a high hand. I didn't think
+there was so much real devil in him. He is playing a fine
+game, but I don't think he can dream that we suspect him. If
+we can deceive him in this, and get him into the house, we will
+be able to accomplish his downfall, I think."</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Edward Percy was viewing the matter from his
+own stand-point.</p>
+
+<p>"Luck is running into my hand," he assured himself.
+"They are evidently a little bit afraid of me; there's nothing
+more awe-inspiring than a cool front, and I certainly carry that.
+Once at Oakley, it will be strange if I don't fathom their little
+mystery. If they are doing mischief there, I won't be behind
+in claiming the lion's share of the spoils."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>According to arrangement, Miss Arthur and her lover were
+transferred to Oakley on the following day, and there the game
+of cross purposes went on.</p>
+
+<p>Cora received Miss Arthur with much cordiality, averring
+that she had missed the society of "dear Ellen," more than she
+could tell, and declaring that now she should begin to get well
+in earnest.</p>
+
+<p>Messrs. Davlin and Percy affected much friendliness, and
+watched each other furtively, day and night.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Le Guise reported an unfavorable change in his insane
+patient and forbade them, one and all, to enter his room.</p>
+
+<p>Cora and Davlin protested against the doctor's cruel order,
+but in vain. Mr. Percy made no objections, but kept his eyes
+open. One evening, the second of his stay at the manor, he saw,
+while coming up the stairs with slippered feet, the form of Mr.
+Davlin as it disappeared around the angle leading to the west
+wing. Then Mr. Percy stole on until he stood at the door of the
+wing. Satisfying himself that Davlin was actually within the
+forbidden room, he waited for nothing further, but glided quietly
+back to his own door, looking as imperturbable as ever and saying
+to himself:</p>
+
+<p>"There is a mystery; and we, <i>rather I</i>, am not to see Mr.
+Arthur at present. Well, I don't want to see him; but <i>I hold
+the clue</i> to your little game, my fair second wife."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin went to the city, but he did not set a detective
+on the track of C&eacute;line Leroque. He chose his man, one
+who had served him before, and set him about something quite
+different. Then he returned, feeling quite satisfied and confident
+of success.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2>
+
+<h2>A SLIGHT COMPLICATION.</h2>
+
+
+<p>And what of C&eacute;line, or Madeline, as we may call her once
+more?</p>
+
+<p>She had said, when writing to Olive, that her stay in the city
+must be very brief. But even her strong will could not keep
+off the light attack of fever that was the result of fatigue and exposure
+to night breezes. And the morning following her arrival
+at the villa, found her unable to rise from her bed.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan was summoned in haste, and his verdict anxiously
+waited for. "It was a slight fever attack," he said, "but the
+wearied-out body must not be hurried. It must rest."</p>
+
+<p>And he forbade Madeline to leave her room for a week at least,
+unless she wished to bring upon herself a return of her summer's
+illness.</p>
+
+<p>Much to his surprise and gratification, Madeline did not rebel,
+but replied, philosophically: "I can't afford to take any risks
+now; I will be good. But you must watch my interests."</p>
+
+<p>During the first day of her "imprisonment," as she laughingly
+called it, Clarence and Olive were put in possession of all the
+facts that had not already been communicated by letter.</p>
+
+<p>Upon one thing they were all agreed, namely, that it would
+be wise for Clarence to make another journey to Bellair.</p>
+
+<p>"They won't be able to accomplish much during the week
+that I must remain inactive," said Madeline. "But it will be
+safest to know just what they are about. Besides, I have reasons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span>
+for thinking that Henry is growing dissatisfied, and it is to our
+interest to keep him where he is for the present. Had a suitable
+opportunity offered, I should have made him aware of my
+identity. But as it did not present itself, I left it with Hagar
+to inform him that he was serving me by remaining."</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan prepared to visit Bellair on the second day after
+the arrival of Madeline. But almost at the moment of starting
+there came a summons from one of his patients, who was taken
+suddenly worse. Thinking to take a later train he hastened to
+the sick man; but the hour for the last train arrived and passed,
+and still he stood at the bedside, battling with death. So it
+transpired that nearly three days had elapsed since the flitting
+of C&eacute;line Leroque, when Dr. Vaughan entered the train that
+should deposit him at dusk in the village of Bellair.</p>
+
+<p>It had been prearranged by Madeline and Hagar that, in case
+of any event which should delay the return of the former on the
+day appointed, the latter was to visit the post-office and look for
+tidings through that medium. Madeline had been due at Oakley
+the day before, and so, of course, to-day Hagar would be in attendance
+at the office.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan had written, at the moment of quitting his office
+to visit his patient, a hasty supplement to Madeline's letter, stating
+that he was delayed one train, but not to give him up if he
+did not appear that evening. He would certainly come on the
+next day's train.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence was somewhat fatigued as he entered the railway
+carriage, having spent the entire previous night at the bedside
+of his patient. He went forward to the smoking car, thinking
+to refresh himself with a weed.</p>
+
+<p>Four men were engrossed in a game of cards not far from
+him. As they became more deeply interested, and their voices<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span>
+more distinct above the roar of the cars, something in the tones
+of one of the men caught his ear, reminding him of some voice
+he had sometime heard or known. The speaker sat with his
+back to the young man, and nothing of his countenance visible
+save the tips of two huge ears. These, too, had a familiar look.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence arose and sauntered to the end of the car, in order to
+get a view of the face that, he felt assured, was not unknown to
+him.</p>
+
+<p>The man was absorbed in his game and never once glanced
+up. Our hero having taken a good look at the not very prepossessing
+face, returned to his seat. He had recognized the
+man. It was Jarvis, the detective who had been recently employed
+by him to shadow Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>It was not a remarkable thing that Jarvis should leave the
+city on the same train with himself, but the circumstance, nevertheless,
+set Clarence thinking. Could it be possible that the
+man had found something to arouse his suspicions, and was he
+following up the clue on his own account?</p>
+
+<p>Clarence felt an unaccountable desire to know where the detective
+was going. If he were going to Bellair, then he must be
+bought over. If he were going to Bellair, he, Clarence, must
+know it before the village was reached. It was hardly probable
+that the man's destination was identical with his own, but he
+had now determined to run no risks.</p>
+
+<p>Throwing back his overcoat, and setting his hat a trifle on
+one side, Clarence sauntered up to the group of card players, assuming
+an appearance of interest in the game. As he paused
+beside them, Jarvis swept away the last trick of a closely-contested
+game, and then said, consulting his watch the while:</p>
+
+<p>"There's for you! I've got just three-quarters of an hour to
+clean you out in, so come on."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_038.jpg" width="400" height="568" alt="&quot;Jarvis swept away the last trick of a closely-contested game.&quot;&mdash;page 324."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Jarvis swept away the last trick of a closely-contested game.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_324">page 324.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Three-quarters of an hour! The exact time it would take to
+run to Bellair.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence shifted his position so as to put himself behind the
+two men seated opposite Jarvis. As he did so, the expert glanced
+up, encountering the eye of Dr. Vaughan.</p>
+
+<p>"How are you?" said that young man, nonchalantly.</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis shot him a keen glance of intelligence, and replied, in
+the same off-hand tone: "High, you bet!"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis was attired like a well-to-do farmer; and Clarence
+guessed, at a glance, that his three companions were strangers,
+two of them being commercial tourists, without a doubt, and the
+third, a ruddy-looking old gent, who might have been anything
+harmless. Taking his cue from the "make up" of the detective,
+Clarence, after giving him an expressive glance, said, easily,
+"Sold your stock?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis cocked up one eye as he replied, while shuffling the
+cards: "Every horn!"</p>
+
+<p>"Want to buy?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis looked him straight in the eye. "Want to sell?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, rather."</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis dealt round with great precision, and then said: "All
+right, Cap. I'll talk with you when I get through this game."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence nodded, and presently sauntered away. As soon as
+his back was turned, Jarvis jerked his thumb toward him, saying,
+confidentially:</p>
+
+<p>"Young fellow; swell farmer; big stock-raiser." And then
+he plunged into the game with much enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence resumed his seat and, for a few moments, thought
+very earnestly. The words of the detective had confirmed his
+suspicion. He now felt assured that Jarvis was bound for
+Bellair, and if so he was, no doubt, in the employ of Lucian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>
+Davlin, for some unknown purpose. What that purpose was,
+he must know at any cost.</p>
+
+<p>By the time his plans were fairly matured, he observed that
+the group of card-players was breaking up. In another moment,
+Jarvis lounged lazily along and threw himself down upon the
+seat beside him.</p>
+
+<p>In little more than half an hour they would be due in Bellair,
+and what Clarence desired to say must be said quickly. Taking
+out his cigar-case, he offered the man a weed, which was accepted
+with alacrity, and while it was being lighted, Clarence said:
+"Are you especially busy now?"</p>
+
+<p>"N-o; only so-so."</p>
+
+<p>"Learned anything more in regard to my man?"</p>
+
+<p>"Davlin?" interrogatively.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"No," puffing contentedly; "we don't move in a case after
+it's paid off."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," smiling; and then, making his first real venture:
+"Could you do some work for me to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis looked keenly at him, and Clarence hastened to say,
+with perfect, apparent, candor:</p>
+
+<p>"The fact is I have been put back by a patient, and my own
+personal affairs have been neglected. So I have been unable to
+look you up at the office, in order to put a little matter into
+your hands. To-day I am called away unexpectedly." Then,
+as if struck by a sudden thought, "How long will you be out of
+town?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis shook his head. "Don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"By Jove, what a pity. I'd rather have you than any other
+man, and I won't stand about money; but my work won't keep
+long."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The doctor's flattery and the detective's avarice combined, had
+the desired effect. Jarvis unbent, and became more communicative.
+"Fact is," he said, squaring about, "I don't know my lay
+just yet."</p>
+
+<p>"No?" inquiringly: "Going far out?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," as if about to drop the conversation, "I'm sorry you
+can't do the job. It's big pay and success sure. The truth is,"
+lowering his voice confidentially, "there are two parties beside
+myself interested, and both have plenty of money. It's a snug
+sum to the man who does our work."</p>
+
+<p>The detective looked grave, and then became confidential in
+his turn.</p>
+
+<p>"The fact is,"&mdash;he was fond of using "facts" when it was
+possible to lug one in&mdash;"I am sent out to a small town as a
+sub."</p>
+
+<p>"A sub.?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; substitute. You see, one of our men was detailed to
+do some work for a chap who came to the Agency from this
+little town. It was a case of record hunting. Well, the man
+went out last night all O. K.; he was a little on the sport when
+off duty, but a tip-top chap when at work. Well, he got into a
+gambling brawl, and this morning they brought him in, done
+up."</p>
+
+<p>"Done up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; killed, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!"</p>
+
+<p>"And so, you see, I am ordered down here to take the instructions
+of my gentleman, in the place of my pard, who won't
+receive any more orders here below."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you don't yet know precisely what is required of you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No; I was packed off at half an hour's notice, and don't
+even know the name of my employer. I have my instructions
+and his address here," tapping his breast pocket. "I believe
+the party lives out of town, at some manor or other."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence was thinking very fast. There was but one
+"Manor" in or near Bellair. He looked at his time-card;
+there was but one town between them and that village. Holding
+the card in his hand he said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will try and tell you what I want done; that is, if
+there is time&mdash;how soon do you leave the train?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis now scented a fat job, and thinking only of getting
+the particulars of that replied, rather incautiously, as he consulted
+the time-card in the hand of Clarence.</p>
+
+<p>"By goshen! it's only two stations off&mdash;Bellair."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Bellair, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis nodded ruefully, and then asked: "Where do you
+land?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence smiled a little as he replied: "Wait until you hear
+my business, then you will know where I am going."</p>
+
+<p>"All right; fire away."</p>
+
+<p>And the expert settled himself into a listening attitude.
+"The truth is, Jarvis, I want you back on the old case."</p>
+
+<p>"What, the gambler's?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Davlin; he is about at the end of his rope, and will,
+in a short time, be trying to quit the country. Did you ever
+see the woman who is his partner in iniquity? You heard considerable
+of her while looking up this business."</p>
+
+<p>"Heard of her? I should think so. Never saw her, though."</p>
+
+<p>"No matter; you may see her soon. You see, they are now
+at work upon a fine piece of rascality. She has actually married
+an old man, supposing him to be wealthy, and Davlin is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span>
+figuring as her brother. In reality, the old man, their victim,
+holds only a life interest in the property. So you see, even if
+they succeed with the thing in hand, they won't make much.
+And the person who will inherit, after the old gentleman
+passes away, is aware of their real character and is ready to
+spring upon them at the proper moment."</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis gave a long, low whistle.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then, there is another crime&mdash;one that occurred some
+years ago, with which this man and woman are connected, and
+they are allowed to go free for a little time in order to complete
+the evidence in this second case."</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis nodded sagely.</p>
+
+<p>"So you see there will be double fees, and large ones. First,
+from the heir, and next, from the parties interested in the last
+case. The two are friends, in fact, and work together. Of
+course, I should expect to act according to the rules of your
+office, and I know that you are paid by your manager, but&mdash;if
+you can put me in possession of all the movements of Lucian
+Davlin for the next week, in addition to the salary paid you by
+your head officials, I will promise you one thousand dollars.
+If, later, you can supply the missing evidence, it shall be five
+thousand."</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis looked hastily behind him. "Is he in this train?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Then were the dev&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait," interrupted Clarence. "I'll tell you where he is.
+But first you may attend to the business on which you came to
+Bellair. You may obey the instructions you shall receive to the
+letter. But I must know what it is you are bidden to do."</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis knitted his brows and finally said, as if giving up a
+knotty problem, "Make things plainer; I am befogged."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Plainly, then," said Clarence, "you are going to Bellair;
+and," drawing out his pocket-book, "you are not retained as yet
+for this work?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," placing a one hundred dollar bill in his hand, "I
+retain you for my case, here and now, and you may accept the
+other fee if you like."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"Look at the address of your new client."</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis took from his pocket a number of cards, shuffled them
+off deftly and, selecting the right one at last, read slowly the
+name of his unseen employer. Then he glanced quickly up at
+Clarence, re-read his card, and leaning back upon the cushion,
+shook with silent laughter.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you ain't the rummest one yet! And I'm your
+man! Why, bless my soul, you are a lawyer and detective all
+in one!"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence smiled, but he knew this was the highest compliment
+that Jarvis was capable of. "Then I may depend upon
+you?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"You bet!"</p>
+
+<p>They were nearing the village of Bellair now, and Clarence,
+who did not intend to let Jarvis know too much concerning his
+movements, gave him some hasty instructions, and ended by
+asking: "When do you go back to the city to report?"</p>
+
+<p>"By the next train. Davlin is expecting me, and I shall
+take his orders and then go back."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well; I'll see you in town to-morrow. Now, as it
+won't do to risk the chance of being seen together, I will go into
+the other car." And Clarence sauntered away.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2>
+
+<h2>"THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT NAUGHT.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Meanwhile, as they steamed into the village, which was the
+destination of both, Mr. Jarvis soliloquized, as he caressed his
+wallet pocket:</p>
+
+<p>"I know who will butter my bread. Davlin is as slippery as
+an eel, and will end in trouble. Dr. Vaughan is a man of his
+word, and I don't need his bond. I'm sure of one thousand,
+if not of five. And I never was over fond of this gentleman
+gambler."</p>
+
+<p>It may be remarked that Davlin was a man pretty well known
+by the police and detectives. A gambler riding the top wave of
+success might have found more favor in the eyes of Jarvis. But
+he knew, because of his previous investigations, that Davlin was
+not "flush" at that time.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence kept carefully out of sight when the train reached
+the village. Springing lightly to the ground, on the opposite
+side from the platform, he walked swiftly away, unnoticed in
+the darkness. Once more he crossed the field and knocked at
+the door of Hagar's cottage, and this time it was Hagar who admitted
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Eagerly he listened, while the old woman told him how very
+fast Cora was recovering now; how they had got Miss Arthur
+and Percy back into the house; and how very careful both Cora
+and Lucian were to treat them politely. Madeline had not confided
+to Hagar the story of Olive, and the old woman knew no
+more of Edward Percy than that he was, as she termed it, "a
+handsome hypocrite."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Clarence questioned Hagar closely. Had they made any attempt
+to find the one who took the papers?</p>
+
+<p>"No," Hagar replied; "they had said that C&eacute;line Leroque
+had stolen money and jewels, but they had not said one word
+about any papers."</p>
+
+<p>Last of all, she told him how, fearing that Henry was becoming
+too restive, and fearing, also, the effect of too much of the
+Professor's medicine upon the somewhat enfeebled system of the
+prisoner, she had made known to Henry the fact that he was
+working in the cause of his young lady. On learning this, and
+having it proved to his satisfaction, for he was at first inclined
+to be skeptical, he had been much delighted, and had since
+carried out the orders of Madeline as transmitted through
+Hagar.</p>
+
+<p>Their conversation lasted a full hour, and then, having learned
+all that could be learned from that source, and having delivered
+all of the messages sent by Madeline, he bade the old woman a
+kind good-night, and retraced his steps across the field and back
+to the village.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>When the night train halted at Bellair, Jarvis seated himself
+in the smoking-car, feeling quite self-satisfied. When the train
+moved on, he lighted a very black cigar, and began to contemplate
+the situation.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how do we stand now?"</p>
+
+<p>As the voice of Clarence Vaughan fell upon his ear, Jarvis
+bounded from his seat like an india rubber ball and stared wildly
+at the young man who had dropped down into the seat beside
+him as if from the ceiling.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you are a rum one," said he, at last. "Might I ask
+where you came from?"</p>
+
+<p>"From the ladies' carriage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span>"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" with the air of having made a discovery. "So you
+ride out of the city in a smoking-car for the purpose of riding
+back in the ladies' carriage?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence laughed again, settled himself comfortably in his seat
+and took out his cigar case. "Not exactly," proceeding to light
+a weed. "I am on pretty much the same business that you are,
+to-night." Then, taking a big puff, "I have been to Bellair,
+like yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"The deuce you have!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; how did your business prosper?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis eyed him sharply. "Perhaps you know already."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps I do. You have not got to look for stolen diamonds,
+have you?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis laughed derisively.</p>
+
+<p>"Or stolen money?" pursued Clarence.</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"Or stolen&mdash;<i>papers</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis began to look foxy.</p>
+
+<p>"Or a runaway young woman?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis thought furiously for a moment; then turning square upon
+his interlocutor, said, significantly: "So there are stolen papers?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence smiled, but said nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"And," pursued Jarvis, "when one loses one's papers, say
+deeds, or a&mdash;marriage certificate, one naturally thinks of hunting
+the records for proofs that such papers existed."</p>
+
+<p>"And that is your work?"</p>
+
+<p>Jarvis nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Take you out of the city?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only a few miles."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence reflected for a time, and then said: "You can do
+your work, but report all discoveries <i>to me</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Jarvis assented, and they continued to talk of the matter in
+hand until the city was reached. Then, having made an appointment
+for the coming day, and agreed to let the work of shadowing
+the gambler or, rather, his business, remain a "private spec."
+to Jarvis, they separated.</p>
+
+<p>Thoroughly wearied, Clarence sought his bachelor apartments
+and the repose he so much needed.</p>
+
+<p>Early the next day he was up, and after paying a visit to his
+patient, he turned his steps, or the steps of his horse, in the direction
+of the villa.</p>
+
+<p>He found Madeline sitting up, feeling much better, and looking
+altogether lovely. Drawing their chairs near together in
+front of the crackling grate fire, the three discussed the result
+of the journey to Bellair. Having first related the news imparted
+by Hagar, Dr. Vaughan turned to Madeline and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"What is your theory, sister mine, in regard to this change
+at Oakley? Why have they turned about and taken up Miss
+Arthur and her <i>fianc&eacute;</i> with such sudden affection. Have you
+guessed?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl smiled up at him as she replied: "Certainly; have
+not you?"</p>
+
+<p>"You incorrigible little lawyer! Yes, but give us yours first."</p>
+
+<p>"Why," said Madeline with a light laugh, "I suppose they
+have been suspecting the wrong party. They think that I was
+an emissary of Mr. Percy's."</p>
+
+<p>"Undoubtedly that is the truth," assented Clarence.</p>
+
+<p>"And," added Madeline, "believing the documents in his possession,
+it is easy to understand that they prefer having the gentleman
+under the same roof with themselves."</p>
+
+<p>"True; now, the question that interests us is, how long will
+it be before they find out their mistake?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I think," said the girl, reflectively, "that their game will be
+covert, not open, attack, from the fact that they have kept the
+loss of the papers so carefully from the servants. If this is
+true, they will move cautiously, and aim to convince the man
+that they do not suspect him."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"You see the necessity for action, do you not?" Madeline
+said, after a silence. "I must make my next move within a
+few days."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't fancy that we need fear any new developments that
+will be dangerous to our cause just yet."</p>
+
+<p>Then he told them of his meeting with the detective, and its
+results, adding: "You see, Jarvis can withhold his reports to
+suit our convenience, and you can grow strong, feeling secure."</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, Jarvis set about his task of record hunting. He
+was energetic and resolute as a sleuth hound on the scent; so he
+soon made one or two discoveries.</p>
+
+<p>One day, very cleverly gotten upon as a dapper lawyer, he
+dropped in at the office of Messrs. Lord &amp; Myers, bankers.
+Mr. Lord was an old man with a shrewd, twinkling eye; and
+as the sham lawyer had selected his time wisely, he found the
+old banker alone.</p>
+
+<p>They were closeted in close converse for nearly half an hour,
+at the end of which time, the dapper lawyer took his departure,
+looking rather downcast; and Mr. Lord, with his little eyes
+brighter than ever, sat down and penned a letter to his friend
+and brother banker, Mr. Allyne, of Baltimore.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2>
+
+<h2>MR. LORD'S LETTER.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The friendship that had sprung up between Claire Keith and
+Mrs. Ralston, grew and strengthened as the days went by.</p>
+
+<p>Claire's enthusiasm had overflowed in more than one letter to
+Olive. The oft-repeated wish that her new friend and her much
+loved sister might meet, had at last drawn from that somewhat
+preoccupied sister a very cordial invitation to bring Mrs. Ralston
+to New York.</p>
+
+<p>When this invitation came, Claire, feeling that it was now time
+to unfold to her friend the sad pages of Olive's history, sought
+her for that purpose. But as she deemed that the time had not
+yet come for telling anyone of the hoped-for lifting of the cloud,
+especially as to do so she must tell too of Madeline, she refrained
+from mentioning the names of the actors in that miserable drama.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston was deeply interested in the story of Olive's
+sorrow; and having heard it, she felt a stronger desire than before
+to see this beautiful, sad-hearted sister, who was so beloved
+by Claire. Bending down she kissed the fair face, flushed with
+the excitement Claire always felt when recounting her sister's
+wrongs, and those of Philip Girard, and said, tenderly:</p>
+
+<p>"Thank your sister in my name, my darling. And tell her
+that I will certainly avail myself of her kind invitation, at some
+future time."</p>
+
+<p>Claire's eyes danced eagerly. "Oh, I wish we could go now&mdash;at
+least, soon."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Fate chose to grant Claire's desire in a most unexpected manner,
+for while they were still sitting, talking, in the semi-twilight,
+the library door opened and a servant announced Mr. Allyne,
+to see Mrs. Ralston. At once Mrs. Keith and her daughter
+arose to leave the room. But Mrs. Ralston said, earnestly:</p>
+
+<p>"Pray, do not go; there can be no need for a private interview."</p>
+
+<p>And as at that moment Mr. Allyne himself appeared on the
+threshold, the ladies all advanced to welcome him, and, this
+ceremony being over, resumed their seats.</p>
+
+<p>"I have just received this letter from Mr. Lord," said Mr.
+Allyne, after some moments of general conversation. "Read it,
+and then tell me your opinion of its contents."</p>
+
+<p>The lady took the letter, looking the while somewhat anxious.
+As she read, the look of apprehension deepened. When at
+last she dropped the letter, her hands were trembling visibly,
+and her face was pale and agitated. For a moment she sat in
+silence, her eyes full of fear and her hands working nervously.
+Then she seemed to recover herself by a powerful effort of will.
+Taking up the letter, she placed it in the hand of Mrs. Keith,
+saying: "Read it, dear friend."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith took the letter and read:</p>
+
+<p class="f5"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Dec. 7th.</p>
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p><span class="smcap">Wm. Allyne, Esq.</span>,</p>
+
+<p><i>Dear Sir:</i>&mdash;A man assuming to be a lawyer called on me this afternoon,
+and requested information regarding our friend, Mrs. Ralston. If I am
+not much mistaken he is in reality a detective&mdash;I think I remember him
+in the Mallory case&mdash;and is, doubtless, looking up evidence in regard to
+the lady's second and most unfortunate marriage, either at the instigation
+of her vagabond husband or some of his supposed heirs.</p>
+
+<p>If you know the present address of Mrs. R., it would be well to communicate
+with her, as some of her old servants are now in this city, at
+service, and this fellow might ferret out something through them.</p>
+
+<p>Having no authority to act in the matter, I could do no more than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span>
+baffle this man's inquiries so far as I was concerned, much as I desire to
+serve the lady when I know the way.</p>
+
+<p>One thing: the fellow evidently believes in the story of her death.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f6">Yours, etc.,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="smcap">J. M. Lord</span>.</p>
+
+<p>The three, Mrs. Ralston, Claire and Mr. Allyne, listened in
+silence while Mrs. Keith read this letter. When at last she
+raised her eyes, Mrs. Ralston said:</p>
+
+<p>"I must go to New York immediately, Mrs. Keith, and do,
+pray, allow Claire to accompany me. I must accept of the
+hospitality of Mrs. Girard, and I can not go alone."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Keith looked grave for a moment. Then, she said:
+"Mr. Allyne, is it necessary that Mrs. Ralston should go at
+once?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think it advisable," replied Mr. Allyne. "Once in New
+York, Lord can receive Mrs. Ralston's instructions, and act for
+her. In cases like these I don't think it is best to trust to correspondence."</p>
+
+<p>"And, oh! don't let us delay a moment! Once there, I can
+keep my old servants, who are all true friends, from inadvertently
+betraying me. And I can trust Mr. Lord to find out who
+is the instigator of this search," said Mrs. Ralston, eagerly.
+"Mr. Allyne, when can we start; how soon?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not earlier than to-morrow morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, can you be ready on such short notice?" asked the
+now anxious lady.</p>
+
+<p>"I? Oh, yes, indeed!" laughed the girl. "I could be ready
+in an hour! I do detest waiting&mdash;don't you, Mrs. Ralston?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very much, just now," said that lady, making an effort to
+smile; "forgive me, dear friends, but I am really unstrung.
+The thought of being hunted by that man is too horrible, after
+these years of peace."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then don't think of it, dear Mrs. Ralston," cooed Claire.
+"You will be as safe as safe in the seclusion of my sister's villa.
+And you can set things straight soon, when we have arrived.
+There can't be much to fear, can there, Mr. Allyne?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing very formidable," said the banker, rising to take
+his leave. "Pray, don't exaggerate the trouble, Mrs. Ralston.
+Prompt attention, such as Lord will give the matter, will make all
+safe. Besides, he is not hunting <i>you</i>; the man thinks you dead."</p>
+
+<p>"True; I had forgotten," said the lady, looking somewhat reassured.
+"Claire, we will pack to-night, and then try and be
+content until it is time to go."</p>
+
+<p>"Meantime, I will telegraph to Lord and let him know that
+you will come, and when," said Mr. Allyne, taking up his hat
+to depart.</p>
+
+<p>The morning of their departure dawned clear and bright.
+Claire was in extravagant spirits, while even Mrs. Ralston
+seemed to catch the infectious cheeriness of the day, and her
+companion's mood.</p>
+
+<p>When they were about to enter the carriage that was to take
+them to the depot, a letter was put into the hand of Miss Keith.
+She flung back her veil and leaning back among the cushions
+perused it in attentive silence. Having finished, she looked up
+with a little frown upon her brow, and exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"How very provoking!"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston looked alarmed. "Is your sister ill?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no; it's Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>"The young girl I have heard you speak of?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Is <i>she</i> ill?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; she got well, just to avoid me; she is gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Gone?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes; or will be, when we arrive. Why, how stupid I am
+not to explain! Madeline Payne has been with Olive nearly a
+week. She has been sick, but is better, and will leave there to-day."</p>
+
+<p>Claire had said but little concerning Madeline, fearing lest in
+her enthusiasm she should say too much. But she had revolved
+many plans for bringing about a meeting between Mrs. Ralston
+and her "brave girl."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2>
+
+<h2>"I HAVE COME BACK TO MY OWN!"</h2>
+
+
+<p>Quite the pleasantest of all the rooms that had been so
+sumptuously fitted up, when "Mrs. Torrance" came to Oakley,
+a bride, was the back drawing-room. At least it was pleasantest
+in Winter. Its large windows faced south and west, and all
+of the Winter sunshine fell upon them, glowing through crimson
+curtains, and helping the piled-up anthracite in the grate to
+bathe the room in a ruddiness of crimson and golden bronze.</p>
+
+<p>On this particular December day, the air was crisp and cold,
+and full of floating particles of hoar frost, while the winter sun
+shone bright and clear. Outside, one felt that it was an exceedingly
+cold sun. But viewed from within, it looked inviting
+enough, and one felt inspired to dash out into the frosty air and
+try if they could not walk <i>a la</i> hippogriffe, without touching
+their feet to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Some such thought was floating through the mind of Mrs.
+John Arthur, who was progressing in her convalescence very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span>
+rapidly now, and who had, on this day, made her second descent
+to the drawing-rooms.</p>
+
+<p>She had donned, for the first time since her illness, a dinner-dress
+of rosy silk, its sweeping train and elbow sleeves enriched
+with flounces of black lace. As there was, at present, no need
+to play the invalid&mdash;herself and Davlin being the sole occupants
+of the room&mdash;she was sweeping up and down its length like a
+caged lioness.</p>
+
+<p>By and by she swerved from her course, and coming to the
+grate, put a daintily shod foot upon the bronze fender. Resting
+one hand on a chair, and looking down upon Davlin, who
+was lounging before the fire in full dinner costume, she said,
+abruptly:</p>
+
+<p>"How very interesting all this is!"</p>
+
+<p>Davlin made no sign that he heard.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know how long we have been playing this little
+game, sir?"</p>
+
+<p>The man smiled, in that cool way, so exasperating always to
+her, and lifting one hand, began to tell off the months on his
+fingers.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me see, ball opened in June, did it not?"</p>
+
+<p>She nodded impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"June!" He was thinking of his June flirting with Madeline
+Payne, and involuntarily glanced at the windows from whence
+could be seen the very trees under which they had wandered,
+himself and that fair dead girl, in early June. "Yes, the last of
+June&mdash;I remember,"&mdash;reflectively.</p>
+
+<p>"And pray, from what event does your memory date?" exclaimed
+Cora, with strong sarcasm.</p>
+
+<p>He glanced up quickly. "Why, <i>Ma Belle</i>, from your introduction
+to the hills and vales of Bellair, and the master of Oakley."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I thought it was from the time you received your
+pistol wound."</p>
+
+<p>Davlin smiled. "Yes, that scratch <i>was</i> given in June; but I
+don't date from trifles, Co."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! Well, I fancy it was not the fault of the hand that
+aimed the bullet, or rather of the <i>heart</i>, that you got a 'mere
+scratch.' I never believed in your card-table explanation of
+that affair, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, don't call <i>me</i> to account for <i>your</i> want of faith."</p>
+
+<p>"I believe you promised yourself revenge on the fellow who
+shot at you. Why didn't you take it?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucian stooped down and brushed an imaginary speck from
+his boot toe, saying, as he did so: "I was forestalled."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"The&mdash;fellow&mdash;is dead."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, I don't care about dead men&mdash;what I am anxious
+about is this&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes," maliciously. "Return to subject under discussion.
+You embarked in this enterprise in June&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Bother," impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"Late in Summer, bagged your game; in early Autumn, fitted
+up this jolly old rookery&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Cora gave a sniff of disdain.</p>
+
+<p>"Next&mdash;well, you know what next. We haven't been two
+months at this last job."</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless I am tired of it."</p>
+
+<p>"No?"</p>
+
+<p>"I won't stay here a prisoner much longer!"</p>
+
+<p>Davlin came close to her, and letting one hand rest upon her
+shoulder, placed the other over hers, which still lay upon the
+chair back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Cora, we won't quarrel about this. The situation is as trying
+to me as to you; more so. But our safety lies in moving
+with caution, and&mdash;I will not permit you to compromise us by
+any hasty act. You understand!"</p>
+
+<p>His eyes held her as in a spell, and when, after a moment, the
+hand fell from her shoulder and his eyes withdrew their mesmeric
+gaze, the woman shrunk from under the one detaining
+hand and turned sullenly away, looking like a baffled leopardess.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin resumed his seat and his former careless attitude.
+Cora walked to the window and looked down upon the scene
+below.</p>
+
+<p>At length the man asked, carelessly: "Where's Percy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Down there," nodding toward the terrace, a portion of which
+was visible from her point of view. "And, of course, my lady
+is in her room watching from her window. When he throws
+away his cigar, and turns toward the house, she will come down;
+not before."</p>
+
+<p>Davlin laughed at her emphasis, and while the sound still
+vibrated on the air, the woman turned, and flinging herself upon
+a divan, said:</p>
+
+<p>"There, she is coming!"</p>
+
+<p>Complain as she might in private, Cora had acted her part to
+perfection. Between herself and Miss Arthur, there now existed
+an appearance of great cordiality and friendliness. While
+she treated Percy with utmost politeness and hospitality, the remembrance
+of ten years ago acted as an effectual bar to anything
+like coquetry, where he was concerned.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had Cora settled herself comfortably upon her divan,
+when the door opened noiselessly, and Miss Arthur sailed in,
+diffusing through the room the odor of Patchouli as she came.
+She was, as usual, a marvel of beflounced silk, false curls, rouge,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span>
+and pearl powder. Her face beamed upon Cora in friendliness
+as she approached her, saying, with much effusion:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you poor child, how delightful to see you once more
+among us, and looking like yourself."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian arose and gallantly wheeled forward a large easy chair,
+saying: "And how charming you look, Miss Ellen; you make
+poor Cora appear quite shabby by contrast."</p>
+
+<p>Cora cast a rather ungrateful glance at the gentleman, and the
+spinster simpered, "Oh, you horrid man! Brothers are so ungrateful!"</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture, as Cora had predicted, Mr. Percy presented
+himself, and the four fell into attitudes, in front of the grate&mdash;Percy
+leaning on the back of Miss Arthur's chair, and Cora and
+Davlin in their former places.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Merci</i>," said Miss Arthur, pretending to stifle a yawn, "why
+can't we all be out in this keen air and sunshine? If there were
+but snow on the ground!"</p>
+
+<p>"Snow!" cried Cora, annoyed out of her usual assumption of
+feebleness; "don't mention it, if you don't want me to die.
+We won't have snow, if you please, until I can drive in a cutter."</p>
+
+<p>Percy laughed softly; his laugh was always disagreeable to
+Cora, as having an undercurrent of meaning intended for her
+alone. And Davlin said:</p>
+
+<p>"Hear and heed, all ye gods of the wind and weather."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, laugh," said Cora, half laughing herself, "but I am
+beginning to feel ambitious. Do let's try to set something afoot
+to make us feel as if we were alive, and glad that we were."</p>
+
+<p>"Agreed, Cora," cried Miss Arthur, gushingly, "only tell us
+what it shall be."</p>
+
+<p>"Suggest, suggest;" this from Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>The spinster glanced up coquettishly, "Edward, you suggest."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Percy caressed his blonde whiskers thoughtfully, and letting
+his eyes rest carelessly on Cora, said, meaningly: "Let's poison
+each other!"</p>
+
+<p>"Or commit suicide!" retorted Cora, coolly.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's be more sensible," said Davlin. "Let's organize a
+matrimonial society, get up a wedding, and go on a journey."</p>
+
+<p>"Anything that will break the monotony," said Cora, while
+the fair spinster giggled and put her hands before her face.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the monotony <i>was</i> broken.</p>
+
+<p>While the words were still lingering on the lips of the fair
+convalescent, the door was opened wide by old Hagar, who said,
+as if she had been all her life announcing the arrival of great
+ones at the court of St. James:</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Miss Madeline Payne!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Then she stepped back, and a vision appeared before them
+which struck them dumb and motionless with surprise.</p>
+
+<p>Across the threshold swept a young lady, richly robed in
+trailing silk and velvet and fur; with a face fair as a star-flower,
+haughty as the face of any duchess; with amber eyes that gazed
+upon them contemptuously, masterfully, fearlessly; with wave
+upon wave of golden brown hair, clustering about the temples
+and snowy neck; and with scarlet lips half parted in a scornful
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>She swept the length of the room with matchless grace and
+self-possession, and pausing before the astonished group, said, in
+a voice clear as the chime of silver bells:</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening, ladies and gentlemen! I believe I have not
+the honor of knowing&mdash;ah, yes, this is Miss Arthur; <i>Aunt Ellen</i>,
+how do you do?"</p>
+
+<p>There are some scenes that beggar description, and this was
+such an one.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_039.jpg" width="400" height="558" alt="&quot;Miss Madeline Payne!&quot;&mdash;page 346."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Miss Madeline Payne!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_346">page 346.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur, who clearly recognized in this lovely young lady
+the little Madeline of years ago, was so stricken with astonishment
+that she utterly forgot how appropriate it would be to
+faint.</p>
+
+<p>Cora sat like one in a nightmare.</p>
+
+<p>Percy was conscious of but one feeling. True to his nature
+even here, he was staring at this vision of beauty, thinking only,
+"how lovely! how lovely!"</p>
+
+<p>And Lucian Davlin? At the first sight of that face, the first
+sound of that voice, he had felt as if turning to stone, incapable
+of movement or speech. At that moment, had Cora once
+glanced toward him, his face must have betrayed his secret.
+But her eyes were fixed on Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin felt a tempest raging within his bosom. Madeline
+alive! This glowing, brilliant, richly robed, queenly creature&mdash;Madeline!
+Again in his ears rang her farewell words. Quick
+as lightning came the thought: she was his enemy, she would
+denounce him! And yet, throughout every fiber of his being,
+he felt a thrill of gladness. Again there surged in his heart the
+mad love that had sprung into being when she had so gloriously
+defied him. She was not dead, and he was glad!</p>
+
+<p>Old Hagar had closed the door after her young mistress; and
+now she stood near it, calm and immovable as a block of ice.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline Payne stood, for a moment, gazing laughingly into
+the amazed face of the spinster. Then she said: "Come, come,
+Aunt Ellen, don't stare at me as if I were a ghost! Introduce
+me to your friends. Is this lady my new step-mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora roused herself from her stupor, and said, haughtily: "I
+am <i>Mrs. Arthur</i>, and the mistress of the house!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! then you <i>are</i> my new step-mamma? And you have
+been very ill, I understand. Pray, don't rise, madame; you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span>
+look feeble." Then, turning again to Miss Arthur: "Don't you
+intend to speak to me, Aunt Ellen?"</p>
+
+<p>"But," gasped the spinster, "I thought, that&mdash;you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I see! You thought that I was dead, and you have
+been grieving for me. Well, I will explain: I ran away from
+my respected papa because he had selected for me a husband not
+at all to my taste. Not desiring to return immediately, I seized
+an opportunity that came in my way, and bestowed my name
+upon a poor girl who died in the hospital, thus making sure
+that my anxious friends would abandon all search for me.
+However, I have thought better of my decision, and so I return
+to my own home to take my position under the <i>chaperonage</i>
+of my pretty step-mamma, as the <i>Heiress of Oakley</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>These last words opened the eyes of Cora to the new "situation."
+Springing to her feet, she forgot for the moment all her
+weakness, and cried, wrathfully: "You cannot come here with
+such a trumped-up story! Madeline Payne is dead and buried.
+You are a base impostor!"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turned tranquilly towards the spinster. "Aunt
+Ellen, <i>am</i> I an impostor?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Ellen Arthur, sullenly; "you are Madeline Payne.
+Any one in the village could testify to that."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turned to Cora. "Step-mamma, I forgive you. It
+<i>is</i> hard to find the entailed estate of Oakley slipping out of your
+hands, no doubt, but this world is full of disappointments."</p>
+
+<p>Cora's eyes sought Lucian. That gentleman, who had, outwardly
+at least, regained his composure, telegraphed her to be
+silent.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Payne asked: "Which of these gentlemen is your brother,
+Mrs. Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucian stepped forward with his usual grace, saying; "I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span>
+Mrs. Arthur's brother, Miss Payne. Pray, let me apologize for
+her discourteous reception of you; she has been very ill, and is
+nervous."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline sank into a chair and surveyed him coolly, while
+she said: "It is not necessary to apologize for your sister, Mr.&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Davlin," supplied Miss Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>"Davlin," repeated Madeline, as if the name had fallen upon
+her ears for the first time. "No doubt we shall be the best of
+friends by and by. I certainly have to thank her for making
+so marked an improvement in these old rooms," glancing about
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Here the still confused Miss Arthur, in obedience to a sign
+from her lover, said: "Miss Madeline, this is my friend, Mr.
+Percy."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Percy advanced, bowing like a courtier. The young lady
+scrutinized him coolly, saying, with a gleam of mischief in her
+eyes: "I am delighted to meet any friend of my aunt's."</p>
+
+<p>Then she turned to Davlin again: "But where is my step-papa?
+I have kept myself partially informed of events here.
+Is he still unable to be about?"</p>
+
+<p>Davlin looked very serious: "Miss Payne, I fear that my
+unhappy brother-in-law will never recover his reason."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline uttered an exclamation expressive of concern, and
+said: "Oh, Mr. Davlin, then don't let him know that I am
+here; at least not yet. I am so afraid of the insane. I couldn't
+bear to see him now."</p>
+
+<p>Cora drew a breath of relief, on hearing this. But Lucian,
+who knew the girl better, began to fear her, and mentally resolved
+to define his own position as speedily as possible. One
+thing was evident; it was no part of her plan to betray him, at
+least not yet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Nurse," said Madeline, turning to Hagar, "see that a room
+is prepared for me immediately, and send a servant to the station
+for my luggage. Also, prepare a room for my maid, who
+is below, and tell her to get me out a dinner dress immediately."</p>
+
+<p>Then turning to Cora, "Step-mamma, you look fatigued. Do
+go to your room and rest before dinner. Mr. Davlin, at what
+hour do you dine?"</p>
+
+<p>He explained their reason for dining so early, and she said, as
+she turned again to Cora,</p>
+
+<p>"Do lie down, step-mamma; there is still a half-hour before
+dinner. And now I will go look after my maid."</p>
+
+<p>She swept them all a stately courtesy, and Percy springing
+forward to open the door, she thanked him with a charming side
+glance, and passed from the room like a young princess.</p>
+
+<p>There was dead silence among them for a full minute after
+the door had closed behind her. Then Percy turned with a
+disagreeable smile upon his face, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"You don't stand in need of something exciting <i>now</i>, do you,&mdash;Mrs.
+Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>This was too much. Cora sprang to her feet and casting one
+meaning glance toward Davlin, swept from the room, erect and
+firm, utterly regardless of the fact that her exit was quite incompatible
+with the invalid <i>r&ocirc;le</i> she had been sustaining.</p>
+
+<p>An angry flush overspread the face of Lucian Davlin, as he
+realized, after one quick look at the face of Percy, how thoroughly
+she had betrayed herself. He was too good a diplomat, however,
+to quit the field without a stroke in his own behalf. So giving
+a low whistle he turned toward the spinster, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"See what excitement will do. One would think she had the
+strength of two of us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To which Percy responded, dryly: "She certainly did not
+step like an invalid."</p>
+
+<p>Then the three stood looking aimlessly at each other or anything,
+seemingly not at all inclined to converse.</p>
+
+<p>After a few moments of listless gazing out at the window,
+Lucian turned upon his heel and quitted the room. He was too wise
+to approach Cora in her present mood. Even had he thought
+it advisable, he felt little inclination to see and converse with
+her or anyone then. Like a man in a dream, he wandered out
+and down the wide hall. Almost unconsciously he opened the
+library door, and crossing to the great double window, leaned
+against the casement and looked out.</p>
+
+<p>Again his eyes rested upon the grove where he had so often
+wandered with the lovely girl who, to-day, had so coolly ignored
+him. Then she had clung to him with trusting affection;
+now,&mdash;how did she look upon him now? Could the love that
+she surely had felt for him in those Summer days, have entirely
+died out in her heart? Did not a woman's love outlast her anger?
+And was he not the same man, with the same will-power, and
+the same strength of magnetism?</p>
+
+<p>Where had she been all these months? And how came she
+here now, robed liked a princess; she, who had certainly left
+her home penniless? Clearly, she had found friends. Who
+were they? And what did they know of matters here at
+Oakley?</p>
+
+<p>For once Mr. Davlin was at a loss how to act. Would it be
+safe to stay? Would it be wise to go? Would he be able to
+control Cora in this new emergency? One thing was certain:
+The heiress of Oakley meant to be mistress in her mother's
+house, and she was in a fair way to possess the throne.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian turned away from the window, and from the scene<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span>
+that mocked him, muttering: "I will see her alone, let come
+what will. I will make one struggle to regain my power over
+her, and if I succeed&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Evidently the wily gambler could not testify as to what
+would be likely to follow. For the second time since his partnership
+with Cora, he found that lady a stumbling-block by no
+means despicable.</p>
+
+<p>On leaving the drawing-room, Cora rushed up the stairs, and
+throwing open the door of her dressing-room, fairly precipitated
+herself across the threshold, forgetting in her blind rage to
+close the door behind her. She stood still for an instant, and
+then, springing to the window, threw it wide open, letting in a
+flood of wintry air. For a moment she leaned across the sill,
+drinking in deep draughts of the frosty ether. Then dashing
+down the sash, she turned swiftly, and encountered a pair of
+bright black eyes that looked in at her from the secure darkness
+of the hall. Sweeping across the room, she confronted
+the owner of the eyes, demanding haughtily:</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you? And how dare you spy at my door?"</p>
+
+<p>The woman&mdash;for it was a woman&mdash;came forward and said,
+respectfully: "If you please, I am Miss Payne's maid, and I
+was just bringing up some things from the hall, ma'am," lifting
+to view a chatelaine and shawl strap. "I didn't mean to annoy
+you. I was only surprised to see such a pretty young lady here."</p>
+
+<p>Miss Payne's maid was a large woman of a very uncertain
+age, arrayed in sober black, not at all like the usual ladies' maid.
+But she seemed so very respectful, and full of contrition at
+having annoyed such a "pretty lady," that Cora made no further
+assault upon her, but closed the door with unusual emphasis
+instead, and gave way once more to the wrath that was
+filling her soul.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To be baffled like this now; now, when her schemes were
+approaching fruition; now, when this fair domain, this splendid
+fortune, was just within her grasp, to have it plucked from her
+hand by a mere girl, who mocked her while she said, "this
+wealth is mine, this house is mine; woman, you have schemed
+in vain!"</p>
+
+<p>And this was not all. She had bound herself hand and foot.
+She had jeopardized her liberty, for what might not occur, now
+that this girl could demand access to the imprisoned old man,
+her step-father? If she dared, she would go away that very
+night. But no; this would only confirm suspicion, if suspicion
+were entertained.</p>
+
+<p>Not the least drop in her cup of bitterness, was the knowledge
+that Edward Percy was secretly enjoying her discomfiture. As
+she thought of him, and his look when she swept past him, Cora
+stopped short in her angry promenade, and frowned fiercely.
+Then she crossed to her mirror and surveyed her agitated face,
+saying, half aloud:</p>
+
+<p>"At least I will rob him of that pleasure; baffled as I may
+be, he shall never enjoy my discomfiture! I can act a part yet.
+And Edward Percy shall find that if my schemes are to be
+overthrown, his, too, may suffer. He rejoices to see me thwarted;
+I will thwart him, let it cost what it may!"</p>
+
+<p>And Cora began to smooth her rumpled locks, and put her
+somewhat disarranged toilet in order, with swift, firm fingers.
+While she was thus occupied, there came a tap upon her door.
+Recognizing it at once, as Davlin's knock, she said, "come," and
+never once lifted her eyes from her task.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian, finding that the dinner hour was at hand, and beginning
+to fear that Cora might still further commit herself, had
+thought it wisest to come and see what was the state of her feelings,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span>
+and endeavor to persuade her to play out her part. He
+entered the room with some apprehension; but seeing her so
+composed, came close as she stood before her dressing-glass and
+said, as he gazed down at the flounce she was busy adjusting:</p>
+
+<p>"Now is the time for pluck, Co. You will come down?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora gave a last touch to the silk and lace and then, letting
+the sweeping train fall from her hand, and standing very erect
+before him, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I shall go down. Do you suppose I will let that man
+think that I am completely annihilated? There; don't talk to
+me now! I shall not forget myself again, never fear. But
+after dinner, come to me here. You were wise enough to bring
+me into this charming 'corner,' now let your wisdom take me
+out of it, or I will extricate myself in my own way."</p>
+
+<p>Again the iron hand fell upon her shoulder, as her partner in
+iniquity hissed in her ear:</p>
+
+<p>"And I intend that you shall not be a fool! Our game is
+not lost. Let me once get the lay of the land, and we may
+win yet."</p>
+
+<p>She turned her eyes upon him with angry incredulity. "How,
+pray?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait and see!"</p>
+
+<p>She made no reply, but, taking up her dainty handkerchief,
+turned to leave the room, motioning him to precede her. In
+the hall, she paused at the head of the stairs, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Go down; I will come directly."</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Go down," she repeated; "I know what I am doing."</p>
+
+<p>She went slowly down the hall in the direction of the room
+before which stood Madeline's luggage that had just arrived
+from the little station.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Lucian gazed after her in some amazement, watched her tap
+softly, heard the door open, saw her enter the room, and then
+went slowly down-stairs.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>CORA UNDER ORDERS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>When Cora entered the room, Madeline Payne stood before
+her mirror, while her maid, kneeling beside her, arranged the
+folds of lustrous azure silk that fell about the slender form.</p>
+
+<p>The door had been opened by Hagar, who could scarcely keep
+her eyes off the beautiful face and form of her young mistress,
+and who was, in consequence, making very slow progress with
+the work of putting away the garments that had been discarded
+in favor of the lovely dinner dress.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline realized fully that the part she was now playing
+was even more difficult and distasteful than that which she had
+abandoned. But she was resolute. To go back now would be
+worse than death. While she felt a thrill of repugnance as she
+saw the fair, sensual face of John Arthur's wife reflected in her
+mirror, she turned with smiling countenance, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Is it you, step-mamma? How kind of you! Am I delaying
+the dinner?"</p>
+
+<p>"No more than I am," smiled Cora, in return. "I thought
+you might like me to wait for you, as you are so much of a
+stranger to your old home."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am not at all timid, I assure you; but it is nicer to
+go together. Am I almost ready, Strong?"</p>
+
+<p>"Almost, Miss Payne."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How quickly your maid dresses you," said Cora, resolved to
+keep the conversational ball rolling.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; Strong knows how to pack things so that what you
+want first is uppermost, and I had my dinner dress in a hand
+traveling-case." Then, turning about she asked, abruptly:
+"Have you a good maid, step-mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora laughed nervously as she replied: "I have no maid,
+good or bad. My maid ran away a week ago, after robbing me
+and nearly killing me with chloroform."</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy, what a wretch! What have you done with her?"</p>
+
+<p>"We have not found her."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you look?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; detectives are looking for her now."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope they will find her. Now I am ready; come,
+step-mamma."</p>
+
+<p>And together the two descended the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>Three faces reflected three degrees of surprise, as the ladies
+entered the drawing-room with every appearance of good feeling
+and mutual satisfaction. Davlin and Percy took their cue immediately.
+The only one whom an observer would have pronounced
+not quite at ease, was Miss Ellen Arthur, who stared
+from one to the other rather more than was polite, and who sustained
+her part in the conversation in a very nervous, fragmentary
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>Dinner being announced, Mr. Davlin promptly offered his
+arm to Madeline, who accepted it with perfect nonchalance.
+They followed Cora to the dining-room, themselves followed by
+Miss Arthur and Percy.</p>
+
+<p>Where four people separately, and each for his own end, determine
+to appear cordial and perfectly at ease, each one bent
+upon completely blinding the other three, there must of a necessity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span>
+be much conversation, and more or less hilarity, whether
+real or assumed.</p>
+
+<p>These four, who were waging upon each other secret and
+deadly war, ate and drank together; and while Madeline regaled
+them with a fictitious account of herself during the time
+she had been supposed dead, the others listened and commented,
+and vied with each other in paying hypocritical court to the
+heiress of Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, step-mamma," said Madeline, as they lingered
+over their dessert, "I was never ignorant of what was going on
+here. My old nurse kept me informed. When I sent you the
+fiction of my death, I had no intention of returning, for I had
+determined never to live at Oakley during my step-father's
+reign. But upon hearing of his insanity, I resolved to come
+back, being now, of course, the real head of the house. Mr.
+Arthur being <i>non compos mentis</i>, I, as heiress, assume control
+of my own."</p>
+
+<p>If a wish could have killed, Cora would have closed forever
+that insolent smiling mouth. But she felt herself powerless.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin, with inimitable tact, came to her rescue: "Cora will
+be only too glad to welcome the queen back to her own. Indeed,
+she has been for some time declaring her intention of abdicating,
+for a time at least, and taking Mr. Arthur south to
+some medicinal springs. But the doctor fears the change will
+not benefit him."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turned her eyes upon Cora. "She can't go just yet,"
+she said, with odd decision; "I want her society. Where is
+your doctor, Mr. Davlin?"</p>
+
+<p>"He is up-stairs with his patient, Miss Payne. He usually
+joins us at breakfast, but not often at dinner."</p>
+
+<p>The truth was that Lucian, not feeling upon safe ground, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span>
+advised the "doctor" to keep discreetly out of the way of this
+shrewd young lady for the present, lest her keen questions
+should draw out something not to their advantage.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Payne turned to Cora again. "You have perfect confidence
+in the skill of this doctor, step-mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes!" said Cora, positively; "he has been known to me
+a very long time. Besides, we had in one of the Bellair doctors,
+who agreed with Dr. Le Guise in every particular."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I must see this learned gentleman to-morrow, and my
+step-papa also, I think. Step-mamma, you look fatigued; dining
+is too much for your strength. Let us leave the gentlemen to
+their wine and cigars."</p>
+
+<p>As if she had been presiding at that table all her life, Miss
+Payne arose, bowed to the two men, and preceding the two astonished
+ladies, swept from the dining-room.</p>
+
+<p>Cora, as she followed the graceful figure, could hardly restrain
+her mortification and rage. She felt a longing amounting
+almost to frenzy, to spring upon the girl and stab her in the
+back.</p>
+
+<p>The two men did not linger long in the dining-room. Each
+felt anxious, for reasons of his own, to be again in the presence
+of Miss Payne, and so soon joined the ladies in the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>After a little more hypocrisy on all their parts, Cora arose to
+retire to her apartments, declaring that the excitement of Miss
+Payne's arrival had made her forgetful of herself and her
+health, and that she began to feel her fictitious strength departing.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline, too, arose, and offering her arm to Cora, said that
+she would also retire. Nodding a careless good-night to the
+three deserted ones, she left the room, with the fair invalid leaning
+languidly upon her arm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To the surprise and dissatisfaction of Cora, Madeline not only
+accompanied her to her own apartment, but entered with her.
+Having closed the door carefully behind them, she turned about,
+and dropping all her assumed gayety and friendliness, said with
+the air of a queen commanding a subject:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Mrs. Arthur, let us understand each other!"</p>
+
+<p>The sudden and marked change of her voice and manner
+startled the woman out of all her self-possession. She stood
+staring in the stern face of the girl with all of the audacity
+frightened out of her own.</p>
+
+<p>Cora was an adventuress to the tips of her fingers. She was
+fond of intrigue; she possessed a certain kind of courage; but
+she was, after all, at heart, a coward. She was quite willing to
+compromise her soul for gain, but not her body. In short, she
+loved herself too well to find any piquancy in personal danger.</p>
+
+<p>Since the loss of the papers and the flight of C&eacute;line Leroque
+had shaken her feeling of security, Cora had been restive and
+anxious to bring this plot to a climax. She had found it not at
+all to her taste to have Percy holding over her head a sword, be
+it ever so slender. And now, as she confronted Madeline, all
+her selfishness was alarmed. She waited in absolute fear the
+next words from the lips of her enemy.</p>
+
+<p>"You need not weary yourself by playing the invalid in my
+presence, madame," pursued the girl. "I am quite well aware
+that your illness has been all a sham. I know, too, that you
+have found the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of invalid very irksome."</p>
+
+<p>The eyes of Cora widened still more, and all the color fled
+from her lips. But she made a fierce struggle and, although
+she could not summon up her usual insolence, she managed to
+gasp out, half defiantly: "What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"You understand my meaning," replied the girl, with contempt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span>
+"I mean that you are in my power, and that you must
+obey my will."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment Cora's anger outweighed her fear. She came
+a step nearer and said, sneeringly: "Indeed, Miss Payne! That
+remains to be seen!"</p>
+
+<p>"True," assented Madeline, coldly. "First, then, you had
+better instruct your friend, Dr. Le Guise, not to administer
+<i>hasheesh</i> to Mr. Arthur to-morrow, in order to have him properly
+insane when I visit him."</p>
+
+<p>Cora's knees bent under her, and all the color fled out of her
+face. But she rallied her flying courage enough to say: "Explain
+yourself, Miss Payne."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline drew toward her Cora's easiest lounging chair, and
+seated herself therein with much deliberation, saying, as she
+did so:</p>
+
+<p>"You had better sit down, Mrs. Arthur; there is no necessity
+for a display of anger, or for any more attempts at deception.
+The one is as useless as the other is transparent. And I have
+considerable to say to you."</p>
+
+<p>Cora moved sullenly toward a chair and sank into it, feeling
+like a woman in a nightmare.</p>
+
+<p>"First, then, for your position," pursued Madeline. "It is
+sufficient to say that I know of your scheme to dispose of Mr.
+Arthur and inherit the wealth you supposed to be his."</p>
+
+<p>Cora was beginning to feel a return of combativeness, and she
+exclaimed quickly: "That is false!"</p>
+
+<p>"I know," pursued her inquisitor, ignoring her retort, "that
+this man you call 'Dr. Le Guise,' is your tool and&mdash;<i>I have had
+every drug that has been prescribed by him analyzed by city physicians!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Cora saw that she was indeed undone, and began to fight with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span>
+the recklessness of despair. "I don't believe you!" she cried,
+reckless that she was committing herself. "That old spy, Hagar,
+has fancied these things. How could you get the medicines?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not through Hagar."</p>
+
+<p>"How then?"</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Just as I got the certificate of your marriage with Mr. Percy.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The woman sprang to her feet. "You&mdash;you are&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"C&eacute;line Leroque, madame!" with an imitation of the ladies'
+maid accent.</p>
+
+<p>Cora fell back in her chair panting.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," resumed Madeline, "why don't you reflect that, if it
+were my intention to denounce you, I could have done that long
+ago. Are you not aware that my step-father is my enemy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not&mdash;in that way."</p>
+
+<p>"In that way precisely. John Arthur tortured my mother
+until she died heart-broken. He made my childhood miserable,
+and shut me up in a convent to pass my girlhood in loneliness.
+He bartered me in marriage to a man older and uglier than himself,
+for ten thousand dollars. Then I defied him to his face;
+swore to revenge upon him my mother's wrongs and mine; and
+ran away. Do you understand now why I have allowed you to
+persecute John Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora's courage began to revive. "I think I do," she said,
+slowly.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, Mrs. Arthur, it is in my power to arrest you; first,
+for Bigamy, and second, for Attempted Poisoning."</p>
+
+<p>Cora looked at her coolly. "But you won't do either," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't I? And why not?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because, to do either, you must bring your own name into
+too prominent notice."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed scornfully.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_040.jpg" width="400" height="580" alt="&quot;You&mdash;you are&mdash;!&quot; &quot;C&eacute;line Leroque, madame.&quot;&mdash;page 362."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;You&mdash;you are&mdash;!&quot; &quot;C&eacute;line Leroque, madame.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_362">page 362.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You forget," she said, "I left my home for revenge. I
+feigned to be dead&mdash;I returned to Oakley in disguise&mdash;for revenge.
+Do you think that I will let my pride stay me when,
+by exposing you, I can complete my vengeance upon John
+Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora's countenance fell. She had not viewed the matter in
+just that light. She made no answer, and Madeline continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't flatter yourself that I shall hesitate, if I cannot effect
+my purpose otherwise. I am not disposed just now to war with
+you, but if you do not see fit to accept my terms, then I must
+turn against you."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want of me?" sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to continue as we have begun. I want Miss
+Arthur, Mr. Percy, and your brother, to believe us the best of
+friends. Above all, I want John Arthur to think us allies."</p>
+
+<p>"And what then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then, you will be safe so far as I am concerned. Then,
+when I have accomplished my purpose and hold in my hands
+the keys to the Oakley coffers, you shall have money, and shall
+go hence to resume your career in whatever field you choose."</p>
+
+<p>"What security have I for all this?"</p>
+
+<p>"My word!"</p>
+
+<p>"And if I reject your terms?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline smiled oddly.</p>
+
+<p>"What is to prevent my leaving this place now, to-night?"
+said Cora.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed, saying: "Do you want to try that?"</p>
+
+<p>"If I did, what then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then&mdash;you would not be permitted to leave these premises!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! you have spies in this house!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and out of it. There is no chance for you to escape.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span>
+There is no chance for any one to escape. Mrs. Arthur, is this
+man that you call your brother really such, or is he, too, in your
+plot?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora looked at her keenly, but it was no part of Madeline's
+plan to let her know that she had ever seen Lucian Davlin before
+that evening. Her face was as calm and inscrutable as the
+face of the sphinx.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Cora, at length "my brother does not know of it."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad of that," replied Madeline. "But, for fear of any
+deception, he will be kept under <i>surveillance</i>; and if anything
+is communicated to him I shall surely know it."</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you rob me of those papers?" asked Cora, abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>"Because," said Madeline, leaning forward, "you and I have
+a common enemy."</p>
+
+<p>"What! not Percy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Percy!"</p>
+
+<p>Cora looked amazed. "But&mdash;have you known him before?"</p>
+
+<p>"I never saw him until he came to Oakley."</p>
+
+<p>"I can't see how he has incurred your enmity here."</p>
+
+<p>"He has not incurred my enmity here. I hated him before
+I ever saw him."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because he has wronged a friend who is as dear to me as
+life."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't puzzle your brain over this; you won't be enlightened.
+It is sufficient for you to know that you can serve me if you
+choose, because we are both enemies of the same men." Then,
+rising, "Now choose; will you remain here as my ally, or leave
+in disgrace, and a prisoner, as my enemy?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora reflected, and finally said: "I accept your terms."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Very good; and now for precautions. You must allow me
+to supply you with a maid."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are an invalid; I am well and strong. What could
+be more natural than that I should desire you to have every care
+and comfort that I can desire? I shall give you my maid; she
+will supply the place of C&eacute;line Leroque."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't have her," cried Cora, angrily. "I won't have a
+jailer."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly not; you will have my maid, however. I will
+get another to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't have her!"</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense." Madeline stepped quickly to the door and
+opened it. "Strong," she said, softly.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly in stepped Strong, who had been just outside
+awaiting the orders of her mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"Strong," said Madeline, "I am going to let you wait upon
+Mrs. Arthur. She is in delicate health, and needs a maid. You
+must be <i>very attentive</i>, and don't let her get into any draughts.
+You can sleep in the dressing-room; and if she is not <i>well cared
+for</i>, I shall hold you accountable."</p>
+
+<p>Cora looked at the big, robust woman, so appropriately called
+Strong, and felt that she was indeed a prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>Strong bowed in silent submission to the will of her late
+mistress, and turned her broad visage upon her new one.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline moved to leave the room, saying, with a return to
+her former manner: "Good-night, step-mamma; try and go
+down to breakfast with me in the morning, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and swept
+across the hall, and Cora heard her door close behind her. Not
+deigning a single glance at Strong, Cora sat tapping her foot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span>
+upon the carpet and reviewing the situation. After some angry
+musing, the practical side of her nature began to assert itself.
+She reflected that she was not, after all, in immediate danger;
+and that she would be still, to all outward appearance, the mistress
+of Oakley. There was not much to fear just now, and she
+would keep her eyes open.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, she would not be unnecessarily uncomfortable.
+And so, being by nature indolent, she decided to make the most
+of the unwelcome Strong. Turning toward the statue-like figure
+near the door, she galvanized it into life by saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Strong, get my dressing-gown from that closet, and then
+take off my dress."</p>
+
+<p>And Strong commenced her duties with cheerful alacrity.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2>
+
+<h2>MYSTIFIED PEOPLE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>John Arthur sat before a smoldering fire, gazing moodily
+down at the charred embers that had lost their glow and only
+showed a dark red light here and there, as if to assure one that
+there was fire in the grate.</p>
+
+<p>He was thinner than of old. His face wore a sickly pallor.
+His hands that clutched the arms of his invalid's chair worked
+incessantly, indicating surely that his nerves were in anything
+but a state of calm. He was feeble, too, in body; but his mind,
+spite of the verdict of the Bellair physician and the drugs of the
+Professor, was still unimpaired.</p>
+
+<p>In the solitude of the two rooms, out of which he had not once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span>
+stepped since first he was removed to the west wing, he had had
+ample time for reflection; but he had by no means arrived at a
+state of mental beatitude.</p>
+
+<p>He had found it useless to struggle, useless to bluster, to argue
+or to plead. Henry was a merciless jailer, and Dr. Le Guise a
+sarcastic one.</p>
+
+<p>His breakfast had been served, and stood upon the table beside
+him; but he scarcely glanced at it. When Henry came in from
+the ante-room to remove the things, he said, without looking up:
+"Go ask Le Guise to come to me."</p>
+
+<p>Henry carried away the tray, deposited it in the ante-room,
+locked the door of the chamber carefully, and made his way to
+the breakfast-room.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment, the incongruous mixture called the family,
+were there assembled, including the Professor. The latter was
+just then discussing the condition of his patient with Miss Payne,
+in blissful ignorance of the fact that the young lady was fully
+conversant with his mode of treatment, and the true condition
+of her step-father's health.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, my dear young lady," the Professor said, pompously,
+"his is the worst form of insanity; the very worst.
+When a patient raves constantly we know precisely what to do
+with him. But when he is, at times, to all appearance, as sane as
+yourself, and yet liable at any moment to blaze out a perfect madman,
+one dislikes to treat him as a madman, and yet it is not
+safe to consider him a sane being."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline nodded, with a splendid assumption of profound
+interest.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a sad case," she said, pensively. "I almost dread the
+interview."</p>
+
+<p>"I think he is quite collected this morning, and he may be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span>
+calm throughout. I hope so, for I should not like to have you
+witness one of his tantrums."</p>
+
+<p>"I have seen him in tantrums when he was considered sane,"
+said the girl, with an odd intonation.</p>
+
+<p>Then looking up, she saw Henry, who had entered the room
+and stood staring at her in speechless amazement. Hagar had
+informed him that his young mistress was in the house. But
+he was not prepared for the vision of loveliness that the girl
+presented, as she turned toward him clad in her morning robe
+of snowy cashmere bordered with swansdown, and trailing after
+her like a train of snow. Luckily no one noted his start
+of surprise and quick glance of recognition, and Madeline
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Is not that my step-father's attendant, doctor? I think he
+wants you."</p>
+
+<p>The "doctor" beckoned Henry to approach, and said, affably:
+"Well, and how is our patient, Henry?"</p>
+
+<p>"About as usual, sir. But he wants to see you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he does? Poor soul, I'll come directly, Henry." Then,
+turning to Madeline: "Shall I break to him the news of your
+arrival?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; not unless you think it unsafe to surprise him."</p>
+
+<p>"On the contrary, an agreeable surprise might prove beneficial."</p>
+
+<p>The Professor, who had received sundry instructions from
+Davlin, assumed to be ignorant of the fact that the patient supposed
+his step-daughter dead.</p>
+
+<p>Smiling a little at the hypocrisy of the man, who pretended
+to have at heart the interest of a patient supposed to be in an
+excessively nervous state, yet was quite ready to expose that
+patient to the shock of meeting, without previous preparation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span>
+one supposed to be dead and in her grave, Madeline turned,
+and with a gesture brought Cora to her side.</p>
+
+<p>"Is Dr. Le Guise aware that my step-papa believes me to be
+dead?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>Cora and the Professor looked dubiously at one another for an
+instant. Then the former, seeing her cue in the face of the latter,
+said: "He is not."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, step-mamma, I am going up to see him soon, and, on
+second thought, it will be best to have the doctor inform him of
+my resurrection."</p>
+
+<p>Cora nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"And," pursued the girl, "I will only say that I desire you,
+doctor, to inform him that I feigned death for reasons of my
+own. That I am here in the flesh, and will appear in his presence
+soon. When you have prepared him for my coming, have
+the goodness to come down and tell me."</p>
+
+<p>Saying this she turned away, after which the Professor quitted
+the room to obey the summons of his patient.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin had witnessed the interview, the summons and
+the departure, from a distance. He had found no opportunity
+for conversing with Cora, as yet, and was sorely puzzled by the
+present aspect of affairs.</p>
+
+<p>He had watched the two narrowly, but he found himself unable
+to read the true meaning lurking beneath the soft words
+that fell from the lips of Madeline. He could hear no jar in
+the music of her voice, could catch no glance that would give
+the lie to her honeyed words. She was playing her part like a
+born actress.</p>
+
+<p>He had not expected to see Cora accept the situation without
+a struggle. He was glad to find that there was to be no scene,
+and yet&mdash;somehow he felt himself at a disadvantage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He had viewed the situation from his stand-point, however,
+and had decided upon his course of action.</p>
+
+<p>First, he was resolved not to quit the field until he had made
+a desperate attempt to regain his power over the heiress of
+Oakley. Second, he would use stratagem in order to obtain an
+interview with her.</p>
+
+<p>In due time, Dr. Le Guise came among them once more, and
+announced to Madeline his readiness to conduct her into the
+presence of his patient.</p>
+
+<p>"He is quite prepared to see me, then?" questioned Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"Quite, although I left him a trifle agitated and upset."</p>
+
+<p>As they paused at the door leading from the hall of the west
+wing, she said:</p>
+
+<p>"I will go in alone, Dr. Le Guise."</p>
+
+<p>"As you please." Then, as it were an afterthought. "I
+really believe, for your own safety, you had better keep Henry
+near you."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be in no danger," she replied, and entered the outer
+chamber, closing and locking the door after herself.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to her knock, the door of the ante-chamber was
+unlocked and opened by Henry. Madeline swept across the
+threshold and extended her hand to the faithful fellow,
+saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Henry, I am glad to see you. I hope you do not find your
+present duties too heavy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not since I knew I was serving you, miss," said the man,
+respectfully.</p>
+
+<p>"You are serving me, Henry. I need you here very much;
+and rest assured you shall have your reward for all you have
+done or may do for me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Evidently the prospect of reward was not unpleasing to him.
+His countenance beamed satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>"And, Henry," continued his mistress, "attend to this. You
+are not, on any account, to give your charge any more of the
+medicine prepared for him by the doctor."</p>
+
+<p>A look of surprise shone from the eyes of the negro, but he
+answered simply, like the well-trained servant he was: "Yes,
+miss."</p>
+
+<p>"Above all, Henry, you are to let the doctor think that you
+administer all that he gives you."</p>
+
+<p>Henry signified that he fully understood and would obey
+his instructions. Then he opened the inner door, and John
+Arthur and Madeline Payne stood once more face to face!</p>
+
+<p>For a moment, the two eyed each other in silence. Then
+John Arthur said, with a sneer on his lip, and in a tone which
+proved clearly that time and imprisonment had not taught him
+meekness:</p>
+
+<p>"So, you young jade, what escapade have you been up to
+now? And how dare you come back here like a young princess?
+Why don't you keep out of my house?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed scornfully. "<i>Your</i> house!&mdash;But I forgive
+you, step-papa; of course you are not accountable for your
+words."</p>
+
+<p>Her tone was mockery itself. The man found it difficult to
+restrain his wrath as he looked in her scornful face and said:
+"Don't dare to pretend to believe that I am crazy! Are you
+in league against me, too?"</p>
+
+<p>Wishing to draw from him just how much of the baseness of
+Cora he believed in, or suspected, she dropped her voice and
+asked, in assumed surprise: "Is it possible that you believe
+some one to be plotting against you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Is it <i>possible</i>! How else could I be kept shut up a prisoner
+in my own house?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl seemed to ponder. "Who is your enemy?" she
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Every one in this house."</p>
+
+<p>"What! Surely not your wife?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not so certain of that."</p>
+
+<p>"But she, too, has been sick."</p>
+
+<p>"Have they locked <i>her</i> up?" snapped he.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline smiled. "Well, not exactly; she is not allowed
+much liberty, though."</p>
+
+<p>"Why won't she come and see me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy! She is too delicate."</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to me you are well informed for one so lately arrived."</p>
+
+<p>"I <i>am</i> well informed, Mr. Arthur. But I am not a late arrival."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?" sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I say," with an odd laugh. "I have been in
+this house since you were first put in these rooms."</p>
+
+<p>He sat like one stupefied. At last he sprang up and fairly
+yelled, "In the fiend's name, explain this chicanery. Why are
+you here? Who is keeping me a prisoner, and wherefore? Is
+it <i>you</i>, you little virago?"</p>
+
+<p>"Softly, step-papa; one thing at a time. I am here because
+<i>you</i> are here," she said in a voice of unruffled calm. "Who is
+keeping you a prisoner, you ask? I am."</p>
+
+<p>Once more he seemed on the point of giving way to a paroxysm
+of rage, but controlled himself and said, sullenly:</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose I may thank you for my imprisonment from first
+to last."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You may thank me if you choose, but it will be bestowing
+your gratitude upon the wrong party. I did not lock you up.
+I simply permitted it."</p>
+
+<p>"And why have you leagued with my wife&mdash;curse her&mdash;to
+shut me up like a thief?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" her voice rising in angry scorn, "Do you ask me
+<i>why</i>? Why did you make my mother almost a prisoner in her
+own home? Why did you crush her in life, and blaspheme her
+in death? Why did you drive her daughter from the home that
+was hers, to escape from your cruelty, your insults, your avarice?
+John Arthur, how dare you ask me <i>why</i> you are here!"</p>
+
+<p>Again the flashing eye, the ringing, wrathful voice, the white,
+uplifted hand. They menaced him again, as on that June evening
+when she had defied him and then fled out into the darkness,
+not to return, save in dreams, until now.</p>
+
+<p>Again he felt a thrill of terror, and he sat before her mute
+and cowering. At last he found voice to say: "Do you mean
+that you intend to keep me a prisoner?"</p>
+
+<p>Her eyes met his full. They were cold as snow and resolute
+as fate. "You will never leave these rooms until you accede to
+the terms I have to propose."</p>
+
+<p>Her audacity fairly stunned him. He fell back a pace as he
+said: "What&mdash;terms?"</p>
+
+<p>"First, you are to agree to resign the guardianship of my
+property. Second, you are to leave Oakley forthwith and forever,
+and to keep ever and always away from me and all that is
+mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Bah!" he cried, angrily, "do you think I am a fool? I
+won't resign my guardianship; the property is <i>mine</i>, not yours!"</p>
+
+<p>"Then I will choose a new guardian immediately. How
+ignorant of law you are, step-papa! Don't you know that you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span>
+are legally <i>dead</i>? Don't you know that a lunatic can't hold
+property? Legally, I can choose a guardian to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"You she-devil! But I am not a lunatic!" sneered he.</p>
+
+<p>"How obtuse you are, step-papa! You <i>are</i> a lunatic; we
+have the certificates of two physicians to that effect; and that is
+all the law requires. Now, be reasonable; what can you do?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll get out, by heavens," he yelled; "and I'll put you in
+State's prison for false imprisonment!"</p>
+
+<p>She turned upon him with the utmost composure. "My dear
+sir, you have not one witness to prove that you are a sane man.
+There are many to prove that you have been subject to violent
+fits of madness."</p>
+
+<p>She turned again, and he, no longer seeking to control his
+rage, sprang toward her, uttering a volley of curses.</p>
+
+<p>During their entire interview, Henry had stood like a sentinel
+at the outer door of the ante-room, while that leading into the
+chamber of the prisoner stood wide open. At the first accent of
+rage, he darted forward; and as the girl sprang away from her
+step-father, that gentleman felt himself seized and hurled with
+scant ceremony to the middle of the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you try that, sir!" cried Henry, in high wrath. "You
+won't find me a friend, if you do."</p>
+
+<p>"So," panted the old man, "this is one of your hirelings, is
+it? And pray, sir, what is this young fiend to pay you for your
+services?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's my affair," responded the man, coolly. "You can't
+buy me off; and if you try that game again, you will get yourself
+into a straight jacket."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed, and said: "There, Henry, you need not
+be alarmed for me. But when you report this attack to the
+doctor, tell him that I think he had better take measures to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span>
+secure his safety and yours, in case your patient should be again
+seized with a fit of violence."</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur immediately saw that he had damaged his own
+cause.</p>
+
+<p>"You had better sleep upon my proposition, Mr. Arthur,"
+said Madeline, from the threshold. "If you pine for liberty,
+send for me. And don't think, for a moment, that I shall allow
+you to go free without taking the necessary precautions to insure
+myself against any trouble you might desire to make me.
+Adieu, Mr. Arthur." And she swept from the room.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur stood for many minutes in the same place and
+attitude. When his anger would permit him, he began to
+wonder. She had come and gone, and how much the wiser was
+he? Where had she been all these months? Why had she allowed
+them to think her dead? Who were her friends, for
+friends she must have found? Why had her presence in the
+house, if she had been here, been kept from him? How had
+she gained the ascendancy over every one in that house? He
+thought so long and intensely that he started up, at last, almost
+beginning to fear that he was becoming mad.</p>
+
+<p>When Dr. Le Guise again came into his presence, he began
+to question him. But it was labor lost. Dr. Le Guise would
+not admit that he was a sane man. Dr. Le Guise knew nothing,
+absolutely nothing, outside the range of his professional
+duties. He was sorry for his patient; very sorry. He assumed
+to take all assertions on the part of Mr. Arthur as so many fresh
+evidences of insanity.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_041.jpg" width="400" height="552" alt="&quot;Don&#39;t try that, sir!&quot;
+cried Henry, in high wrath.&mdash;page 375."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Don&#39;t try that, sir!&quot;
+cried Henry, in high wrath.&mdash;<a href="#Page_375">page 375.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>He was very grave, was Dr. Le Guise, but not to be moved.
+In fact, the prisoner fancied that he could observe in the doctor's
+tone, manner, and countenance, an unusual degree of complacency,
+and relish for his position and authority. And the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span>prisoner was right. The reason for the doctor's placidity of
+manner was simply this:</p>
+
+<p>Madeline on leaving the rooms of the west wing, had encountered
+the worthy "doctor" just at the turn of the passage,
+and she had paused, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Le Guise, you were right about my unfortunate step-father.
+He is quite mad, and really a dangerous charge. An
+ordinary fee is too little to offer you, considering what you have
+undertaken. I don't know what terms my step-mamma has
+made with you, but I will volunteer to double her price. You
+will be amply remunerated, and must consider the house and
+everything in it at your disposal, so long as you keep your patient
+safe, and do not permit him to do any mischief."</p>
+
+<p>The astute Professor had taken in the full meaning of her
+words, which served to quiet the fears that had haunted him since
+the advent of Miss Payne; fears that the young lady would
+prove to be an enemy, and one keen enough to fathom the secret
+they were keeping hidden in the west wing.</p>
+
+<p>He had seen that, for some reason, neither Cora nor Davlin
+dared, or did, oppose her. Now he fancied he understood the
+reason; it was because they did not fear her, for her interests
+were in common with theirs.</p>
+
+<p>"He is certainly a dangerous man," said the Professor, gravely;
+"I will obey your instructions to the letter."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2>
+
+<h2>DAVLIN'S "POINTS."</h2>
+
+
+<p>Madeline having left the morning-room, accompanied by the
+too observant Professor, Lucian saw at once his opportunity for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span>
+a few words with Cora. Without too great an appearance of
+haste, he moved across the room, pausing before the fire, in front
+of which Miss Arthur was seated, and addressing to her a few
+careless words. Then he glanced at Percy, who sat at the most
+remote corner of the room, assuming to be much interested in
+some geological specimens in a little cabinet.</p>
+
+<p>Cora divined his intention. She knew, too, that this was the
+very best place for an interview, which she desired to make a
+brief one, being somewhat afraid of committing herself if she
+allowed him to ask too many questions. So she moved over to
+the window, and seated herself in a low chair.</p>
+
+<p>She had decided upon her own present course of action. She
+would play her part well while she remained at Oakley, and she
+would escape from it as soon as she had succeeded in blinding
+the eyes of her jailers, for she mentally acknowledged them as
+such.</p>
+
+<p>When Davlin at length crossed the room, and dropped carelessly
+down in the chair at her side, she lifted her eyes to his,
+and said, inquiringly: "Well?"</p>
+
+<p>He looked at her keenly for a moment. Then, not to lose
+any time by useless words, came straight at the point.</p>
+
+<p>"Time's precious, Co. We can't attract attention by a long
+dialogue, and yet we must talk things over. When can I find
+you alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all for a day or two."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" elevating his eyebrows.</p>
+
+<p>Cora rested her head upon her hand in such a way as to conceal
+from those at the opposite end of the room, the expression
+of her face, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Because I want to be sure that we can talk without being
+observed. Miss Payne seems very friendly, and has given me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span>
+her maid because, she says, an invalid needs waiting on, and she
+sleeps in my dressing-room. I don't want to excite suspicion by
+sending her away, in order to admit you, and&mdash;I don't see that
+there is much to be said."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian seemed weighing her words for a moment. Then he
+asked: "What do you make of Miss Payne?"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you make of her?" she retorted, quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing, as yet."</p>
+
+<p>"No more do I."</p>
+
+<p>Another brief silence, and then he asked: "Do you think there
+is any immediate danger&mdash;for us?"</p>
+
+<p>"As how?"</p>
+
+<p>"From him: Arthur."</p>
+
+<p>Now came Cora's grand coup. She felt pretty sure that Lucian
+knew of her interview with Madeline, and believed that she
+would be telling him no news when she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Listen! She went with me to my room last night, and she
+asked a good many questions about him. And I am sure of
+this: she is no friend to him, and if she sees no reason for suspecting
+any of us, she won't trouble herself about him. She told
+me that she ran away from home because she had been so oppressed
+by him, and that his attempt to marry her off, in order
+to put money in his own pocket, was only one among many of
+the things she had endured at his hands. Of one thing I am
+sure: the old man may be a stumbling-block to us, but he is an
+object of positive hatred to her."</p>
+
+<p>Cora uttered this combination of truth and falsehood without
+the least compunction. If she could have warned him of the
+danger hanging over them without jeopardizing herself, she
+would have done so. But that, she knew, was impossible.</p>
+
+<p>He had planned this "game" which now bade fair to be such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span>
+an utter failure, and if anyone must suffer, why, let it be him.
+And then, too, she reasoned, she had not gathered from the words
+of Madeline that she suspected Mr. Davlin of duplicity of any
+kind. As for the Professor, Cora cared little what became of
+him. She could gain nothing and might, doubtless would, lose
+much by warning him.</p>
+
+<p>Lastly, Cora assured herself that were their positions reversed,
+and Lucian the one who saw that his own safety lay in leaving
+her to her fate, he would not scruple to make her his scapegoat.
+And in this she was quite right.</p>
+
+<p>Again the man seemed to puzzle over some knotty, mental
+question. Then he arose, and leaning against the window frame
+in a favorite attitude, glanced across at Percy and the spinster
+as he asked, slowly: "Did she say anything about me?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora looked up in genuine surprise. "About you? No;
+why should she?"</p>
+
+<p>"I mean," he said, "did she say anything to cause you to
+think that she suspected us?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," shortly; "why should she? She never saw either of
+us until yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think brought her back here just now?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's easy enough to see why she came back. She has heard
+of the insanity of Mr. Arthur, and has come, as she said, to
+take possession of her own."</p>
+
+<p>Another pause; then Cora said: "Is the Professor 'up' to
+anything new?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>"Then don't let him take the alarm. It would hurt us.
+We can't run now, and I don't think we have much to fear.
+We will lose the money&mdash;that's all."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian looked out upon the evergreens and graveled walks
+of Oakley, and said, under his breath: "Will we?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then he turned upon his heel and sauntered out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>The question that was then uppermost in his mind, the
+question that had been since the first shock of her reappearance
+had given him time to think, was, why had Madeline returned
+to Oakley?</p>
+
+<p>Was it, as she alleged, because she had changed her mind,
+and wanted to be mistress of her own? Or was it because he
+was there? If he could convince himself that the latter reason
+was the true one, then he would know how to act.</p>
+
+<p>She had kept herself informed of affairs at Oakley. Then
+she must have known of the fact that the so-called brother of
+John Arthur's wife was Lucian Davlin. She must have known
+that. Of course she knew it. Did not her manner on the
+evening of her arrival prove that? Not for one instant did
+she lose her self-possession. Had his presence been unexpected,
+she could hardly have restrained every sign of emotion, of
+recognition. Clearly, she was prepared for their meeting.</p>
+
+<p>Ah! now he was getting at things. If she came to Oakley,
+knowing him to be established there as a member of the family,
+she came <i>expecting</i> to meet him. She was not afraid of him,
+then. She was not averse to meeting him. Perhaps&mdash;he began
+to think it highly probable&mdash;she came solely to meet him.
+If so, did she come for love, or&mdash;for revenge?</p>
+
+<p>If she came for revenge why did she not denounce him? But
+no, she would hardly do that. What woman would? But she
+might have assumed toward him a more hostile attitude.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, his masculine vanity helped him to a conclusion. A
+woman seldom forgets her first love so easily, and he could meet
+her so differently now. She had <i>not</i> forgotten her love for him.
+He could win it back, and her forgiveness with it. And then&mdash;then,
+if he could but manage Cora, what would hinder him from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span>
+marrying her, and being in clover ever after! He was tired of
+roving; they could go to the city; he need not give up gaming,
+and&mdash;he really loved the girl; had loved her since the day she
+had escaped from his snare.</p>
+
+<p>Having arrived at this stage in his day-dream, he began to
+feel buoyant. And when he heard from the Professor the result
+of Madeline's visit to her step-father, his complacency was
+at high tide.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all in a nutshell to me," said the Professor, as they
+smoked their confidential cigars in the privacy of Lucian's own
+room. "Mind, I don't suppose she <i>is</i> up to our game; she
+can't be, you know; but she is pretty thoroughly convinced that
+what she thinks is his insanity, is but temporary."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know that?" interrupted Lucian, sharply.</p>
+
+<p>"Not from anything <i>she</i> said; I had very few words with her.
+But look here, Davlin, isn't this a clear case enough? When
+I went up to see the old fool, after their interview, I find him
+in a paroxysm of rage. Of course he makes his complaint; his
+<i>ravings</i> informed me of this: She told him that she did not
+really think him very crazy herself, but two doctors <i>did</i>, and
+she didn't feel called to dispute them. She told him that he
+could not prove himself sane in any court in America; and that
+he, being insane, was dead in law; and she was going to choose
+another guardian."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin fairly bounded from the chair. "That's it!"
+he ejaculated under his breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Then," pursues the Professor, puffing away tranquilly, "she
+comes straight from this interview and meets me, to whom she
+says that, 'It is a most deplorable and dangerous case; that he
+is really liable to attack me or Henry at any moment; that I
+must take every precaution and guard against his sudden attack,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span>
+even if I were forced to confine him still more closely;
+and that she had suspected him of partial insanity long ago.'
+Now, what do you think of that?"</p>
+
+<p>Precisely what he thought it was not Mr. Davlin's intention
+to tell. One idea, however, he expressed promptly enough: "I
+think," he said, leaning a little forward and looking full at his
+companion, "that you had better take the advice of Miss Payne.
+Confine him close, the closer the better; but don't drug him any
+more at present!"</p>
+
+<p>The Professor nodded serenely as he said: "Right, quite
+right. Just what I was about to suggest."</p>
+
+<p>He might have added that he had resolved upon taking the
+course indicated, even if the suggestion had not been made.
+"The young lady holds the winning cards," he had assured
+himself. "I will take her orders before I get myself in too
+deep!" His "too deep" meant deep as the grave.</p>
+
+<p>And now Lucian had a new subject for conjecture. If Miss
+Payne proposed to appoint for herself a guardian, who would
+she select? Who had been caring for her during all these
+months? Was it man or woman?</p>
+
+<p>The only information she had volunteered had been implied
+rather than spoken. In answer to Miss Arthur's rather abrupt
+query at the breakfast table, as to how she had managed to prosper
+so well in a strange city where she had no friends, the girl
+had replied, with a little laugh:</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose it has never occurred to either yourself or Mr.
+Arthur that I might have found out some of my mother's
+friends. I was put in possession of my mother's journal on the
+very day that I ran away from Oakley. I am not so friendless
+as you may think."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian was again puzzled, but knowing the girl as he did, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span>
+was not prepared to believe that a guardian, in the form of a
+lover, would appear. He was now convinced that Cora, whom
+at first he had somewhat doubted, was not for some unknown
+reason attempting to deceive him.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor's story had corroborated hers, and given him,
+as he expressed it, "a fresh point" in his game. But alas for
+Lucian! Every fancied discovery only beguiled him farther
+and farther from the truth, and rendered him more and more
+blind to the chains that were being forged about him.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE DAYS PASS BY.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Several days passed and still Lucian Davlin had not found
+the much wished for opportunity to converse with Madeline.
+Neither had he been able to find Cora alone. Visit her room
+when he would, there was the burly waiting-maid. Finally
+Cora had warned him, with some asperity, that his "actions
+looked rather suspicious," and then he obeyed her gentle hint
+and remained aloof.</p>
+
+<p>Two days after the bestowal of Strong, the maid, upon the
+not-too-grateful Cora, an angular, grenadier-looking female
+presented herself at the servants' entrance, announcing that she
+was "the new maid;" and she was installed as high priestess
+of Madeline's apartments without loss of time.</p>
+
+<p>The servants below stairs made comments, as servants will.
+Even Miss Arthur, Percy, and Davlin agreed in calling the two
+maids, respectively, "Grenadier" and "Griffin."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But only Cora knew that the two were better learned in the
+art of spying than in matters of the toilet. She knew herself
+to be under continual surveillance. Above stairs or below,
+Madeline or Hagar, Strong or Joliffe were not far away. And
+yet she had not abandoned her plan of escaping.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, Cora, looking from the window of her dressing
+room, saw two men moving about in the grounds below.
+Upon commenting upon their presence there, Strong had answered,
+readily;</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, madame, Joliffe tells me that they are here to sink a
+well. Miss Payne has decided to have a fountain among those
+cedar trees, and they are to go to work immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"But a well in winter! They can't dig."</p>
+
+<p>"They don't dig; they bore. It's to be a fountain, madame."</p>
+
+<p>But in spite of the "fountain" explanation, Cora knew that
+the house was guarded from without as well as from within.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use to warn Lucian, or anybody, now," she thought.
+"It would only get us all into worse trouble."</p>
+
+<p>But still she did not abandon the thoughts of her own escape.</p>
+
+<p>And now began a time of trial for poor Ellen Arthur. Madeline
+Payne, after studiously ignoring the two men for some days,
+began to unbend. She commenced by conversing with Percy,
+listening to his slow and stately sentences, smiling her approval,
+and completely captivating that susceptible gentleman. Then,
+by degrees, she drew Lucian into the conversation, and smiled
+upon and listened to him.</p>
+
+<p>All this Cora observed, wondering what the girl was trying
+to do; while the spinster looked on in untold agony, fearful lest
+this fair sorceress should avenge herself for some of her childish
+grievances by robbing her of her lover.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Lucian Davlin interpreted all this in his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span>
+favor. "She is proud and still resentful," he thought. "And
+she is using Percy as a medium of approach to me."</p>
+
+<p>At last Lucian, growing impatient, resorted to an old, old
+trick. He watched his opportunity, and one evening, as Madeline
+was following Cora from the drawing-room, the door of
+which he was holding open for their exit, he pushed into her
+hand a small scrap of paper.</p>
+
+<p>She would have dropped it; her first impulse was to do so,
+but Cora turned as her hand was about to loosen its clasp upon
+the fragment. So she passed on, carrying it with her to her
+own room. There she opened it and read these pencilled words:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>For God's sake do not torture me longer. You have condemned me
+without a hearing. Be as merciful as you are strong and lovely. At
+least let me see you alone, when I can plead for myself.</p></div>
+
+<p>Half an hour later, Hagar tapped at his door. When he
+opened it, she put in his hand a bit of paper, on which were
+these faintly-pencilled lines:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>If you desire my friendship, you must date our acquaintance from this
+week. You never knew me in the past.</p></div>
+
+<p>"And she is right," muttered he; "the Madeline Payne of
+last summer, and the Madeline Payne of now, are to each other
+as the chrysalis to the butterfly, in beauty; as the kitten to the
+panther, in spirit; as the babe to the woman, in mind. That
+Madeline pleased me; this one, I love."</p>
+
+<p>So he accepted the position, and did not give up striving to
+draw from her some special word, or look, or tone, that he need
+not feel belonged as much to Percy as to himself.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime Percy was revolving various things in his learned
+head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He had been, as a matter of course, deeply impressed with
+her beauty, and he had been much puzzled as well.</p>
+
+<p>Having witnessed her arrival, he had fully expected rebellion
+from Cora, for Cora was not the woman to be barred out
+from a prospective fortune and make no sign. But there was
+no war, and no indications of battle. Cora and the heiress were
+wonderfully friendly. Mr. Percy could not understand it.</p>
+
+<p>The manner of Davlin toward him had not changed in the
+least, remaining as studiously polite as when he was so cordially
+invited to take up his abode under the hospitable roof of
+Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>That of Cora was decidedly different. While before she addressed
+him with a sort of conciliating courtesy, and had seemed
+desirous of furthering his plans and hastening on his marriage
+with Miss Arthur, she now manifested an almost contemptuous
+indifference, not only to himself, but to his <i>fianc&eacute;</i>.</p>
+
+<p>True to her nature, Cora was gathering up what gleams of
+satisfaction she could. When she had become assured that it
+was not Percy who held possession of her stolen papers, and that
+the girl in whose hands they were was more his enemy than
+hers, she rejoiced in his discomfiture to come. Seeing that it
+was no longer necessary to propitiate her enemy, she indulged
+in the luxury of acting out her hatred, when she could without
+betraying to Davlin this change, which might require an explanation.</p>
+
+<p>That some sort of understanding existed between Miss Payne
+and Cora, Percy instantly surmised, and every day confirmed
+the belief. That Miss Payne held the power, he also believed.
+So believing, he began to wonder if it were not better to "be off
+with the old love," and seek to win the heiress, for the vanity
+of Mr. Percy inspired him to believe that it would not be a
+hopeless task. He had heard, however, of that person who,
+"between two stools," fell to the ground, and he was careful not
+to reveal to Miss Arthur the laxity of his affections.</p>
+
+<p>And so the days moved on.</p>
+
+<p>Percy dividing his attention between his <i>fianc&eacute;</i> and Miss
+Payne; studying the latter, and closely watching Davlin and
+Cora.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>That last named lady smiling and lounging below stairs,
+sulking and smoking above, and always under surveillance.</p>
+
+<p>Davlin, having assured Cora that he was acting from motives
+politic, paying open court to Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>That young lady calmly acting her part, thoroughly understanding
+and heartily despising them all.</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur alternately raging and sulking, obdurately refusing
+to accede to his step-daughter's terms, and vowing to escape
+and wreak vengeance upon every one of them.</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Le Guise," calm as a Summer morning, and taking more
+real ease and comfort than all the others combined.</p>
+
+<p>Hagar watchful and anxious.</p>
+
+<p>The two new maids making themselves popular in the kitchen,
+and "sleeping with their eyes open."</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>And still no clue by which Madeline and her efficient <i>aides
+de camp</i> could unravel the web of doubt that still clung about,
+and kept a prisoner, the long-suffering Philip Girard.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2>
+
+<h2>A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.</h2>
+
+
+<p>After some days of outward calm, came a ripple upon the
+surface of events.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It had been a dull, cloudy day, with occasional gusts of wind
+and rain; wind that chilled to the very marrow, and rain that
+froze as it fell.</p>
+
+<p>The three men, Davlin, Percy and the Professor, had been
+constrained to abandon their customary morning walk, with
+cigar accompaniment, up and down the terrace. And the well-borers
+had been obliged to stop their work.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Arthur had kept her room and her bed all day long,
+afflicted by a raging toothache. Strong was kept at her side,
+almost constantly applying hot water, laudanum and various
+other local applications. As the day advanced, the sufferer
+seemed growing worse; and when Madeline came in to administer
+consolation, and see if the woman were really ill, Cora sent
+for Dr. Le Guise, vowing she would have the tooth out, and
+every other one in her head, if the pain did not stop. But when
+the Professor arrived, her courage failed her. She drew back
+at the sight of the formidable forceps, saying that she would
+"try and endure it a little longer; it seemed a bit easier just
+then."</p>
+
+<p>All this Madeline noted. Retiring from the room she signaled
+to Strong to follow her out. "What do you think of
+her?" questioned Madeline of the latter, as the door closed between
+them and Cora.</p>
+
+<p>Strong looked dubious. "I really don't know what to think,
+Miss Payne," she said. "If it is shamming, it is the best I ever
+saw."</p>
+
+<p>"True," answered Madeline; "I am at a loss. You had
+better apply some test, Strong, and&mdash;keep all your medicines out
+of her reach. Don't let her get any laudanum, or anything;
+and presently report to me. She must not be left alone, however;
+when I send Joliffe in, do you come to me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Madeline passed on to her own room, and Strong returned to
+her patient.</p>
+
+<p>When Joliffe went to her relief, Strong presented herself before
+Madeline, saying: "I can't think she is shamming, Miss
+Payne. I suggested a mustard blister, and she never made a
+murmur. I put it on awful strong, and she declared that it was
+nothing to the pain. When I took it off her cheek was red as
+flannel, and she wanted it put on again. She says it relieves
+her, and thinks if the pain don't come back she will sleep. I
+made sure of the bottles all the same," added Strong. "I have
+used a lot of chloroform on her, but of course some would evaporate."
+And she held up to view a half-filled chloroform vial.</p>
+
+<p>She was right; full half an ounce had "evaporated," during
+the brief minute when she had stood in the hall to confer with
+Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether, Strong had a hard day.</p>
+
+<p>Cora kept her continually on her feet. The blinds must be
+opened, and shut again, every fifteen minutes. The room was
+too hot, and the fire must be smothered. Then it was too cold,
+and the fire must be stimulated to a blaze. And no one could
+wait upon her but Strong.</p>
+
+<p>As night came on, the paroxysms of pain returned in full
+force, and Strong was implored once more to apply the soothing
+mustard.</p>
+
+<p>When Madeline looked in at ten o'clock, Cora was groaning
+in misery, and Strong was applying a blister. When she again
+looked in, an hour later, the invalid, with blistered face and
+fevered eyes, feebly declared herself a "trifle easier," and Strong
+was bathing her head with <i>eau de Cologne</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline soon retired to her room, and her couch. But for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span>
+half an hour longer, Cora kept the now yawning Strong at
+her side. Then she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Go now and get some rest, Strong. Leave the mustard on
+my face, and then I think I can sleep. I am getting drowsy
+now."</p>
+
+<p>Strong replaced the mustard, and raked up the fire. Then
+she looked carefully to the fastenings of the doors, and returned
+to the bedside. Already her mistress was in a heavy slumber.</p>
+
+<p>Putting in her pocket the keys of both doors, Strong retired
+to the dressing-room and, loosening her garments, threw herself
+down wearily upon a couch, and was soon sleeping the sleep of
+the just, and breathing heavily.</p>
+
+<p>For some moments after the loud breathing told that her maid
+was asleep, Cora lay quietly, but with eyes wide open. Then
+she stirred, making a slight noise, but the heavy breathing continued
+as before.</p>
+
+<p>Cora now raised herself up on her elbow and again listened.
+Still the heavy breathing. Again she moved audibly, at the
+same time calling softly: "Strong!"</p>
+
+<p>But Strong slumbered on.</p>
+
+<p>Quickly snatching the bandages from her much enduring face,
+Cora sprang lightly from the bed. Taking something from
+under her pillows, she stole noiselessly into the dressing-room
+and up to the couch of the sleeping Strong. In another instant
+there was a pungent odor in the room, and something white and
+moist lay over the musical proboscis of the slumbering giantess.</p>
+
+<p>In five minutes more, Cora Arthur stood arrayed in a dark
+traveling suit, with a pair of walking boots in one hand, and
+the key of her chamber door in the other. Swiftly and silently
+as a professional house-breaker, she opened the door and passed
+out, closing it quietly behind her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Like a shadow she glided down the now unlighted stairway,
+and through the dark and silent hall, in the direction of the
+dining-room. Turning to the left, she paused before a side door,
+the very door through which Madeline had escaped on a certain
+eventful June night, and noiselessly undid the fastenings. In
+another moment she was outside, and the door had closed behind
+her.</p>
+
+<p>She drew a long breath of relief, and sat down to put on her
+shoes. Her escape was well timed; the train for the city, the
+midnight express, was due in twenty minutes. Strong would
+hardly waken before that time, and then&mdash;she would be flying
+across the country at the heels of the iron horse.</p>
+
+<p>Rising to her feet, she took one step in the darkness&mdash;only
+one. Then a light suddenly flashed before her eyes, a heavy
+hand grasped her arm, and a gruff voice said: "This is a bad
+night for ladies to be abroad. You had better go back, ma'am!"</p>
+
+<p>Cora made a desperate effort to free herself, but the hand held
+her as in a vise, and the bull's eye of the dark lantern flashed
+in her face as the speaker continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you are the identical one I am looking for. Got a
+red face&mdash;toothache didn't make you a trifle lightheaded, did
+it? Come, turn about, quick!"</p>
+
+<p>And Cora knew that Madeline Payne had not been as blind
+as she had seemed. It was useless to struggle, useless to protest.
+The strong hand pushed her toward the entrance. The man
+gripped the lantern in his teeth, while he opened the door, and
+pushing her through, followed after. Closing the door again, and
+never once releasing his hold upon her, he forced her unwilling
+feet to retrace their steps, saying, as they ascended the stairs:</p>
+
+<p>"Show the way to your own room, if you don't want me to
+rouse the house."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Quivering with rage, Cora pointed to the door, and was immediately
+ushered, with more force than politeness, back into
+her own dressing-room and the presence of her still insensible
+maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then," said her tormentor, "where is Miss Payne's
+room? No nonsense, mind; I'm not a flat."</p>
+
+<p>Cora, thoroughly convinced of the truth of this statement,
+sullenly directed him to Madeline's door.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand where you are," was the next command of the man;
+"it might jar your tooth to move."</p>
+
+<p>And Cora stood where he had left her, while he aroused Miss
+Payne and communicated to her the news of the night's exploit.</p>
+
+<p>In a very few moments Joliffe appeared, and without so much
+as casting a glance at Cora, set herself to arouse the stupefied
+Strong&mdash;a feat which was soon accomplished, for the woman had
+nearly exhausted the effects of her sleeping potion. A moment
+later, and Madeline appeared upon the threshold. After surveying
+the scene in silence for an instant, she entered the room,
+closed the door, and said with a laugh that set Cora's blood
+boiling: "So you were tired of our society, and fancied that you
+could outwit me? Undeceive yourself, madame; it is not in
+your power to escape from my hands, and whatever fate I choose
+to adjudge you."</p>
+
+<p>Then turning to the man, she said: "You have done well,
+Morris; this kind of work you will find more profitable than
+well-boring. You may go now."</p>
+
+<p>The man bowed respectfully, and silently quitted the room.</p>
+
+<p>Then Madeline addressed Joliffe: "You will stay here the remainder
+of the night. Let Strong sleep; she is not to blame
+for permitting her charge to escape, and she will be more wary
+in future."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_042.jpg" width="400" height="559" alt="&quot;This is a bad night for ladies to be abroad!&quot;&mdash;page 393."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;This is a bad night for ladies to be abroad!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_393">page 393.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then turning again to Cora, who had flung herself in a chair
+and sat gazing from one to the other in sullen silence, she said,
+with a smile on her lips: "You should not work against your
+own interests, Mrs. Arthur. Had you succeeded in escaping on
+the midnight express, who, think you, would have been summoned
+to meet you on your arrival in the city?"</p>
+
+<p>"Doubtless an officer," replied the woman, doggedly. "I
+might have known you for a sleuth hound who would guard
+every avenue."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks; you do me honor. I should not have summoned
+an officer, however; there is some one else waiting anxiously to
+welcome you there."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed," sarcastically; "who?"</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Old Verage.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Cora started up in her chair. "For God's sake, <i>what</i> are
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"A witch," said the girl, demurely. "I am as old as the
+world, and can fly through the air on a broomstick, so don't think
+to escape me again, step-mamma. I trust you will enjoy your
+brief repose, for it will soon be morning, and if I don't see
+your fair face at the breakfast table, I shall not be content."</p>
+
+<p>Cora put two fingers to her blistered cheek, saying: "You
+can't ask me to come down with this face."</p>
+
+<p>"True, I can't. Good-night, step-mamma; it would have
+been better if you had let the doctor pull that tooth."</p>
+
+<p>And Miss Payne swept away, leaving the would-be fugitive
+to her own reflections.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE DOCTOR'S WOOING.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston had become to Olive Girard as one of the family.
+There was a strange affinity between the two women, who had
+known so much of sorrow, so many dark, dark days. As yet,
+however, there was not entire confidence. Mrs. Ralston knew
+nothing of the movements then on foot to liberate the husband
+of her hostess; and Olive knew no more of Mrs. Ralston's past
+than had been communicated by Claire, which was in reality but
+very little.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Vaughan had become an ardent admirer of the grave,
+sweet, pale lady, who had, in her turn, conceived a very earnest
+admiration for him.</p>
+
+<p>Always a close student of the human countenance, Mrs.
+Ralston had not been long in reading in the face of the young
+man his regard for Claire Keith. Having discovered this, she
+studied him still more attentively, coming, at last, to the conclusion
+that he was worthy of her beloved Claire.</p>
+
+<p>But Claire appeared ever under a strange restraint in the
+presence of Dr. Vaughan. She seemed always to endeavor to
+keep either her sister or her friend at her side, as if she found
+herself more at ease while in their proximity. Evidently she
+was keeping close guard over herself. And just as evidently she
+was glad to be in the presence of Clarence Vaughan when supported
+by her sister and friend, and safe from a <i>t&ecirc;te-&aacute;-t&ecirc;te</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston was really troubled by this apparent misunderstanding,
+or whatever it might be, that rendered Claire less<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span>
+cordial towards Dr. Vaughan than she would have been to one
+who was only a friend, and far less worthy of friendship. She
+mentally resolved, when a fitting opportunity should occur, to
+endeavor to win the confidence of the girl, for she saw that two
+natures, formed to love each other, were drifting apart, with no
+prospect of a better understanding. And that opportunity came
+sooner than she had expected.</p>
+
+<p>One day, a day destined to be always remembered by the
+chief actors in our strange drama, Mrs. Ralston seated herself
+at a davenport in Mrs. Girard's pretty library to write a letter
+to Mr. Lord. The promptness and energy of that good man
+had completely baffled the acute detective, and the danger which
+Mrs. Ralston had so much feared, the danger of being discovered
+by her worthless husband, was now past.</p>
+
+<p>She had entered the library through the drawing-room and,
+both rooms being untenanted, had left the door of communication
+between them half open.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting thus, she heard the door of the drawing-room open,
+and the rustle of feminine garments betokened the entrance of
+one of her friends. Presently soft ripples of music fell upon
+her ear, and she knew that it was Claire who was now at the
+piano, playing dreamily, softly, as if half fearful of awakening
+some beloved sleeper.</p>
+
+<p>After a few moments, the ripple changed to a plaintive minor
+accompaniment, that had in it an undertone as of far-off winds
+and waves. Then the full, clear voice of the girl rang out in
+that most beautiful of songs, which alone should make famous
+the genius of Jean Ingelow and Virginie Gabriel:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"When sparrows build and the leaves break forth,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">My old sorrow wakes and cries."<br /></span>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span></div></div>
+
+<p>The singer sang on, all unconscious that two listeners were
+noting the passion and pain in her voice:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"How could I tell I could love thee to-day,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">When that day I held not dear?<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">How could I know I should love thee, away,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">When I did not love thee near?"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>As the last note died away in sorrowful vibrations, Mrs.
+Ralston, in the library, was conscious of tears trickling down
+her cheek.</p>
+
+<p>At the same moment there was a discordant crash among the
+piano keys, and Claire's voice was saying, almost angrily: "Dr.
+Vaughan! how came you here? How dared you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>There was a suspicious tremor in her voice, and she stopped
+speaking, as if too proud to show how very much she had been
+thrown off her guard.</p>
+
+<p>"Forgive me, Miss Keith," the deep voice of Clarence Vaughan
+responded. "Believe me, I did not intend my presence as an
+impertinence. Your servant admitted me, and I thought it not
+wrong to enter unannounced, although I hardly hoped to find
+you alone. Surely you do not blame me for my silence while
+you sang?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire made no reply. She was strongly tempted to fly and
+let Clarence Vaughan think what he would. But before she
+could stir, he had moved a step nearer and was looking straight
+down in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Claire," he said, in tones of reverential tenderness, "I have
+waited for the time to come when I might say to you what you
+must let me say now. You have seemed to avoid me of late; I
+can not guess why. And to-day, as I listened to your song, a
+new thought, a new fear, has entered my mind. Claire, tell me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span>
+have you read the love that has been in my heart since I first
+saw your face, and have you sought to shun me because you love
+another?"</p>
+
+<p>While he was uttering this speech, Claire Keith had regained
+her self-command, and her answer now came low and clear:
+"Dr. Vaughan, you have not guessed aright. I have not
+avoided you because I love another."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, nature did not make you an actress. There was love
+in your voice when you sang that song!"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," coolly; "I have been taught to sing with expression."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, Claire Keith, I beg you answer me truly; do you
+really dislike me? You say you do not love another; could
+you learn to love me?"</p>
+
+<p>No answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me, Claire, do you not know how deeply I love you?"</p>
+
+<p>Silence.</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, Claire, speak to me. End this suspense. Will you
+not try to love me?"</p>
+
+<p>She moved away from him, and avoiding his eyes, answered
+in an odd, hard voice: "No, Dr. Vaughan, I will not try to
+love you."</p>
+
+<p>His next words were uttered almost tremulously. "Ah! I
+understand. I have displeased you; tell me how."</p>
+
+<p>"You have never displeased me. You are goodness itself.
+Let me pass, Doctor Vaughan; I must not listen to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Must not? Then you do avoid me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," almost inaudibly.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" stepping before her and cutting off her retreat.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't tell you. Yes, I will, too. Oh, how blind you are!
+How can you love me when&mdash;when there is some one better,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span>
+better a thousand times, and braver, too. Some one whose life
+needs your love, because it has been so loveless always. I won't
+love you. I won't listen to you. If you want me to be your
+friend, make the life that is giving its best to others, as happy
+as it deserves to be. And&mdash;don't ever talk&mdash;like this&mdash;to me
+again."</p>
+
+<p>Before he could open his lips, or put out a hand to detain her,
+she had rushed from the room.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence Vaughan gazed after the flying form in speechless
+grief and amazement. Then flinging himself into a chair, he
+bowed his head upon his hands in sorrowful meditation. Sitting
+thus he did not perceive the approach of some one, who
+laid a hand lightly upon his bowed head, murmuring: "Blind!
+blind! blind!"</p>
+
+<p>Starting up, he saw the face of Mrs. Ralston bending toward
+him and wearing an expression of mingled compassion and
+amusement.</p>
+
+<p>"Forgive me," she said, her countenance resuming its usual
+gravity. "I was in the library, and heard all. I listened willfully,
+too, for I have been observing you and Claire, and I want
+to help you."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence dropped disconsolately back in his chair. "If you
+have heard all," he said, "you know that it is useless to try to
+help me."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston laughed outright. "If you were not blind
+you would not need my help," she said. "As it is, you do."</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Ralston, what do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"I mean that your battle is half won. If you will explain
+to me one half her words, I will explain to you the other half."</p>
+
+<p>"You are laughing at me," he said, wearily. "What can
+you explain?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That ridiculous girl commanded you to bestow your love
+upon some more worthy object; some one who was living for
+others; or some such words. Whom did she mean, may I ask?"</p>
+
+<p>He started up as if inspired by a new thought. "I see!" he
+exclaimed; "She must have meant&mdash;a very dear friend of hers."</p>
+
+<p>He could not say the name that was in his thought. It would
+sound like egotism.</p>
+
+<p>"That is sufficient," said the lady. "Now, I am going to betray
+Claire, as she has betrayed this other one. You foolish
+fellow, can't you see that the child loves you and is striving to
+do a Quixotic thing by giving you up to her friend? Think
+over her words and manner, and don't take her at her bidding.
+If this other, to whom Claire commands you to turn, is a
+true woman, she would not thank you for the offer of a preoccupied
+heart."</p>
+
+<p>"She is a true woman," said Clarence, emphatically. "And
+as dear to me as a sister could be, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Then let her be a sister still," said Mrs. Ralston, quietly.
+"And don't lose any time in persuading Claire that she is
+wronging herself as well as you; and that you would be
+wronging still more this friend whom you both love, were you
+to offer her so pitiful a thing as a hand without a heart. She
+is a true woman, you say. If so, she would never forgive that.
+Believe me, Dr. Vaughan, there are even worse depths of sorrow
+than to have loved worthily&mdash;and lost."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston turned and went softly from the room.</p>
+
+<p>For a few moments, Clarence Vaughan stood wrapped in
+thought. Then his face became illuminated as he said, half
+aloud: "What a fool I have been, that I should have so misunderstood
+that dear girl! Oh, I can be patient now, and bide
+my time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And now his reverie was broken in upon by Olive, who entered
+hurriedly, saying: "Doctor Vaughan, are you here alone?
+I thought Claire was with you."</p>
+
+<p>He made no answer to this remark, but said, as he took her
+proffered hand: "I ran down to tell you that I have taken the
+detectives off. Jarvis is still in our pay, in case of emergency.
+He has sent his report to Davlin, and a scant one it was. Of
+course, Davlin is glad to have him withdraw; that is, if
+he knows, as he must, that the papers are not in Percy's
+hands."</p>
+
+<p>"Then all depends upon Madeline now?"</p>
+
+<p>"All depends upon Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Philip," sighed Olive, "what would he say if he
+knew that his fate rests in the hands of a mere girl?"</p>
+
+<p>"If he knew of that 'mere girl' what we know, he would say
+that his fate could not rest in better hands. No man ever
+had a more efficient champion, nor one half so brave and
+beautiful."</p>
+
+<p>They had not dared to tell Philip of the hope that was daily
+growing stronger in their hearts; if they failed, he should be
+thrust back into no gulf of black darkness because they had
+cheated him with a false hope.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2>
+
+<h2>A FRESH COMPLICATION.</h2>
+
+
+<p>On leaving so abruptly the companionship of Dr. Vaughan,
+Claire rushed straight to her room. Closing and locking the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span>
+door, she flung herself down upon a couch and indulged in a
+hearty cry. She was at once happy and sorry, angry and pleased.
+Presently, Claire sat up and began to review things more
+calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"What a wretched little dunce I am!" she soliloquized.
+"And what must he think of me! Well!" with a little sigh,
+"the worse his opinion of me, the better for Madeline. And
+here I am this minute, in spite of myself, actually rejoicing in
+my heart because he has not done the very thing I have resolved
+that he should do. But he never will know it. Neither shall
+any one else. I won't give him another chance to talk to me;
+no, not if I have to take to my heels ten times a day. It's only
+right that I should give him up; I, indeed, who fancied myself
+in love with a white-handed, yellow-haired villain."</p>
+
+<p>At this point in her meditations, some one rapped softly at her
+door.</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, dear," said a soft voice, "open your door; I want to
+come in."</p>
+
+<p>It was Mrs. Ralston, and Claire advanced slowly and turned
+the key in the lock.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I thought it was somebody else," she said, hypocritically.
+"Come in, Mrs. Ralston."</p>
+
+<p>Thus invited, the lady entered. Without making a comment
+on the disturbed appearance of her young friend, she crossed to
+the window, and sitting down in a cosy dressing-chair, said:
+"Come directly here, young lady, and sit down on that ottoman."</p>
+
+<p>Looking somewhat surprised, the girl obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, my child, I have a confession to make. I was in
+the library while you sang: 'When sparrows build.'"</p>
+
+<p>The girl's cheek flushed and then paled; but she made no
+answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And," pursued Mrs. Ralston, "I heard more than your song."</p>
+
+<p>No reply.</p>
+
+<p>"And more than your words!"</p>
+
+<p>"More than&mdash;my&mdash;my words?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I heard your heart's secret."</p>
+
+<p>Claire's face drooped. "What do you mean?" she asked,
+deprecatingly.</p>
+
+<p>"My darling, I mean that your heart spoke through your
+voice, and it belied your words. Why did you deny your love
+for so noble a man?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire raised her head. "I didn't!" she said, suddenly, as if
+driven to bay.</p>
+
+<p>"No," smiled Mrs. Ralston. "You were a wily little serpent.
+But you deceived him."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care," doggedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Now you are telling a fib!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I am not sorry, then," getting hold of her monitor's
+hand. "Why do you turn against poor me, when I am trying
+to do my duty?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because you are not doing your duty."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I am; indeed, I am. You don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"Then tell me, and let me be your friend and adviser."</p>
+
+<p>"But you can't advise," objected Claire, "because you don't
+know the&mdash;the other one."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I do know you."</p>
+
+<p>"There it is!" burst forth the champion of the absent. "You
+know me, but you don't know what a worthless, unattractive
+little imp I am compared to her. You don't know her, but you
+shall! And when you do, poor me will have to take a seat
+lower down in the tabernacle of your affections."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if this 'other' would so readily resign her lover to
+you?" she said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Would she!" flashed Claire. "Would she <i>not</i>? Has she
+not? Ah, if you knew her, you would never say that!" Then
+suddenly capturing the other hand of the lady, she said, in
+quieter but very grave tones: "Can you listen to a long story,
+Mrs. Ralston; rather to several stories combined in one? I am
+going to tell you what I have so much wanted you to know&mdash;the
+story of Madeline Payne."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston expressed her more than willingness to hear all
+that Claire had to tell, and the girl settled down comfortably on
+the ottoman at the feet of her friend, and began at the beginning.
+It was indeed a long story, for Claire omitted nothing.
+As she told how Madeline had exposed to her the baseness
+of Percy, Mrs. Ralston started up, her face pale as death,
+and then sank back in her chair.</p>
+
+<p>"Percy!" she cried. "What&mdash;what is his other name?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire stared at her in amazement. "What is it, Mrs. Ralston&mdash;you
+are ill?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," almost gasped the lady; "tell me&mdash;his name."</p>
+
+<p>"I did not intend to speak his name," Claire said, slowly.
+"It is Edward Percy."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston was on her feet in an instant, her face flushing
+with excitement. "Come with me!" she almost shrieked.
+"Quick! to my room."</p>
+
+<p>Wondering vaguely, Claire followed.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston almost flew to her apartment. She flung open
+the door, and in an instant was on her knees beside a trunk,
+opening trays and searching for something eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Look!" she cried, suddenly thrusting out something toward
+Claire; something from which she averted her own face. "Look,
+did you ever see that face?"</p>
+
+<p>The girl gave one glance and uttered a sharp cry. It was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span>
+miniature painted on ivory; painted years ago, but she knew it
+only too well.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston regained her feet, trembling so that she could
+scarcely stand.</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you get it?" cried Claire. "It is he; Edward
+Percy!"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston started forward and took the picture from her
+hand. "<i>It is my husband!</i>" she whispered.</p>
+
+<p>With the words on her lips, she fell heavily to the floor, in a
+dead faint.</p>
+
+<p>When Mrs. Ralston awoke to consciousness, she was lying
+upon her bed, with Dr. Vaughan bending over her, Olive standing
+near, and Claire a little aloof, looking pale and anxious.
+Her first thought was of the picture.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is it?" she murmured, addressing Claire, who stepped
+forward eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"It is here, dear Mrs. Ralston," said Claire. "I caught it
+from your hand after you fell. I thought&mdash;" And then she
+hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"I understand," she said, looking at the girl fixedly. "Drop
+it from your hand, Claire; drop it <i>there</i>," pointing to the
+grate. "It has done its work; we need never look upon it
+again."</p>
+
+<p>Claire obeyed her silently. For the second time she had consigned
+to the flames the pictured face of Edward Percy.</p>
+
+<p>To the surprise of the three who had so lately seen her coming
+slowly back from the swoon, so like death, Mrs. Ralston
+raised herself to a sitting posture, and then slowly arose from
+the bed and stood upright before them, and there was a flush on
+her cheek, and a light in her eyes that was new to that usually
+pale, sad face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Dear friends," she said, turning toward Clarence and Olive,
+who had been watching the burning of the picture with surprised
+and somewhat curious eyes, "I am quite recovered; and I want
+to think. Will you please leave me alone, quite alone, for a
+little while?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive, Claire and Clarence went slowly and silently down to
+the drawing-room, Claire keeping very close to her sister and
+carefully avoiding the eyes of the young man. Seating herself
+beside Olive, Claire told, in her own way, all that she knew of
+the affair.</p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to tell Mrs. Ralston of Madeline," she commenced,
+"and, not to omit anything, I told her poor Philip's story,&mdash;all
+about the two men, and how the man, Percy, had appeared
+at Oakley as the lover of Miss Arthur. When I spoke his name,
+she ran to her room, almost dragging me with her, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly she paused, horrified at a sudden thought. How
+could she explain to these two, who knew nothing of her "affair"
+with Edward Percy&mdash;who did not dream that she had ever seen
+his face&mdash;her ability to recognize the picture Mrs. Ralston had
+shown her?</p>
+
+<p>"And?" interrogated Olive.</p>
+
+<p>Clarence Vaughan saw that there was a reason for her hesitation,
+and while wondering what it could be, came to her rescue.
+"And fainted, of course," said he. "Well, she is better
+now, and perhaps we shall hear the conclusion of the mystery
+all in good time."</p>
+
+<p>If she had dared, Claire would have given him a glance of
+gratitude. As it was, she only averted her face and felt herself
+a great hypocrite.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Vaughan was to remain for lunch; and while he talked
+quietly with Olive, Claire sat considering what they would say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span>
+if they knew all. Presently her reverie was interrupted by the
+entrance of a servant, who said:</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Ralston wishes Miss Keith to come to her."</p>
+
+<p>Claire started up, and without a word to either her lover or
+her sister, hurried into the presence of her friend.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston advanced to meet the girl as she entered the
+room, and laying a hand upon her shoulder, said: "I understood
+you to say that your sister knows nothing of your acquaintance
+with that man. Am I right?</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"And you do not wish her to know?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire hesitated. "I did not then think it was wrong to conceal
+it from her," she said, finally; "but now, if you think it
+best, I will try and tell her."</p>
+
+<p>"But I do not think it best, my darling. I should have been
+convinced of his identity even had I not used the picture as a
+test. We will say nothing on that subject. And now, let us go
+down-stairs, for we have work to do!"</p>
+
+<p>So saying, she led the way from the room and Claire followed,
+wondering how all this was to end.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2>
+
+<h2>MRS. RALSTON'S STORY.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston entered the drawing-room with the light of a
+new and strong purpose shining in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear friends," she said, "sit near me and give me your attention.
+I have a story to tell, and I must not fatigue myself
+too much in the telling."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Without a word, Clarence moved forward an easy chair. As
+she seated herself, they all grouped about her with grave, expectant
+faces.</p>
+
+<p>"I will make brief mention of myself," said the lady, sinking
+back in the luxurious chair with a slightly weary smile. "My
+life has never been a bright one. Married for the first time at
+the age of sixteen, my childhood was prematurely blighted, and
+my first real trouble fell upon me. It was not a happy marriage,
+and during the years of my first husband's life, I became more
+and more alienated from my relatives.</p>
+
+<p>"When at last my husband died, I was thirty-six years old,
+and owing to ill-health, looked much older. But&mdash;I was
+wealthy. Then I met a man, younger than myself, and very
+handsome. I was weak and foolish. I believed in him and&mdash;married
+him. For four years he squandered my money and
+made my life a burden. At last, when I could endure no longer,
+and when, because he had inherited a fortune from some relative,
+I knew he would trouble himself little as to particulars, I caused
+him to believe me dead and buried.</p>
+
+<p>"In reality I was in better health than usual, and while he
+was spending his new fortune and fancying me in the grave,
+I sailed for Europe. Before I departed, however, I saw him
+once more, myself unseen. It is this part of my story that will
+make your hearts glad."</p>
+
+<p>She paused for a moment, and her three listeners gazed into
+each other's faces in silent wonder.</p>
+
+<p>"I was going to Europe in company with some friends of
+Mrs. Lord who, of course, knew my secret. They twice postponed
+their time for sailing, and while waiting for them I went
+with my maid to a little mountain inn where travelers only came
+for a day, and then went on up the mountain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"When I first arrived, the garrulous hostess made frequent
+mention of a hunting party that had gone up the mountain a
+few days before, stopping for dinner at the inn. I had been
+nearly two weeks in my mountain retreat when my maid came
+rushing in, one day, crying out that the hunting party had come
+back, and that one of their number had been badly hurt.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, they brought the wounded man up-stairs, and put him
+in the room that adjoined my sleeping apartment. The partitions
+between were of the sham kind&mdash;merely boards papered
+over. After he was settled, and the hum of many voices died
+away, I went into my little bed-room.</p>
+
+<p>"I had scarcely entered when a voice from the next room, a
+man's voice, deep and full, although then subdued, startled me.
+I listened unthinkingly. 'There's no use in being weak about
+this business,' he said. 'Of course, you can make me trouble if
+you like, but hang me, Percy, I can't see how it will benefit
+you.'</p>
+
+<p>"I see you are amazed, Doctor Vaughan, and Mrs. Girard is
+turning pale. You are beginning to guess the truth. Yes, it
+<i>was</i> Edward Percy who answered the first speaker, and&mdash;Edward
+Percy is my husband."</p>
+
+<p>Again she paused for a moment. One could have heard a
+pin drop, so breathlessly eager, so silent, were her listeners. No
+one stirred or spoke, and she soon resumed:</p>
+
+<p>"At the first sound of the other voice, I sank down sick with
+fear lest the man should, in some way, find me out. Sitting
+there, I heard him say, in the half fretful, wholly languid tones
+that I knew so well, 'It's easy to talk as you do; show me
+wherein it will be to my advantage, if you don't want me to
+knock down your pretty story. Curse you, what did you try
+to murder me for?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then the other answered impatiently: 'I tell you, man, I was
+mistaken. I took you for him. Now listen: Neither you nor
+I love the fellow, and we each hold a trifle of power over the
+other. You can refute my statement, if you like, and accuse
+me of attacking you. In that case I may be imprisoned; but
+that won't keep you above water long. If I am arrested for
+assault with intent to kill, you will soon find yourself in the
+next cell, accused of the still more serious crime of bigamy.
+On the other hand, if you let the matter rest as it is, and let
+<i>him</i> take his chances, I won't use those little documents I hold,
+which prove conclusively that you married a second wife while
+the first was living. Come, what do you say?'</p>
+
+<p>"I remember their very words; not one syllable escaped me
+then, or has drifted from my mind since. And I could have
+predicted what the next words of my husband would be. I
+know his weakness so well, and I knew, too, then, for the first
+time, that my vague suspicions had been too true&mdash;that he had
+indeed been false to me, more than false.</p>
+
+<p>"'I will do this,' said he, halting at every few words. 'If
+you will give me back the money you won from me up there,
+and will give me up those papers, we will not quarrel over this
+affair. We will let His Majesty take the consequences of your
+act, if you choose. I like him even less than I do you. But
+the money I must have.'</p>
+
+<p>"The other replied: 'I'll do it.' Then the money was counted
+out and the 'papers' changed hands.</p>
+
+<p>"While they talked, I was seized with an unaccountable desire
+to see the man I had once loved. I heard my maid moving
+in the next room, and I arose and went to her. She was a
+quick-witted creature, and knew just what to do. She made me
+put on a hat and veil, and throw a shawl about me, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span>
+bade me go down-stairs, while she knocked at the door of the
+sick-room. When I heard it open I was to come up, and while
+she made a pretense of offering her services, in case of need, I
+could obtain, over her shoulder, a view of the occupants of the
+room. Her ruse was successful. When I ascended the stairs,
+I obtained a full view of the two men. I should know the
+dark face of the tall stranger if I came upon it in Africa.</p>
+
+<p>"To do myself justice, I never once thought of the wrong
+they were doing their victim; never realized that it was my
+duty to denounce them. Having seen the face of my husband
+I had but one idea, one desire; to get away, anywhere, the
+farther the better.</p>
+
+<p>"Early the next morning, I was <i>en route</i> to the city, and
+there, to my infinite relief I found my friends ready to sail.
+When at last I was actually on the ocean, and realized that I was
+safe from discovery, I began to think of the victim whose name
+I had not heard. But it was too late then, and I tried to ease
+my conscience by thinking that, after all, as Edward was not dangerously
+hurt, it might not turn out a serious matter. I watched
+the papers, but somehow the accounts of the trial all missed me."</p>
+
+<p>As she ceased speaking, her eyes rested sadly upon the face
+of Olive, and she started forward suddenly, saying: "Doctor,
+she is going to faint!"</p>
+
+<p>"No," gasped Olive, half-rising, "I, I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>And she fell forward to be caught in the ready arms of Clarence
+Vaughan. When at last they succeeded in arousing her from
+that death-like stupor, and she could sit up and look about her,
+slowly recalling events, Mrs. Ralston stepped readily into the
+position of leader, and turning to Claire, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Go and see that lunch is served immediately, dear. We
+have much to do before night, and must not work fasting."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh," cried Olive, as Claire disappeared, "is this true?
+Will Philip be released at last, released with every doubt cleared
+away, every suspicion removed? Tell me, I cannot realize it."</p>
+
+<p>"It is true, dear Mrs. Girard; and now you must not give
+way to weakness. We dare not lose time. Dr. Vaughan, yourself,
+and I, in putting these facts in the hands of the right
+parties, must hasten the legal process by which Philip will be
+released."</p>
+
+<p>When Claire Keith returned, she found them deep in a discussion
+as to the quickest way of effecting the release of Philip
+Girard.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me settle it," she said, imperiously. "To-day you will
+go to see Philip's lawyers, and when this stupid law process is
+put in motion, Olive&mdash;I know her&mdash;will go straight and set herself
+down outside the very prison gates. But your beautiful
+laws can lock an honest man up much quicker than they can let
+him out, and can serve a warrant sooner than do a tardy act of
+justice. So, if you please, I am going down to Oakley to arrest
+that vile Lucian Davlin, and get him off poor Madeline's
+hands."</p>
+
+<p>"You!" cried the two ladies in the same breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I! Philip won't want anyone but Olive, and Olive will
+snub me unmercifully if I venture to offer myself as an escort.
+I'm going to do myself the honor of seeing Mr. Davlin arrested."</p>
+
+<p>"Claire is right," said Mrs. Ralston; "the man must be arrested
+immediately."</p>
+
+<p>"And," interrupted Olive, "you must all three go to Bellair;
+that is," looking at Mrs. Ralston, "if&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"If I will go?" interrupted that lady. "Yes, I, too, intend
+to be present when Miss Payne gives her enemy up to justice."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_043.jpg" width="400" height="565" alt="&quot;No!&quot; gasped Olive, half rising; &quot;I&mdash;I&mdash;&quot;&mdash;page 413."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;No!&quot; gasped Olive, half rising; &quot;I&mdash;I&mdash;&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_413">page 413.</a></span></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Are you in earnest about going to Bellair, Miss Keith?"
+Clarence Vaughan asked. "Shall you go, really?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire bestowed upon him a willful little nod over her shoulder,
+saying, as she did so: "I shall, 'really.' I am confident that
+something will happen there, and I want a chance to faint!"</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2>
+
+<h2>CORA "STIRS UP THE ANIMALS."</h2>
+
+
+<p>It was evening&mdash;the evening of the day on which Mrs.
+Ralston had made her startling revelation. Madeline Payne
+stood alone in her own room, looking moodily out upon the
+leafless grove that was fast taking on a covering of snow.</p>
+
+<p>The storm that had been impending for days, had broken at
+last. For two hours the snow had been falling thickly, steadily,
+in great feather-like flakes, which quickly covered the brown
+earth, and clothed the naked treetops with a fair, white garment.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline had been standing, motionless and moody, for many
+minutes. Her eyes were full of dissatisfaction, and her lips
+were compressed. She had been taking a mental review of the
+situation, and its present aspect was far from pleasing.</p>
+
+<p>"What a knot," she soliloquized; "what a difficult, baffling,
+miserable knot! To be kept thus inactive just because the last
+knot in the tangle will not come straight&mdash;good gracious, how
+like a pun that sounds! How much longer must I smile upon
+these wretches? How much longer must I conceal my real
+feelings? I will put my forces into action, and make my last,
+desperate venture, for this is becoming intolerable. I must force,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span>
+or buy, this secret from Edward Percy, at the cost of his safety,
+or my fortune, if need be."</p>
+
+<p>She pressed her face against the frosted pane, peering down
+through the gathering night and the snow.</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy!" she ejaculated, "who on earth can be plowing
+through this storm? And on what errand? It looks like&mdash;and,
+as I live, it is, yes, it is, Mr. Edward Percy! He is too
+dainty to expose himself for nothing. I must look into this."</p>
+
+<p>While she was musing at the window, Cora, curled up behind
+one of the crimson curtains of the red parlor, had become the
+possessor of a valuable secret.</p>
+
+<p>She had entered the room but a few moments before. Finding
+it dimly lighted, and heated to a Summer temperature, she
+ensconced herself <i>a la Sultana</i> in one of the deep window embrasures,
+and lay sulkily watching the flying snowflakes and the
+fast coming night. Presently the sound of approaching footsteps,
+and almost simultaneously the opening of the door, disturbed
+her quiet. With a quick movement, she drew the curtains
+together and sat, a silent listener, to a brief dialogue.</p>
+
+<p>The new comers were Miss Arthur and Edward Percy. After
+a few sentences had been interchanged, Percy left the room, and
+then it was that Madeline saw him take his way toward the
+village.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Miss Arthur also quitted the room; and going
+straight up-stairs, Cora knocked at Madeline's door. "Now,
+then," muttered she, "I'll stir up the animals."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline did not look especially gratified at sight of her
+visitor, but Cora entered with scant ceremony. Pushing the
+door shut with unnecessary emphasis, she turned upon her, saying,
+rather ungraciously:</p>
+
+<p>"I have made a discovery of which, I think, you will thank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span>
+me for telling you. And I am going to tell you because I can't
+spoil their plans, but you can, and I want to see them spoiled."</p>
+
+<p>"Your frankness is commendable," said Madeline, ironically.
+"Go on!"</p>
+
+<p>"Percy and the old maid are going to be privately married to-morrow
+morning."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know?"</p>
+
+<p>Cora related the particulars of her ambush, and gave a concise
+report of the conversation of the lovers.</p>
+
+<p>"He has gone to the village on that very business now," Cora
+said. "She is to walk down to the clergyman's house, and he
+is to meet her there. Then they will come back, and no one to
+be the wiser."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed. "Be at ease," she said. "I will try and
+prevent the necessity for such a disagreeable walk as that would
+be for so fragile a lady. We won't have a wedding just yet."</p>
+
+<p>"What a cool one you are!" cried Cora. "If you were not
+my enemy, I could admire you vastly."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't, I beg of you," said the girl, gravely. "I am
+sufficiently humiliated by being obliged to deal with you as an
+enemy."</p>
+
+<p>Cora flushed angrily. "Then I should think the humiliation
+of being made love to by my brother, would overcome you,"
+she sneered.</p>
+
+<p>"It does, almost," replied the girl, wearily.</p>
+
+<p>"Then let me do you another favor. Mr. Davlin is no more
+my brother than he is yours."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline's answer fairly took her breath away. "Madame,
+you are very good, but I have known that from the first."</p>
+
+<p>"What!" gasped the woman; adding, after a moment of
+silence, "Is he your lover as well as&mdash;"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yours?" finished Madeline. "And what then, Mrs.
+Arthur?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then," hissed Cora; "then, I hate you both."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed bitterly. "As you have told me a secret,
+and as I don't want to remain in your debt, I will tell you one
+in return. Lucian Davlin <i>is</i> my lover, but I am his bitterest
+foe!"</p>
+
+<p>Cora came closer and looked her eagerly in the face. "What
+has he done to you?" she asked, breathlessly.</p>
+
+<p>"You may find out later; just now we are even. Understand,
+no word of warning to him, if you value your safety. Obey my
+wishes, and when I am done with you, you may go free. Attempt
+any treachery, and I will give you up to justice."</p>
+
+<p>"I shan't put myself in jeopardy for him now, whatever I
+might have done. You may believe that."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I may," replied Madeline, dryly.</p>
+
+<p>When Cora retired to her own room, to chuckle over the discomfiture
+in store for the spinster and Mr. Percy, and to wonder
+wrathfully what the mystery concerning Miss Payne and Lucian
+could mean, Madeline stood for many minutes lost in thought.</p>
+
+<p>Finally she threw herself down upon a couch, uttering a half
+sigh, and looking utterly weary and perplexed. A moment
+later, Joliffe entered noiselessly, as usual, and the girl said to
+her:</p>
+
+<p>"When Miss Arthur retires for the night, which won't be for
+some time, do you see Mr. Percy when he is <i>alone</i>, mind, and
+tell him Miss Payne desires him to wait her pleasure in the
+library."</p>
+
+<p>Joliffe bowed and went out again like a cat.</p>
+
+<p>When, at last, the other members of that incongruous family
+circle were safely out of the way, Madeline, warned by the everpresent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span>
+soundless Joliffe, awaited in the library the coming of
+Mr. Percy.</p>
+
+<p>Wondering much what the haughty heiress could have to
+communicate to him, and dimly hoping that the tide was turning
+in his favor, Mr. Percy entered the presence of the arbiter of
+his fate. Bowing like a courtier, he approached her.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Payne has deigned to honor me with an interview,"
+he said, in his slowest, softest, most irresistible manner. "I can
+never be sufficiently grateful."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline motioned him to a seat opposite her own, saying,
+with an odd smile: "You shall, at least, have an opportunity
+for repaying your debt of gratitude, sir, and that immediately."</p>
+
+<p>Percy took the seat indicated and bowed gravely. "Command
+me, Miss Payne."</p>
+
+<p>"It rests with you," Madeline began, "whether we shall be
+from to-night neutral toward each other, or enemies."</p>
+
+<p>"Enemies!" he exclaimed. "Oh, that would be impossible."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline was full of inward rage. She longed to lean across
+the table and dash her hand full in that smiling blonde face.
+But she looked at him instead quite tranquilly, and said, with
+a queer smile: "Then you would do me a favor, even at your own
+personal&mdash;inconvenience, Mr. Percy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Would I not?" fervently. "Only command me, Miss
+Payne."</p>
+
+<p>"I will take you at your word, then. Mr. Percy, you will
+oblige me very much by putting off your marriage with Miss
+Arthur one week longer."</p>
+
+<p>Here was a bomb-shell. It electrified the languid gentleman.
+He became suddenly animated by fear. "What&mdash;what do you
+mean, Miss Payne?" starting half out of his seat and nervously
+sitting down again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Precisely what I say, sir. It does not please me to have
+my relative leave my house to be married in this clandestine
+manner. There, don't ask me how I discovered what you
+thought was a profound secret. You see I did discover it.
+Will you put off this romantic marriage&mdash;to oblige me?"</p>
+
+<p>Percy was trying very hard to think. If he could believe it
+was because he had found favor in her eyes, that she asked this.
+But no; even his vanity could not credit that suggestion. Of
+late she had openly shown a preference for Davlin. What, then,
+could be her motive? Could it be that at the instigation of Cora
+she had sought this interview?</p>
+
+<p>He rallied his forces and replied: "Miss Payne, you have taken
+me by storm. If I may not ask how you made this discovery,
+may I not, at least, beg to know why you make this demand?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have told you; it shocks my sense of propriety."</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me if I say there must be another motive."</p>
+
+<p>"You are pardoned," coolly; "now, do you grant my request?"</p>
+
+<p>Percy arose from the table flushed and angry. "Pardon me,
+Miss Payne, you demand too much."</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless, I <i>do</i> demand it."</p>
+
+<p>"And I beg to decline."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I must deal with Miss Arthur. The knowledge that
+you have one wife in the grave, and another under this very
+roof, may have the desired effect upon <i>her</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Percy dropped back in his chair, pale as ashes. All was lost,
+then. Cora had betrayed him! But he resolved not to commit
+himself. Perhaps Madeline had only verbal information.
+While he was trying to frame a speech, however, she knocked
+this last prop from under him.</p>
+
+<p>"I may as well assure you that parleying is useless. I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span>
+known, from the first moment you entered this house, just upon
+what terms you stood with Mrs. Arthur. Don't trouble yourself
+to ask how I know. Perhaps you have been puzzled to
+know why Mrs. Arthur and her brother so suddenly became
+cordial and invited you to Oakley, where you so much desired
+to be. Let me enlighten you. They fancied that you had regained
+possession of important documents&mdash;two marriage certificates,
+in fact&mdash;for they had lost them."</p>
+
+<p>"What?" ejaculated Percy.</p>
+
+<p>"And&mdash;I found them," added Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>His countenance fell again.</p>
+
+<p>"They are in my possession," pursued she. "Shall I show
+them to Miss Arthur, or not?"</p>
+
+<p>"It can't make much difference now," said the man, sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us understand each other fully," said Madeline. "I am
+not acting in concert with Cora Arthur. She is even more in
+my power than you are. I have no desire to undeceive Miss
+Arthur. Neither do I wish you to leave Oakley. On the contrary,
+I want you here; you can be of service to me, by and by.
+And I pledge you my word that so long as you remain under
+this roof, those papers shall not be used against you."</p>
+
+<p>"And if I don't choose to remain?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed. "Then you must take the consequences,"
+she said, carelessly.</p>
+
+<p>"And what will they be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Exposure and arrest."</p>
+
+<p>Percy drew pen, ink, and paper toward him. "What shall I
+write to the clergyman?" he asked, sullenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever you choose. And I will send it. Make your
+peace with Miss Arthur, too, in your own way."</p>
+
+<p>"And when I leave Oakley, what then?" he grunted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then, if you have fulfilled the conditions, I will burn the
+papers in your presence, and you are free henceforth."</p>
+
+<p>"There is the note," he said, flinging it toward her as soon
+as written. "After all, I may as well be in your power as in
+hers," and again he arose to go from the room.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad you take so sensible a view of it," retorted she,
+looking up from her perusal of his note. "Good-night, Mr.
+Percy."</p>
+
+<p>And thus cavalierly dismissed, Mr. Percy bowed, somewhat
+less gallantly than when entering, and left the room.</p>
+
+<p>"So, that is nipped in the bud," soliloquized Madeline, as she
+went wearily to her own room once more. "When will this
+miserable complication unravel itself, or be unraveled?"</p>
+
+<p>Little did she dream how soon she would receive an answer
+to this question.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE BEGINNING OF THE END.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The next morning dawned clear and beautiful. Over head,
+one unbroken expanse of blue; under foot, a mantle of soft,
+white ermine. All the trees were transformed into fairy-like,
+silver-robed, pearl-studded, plume-adorned wonders. Diamonds
+floated in the air, and sunbeams lighted up the whole with dazzling
+brilliancy. Everything was white, pure, wonderful, and
+the whole enclosed in a monster chrysolite; earth, air, and sky,
+were shut within a radiant sphere that had never an outlet.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline had passed an almost sleepless night. But when
+she arose, with the first gleam of sunlight, and looked upon this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span>
+new, white, imprisoned world, she felt strong for a fresh day's
+battle.</p>
+
+<p>"I must go out," she said to herself; "out into this sparkling
+air. I can breathe in the brightness; I know I can. I almost
+feel as if I could catch it, and weave it into my life."</p>
+
+<p>She hastily donned her wraps and set off for a brisk walk, no
+matter where, through that glorious Winter glow.</p>
+
+<p>Under the snow-laden arms of the grand old trees, out of the
+grounds of Oakley. Before she realized it she was half way
+down the path leading to the village.</p>
+
+<p>Something that jarred upon her sense of the beautiful, awakened
+her to herself, and she turned suddenly about.</p>
+
+<p>"How dare ugly little brown bears come out in the white
+glitter," she muttered, whimsically. "I will turn about; he
+spoils the fairy picture. I had forgotten there were boys, or
+men, in the world."</p>
+
+<p>Something came panting behind her. The "brown bear" had
+accelerated his pace, and now came up at a round trot.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on a minit; darned if I can see who ye air in this
+snow," he cried, pausing before her and rubbing his eyes vigorously.
+"All right; I thought it was you," he added, after considerable
+blinking. "I've got a tellygram for ye, Miss Payne;
+orders were not to give it to anyone but you, so I chased ye
+sharp."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline laughed outright as she took the telegram from his
+hand. The boy, without waiting for her words of thanks, took
+to his heels, shouting back over his shoulder: "No answer!"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline gazed for a moment after the flying figure, and
+wonderingly opened the message. This is what she read:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Be at H&mdash;&mdash;'s to-night when evening train comes down. We are ready
+for action; have found a witness.</p></div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="f2">C. V.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline lifted her eyes from the scrap of paper and looked
+about her incredulously, as if she expected to find some explanation
+shining in the air.</p>
+
+<p>"Ready for action," she murmured. "That means&mdash;can it
+mean that Lucian Davlin is at last in our power? Can those
+detectives have solved the mystery? Oh! how can I wait until
+night!"</p>
+
+<p>She fairly flew along now, eager to keep in motion. On, on
+she went, over the stile, through the glittering white-robed grove;
+on, until she reached Hagar's cottage. It was locked and deserted,
+as she knew, but she cared not for that. She must walk
+somewhere, then why not here?</p>
+
+<p>For a moment she stood on the snow-laden door stone, and
+gazed about her. Then swiftly, as swiftly as before, she flew
+down the path&mdash;the same path she had taken on the Summer
+day when she had heard from Hagar's lips her mother's story.
+When she reached the tree in whose arms she had nestled so
+often, where she had listened to the bargain between her step-father
+and decrepit old Amos Adams, and where she had been
+wooed by Lucian Davlin&mdash;she paused. There, coming toward
+her, was Lucian Davlin himself.</p>
+
+<p>"What a fatality!" muttered the girl. "He is coming to
+meet me; has been watching me, perhaps."</p>
+
+<p>She stood calmly gazing up at the snow-laden branches, and
+again she saw herself standing underneath them, a hesitating
+girl, wondering if she could let her lover go away alone. Then
+she turned her head and her eyes met those of Lucian Davlin.</p>
+
+<p>"Good morning, Miss Payne," he said, lifting his hat with
+his usual grace. "I am happy to know that we have one taste
+in common&mdash;a love of nature in this disguise. Is not the wintry
+world beautiful?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Beautiful, indeed," replied Madeline, resuming her walk
+homeward. "The trees are fairy palaces. It is lovelier than
+Summer, is it not?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is very lovely," gazing not at the trees but down into her
+face, "but&mdash;so cold."</p>
+
+<p>She understood his meaning and replied, calmly: "Cold?
+Yes; it is not Summer."</p>
+
+<p>"No," he assented, with a sad intonation, "it is not Summer.
+Miss Payne, Madeline, will it ever be Summer again?"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline looked up and about her, and smiled as she did so.
+"Yes," she replied, "it will be Summer&mdash;soon."</p>
+
+<p>He had turned and retraced his steps at her side. She was
+walking swiftly again, and for some time neither spoke. When
+they entered the grounds of the manor, he said, half deprecatingly:</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, may I ask this one question?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"I saw you pause under that tree and look about you," he
+said, slowly; "was it because you thought of other days, and
+of me?"</p>
+
+<p>Slowly she turned her face toward him, saying, simply: "Yes."</p>
+
+<p>They were nearing the entrance, and he half stopped to ask
+his next question. "Will you tell me what were your thoughts,
+Madeline?"</p>
+
+<p>Slowly she ascended the steps, and at the door turned and
+faced him: "I will tell you to-night."</p>
+
+<p>And with a ripple of laughter on her lips, she entered the hall
+of Oakley.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2>
+
+<h2>THE SWORD OF FATE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Evening at Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>At last the long day was done: the day that to Madeline
+Payne had seemed almost endless. At last, too, the early evening
+hours had dragged themselves away, and the time of her
+triumph was at hand.</p>
+
+<p>From out Hagar's cottage a silent party issued, and took their
+way across the snow to the little stile just above the terrace walk.
+Here they paused for a moment. Some one was loitering on
+the terrace, where the shadows fell thickest. Madeline stepped
+through the gap, saying softly: "Joliffe!"</p>
+
+<p>Immediately the form emerged from the shadow. It was the
+cat-like waiting-maid.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all right, Miss," she said, in a whisper. "They are all
+in the drawing-room, but I think they are getting uneasy."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I will not keep them in suspense long," said Madeline,
+and in the darkness she smiled triumphantly. "Lead on,
+Joliffe."</p>
+
+<p>Silently they moved on, and paused again at the side entrance;
+the one from which Cora had endeavored to escape but a short
+time before. Madeline opened the door, and in another moment
+she, with Mrs. Ralston, Claire Keith, Clarence Vaughan and
+two strangers, stood within the walls of Oakley.</p>
+
+<p>They moved on like shadows to the rear end of the hall, up
+the servant's stairway, and straight to the west wing. Evidently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span>
+they were expected here too, for in obedience to a light
+tap, the door opened, and they passed quietly within the outer
+room of John Arthur's prison suite.</p>
+
+<p>"Close the door, Henry," said Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>This being done, she turned and surveyed her comrades.</p>
+
+<p>"So far, good," she pronounced. "Now, can you make yourselves
+comfortable here for a little while? Hagar and Joliffe
+will know just what to do as soon as I have, myself, viewed the
+field of battle; or perhaps I had better pilot you in person."</p>
+
+<p>"As you please," said the foremost of the strangers. "I
+think we understand each other."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we won't lose time," said Madeline. "Henry, call
+Dr. Le Guise."</p>
+
+<p>Henry tapped at the door of the inner room, and in a trice
+the worthy Professor stood in their midst. He glanced from
+one to another in amazement, and the look of confidence forsook
+his face. He had not been prepared to see these strangers, and
+his first thought was, of course, for his own safety.</p>
+
+<p>"Have no uneasiness, sir," said Madeline, seeing the fear in
+his face; "these ladies and gentlemen will not interfere with
+you. They are here because it is desirable that the people below
+should not know of their proximity just yet. You are about
+to aid us, and need have no fear for yourself."</p>
+
+<p>The Professor drew a breath of relief.</p>
+
+<p>While this conversation was going on, Mrs. Ralston and
+Claire had removed their wraps, as if they knew quite well what
+they were about, which, indeed, they did. Now, as Madeline
+did likewise, preparatory to entering the room of the prisoner,
+they seated themselves, looking grave, but perfectly composed.
+Dr. Vaughan said a few quiet words to Henry, and the two
+strangers stood "at ease," looking as indifferent as statues.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Entering the inner room; in company with the Professor,
+Madeline found John Arthur pacing restlessly up and down.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you to go down-stairs with us for a few moments,"
+said Madeline. "It is to your own interest to do so. It is the
+easiest and surest way of imparting to you what you must know,
+and, when you know all, I shall be your jailer no longer. It
+shall then remain for you to decide whether you will accept my
+terms, and end your days with at least a semblance of honor, or
+whether you will remain here to be pointed at as a man disgraced
+and dishonored, and deservedly so. When you have seen
+justice done to those who have wronged you more than they
+have me, for little as I desire to serve you circumstances have
+constituted me your avenger&mdash;you will be free to act as you may
+see fit."</p>
+
+<p>With this she turned and abruptly quitted the room, leaving
+John Arthur fairly stunned by her words, yet utterly unable to
+comprehend their full meaning. Returning to the ante-room,
+Madeline found Hagar awaiting her.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Hagar," said the girl, "we are ready to go down; is
+the library lighted?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Miss Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>"And the door leading to the drawing-room?"</p>
+
+<p>"Is closed, Miss."</p>
+
+<p>"Then go down, Hagar; open the library door, and leave it
+open. Move the fire screen opposite the door leading to the
+drawing-room. When we are all within the library turn out
+the light. That is all."</p>
+
+<p>Hagar moved away to do her bidding, smiling grimly.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>Time was dragging, in the drawing-room.</p>
+
+<p>Cora was there, not from choice, but because Madeline had so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span>
+ordered it, and the aggrieved lady was not at all inclined to conversation.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Arthur, who was hoping for a <i>t&ecirc;te-&aacute;-t&ecirc;te</i> with her lover,
+was alarmingly glum. She had accepted, in good faith, his
+statement that he had received a note from the clergyman, saying
+that he had been suddenly called away and would be absent
+some days, but she did not quite understand why another would
+not do as well. Somehow, all that day, she had found no opportunity
+for hinting to her lover that a Unitarian minister
+lived quite near.</p>
+
+<p>Finding the ladies so little disposed to be entertained, the
+two men retired within themselves, each after his own peculiar
+fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin lounged, in his favorite manner, in a big arm
+chair, and absorbed himself in the mazes of "<i>Lalla Rookh</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Percy, seated sidewise on a sofa directly opposite a large
+mirror, gazed languidly at his own reflected image, and furtively
+at the two women opposite, stroking his handsome blonde
+whiskers the while.</p>
+
+<p>At last Miss Arthur broke the silence by saying, with a side
+glance toward Cora: "There is one thing that I have not yet
+asked to be enlightened about. Perhaps you could explain the
+mystery, Mrs. Arthur? I mean the appearance of Madeline at
+my bedside not long ago&mdash;or her ghost."</p>
+
+<p>Cora uttered a disagreeable laugh, and then replied: "How
+should I be able to explain? I am not the keeper of Miss Payne,
+or 'her ghost.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Probably not; however, you are so friendly, so sisterly, I
+might say, that I thought perhaps&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You thought perhaps my step-mamma was in the secret?"
+said the voice of a new comer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>All eyes were turned toward the library, where Madeline
+Payne stood, clad in a walking dress, and looking fairly radiant
+with suppressed excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"You misjudge my step-mamma, Aunt Ellen." As she speaks,
+Madeline advances toward the silent group, leaving the library
+door ajar. "I will explain that singular phenomenon. I intend
+to clear up all the mysteries to-night&mdash;here&mdash;now. First,
+then, about the ghost: It was I, Miss Arthur, Madeline Payne,
+in the flesh."</p>
+
+<p>Lucian Davlin's book lies on his knee neglected now.</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy's face has lost its look of languor.</p>
+
+<p>Cora is flushing red and then paling, while she wonders inwardly
+if her time has come; if she is to be exposed to a last
+humiliation.</p>
+
+<p>"We will settle another point," continues Madeline, imperturbably,
+while she rests one arm upon a cushioned chair back,
+and looks coolly from one to another. "Some of you have felt
+sufficient interest in me to wonder why I sent home, to my sorrowing
+friends, the false statement of my death. I will explain
+that. When I left home it was with wrath in my heart, and
+on my lips the vow that I would come back and with power in
+my hands. I had wrongs to avenge, and I swore to be mistress
+of my own, and to bring home to a bad man the heartache and
+bitterness he had measured out to another. Well, I did not
+know just how this was to be accomplished, but Providence, or
+fate, showed me the way. Then I saw the necessity for coming
+back to Oakley, and to pave the way for my new advent,
+I sent Nurse Hagar with the false account of my death. A girl
+had died in the hospital&mdash;a poor, heart-broken, homeless, friendless,
+wronged, little unfortunate,&mdash;'Kitty the Dancer' she was
+called in the days when she was fair to see, and men, bad men,
+set snares for her feet."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>What ails Lucian Davlin? He is compressing his lips, and
+struggling hard for an appearance of composure.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline goes calmly on. "The poor girl died forlorn. She
+had been wooed by a vile man, a gambler. She had been to
+meet him and was returning from a rendezvous when the carriage
+that was conveying her to her poor lodging was overturned,
+and she was taken up a helpless, bleeding mass, and carried
+to the hospital. Then she sent for this heartless villain,
+again and again. She implored him to come to her, at least to
+send assistance, for she was destitute&mdash;a pauper. He refused,
+this thing, unworthy the name of man. He was setting other
+snares. He had no time, no pity, for his dying victim. Well,
+she died, and was buried as Madeline Payne, while I, standing
+beside her coffin, prayed to God to make my head wise, and my
+heart strong, that I might hunt down, and drive out from the
+haunts of men, her soulless destroyer."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline pauses, and three pair of eyes gaze at her with
+genuine wonder. But the eyes of Lucian Davlin are fixed upon
+vacancy, and with all the might of his powerful will he is struggling
+to appear calm.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turns her eyes calmly from his face to Cora's, and
+seems to see nothing of this, as she resumes:</p>
+
+<p>"Some strange fatality had made this man the bane of other
+lives, that were to be brought into contact with mine. I found
+that the happiness of two noble beings was being wrecked by
+this same man. One of these two had been my benefactor, had
+saved me from a fate worse than death, so I set myself to hunt
+this man down. And here I found that I could accomplish
+two objects at one stroke. I found that the man was playing
+into my hands. I followed him in disguise. Little by little
+I gained the knowledge of his secrets, enough to send him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span>
+State's prison, and more than enough. But one thing was wanting.
+For that I waited; for that I breathed the same air with
+creatures whom my soul loathed, and now that one missing link
+is supplied. At last, I am free! At last, I can throw off the
+mask! At last, I can say to the destroyer of poor Kitty, to the
+man who swore away the liberty of another to screen himself&mdash;Lucian
+Davlin, I have hunted you down! I have held you
+here to be taken like a rat in a trap! Officers, seize him!
+He has been my prisoner long enough!"</p>
+
+<p>Was it a transformation scene?</p>
+
+<p>While she is uttering those last words, suddenly the room becomes
+full of people, and Lucian Davlin is writhing in the grasp
+of the two officers; struggling hopelessly, baffled completely,
+maddened with rage and shame. When at last he has ceased to
+struggle, because resistance is so utterly useless, he turns his
+now glaring eyes upon the brave girl whose life he had sought
+to wreck, and hisses:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't forget to mention how you first came to the conclusion
+that I had wronged you! Don't forget to state that you ran
+away from Bellair with me; that you lodged in my bachelor
+quarters; that&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>A heavy hand comes in forcible contact with the sneering
+mouth, as one of the officers says, gruffly: "None o' that, my
+lad. I'd sooner gag you than not, if you give me another
+chance."</p>
+
+<p>But Madeline answers him with a scornful laugh: "That I
+shot you in your own den? Coward! do you think my friends
+do not know all? Here stands the man who saw me in your
+company that night," pointing to Clarence Vaughan; "and
+here," turning to Claire, "is the sister of the woman who came
+to me, at Dr. Vaughan's request, and told me who and what you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span>
+were! It was these two who nursed me during my illness, and
+who have been, from first to last, my friends. Bah! man, you
+have been only a dupe. Your servant, your doctor, your detectives,
+are all in my service! I have fooled you to the top of
+your bent, and kept you under this roof until we had found the
+proof that it was you, and not Philip Girard, who struck this
+man," pointing to Percy, "and robbed him, five years ago."</p>
+
+<p>With a muttered curse, Lucian Davlin flings himself down in
+the seat he had lately occupied, the watchful officers, pistol in
+hand, standing on either side of him.</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy, for the first time since her entrance, withdraws
+his eyes from Madeline's face and casts a frightened glance about
+him. Having done this, he feels anything but reassured.</p>
+
+<p>Near the outer door stand the two "well-diggers," who have
+entered like spirits, and now look as if, for the first time since
+their advent in Oakley, they feel quite at home. Nearest to
+Madeline stands Clarence Vaughan. Back of these, a little in
+the shadow, two others&mdash;two women. One stands with her face
+turned away, and he can only tell that the form draped in the
+rich India shawl is tall and graceful. But the other&mdash;she
+moves out from the shadow and her eyes meet his full.</p>
+
+<p>Great heavens! it is Claire Keith!</p>
+
+<p>He moves restlessly, his fair face flushing and paling. The
+first impulse of his coward heart is flight. But the two "well-diggers"
+are not surmountable obstacles. He turns his face again
+toward the Nemesis who is now gazing scornfully at him.</p>
+
+<p>"I have no intention of neglecting any one of you four," she
+says, icily. "Edward Percy, I told you last night that I would
+burn certain papers in your presence. I am quite ready to keep
+my word. There will be no use for them after to-night. But
+I shall not stifle the testimony of living witnesses against you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span>
+Then she raised her voice slightly. "Dr. Le Guise, bring in
+your patient."</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur, pallid with fear and rage, stands upon the
+threshold of the drawing-room, closely attended by the Professor
+and Henry.</p>
+
+<p>Then Madeline turned to the now terror-stricken Cora.
+"Come forward, Mrs. John Arthur," she says, scornfully.
+"It is time to let you speak!"</p>
+
+<p>When Edward Percy turns his eyes toward Claire, she has instinctively
+moved nearer to Madeline's side, at the same time
+favoring him with a look so fraught with contempt that the villain
+lowers his eyes, and turns away his face. As Madeline now addresses
+the fair adventuress, Claire again moves. She has been
+standing directly between Cora and her Nemesis. Now she
+takes up a position quite apart from her friends, and near the
+officer who guards Lucian Davlin on the right.</p>
+
+<p>Cora sees that all is lost. But she recalls the promises of
+safety given her by Madeline, and nerves herself for a last attempt
+at cool insolence. Her quick wits have taken in the
+situation. Now she understands why Madeline has led Davlin
+on, and why her hatred of him is so intense. Now she knows
+the meaning of the words that last night seemed so mysterious:
+"Lucian Davlin is my lover, but I am his bitterest foe." Now,
+as she steps forward, the hate she feels shining in her eyes, and
+with a growing air of reckless bravado as she glances at him,
+Cora, too, is Lucian Davlin's bitter foe.</p>
+
+<p>"Cora!" The name comes from the lips of John Arthur, almost
+in a cry.</p>
+
+<p>But she never once glances toward him. She fixes her eyes
+upon Madeline's face and doggedly awaits her command.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell us what you know of this man," Madeline says, pointing
+to Edward Percy: "and be brief."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cora turns her eyes slowly upon the man. She surveys him
+with infinite insolence, and then she turns with wonderful coolness
+toward Ellen Arthur.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Arthur," she says, with a malicious gleam in her eyes,
+"this will interest you. I knew that man ten years ago. I
+was making my first venture out in the world, and it was a very
+bad one. I fell in love with his pretty face, and married him.
+Before long I discovered that matrimony was a mania of Mr.
+Percy's&mdash;by-the-by, he sailed under another name then. I found
+that he had another wife living; a woman he had married for
+her money. Well, being sensitive, I took offense, and after a
+little, I ran away from him, carrying with me the certificates of
+his two marriages, which I had taken some pains to get possession
+of. After that&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Cora pauses suddenly and glances toward Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"After that you went to Europe. You may pass over the
+foreign tour, and take up the story five years later," subjoins
+Madeline, coldly.</p>
+
+<p>"After that, I went to Europe," echoes Cora. "And five years
+later found me in Gotham."</p>
+
+<p>"Be explicit now, please: no omissions," commands Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"Five years ago, then," resumes Cora, "that gentleman there,"
+motioning to Davlin, but never turning her face toward him,
+"came to me one day with the information that my dear husband
+was a rich man, thanks to some deceased old relative, and that
+his other wife was dead. For some reason this other marriage
+had been kept very secret, and my friend there argued that in
+case anything happened to Percy, I might come in as his widow,
+and claim his fortune. Well, Mr. Percy did not die, more's the
+pity. Instead of that he lived and squandered his money in less<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span>
+than three years. He was hurt, somehow, and a certain Mr. Philip
+Girard was falsely accused and convicted for attempted murder."</p>
+
+<p>"Who was the real would-be assassin?" asked Madeline,
+sternly.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian Davlin," emphatically.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turns swiftly to Percy. "Mr. Percy, explain, if
+you wish to lighten your own burden, by what means did that
+man persuade you to let him go free?"</p>
+
+<p>"By&mdash;threatening me with an action for&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Bigamy!" finished Cora.</p>
+
+<p>The villain, bereft of all hope and courage, stood white and
+trembling, under the eyes of his accusers and judges.</p>
+
+<p>"I am letting these people hear you tell these things because
+I want that man,"&mdash;pointing to John Arthur, who had long
+since collapsed into a big chair&mdash;"to hear all this from your own
+lips," says Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>Turning again to Cora, she says:</p>
+
+<p>"Lucian Davlin made use of the papers&mdash;the certificates you
+had stolen from Edward Percy&mdash;to intimidate that gentleman,
+and secure himself from danger. Am I correct?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," replies Cora, casting a malignant glance from one to
+the other of the accused men.</p>
+
+<p>"Very good. Now we will pass on four or more years. You
+were in some little trouble last June, Mrs. Arthur. Explain
+how you came to Bellair."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, for what purpose. And at whose instigation."</p>
+
+<p>Cora hesitated, and Davlin moved uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't think that you will damage your cause by making a
+full statement," suggested Miss Payne, meaningly. "Answer
+my questions, please."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Again Cora glances at Davlin. Then turning toward Madeline
+she assumes an air of defiant recklessness, and answers the
+questions promptly. "I came at Lucian Davlin's suggestion,
+and because he had induced me to think that I could easily become&mdash;what
+I am."</p>
+
+<p>"And that is&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Mrs. Arthur, of Oakley!" with a mocking laugh.</p>
+
+<p>The old man in the chair utters a loud groan, but no one
+heeds him. All eyes are fixed upon Madeline and Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"You plotted to become John Arthur's wife?" pursues Madeline,
+relentlessly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"And&mdash;his widow?"</p>
+
+<p>No reply.</p>
+
+<p>"You planned to keep him a prisoner?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"And Lucian Davlin, your pretended brother, was your accomplice?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Madeline turns swiftly toward her step-father, as she does
+so moving nearer toward Edward Percy.</p>
+
+<p>"John Arthur, are you satisfied?" she asks, sternly. "Shall
+the knowledge of your disgrace go beyond this room? Do you
+choose to remain here and be pointed at by every boor in Oakley,
+as the man who married an adventuress, a gambler's accomplice?
+or will you accept my terms?"</p>
+
+<p>John Arthur lifts his head, then staggers to his feet. "Curse
+you!" he cries. "Curse you all! What proof have I that these
+people will respect my feelings?"</p>
+
+<p>"You have my word," replies the girl, coolly. "These gentlemen
+of the Secret Service are not given to gossip. Mr. Davlin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span>
+will have but little opportunity for circulating scandal where
+he is going. Mr. Percy, and your wife, will hardly remain in
+the neighborhood long enough to injure you here, unless by your
+own choice. Your sister will scarcely betray you, and the
+rest are my friends. Choose!"</p>
+
+<p>Pallid with rage and shame, the old man turned toward Cora.</p>
+
+<p>"You she-devil!" he screams, "this is your work&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No," interposes Madeline, calmly, "it is <i>your</i> work, John
+Arthur! What you have sown, you are reaping. Will you
+have all your guilty past, your shameful present, made known?
+Or will you leave my mother's home and mine, and cease to
+usurp my rights? Choose!"</p>
+
+<p>Every eye is turned upon the old man and his questioner.
+Every ear is intently listening for his answer.</p>
+
+<p>Every ear, do we say? No; one man is only feigning rapt
+attention; one mind is turning over wicked possibilities, while
+the others await, with different degrees of eagerness or curiosity,
+John Arthur's answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Needs must when the devil drives," says the baffled old
+man, turning toward the door. "I will go, and I leave my
+curse behind me!"</p>
+
+<p>This is the moment which Lucian Davlin has watched.
+While all eyes are turned toward John Arthur, he bends suddenly
+forward. He has wrenched the pistol from one of his
+guardians, and the weapon is aimed at Madeline's heart!</p>
+
+<p>Instantaneously there is a quick, panther-like spring, and
+Claire Keith's little hand strikes the arm that directs the deadly
+weapon. There is a sharp report, but the direction of the bullet
+is changed.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline Payne stands erect and startled, while Edward
+Percy falls to the floor, the blood gushing from a wound in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span>
+breast. In another instant, Lucian Davlin lies prostrate, felled
+by a blow from one detective, while the other bends over him
+and savagely adjusts a pair of manacles.</p>
+
+<p>The others, even to Cora, group themselves about the wounded
+man. Dr. Vaughan kneels beside him a moment, then he
+lifts his eyes to meet those of Madeline.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a death wound," he says.</p>
+
+<p>"Prepare a couch in the next room directly. He must not
+be carried up-stairs."</p>
+
+<p>When this order has been obeyed, and the injured man has
+been removed, Madeline returns to the drawing-room, untenanted
+now save by the officers and their prisoner. They are
+waiting there until the midnight train shall be due, and the
+time approaches. Moving quite near to the now silent, sullen
+villain, the girl surveys him with absolute loathing.</p>
+
+<p>"The goddess you worship has deserted you, Lucian Davlin,"
+she says, slowly. "It was not in the book of chance that you
+should triumph over or outwit me. The bullet you designed for
+me has completed the work you began five years ago. Go, to
+live a convict, or die on the scaffold, and when you think upon
+the failure of your villainous schemes, remember that this retribution
+has been wrought by a woman's hand! Officers, take him
+away!"</p>
+
+<p>Through the darkness they hurry him, from the sights
+and scenes of Oakley and Bellair&mdash;forever. His goddess has
+indeed forsaken him. When the two officers take leave of
+him at the prison, he has had his last glimpse of the outside
+world.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_044.jpg" width="400" height="559" alt="&quot;Edward Percy falls to the floor, the blood gushing from a wound in the
+breast!&quot;&mdash;page 439."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Edward Percy falls to the floor, the blood gushing from a wound in the
+breast!&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_439">page 439.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>From the moment when he failed in his attempt upon the life
+that had defied him, no word had escaped his lips. Silent, moody,
+and utterly hopeless, this proud-spirited, evil-hearted Son of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span>Chance, enters the prison gates, and, as they close upon him, we
+have done with Lucian Davlin, a <i>convict for life</i>!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIX" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"></a>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2>
+
+<h2>AS THE FOOL DIETH.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Edward Percy is dying&mdash;was dying when they lifted him
+from the drawing-room carpet, and gently laid him on the couch
+hastily prepared by Hagar and the frightened servants. They
+have watched beside him through the night, and now, in the
+gray of the morning, Clarence Vaughan still keeps his vigil.</p>
+
+<p>The wounded man moves feebly, and turns his fast dimming
+eyes toward the watcher. "I thought&mdash;I saw&mdash;some one," he
+says, brokenly, "when&mdash;I fell. Who&mdash;was&mdash;the lady?"</p>
+
+<p>His voice dies away, as Clarence, bending over him, answers
+gently: "You mean the lady that stood near the door, whose
+face was turned away?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," in a whisper; "was it&mdash;my&mdash;wife?"</p>
+
+<p>Clarence turns toward the window where Mrs. Ralston sits,
+out of view of the sick man.</p>
+
+<p>She moves forward a little. "Tell him," she says, in a low
+voice.</p>
+
+<p>Edward Percy is a dying man, but his mind was never clearer.
+He perfectly comprehends the explanations made by Clarence.
+He had recognized the face of his wife when he lay bleeding at
+her feet. He closes his eyes and is silent for some moments.
+Then he asks, in that dying half-whisper, the only tone he ever
+will use: "You think&mdash;I&mdash;will&mdash;die?"</p>
+
+<p>"You cannot live," replies Clarence, gravely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Again the wounded man shuts his eyes and thinks; then:
+"How long&mdash;will I&mdash;last?" he questions.</p>
+
+<p>"I can keep you alive twenty-four hours&mdash;not longer," says
+Clarence, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>"Then&mdash;I must talk now."</p>
+
+<p>Clarence goes to a table, and pours something into a tiny glass.
+This he brings, and putting it to the lips of the patient, says:
+"Try and swallow this. It is a stimulant. Then lie quiet for a
+few moments; after that you may talk."</p>
+
+<p>This is done, and for a time there is silence in the room.
+Then the wounded man whispers, with an appearance of more
+strength: "Tell <i>her</i>&mdash;to come here."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston moves forward, and he looks at her long and
+attentively. Then, with a turn of his olden coolness: "You
+grew tired of me," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she replies, in a low, sad voice, "I grew tired of you;
+very tired. But don't talk of those days now. You are too
+near the end; think of that!"</p>
+
+<p>"I do," he said, slowly. "But I can't alter the past&mdash;and&mdash;I
+don't know&mdash;about the future. I want&mdash;to see a&mdash;notary."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you want to see a clergyman?"</p>
+
+<p>"What for? If I am dying&mdash;it's of no use to play&mdash;hypocrite.
+I don't believe in&mdash;your clergyman. I admit that&mdash;I wronged&mdash;you,"
+he continues, gazing at Mrs. Ralston, "and I deceived
+Miss Keith. If you two&mdash;can forgive me&mdash;I will take my
+chances&mdash;for the rest."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ralston bends above him with a face full of pity, but in
+which there is no love. "I forgive you, Edward; and so will
+Claire, fully. But you did her very little harm. She was not
+long deceived. Do you want to see her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and&mdash;don't let Alice&mdash;Cora, you call her&mdash;come
+near me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Truly, this dying sinner is not a meek one, not a very repentant
+one.</p>
+
+<p>When they ask him if he will see Miss Arthur, his reply is
+characteristic. "Does she want&mdash;to see&mdash;me?"</p>
+
+<p>No; she has not asked to see him, they say. But of course
+she would be glad to come to him.</p>
+
+<p>"Let her alone," he says, "she don't want to see me. If she
+did, it would be to scratch out&mdash;my eyes&mdash;because she is&mdash;cheated
+out of&mdash;being married. She isn't hurt. She is too
+big a fool."</p>
+
+<p>When Claire comes to his bedside, accompanied by Madeline,
+he says: "Miss Claire&mdash;I loved you better than any woman I
+ever knew&mdash;truly. If&mdash;you had been Mr. Keith's heiress&mdash;I
+would never have come to Oakley. I thought you were&mdash;his
+heiress when&mdash;I wooed you&mdash;in Baltimore. But you are the
+only woman&mdash;who ever beat me&mdash;and puzzled me. You did
+not care much, after all."</p>
+
+<p>To Madeline he says, after he has swallowed a second stimulant:
+"But for you, I would not be here. You women have
+hunted me down. But you are as brave&mdash;as a lioness&mdash;a little
+Nemesis. I&mdash;won't&mdash;bear malice."</p>
+
+<p>At noon, the notary comes, and Edward Percy makes an
+affidavit as to the truth of the testimony that will convict Lucian
+Davlin. It is the affidavit of a fast dying man.</p>
+
+<p>All day Mrs. Ralston sits beside him. And Clarence Vaughan
+watches the slowly ebbing life tide. Once he seems struggling
+to say something, and his wife bends down to catch what may
+be some word of penitence.</p>
+
+<p>"Bury&mdash;me like a gentleman."</p>
+
+<p>This is what he says, and Clarence Vaughan smiles bitterly
+as he thinks, "selfish and egotistical to the last."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Night comes on and the end is very near. Over the dying
+face flits a malignant shadow, and he makes a last effort to speak.
+Again the watchers bend nearer.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope&mdash;they will&mdash;hang Davlin," he breathes, feebly.</p>
+
+<p>The two listeners recoil with horror, at the sound of the vindictive
+wish from dying lips.</p>
+
+<p>These are the last words of Edward Percy. Slowly go the
+minutes, and deeper grow the shadows. Again Clarence Vaughan
+bends above the couch, and then he says: "Your vigil is ended,
+Mrs. Ralston. He is dead."</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>That night, while the house is hushed to a quiet, one portion
+of the household asleep, the other keeping the death-watch, Cora
+again tries to escape from Oakley. But this time Strong is not
+to be caught napping, and the vanquished adventuress resigns
+herself to her fate.</p>
+
+<p>Two days more, and then Edward Percy is buried, according
+to his request, "like a gentleman."</p>
+
+<p>All that is known outside of Oakley concerning his death is
+that he was shot by Lucian Davlin, between whom, and himself,
+some feud had existed.</p>
+
+<p>And John Arthur and Cora remain, and "keep up appearances"
+to the last.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Le Guise, or the Professor, has stayed too, for appearance
+sake. But the day after they have buried Edward Percy, he goes,
+and very gladly, back to the city. Madeline keeps her promise;
+he goes free, and none save the few ever know that Dr. Le
+Guise is an impostor.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time John Arthur turns his back upon Oakley
+forever. "Appearances" are observed to the last. He goes,
+tenderly attended by the Professor, by Cora, and by his sister.
+Goes much muffled, and enacting the <i>r&ocirc;le</i> of invalid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They are taking the sick man South; this is what the villagers
+think.</p>
+
+<p>But when the train reaches the city, this select party disbands.
+John Arthur becomes active once more and, with his sister,
+hurries away in the nearest cab, while the Professor and Cora
+separate by mutual consent.</p>
+
+<p>And here we will leave them&mdash;all but Cora.</p>
+
+<p>She has escaped Scylla only to fall upon Charybdis. As
+she hurries along through the familiar streets, her plans are
+laid. She will go to Lucian Davlin's rooms; nobody will be
+there to dispute her possession for a day or two to come, and she
+has possessed herself of the keys, left behind as useless by their
+outlawed owner.</p>
+
+<p>When she ascends the steps, some one, who is lounging past
+the premises, looks at her narrowly. As she disappears behind
+the swinging outer door, this lounger becomes wonderfully
+alert, and hastens away as if he had just discovered his mission.</p>
+
+<p>Two hours later, as Cora descends the stairs and emerges into
+the street, the vision of a monkey-faced old man appears before
+her. And while another lays a firm detaining hand upon her
+arm, the old man, fairly dancing with glee, cries out:</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, ha! here you are, my pretty sharper! I didn't have
+these premises watched for nothing, did I? Now I have got
+you! Bring her along, officer, bring her along. She won't
+dodge us this time."</p>
+
+<p>And Cora is hurried into a cab, closely followed by old Verage,
+who chatters his doubtful consolation, and laughs his
+eldritch laughter, and finally consigns her to prison to answer
+to a charge of swindling.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[447]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_L" id="CHAPTER_L"></a>CHAPTER L.</h2>
+
+<h2>"AND THEN COMES REST."</h2>
+
+
+<p>At last Oakley is rid of its <i>intriguants</i>, its plotters and impostors.</p>
+
+<p>And Madeline and Claire sit alone in the chamber of the
+former, talking of the strange events that have so lately transpired&mdash;of
+Philip Girard's vindication, of Lucian Davlin's punishment,
+of Edward Percy's death.</p>
+
+<p>It is the day following that of the burial, and Mrs. Ralston is
+lying asleep in her own room, with old Hagar in near attendance.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Mrs. Ralston," says Claire, after a long pause in their
+converse. "She is thoroughly worn out, and yet, weary as she
+was, she must have talked with you for hours, Madeline, after
+we came back from the grave."</p>
+
+<p>Over Madeline's face flits an odd, half-sad smile, as she replies,
+dreamily:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we talked a long time, dear; Mrs. Ralston was then in
+the mood for talking. Can't you understand how one may be
+nervously active, may be at just that stage of bodily weariness
+when the mind is intensely alive? The excitement of all she
+had lately undergone was still upon her, and the mind could not
+resign itself to rest while anything remained unsettled or under
+a cloud."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can understand how that may be." Then, after a
+pause, "so something remained to be settled?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[448]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And, between you, you disposed of the difficulty?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Another silence. Then Madeline turns to look at her companion.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you ask me what the 'difficulty' was?"</p>
+
+<p>No answer.</p>
+
+<p>"But you want to know?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire laughs nervously.</p>
+
+<p>"And I want to tell you," pursues Madeline. "First, we
+talked of ourselves."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" ejaculates Claire, looking immensely relieved.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we talked of ourselves first; and we have become great
+friends."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course!" cries Miss Enthusiasm; "I knew you would."</p>
+
+<p>"We have decided to give our new friendship a severe test."</p>
+
+<p>"How?" asks Claire, forgetting her caution.</p>
+
+<p>"By visiting Europe in each other's society."</p>
+
+<p>Claire springs up excitedly. "Madeline Payne, you don't
+mean it! You <i>can't</i>! You <i>shall</i> not; there! Europe, indeed.
+You are crazy! I won't hear of it!" stamping her foot emphatically.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline leans back in her chair and laughs; then suddenly
+becomes grave.</p>
+
+<p>"But I do mean it, Claire, my darling," she says, softly.
+"And I'll tell you what else I mean. Sit down here, close beside me and listen."</p>
+
+<p>Instinctively Claire obeys.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then," continues Madeline, "you know what an odd,
+uncultivated sort of a life mine has been, and you know that
+this little world of mine has not been a very bright one. Well,
+ever since I could read and think, I have longed to see Italy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[449]</a></span>
+and France, and England, and Germany, and the Holy Land.
+My work is done here. There is nothing now to prevent my
+going&mdash;no duty to perform, no one to keep me here. I could
+not find a better friend and companion than Mrs. Ralston, and
+she is very anxious to go, and to take me with her. You are all
+very dear to me, but no one needs me now more than she, nor
+so much. And, Claire, don't make any mistakes about me. I
+am not going away sorrowfully, or with any heavy weight upon
+my spirits. I am going to enjoy and make the most and best
+of the life and youth God has given me. I am going for
+change, and recreation, and rest. I have been acting the part
+of an avenger here, a stern, unforgiving Nemesis, but I would
+do over again all that I have done, if need be. I am not half
+so good as you. I can not submit with meekness to injustice
+and wrong. I shall fight my enemies, if I have more to fight,
+until the end of the chapter. And now I have a confession to
+make."</p>
+
+<p>Claire stirs uneasily. "Don't," she says, deprecatingly:
+"I don't want to hear a confession."</p>
+
+<p>"But I want to make one, and you must listen. First, however,
+let me tell you that during my talk with Mrs. Ralston, I
+heard about a certain interview, wherein a ridiculous young lady
+discarded the man she loved, because she fancied she would
+wrong some one else if she admitted her love for him, and accepted his.
+Well&mdash;don't turn your face away&mdash;that was foolish.
+But my blunder was a downright wicked one. Yes, Claire,
+I will tell all the truth. When you and I stood together out
+under the trees, and talked of Clarence Vaughan; when you
+showed me the picture and told me the little pastoral about Edward
+Percy; I knew that Clarence Vaughan loved you&mdash;and I
+thought I loved, nay, I did love, <i>him</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[450]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"When I came down here and found so soon that Edward
+Percy was&mdash;so utterly unworthy, we will say, because he is dead,
+I felt at once that you must be undeceived.</p>
+
+<p>"Then a great temptation came to me, and I said to myself,
+'When she becomes disenchanted, and ceases to love this man,
+she will learn to value the other and more noble lover; she will
+learn to love him!'</p>
+
+<p>"All night long, before I came to undeceive you, and to warn
+Olive, I battled with a great temptation. And I yielded to it.
+Listen, Claire, while I tell you how base I was.</p>
+
+<p>"When I set out for the city in the morning, I said to myself:
+'Claire Keith is the soul of truth and honor. She is generous
+to a fault. If I let her see how much I care for Clarence
+Vaughan, I shall appeal to her pity and her honor, without the
+aid of words. She will never listen to his suit; she will try to
+advance my interest; she will become my ally.' See, dear, how
+truly I judged you.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I came. I told you of Percy's baseness, and
+when I saw how brave you were; how full of scorn
+for the dishonest man; how impossible it was for one so
+unworthy to drag you down, or darken your life because of
+his baseness; I was filled with shame and remorse. I knew
+then that I was unworthy your friendship, or of a good
+man's love.</p>
+
+<p>"Standing in your presence, humiliated by your pure nobility,
+I repented, and I resolved to give up all thought of Clarence
+Vaughan. I did give him up.</p>
+
+<p>"But, Claire, although I did not know it, my very penitence
+must have committed me, and while I was renouncing my designs,
+you were resolving to further them. In some manner I
+must have betrayed myself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[451]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There is a moment's pause. Claire Keith's face is buried in
+her hands, and Madeline, bending toward her, cries out, remorsefully:</p>
+
+<p>"Claire! Claire! Look up and believe me. As God hears
+me, that is past and dead. See how I am humbling myself, and
+do not doubt me."</p>
+
+<p>Claire's head rears itself suddenly. She flings herself forward
+impetuously, and clasps her arms about her friend.</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline, stop!" she cries, brokenly; "I won't hear you
+slander yourself. Don't I know you too well to doubt you!
+But I won't have a lover; I won't love any one but you."</p>
+
+<p>Again the laugh comes to Madeline's lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Little Miss Impulse!" she says, tenderly. "But, sister
+Claire, I am not done yet. I am going to put you on the penitent's
+stool now. Just imagine yourself in my place for a little.
+Do you think I could have made this confession to you if my
+weakness were not a thing of the past? You know I never
+could. I am not ashamed to confess that I did love Clarence.
+But I should be more than ashamed, under all the circumstances,
+if I could not say with truth that that love is a thing of the past.
+As my dearest friend, my brother, if you will, I shall always
+love him; but no more than that. I am not sorry that I have
+loved him, for I am a better woman because of it. But, I repeat
+it, that love is a thing of the past. Claire, do you not
+believe?"</p>
+
+<p>They gaze into each other's eyes for a moment. Then Claire
+says: "I believe, Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>A smile brightens the brown eyes now, and their owner says:
+"Then don't you see that you have made a mistake&mdash;one that,
+for my sake, you must rectify?"</p>
+
+<p>Claire begins to look rebellious. "No, I don't," she cries,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[452]</a></span>
+blushing scarlet. "You wicked girl, you have been getting me
+into a trap!"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline says, very gravely:</p>
+
+<p>"Claire, I want you to trust me in this, as you all have in
+other things. I want you to let me feel that I have not made
+the friends I love best, unhappy. I shall leave you soon: if I
+have been your friend, let me have my way in this one thing.
+If you don't, all the rest will have been in vain. See, my drama
+is ended; my enemies are punished. Now let me make my dear
+ones happy. Do you know, John Arthur has put a new thought
+in my head. 'Confound you,' he growled; it was his parting
+benediction, 'I might have known your father's blood ruled you.
+I might have looked for cunning and intrigue from that confounded
+Expert's Daughter.' It is true, Claire; I am the
+daughter of an Expert, a detective, brave and shrewd. Hagar
+says that I am like my father, and that I have inherited his
+talents. When I recall the knot we have just unravelled, the
+war we have just waged, I can but think that my father's chosen
+calling may have become mine. If the world ever grows stale,
+if I pine for change or excitement or absorbing occupation, I
+can go to my father's chief and say, 'I am the daughter of Lionel
+Payne, the Expert, and I have inherited a measure of my father's
+talents.' Do you think he will trust his knotty cases to the
+Expert's Daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think he will, if he is wise. But, Madeline, all this is folly.
+You will never leave us. Olive wants you; we all want
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"And you will all have enough of me. But, Claire, do not
+ask me to stay now. It is better for me, better for all, that I
+go away. I must let old memories die out. I want to forget
+old scenes. I want rest. I need to school my wayward nature,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[453]</a></span>
+to teach my heart to beat calmly, my soul to possess itself in
+peace. Claire, I must go."</p>
+
+<p>Just here, some one taps softly. It is a servant who holds in
+her hands a telegram from Olive to Madeline, which runs thus:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>All is well. Philip and I start for home to-night. Meet us there without
+fail, all of you.</p></div>
+
+<p class="f2"><span class="smcap">Olive.</span></p>
+
+<p>They read it together, and then Claire burst into tears&mdash;tears
+of joy and thankfulness.</p>
+
+<p>"Philip is free once more! Oh, Madeline, Madeline; and it
+was you who saved him; it was <i>you</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>Madeline pushes the message into her hand, saying: "If I
+have done such wonderful things, why do you refuse to obey
+me? Go, now, and take this good news to Clarence Vaughan.
+And mind you, don't come back, for I am going to tell Mrs.
+Ralston."</p>
+
+<p>Half laughing, half crying, Claire is compelled to go down
+to the library alone. Clarence Vaughan is there, pacing thoughtfully
+up and down.</p>
+
+<p>Claire enters softly, the paper ostentatiously displayed in her
+hand. But he looks straight at the blushing, bashful, tear-stained
+face. Her eyes, half glad, half shy, wholly tell-tale, fall
+before his own. And the lover who has waited in patience
+for his opportunity, seizes it now and makes it a moment of
+victory.</p>
+
+<p>"I have brought you good news, Dr. Vaughan."</p>
+
+<p>He comes straight toward her, and imprisons both little hands,
+together with the "news" they contain.</p>
+
+<p>"You have brought me yourself, then, and I have been lying
+in wait for this opportunity. Claire, shall you ever run away
+from me again?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[454]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It is useless to rebel. His voice tells her that he knows too
+much, and that he will not be evaded any more.</p>
+
+<p>She gives him one glimpse of her face, and then she is clasped
+in his strong, loving arms, and from this safe haven, after a
+time, she tells her good news, struggling prettily to free herself
+from the loving imprisonment.</p>
+
+<p>"Philip is free, and is coming home."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course; why not, darling? There is no accusation against
+him now."</p>
+
+<p>"Madeline is going away with Mrs. Ralston. Don't you
+think she is too bad? Can't we make her stay?"</p>
+
+<p>A look of regretful sadness rests for a moment upon his
+countenance. Then he says, very tenderly:</p>
+
+<p>"My little darling, Madeline has earned the right to her own
+perfect liberty. After the fierce schooling through which she
+has passed, believe me, there is nothing left for us to teach her.
+She has grown beyond us. Let her have her will, for she knows
+best what will give her the rest, the forgetfulness, the absorbing
+interest in other things, that her strong nature needs. Madeline
+has much to unlearn, much to forget; and she knows this. She
+is growing to understand her strong, brave self, to value her
+strength. She will never be an idler, never sink into the ranks
+of the commonplace. If, after a time, she finds for herself a
+worthy love, she will be the tenderest, the truest of wives.
+But she is sufficient unto herself. She has beauty, genius, force,
+a strong will, a splendid intellect. We shall watch her course
+from afar, and I am much mistaken if we do not, some day, hear
+great things of our Madeline."</p>
+
+<p>Claire draws herself gently from the restraining arm, and
+turns her blue eyes upon him.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[455]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/image_045.jpg" width="400" height="576" alt="&quot;She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs the restfulness, the
+peace, the white, pure glory of the dawn.&quot;&mdash;page 456."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs the restfulness, the
+peace, the white, pure glory of the dawn.&quot;&mdash;<a href="#Page_456">page 456.</a></span></div>
+
+<p>"Madeline will never marry," she says softly, sadly. "You
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[456]</a></span>are right; she is above us, beyond us. God has made her
+sufficient unto herself."</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>It is dawn, gray dawn.</p>
+
+<p>Madeline Payne rises from a long untroubled sleep, and flings
+wide her shutters.</p>
+
+<p>What is this that she sees?</p>
+
+<p>All below her an unbroken mantle of white; all about and
+above, the waving of snowy plumes, and floating, misty-white
+loveliness.</p>
+
+<p>The world is clothed in a new garment; the foot-prints of
+her enemies are hidden, are blotted from the face of the earth.
+The pathway to the cemetery where they lately bore Edward
+Percy, is obliterated, too. The grave of the erring man is
+covered with heaven's whitest, purest mantle of charity and forgetfulness.</p>
+
+<p>Above, below, all about her, is silence and whiteness and peace.</p>
+
+<p>She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs into herself
+the restfulness, the peace, the white, pure glory, of the dawn.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a token," she murmurs, softly. "It is God's benediction
+on my new day, on my new life. It is the beginning of
+rest. There is nothing old in this fresh, white world. Let the
+snow mantle rest thus upon my past life. Ah, how rich I am!
+How rich in friends; how strong in that I have been able to do
+some good, to make my beloved happy. Never let me repine
+at my fate. I am rich, and strong, and free. This new, white,
+beautiful world is mine, when I wish to wander. My friends
+are mine, when I wish to rest, and find a home."</p>
+
+<p>Ah, 'tis good to know&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"God's greatness shines around our incompleteness;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Round our restlessness, <i>His rest</i>."<br /></span>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[457]</a></span></div></div>
+
+<p>Up from the east shoots an arrow of gold, and a bar of
+roseate light. Higher yet, and the world is aglow with mystic,
+glittering loveliness. Diamonds sparkling everywhere; snow
+plumes waving; the earth's white unbroken mantle gleaming
+and sparkling, and stretching away to meet the golden glow at
+the horizon's edge.</p>
+
+<p>Kneeling there, with her white hands clasped upon the window
+ledge, the glory of the morning falls over her like a benediction;
+lighting up the golden hair; pouring its radiance into
+the solemn brown eyes; kissing the pure pale cheeks; breathing
+peace, and rest, and hope into the long-tried, but conquering
+heart of <span class="smcap">The Expert's Daughter</span>.</p>
+
+<h3>THE END.</h3>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>POPULAR BOOKS.</h2>
+
+
+<p><i><b>A Mountain Mystery; or, The Outlaws of the Rockies.</b></i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>. Illustrated by 37 original Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">A stirring story of detectives' adventures among the mountain outlaws and stage
+robbers of the Far West. Our old friends Stanhope and Vernet, reappear in new roles.</div>
+
+
+<p><i><b>Dangerous Ground; or, The Rival Detectives.</b></i></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>. Illustrated by 45 original Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">Its incidents are splendidly handled. There is not a dull page or line in it. Dick
+Stanhope is a character to be admired for his courage; while one's deepest sympathies
+twine about the noble, tender-hearted Leslie Warburton.</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>. Illustrated by 44 original Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">"One of the most fascinating of modern novels. It combines the excitement that
+ever attends the intricate and hazardous schemes of a detective, together with as cunningly
+elaborated a plot as the best of Wilkie Collins' or Charles Reade's."</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>Out of a Labyrinth.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>. Illustrated by 36 original Engravings. Price $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">"We have so often spoken of Mr. Lynch's superb abilities that further praise is
+scarcely essential. Suffice it to say that this work is in no way inferior to those which
+have preceded it."&mdash;<i>Aurora News.</i></div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Wm. H. Thomes</span>. Illustrated by 41 fine Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">An exciting story of adventures in Australia, in the early days, when the discovery of
+gold drew thither a motley crowd of reckless daring men.</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>The Bushrangers; or, Wild Life in Australia.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Wm. H. Thomes</span>. Illustrated. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">The record of a second voyage to that land of mystery and adventure&mdash;Australia&mdash;by
+the "Gold Hunters," and replete with exciting exploits among lawless men.</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>The Gold Hunters in Europe; or, The Dead Alive.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Wm. H Thomes</span>. Illustrated by 34 fine Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">The heroes of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures" seek excitement in a trip through
+Europe, and meet with a constant succession of perilous adventures.</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>A Slaver's Adventures on Sea and Land.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Wm. H. Thomes</span>. Illustrated by 40 fine Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">A thrilling story of an exciting life on board a slaver, chased by British gunboats, and
+equally interesting adventures in the wilds of Africa and on the Island of Cuba.</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>A Whaleman's Adventures on Sea and Land.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Wm. H. Thomes</span>. Illustrated by 36 fine Engravings. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">A vivid story of life on a whaler, in the Pacific Ocean, and of adventures in the Sandwich
+Islands, and in California in the earlier days.</div>
+
+
+<p><b><i>Running the Blockade.</i></b></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">By <span class="smcap">Wm. H Thomes</span>. Profusely illustrated. Price, $1.50.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">A tale of adventures on a Blockade Runner during the rebellion, by a Union officer
+acting in the Secret Service of the United States.</div>
+
+<div class="blockquot">Sold on all Railroad Trains, by all Booksellers, or will be sent post-paid
+on receipt of price by</div>
+
+<h3>ALEX. T. LOYD &amp; CO.,</h3>
+
+<h4>133 <span class="smcap">LaSalle Street</span>, CHICAGO.</h4>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>A NEW DETECTIVE STORY.</h2>
+
+<h3>By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH.</h3>
+
+<h4>Author of "Shadowed by Three," "Madeline Payne," etc.</h4>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/ad01.jpg" width="450" height="527" alt="&quot;Don&#39;t pull, boys; I&#39;ve got the drop on ye!&quot; Page 50."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Don&#39;t pull, boys; I&#39;ve got the drop on ye!&quot; Page 50.</span>
+</div>
+
+<h2>DANGEROUS GROUND;</h2>
+
+<h4>OR THE</h4>
+
+<h3>RIVAL DETECTIVES.</h3>
+
+<h5>The author's latest and greatest work; intensely interesting. 45 Elegant Illustrations.<br />
+
+<span class="smcap">Price</span> $1.50.</h5>
+
+<h4>Sold on all Railroad Trains and by all Booksellers.</h4>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>THE GOLD HUNTERS' ADVENTURES;</h2>
+
+<h4>OR, WILD LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.</h4>
+
+<h4>By WM. H. THOMES, author of "The Bushrangers," "The Gold Hunters in Europe,"<br />
+"A Whaleman's Adventures," "Life in the East Indies," "Adventures on a<br />
+Slaver," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.</h4>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/ad02.jpg" width="400" height="604" alt="&quot;Now for a rush.&mdash;Cut them to pieces!&quot;"  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;Now for a rush.&mdash;Cut them to pieces!&quot;</span>
+</div>
+
+<h3>A FASCINATING STORY OF ADVENTURE.</h3>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>A SLAVER'S ADVENTURES</h2>
+
+<h3>ON SEA AND LAND.</h3>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<img src="images/ad03.jpg" width="500" height="459" alt="&quot;We saw many species of wild animals.&quot; Page 89."  />
+<span class="caption">&quot;We saw many species of wild animals.&quot; Page 89.</span>
+</div>
+
+<h3>By WM. H. THOMES,</h3>
+
+<h4>Author of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia," "The Bushrangers,"<br />
+"Running the Blockade," etc., etc.</h4>
+
+<h3>ILLUSTRATED WITH FORTY ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS</h3>
+
+<h4>SOLD ON ALL RAILWAY TRAINS AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.</h4>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>A Whaleman's Adventures</h2>
+
+<h3>AT SEA, IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS AND CALIFORNIA.</h3>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/ad04.jpg" width="450" height="604" alt=""  />
+</div>
+
+<h3>By WM. H. THOMES,</h3>
+
+<h4>Author of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia," "The Bushrangers,"<br />
+"Running the Blockade," etc., etc.</h4>
+
+<h3>Illustrated with Thirty-Six Fine Engravings.</h3>
+
+<h3>SOLD ON ALL RAILWAY TRAINS AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.</h3>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 26482-h.txt or 26482-h.zip *******</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter, by
+Lawrence L. Lynch
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter
+
+
+Author: Lawrence L. Lynch
+
+
+
+Release Date: August 29, 2008  [eBook #26482]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S
+DAUGHTER***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Sankar Viswanathan, Suzanne Shell, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 26482-h.htm or 26482-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/4/8/26482/26482-h/26482-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/4/8/26482/26482-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+The Great Detective Story.
+
+MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER.
+
+by
+
+LAWRENCE L. LYNCH,
+
+(Of the Secret Service.)
+
+Author of "Shadowed by Three," "The Diamond Coterie,"
+"Out of a Labyrinth," etc., etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say
+it"--page 219.]
+
+
+
+Chicago:
+Alex. T. Loyd & Co.
+1888.
+
+Copyright, 1883,
+Donnelley, Loyd & Co.,
+Chicago.
+
+Copyright, 1883,
+Alex. T. Loyd & Co.,
+Chicago.
+
+Copyright, 1884,
+Alex. T. Loyd & Co.,
+Chicago.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER                                                  PAGE
+
+I.        MAN PROPOSES                                    9
+II.       THE OLD TREE'S REVELATIONS                     16
+III.      THE STORY OF A CRIME                           25
+IV.       THE DIE IS CAST                                44
+V.        A SHREWD SCHEME                                54
+VI.       A WARNING                                      64
+VII.      A STRUGGLE FOR MORE THAN LIFE                  75
+VIII.     THREADS OF THE FABRIC                          98
+IX.       GONE!                                         104
+X.        BONNIE, BEWITCHING CLAIRE                     113
+XI.       A GLEAM OF LIGHT                              121
+XII.      A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD                       130
+XIII.     MISS ARTHUR'S FRENCH MAID                     137
+XIV.      WHEELS WITHIN WHEEL                           143
+XV.       CORA AND THE FRENCH MAID MEASURE SWORDS       155
+XVI.      FACE TO FACE                                  167
+XVII.     GATHERING CLUES                               184
+XVIII.    THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WIELDS THE SURGEON'S
+              KNIFE                                     191
+XIX.      A DUAL RENUNCIATION                           203
+XX.       STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE                       215
+XXI.      HAGAR AND CORA                                229
+XXII.     TO BE, TO DO, TO SUFFER                       239
+XXIII.    SETTING SOME SNARES                           244
+XXIV.     A VERITABLE GHOST                             251
+XXV.      SOME DAYS OF WAITING                          257
+XXVI.     NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK                          265
+XXVII.    CLAIRE TURNS CIRCE                            272
+XXVIII.   THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE MIMIC STAGE          279
+XXIX.     A STARTLING EPISODE                           291
+XXX.      WAITING                                       299
+XXXI.     MR. PERCY SHAKES HIMSELF                      303
+XXXII.    A SILKEN BELT                                 310
+XXXIII.   CROSS PURPOSES                                316
+XXXIV.    A SLIGHT COMPLICATION                         322
+XXXV.     "THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT
+             NAUGHT                                     332
+XXXVI.    MR. LORD'S LETTER                             337
+XXXVII.   "I HAVE COME BACK TO MY OWN!"                 341
+XXXVIII.  CORA UNDER ORDERS                             356
+XXXIX.    MYSTIFIED PEOPLE                              367
+XL.       DAVLIN'S "POINTS."                            378
+XLI.      THE DAYS PASS BY                              385
+XLII.     A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM                        389
+XLIII.    THE DOCTOR'S WOOING                           397
+XLIV.     A FRESH COMPLICATION                          403
+XLV.      MRS. RALSTON'S STORY                          409
+XLVI.     CORA "STIRS UP THE ANIMALS."                  416
+XLVII.    THE BEGINNING OF THE END                      423
+XLVIII.   THE SWORD OF FATE                             427
+XLIX.     AS THE FOOL DIETH                             442
+L.        "AND THEN COMES REST."                        447
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end
+of the depot platform stood the dainty phaeton of Mrs. John
+Arthur."--page 229.]
+
+
+
+
+MADELINE PAYNE,
+
+THE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+MAN PROPOSES.
+
+
+"H'm! And you scarcely remember your mother, I suppose?"
+
+"No, Lucian; I was such a mere babe when she died, I have often
+wondered what it would be like to have a mother. Auntie Hagar was
+always very kind to me, however; so kind, in fact, that my
+step-father, fearing, he said, that I would grow up self-willed and
+disobedient, sent her away, and procured the services of the ugly old
+woman you saw in the garden. Poor Auntie Hagar," sighed the girl, "she
+was sorely grieved at our parting and, that she might be near me,
+bought the little cottage in the field yonder."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculated the man, more as if he felt that he was expected to
+say something, than as if really interested in the subject under
+discussion. "Ah--er--was--a--was the old lady a property holder, then?
+Most discharged servants go up and down on the earth, seeking what
+they may devour--in another situation."
+
+"That is the strangest part of the affair, Lucian; she had money.
+Where it came from, I never could guess, nor would she ever give me
+any information on the subject. It was a legacy--that was all I was to
+know, it seemed.
+
+"I remember," she continued, musingly, "how very much astonished I was
+to receive, from my step-father, a lecture on this head. He took the
+ground that my childish curiosity was unpardonably rude, and angrily
+forbade me to ask further questions. And I am sure that since that one
+instance of wonderful regard for the feelings of Aunt Hagar, he has
+not deigned to consider the comfort and happiness of any, save and
+always himself."
+
+As the girl's voice took on a tone of scornful sarcasm; as her cheeks
+flushed and her eyes flashed while memory recalled the many instances
+of unfeeling cruelty and neglect, that had brought tears to her
+childish eyes and pain to her lonely heart--the eyes of Lucian Davlin
+became bright with admiration, and something more; something that
+might have caused her honest eyes to wonder and question, if she had
+but intercepted the glance. But her thoughts had taken a backward
+turn. Without looking up, perceiving by his silence that he had no
+desire to interrupt her, she proceeded, half addressing herself:
+
+"I used to ask him about my mother, and was always informed that he
+'didn't care to converse of dead folks.' Finally, he assured me that
+he was 'tired of seeing my sickly, ugly face,' and that, as I would
+have to look after myself when he was dead and gone, I must be
+educated. Therefore, I was sent to the dreary Convent school at M----.
+And there I studied hard, looking forward to the time when, having
+learned all they could teach me, I might breathe again outside the
+four stone walls; for, by my step-papa's commands, I was not permitted
+to roam outside the sisters' domains until my studies should reach an
+end. Then they brought me back, and my polite step-papa called me an
+'educated idiot;' and my good old Hagar cried over me; and I made
+friends with the birds, and the trees. Ever since, always avoiding my
+worthy ancestor-in-law, I have been wondering what it would be like to
+be happy among true friends, in a bright spot somewhere, far away from
+this place, where I never have been happy for a day at a time, even as
+a child."
+
+"Never, little girl?" The eyes were very reproachful, and the man's
+hand was held out entreatingly. "Never, darling?"
+
+She looked up in his face shyly, yet trustfully, and then putting her
+hand in his, said: "Never, until I knew you, Lucian; and always since,
+I think, except--"
+
+She hesitated, and the color fled out of her face.
+
+"Except when I think that the day draws near when you will leave me.
+And when the great world has swallowed you up, you will forget the
+'little girl' you found in the woods, perhaps."
+
+A smile flitted across the face of the listener, and he turned away
+for a moment to conceal the lurking devil gleaming out of his eyes.
+Then, flinging away his half finished cigar, he took both her hands in
+his, and looking down into her clear eyes, said:
+
+"Then don't let me go away from you, beauty. Don't stay here to make
+dismal meditations among the gloomy trees. Don't pass all the weary
+Winter with Curmudgeon, who will marry you to an old bag of gold. Come
+with me; come to the city and be happy. You shall see all the glories
+and beauties of the gay, bright world. You shall put dull care far
+behind you. You shall be my little Queen of Hearts, to love and care
+for always. Sweetheart, will you come?"
+
+He was folding her close now, and she nestled in his arms with perfect
+trustfulness, with untold happiness shining in her bright eyes. She
+was in no haste to answer his eager question, and he smiled again; and
+once more the lurking devil laughed out of his eyes. But he held her
+tenderly to him, in silence for a time, and then lifted the blushing
+face to meet his own.
+
+"Look up, Aileen, my own! Is it to be as I wish? Will you leave this
+place with me to-morrow night?"
+
+The girl drew back with a start of surprise. "You--you surely are not
+going to-morrow, Lucian," and the gentle voice trembled.
+
+"I must, little one--have just received a letter calling me back to
+the city. Your sweet face has already kept me here too long. But I
+shall take it back with me, shall I not, love; and never lose it
+more?"
+
+The girl was silent. She loved him only too well, and yet this
+peremptory wooing and sudden departure struck upon her naturally
+sensitive nerves as something harsh and unpleasant. She would not
+leave behind much love, would be missed by few friends, and yet--to
+leave her home once was to leave it forever, and it was home, after
+all. She looked at the man before her, and a something, her good angel
+perhaps, seemed, almost against herself, to move her to rebel.
+
+"Why must I go like a runaway, Lucian? I can't bear to bid you go, and
+yet, if you must, why not leave me for a little time? My father will
+never consent, I well know, but let me tell him, and then go openly,
+after he has had time to become familiar with the idea."
+
+"After he has had time to lock you up! Recollect, you are not of age,
+Aileen. After he has had time to force you into a marriage with your
+broken-backed old lover. After he has had time to poison your mind
+against me----"
+
+"Lucian! as if he could do _that_; _he_, indeed!" The girl laughed
+scornfully.
+
+[Illustration: "She nestled in his arms with perfect
+trustfulness."--page 11.]
+
+It is not difficult to guess how this affair would have terminated.
+The man was handsome and persuasive; the girl trustful, loving, and,
+save for him, so she thought, almost friendless.
+
+But an unexpected event interrupted the eloquence flowing from the
+lips of Lucian Davlin, and set the mind of the girl free to think one
+moment, unbiased by the mesmeric power of his mind, eye, and touch.
+
+They were standing in a little grove, near which ran the footpath
+leading into the village of Bellair. Suddenly, as if he had dropped
+from one of the wide spreading trees, a very fat boy, with a shining
+face and a general air of "knowingness," appeared before them.
+
+"I beg pardin, sir," proclaimed he, "but as you told me if a
+tellergram come for you, to fetch it here, so I did."
+
+And staring at Madeline the while, he produced a yellow envelope from
+some interior region, and presented it to Lucian Davlin, who tore open
+the cover, and took in the purport of the message at one glance. His
+face wore a variety of expressions: Annoyance, satisfaction, surprise,
+all found place as he read. He stood in a thoughtful attitude for a
+brief time, and then, as if he had settled the matter in his own mind,
+said:
+
+"All right, Mike. Go back now, and tell Bowers to prepare to leave
+to-night. I'll come down and send the required answer immediately.
+Here, take this."
+
+Tossing him a piece of money, Lucian turned to Madeline, over whose
+face a look of sorrowful wonder was creeping.
+
+"'Man proposes,' my dear! Well, I am 'disposed of' for a time. It is
+only one night sooner, and, after all, what matter? Will you decide
+for me at once, Maidie? Nay, I see you hesitate still, and time just
+now is precious. Think till to-night, then; think of the lonely days
+here without me; think of me, alone in the big world, wishing and
+longing for _you_. I could not even write you in safety. Think fast,
+little woman; and when evening comes, meet me here with your answer.
+If it must be separation for a time, dear, tell me when I shall come
+back for you."
+
+The girl drew a breath of relief. He would come back--that would be
+better. But seeing his anxiety to be gone, she only said: "Very well,
+Lucian, I will be here."
+
+"Then, good-by till evening."
+
+A swift kiss, and a strong hand clasp, and he strode away.
+
+Trampling down the wayside daisies and tender Spring grasses;
+insensible to the beauties of earth and sky; smiling still that same
+queer, meaning smile, he took the path leading back to the village.
+Reaching the site, where the woody path terminated in the highway, he
+turned. Yes, she was looking after him; she would be, he knew. He
+kissed his hand, lifted his hat with a courtly gesture, and passed out
+of her sight.
+
+"Gad!" he ejaculated, half aloud, "she is a little beauty; and half
+inclined to rebel, too. She won't go with me to-night, I think; but a
+few weeks of this solitude without me, and my Lady Bird will
+capitulate. The old Turk, her step-father, won't raise much of a hue
+and cry at her flight, I fancy. Wonder what is the secret of his
+antipathy to Miss Payne."
+
+He paced on, wrinkling his brow in thought a moment, and then
+whistling softly as his fancies shaped themselves to his liking.
+Suddenly he stopped, turned, and looked sharply about him.
+
+"I'll do it!" he exclaimed. "Strange if I can't extract from a broken
+down old woman any items of family history that might serve my
+purpose. I'll call on the nurse--what's her name--to-night."
+
+He glanced across the meadow to where stood the cottage of Nurse
+Hagar, and, as if satisfied with himself and his brilliant last idea,
+resumed his walk. Presently his pace slackened again, and he looked at
+the crumpled paper which he still retained in his hand, saying:
+
+"It's queer what sent Cora to the city for this flying visit. I must
+keep my Madeline out of her way. If they should meet--whew!"
+
+Evidently, direful things might ensue from a meeting between Madeline
+Payne and this unknown Cora, for after a prolonged whistle, a brief
+moment of silence, and then a short laugh, Davlin said:
+
+"I should wear a wig, at least," and he laughed again. "I wonder, by
+Jove! I wonder if old Arthur's money bags are heavy enough to make a
+card for Cora. Well, I'll find that out, too."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE OLD TREE'S REVELATIONS.
+
+
+Meanwhile, strange feelings filled the heart, and troublesome thoughts
+the head, of Madeline Payne.
+
+She looked about her sorrowfully. The leafy wood seemed one of her
+oldest, truest friends. Since her mother's death, she had lived, save
+for the faithful regard of old Hagar, an unloved life. In the only
+home she knew, she felt herself an object of dislike, and met only
+cold neglect, or rude repulsion. So she had made a friend of the shady
+wood, and welcomed back the birds, in early Springtime, with joyful
+anticipation of Summer rest under green branches, lulled and soothed
+by their songs.
+
+Wandering here, the acquaintance between herself and Lucian Davlin
+had begun. Here six long, bright weeks of the Springtime had passed,
+each day finding them lingering longer among the leafy shadows, and
+drawing closer about them both the cords of a destiny sad for one,
+fatal for each.
+
+Standing with hands clasped loosely before her, eyes down dropped, and
+foot tapping the mossy turf, Madeline presented a picture of youth and
+loveliness such as is rarely seen even in a beauty-abounding land. A
+form of medium height which would, in later years, develop much of
+stately grace; a complexion of lily-like fairness; and eyes as deep
+and brown, as tender and childlike, as if their owner were gazing,
+ever and always, as infants gaze who see only great, grand wonders,
+and never a woe or fear.
+
+With a wee, small mouth, matching the eyes in expression, the face was
+one to strike a casual observer as lovely--as childishly sweet,
+perhaps. Yet there was something more than childishness in the broad
+brow, and firm chin. The little white hands were shapely and strong,
+and the dainty feet pressed down the daisies softly yet firmly, with
+quiet but steady movement.
+
+Many a man has been mistaken in baby mouth, and sweetly-smiling eyes.
+And whoso should mistake Madeline Payne, in the time to come, for
+"just a child and nothing more," would reckon unwisely, and mayhap
+learn this truth too late.
+
+Madeline sat down upon a fallen tree, where she had so often talked
+with her lover. She looked up into the wide spreading branches
+overhead. There was the crooked bough where she had, often and often,
+in past days, sought refuge when troubled by her father's harshness,
+or haunted by dreams of the mother she had hardly known. It looked
+cool and inviting, as if she could think to better purpose shrouded by
+the whispering leaves. She stepped upon the fallen trunk, and
+springing upward, caught a bending limb, and was soon seated cosily
+aloft, smiling at the thought of what Lucian would say could he see
+her there. Long she pondered, silent, motionless. Finally, stirring
+herself and shaking lightly an overhanging friendly branch she
+exclaimed:
+
+"That will be best! I'll stay here for the present. I'll tell
+step-papa that I love Lucian, and will never marry his friend, Amos
+Adams, the old fright! I'll try and be very calm, and as dutiful as
+maybe. Then, if he turns me out, very well. If he shuts me up--" Her
+eyes flashed and she laughed; but there was little of mirth in the
+laughter--"Why, then, I _would_ lead him a life, I think! Yes, I'll
+bid Lucian good-by, for a little while, and I'll try and not miss him
+too much, for--Oh!"
+
+She had been very busy with her own half-spoken thoughts, else she
+must have sooner discovered their approach, for now they were almost
+underneath her, and they were no less personages than her step-father,
+John Arthur, and her would-be suitor, Amos Adams.
+
+Madeline was about to make known her presence, but her ear caught the
+fragment of a sentence in which her name held prominent place. Acting
+upon impulse, she remained a silent, unsuspected listener.
+
+And so began in her heart and life that drama of pain and passion, sin
+and mystery, that should close round, and harden and blight, the
+darkening future of Madeline Payne.
+
+A more marked contrast than the two men presented could scarcely be
+imagined.
+
+[Illustration: "Madeline presented a picture of youth and
+loveliness."--page 17.]
+
+John Arthur might have been, evidently had been, a handsome man, years
+ago. But it did not seem possible that, even in his palmiest days,
+Amos Adams could have been called anything save a fright. He was much
+below the medium height. His head was sunken between his shoulders,
+and thrust forward, and each feature of his ugly face seemed at war
+with every other; while the glance of his greenish gray eye was such
+as would cause a right-minded person involuntarily to cross himself
+and utter, with perfect propriety, the Pharisee's prayer.
+
+"The mischief fly away with you, man," said Mr. Arthur, seating
+himself upon the fallen tree, and striking at the ground fiercely with
+his cane; "what is my dead wife to you? Madeline makes my life a
+burden by these same queries. It's none of your business why the
+departed Mrs. Arthur left her property to me during my life, and tied
+it up so as to make me only nominal master--mine to use but not sell,
+not one acre, not a tree or stone; all must go intact to Miss
+Madeline, curse her, at my death."
+
+"Um-m, yes. Does the girl know anything of this?"
+
+"If she did, your chances would be slim," said the other, scornfully.
+"No; I have taken good care that she should not. She has a vixenish
+temper, if she should get waked up to imagine herself 'wronged,' or
+any such school-girl nonsense. I shall not live many years--this heart
+disease is gaining on me fast; and if the girl is your wife, in case
+of my death the fortune is as good as yours, you know. I want to have
+peace while I do live; and for this reason, I say, I will give you my
+step-daughter in marriage, and you shall give me the note you hold
+against me for that old debt, the payment of which would compel me to
+live like a beggar for the remainder of my days, and the sum of ten
+thousand dollars."
+
+"It's making a wife a rather expensive luxury," quoth old Amos,
+seating himself; "but the girl's a beauty--no disputing that point;
+and--"
+
+"Of course she is," broke in Arthur, impatiently; "worth that, and
+more, to whoever wants her, which, fortunately for you, I don't; she
+is only a kill-joy to me. If you want the girl, take her, and be
+blessed--I'll give away the bride with all the pleasure in the
+world--and 'live happy ever after.'"
+
+[Illustration: "What is my dead wife to you?"--page 20.]
+
+There was not much room for argument between these two. It was simply
+a question of exchange, and when old Amos had decided that he was not
+paying too dearly for so fair a piece of flesh and blood, they came to
+terms without more ado, and being agreed that "it's always best to
+strike while the iron is hot," Mr. Arthur suggested that his friend
+return with him, accept a seat at his hospitable board, and hear
+himself announced formally to Miss Madeline, as her future lord and
+master. John Arthur had ever exacted and received passive obedience
+from his step-daughter. He had little fear of rebellion now. How could
+she rebel? Was she not dependent upon his bounty for her daily bread,
+even?
+
+Old Amos troubled his ugly head little if any on this point. He
+recognized no higher potentate than gold. He had bought him a wife; he
+had but to pay the price and take possession of the property.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Madeline Payne sat long on her leafy perch, thinking fast and hard,
+the expressions of her face changing rapidly as she revolved, in her
+mind, different phases of the situation. Surprise gave place to
+contempt, as she eyed the departing plotters from her green
+hiding-place. Contempt merged into amusement, as she thought of the
+wonderful contrast between the two wooers who had proffered their
+respective suits, in a manner so very different, beneath that
+self-same tree. A look of fixed resolve settled down upon her
+countenance at last, and uncurling herself, she dropped lightly upon
+the ground.
+
+[Illustration: "Slowly she turned away and very thoughtful was her
+face."--page 24]
+
+Madeline had made up her mind. That it would be useless to say aught
+of Lucian, she now knew too well. That she could never defy her
+father's commands, and still dwell beneath her father's roof, she also
+knew. She hesitated no longer. Fate, stronger than she, had decided
+for her, she reasoned. Her mind once made up, she gave in it no place
+to fears or misgivings. The strength of will and the spirit of
+rebellion, that were dormant in her nature, began to stir into life,
+roused by the injustice that would rob her of her own. She not only
+had a way of escape, but that way her own inclinations lured her. With
+never a fear, never a thought of the days to come, she turned from her
+mockery of a home, from her parent, unnatural, unloving, and unloved,
+to an unknown, untried world, which was all embodied in one
+word--Lucian.
+
+The past held for her many dark shadows; the future held all that she
+craved of joy and love--Lucian.
+
+In her outraged heart there was no room for grief. She had heard her
+dead mother scorned, and by him who, more than all others, should have
+cherished her memory and honored her name. She had heard herself
+bartered away, as a parcel of goods, and her very life weighed in the
+balance as a most objectionable thing. Her happiness was scoffed at;
+her wishes ignored as if without existence, and contrary to all
+nature; even her liberty was menaced.
+
+Slowly she turned away, and very thoughtful was her face as she went,
+but fixed in its purpose as fate itself: and fearless still as if life
+had no dark places, no storm clouds, no despair.
+
+Oh! they were lovely, innocent eyes; and oh! it was a sweet, sweet
+mouth! But the eyes never wavered, and the mouth had no trace of
+weakness in its dainty curves. You have reckoned without your host,
+John Arthur. It is no commonplace school-girl with whom you have to
+deal. Madeline Payne possesses a nature all untried, yet strong for
+good or evil. Intense in love or hate, fearless to do and dare, she
+will meet the fate you bring upon her--but woe to those who have
+compassed her downfall! If your hand has shaped the destiny of her
+life, she will no less overrule your future and, from afar--perhaps
+unrecognized, unseen--mete out to you measure for measure!
+
+The grand old tree is sighing out a farewell. The sunlight is casting
+fantastic shadows where her foot, but a moment since, rested. The
+leaves glisten and whisper strange things. The golden buttercups laugh
+up in the sun's face, as if there were no drama of loving and hating,
+sin and atonement, daily enacted on their green, motherly bosom. And
+Madeline Payne has put her childhood behind her, and turned her face
+to the darkness beyond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE STORY OF A CRIME.
+
+
+Nurse Hagar was displeased. She plied her knitting-needles fiercely,
+and seemed to rejoice in their sharp clicking. She rocked furiously
+backwards and forwards, and sharply admonished the cat to "take
+himself away," or she "would certainly rock on his tail." She "wanted
+to do something to somebody, she did!" She looked across the fields in
+the direction of Oakley, and dropping her knitting and bringing her
+chair to a tranquil state, soliloquized:
+
+"It's always the way with young folks; they don't never remember that
+old uns have feelings. They run away after a new face, and if it's a
+young one and a handsome one, they turn everybody out of their
+thoughts; everybody else. Not that I think that city fellow's a
+handsome chap; by no means," she grumbled; "but Maidie does; that's
+certain sure. And she won't let me say a word about him--oh, no; I'm a
+poor old woman, and my advice is not wanted!"
+
+Hagar resumed her knitting and her rocking with fresh vigor. But her
+face relaxed a measure of its grimness as, looking up, her eye rested
+on a dainty nosegay, tossed in at the window only that morning, by
+this same neglectful young girl.
+
+"She don't mean to forget me, to be sure," she resumed. "She is always
+kind and gentle to her old nurse. She is lonesome, of course, and
+should have young company, like other girls, but--" here the needles
+slacked again--"drat that city chap! I wish he had stayed away from
+Bellair."
+
+"Goodness, auntie, what a face! I am almost afraid to come in."
+
+Madeline laughed, despite her anxiety, as Aunt Hagar permitted her
+opinion of the "city feller" to manifest itself in every feature.
+
+"Get that awfully defiant look out of your countenance, auntie,"
+continued Madeline; "for I'm coming in to have a long talk with you,
+and I must not be frightened in the beginning."
+
+The lovely face disappeared from the open window, and in a moment
+reappeared in the doorway.
+
+To permit herself to be propitiated in a moment, however, was not in
+the nature of Dame Hagar.
+
+"I s'pose you think it's very respectful to pop your saucy head in at
+an old woman's window, and set her all of a tremble and then tell her,
+because she is not grinning for her own amusement, that she looks
+awfully cross, and that you are afraid she will bite you. You are a
+nice one to talk of being afraid; you, who never showed an atom of
+fear of anything from your cradle up. If you were a bit afraid, when
+you were out in the woods, for instance, and meet a long-legged animal
+with a smooth tongue, and eyes that ought to make you nervous,
+'twouldn't be to your discredit, I think. Of course, I don't mean to
+say that you don't meet him quite by accident; oh, no! And I don't
+_say_ that he ain't a very nice, respectable sort of chap, whatever I
+may _think_. You are just like your poor mother, and if this fellow
+with a name that might as well be Devil, and done with it--"
+
+"There, now, auntie--" Madeline's face flushed, and she put the cat
+down with sudden emphasis; "I won't let you say bad things of Mr.
+Davlin, for I think you would be sorry for it afterward."
+
+She drew a low seat to the side of the old lady, and looking her full
+in the face, spoke in a voice low, intense, full of purpose.
+
+"Auntie, it is time you told me more about my mother. You have evaded,
+my step-father has forbidden, my questioning, but if I am ever to know
+aught of my dead mother's history, I intend to hear it from your lips
+to-day."
+
+Surprise for a time held the old woman speechless; a look of sorrow
+and affection drove the querulousness out of her face and voice.
+
+"What ails you, child?" she said, wonderingly. "Do you want to make
+Mr. Arthur hate me more, and keep you from me entirely? Don't you
+know, dearie, how he swore that the day I told you these things, he
+would forbid you to visit me; and if you disobeyed, take you away
+where I could not even hear of you?"
+
+Tears were in Hagar's eyes, and she held out her wrinkled hands
+imploringly. "Don't tease your old nurse, dearie; don't. I can't tell
+you these things now, and they could not make you any happier, child.
+Wait a little; the time will come--"
+
+"So will old age, auntie; and death, and all the knowledge we want, I
+suppose, when it is too late to make it profitable. Well, auntie, I
+will tell you something in exchange for my mother's story, and to make
+it easier for you to relate it. But first, will you answer a few
+questions?--wait, I know what you would say," as the old woman made a
+deprecating movement, and essayed to speak. "Hear me, now."
+
+Hagar looked at the girl earnestly for a moment, and then said,
+quietly:
+
+"Go on then, dearie."
+
+"First," pursued Madeline; "my father dislikes me very much; is this
+the truth?" Hagar nodded assent.
+
+"He dislikes you because you were always good to me." Here she paused,
+and Hagar again nodded.
+
+"Because you were attached to my mother." Again she paused, and again
+the old woman bowed assent.
+
+"And because"--the girl fixed the eyes of the old nurse with her
+own,--"because you were too familiar with my mother's past, and his,
+and knew too well the secret of his hatred of me!"
+
+Hagar sat silent and motionless, but Madeline, who had read her answer
+in the troubled face, continued: "Very good; I knew all this before,
+and I'll tell you what else I know. I know why Mr. John Arthur hates
+me!"
+
+Hagar opened her mouth, and shut it again quickly.
+
+"He hates me," pursued Madeline, "because my mother left him her
+fortune so tied up that he can only use it; never dispose of it. And
+at his death it reverts to me."
+
+Hagar still looked her amazement, and Madeline condensed the remainder
+of her force into one telling shot.
+
+"If I would be kind enough to die, he would consider it a great favor.
+But as I evidently intend to live long, he desires, of course, to see
+me happy. Therefore he has bargained me in marriage to Amos Adams, for
+the splendid consideration of a few thousand dollars, and the promise
+of a few thousand more _if I die young_!"
+
+Still the bewildered look rested upon the old woman's face, and still
+she gazed at the young girl before her. Suddenly, she leaned forward,
+and taking the fair head between two trembling hands, gazed long at
+her. As if satisfied at last with her scrutiny, she drew a deep,
+sighing breath and leaned back in her chair.
+
+"It's true," groaned Hagar; "it's too true! She has found it out, and
+my little girl has gone away;--my Baby Madeline is become a woman!
+There was never a coward in all the race, and a Payne never forgave!
+It has come at last," she wailed, "and now, what will she do?"
+
+Madeline lost not a look nor tone; and when the old woman ceased her
+rocking and moaning, she suggested, with a half smile:
+
+"Hadn't I better marry old Adams, auntie, worry them both into
+untimely graves, and be a rich young widow?"
+
+Hagar gazed at her in silence. And Madeline, taking her hand in her
+own, said: "Shall I tell you how I discovered all this, auntie, dear?"
+
+"Yes, child; go on." And she bent upon the girl a look of attention.
+
+Madeline drew close to her side, and briefly related what had
+transpired while she sat in her favorite tree; not stating, by the
+bye, how it occurred that she was in the grove at that very opportune
+time. Hagar's indignation was unbounded, but she continued to gaze at
+Madeline in a strange, half fearful, half wondering, wholly expectant
+way, that the girl could not interpret.
+
+"And now, Aunt Hagar," pursued Madeline, seriously, "I want to
+understand this matter more fully, and I will not say a word of my
+plans until you have told me what I came to hear. I shall not come to
+you again for this information; it is surely my right, and time now is
+precious."
+
+Madeline half rose, seeing that her nurse still rocked dismally and
+looked irresolute. "I can bide my time, and fight my battles alone, if
+need be," she continued, coldly. "I won't trouble you again, nurse,"
+turning as if to go.
+
+"Stop, child!" cried Hagar; "let an old woman think. I'll tell you all
+I can; all I know. Don't turn away from your old nurse, dearie; her
+only thought is for your good. Yes; you must not be left in the dark
+now,--sit down child; sit down."
+
+Madeline resumed her seat, and old Hagar, after another season of
+moaning and rocking, proceeded to relate, with many wanderings from
+the point, and many interpolations and opinions of her own, the brief,
+sad story of Mrs. Arthur's married life and early death. Bereft of
+Hagar's ornamental extras, it was as follows:
+
+Madeline Harcourt, an orphan, and the adopted daughter of a wealthy
+bachelor uncle, had incurred his displeasure by loving and marrying
+Lionel Payne, handsome, brave to a fault, with no other wealth than
+his keen intellect, his unsullied honor, and his loving, manly heart.
+
+[Illustration: "I can bide my time, and fight my battles alone if need
+be."--page 30]
+
+Lionel Payne had entered upon the study of law, but circumstances
+threw in his way certain mysteries that had long been puzzling the
+heads of the foremost detectives, and the young law student
+discovered in himself not only a marked taste for the study of
+mysteries, but a talent that was remarkable. So he gave up his law
+studies to become a detective. He rose rapidly in his new profession,
+giving all the strength of his splendid ability to the study of
+intricate and difficult cases, and became known among detectives, and
+dreaded among criminals, as "Payne, the Expert."
+
+He had lived two happy years with his young wife, and been six months
+the proud father of baby Madeline, when he fell a victim to his
+dangerous pursuit, shot dead by a bullet from the hand of a fleeing
+assassin.
+
+John Arthur had been a fellow law student with Lionel Payne, and he
+had followed the career of the young expert with curious interest,
+being, as much as was possible to his selfish nature, a friend and
+admirer of the rising young detective. And Lionel Payne, open and
+manly himself, and seeing no trace of the serpent in the seeming
+disinterestedness of Arthur, introduced him proudly into his happy
+home. Arthur was struck by the beauty of the young wife, and became a
+frequent and welcome visitor.
+
+One day, there came to the office where John Arthur earned his bread
+reluctantly, as a salaried clerk, the uncle of Madeline Payne. He had
+come to make a will, in which he left all his possessions to his
+beloved niece, Madeline, and her heirs forever after. This was several
+months before the sudden death of Lionel Payne.
+
+Ten months after she became a widow, Madeline's uncle died. Left alone
+with her little child, and with no resources but her own efforts,
+Madeline's mother struggled on, ever the object of the kind
+watchfulness and unobtrusive care of John Arthur, who professed to
+adore the child for the sake of the father, and through the baby
+Madeline, gradually won his way in the mother's esteem. Mrs. Payne was
+deeply grateful, and her mother's heart was touched by the devotion of
+Arthur to her little child. So it came about that, after a time, she
+gave him her hand, and all of her heart that was not buried with
+Lionel. A little later she learned that her uncle was dead, and she
+became mistress of a handsome fortune.
+
+Soon came the knowledge that her husband's heart was not all gold, and
+the suspicion, as well, that her uncle's will and its purport had long
+been no secret to him. But, partly from force of habit, and partly
+because he was not yet quiet hardened, John Arthur kept up his farce
+of affection for the child. And while his wife awoke to a knowledge of
+many of his short-comings, she always believed in his love for her
+little one.
+
+The two elements that were strongest in the nature of John Arthur were
+selfishness and pride. From his youth up his idols had been gold and
+self. Born into the world minus that "golden spoon" for which he
+sighed in youth, and schemed in later years, he had ever felt towards
+said world a half-fledged enmity. As he reached the age of manhood,
+his young sister was formally adopted by the only surviving relatives
+of the two; and becoming in due course of time and nature sole
+possessor of a very nice little fortune, afterwards held her head very
+high. Later, in consequence of some little indiscretions of her
+brother at the time when he was set free in the world--the result of
+the popular superstition held by him that "the world owed him a
+living,"--she held herself aloof from and ignored him completely.
+
+By degrees Mrs. Arthur's eyes became opened to the true character of
+the man she had married. Moments she had of doubting, and then of
+fearing that she wronged him too deeply, for her nature was a just
+one. It was in one of these latter moods that she made her will,
+before she had become aware that even his love for her little girl was
+only a well acted lie; believing her secure of love and care during
+his life, she made sure that, at his death, her darling should be
+supplied with all that money could give. She had long been in the
+fatal toils of that dread destroyer, heart disease, and suddenly,
+before she had found opportunity for securing her little daughter
+further, as she had since begun to realize it was needful to do, she
+was seized with a paroxysm that snapped the frail cord of life.
+
+A short time before her death, she had given into the keeping of old
+Hagar, a package, to be delivered to little Madeline when she should
+become a woman, and with the express wish that, should John Arthur
+prove a kind guardian meanwhile, she would burn the journal it
+contained, unread.
+
+Old Hagar now placed in Madeline's hands the package, which was found
+to contain her mother's most valuable jewels, and the tear-stained
+journal, which the girl seated herself to peruse, with sorrowful awe.
+
+The last page being turned, and the sad life of her mother fully
+revealed, Madeline bowed her head and wept bitterly, heedless of the
+attempt of old Hagar to comfort her, until the name of her step-father
+upon the old woman's lips brought her suddenly to her feet, the tears
+still on her cheeks, but her eyes flashing, and on her countenance a
+look that might have been a revelation to John Arthur, had that
+gentleman been there to see. Taking the old woman's hand, and holding
+it tightly in her own, the girl said:
+
+"Thanks, auntie, for recalling me. I have no time for tears now.
+Listen, and don't interrupt me. My poor mother died with a heart
+filled with fears for my future, left to that man's keeping. At the
+time of her death, he believed himself her unconditional heir. She
+feared for her life with him, and her sickness was aggravated in every
+possible manner by him, and I fully believe that, in intent if not in
+deed, John Arthur is my _mother's murderer_!"
+
+The old woman's face expressed as plainly as words could do, that she
+shared in this belief. The girl went on, in the same rapid, firm tone:
+
+"He killed the mother for gold, and now he would sell her child. He
+will fail; and this is but the beginning. As he drove my mother into
+her grave, I will hunt him into his! He shall suffer all that she
+suffered, and more! I know where you obtained your independence now,
+Aunt Hagar; and he hates you doubly because my mother's love provided
+for you a home, and for her child a haven in time of need. It was
+well. Keep the old cottage open for me, Aunt Hagar. Keep an eye on
+John Arthur, for my sake. Never fear for me, whatever happens. Expect
+to hear from me at any time, to see me at any moment. Don't answer any
+questions about me. A thousand thanks for all your love and kindness,
+auntie; good-by."
+
+Before the old woman could recover from her astonishment, or utter a
+word, Madeline had kissed her, swiftly taken up the precious package,
+and was gone! Hagar hastened to the door, but the girl was speeding
+swiftly down the path, and was quickly lost to view.
+
+"Oh! Oh! Oh!" moaned Hagar, seating herself in the doorway; "her
+father's passion and her mother's pride! Sorrow and trouble before
+her, and she all alone; dark, dark, dark; the world against her!
+Sorrow and trouble--it's in the blood! And she'll never give it up!
+She'll fight her wrongs to the bitter end. Oh, my precious girl!" and
+she buried her head in her apron and wept.
+
+The sun's last ray had faded from the highest hill-top. The little
+birds had folded their wings and hushed their warblings. Dark clouds
+came sweeping up from the west, and one, heavy and black, passed above
+the roof of Oakley, bent down, and rested there. Hagar, still
+sorrowing in the doorway, saw and interpreted. Dark days to come to
+the master of that overshadowed house. Dreary days and bitter
+nights--ah, how many, before that cloud should be lifted from over it,
+or light hearts beat beneath its roof.
+
+"I beg pardon, madame, you appear in trouble; perhaps I intrude?"
+
+It was Lucian Davlin's soft, lazy voice, and that disagreeable half
+smile lurked about the corners of his eyes and mouth.
+
+"I've had more welcome visitors," said the old woman, with more truth
+than politeness, and rubbing her eyes with the corner of her apron,
+"what do you want?"
+
+"Only a small matter of information, which I believe you can give me."
+
+"Well," said Hagar, testily.
+
+"I want to make a few inquiries about Mr. Arthur of Oakley."
+
+"About Miss Madeline, I suppose you mean. I won't tell you a word--"
+
+"My dear, good woman, I don't ask nor wish any information regarding
+that young lady--my inquiries solely concern the father. He is said to
+be wealthy!"
+
+"What is John Arthur or his money to you?" she questioned, eying him
+with much disfavor.
+
+"Nothing whatever," he indifferently replied. "I merely inquire on
+behalf of a friend."
+
+"I'll throw him off the scent if he does mean Madeline," thought the
+old woman.
+
+"Well, Mr. whatever your name is, if it will satisfy your friend to
+know that Mr. John Arthur is master of Oakley, and everybody knows
+there's no finer property in the State, and that he has a yearly
+income of ten thousand or more, why, tell him or her so. And you may
+as well say, at the same time, that he is too stingy and mean to keep
+the one in repair, or spend decently the other. And when he
+dies"--here she suddenly checked herself--"well, when he dies, his
+heirs, whoever they may be, will inherit all the more because of his
+meanness."
+
+"And who, pray, may be his heirs?"
+
+"How should I know who a stingy old reprobate will choose to inherit
+after him? I think he has a sister somewhere, but I don't know."
+
+"H'm, thank you--for my friend. Good-night."
+
+Smiling that same Mephistophelian smile, Lucian Davlin sauntered away,
+apparently satisfied with himself and what was passing in his mind.
+
+"He'll do," he muttered; "and she'll do him. It will be a good thing
+for her, just now, and very convenient for me into the bargain. Cora's
+a marvellously fine woman, but little Madeline is fresh as a rose, and
+a few months of the city will make her sharp enough. Only let me keep
+them apart; that's all." Satisfaction beamed in his eye and smiled on
+his lip. "Pretty Madeline will be the envy of half the boulevard."
+
+Now he has neared the trysting tree. "I think I'll just smoke here,
+and wait for my pretty bird; this is the place and almost the time."
+
+He smoked and he waited; the time came, and passed; his cigar expired;
+the shadows deepened--but still he waited.
+
+And he waited in vain. No light form advanced through, the gathering
+night; no sweet voice greeted him.
+
+The time was far past now, and, muttering an oath, the disappointed
+lover strode away, and was lost in the night.
+
+Madeline was standing in her own room, the threshold of which John
+Arthur had never crossed since the day when a silent form was borne
+from it, and laid in that peaceful home, the churchyard. She had just
+received the summons, for which, only, she lingered--the command of
+Mr. Arthur to attend at the altar of hospitality, and pour, for Mr.
+Amos Adams, the tea.
+
+She was attired in a neat dark garment which was vastly becoming. She
+had made her toilet with more than usual care, as if, perhaps, to do
+honor to her ancient suitor--at least so thought Mr. Arthur, when she
+presented herself before him.
+
+She had put her chiefest treasures in a little, a very little,
+travelling bag. And now she threw across her arm a large cloak, took
+her hat, veil, and bag, and descended softly to the hall below. It was
+faintly lighted from the lower end, and Madeline deposited her
+belongings in a darkened niche near a door, peeped put into the night
+that had come on cloudy and starless, and entered the room where
+waited the two conspirators, and supper.
+
+John Arthur was more bland and smiling than Madeline had ever before
+known him, while as for old Amos, he nearly lost himself in a maze of
+grins and chuckles, but displayed a very unloverlike appetite,
+nevertheless, and divided his attention pretty evenly between the
+beautiful face of Madeline, and the viands on the table.
+
+Madeline betrayed no sign of surprise at her step-papa's unwonted
+cordiality, and no annoyance at the ogling and chuckling of her
+antiquated suitor. In truth, she favored him with more than one
+expressive smile, the meaning of which he little guessed, as she
+contrasted him once more with handsome Lucian Davlin, and smiled again
+at the picture of his coming defeat.
+
+The meal was partaken of in comparative silence, all apparently quite
+satisfied with their own thoughts--ah, how different! It was not until
+old Jane, the servant, had been dismissed that Mr. Arthur drew his
+chair a trifle nearer that of his friend, and leaning his arms upon
+the table, looked across at Madeline, and said:
+
+"My dear, I believe you are aware of the honor this gentleman desires
+to confer upon you? I think I have hinted at the truth upon one or two
+occasions?"
+
+Madeline veiled her too expressive eyes behind their long lashes, but
+made no reply.
+
+"It is my desire," he continued, surveying with satisfaction the
+appearance of humility with which his words were received, "and the
+desire of Mr. Adams as well, that we should come to a satisfactory
+understanding to-night. We will, therefore, settle the preliminaries
+at once:--this is your desire, I think, Mr. Adams?"
+
+"Oh, certainly! Oh, yes, yes," ejaculated old Amos, in a transport of
+grins.
+
+"And this will, I trust,"--he was growing more stately and polite
+every moment--"this, of course, is satisfactory to you, Miss
+Madeline?"
+
+"Perfectly." She looked him full in the face now, and somehow her
+glance slightly impaired his feeling of dignity and security.
+
+"Very good; and now having formally accepted the proffered hand of Mr.
+Adams--"
+
+"Pardon me, sir, you are too fast. Mr. Adams has not offered
+himself."
+
+"Nonsense,"--Mr. Arthur suddenly forgot his politeness--"haven't I
+just stated his offer?"
+
+Madeline leaned back in her chair, and looked from one to the other
+with a tranquil smile.
+
+"Perhaps; but unfortunately there is a law in existence which
+prohibits a man from marrying his grandmother, and likewise objects, I
+believe, to a young woman's espousing her step-papa, however much
+adored. And as you can't marry me, my dear parent and guardian, why I
+object to listening to a proposal from your lips."
+
+John Arthur gazed in angry consternation upon the girl's still smiling
+face, but before the impatient words that he would have uttered could
+find voice, old Amos, who had interpreted her smiles as being
+favorable to himself, came gallantly to the rescue.
+
+"Right! quite right," he chuckled. "Of course, you know, Arthur--Miss
+Madeline, ahem--that's what I meant, you know. It's the proper way,"
+he gasped; and the general expression of his countenance did not tend
+to make his observations the more lucid--"I meant, you know--ah,
+well--will you honor me Miss Madeline--by--by your hand, you know?"
+
+This effort of oratory was received with smiling attention by the
+girl, who now addressed herself entirely to him, without heeding the
+effect of her words upon her step-father, or his interpolations, as
+she proceeded.
+
+"Mr. Adams;"--she spoke in a low, even tone, and gradually permitted
+the real feelings that were seeking for expression to show themselves
+in her every feature--"Mr. Adams, I think I appreciate _as it
+deserves_ the honor you desire to bestow upon me; believe me, too,
+when I say that I am as grateful as it is proper I should be. But, Mr.
+Adams, I am only a mere girl, and you might pay too dearly for me."
+
+"What the deuce does the fool mean?" growled Mr. Arthur.
+
+"I don't dispute the fact that I am a perfectly marketable commodity,
+and it is very right and proper that my dear step-papa--who dotes on
+me, whose idol I have been for long years--should set a high valuation
+upon my unworthy head. Yet this little Arcadian transaction is really
+not just the thing for the present century and country. And so, Mr.
+Adams, I must beg leave to thank you for the honor you proffer, and,
+thanking you, to decline it!"
+
+For a moment no one spoke; there was neither sound nor movement in the
+room. John Arthur was literally speechless with rage, and old Amos was
+just as speechless from astonishment; while Madeline gazed from one to
+the other unmoved. As soon as he could articulate, John Arthur
+confronted her, and taking her roughly by the shoulder, demanded:
+
+"What do you mean, you ungrateful jade? What are you talking about?"
+
+"About your contract in flesh and blood, Mr. Arthur. About your very
+worthy scheme for putting money in your pockets by making me this
+man's wife. If I am to be sold, sir, I will make my own bargain; be
+very sure of that; and _this_ is not my bargain!"
+
+"Don't talk to me of bargains, you little idiot! Do you think to defy
+me? Do you dare to defy me?"
+
+His rage passed all bounds. She put the width of the table between
+them and surveyed him across it, mockingly.
+
+"Listen, girl, I am your lawful guardian; you shall obey me!"
+
+"Really, now, don't, step-papa; you are actually purple in the face!
+You might die, you know; think of your heart, do, and take a glass of
+water."
+
+Old Adams collapsed in the remote corner whither he had fled. The
+miser was not at home in a tempest, and this was already beyond his
+depth. He gasped in speechless amaze and affright. Was this the girl
+he had thought to mold as his wife, this fearless, defiant creature?
+Already he began to congratulate himself upon his lucky escape. "She
+would murder me some day," he thought, shuddering.
+
+For the time being, John Arthur was a madman. Defied, mocked, by this
+girl who had been a burden to his very life! He raged, he raved, he
+cursed; and so raging and raving, he cursed her, and then in vile,
+bitter words hurled his anathema at her dead mother's memory.
+
+Then the mocking smile was gone, the taunting voice changed its tone;
+and as it changed, old Amos, cowering in his corner, shuddered afresh.
+Her whole face underwent a transformation. Her form dilated, she
+sprang before her step-father and the ring of her voice checked the
+imprecations on his lips.
+
+"Stop," she cried; "don't add the last drop to your already overfull
+measure! Don't double the force of the thunderbolt that will strike
+you some day! Is it not enough that you have hated me all my life
+through; that you have loaded down my childhood with unkind words,
+curses, and wishes for my death? Not enough that you follow me with
+your hatred because my mother's own will be mine at your death? Not
+enough that you would barter my life--yes, my _life_--for gold, sell
+my heart's blood for your own ease and comfort? And now must you
+pollute the name of my mother, as you polluted her life? Never breathe
+her name again; never _dare_ to name her! I, her daughter, tell you
+that for her every tear, every heart pang, every sigh, _you_ shall pay
+dearly; _dearly!_ I will avenge my mother's wrongs, some day; for _you
+are her murderer_!"
+
+[Illustration: "I will avenge my mother's wrongs some day; for _you
+are her murderer_."--page 42.]
+
+John Arthur gazed in speechless amaze into the space before him--but
+she was gone! The stern, vengeful, set face was no longer there. The
+proud, ringing voice was no longer sounding in his ear. The uplifted,
+warning, threatening hand menaced him only in memory. And before the
+might of her purpose, and the force of her maledictions, he stood as
+in a trance.
+
+When he had so far recovered himself as to think of her sudden
+disappearance, he went out quickly. The entrance door stood wide open;
+the dim light flickered on an empty hall and stairway; the sky was
+black with clouds, and never a star; the wind moaned about the house;
+and across the meadow came the doleful howl of old Hagar's watch-dog.
+
+But Madeline was not to be found.
+
+Always, in the days to come, he remembered her face as it had looked
+on him that night. Often in dreams he would start and cry out, haunted
+by the sound of her scornful voice, the spectre of her threatening
+hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+THE DIE IS CAST.
+
+
+Lucian Davlin paced the platform of the Bellair depot, in a very
+unpleasant frame of mind.
+
+His companion,--half servant, half confederate, wholly and entirely a
+rascal,--discerning his mood and, as ever, adapting himself to it, had
+withdrawn to a respectful distance. Only the shine of his cigar,
+glowing through the darkness, betokened his proximity, or the fact
+that the dark platform was not in the sole possession of the sullen
+man who paced its brief length, and questioned the Fate in which he
+trusted, and which, for once, had played him a sorry trick.
+
+[Illustration: "Gad! to be baffled like this!"--page 46.]
+
+He had been deceived by a mere school-girl. She had not even deigned
+him a farewell word. He had lost a fair prize.
+
+"Gad!" he muttered, biting viciously at his cigar, "to be baffled like
+this; to lose that little beauty; to be foiled like a moon-struck
+idiot and never know how or why! I can't write her, with that cursed
+old step-father to interfere. I can't return again very soon. And she
+_is_ such a little beauty!"
+
+He paused at the end of the darkened platform, and looked down the
+track; in the direction of the grove where they had met, and of
+Madeline's home. It was almost time for the train. At the upper end of
+the platform, the station master flashed his lantern, tumbled the
+luggage closer to the track and examined the checks critically; while
+the Man of Tact came out from his retirement and overlooked the
+proceeding.
+
+Something was coming down the track, swiftly, silently. He could just
+discern a shape moving toward him. It came nearer, and he moved up a
+few paces, and turned again where the lantern's rays fell upon him. It
+came nearer yet and paused in the shadow. It was a woman's form, and
+it beckoned. He approached carelessly.
+
+"Lucian!" She came close to him, and placed her hand upon his arm,
+drawing her breath hard and quick.
+
+He drew her farther into the shadow and clasped his arms about her.
+"Little one! You have walked fast,--how your heart beats! I had given
+you up. Is it 'good by,' dear?"
+
+She silently held up the little chatelaine, which he felt rather than
+saw, and took from her hand. In the darkness, he smiled again the old
+exultant smile not good to see, and pressing her closer in his arms,
+said:
+
+"Don't try to talk, sweet one; see, yonder comes our fiery horse and
+soon we will be far on our way. Take my arm, little one, and trust him
+who loves you. Look your last at the scene of your past
+loneliness,--to-morrow comes the gay world."
+
+Rattling and shrieking, the train approached. Lucian hurried his
+companion upon the rear platform; and neither his comrade, who entered
+the smoking car without looking about him, nor the station master,
+busy with his trunks and valises, observed that a third passenger
+quitted Bellair station on the night express.
+
+About them, the passengers nodded, yawned or slept. Outside, swiftly
+passing darkness. And every moment was hurrying her farther and
+farther away from all familiar scenes and objects, out to a life all
+untried, a world all new and strange. But she never thought of this.
+She was not elated, neither was she cast down. She felt no fear;--and,
+afterwards, she remembered that she indulged in no bright visions of
+the future during her swift flight.
+
+She had prepared herself to relate her story, to describe the scene
+she had just passed through, to tell him all. But he had other things
+to occupy his mind, and bidding her to rest and save all she might
+have to relate until the morrow, he relapsed into silence and thought,
+only now and then gently speaking a word, and looking after her
+comfort with a happy grace possessed by few, and so powerful in the
+winning of a woman.
+
+On, on, through the black night--youth and age, joy and sorrow, hope
+and despair, good and evil; on together through the night; on, on.
+Near to the great city; near to the welcome, dark or bright, awaiting
+the journey's end. Blacker grew the night, wilder shrieked the wind in
+angry protest against the defiant, fiery, resistless monster upon
+whom its rage fell impotent. Now pausing; now rushing on with a shriek
+and a roar; nearer, nearer to the scene of the new life, dawning
+grimly upon the fair girl, all unconscious, unheeding.
+
+They halted at a wayside station--just one of those little hamlets
+only a few miles removed from, and really a part of the great city.
+One passenger came on board, sauntering down the coach's length
+listlessly, wearily. He threw himself into a reversed seat in a half
+reclining attitude, and so his careless, wandering gaze fell first
+upon Madeline, seated opposite and very near.
+
+She sees him just as she sees the rest, vaguely. She remembers, later,
+that he had a good face and that she had thought it then. But confused
+and wearied in mind and body, she feels no inclination to observe or
+think. So they were hurried on, and no whisper of her heart, no
+quickening of the pulses, or sensation of joy or fear, warned her that
+she was sitting under the gaze and in the presence of the good and the
+evil forces that were to compass and shape her life.
+
+Open your eyes, oh, Madeline, before it is too late. See the snare
+that is spreading beneath your feet; read aright the bright glance
+that shines on you from those handsome, fateful eyes. Interpret truly
+the smile turned on you now. Alas! what woman ever saw guile in the
+eyes of the man she loved? Never one, until those eyes have ceased to
+smile upon her, and her fate is sealed. What one ever yet recognized
+the false ring of the voice that had never, as yet, addressed her save
+in honeyed tones, that seemed earth's sweetest music to her ears?
+None, until the voice had changed and forgotten its love words; none,
+until it was too late.
+
+What Madeline saw, was a man who was to her the embodiment of all
+manly grace, her all of joy and love, of truth and trust. And, sitting
+opposite, just a young man with fair curling hair, and frank blue
+eyes; with a fine manly face, and an air of refinement. A very nice
+young man; but not like her hero.
+
+Not like her hero? No, thank heaven for that, Madeline, else your way
+would have been far more drear, else your life might have known never
+a ray of sunlight, in the long days to come.
+
+On, on; nearer and yet nearer the long journey's end. Both thinking of
+her, but how differently!
+
+One pityingly, sadly, fearing for her fate, longing to save her from
+the precipice which she could not see and still wear that look of
+sweet trustfulness.
+
+One triumphantly, as of a fair prize gained; a new tribute to his
+power and strength; another smile from Chance; one more proof that he
+was a favored one of Fortune, and that life ever gave him good things
+from out the very best.
+
+They are very near their journey's end now, and Lucian Davlin whispers
+briefly to Madeline, and lounges out to give some necessary directions
+to the neglected companion of his wanderings.
+
+Hastily the young man opposite rises, and crossing to Madeline bends
+over her, speaking hurriedly.
+
+"Pardon me, madame, but are you a stranger to the city?"
+
+"Yes." After giving her answer she wonders why she did it, remembering
+that it is from a stranger the question comes, and that it is
+therefore an impertinence.
+
+"I thought as much!"--the blue eyes look troubled, and the manly voice
+hurries on. "The time may come, I hope it will not, when you will need
+a friend. If so, this card bears my address,--take it, keep it, and
+believe me, I speak from honest motives and a desire to serve you."
+
+He drops a card in her lap, and as she makes a gesture of repulsion,
+he says, entreatingly: "Take it; _in the name of your mother_ I ask
+it."
+
+She snatches up the card impulsively, and looks for one moment
+straight in his eyes. Then drawing a long sighing breath says, simply,
+"I will," and turns away as she puts it in her pocket, never so much
+as glancing at it.
+
+"Thank you." He lifts his hat, and resumes his seat and his former
+attitude just as Lucian reappears.
+
+Now all was bustle and confusion, the journey's end was reached; and
+through the hurrying, jostling crowd, past flickering lamps, and
+sleepy guards, they went under the dusky arches of the mammoth city
+station, out among the bawling 'bus drivers and brawling hackmen, past
+them, until a carriage, that seemed to be in waiting for them just
+beyond the noisy crowd, was reached. Stepping into this, they were
+about to drive away when, in the shadow, and very near them, Madeline
+discerned the form of the Unknown of the railway train. Then Lucian
+gave the order from the carriage window, and they rolled away.
+
+The man in the shadow heard, and stepping into the nearest carriage,
+repeated the order given by Lucian the moment before, adding: "Quick;
+don't lose a moment!"
+
+And thus it was that a carriage passed swiftly by that which contained
+Davlin and his companion, and the flash of their vehicle's lamp showed
+Madeline the face looking from its window.
+
+Again that face seen in the shadow--how strange, thought she; but her
+lover was speaking and she forgot all else.
+
+[Illustration: "Take it; _in the name of your mother_ I ask it.--page
+50.]
+
+"Darling, I must leave you soon. I came up to-night on a matter of
+business, and to meet a friend who will leave to-morrow early. I must
+therefore keep my appointment to-night, late as it is; or rather this
+morning, for it is midnight and past. You will not be afraid, dear,
+left alone for a little while in a great hotel?"
+
+"I am not afraid, Lucian, but--"
+
+"But lonely; is that it? Well, sweetheart, it's only for a little
+while, and to-morrow I will come for you, and all shall be arranged.
+We'll have no more separations then. Rest well and at noon to-morrow
+be ready; I will be with you then. Meantime, your every want will be
+supplied, and let the morrow find my little treasure bright-eyed and
+blooming."
+
+"Oh, Lucian, Lucian! how strange this seems. I can't realize it at
+all."
+
+He laughed lightly. "Not afraid, little one?"
+
+"Not afraid, Lucian, no; but I can't explain or describe my feelings.
+I suppose I need rest; that is all."
+
+"That is all, depend upon it; and here we are. One kiss, Madeline, the
+last till to-morrow."
+
+He folded her tenderly in his arms, and then sprang lightly from the
+carriage.
+
+Up and down, far as the eye could see, the street lamps glittered, and
+as Madeline stepped from the carriage she observed another roll away.
+High above her loomed the great hotel, and after midnight though it
+was, all here was life and bustle. The scene was novel to the half
+bewildered girl. Clinging to her lover's arm, she entered the
+reception-room and, sitting opposite the door, saw a form pass in the
+direction Lucian had taken, as he went to register her name and order
+for her "all that the house could afford."
+
+"I did not give your real name, because of your step-father, you
+know," said Lucian, upon his return. "I registered you as Miss Weir,
+that name being the first to occur to me."
+
+She looked a trifle disturbed, but said nothing. A few words more and
+a servant appeared.
+
+"To conduct you to your room," said Lucian.
+
+Together they moved towards the door; there he lifted his hat, with
+profound courtesy, and said in a very audible tone: "Good-night, Miss
+Weir; I will call to-morrow noon; pleasant dreams."
+
+"To-morrow noon," she echoed.
+
+As she watched his retreating figure, another passed her; a man who,
+meeting her eye, lifted _his_ hat and passed out.
+
+"He again!" whispered the girl to herself; "how very strange."
+
+Alone in her room, the face of this man looked at her again, and
+sitting down, she said, wearily: "Who is he? what does he mean? His
+name--I'll look at the card."
+
+Taking it from her pocket, she read aloud: Clarence Vaughan, M. D.,
+No. 430 B---- street.
+
+"Clarence Vaughan, M. D.," she repeated. "What did he mean? I must
+tell Lucian to-morrow; to-night I am too weary to think. Search for
+me, John Arthur; find me if you can! To-morrow--what will it bring, I
+wonder?"
+
+Weary one, rest, for never again will you sleep so innocently, so free
+from care as now. Sleep well, nor dream!
+
+She slept. Of the three who had been brought into contact thus
+strangely, Madeline slept most soundly and dreamed the brighter
+dreams.
+
+It was the last ray of her sunlight; when the day dawned, her night
+began.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A SHREWD SCHEME.
+
+
+An elegant apartment, one of a suite in a magnificent block such as
+are the pride of our great cities.
+
+Softest carpets, of most exquisite pattern; curtains of richest lace;
+lambrequins of costly texture; richly-embroidered and velvet-covered
+sleepy-hollows and lounging chairs; nothing stiff, nothing that did
+not betoken abandonment to ease and pleasure; downy cushions; rarest
+pictures; loveliest statuettes; finest bronzes; delicate vases;
+magnificent, full length mirrors, a bookcase, itself a rare work of
+art, containing the best works of the best authors, all in the richest
+of bindings--nothing here that the most refined and cultivated taste
+could disapprove, and yet everything bespoke the sybarite, the
+voluptuary. A place wherein to forget that the world held aught save
+beauty; a place for luxurious revelry, and repose filled with lotus
+dreams.
+
+Such was the bachelor abode of Lucian Davlin, as the glowing gas
+lights revealed it on the dark night of the arrival of this gentleman
+in the city.
+
+Moving restlessly about, as one who was perfectly familiar with all
+this glowing richness, only because movement was a necessity to her;
+trailing her rich dress to and fro in an impatient promenade, and
+twisting recklessly meantime a delicate bit of lace and embroidery
+with plump, white fingers--a woman waited and watched for the coming
+of Lucian Davlin.
+
+A woman, fair of face, hazel-eyed, sunny-haired, with a form too plump
+to be quite classical, yet graceful and prepossessing in the extreme.
+A very fair face, and a very wise one; the face of a woman of the
+world, who knows it in all its phases; who is able, in her own
+peculiar manner, to guide her life bark successfully if not correctly,
+and who has little to acquire, in the way of experience, save the art
+of growing old gracefully and of dying with an acquitted conscience.
+
+No unsophisticated girl was Cora Weston, but a woman of
+eight-and-twenty; an adventuress by nature and by calling, and with
+beauty enough, and brains enough, to make her chosen profession
+prosperous, if not proper.
+
+She paused before a mirror, carefully adjusting her fleecy hair, for
+even in pressing emergencies such women never forget their personal
+appearance. This done, she pondered a moment and then pulled the bell.
+A most immaculate colored gentleman answered her summons and, bowing
+low, stood waiting her will.
+
+"Henry, is it not time that your master were here? The train is
+certainly due; are you sure he will come? What did he telegraph you?"
+
+"That he would arrive on the one o'clock express, madame; and he never
+fails."
+
+"Very well. If he does not appear soon, Henry, you must go and inquire
+if the train has been delayed, and if so, telegraph. My business is
+imperative."
+
+The well trained servant bowed again, and, at a signal from her,
+withdrew. Left alone, she continued her silent march, listening ever,
+until at length a quick footstep came down the passage. Flinging
+herself into the depths of a great easy chair, she assumed an air of
+listless indifference, and so greeted the new comer.
+
+"Gracious heavens, Cora! what brings you here like this? I thought you
+had sailed, and was regretting it by this time."
+
+He hurried to her side and she half rose to return his caress. Then
+sinking back, she surveyed him with a lazy half smile. "I wonder if
+you are glad to see me, Lucian, my angel; you are such a hypocrite."
+
+He laughed lightly, and threw himself into a seat near her. "Candid
+Cora, you are not a hypocrite,--with me," and he looked admiringly yet
+impatiently at her. "Come," he said, at length, as she continued to
+tap her slender foot lazily, and to regard him silently through half
+closed lashes: "what does it all mean? Fairest of women, tell me."
+
+"It means, _Mon Brave_, that I did not sail in the _Golden Rose_; I
+only sent my hat and veil."
+
+"Wonderful woman! Well, thereby hangs a tale, and I listen."
+
+"I came back to see--"
+
+"Not old Verage?" he interrupted, maliciously.
+
+"No, hush: he saw me safely on board the _Golden Rose_--very gallant
+of him, wasn't it?"
+
+"Rather--yes, considering. And if I did not know Miss Cora Weston so
+very well, I should be surprised at all this mystery; as it is, I
+simply wait to be enlightened."
+
+"And enlightened you shall be, monsieur."
+
+She threw off her air of listlessness and arose, crossing over and
+standing before him, leaning upon a high-backed chair, and speaking
+rapidly.
+
+Lucian, meantime, produced a cigar case, lit a weed, and assuming the
+attitude and manner she had just abandoned, bade her proceed.
+
+"You see," she said, "I did not like the idea of quitting the country
+because of a little difference of opinion between myself and an old
+idiot like Verage."
+
+"A difference of some thousands out of pocket for him; well, go on."
+
+"Just so, comrade mine. Well, fortune favored me; she generally does.
+I learned, at almost the last moment, that a lady of my acquaintance
+had taken passage in the same vessel. I interviewed her, and found her
+in the condition of the good people in novels who have seen better
+days; her exchequer was at low ebb, and, like myself, she had reasons
+which induced her to emigrate. I did not inquire into these, having no
+reason to doubt the statement, but I accompanied her on board the
+_Golden Rose_, bade her a fond farewell, and bequeathed to her my
+street apparel and a trifling sum of old Verage's money. In exchange,
+I donned her bonnet and veil, and adopted her rather awkward gait, and
+so had the satisfaction of seeing, on my return to terra firma, old
+Verage gazing enraptured after my Paris bonnet and floating veil as it
+disappeared with my friend, outward bound."
+
+"Well, what next? All the world, your world, supposes you now upon the
+briny deep. Old Verage will be rejoiced to find you here in the city;
+what then?"
+
+"I think he will," said Cora, dryly, "when he does find me. I did not
+come here in the dark to advertise my arrival."
+
+"Bravo, Cora," he patted her hands softly; "wise Cora. You are a
+credit to your friends, indeed you are, my blonde beauty."
+
+She laughed softly;--a kittenish, purring laugh.
+
+"Well, Lucian, time flies and I throw myself on your mercy. Recommend
+me to some nice quiet retreat, not too far from the city, but at a
+safe distance; put me in a carriage, at daylight, which will carry me
+out to some by-station, where I can take passage behind the iron
+horse, unmolested, for fresh fields and pastures new."
+
+Davlin pondered a moment as if he had not already decided upon his
+course of action. He knew the woman he had to deal with, and shaped
+his words accordingly. "A retired spot,--let me see. I wonder, by
+Jove,"--brightening suddenly, "I think I have the right thing for
+you."
+
+"Well, when Lucian Davlin 'thinks' he has a point, that point is
+gained; proceed, man of might."
+
+"You see," began Lucian, in a business-like tone, "I took one of my
+'skips' for change of scene and recreation."
+
+"And safe quarters until the wind shifted," interrupted she. "Well, go
+on."
+
+He laughed softly, "Even so. We children of chance do need to take
+flying trips sometimes, but I did not set out for Europe, Cora mine,
+and I wore my own clothes home."
+
+"Bravo! But old Verage don't want you, and the wind _has_ changed;
+proceed."
+
+"Well, as usual, I found myself in luck, and if I had been a nice
+young widow, might have taken Summer quarters in the snug little
+village of Bellair."
+
+"Not being a widow, relate your experience as a rusticating gentleman
+at large. You excite my curiosity."
+
+Lucian removed his cigar from between his lips, and lazily
+contemplated his fair _vis a vis_.
+
+"How long a time must elapse before the most magnificent of blondes
+will think it fitting, safe, and," with a slight smile, "expedient to
+return and resume her sovereignty here, on this hearth, and," striking
+his breast theatrically, "in this heart?"
+
+The "most magnificent of blondes" looked first, approvingly, at her
+image displayed in the full length mirror opposite, then coolly at her
+interrogator.
+
+"Hum! that depends. The lady you so flatter can't abide dullness and
+inaction, and too much stupidity might overcome her natural timidity,
+in which case even my ardent old pursuer could not scare me into
+submission and banishment. If I could only find an occupation, now,
+for my--"
+
+"Peculiar talents," he suggested; "that's just the point. And now, I
+wonder if you wouldn't make a remarkably charming young widow?"
+
+"So you have an idea, then, Lucian? Just toss me a bunch of those
+cigarettes, please,--thank you. Now a light; and now, if it's not
+asking too much, will you proceed to explain yourself, and tell me
+what fortunate being you desire me, in the character of a fair widow,
+to besiege? What he is like; and why?"
+
+"Admirable Cora! what other woman could smoke a cigarette with such a
+perfect air of doing the proper thing; so much of Spanish grace."
+
+"And so much genuine enjoyment," she added, comfortably. "Smoke is my
+poetry, Lucian. When far from my gaze, and I desire to call up your
+most superb image, I can do so much more comfortably and
+satisfactorily inspired by my odorous little Perique."
+
+"Blessed Perique! Cora shall have them always. But back to my widow;
+an absence of six months, perhaps, would be a judicious thing just
+now, you think?"
+
+"More would be safer," she smiled, "if the Peri can keep aloof from
+Paradise so long."
+
+"How would the Peri fancy taking up her permanent abode outside the
+walls of Paradise?"
+
+She removed the fragrant gilded cigar in miniature from between two
+rosy, pursed-up lips, and surveyed him in mute astonishment.
+
+"Provided," he proceeded, coolly, "provided she found a country home,
+bank account, and equipage to her liking, with everything her own way,
+and ample opportunities for trips to Paradise, making visits to her
+brother and her city friends--and a fine prospect of soon becoming
+sole possessor of said country mansion, bank stock, etc.?"
+
+She placed the tiny weed once more between her lips, and sending up
+perfumed, curling little volumes of smoke, settled herself more
+comfortably and said, nonchalantly, "That depends; further
+particulars, please."
+
+It was wonderful how these two understood each other. She knew that he
+had for her a plan fully matured, and wasting no time in needless
+questionings, waited to hear the gist of the whole matter, assured
+from past experience that he would suggest nothing that would be an
+undertaking unworthy of her talent, and he knew that she would weigh
+his suggestions while they were being made, and be ready with her
+decision at the close.
+
+Long had they plotted and prospered together, these two Bohemians of
+most malevolent type; and successfully and oft played into each
+other's hands. Never yet had the good fortune of the one been devoid
+of profit to the other; knowing this, each felt safe in accepting,
+unquestioned, the suggestions of the other; and because of this, she
+felt assured now that, in this present scheme, there was something to
+be gained for him as well as herself.
+
+When the looker-on wonders idly at the strength of ties such as those
+which bound together these two, and the length of their duration, he
+has never considered their nature--the similarity of tastes,
+similarity of pursuits, and the crowning fact of the mutual benefit
+derived from such association.
+
+Find a man who lives by successful manipulations of the hand-book of
+chance, and who bows to the deity of three aces; who finds victims in
+fortified places, and whose most hazardous scheme is surest of
+success; who walks abroad the admired of his contemporaries, who envy
+him his position as fortune's favorite in proportion as they ply their
+own similar trade near the foot of the ladder of chance; who shows to
+men the dress and manner of a gentleman, and to the angels the heart
+of a fiend--and you will find that man aided and abetted, upheld and
+applauded, by a woman, his fitting companion by nature or education.
+She is unscrupulous as he, daring as he, finding him victims that his
+arm could not reach; plying the finer branch of a dangerous but
+profitable trade; sharing his prosperity, rescuing from adversity;
+valued because necessary, and knowing her value therefore fearing no
+rival.
+
+Cora was beautiful in Davlin's eyes, and secure in his affections,
+because she was valuable, even necessary, to him. He cared for her
+because in so doing he was caring for himself, and placing any "card"
+in her hands was only the surest means of enlarging his own pack.
+While she, for whether a woman is good or bad she is ever the slave of
+her own heart, recognizing the fact of the mutual benefit resulting
+from their comradeship, and improving, in her character of a woman of
+the world, every opportunity to profit by him, yet she saw in him the
+one man who possessed her love. Though the life she had led had worn
+out all the romantic tendencies of her nature, and had turned the
+"languishing of her eye" into sharp glances in the direction of the
+main chance, still she lavished upon him the best of her heart, and
+held his interest ever the equal of her own. After the manner of such,
+they were loyal to each other.
+
+"Then," pursued Lucian, "listen, and a tale I will unfold."
+
+In his own way, he proceeded to describe the intended victim; his
+home, his wealth, his state of solitude, together with the facts he
+had gathered up here and there relative to his leading characteristics
+and weaknesses, whereby he might be successfully manipulated by
+skilled hands. The boldness of his plan made even Cora start, and
+instead of her usually ready decision and answer, she favored him with
+a wondering, thoughtful stare.
+
+"You see," concluded Lucian, "he can't live forever at the worst, and
+the estate is a handsome one. You could easily make yourself queen
+absolute of the situation, and go and come at your own sweet will. I
+think as a good brother I should be a magnificent success, and an
+ornament to your country mansion in the lazy Summer."
+
+"And if I don't approve of the speculation after a trial, I can commit
+suicide or vanish," Cora said, meditatingly.
+
+"Just so," laughed he; "and take the spoons."
+
+"You are sure there are no incumbrances; perfectly sure of that?" she
+questioned.
+
+"Perfectly sure. There was a step-daughter, but she ran away with some
+foreigner;" here he smiled, and veiled his eyes, lest she should read
+aright their expression. "He would not give her a penny, or a crust of
+bread, were she to return. He hated her from her earliest day; but she
+is not likely to reappear in any case."
+
+"If she should, you might marry her, you know," she suggested,
+maliciously.
+
+"So I might," he said, shutting his eyes again; "and we would all
+settle down into respectable members of society--charming picture.
+But, jesting aside, how do you like the prospect?"
+
+She tossed away her cigarette and, rising, paced the room in silence
+for a few moments.
+
+Lucian whistled, softly, a few bars from a favorite opera; then
+lighted a fresh cigar, and puffed away, leaning lazily back and
+watching her face furtively out of half closed eyes.
+
+"I think," she said, resuming her seat, "that I will take a nearer
+view of this 'prospect' of yours."
+
+He nodded his head and waited for her to proceed.
+
+"I think the _role_ of widow might interest me for a little time, so
+I'll take myself and my 'delicate constitution' down to your promising
+haven of rest. I'll 'view the landscape o'er,' and the prospect of an
+opportunity for a little sharp practice will make my banishment more
+endurable; of course, my resignation will increase as the situation
+becomes more interesting."
+
+"Which it is sure to do," he said, rising quickly and crossing to the
+window. "The thing is as good as done; you always accomplish what you
+undertake; and you'll find the game worth the powder. The fact is,
+Cora," he continued, seriously, "you and I have engineered so many
+delicate little affairs successfully, here in the city, that, as a
+combination, we are pretty well known just now; too well, in fact, for
+our own ease and comfort. Your supposed trip to Europe was a lucky
+thing, and will throw all officiously-interested ones off your track
+completely. I shall limit my operations here for a time; shall make
+this merely headquarters, in fact, and 'prospect,' like yourself, in
+fresh fields. And now, it being nearly morning, and quite necessary
+that you should be on your victorious march, let us consider final
+ways and means."
+
+In a concise, business-like way, they arranged and discussed, the
+result of the whole being briefly this:
+
+Cora would drive at early dawn to a suburban station, and from thence
+go by rail to a village midway between the city and her final
+destination; and there await her luggage, and the arrival of Lucian.
+He would join her shortly, and proceed with her to Bellair, in his
+character of brother; see her comfortably settled, and leave her to
+her new undertaking.
+
+And thus it was that in the gray of morning a veiled lady,
+sweet-voiced and elegant in manner, stepped from a close carriage at a
+little wayside station, and sped away at the heels of the iron horse.
+
+And thus it was that Lucian Davlin, reappearing in Bellair and
+listening in well simulated surprise to the story of the sudden
+disappearance of John Arthur's step-daughter, effectually put to
+flight any idea--forming in the brains of the few who knew, or
+conjectured, that these two had met--that he had aught to do with her
+mysterious flitting. In truth, none save old Hagar knew of the
+frequency of their clandestine meetings, and she never breathed to
+others the thoughts and suspicions that haunted her brain.
+
+And thus it was, too, that Cora Weston, in her new _role_ of
+languishing widow, secluded carefully from the vulgar gaze, heard
+never a word of Madeline's flight. And when, later, the fact was
+revealed to her, none save old Hagar could have named the precise date
+of the event. So even wise Cora never connected the fate of the
+unfortunate girl with the doings of Lucian Davlin.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A WARNING.
+
+
+Early morning in the great city, but the buzz and clamor were fairly
+under way, and the streets as full of busy, pushing, elbowing life as
+if night and silence had never rested above the tall roofs and chimney
+pots.
+
+With the rattle of the first cart wheel on the pavement, Madeline had
+started broad awake. As the din increased, and sleep refused to return
+to the startled senses, all unused to these city sounds, she arose,
+and completing her toilet with some haste, seated herself at her
+window to look out upon the scene so new to her.
+
+What a world of strange emotions passing and repassing beneath her
+eye! What hopes and fears; what carelessness and heartache! How they
+hurried to and fro, each apparently intent upon his own thoughts and
+purposes.
+
+She gazed down until her vision wearied of the motley, ever-changing,
+yet ever the same crowd; and then she reclined in the downy depths of
+a great easy chair, closed her eyes, and thought of Lucian. After all,
+what meaning had this restless moving throng for her? Only one;
+Lucian. What was this surging sea of humanity to her save that,
+because of its roar and clamor, they two were made more isolated,
+therefore nearer to each other?
+
+The morning wore away, and she began to realize how very soon she
+should be with her hero, and then no more of separation. Her heart
+bounded at this thought.
+
+Some one tapped softly at her door. She opened it quickly, thinking
+only of Lucian. It was not Lucian, however, but a veiled woman who
+stepped within the room, closing the door as she came.
+
+Madeline fell back a pace, and gazed at the intruder with a look of
+startled inquiry which was, however, free from fear. She had not
+thought of it before, it flashed across her mind now that this fact
+was odd; but in all her morning's ruminations, she had not once
+thought of the mysterious stranger of the railway episode. Yet now the
+first words that took shape in her mind, at the entrance of this
+unexpected visitor, were "Clarence Vaughan, M. D." She almost spoke
+them.
+
+With a quick, graceful movement, the stranger removed the shrouding
+veil; and Madeline gazed wonderingly on the loveliest face she had
+ever seen or dreamed of. It was a pure, pale face, lighted by lustrous
+dark eyes, crowned by waving masses of dark silky hair; exquisitely
+molded features, upon which there rested an expression of mingled
+weariness and resignation, the look of
+
+    "A soul whose experience
+    Has paralyzed bliss."
+
+One could imagine such a woman lifting to her lips the full goblet of
+life's sparkling elixir, and putting it away with her own hand, lest
+its intoxicating richness should shut from her senses the fragrance of
+Spring violets, and dim her vision of the world beyond.
+
+They formed a decided contrast, these two, standing face to face.
+
+One, with the calm that comes only when storm clouds have swept
+athwart life's sky, leaving behind marks of their desolating progress,
+but leaving, too, calm after tempest; after restlessness, repose.
+
+The other, stretching out her hand like a pleased child to woo the
+purple lightning from the distance, buoyant with bright hopes, with
+nothing on brow or lip to indicate how that proud head would bear
+itself after it had been bowed before the passing storm.
+
+"Pardon me," said the lady, in a sweet contralto. "I think I am not
+mistaken; this is the young lady who arrived last evening, and is
+registered,"--she looked full in the girl's eyes--"as Miss Weir?"
+
+Madeline's eyes drooped before that searching gaze, but she answered,
+simply: "Yes."
+
+[Illustration: "I have not yet introduced myself. Here is my
+card."--page 68.]
+
+"You are naturally much astonished to see me here, and my errand is a
+delicate one. Since I have seen you, however, I have lost every doubt
+I may have entertained as to the propriety of my visit. Will you trust
+me so far as to answer a few simple questions?"
+
+The words of the stranger had put to flight the first idea formed in
+her mind, namely, that this visit was a mistake. It was intended for
+her, and now, who had instigated it? She looked up into the face of
+her visitor and said, with her characteristic frankness of speech:
+
+"Who sent you to me?"
+
+The abruptness of the question caused the stranger to smile.
+
+"One who is the soul of honor and the friend of all womankind," she
+said, with a soft light in her eyes.
+
+Madeline's eyes still searched her face. "And his name is that," she
+said, putting the card of Clarence Vaughan upon the table between
+them.
+
+"Yes; and this reminds me, I have not yet introduced myself. Here is
+my card."
+
+She placed in the hand of Madeline a delicate bit of cardboard bearing
+the name, "Olive Girard."
+
+Silence fell between them for a moment, and then Olive Girard spoke.
+
+"Won't you ask me to be seated, and hear what I wish to say, Miss
+Weir?"
+
+She hesitated over the name, and Madeline, perceiving it, said:
+
+"You think Weir is not my name?"
+
+"Frankly, I do," smiled Mrs. Girard; "but just now the name matters
+little. Pardon me, but I am more interested in your face than your
+name. I came here because it seemed my duty, and to oblige a friend;
+now I wish to serve you for your own sake, to be your friend, if you
+will let me."
+
+Still Madeline's brain kept thinking, thinking; and she put her
+questions rather as commentaries on her own thoughts than as her share
+in a conversation.
+
+"Why did Mr. Vaughan send you to me?"
+
+They had seated themselves, at a sign from Madeline, and Mrs. Girard
+drew her chair nearer to the girl as she answered:
+
+"Because he feared for you."
+
+"Because he _feared for me_!" Madeline's face flushed hotly; "feared
+what?"
+
+"He feared," said Olive Girard, turning her face full upon her
+questioner, "what I feel assured is the truth, having seen you--simply
+that you do not know aright the man in whose company you came to this
+place."
+
+Madeline turned her eyes upon her guest and the blood went slowly out
+of her face, but she made no reply, and Mrs. Girard continued:
+
+"I will ask you once more, before I proceed further, do you object to
+answering a few questions? Of course I am willing to be likewise
+interrogated," she added, smiling.
+
+Over the girl's face a look was creeping that Aunt Hagar, seeing,
+could readily have interpreted. She nodded her head, and said briefly:
+"Go on."
+
+"First, then," said her interrogator, "are you entirely without
+friends in this city? Except, of course," she added, quickly, "your
+escort of last night."
+
+"Yes." Madeline's countenance never altered, and she kept her eyes
+fully fixed on her companion's face.
+
+"Are--are you without parents or guardian?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"As I thought; and now, pardon the seeming impertinence of this
+question, did you come here as the companion of the man who was your
+escort, or did mere accident put you under his charge?"
+
+"The 'accident' that put me in the charge of Mr. Davlin was--myself,"
+said the girl, in a full, clear voice. "And he is my only guardian,
+and will be."
+
+Olive Girard pushed back her chair, and rising, came and stood before
+her, with outstretched hand and pleading, compassionate eyes.
+
+"Just as I feared," she sighed; "the very worst. My poor child, do you
+know the character and occupation of this man?"
+
+Madeline sprang to her feet, and putting one nervous little hand upon
+the back of the chair she had occupied, moved back a pace, and said,
+in a low, set tone:
+
+"If you have come to say aught against Lucian Davlin, you will find no
+listener here. I am satisfied with him, and trust him fully. When I
+desire to know more of his 'character and occupation,' I can learn it
+from his own lips. What warrant had that man," pointing to Clarence
+Vaughan's card, "for dogging me here, and then sending you to attempt
+to poison my mind against my best friend? I tell you, I will not
+listen!"
+
+A bright spot burned on either cheek, and the little hand resting on
+the chair back clinched itself tighter.
+
+Olive Girard drew a step nearer the now angry girl, and searched her
+face with grave eyes.
+
+"If I said you were standing on the verge of a horrible precipice,
+that your life and soul were in danger, would you listen then?" she
+asked, sternly.
+
+"No," said Madeline, doggedly, drawing farther away as she spoke; "not
+unless I saw the danger with my own eyes. And in that case I should
+not need your warning," she added, dryly.
+
+"And when your own eyes see the danger, it will be too late to avert
+it," said Olive, bitterly. "I know your feeling at this moment, and I
+know the heartache sure to follow your rashness. _What are you, and
+what do you hope or expect to be, to the man you call Lucian Davlin?_"
+She spoke his name as if it left the taste of poison in her mouth.
+
+The girl's head dropped until it rested on the hands clasped upon the
+chair before her; cold fingers seemed clutched upon her heart. Across
+her memory came trooping all his love words of the past, and among
+them,--she remembered it now for the first time,--among them all, the
+word _wife_ had never once been uttered. In that moment, a thought new
+and terrible possessed her soul; a new and baleful light seemed
+shining upon the pictures of the past, imparting to each a shameful,
+terrible meaning. She uttered a low moan like that of some wounded
+animal, and suddenly uplifting her head, turned upon Olive Girard a
+face in which passion and a vague terror were strangely mingled.
+
+"What are you saying? What are you _daring_ to say to me!" she
+ejaculated, in tones half angry, half terror-stricken, wholly pitiful.
+"What horrible thing are you trying to torture me with?"
+
+She would have spoken in indignation, but the new thought in her heart
+frightened the wrath from her voice. She dared not say "I am to be his
+wife," with these forebodings whispering darkly within her.
+
+She turned away from the one who had conjured up these spectres, and
+throwing herself upon a couch, buried her face in the cushions, and
+remained in this attitude while Olive answered her and for long
+moments after; moments that seemed hours to both.
+
+Olive's eyes were full of pity, and her tone was very gentle. Her
+woman's quick instinct assured her that words of comfort were of no
+avail in this first moment of bitter awakening. She knew that it were
+better to say all that she deemed it her duty to say, now, while her
+hearer was passive; and stepping nearer the couch, she said:
+
+"Dr. Vaughan, who saw you in the company of a man so well known to him
+that to see a young girl in his society he knew could mean no good,
+came to me this morning with a brief account of your meeting of last
+night. He is too good a physiognomist not to have discovered, readily,
+that you were not such a woman as could receive no contamination from
+such as Lucian Davlin. He feared for you, believing you to be another
+victim of his treachery. Your coming to this hotel assured him that
+you were safe for the time, at least; and this being a subject so
+delicate that he, a stranger, feared to approach you with it, he
+desired me to come to you, and, in case his fears were well founded,
+to save you if I could. My poor, poor child! you have cast yourself
+upon the protection of a professional gambler; a man whose name has
+been associated for years with that of a notorious and handsome
+adventuress. If he has any fear or regard for anything, it is for her;
+and your very life would be worth little could she know you as her
+rival. Judge if such a man can have intentions that are honorable,
+where a young, lovely and unsophisticated girl like yourself is
+concerned."
+
+She paused here, but Madeline never stirred.
+
+"Come with me," continued Olive, drawing a step nearer the motionless
+girl; "accept me as your protector, for the present, at least. Believe
+me, I know what you are suffering now, and near at hand you will find
+that which will aid you to forget this man."
+
+Madeline slowly raised herself to a sitting posture and turned towards
+the speaker a face colorless as if dead, but with never a trace of a
+tear. Her eyes were unnaturally bright, and her lips were compressed,
+as if she had made, and was strong to keep, some dark resolve.
+
+"What is it that I am to find?" she said, in a low, intense tone.
+
+"A girl, young as you, and once as beautiful," replied Olive, sadly,
+"who is dying of a broken heart, and her destroyer is Lucian Davlin."
+
+Madeline gazed at her absently for a moment. "I suppose I had ought to
+hate you," she said, wearily; "you have made my life very black.
+Lucian Davlin will soon be here,--will you please go?"
+
+"Surely you are going with me?" said Olive, in amaze.
+
+"No."
+
+"You doubt me? Oh, I have not made you feel your danger! You think I
+am an impostor!"
+
+"No," said the girl, in the same quiet tone; "something here," putting
+her hand upon her bosom, "tells me that you are sincere. My own heart
+has abandoned me; it will not let me doubt you, much as I wish to. I
+cannot thank you for making my heart ache,--please go."
+
+Still with that air of unnatural calm, she arose and walked to the
+window.
+
+Of the two, Olive Girard was by far the more agitated. "Tell me," she
+said, in eager entreaty; "oh, tell me, you are not going with _him_?"
+
+Madeline turned sharply around. "I shall not add myself to the list of
+his victims," she said, briefly.
+
+And then the two gazed at each other in silence for a moment.
+
+"This is madness," said Olive, at length. "What rash thing do you
+meditate? I will not leave you to face this man alone; I dare not do
+it."
+
+Madeline came from the window and stood directly before her. "I am not
+the weak child you think me. You can do nothing but harm by remaining
+here. I will meet Lucian Davlin, and part with him in my own way," she
+said, between her teeth.
+
+Olive saw, in the set face, and stern eye, that she was indeed dealing
+with a character stubborn as death, and devoid of all fear. She
+dreaded to leave her thus, but felt assured that she could do nothing
+else.
+
+"Will you come to me afterward?" she asked. "You have no friends here,
+you tell me, and you need a friend now. Promise me this and I will
+go."
+
+"Thank you," said the girl, wearily; "at least I promise to go to no
+one else; good-by."
+
+Turning away, she resumed her position at the window, and never looked
+once at Olive after that.
+
+"I will write my address on this card," said Olive. She did so; then
+turning on the girl a look full of pitying tenderness, said: "I need
+not tell you to be brave; I should rather bid you be cautious.
+Remember, your life is worth more than the love and loss of such a
+man. Put this behind you, and come to me soon, believing that you are
+not friendless."
+
+She lowered her veil and, casting one more wistful glance at the
+silent figure by the window, went out and closed the door softly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+A STRUGGLE FOR MORE THAN LIFE.
+
+
+It is a fortunate provision of Providence that calamity comes upon us,
+in most cases, with a force so sudden and overwhelming that it is
+rather seen than felt. As we realize the full torture of an ugly
+wound, not when the blow is struck, but after the whole system has
+been made to languish under its effects, so a blow struck at the heart
+can not make itself fully felt while the mind is still unable to
+picture what the future will be like now that the grief has come. We
+only taste our bitterest grief when the mind has shaken itself aloof
+from the present woe, to travel forward and question what the future
+can hold for us, now that our life is bereft of this treasure.
+
+Madeline's condition, after the departure of Olive Girard, was an
+exponent of this truth. Fast and hard worked her thoughts, but they
+only encountered the ills of the present, and never glanced beyond.
+
+She had set her lover aloft as her ideal, the embodiment of truth,
+honor, and manhood. He had fallen. Truth, honor, manhood, had passed
+out of existence for her. And she had loved him so well! She loved him
+even yet.
+
+The thought brought with it a pang of terror, and as if conjured up by
+it, the scenes of the day previous marshalled themselves again for
+review. Could it be possible? Was it only yesterday that she listened
+to his tender love words, beneath the old tree in Oakley woods? Only
+yesterday that her step-father was revealed in all his vileness,--his
+plots, his hopes, his fears. Her mother's sad life laid bare before
+her; Aunt Hagar's story; her defiance of the two men at Oakley; her
+flight; Clarence Vaughan; the strange, great city; Olive Girard; and
+now--now, just a dead blank, with no outlook, no hope.
+
+And was this all since yesterday?
+
+What was it, she wondered, that made people mad? Not things like
+these; she was calm, very calm. She _was_ calm; too calm. If something
+would occur to break up this icy stillness of heart, to convulse the
+numbed powers of feeling, and shock them back into life before it was
+too late.
+
+She waited patiently for the coming of her base lover, lying upon the
+soft divan, with her hands folded, and wondering if she would feel
+_much_ different if she were dead.
+
+When the summons came, at last, she went quietly down to greet the man
+who little dreamed that his reign in her heart was at an end, and that
+his hold upon her life was loosening fast.
+
+When Madeline entered the presence of Lucian Davlin, she took the
+initiatory step in the part she was henceforth to play. And she took
+it unhesitatingly, as if dissimulation was to her no new thing. Truly,
+necessity, emergency, is the mother of much besides "invention."
+Entering, she gave him her hand with free grace, and smiled up at him
+as he bade her good-morning.
+
+He remarked on her pale cheeks, but praised the brightness of her
+eyes, and accepted her explanation that the bustle and the strangeness
+was unusual to her, as a natural and sufficient reason for the pallor.
+
+"You will soon grow accustomed to that," he said, as they descended to
+the carriage, "and be the rosiest, fairest little woman on the
+boulevard, for I mean to drive half the men jealous by taking you
+there often."
+
+[Illustration: "She wondered if she would feel _much_ different if she
+were dead."--page 76.]
+
+Madeline made no reply, and they entered the carriage.
+
+Davlin was not surprised at her silence; he was prepared for a little
+coyness; in fact, for some resistance, and expected to have occasion
+for the specious eloquence always at his command. Of course, the
+result would be the same,--he had no doubt of that, and so in silence
+they reached their destination.
+
+Up a broad flight of stairs, and then a door. Lucian rings, and an
+immaculate colored servant appears, who seems as well bred as an
+English baronet, and who expresses no surprise at the presence of a
+lady there.
+
+Up another flight of softly carpeted stairs, across a wide hall, and
+lo! the abode of the sybarite, the apartments of the disciple of
+Chance.
+
+"Welcome to your kingdom, fair queen," says Lucian, as they enter.
+"This is your abiding place, for a time, at least, and I am your slave
+for always," and he kneels playfully before her.
+
+Madeline turns away, and, finding it easiest to do, in her then state
+of mind, begins a careless tour of the rooms, making a pretense of
+criticism, and finding in even this slow promenade some relief from
+absolute quiet and silence.
+
+She guarded her face lest it should display too much of that locked,
+sullen calm underneath, and replied by an occasional word and nod to
+his running comments upon the different articles undergoing
+examination. Fingering carelessly the rare ornaments upon a fine set
+of brackets, her eye rested upon an elegant little gold mounted
+pistol. She turned away quickly, and they passed to other things.
+
+Her replies became more ready, and she began questioning gravely about
+this or that, listening with childlike wonder to his answers, and
+winning him into a pleasant bantering humor.
+
+Finally he threw himself upon a chair, and selecting a cigar proceeded
+to light it.
+
+Madeline continued to flit from picture to statuette, questioning with
+much apparent interest. At last, she paused again before the bracket
+which held the tiny toy that had for her a fascination.
+
+"What a pretty little pistol," she said. "Is it loaded?"
+
+"I don't know," replied he, lazily. "Bring it to me; I will see."
+
+He was inwardly wondering at her cool acceptance of the situation; and
+felt inclined to congratulate himself. Seeing her look at the little
+weapon doubtfully, he laughed and strode to her side, taking it in his
+hand.
+
+"It is not loaded," he said. "Did you ever fire a pistol?"
+
+"No; show me how to hold it."
+
+He placed it in her hand, and showed her how to manipulate the
+trigger, and to take aim.
+
+"I should like to see it loaded," she said, at last.
+
+"And so you shall."
+
+He smiled, and crossing the room took from a little inlaid box a
+handful of cartridges. Madeline watched him attentively, as he
+explained to her the operation of loading. At length expressing
+herself satisfied, and declining his invitation to try and load it
+herself, she turned away.
+
+Davlin extracted the cartridge from the pistol, and returned it to its
+place, saying: "You might wish to practice at aiming, and won't want
+it loaded."
+
+"I shall not want such practice," she replied.
+
+A rap at the door, and the servant announced that dinner was come.
+
+"I ordered our dinner here, to-day," explained Lucian, "thinking it
+would be more cosy. You may serve it, Henry," to the servant.
+
+Dinner was accordingly served, and Lucian found occasion to criticise,
+very severely, the manner of his serving man. More than once, his
+voice took on an intolerant tone.
+
+Sitting opposite, Madeline saw the man, as he stood behind his
+master's chair, dart upon him a look of hatred. Her lips framed a
+smile quite new to them; and, after dessert was placed upon the table
+and the man dismissed, she said:
+
+"You don't like your servant, I judge?"
+
+"Oh, he's as good as any," replied Lucian, carelessly. "They are
+pretty much alike, and all need a setting back occasionally;--on
+general principles, you know."
+
+"I suppose so," assented Madeline, indifferently, as if the subject
+had lost all interest for her.
+
+Slowly the afternoon wore on, moments seeming hours to the despairing
+girl. At length Lucian, finding her little inclined to assist him in
+keeping up a conversation, said:
+
+"I am selfish not to remember that you are very tired. I will leave
+you to solitude and repose for a little time, shall I?"
+
+"If you wish," she replied, wearily. "I suppose I need the rest."
+
+"Then I will look in upon some of my friends. I have almost lost the
+run of city doings during my absence. Meantime, ring for anything you
+may need, won't you?"
+
+"I will ring;" and she looked, not at him, but at the bracket beyond.
+
+"Then good-by, little sweetheart. It is now four; I will be with you
+at six."
+
+He embraced her tenderly, and went out with that _debonnair_ grace
+which she had so loved. She looked after him with a hungry, hopeless
+longing in her eyes.
+
+"Oh, why does God make His foulest things the fairest?" she moaned.
+"Why did He put love in our hearts if it must turn our lives to ashes?
+Why must one be so young and yet so miserable? Oh, mother, mother, are
+all women wronged like us?"
+
+Madeline arose and commenced pacing the floor restlessly, nervously.
+She had come here with no fixed purpose, nothing beyond the indefinite
+determination to defy and thwart the man who had entrapped her. She
+had never for a moment feared for her safety, or doubted her ability
+to accomplish her object.
+
+A plan was now taking shape in her mind, and as she pondered, she
+extended her march, quite unthinkingly, on into the adjoining room,
+the door of which stood invitingly open. The first object to attract
+her attention was the light traveling coat which Lucian had worn on
+the previous day; worn when he was pleading his suit under the trees
+of Oakley; and in a burst of anger, as if it were a part of him she
+was thinking of so bitterly, she seized and hurled it from her. As it
+flew across the room, something fell from a pocket, almost at her
+feet.
+
+She looked down at it; it was a telegram, the one, doubtless, that had
+called him back to the city the day before. A business matter, he had
+said. Into her mind flashed the words of Olive Girard, "a professional
+gambler." She would see what this "business" was. Stooping, she picked
+up the crumpled envelope, and quickly devoured its contents.
+
+     Must see you immediately. Come by first train; am waiting at
+     your quarters.
+
+                                                 CORA.
+
+Madeline went back to the lighter, larger room, and seating herself,
+looked about her. Again the words of Olive rung in her ears.
+
+"Cora!" she ejaculated. "He obeyed her summons, and brought _me_ with
+him. And she was here only last night--and where has she gone? This
+must be the 'notorious,' the 'handsome.' Ah, Lucian Davlin, this is
+well; this nerves me for the worst! I shall not falter now. This is
+the first link in the chain that shall yet make your life a burden."
+
+She crossed the room and touched the bell.
+
+"Now for the first real step," said Madeline, grimly.
+
+The door opened and the dark face of Henry appeared, bowing on the
+threshold.
+
+"Come in, Henry, and close the door," said Madeline, pleasantly. "I
+want you to do me a favor, if you will."
+
+Henry came in, and stood waiting her order.
+
+"Will you carry a note for me, Henry, and bring me back an answer? I
+want _you_ to take it, because I feel as if I could trust you. You
+look like one who would be faithful to those who were kind to you."
+
+"Thank you, lady; indeed I would," said the man, in grateful tones.
+
+Madeline was quick to see the advantage to be gained by possessing the
+regard and confidence of this man, who must, necessarily, know so much
+that it was desirable to learn of the life and habits of him, between
+whom and herself must be waged a war to the very death.
+
+She reasoned rapidly, and as rapidly arrived at her conclusions. The
+first of those was, that Lucian Davlin, by his intolerance and
+unkindness, had fitted a tool to her hand, and she, therefore, as a
+preliminary step, must propitiate and win the confidence of this same
+tool left by his master within her reach.
+
+"And will you carry my letter, Henry, and return with an answer as
+soon as you can? You will find the person at this hour without any
+trouble."
+
+"Master ordered me to attend to your wants," replied the man, in a
+somewhat surly tone.
+
+She understood this somber inflection, and said: "He 'ordered' you?
+Yes, I see; is your master always as hard to please as to-day, Henry?
+He certainly was a little unkind."
+
+"He's always the same, madame," said the man, gloomily. Her words
+brought vividly before his mind's eye the many instances of his
+master's unkindness.
+
+"I'm sorry he is not kind to you," said the girl, hypocritically. "And
+I don't want you to carry this letter because _he_ ordered you. I want
+you to do it to oblige _me_, Henry, and it will make me always your
+friend."
+
+Ah, Henry, one resentful gleam from your eyes, as you stood behind the
+chair of your tyrant, has given to this slight girl the clue by which
+to sway you to her will. She was smiling upon him, and the man
+replied, in gratitude:
+
+"I'll do anything for you, madame."
+
+"Thank you, Henry. I was sure I could trust you. Will you get me some
+writing material, please?"
+
+Henry crossed to the handsome davenport, and found it locked. But when
+taking this precaution, Davlin overlooked the fact that Cora's last
+gift--a little affair intended for the convenience of travelers, being
+a combined dressing case and writing desk, the dividing compartment of
+which contained an excellent cabinet photograph of the lady herself,
+so enshrined as to be the first thing to greet the eyes of whosoever
+should open the little receptacle--was still accessible.
+
+Failing to open the davenport, Henry turned to this; and pressing upon
+the spring lock, exposed to the view of Madeline, standing near, the
+pictured face of Cora. Spite of his grievances, the sense of his duty
+was strong upon him, and he put himself between the girl and the
+object of her interest. Not so quickly but that she saw, and
+understood the movement. Stepping to his side, she put out her hand,
+saying:
+
+"What an exquisite picture--Madame Cora, is it not, Henry?"
+
+She was looking him full in the eyes, and he answered, staring in
+astonishment the while: "Yes, miss."
+
+"She is very handsome," mused the girl, as if to herself: "left just
+before my arrival, I think?" she added, at a venture.
+
+Again her eyes searched his face, and again he gave a surprised
+assent.
+
+"Do you like her, Henry?" questioned she, intent on her purpose.
+
+"She is just like _him_," he said, jerking his head grimly, while his
+voice took again a resentful tone. "She thinks a man who is _black_
+has no feelings."
+
+He placed pen, ink and paper on the table as he answered, and then
+looked to her inquiringly.
+
+"You may wait here while I write, if you will," she said, and took up
+the pen.
+
+She had brought away from the G---- House, the two cards of her
+would-be friends, and she now consulted them before she asked.
+
+"No. 52 ---- street; is that far, Henry?"
+
+"It's a five minutes' walk," he answered. "I can go and come in twenty
+minutes, allowing time for an answer."
+
+"Very good," she said, abruptly, and wrote rapidly:
+
+     _Clarence Vaughan._
+
+            No. 52 ---- street.
+
+     SIR--Having no other friend at hand, I take you at your
+     word. I need your aid, to rescue me from the power of a bad
+     man. Will you meet me, with a carriage, at the south corner
+     of this block, in one hour, and take me to Mrs. Girard, who
+     has offered me a shelter? You _know_ the danger I wish to
+     escape. Aid me "_in the name of your mother_."
+
+                                          MADELINE "WEIR."
+
+This is what she penned, and looking up she asked: "What is the number
+of this place, Henry?"
+
+"91 Empire block," he replied; "C---- street."
+
+She added this, and then folding and enclosing, addressed it to
+Clarence Vaughan, M. D., etc.
+
+"There, Henry, take it as quickly as you can; and some day I will try
+and reward you."
+
+She smiled upon him as she gave him the letter. He took it, bowed low,
+and hurried away.
+
+She listened until the sound of his footstep could be heard no longer.
+Then rising quickly, she opened the receptacle that held the portrait
+of the woman who, though unseen, was still an enemy. Long she gazed
+upon the pictured face, and when at last she closed the case,
+springing the lock with a sharp click, she muttered between set teeth:
+
+"I shall _know_ you when I see you, madame."
+
+Crossing to the pistol bracket, she took the little weapon in her
+hand, and picking up one of the cartridges left by its careless owner,
+loaded it carefully. Having done this she placed the weapon in her
+pocket.
+
+She paced to and fro, to and fro; nothing would have been harder for
+her than to remain quiet then. Her eyes wandered often to the tiny
+bronze clock on the marble above the grate.
+
+Ten minutes; her letter was delivered, was being answered
+perhaps;--fifteen; how slowly the moments were going!--twenty; what if _he_
+should return, too soon? Instinctively she placed her hand upon the pocket
+holding the little pistol. Twenty-five minutes; what if her messenger
+should fail her? And that card had clearly stated "office hours three to
+five." Twenty-six; oh, how slow, how slow!--twenty-seven; had the clock
+stopped? no;--twenty-eight--nine--half an hour.
+
+Where was Henry?
+
+She felt a giddiness creeping over her; how close the air was. Her
+nerves were at their utmost tension; another strain upon the sharply
+strung chords would overcome her. She felt this vaguely. If she should
+be baffled now! She could take fresh heart, could nerve herself anew,
+if aid came to her, but if _he_ should come she feared, in her now
+half frenzied condition, to be alone, she was so strangely nervous, so
+weak!
+
+How plainly she saw it, the face of Clarence Vaughan. Oh, it was a
+good face! When she saw it again she could rest. She had not felt it
+before, but she did need rest sorely.
+
+Thirty-five minutes,--oh, they had been hours to her; weary, weary
+time!
+
+How many a sad watcher has reckoned the flying moments as creeping
+hours, while sitting lonely, with heavy eyes, trembling frame, and
+heart almost bursting with its weight of suspense--waiting.
+
+Forty minutes--and a footstep in the passage! Her heart almost stopped
+beating. It was Henry.
+
+"I had to wait, as he was busy with a patient," said he,
+apologetically, handing her the letter she desired.
+
+Madeline tore open the missive with eager fingers, and read:
+
+_Miss Madeline W._:
+
+     Thank you for your faith in me. I will meet you at the place
+     and time appointed. Do not fail me. Respectfully,
+
+                                                C. VAUGHAN.
+
+She drew a long breath of relief.
+
+"Thank you, Henry. Now I shall leave this place; promise me that you
+will not tell your master where I went or how. Will you promise?"
+
+"I will, miss," said the man, earnestly. "Is this all I can do?"
+
+"If you would be my true friend--if I might trust you, Henry--I would
+ask more of you. But I should ask you to work against your master. He
+has wronged me cruelly, and I need a friend who can serve me as you
+can quite easily. I should not command you as a servant, but ask you
+to aid me as a true friend, for I think your heart is whiter than
+his."
+
+And Henry was won. Starting forward, he exclaimed:
+
+"He treats me as if I were a dog; and you, as if I were white and a
+gentleman! Let me be your servant, and I will be very faithful; tell
+me what I can do."
+
+"Thank you, Henry; I will trust you. To-morrow, at noon, call at Dr.
+Vaughan's office and he will tell you where you can find me. Then come
+to me. You can serve me best by remaining with your master, at
+present; and I will try, after I have left this place, to reward you
+as you deserve."
+
+"I will obey you, mistress," said the delighted servant. "I shall be
+glad to serve where I can hear a kind word. And I shall be glad to
+help you settle accounts with _him_. I will be there to-morrow, no
+fear for me."
+
+She turned, and put on her wrappings with a feeling of exultation. He
+would come soon, smiling and triumphant, and she would not be there!
+He should fret and wonder, question and search, but when they met
+again the power should be on her side.
+
+She turned to the waiting servant, saying: "I am ready, Henry."
+
+He opened the door as if for a princess. Before Madeline had lifted
+her foot from the carpet, her eyes became riveted upon the open
+doorway.
+
+There, smiling and _insouciant_, stood _Lucian Davlin_!
+
+Madeline stood like one in a nightmare, motionless and speechless.
+Again, and more powerfully, came over her senses that insidious,
+creeping faintness; that sickening of body and soul together.
+
+It was not the situation alone, hazardous as it certainly was, which
+filled her with this shuddering terror; it was the feeling that
+vitality had almost exhausted itself. She suddenly realized the
+meaning of the awful lethargy that seemed benumbing her faculties. The
+"last straw" was now weighing her down, and, standing mute and
+motionless she was putting forth all her will power to comprehend the
+situation, grasp and master it.
+
+Like a dark stone image Henry stood, his hand upon the open door, his
+eyes fastened upon the man blocking the way.
+
+Davlin, whose first thought had been that the open door was to welcome
+his approach, realized in an instant as he gazed upon Madeline, that
+he was about to be defied. There was no mistaking the expression of
+the face, so white and set. He elevated his eyebrows in an elaborate
+display of astonishment.
+
+"Just in time, I should say," removing his hat with mock courtesy, and
+stepping across the threshold. "Not going out without an escort, my
+dear? Surely not. Really, I owe a debt of gratitude to my friends down
+town, for boring me so insufferably, else I should have missed you, I
+fear."
+
+No answer; no change in the face or attitude of the girl before him.
+
+"Close that door, sir, and take yourself off," he said, turning to
+Henry.
+
+Remembering her words, "You can serve me best here," Henry bowed with
+unusual humility, and went out.
+
+[Illustration: "There, smiling and _insouciant_, stood _Lucian
+Davlin_!"--page 88.]
+
+"I don't think she is afraid of him," he muttered, as he went down the
+hall; "anyhow, I won't be far away, in case she needs me."
+
+Lucian Davlin folded his arms with insolent grace, and leaning lazily
+against the closed door, gazed, with his wicked half smile, upon the
+pale girl before him.
+
+Thus for a few moments they faced each other, without a word. At
+length, she broke the silence. Advancing a step, she looked him full
+in the face and said, in a calm, even tone:
+
+"Open that door, sir, and let me pass."
+
+"Phew--w--w!" he half whistled, half ejaculated, opening wide his
+insolent eyes. "How she commands us; like a little empress, by Jove!
+Might the humblest of your adorers be permitted to ask where you were
+going, most regal lady?"
+
+"Not back to the home I left for the sake of a gambler and _roue_,"
+she said, bitterly.
+
+"Oh," thought he, "she has just got her ideas awakened on this
+subject: believed me the soul of honor, and all that. Only a small
+matter this, after all."
+
+"Don't call hard names, little woman," he said aloud. "I'm not such a
+very bad man, after all. By the way, I shouldn't have thought it
+exactly in your line, to order up my servant for examination in my
+absence."
+
+"I am not indebted to your servant for my knowledge concerning you,
+sir. I wish to leave this place; stand aside and let me pass."
+
+The red flush had returned to her cheeks, the dangerous sparkle to her
+eyes; her courage and spirits rose in response to his sneering
+pleasantries. Her nerves were tempered like steel. He little dreamed
+of the courage, strength and power she could pit against him.
+
+He dropped one hand carelessly, and inserted it jauntily in his
+pocket.
+
+"Zounds; but you look like a little tigress," he exclaimed,
+admiringly. "Really, rage becomes you vastly, but it's wearisome,
+after all, my dear. So drop high tragedy, like a sensible girl, and
+tell me what is the meaning of this new freak."
+
+"I will tell you this, sir: I shall leave this place now, and I wish
+never to see your face again. Where I go is no concern of yours. Why I
+go, I leave to your own imagination."
+
+"Bravo; what a little actress you would make! But now for a display of
+my histrionic talents. Leave this place, against my will, you can not;
+and I wish to see your face often, for many days to come. Where you go
+I must go, too; and why you go, is because of a prudish scruple that
+has no place in the world you and I will live in."
+
+"The world _you_ live in is not large enough for me too, Lucian
+Davlin. And you and I part, now and forever."
+
+"Not so fast, little one," he answered, in his softest, most
+persuasive tone. "See, I am the same lover you pledged yourself to
+only yesterday. I adore you the same as then; I desire to make you
+happy just the same. You have put a deep gulf between yourself and
+your home; you can not go back; you would go out from here to meet a
+worse fate, to fall into worse hands. Come, dear, put off that frown."
+
+He made a gesture as if to draw her to him. She sprang away, and
+placing herself at a distance, looked at him over a broad, low-backed
+chair, saying:
+
+"Not a step nearer me, sir, and not another word of your sophistry. I
+will not remain here. Do you understand me? _I will not!_"
+
+Lucian dragged a chair near the door, and throwing himself lazily
+into it, surveyed the enraged girl with a look of mingled
+astonishment, amusement, and annoyance.
+
+"Really, this is rather hard on a fellow's patience, my lady. Not a
+step nearer the door, my dear; and no more defiance, if you please.
+You perceive I temper my tragedy with a little politeness," he added,
+parenthetically. "I will not permit you to leave me; do you hear me?
+_I will not!_"
+
+His tone of aggressive mockery was maddening to the desperate girl. It
+lent her a fresh, last impulse of wild, defiant energy. There was not
+the shadow of a fear in her mind or heart now. The rush of outraged
+feeling took full possession of her, and, for a second, deprived her
+of all power of speech or action. In another instant she stood before
+him, her eyes blazing with wrath, and in her hand, steadfast and
+surely aimed, a tiny pistol--his pistol, that he had taught her to
+load and aim not two short hours before!
+
+He was not a coward, this man; and rage at being thus baffled and
+placed at a disadvantage by his own weapon, drove all the mockery from
+his face.
+
+He gave a sudden bound.
+
+There was a flash, a sharp report, and Lucian Davlin reeled for a
+moment, his right arm hanging helpless and bleeding. Only for a
+moment, for as the girl sprang past him, he wheeled about, seized her
+with his strong left arm, and holding her close to him in a vice-like
+clutch, hissed, while the ghastly paleness caused by the flowing blood
+overspread his face:
+
+"Little demon! I will kill you before I will lose you now!
+You--shall--not--esca--"
+
+A deathly faintness overcame him, and he fell heavily; still clasping
+the girl, now senseless like himself.
+
+[Illustration: "In her hand, steadfast and surely aimed, a tiny
+pistol--"--page 92.]
+
+Hearing the pistol shot, and almost simultaneously a heavy fall,
+Henry hurried through the long passage and threw open the door. One
+glance sufficed, and then he rushed down the stairs in frantic haste.
+
+Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, punctual to the time appointed, had driven
+rapidly to the spot designated by Madeline. He was about to alight
+from the carriage, when he drew back suddenly, and sat in the shadow
+as a man passed up the street.
+
+It was Lucian Davlin, and he entered the building bearing the number
+Madeline had given in her note.
+
+Instantly Vaughan comprehended the situation. She had sent for aid in
+this man's absence, and his return might frustrate her plans.
+Pondering upon the best course to pursue, he descended from the
+carriage, and paced the length of the block. Turning in his promenade,
+his ear was greeted by a pistol shot. Could it come from that
+building? It sounded from there certainly. It was now five minutes
+past the time appointed; could it be there was foul play? He paused at
+the foot of the stairs, irresolute.
+
+Suddenly there was a rush of feet, and Henry came flying down, the
+whites of his eyes looking as if they would never resume their natural
+proportions. Clarence intercepted the man as he essayed to pass,
+evidently without having seen him.
+
+"Oh, sir!--Oh, doctor, come right up stairs, quick, sir," he
+exclaimed.
+
+"Was that shot from here, my man?" inquired Doctor Vaughan, as he
+followed up the stairs.
+
+"Yes, sir," hurrying on.
+
+"Any people in the building besides your master and the lady?"
+
+"No, sir; not at this time. This way, sir."
+
+He threw open the door and stepped back. Entering the room, this is
+what Clarence Vaughan saw:
+
+Lying upon the floor in a pool of blood, the splendid form of Lucian
+Davlin, one arm dripping the red life fluid, the other clasping close
+the form of a beautiful girl. His eyes were closed and his face pallid
+as the dead. The eyes of the girl were staring wide and set, her face
+expressing unutterable fear and horror, every muscle rigid as if in a
+struggle still. One hand was clenched, and thrown out as if to ward
+off that death-like grasp, while the other clutched a pistol, still
+warm and smelling of powder.
+
+It was the work of a moment to stop the flow of blood, and restore the
+wounded man to consciousness. But first he had removed the insensible
+girl from Davlin's grasp, laid her upon a bed in the inner room and,
+removing the fatal weapon from her hand, instructed Henry how to apply
+the remedies a skilful surgeon has always about him, especially in the
+city.
+
+At the first sure symptoms of slowly returning life, Doctor Vaughan
+summoned Henry to look after his master, whom he left, with rather
+unprofessional alacrity, to attend to the fair patient in whose
+welfare he felt so much interest. As he bent over the still
+unconscious girl, his face was shadowed with troubled thought. She was
+in no common faint, and feeling fully assured what the result would
+be, he almost feared to see the first fluttering return of life.
+
+At last a shudder agitated her form, and looking up with just a gleam
+of recognition, she passed into another swoon, thence to another.
+Through long weary hours she only opened her eyes to close them,
+blinded with the vision of unutterable woe; and so the long night wore
+away.
+
+Dr. Vaughan had given brief, stern orders, in accordance with which
+Lucian Davlin had entrusted his wound to another surgeon for dressing,
+and then, still in obedience to orders, had swallowed a soothing
+potion and betaken himself to other apartments.
+
+Henry had summoned a trusty nurse well known to Clarence Vaughan, to
+assist him at the bedside of Madeline.
+
+In the gray of morning, pallid and interesting, with his arm in a
+sling, Lucian reappeared in the sick room. Evidently he had not
+employed all of the intervening time in slumber, for his course of
+action seemed to have been fully matured.
+
+"She won't be able to leave here for many days, I should fancy?" he
+half inquired in a low tone, sinking languidly into a sleepy-hollow,
+commanding a view of the face of the patient, and the back of the
+physician.
+
+"Not alive," was the brief but significant answer.
+
+"Not alive! Great heavens, doctor, don't tell me that my miserable
+accident will cost the little girl her life!"
+
+"Ah! your accident: how was that?" bending over Madeline.
+
+"Why, you see," explained Davlin, "She picked up the pistol, and not
+being acquainted with the use of fire-arms, desired to investigate
+under my instructions. Having loaded it, explaining the process by
+illustration, she, being timid, begged me to put it up. Laughing at
+her fear, I was about to obey, when moving around carelessly, my hand
+came in contact with that chair, setting the thing off. The sight of
+my bleeding arm frightened her so that I saw she was about to faint.
+As I caught her I myself lost consciousness, and we fell together. But
+how will she come out, doctor? tell me that; poor little girl!"
+
+"She will come out from this trance soon, to die almost immediately,
+or to pass through a fever stage that may result fatally later. Her
+bodily condition is one of unusual prostration from fatigue; and
+evidently, she has been sustaining some undue excitement for a
+considerable time."
+
+"Been traveling, and pretty well tired with the journey. That, I
+suppose, taken with this pistol affair--but tell me, doctor, what she
+will need, so that I may attend to it immediately."
+
+"If she is living at noon," said Dr. Vaughan, reflectively, "it will
+be out of the question to remove her from here, without risking her
+life for weeks to come. If she comes out of this, and you will leave
+her in my hands, I will, with the aid of this good woman," nodding
+toward the nurse, "undertake to pull her through. It will be necessary
+that she have perfect quiet, and sees no face that might in any manner
+excite her, during her illness and convalescence."
+
+Davlin mused for a few moments before making answer. He did not care
+to excite remark by calling in unnecessary attendants. Dr. Vaughan he
+knew by reputation as a skilful physician. As well trust him as
+another, he thought, and it was no part of his plan to let this girl
+die if skill could save her.
+
+In answer to his natural inquiry as to how the doctor was so speedily
+on the spot when needed, Henry had truthfully replied that he knew the
+medical man by sight, and that, fortunately, he was passing when he
+ran down to the street for assistance. Davlin was further convinced
+that he, Henry, knew nothing save that the young lady rang for him to
+show her out, and he, according to orders, had obeyed.
+
+"Well, sir," Davlin said, at last, "I shall leave the lady and the
+premises entirely in your hands, as soon as the crisis has passed.
+Then, as my presence might not prove beneficial, while I carry this
+arm in a sling, at least, I will run down into the country for a few
+days. My man, here, is entirely at your disposal. Don't spare any
+pains to pull her through safely, doctor. I will look in again at
+noon."
+
+He rose and went softly out of the room, the doctor having answered
+him only by a nod of assent.
+
+"Zounds, how weak I feel," he ejaculated. "I hope the girl won't die.
+Anyhow, I have no notion of figuring at a death-bed scene. So I'll
+just keep myself out of the way until the thing is decided. Then, I'll
+run down and let Cora coddle me up a bit. I can explain my wounded arm
+as the result of a little affair at the card-table."
+
+Noon came, and slowly, slowly, stern Death relaxed his grasp upon the
+miserable girl, for Death, like man, finds no satisfaction in claiming
+willing victims. Slowly the life fluttered back to her heart; and
+because Death had yielded her up, and to retain it would be to lose
+her life, reason forsook her.
+
+Under the watchful care of the skilled nurse, and the ministrations of
+the young physician, she now lay tossing in the delirium of fever.
+
+Nothing worse to fear, for days at least, reported the doctor. So the
+afternoon train bore Lucian Davlin away from the city and his victim,
+to seek repose and diversion in the society of his comrade, Cora.
+
+"She will come out of this now, I think," he muttered. "Then--Oh! I'll
+tame your proud spirit yet, my lady! I would not give you up now for
+half a million."
+
+And he meant it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THREADS OF THE FABRIC.
+
+
+What had become of Madeline Payne?
+
+The question went the round of the village, as such questions do. The
+servants of Oakley fed upon it. They held secret conferences in the
+kitchen, and grew loud and argumentative when they knew John Arthur
+was safely out of hearing. They bore themselves with an air of
+subdued, unobservant melancholy in his presence, and waxed important,
+mysterious and unsatisfactory, when in converse with the towns
+folk--as was quite right and proper, for were they not, in the eyes of
+mystery hunters, objects of curiosity secondary only to their master
+himself?
+
+The somber-faced old housekeeper gave utterance to a doleful croak or
+two, and a more doleful prophecy. But after a summons from John
+Arthur, and a brief interview with him in the closely shut sacredness
+of his especial den, not even the social intercourse of the kitchen
+and the inspiration that the prolonged absence of the master always
+lent to things below stairs, could beguile from her anything beyond
+the terse statement that "she didn't meddle with her master's
+affairs," and she "s'posed Miss Madeline knew where she was."
+
+The housemaid, who read novels and was rather fond of Miss Payne,
+grieved for a very little while, but found in this "visitation of
+providence," as John Arthur piously termed it, food for romance
+weaving on her own responsibility. She entertained Peter, the groom,
+coachman and general factotum, with divers suggestions and
+suppositions, each more soul harrowing than the last, making of poor
+Madeline a lay figure upon which she fitted all the catastrophes that
+had ever befallen her yellow-covered "heroinesses."
+
+The villagers talked. It was all they could do, and their tongues were
+very busy for a time until, in fact, a fresher sensation arrived.
+Nurse Hagar was viewed and interviewed; but beyond sincere expression
+of grief at her disappearance, and the unvarying statement that she
+had not even the slightest conjecture as to the fate of the lost girl,
+nothing could be gained from her.
+
+Hagar was somewhat given to rather bluntly spoken opinions of folk who
+happened to run counter to her notions in regard to prying, or, in
+fact, her notions on any subject. In the present emergency she became
+a veritable social hedgehog, and was soon left to solitude and her own
+devices.
+
+Whatever were Hagar's opinions on the subject, she kept them
+discreetly locked within her own breast. She had received, at their
+last interview, a revelation of the depth and force of character which
+lay dormant in the nature of Madeline; and she believed, even when she
+grieved most, that the girl would return, and that when she came she
+would make her advent felt.
+
+John Arthur went to the city "to put the matter in the hands of the
+detectives," he said. But as he most fervently hoped and wished that
+he had seen the last of his "stumbling--block," and believed that of
+her own will she would not return, it is hardly to be supposed that
+the Secret Service was severely taxed.
+
+Be this as it may, the Summer days passed and he heard nothing of
+Madeline.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Meantime, the neat little hotel that rejoiced in the name of the
+Bellair House, displayed on a fresh page of its register the signature
+of Lucian Davlin once more, and underneath it that of Mrs. C.
+Torrance.
+
+Mrs. C. Torrance was a blonde young widow, dressed in weeds of most
+elegant quality and latest style, with just the faintest hint of an
+approaching season of half mourning.
+
+Mrs. Torrance had now been an inmate of Bellair House some days, and
+she certainly had no reason to complain that her present outlook was
+not all that could be desired. Already she had met the object of her
+little masquerade, and it was charming to see the alacrity with which
+John Arthur placed himself in the snare set for him by these
+plotters, and how gracefully he submitted as the cords tightened
+around him.
+
+Over and over again Davlin thanked his lucky star for having so
+ordered his goings that, on his previous visit, he had never been
+brought into immediate contact with John Arthur. Over and again he
+congratulated himself that his meetings with Madeline had been kept
+their own secret, for he knew nothing of the watchful, jealous eyes of
+old Hagar.
+
+On a fine summer morning, or rather "forenoon," for Mrs. Torrance was
+a luxurious widow, and her "brother," Mr. Davlin, not at all enamored
+of early rising,--on a fine forenoon, then, the pair sat in the little
+hotel parlor, partaking of breakfast. They relished it, too, if one
+might judge from the occasional pretty little ejaculations, expressive
+of enjoyment and appreciation, that fell from the lips of the widow.
+
+"More cream, monsieur? Oh, but this fruit is delicious! And I believe
+there is a grand difference in the qualities of city and country
+cream."
+
+"The difference in the favor of the country living, eh? I say, Co.,
+don't you think your appetite is rather better than is exactly
+expected, or in order, for a widow in the second stage of her grief?"
+
+Things were moving just now as Mr. Davlin approved, and he felt
+inclined to be jocular.
+
+Cora laughed merrily. Then holding up a pretty, berry-stained hand,
+she said, with mock solemnity, "That is the last, my greatly shocked
+brother. But didn't you inform Mr. Arthur that we should accept of his
+kind offer to survey the woods and grounds of Oakley in his company,
+and isn't this the day, and almost the hour?"
+
+"So it is; I had forgotten."
+
+It was not long before the pair were equipped, and sauntering slowly
+in the direction of the Oakley estate.
+
+Their morning's enterprise was more than rewarded, and the cause of
+the widow was in a fair way to victory, when, after having politely
+refused to lunch with Mr. Arthur on that day, and gracefully promised
+to dine at Oakley on the next day but one, they bade adieu to that
+flattered and fascinated gentleman, and left him at the entrance of
+his grounds.
+
+Then they sauntered slowly back, keeping to the wooded path. Arriving
+at the fallen tree, the scene of so many interviews between Madeline
+and Lucian, Cora seated herself on the mossy trunk and announced her
+determination to rest.
+
+Accordingly her escort threw himself upon the soft grass, and betook
+himself to his inevitable cigar, while he closed his eyes and allowed
+the vision of Madeline to occupy the place now usurped by Cora. Very
+absorbing the vision must have been, for he gave an almost nervous
+start as Cora's voice broke the stillness:
+
+"Lucian, did you ever see this runaway daughter of Mr. Arthur's?"
+
+Lucian started unmistakably now. Then he employed himself in pulling
+up tufts of the soft grass, pretending not to have heard.
+
+"Lucian!" impatiently.
+
+"Eh, Co., what is it?" affecting a yawn.
+
+"I ask, did you ever see this Madeline Payne, who ran away recently?"
+
+"I? Oh, no. Old fellow always kept her shut up too close, I fancy.
+They say she was pretty, and you are the first pretty woman I have
+seen in these parts, Co."
+
+[Illustration: "More cream, Monsieur?"--page 101.]
+
+"Well, then, I'm sorry you didn't," quoth Cora, "for from motives of
+delicacy I really don't care to inquire of others, and I have just
+curiosity enough to wish to know how she looked."
+
+"Sorry I can't enlighten you, Co. Get it all out of the old fellow
+after the joyful event."
+
+"Umph! Well, _that_ business prospers, _mon brave_. We shall win, I
+think, as usual."
+
+"Yes; and never easier, Co."
+
+"Well, I don't anticipate much trouble in landing our fish. But come
+along, Lucian, this romantic dell might make you forget luncheon; it
+can't have that effect on me."
+
+Cora gathered her draperies about her, and prepared to quit the little
+grove, her companion following half reluctantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+GONE!
+
+
+Hours that seemed days; days that seemed years; weeks that seemed
+centuries; yet they all passed, and Madeline Payne scarce knew, when
+they were actually gone, that they were not all a dream.
+
+Life, after that first yielding of heart and brain, had been a
+delirium; then a conscious torture of mind and body; next a burden
+almost too great to bear; and then a dreamy lethargy. Heaven be
+praised for such moods; they are saviors of life and reason in crises
+such as this through which the stricken girl was passing.
+
+Madness had wrought upon her, and her ravings had revealed some
+otherwise dark places and blanks in her story to her guardian and
+nurses. Pain had tortured her. Death wrestled with her, and then,
+because he could inspire her with no fear of him, because she mocked
+at his terrors and wooed him, fled away.
+
+In his place came Life, to whom she gave no welcoming smile. But Life
+stayed, for Life is as regardless of our wishes as is Death.
+
+Forms had hovered about her; kindly voices, sweet voices, had murmured
+at her bedside. At times, an angel had held the cooling draught to her
+thirsty lips. At last these dream-creatures resolved themselves into
+realities:
+
+Doctor Vaughan, who had ministered to her with the solicitude of a
+brother, the gentleness of a woman, and the goodness of an angel.
+
+Olive Girard who, leaving all other cares, was ever at her bedside,
+and who came to that place at a sacrifice of feeling, after a
+wrestling with pride, bringing a bitterness of memory, and a patient
+courage of heart, that the girl could not then realize.
+
+Henry, too, black of skin, warm of heart; who waited in the outer
+court, and seemed to allow himself full and free respiration only when
+the girl was pronounced out of danger.
+
+Out of danger! What a misapplication of words!
+
+From the scene of conflict, at the last flutter of Death's gloomy
+mantle, comes the man of medicine; watch in hand, boots a tiptoe, face
+grave but triumphant. His voice bids a subdued farewell to the
+somberness proper to a probable death-bed, coming up just a note
+higher in the scale of solemnities, as it announces to the eager,
+trembling, waiting ones,
+
+"_The danger is past!_"
+
+Death, the calm, the restful, the never weary; Death, the friend of
+long suffering, and world weariness and despair; Death, the rescuer,
+the sometime comforter--has gone away with empty arms and reluctant
+tread, and--Life, flushed, triumphant, seizes his rescued subject and
+flings her out into the sea of human lives, perchance to alight upon
+some tiny green islet or, likelier yet, to buffet about among black
+waters, or encounter winds and storms, upheld only by a half-wrecked
+raft or floated by a scarce-supporting spar.
+
+And she is out of danger!
+
+Hedged around about by sorrow, assailed by temptation, overshadowed by
+sin. And, "the danger is over!"
+
+Buffeted by the waves of adversity; longing for things out of reach;
+running after _ignis fatui_ with eager outstretched hands, and
+careless, hurrying feet, among pitfalls and snares. And, out of
+danger!
+
+Open your eyes, Madeline Payne; lift up your voice in thanksgiving;
+you have come back to the world. Back where the sun shines and the dew
+falls; where the flowers are shedding their perfume and song birds are
+making glad music; where men make merry and women smile; where gold
+shapes itself into palaces and fame wreathes crowns for fair and noble
+brows; where beauty crowns valor and valor kisses the lips of beauty.
+And where the rivers sparkle in the sunlight, and, sometimes, yield up
+from their embrace cold, dripping, dead things, that yet bear the
+semblance of your kind--all that is left of beings that were once like
+you!
+
+Out of danger!
+
+Where want, and poverty, and--God help us!--vice, hide their heads in
+dim alleys and under smoky garret roofs. Where beaten mothers and
+starving children dare hardly aspire to the pure air and sunlight, the
+whole world for them being enshrined in a crust of bread. Where
+thieves mount upwards on ladders beaten from pilfered gold, and
+command cities and sway nations. Where wantonness laughs and thrives
+in gilded cages, and starves and dies in mouldy cellars.
+
+Out of danger!
+
+Madeline, the place that was almost yours, in the land of the
+unknowable, is given to another. The waters of death have cast you
+back upon the shores of the living. You are "out of danger!"
+
+What was to become of Madeline, now that they had brought her back to
+life? This was a question which occurred to the two who so kindly
+interested themselves in the fate of the unknown and headstrong girl.
+
+While they planned a little, as was only natural, yet they knew from
+what they had seen of their charge that, decide for her how they
+would, only so far as that decision corresponded with her own
+inclinations would she abide by it. So they left Madeline's future for
+Madeline to decide, and found occupation for their kindliness in
+ministering to her needs of the present.
+
+Once during her illness, and just as the light of reason had returned
+to the lovely hazel eyes, Lucian Davlin came. But he found the door of
+the sick chamber closely shut and closely guarded. The slightest shock
+to her nerves would be fatal now,--they told him. And he, having done
+the proper thing, as he termed it, and not being in any way fond of
+the sight of pain and pallor, yielded with a graceful simulation of
+reluctance. Having been assured that with careful nursing, there was
+nothing to fear, he deposited a check on his bankers in the hands of
+her attendants, and went away contentedly, smiling under his mustache
+at the novelty of being turned away from his own door.
+
+He went back to Bellair, to Cora, and to the web they were weaving,
+little dreaming whose hands would take up the thread and continue and
+complete what they had thus begun.
+
+And now the day has come for Madeline to leave the shelter that she
+hates. Pale and weak, she sits in the great easy chair that had served
+as a barrier between herself and her enemy, and converses with Olive
+Girard while they await the arrival of Clarence Vaughan, who is to
+take them from the place so distasteful to all three.
+
+It has been settled that, for the present, Madeline will be the guest
+of Olive. What will come after health and strength are fully restored,
+they have not discussed much. Olive Girard and Doctor Vaughan had
+agreed that all thoughts of the future must bring a grief and care
+with them, and the mind of the invalid was in no condition for painful
+thought and study. So Olive has been careful to avoid all topics that
+might bring her troubles too vividly to mind.
+
+But partly to divert Madeline's mind from her own woes, partly to
+enable the unfortunate girl to feel less a stranger among them, she
+has talked to her of Doctor Vaughan, of her sister, and at last of
+herself.
+
+And Madeline has listened to her description of merry, lovely Claire
+Keith, and wondered what she could have in common with this buoyant,
+care-free girl, who was evidently her sister's idol. Yet she found
+herself thinking often of Olive's beautiful sister. Once, in the brief
+absence of Olive, she had said to Doctor Vaughan:
+
+"Mrs. Girard has told me of her sister; is she very lovely? And do you
+know her well?"
+
+"She is very fair, and sweet, and good. You will love her when you
+know her, and I think you will be friends."
+
+[Illustration: "Pale and weak, she sits in the great easy
+chair."--page 108.]
+
+She had not needed this; the tell-tale eye was sufficient to reveal
+the fact that it was not, as she had at first supposed, Olive Girard,
+but the younger sister, whom Clarence Vaughan loved.
+
+"I might have known," she murmured to herself. "Olive Girard has the
+face of one whose love dream has passed away and lost itself in
+sorrow; and he looks, full of strength and hope, straight into the
+future."
+
+As they sat together waiting, there was still that same contrast,
+which you felt rather than saw, between these two. They might have
+posed as the models of Resignation and Unrest.
+
+The look of patient waiting was five years old upon the face of Olive
+Girard. Five years ago she had been so happy--a bride, beautiful and
+beloved. Beautiful she was still--with the beauty of shadow; beloved
+too, but how sadly! Philip Girard had been convicted of a great crime,
+and for five long years had worn a felon's garb, and borne the anguish
+of one set apart from all the world.
+
+The hand that had darkened the life of Olive Girard, and the hand that
+had turned the young days of the girl Madeline into a burden, was one
+and the same.
+
+Afterwards Madeline listened to the pathetic history of Olive's
+sorrow.
+
+Sitting in that great lounging chair, Madeline looked very fair, very
+childlike. Sadly sweet were her large, deep eyes, and her hair, shorn
+while the fever raged, clustered in soft tiny rings about her slender,
+snowy neck and blue-veined temples. She had not been permitted to talk
+much during her convalescence, and Olive had as yet gleaned only a
+general outline of her story.
+
+"Mrs. Girard," said the girl, resting her pale cheek in the palm of a
+thin, tiny hand, "you once said something to me about--about some one
+who had been wronged by--" Something sadder than tears choked her
+utterance.
+
+As Olive turned her grave clear eyes away from the window, and fixed
+them in expectation upon her; Madeline's own eyes fell. She sat before
+her benefactress with downcast lids, and the hateful name unuttered.
+
+"I know," said Olive, after a brief silence; "I referred to a girl now
+lying in the hospital. She is very young, and has been cruelly wronged
+by him. She is poor, as you may judge, and earned her living in the
+ballet at the theater. She was thrown from a carriage which had been
+furnished her by _him_, to carry her home from some rendezvous--of
+course the driver took care of himself and his horses. The poor girl
+was picked up and carried to the hospital. She was without friends and
+almost penniless. She sent to him--for him; he returned no answer. She
+begged for help, for enough to enable her to obtain what was needed in
+her illness. Message after message was sent, and finally a reply came,
+brought by a messenger who had been bidden to insist upon receiving an
+answer. The servant said that his master had directed him to say to
+any messenger who called, that he was out of town."
+
+"The wretch! He deserves death!"
+
+Madeline's eyes blazed, and she lifted her head with some of her olden
+energy.
+
+"Softly, my dear: 'Thou shalt do no murder.'"
+
+"It is not murder to kill a human tiger!"
+
+Olive made no answer.
+
+"Is she still very ill, this girl?" questioned Madeline.
+
+"She can not recover."
+
+"Shall I see her?"
+
+"If you wish to; do you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Another long pause; then Madeline glanced up at her friend, and said
+listlessly: "What do you intend to do with me?"
+
+"Do with you?" smiling at her. "Make you well again, and then try and
+coax you to be my other sister. Don't you think I need one?"
+
+No answer.
+
+"Life has much in store for you yet, Madeline."
+
+"Yes;" bitterly again.
+
+"You are so young."
+
+"And so old."
+
+"Madeline, you are too young for somber thoughts and repining."
+
+"I shall not repine."
+
+"Good! You will try to forget?"
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"No; not impossible."
+
+"I do not wish to, then."
+
+"And why?"
+
+"Wait and see."
+
+"Madeline, you will do nothing rash? You will trust me, and confide in
+me?"
+
+The girl raised her eyes slowly, in surprise. "I have not so many
+friends that I can afford to lose one."
+
+"Thank you, dear; then we will let the subject drop until we are
+stronger. And here is the carriage, and Doctor Vaughan."
+
+Out into the sunny Summer morning went Madeline, and soon she was
+established in a lovely little room which, Olive said, was hers so
+long as she could be persuaded to occupy it. Here the girl rested and,
+ministered unto by gentle hands, she felt life coming back.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And Lucian?
+
+Late in the afternoon of the day that saw Madeline depart from his
+elegant rooms, Mr. Davlin arrived, and found no one to deny him
+admittance. All the doors stood ajar, and Henry was flitting about
+with an air of putting things to rights. The bird had flown.
+
+He gained from Henry the following: "I don't know, sir, where she
+went. A gentleman came with a carriage, and the young lady and the
+nurse went away with him."
+
+Lucian was not aware what manner of nurse Madeline had had in her
+illness. And Henry, having purposely misled him, enjoyed his
+discomfiture.
+
+"She told me to give you this, sir," said he, handing his master a
+little package.
+
+Tearing off the wrapper, Lucian held in his hand the little pistol
+that had inflicted upon him the wounded arm. From its mouth he drew a
+scrap of paper, and this is what it said:
+
+     When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+BONNIE, BEWITCHING CLAIRE.
+
+
+Four months. We find Madeline standing in the late Autumn sunset,
+"clothed and in her right mind," strong with the strength of youth,
+and beautiful with even more than her olden beauty.
+
+Fair is the prospect as seen from the grounds of Mrs. Girard's
+suburban villa, and so, perhaps, Claire Keith is thinking.
+
+She is looking down the level road, and at the trees on either hand,
+decked in all their October magnificence of scarlet and brown and
+gold, half concealing coquettish villas and more stately residences.
+
+The eyes of Madeline were turned away from the vista of villas and
+trees, and were gazing toward the business thoroughfare leading into
+the bustle of the town; gazing after the receding figure of Doctor
+Clarence Vaughan as he cantered away from the villa; gazing until a
+turn of the road hid him from her view. Then--and what did she mean by
+it?--she turned her face toward Claire with a questioning look in her
+eyes--the question came almost to her lips. But the words were
+repressed.
+
+Bonnie Clair was thinking of anything but Clarence Vaughan just then.
+Presently she turned a bright glance upon her companion, who was
+gathering clusters of the fallen maple leaves, with face half averted.
+
+"A kiss for your thoughts, beautiful blonde Madeline. I certainly
+think it is ten minutes since Doctor Vaughan departed and silence fell
+upon us."
+
+She bent down, and taking her companion's head between two dimpled
+hands, pulled it back, until she could look into the solemn brown
+eyes.
+
+"Come, now," coaxingly, "what were you thinking?"
+
+Madeline extricated herself from Claire's playful grasp, and replied
+with a half laugh: "It must be mutual confession then, you small
+highwayman; how do you like my terms?"
+
+"Only so so," flushing and laughing. "I was meditating the propriety
+of telling you something some day, and was thinking of that something
+just now, but--"
+
+"But," mimicked Madeline, with half-hearted playfulness; "what will
+you give me to relieve your embarrassment, and guess?"
+
+"You can't," emphatically.
+
+[Illustration: "When next we meet, I shall have other weapons!"--page
+113.]
+
+"Can't I? We will see. My dear, I fear you have left a little corner
+of your heart behind you in far-away Baltimore. You didn't come to pay
+your annual visit to your sister, quite heart free."
+
+Anyone wishing to gain an insight into the character of Claire Keith
+might have taken a long step in that direction could he have witnessed
+her reception of this unexpected shot. She opened her dark eyes in
+comic amazement, and dropping into a garden chair, exclaimed, with a
+look of frank inquiry:
+
+"Now, how ever could you guess that?"
+
+"Because," said Madeline, in a constrained voice, and with all the
+laughter fading from her eyes; "Because, I know the symptoms."
+
+"I see," dropping her voice suddenly. "Oh, Madeline, how I wish you
+could forget _that_."
+
+"Why should I forget my love dream," scornfully, "any more than you
+yours?"
+
+"Oh, Madeline; but you said you had ceased to care for him; that you
+should never mourn his loss."
+
+"_Mourn his loss!_" turning upon Claire, fiercely. "Do you think it is
+for him I mourn my _dead_; my lost happiness, my shattered dreams, my
+life made a bitter, burdensome thing. Mourn him? I have for Lucian
+Davlin but one feeling--hate!"
+
+Madeline, as she uttered these last words, had turned upon Claire a
+face whose fierce intensity of expression was startling. For a moment
+the two gazed into each other's eyes--the one with curling lip and
+somber, menacing glance, the other with a startled face as if she read
+something new and to be feared, in the eye of her friend.
+
+Claire had been an inmate of her sister's house for four weeks. When
+first she arrived, she had heard Madeline's story, at Madeline's
+request, from the lips of her sister Olive, and now the girls were
+fast friends. Generous Claire had found much to wonder at, to pity and
+to love, in the story and the character of the unfortunate girl.
+Possessing a frank, sunshiny nature, and never having known an actual
+grief, she could lavish sweet sympathy to one afflicted. But she could
+not conceive what it would be like to live on when faith had perished
+and hope was a mockery. She had never known, therefore never missed, a
+father's love and care. Indeed, he who filled the place of father and
+guardian, her mother's second husband, was all that a real parent
+could be. Claire seldom remembered that Mr. James Keith was not her
+father, and very few, except the family of Keith, knew that "Miss
+Claire Keith, daughter of the rich James Keith, of Baltimore," was in
+truth only a step-daughter.
+
+Mrs. Keith, whose first husband was Richard Keith, cashier in his
+wealthy cousin's banking house, had buried that husband when Olive was
+five years old, and baby Claire scarce able to lisp his name. In a
+little less than two years she had married James Keith, the
+banker-cousin, and shortly after the marriage, James Keith had
+transferred his business interests to Baltimore, and there remained.
+
+So Claire's baby brothers had never been told that she was not their
+"very own" sister, for of Olive they knew little, her marriage having
+separated them at first, and subsequently her obdurate acceptance of
+the consequences of that marriage.
+
+When the law pronounced her husband a criminal, Mr. Keith had
+commanded Olive to abandon both husband and home, and return to his
+protection. This, true-hearted Olive refused to do. Her step-father,
+enraged at her obstinacy in clinging to a man who had been forsaken by
+all the world beside, bade her choose between them. Either she must
+let the law finish its work of breaking Philip Girard's heart by
+setting her free, or she must accept the consequences of remaining the
+wife of a criminal.
+
+Olive chose the latter, and thenceforth remained in her own lonely
+home, never even once visiting the place of her childhood.
+
+"He called my husband a criminal," she said, "and I will never cross
+his threshold until he has had cause to withdraw those words."
+
+Claire, however, announced her intention of visiting her sister
+whenever she chose, and she succeeded, in part, in carrying out her
+will, for every year she passed two months or more with Olive.
+
+What a picture the two girls now made, standing face to face.
+
+Madeline, with her lithe grace of form, her pure pale complexion lit
+up by those fathomless brown eyes, and rendering more noticeable and
+beautiful the tiny rosy mouth, with its satellite dimples; with such
+wee white, blue-veined hands, and such a clear ringing, yet
+marvelously sweet voice. Madeline was very beautiful, and Claire, as
+she looked at her, wondered how any man could bear to lose such
+loveliness, or have the heart to betray it; as if ever pure woman
+could fathom the depth of a bad man's wickedness.
+
+Bonnie, bewitching Claire! Never was contrast more perfect. A scarf,
+like scarlet flame, flung about her shoulders, set off the richness of
+her clear brunette skin, through which the crimson blood flamed in
+cheek and lip. Eyes, now black, now gray, changing, flashing, witching
+eyes: gray in quiet moments, darkening with mirth or sadness, anger or
+pain; hair black and silky, rippling to the rounded, supple waist in
+glossy waves. Not so tall as Madeline, and rounded and dimpled as a
+Hebe.
+
+Bringing her will into service, Madeline banished the gloom from her
+face and said, with an attempt at gayety:
+
+"I must be a terrible wet blanket when my ghost rises, Claire. But
+come, you have excited my curiosity; let us sit down while you tell me
+more of this mighty man who has pitched his tent in the wilderness of
+your heart, to the exclusion of others who might aspire."
+
+They seated themselves upon a rustic bench and Claire replied:
+
+"Don't anticipate too much, inquisitor; I have no acknowledged lover,
+but--" blushing charmingly, "I have every reason to think that I am
+loved fondly and sincerely. He is very handsome, Madeline, and--but
+wait, I will show you his picture."
+
+Madeline nodded, and Claire bounded away, to return quickly bearing in
+her hand a finely wrought cabinet photograph, encased in velvet and
+gilt, _a la souvenaire_. Placing it in her companion's hand, she sat
+down with a little triumphant sigh, and gazed over Madeline's shoulder
+with a proud, glad look in her eyes.
+
+"Blonde?" suggested Madeline.
+
+"Yes," eagerly; "such lovely hair and whiskers,--perfect gold color;
+and fair as a woman."
+
+"So I should judge," and she continued to gaze.
+
+Blonde he was, certainly; hair thrown carelessly back from a brow
+broad and white; eyes, light, but with an expression that puzzled the
+gazer.
+
+"Eyes,--what color?" she said, without taking her own off the picture.
+
+"Blue; pale blue, but capable of _such_ varying expression."
+
+"Just so," dryly; "they look mild and saintly here, but I think those
+eyes are capable of another expression. I could fancy the brain behind
+such eyes to be--"
+
+"What?" eagerly.
+
+"Cruel, crafty, treacherous."
+
+"Oh, Madeline!"
+
+"There, there; I didn't say that he,"--tapping the picture--"possessed
+these qualities. His eyes are unusual ones; did you ever see his
+mouth?"
+
+"What a question--through all those whiskers? no; but he has beautiful
+teeth."
+
+"So have tigers. There, dear, take the picture; I am no fit judge,
+perhaps. Remember, I once knew a man with the face of an angel, and
+the heart of a fiend. Your friend is certainly handsome; let us hope
+he is equally good."
+
+"He is; I know it," asserted Claire.
+
+Then she told her companion how she had met him at the house of a
+friend; how he was very learned and scientific; very grave and
+dignified; and very devoted to herself. And how, beyond these few
+facts, she knew little if anything of her blonde hero, Edward Percy.
+
+Madeline received this information in a grave silence, whose chill
+affected Claire as well, and after a few moments, as if by mutual
+consent, they arose and entered the house.
+
+Olive Girard had been absent a week; gone on a journey, sacred to her
+as any Meccan pilgrimage, a visit to the place of her husband's
+imprisonment. Every year she made this journey, returning home in some
+measure comforted; for she had seen her beloved.
+
+She came back on this evening, as the two girls were mingling their
+voices in gay bravura duets--by mutual consent they avoided all songs
+of a pathetic order, for reasons which neither would have cared to
+acknowledge.
+
+The evening having passed away, Claire found herself in her chamber
+gazing at her lover's pictured face and thinking how good, how noble,
+it was, and what a little goose she had been to allow anything
+Madeline had said to apply to him. A sudden thought occurred to her,
+and going to Madeline's door, she tapped gently. The door opened, and
+Claire, raising a warning finger, said:
+
+"Madeline, I forgot to tell you that Olive knows nothing of Edward
+Percy, and--I don't want to tell her just yet. You will not mention
+it?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then good-night, and pleasant dreams."
+
+"Thank you," in a grave voice; "good-night."
+
+Claire returned to her room and penned a long letter to Edward Percy,
+full of sweet confidence, gayety and trustfulness. She reperused his
+last letter, said her prayers, or rather read them, for Claire was a
+staunch little church-woman, and then slept and dreamed bright dreams.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
+
+
+A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time,
+Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no
+sound on the softly carpeted floor. Passing Claire's door, she paused
+before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's
+bed-chamber.
+
+Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive
+sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
+
+Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to
+such interviews, and said in a low tone:
+
+"I am so glad you came to-night; are you too tired for a long talk?"
+
+"No; tell me all that has happened since I have been absent."
+
+"Olive, I must go away; back to Bellair," said Madeline, abruptly.
+
+"Madeline, you are mad! To Bellair? Why, _he_ is there often now."
+
+"He will not find me out, never fear. I _must_ go to Bellair within
+the week."
+
+Olive leaned forward and scanned the girl's face closely and long. At
+last, she said: "Madeline, what is it you meditate? tell me."
+
+"Going back to Bellair; keeping an eye upon the proceedings of Mr.
+Arthur; finding out what game that man and woman are playing there;
+and baffling and punishing them all."
+
+She had been kept informed, through Henry, into whose hands had fallen
+a letter in Cora's handwriting, bearing the Bellair postmark, and
+addressed to Lucian Davlin, who, so Henry said, "went down, on and
+off," and always appeared satisfied with the result of his journey.
+
+Olive argued long against this resolution, but found it impossible to
+dissuade Madeline.
+
+"It is useless," the girl said, firmly. "I should have died but for
+the expectation of a time when I could be avenged, and this time I
+must bring about. All through my convalescence I have pondered how I
+could best avenge my mother's wrongs, and my own. Now Providence has
+thrown together the two men who are my enemies; why, I do not yet
+know, but perhaps it is that I may make the one a weapon against the
+other. And now I want to ask you some questions."
+
+[Illustration: "Olive knows nothing of Edward Percy, and--I don't want
+to tell her just yet."--page 121.]
+
+"Ask, then."
+
+"I shall touch upon a painful subject, and I will tell you why. After
+you went away, the story of your sorrow remained with me. So I thought
+the ground all over, and formed some conclusions. Do you wish to hear
+them?"
+
+Olive nodded, wearily.
+
+"You have told me," said Madeline, assuming a calm, business-like
+tone, "that Lucian Davlin testified against your husband at his trial.
+Now the wounded man, Percy, stated that he recognized the man who
+struck him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, what was Davlin's testimony?"
+
+"That he saw my husband stealing in the direction of the place where
+the wounded man was found, but a few moments before he was struck,
+wearing the same hat and hunting-jacket that the injured man testified
+was worn by his would-be assassin."
+
+"Oh!" Madeline knitted her brows in thought a moment; then--"Was the
+coat and hat Mr. Girard's?"
+
+"Yes; he had thrown them off in the afternoon, while the heat was
+intense, and had fallen asleep. When he awoke, he heard them calling
+him to supper. It was late in the evening when he remembered his coat
+and hat, and went back to look for them. He went just at the time when
+the man must have been struck, and his absence told against him in the
+evidence."
+
+"Did he find his garments?"
+
+"No; they were found by others, not where he had left them, but nearer
+the scene of the crime."
+
+"Ah! And who was the first to discover the injured man?"
+
+"Why, I believe it was Mr. Davlin." Olive looked more and more
+surprised at each question. "Why do you ask these things, Madeline?"
+
+The girl made a gesture of impatience. "Wait," she said, "I will
+explain in good time." Again she considered. "Was there any
+ill-feeling between your husband and Davlin?"
+
+"There was no open misunderstanding, but I know there was mutual
+dislike. Philip saw that Davlin was making systematic efforts to win
+money from the party, and had therefore persuaded one or two of his
+friends to give gaming little countenance. No doubt he kept money out
+of the man's pocket."
+
+"And what was the standing of that man and the victim, this Percy?"
+
+"They were much together, and Philip tells me he had sometimes fancied
+that Davlin held some power over Percy. Davlin had won largely from
+him, and the man seemed much annoyed, but paid over the money without
+demur."
+
+"And now, how did your husband stand toward the injured man?"
+
+"That is the worst part of the story. They had had high words only
+that very day. Philip had been acquainted with Percy at school, and he
+knew so much that was not in his favor, that he was unable to conceal
+his real opinion of the man at all times. One day high words arose,
+and Philip uttered a threat, which was misconstrued, after the attack
+upon Percy. They said he threatened his life. But Percy knew that only
+his honor was meant. Davlin knew this, too; must have known it, for he
+was aware that the two had met before they came together with the
+party."
+
+"I can not see why Lucian Davlin should be your husband's enemy."
+
+"I can understand that he hated Philip for the same reason that a
+thief hates the light, and Philip had balked his plans."
+
+"True; and yet--"
+
+"And yet?" inquiringly.
+
+"Bad as the man is, I can see but one motive that could induce even
+him to swear away the liberty, almost the life, of a man who never
+wronged him."
+
+"Still, he did it," said Olive, with a weary sigh.
+
+"True; and he did it for a motive."
+
+"And that motive--"
+
+"Was the strongest instinct of the human race."
+
+"What?" eagerly.
+
+"Self-preservation."
+
+Olive started up with a half cry. "Madeline, in heaven's name, _what_
+do you mean!"
+
+"That Lucian Davlin threw suspicion upon the innocent to screen the
+guilty," said the girl, in a low, firm tone.
+
+"And the guilty one, then?"
+
+"Himself. Do you think him too good for it?" sneeringly.
+
+"No, no! oh, no! But this I had never thought of--yet it may be true."
+
+She fell into deep thought; after a time she started up. "I must
+consult a detective immediately," she said.
+
+"You must do no such thing," cried Madeline, springing to her feet;
+"why did not the detectives find this out before? Because they have
+not my reasons for hunting that man down. _I_ found this clue, if it
+be one. I claim it; it is my right, and I will have it. If he is to be
+undone, it shall be by my hands. I swear it!"
+
+They faced each other in silence.
+
+Slowly Olive recalled to her countenance and voice its usual sweet
+calm, and then seated herself and talked long and earnestly with
+Madeline.
+
+The little bronze clock on the mantel was on the stroke of two when
+the conference ended, and Madeline retired to her own room, but not to
+sleep. She sat and thought until the dawn shone in at her window.
+
+One link was missing from the chain; no motive had been discovered for
+an attack on Percy by Davlin.
+
+"But I will find it," she muttered. Then, as a new thought occurred to
+her, she caught her breath. "Claire's lover is named Percy; can it be
+the same? Why did not this occur to me sooner? Why did I not ask for
+his first name, and a description of him? If this man and Edward Percy
+should be one and the same! Pshaw! the name is not an uncommon one,
+and it may be only a coincidence. But your face is a bad one, Edward
+Percy, and I shall know it when I see it again."
+
+The sun was not high in the heavens ere Madeline was astir, for her
+nature was such that strong excitement rendered rest impossible.
+Moving impatiently about the grounds, she saw a familiar form
+approaching through the shrubbery, and hastened to meet it.
+
+The black visage of Henry beamed with satisfaction as he made a
+hurried obeisance and placed in her hand a letter, saying:
+
+"Master was preparing for a two days' journey when this letter came.
+He threw it into his desk, and bade me lock it, and bring him the key.
+His back was turned, and I took the letter before I locked the desk.
+It was a long one, and from _her_; I thought you might want to see
+it."
+
+"Right, Henry," said the girl, quietly, as she opened the letter. "You
+will wait for it?"
+
+"Yes, miss; it must not be missing when he comes."
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+She returned to the letter, and this is what she read:
+
+                                       OAKLEY, October 11.
+
+     LUCIAN, _Mon Brave_:
+
+     I am in a fine predicament--have made a startling discovery.
+     Mr. A----has been sick, and the mischief is to pay; and his
+     sickness has brought some ugly facts to light.
+
+     The old man is _not_ the sole proprietor of the Oakley
+     wealth. That girl who ran away so mysteriously, and has
+     never been heard of, will inherit at his death. He can
+     bequeath his widow nothing. Oh, to know where that girl is!
+     If she is alive, my work is useless, my time is wasted. I
+     think the old chap must have driven her to desperation, for
+     he raved in his delirium of her and her words at parting.
+     They must have been "searchers."
+
+     Well, to add to the general interest, Miss Arthur, aged
+     fifty or so, is here. She is a juvenile old maid, who has a
+     fortune in her own right, and so must be cultivated. She
+     dresses like a sixteen-year-old, and talks like a fool,
+     principally about a certain admirer, a "blonde
+     demi-god"--her words--named Percy.
+
+     Something must be done: things must be talked over. Come
+     down and make love to Miss Arthur. _Her_ money is not
+     entailed.
+
+     Bring me some Periques and a box of Alexis gloves--you know
+     the number. Yours in disgust,
+
+                                      CORA MME. ARTHUR.
+
+Madeline dropped the letter, and stood amazed. What did it mean? "Cora
+_Mme._ Arthur!"
+
+Henry stooped for the letter, and the act recalled her to herself. She
+thanked him for the service he had done her; told him of her intended
+departure; gave him some last instructions, and dismissed him with a
+kind good-by.
+
+[Illustration: "I took the letter before I locked the desk."--page
+127.]
+
+"It is time to act," she muttered. "Good heavens! the audacity of that
+man and woman! She is married to my step-father, if that letter does
+not lie; has married him for money, and is baffled there. She hoped to
+become _his widow_, aha! The plot thickens, indeed! Goodness! what a
+household! That bad old man, the still viler woman, dangerous Lucian
+Davlin, and that funny, youthful, cross, 'conceited spinster,' Ellen
+Arthur, who has a lover, and his name is--heaven save us--Percy! That
+name _will_ mix itself up with my fate web, and why? Percy beloved of
+Claire; Percy who brought Philip Girard to his doom; Percy the lover
+of a rich old maid, are ye one and the same? Percy! Percy! Percy! I
+must cultivate the Percys at any cost."
+
+She turned and entered the house, her head bent, thinking, thinking,
+thinking.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD.
+
+
+Less than a week after the events last related, and a family group
+surrounds the lunch table in the newly furnished morning room of
+Oakley.
+
+The fair and fascinating Mrs. Torrance had accomplished the purpose
+for which she came to Bellair.
+
+Truly had she said, "There is no fool like an old fool;" for John
+Arthur had been an easy victim. He had lost no time with his wooing,
+and so, a little less than two months from the day the fair widow came
+to Bellair, saw her mistress of John Arthur's household.
+
+A bridal tour was not to her taste, much to the delight of the
+bridegroom. So they set about refitting some of the fine old rooms of
+the mansion, Cora having declared that they were too gloomy to be
+inhabitable.
+
+As it was to her interest to keep up the deception of frank affection,
+she had been, during the two months of their honey-moon, a model wife.
+But the discovery that John Arthur could leave her nothing save his
+blessing, had now been made, and Cora, who was already weary of her
+gray-headed dupe, had been for a few days past less careful in her
+dissembling.
+
+For this reason John Arthur now sat with a moody brow, and watched her
+smile upon her brother with a feeling of jealous wrath.
+
+The bride had thrown off her badge of mourning, and was very glad to
+bloom out once more in azure and white and rose--hues which her soul
+loved.
+
+Opposite sat Miss Arthur, her sallowness carefully enameled over, her
+head adorned with an astonishing array of false braids and curls and
+frizzes, jetty in hue to match her eyes, which, so Cora informed
+Lucian in private, were "awfully beady."
+
+The lady was perusing a paper, which she suddenly threw down, and said
+languidly, while she stirred her chocolate carefully. "Should not this
+be the day on which my new maid arrives?"
+
+Miss Arthur, from perusing many novels of the Sir Walter Scott school,
+had acquired a very stately manner of speech, and, so she flattered
+herself, a very effective one.
+
+"I don't know why Miss Arthur can want a maid; her toilets are always
+perfection," remarked Mr. Davlin to the general assembly.
+
+Whereupon, Miss Arthur blushed, giggled, and disclaimed; Mrs. Arthur
+disappeared behind a newspaper; and Mr. Arthur emerged from the fog of
+thought that had enveloped him, to say brusquely:
+
+"Miss Arthur want a maid? what's all this? A French maid in a country
+house--faugh!"
+
+Miss Arthur gazed across at her brother, and said, loftily, and
+somewhat unmeaningly:
+
+"It is what I have chosen to do, John." Then to Mr. Davlin, sweetly:
+"It is so hard to dispense with a maid when you have been accustomed
+to one."
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+"And this one comes so well recommended, you know, by Mrs. Overman and
+Mrs. Grosvenor. You have heard of these ladies in society, no doubt,
+Mr. Davlin?"
+
+"Oh, certainly," aloud, "not," aside.
+
+"And the name of the maid?" pursued Lucian.
+
+"Her name," referring to the letter, "Celine Leroque--French, I
+presume."
+
+"No doubt," dryly.
+
+"Stop him, Miss Arthur," interrupted Cora, prettily; "he will
+certainly ask if she is handsome, if you let him open his mouth
+again."
+
+Miss Arthur glanced at him suspiciously. "Not having seen her, I could
+not inform him," she said, coldly.
+
+"Don't believe my sister," said Davlin, quietly, as he passed his cup.
+"Cora, a little more chocolate, please. Miss Arthur, I met Mrs.
+Grosvenor at the seaside, two years ago. Her toilets were the marvel
+of the day; she protested that all credit was due her maid, who was a
+whole 'magazine of French art.' I thought this might be the same."
+
+"I most earnestly hope that it is," pronounced Miss Arthur.
+
+"And I most earnestly hope it isn't," grumbled her brother, who to-day
+felt vicious for many reasons, and didn't much care what the occasion
+was, so long as it gave him an excuse for growling.
+
+At this happy stage of affairs, the door was opened and the housemaid
+announced: "An old lady, who says I am to tell you that her name is
+Hagar, wants to see you, sir," addressing Mr. Arthur.
+
+The master of the house started, and an angry flush settled upon his
+face. "Send her away. I won't see the old beldam. Send her away."
+
+The girl bowed and was about to retire, when she was pushed from the
+doorway with little ceremony, and Nurse Hagar entered. Before the
+occupants of the room had recovered from their surprise, or found
+voice to address her, she had crossed the room, and paused before John
+Arthur. Placing a small bundle upon the table near him, she said:
+
+"Don't think you can order me from your door, John Arthur, when I
+choose to enter it. I shall never come to you without good reason, and
+I presume you will think me a welcome messenger when you know my
+errand."
+
+"Confound you," said the man, angrily, yet with an uneasy look in his
+eyes; "if you must chatter to me, come into the library." He arose and
+made a step toward the door.
+
+"There is no need," said Hagar, with dignity; "my errand may interest
+others here besides yourself. I bring a message from the dead."
+
+John Arthur turned ashen pale and trembled violently. All eyes were
+turned upon the speaker, however, and his agitation was unnoticed save
+by Hagar.
+
+"Last night," she continued, "a carriage stopped at my door and a
+woman came in, bringing that bundle in her hands."
+
+She paused and seemed struggling with her feelings.
+
+"She said," continued Hagar, "that she was requested to come by a
+dying girl, else she would have written the message given to her. She
+belonged to a charitable society, and visited the hospital every week.
+She brought flowers and fruit to one of the patients--a girl who died
+asking her to write down what is on this card," holding out a bit of
+white cardboard, "and not to tell the officers of the hospital her
+true name. She had entered under the name of Martha Gray, and wished
+to be buried as such. The lady promised; the girl gave her these
+articles, and the lady kept her word, and brought the message. There
+is the bundle," in a choking voice, "and here is the card. That is
+all. Good-by, John Arthur; be happy, if you can. And may God's curse
+fall upon all who drove her to her doom!"
+
+She gathered her shawl about her shoulders and, casting a meaning
+glance at Lucian Davlin, passed from the room and the house.
+
+John Arthur sat with eyes riveted upon the card before him. After a
+time he turned, and placing it in Davlin's hand, signed to him to read
+it, and hurriedly left the room.
+
+The hand that had first stricken the young life, placed the evidence
+that the end had come in the hand that had completed what the first
+began!
+
+Something of this Lucian Davlin felt, hardened as he was, for he knew,
+without waiting for the proof, that the true name of the girl who died
+in the hospital was familiar to them all.
+
+"Read!" ejaculated Cora, impatiently, "or give it to me."
+
+Lucian's eyes had scanned the card, and tossing it across to her, he
+pushed back his chair and walked to the window. Cora read for the
+benefit of her bewildered sister-in-law:
+
+     Madeline Payne, at St. Mary's Hospital, under name of Martha
+     Gray, died--brain fever--no friends but nurse.
+
+[Illustration: "May God's curse fall upon all who drove her to her
+doom."--page 134.]
+
+On the opposite side of the card was pencilled the full address of old
+Hagar, and this was all. Scant information, but it was enough.
+
+Cora pounced upon the bundle and opened it. It contained a little
+purse; a few trinkets, which any of the servants could identify as
+belonging to Madeline; the cloak she had worn the evening of her
+flight; and a pocket-handkerchief with her name embroidered in the
+corner.
+
+Satisfaction beamed in the face Cora turned toward Lucian, and away
+from Miss Arthur. She was mindful of the proprieties, however, and
+turning her eyes back upon the lady opposite, she pressed a dainty
+handkerchief to her countenance, and murmured plaintively:
+
+"How very, very shocking, and sad! Poor Mr. Arthur is quite overcome,
+and no wonder--that poor, sweet, young girl."
+
+Across Lucian's averted face flitted a smile of sarcasm. How little
+she knew of the truth, this fair hypocrite, and how unlikely she was
+ever to know now. If Madeline were dead, of what avail was any effort
+to break from the olden thraldom--for this is what had been in the
+mind of the scheming man.
+
+Cora brushed her handkerchief across her eyes and arose languidly. "I
+must go to Mr. Arthur, poor man," she murmured, shaking out her
+flounces. "He is terribly shocked, I fear."
+
+Studiously avoiding the necessity of glancing in the direction of Mr.
+Davlin, she glided from the room.
+
+And so the news fell in Madeline's home, and its inmates were affected
+no more than this:
+
+With Cora a renewal of tenderness toward "Dear John," and an increased
+stateliness toward Miss Arthur and the servants. More deference on
+Miss Arthur's part towards her brother, and less on his part toward
+her, as the possibility of being obliged to ask a small loan faded
+away into the past of empty purses and closed up coffers.
+
+Lucian took upon himself the responsibility of visiting the city and
+calling at St. Mary's, there to be reassured of the fact that one
+Martha Grey had died within its walls and been buried.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+MISS ARTHUR'S FRENCH MAID.
+
+
+After this the days flew by very much alike.
+
+Miss Arthur's maid arrived, and proved indeed a treasure, nor was she
+as obnoxious to Mr. John Arthur as he had evidently intended to find
+her. Perhaps Celine Leroque knew by instinct that the master of Oakley
+cherished an aversion to French maids in particular; or perhaps she
+was an exceptional French maid, and craved neither the smiles nor
+slyly administered caresses, that fell to the lot of pretty _femmes de
+chambre_, at least in novels. At any rate, certain it is that Miss
+Arthur's maid manifested no desire to be seen by the inmates of the
+household, and she had been domiciled for some weeks without having
+vouchsafed to either John Arthur or Lucian Davlin more than a fleeting
+glimpse of her maidship.
+
+Things were becoming very monotonous to some of the occupants of the
+Oakley manor; very, very dull and flavorless.
+
+Cora was growing restless. Not that the astute lady permitted signs of
+discontent to become manifest to the uninitiated, but Lucian Davlin
+saw, with a mingled feeling of satisfaction and dismay, that the
+_role_ of devoted wife had ceased to interest his blonde comrade in
+iniquity.
+
+The fact gave him a malicious pleasure because, as fate had dared to
+play against him, he would have felt especially aggrieved if a few
+thorns had not been introduced into the eider down that seemingly
+enveloped his fair accomplice.
+
+But he felt some dismay, for he knew by the swift flash of azure eyes
+under golden lashes, by the sway of her shoulders as she paced the
+terrace, by the nervous tapping of her slippered foot at certain times
+in the intervals of table chat--that Cora was _thinking_. And when
+Cora thought, something was about to happen.
+
+It was in obedience to one of those swift side glances, that he
+followed her from the morning room, one forenoon about three weeks
+after the news of Madeline's death had come to them. The day was
+bright but chill, and the woman had wrapped herself in a shawl of
+vivid crimson, but stood with bared head in the sunlight waiting the
+approach of her counterfeit brother.
+
+"Cover your head, you very thoughtless woman," was his brotherly
+salutation as he approached, plunging about in his pockets in search
+of a cigar the while.
+
+"Bother!" she ejaculated, tossing her golden locks; "my hair needs a
+sunbath. I only wish I dare indulge myself further! If you had any
+heart you wouldn't torture me so constantly with the odor of those
+magnificent Havanas, when you know how my very soul longs for a weed!"
+
+"Poor little woman," laughing maliciously; "fancy Mrs. John Arthur of
+Oakley smoking a _Perique_! Isn't it prime, Co.?" puffing out a cloud
+of perfumed smoke.
+
+"Prime! bah! I'd like to strangle you, or--"
+
+"Or?--" inquiringly.
+
+"Somebody," laughing nervously.
+
+"Just so; Miss Arthur would be a good subject and that would confer a
+favor on me, too, by Jove!"
+
+"I don't want to confer a favor on you. You had much better try and do
+me one, I think."
+
+"With all my heart, taking my ability for granted, of course; only
+tell me how."
+
+Cora shrugged her crimson-clad shoulders, and they paced forward in
+silence for a time. Then as if his stillness had been speech of a
+distasteful kind, she ejaculated, crossly, and without turning her
+head: "Stuff! you talk too much!"
+
+Lucian smiled maliciously, removed his cigar from between his lips,
+described a smoke wreath in mid-air, replaced his weed, and said: "Do
+I? then mum's the word;" and he relapsed into silence.
+
+He seemed bent on annoying her, for there was a laughing glimmer in
+his eye, and he obstinately refused to attempt to draw her out, and so
+make easier whatever she might have to say, for he knew that she had
+signaled him out to-day for a purpose.
+
+Mutely he walked by her side, and contentedly puffed at his cigar
+until, at length, she turned upon him, and struck petulantly at the
+hand that had just removed it from his lips. The weed fell from his
+fingers to the ground, and Cora set her slippered heel upon it, as if
+it were an enemy, and laughed triumphantly.
+
+"Now we are on a level," she cried. "Do you suppose I intend to give
+you that advantage over me?"
+
+"It seems not," with a shrug expressive of resignation and a smile
+hidden by his mustache.
+
+He was not the man to be angered, or even ruffled, by these little
+feminine onslaughts. In fact, they rather pleased and amused him, and
+he had become well accustomed to Cora's "little ways," as he called
+them. Deprived of his cigar, he thrust his hands into his pockets and
+whistled softly.
+
+"Lucian, if you don't stop looking so comfortable, and content, and
+altogether don't-care-ish, I shall do something very desperate," she
+exclaimed, pettishly.
+
+"No?" raising his eyebrows in mock incredulity; "you don't tell me. I
+thought you were in a little heaven of your own, Mrs. Arthur."
+
+"Oh! you did? Very clever of you. Well, Mr. Davlin, has it occurred to
+you that heaven might not be a congenial climate for me?"
+
+"Not while your wings are so fresh, surely? You have scarcely entered
+your paradise, fair peri."
+
+"Haven't I?" ironically. "Well, I am tired of manna, anyhow." Cora was
+not always strictly elegant in her choice of expressions. "Now,
+Lucian, stop parleying, and tell me, when is this going to end?"
+
+"When?"
+
+He stopped and looked down at her intently. Twice they had traversed
+the terrace, and now they paused at the termination furthest from the
+house. Just before them a diminutive flight of stone steps led down to
+a narrow graveled walk, that skirted a velvety bit of lawn, and was in
+its turn hedged by some close and high-growing shrubs from the
+"Bellair woods," as they were called. Beyond the steps was a gap in
+the hedge, and this, cut and trimmed until it formed a compact and
+beautiful arch, was spanned by a stile, built for the convenience of
+those who desired to reach the village by the shortest route, the
+Bellair woods.
+
+"Don't repeat like a parrot, Lucian." Cora raised her voice angrily.
+"I say, when is this to end? and how?"
+
+They were just opposite the gap in the hedge and Lucian, looking down
+upon Cora, stood facing the opening. As the words crossed her lips,
+his eyes fell upon a figure just behind her, and he checked the
+conversation by an involuntary motion of the hand.
+
+The figure came toward them. It was Miss Arthur's French maid, and she
+carried in her hand a small parcel. Evidently she was returning from
+some errand to the village. Miss Arthur's maid had black hair, dressed
+very low on the forehead; eyes of some sort, it is to be presumed, but
+they were effectually concealed by blue glasses; a rather pasty
+complexion; a form that might have been good, but if so, its beauties
+were hidden by the loose and, as Cora expressed it, "floppy," style of
+jacket which she habitually wore. She passed them with a low "_Bon
+jour, madame_," and hurried up the terrace. At least she was walking
+swiftly, but not very smoothly, up the terrace when Lucian cast after
+her a last disapproving glance.
+
+"Your lady's maid is not a swan nor a beauty," he said, as they by
+mutual consent went down the steps.
+
+Cora made no reply to this, seeming lost in thought. They walked on
+for a moment in silence.
+
+But Celine Leroque did not walk on. She dropped her package and,
+stooping to recover it, cast a swift glance after the pair. They were
+sauntering slowly down the hedgerow walk, their backs toward her.
+
+Probably the falling parcel had reminded the French maid of something
+forgotten, for she turned swiftly, silently, and without any of her
+previous awkwardness retraced her steps and disappeared beyond the
+stile.
+
+"What's the row, Co.?" asked Lucian, kicking a pebble with his boot
+toe. "You are getting restive early in the game. Can't you keep to
+the track for another two months?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What then?"
+
+"This. We must get that fool out of the way."
+
+"Meaning who?"
+
+"She, of course--Ellen Arthur. The woman will make a raving maniac of
+me in two months more."
+
+"By Jove! and of me, too, if I don't get out of this."
+
+"We must get rid of her."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I don't know--somehow, anyhow."
+
+"And then?"
+
+"And then--" she gave him a side glance, and laughed unpleasantly.
+
+"And then? You have a plan, my blonde. Out with it; I am a listener."
+
+And he did listen.
+
+Slowly down the hedgerow path they paced, and at the end, halted and
+stood for a time in earnest consultation. There was some difference of
+opinion, but the difference became adjusted. And they turned toward
+the house, evidently satisfied with the result of the morning's
+consultation.
+
+Not long after, Miss Arthur's maid returned also.
+
+"I see by the papers that Dr. LeGuise has come back from Europe,
+Cora," announced Mr. Davlin from his seat at the lunch table that day.
+
+"Dr. LeGuise! how delightful! Now one will not be afraid to be
+sick--our old family physician, you know," to Miss Arthur; "and _so_
+skillful. He has been in Europe a year. The dear man, how I long to
+see him!"
+
+"Well!" laughed Lucian, "I will carry him any amount of affection,
+providing it is not too bulky. I find that I must run up to the city
+to-morrow, and of course will look him up."
+
+"Oh!" eagerly, "and find out if he saw the D'Arcys in Paris; and those
+delightful Trevanions!" Then, regretfully, "can't you stay another
+week, dear?"
+
+"Out of the question, Co., much as I regret it," glancing expressively
+at Miss Arthur. "But I shan't forget you all."
+
+"Pray do not," simpered the spinster. "And when do you return?"
+
+"Not for two or three weeks, I fear. But rest assured I shall lose no
+time, when once I am at liberty."
+
+During his lazy, good-humored moments, Mr. Davlin had made most
+ridiculous love to Miss Arthur, and that lady had not been behind in
+doing her part. Now, strange to say, the face which she bent over her
+napkin wore upon it a look, not of sorrow, but of relief. And why?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS.
+
+
+"Take especial care with my toilet this morning, Celine," drawled Miss
+Arthur, as she sat before a mirror in her luxuriously appointed
+dressing-room.
+
+Wise Cora had seen the propriety of giving to this unwelcome
+sister-in-law with the heavy purse, apartments of the best in the
+newly fitted-up portion of the mansion.
+
+"I want you to be _especially_ careful with my hair and complexion,"
+Miss Arthur continued.
+
+"Yes, mademoiselle," demurely. Then, as if the information might bear
+upon the question of the toilet, "Does mademoiselle know that Monsieur
+Davlin left an hour ago?"
+
+"Certainly, Celine, but I expect a visitor. He may arrive at any time
+to-day, and you must do your very best with my toilet."
+
+"Mademoiselle _est charmante_; slight need of Celine's poor aid,"
+cooed the little hypocrite, and the toilet proceeded.
+
+At length, the resources of art having been exhausted, Miss Arthur
+stood up, and approved of Celine's handiwork.
+
+"I really do look nicely, Celine; you have done well, very. Now go
+send me a pot of chocolate and a bit of toast."
+
+"Yes, mademoiselle."
+
+"And a bit of chicken, or a bird's wing."
+
+"Oui."
+
+"And a French roll, Celine, with perhaps an omelette."
+
+"Pardonne, mademoiselle, but might I suggest we must not forget this,"
+touching Miss Arthur's tightly laced waist.
+
+"True, Celine, quite right; the toast, then. And, Celine, remain
+down-stairs and when Mr. Percy comes," (her maid visibly started at
+the name) "show him into the little parlor, and tell him I am
+somewhere in the grounds--you understand? Then come and let me know. I
+prefer to have him fancy me surprised, you see," smiling playfully.
+
+"I see; mademoiselle has _such_ tact," and the French maid
+disappeared.
+
+"Mr. Percy?" muttered the French maid, in very English accents; "I
+will certainly look for your coming, Mr. Percy. Can it be that I am to
+meet you at last?"
+
+Mrs. John Arthur was restless that morning. She fidgeted about after
+the departure of her brother; tried to play the agreeable to her
+husband, but finding this a difficult task, left him to his cigar and
+his morning paper, in the solitude of his sanctum, and seizing her
+crimson shawl, started out for a turn upon the terrace.
+
+The "little parlor," as it was called, commanded a view of one end of
+the terrace walk, but no portion of it was visible from the immediate
+front of Oakley mansion, the terrace running across the grounds in the
+rear of the dwelling, and being shut off from the front by a thicket
+of flowering shrubs and trees.
+
+The hall facing the front entrance to Oakley was deserted now, save
+for the figure of Celine Leroque, who was ensconsed in one of the
+windows thereof. She had been watching there for more than an hour,
+and Cora had promenaded the terrace half that time, when a gentleman
+approached the mansion from the front gate-way.
+
+Celine's eyes were riveted upon the coming figure, as it appeared and
+disappeared among the trees and shrubbery along the winding walk. At
+length he emerged into open space and approached nearer.
+
+Celine Leroque suppressed a cry of astonishment as she anticipated his
+ring and ushered him in. A very blonde man, with the lower half of his
+face covered with a mass of yellow waving beard; pale blue, searching,
+unfathomable eyes; pale yellow hair; a handsome face, the face she had
+seen pictured in Claire's souvenir!
+
+Celine Leroque led the way toward the little parlor with a heart
+beating rapidly.
+
+"Miss Arthur is in the grounds," she said, in answer to his inquiry.
+"I will go look for her;" and she turned away.
+
+Mr. Percy placed his hat upon a little table and tossing back his fair
+hair, said: "I think I can see her now."
+
+Approaching the window he looked down upon the terrace.
+
+Celine looked, too, and catching a gleam of crimson, said: "That is
+not Miss Arthur."
+
+"Stop a moment, my girl," the man exclaimed.
+
+He was gazing down at Cora, who was walking away from them, with a
+puzzled look. "Good God!" he ejaculated, as she turned and he saw her
+face.
+
+He checked himself, and withdrawing hastily from the window, took up
+his hat as if about to depart. Approaching the window once again, he
+looked cautiously forth, and seeing Cora still pacing the terrace in
+evident unconcern, he muttered to himself, but quite audibly, "Thank
+goodness, she did not see me."
+
+Then turning to Celine: "Girl, who is that woman?"
+
+The girl approached the window: "That, monsieur, is Madame Cora
+Arthur."
+
+"A widow, eh?"
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur. Mr. Arthur is the master of Oakley."
+
+"Oh! and madame--how long has she been his wife?"
+
+"She is still a bride, monsieur."
+
+"Still a bride, is she? How exceedingly pleasant." Mr. Percy had
+evidently recovered from his panic. "Was she a miss when she married
+the master of Oakley?"
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur; a widow."
+
+"Widow?" stroking his whiskers caressingly. "What name?"
+
+"Madame Torrance, monsieur."
+
+"Madame Torrance, eh? Well, my good girl, take this," offering a bank
+note. "I really thought that Madame Torrance, I mean Arthur, was an
+old friend; however, it seems I was mistaken. Now, my girl, go and
+tell that lady that a gentleman desires to see her, and do not
+announce me to Miss Arthur yet. May I depend upon you?" glancing at
+her keenly.
+
+"You may, monsieur."
+
+Taking the offered money, she made an obeisance, and withdrew.
+
+The little parlor had but one means of egress--through the door by
+which Mr. Percy had entered. This door was near the angle of the room;
+so near that, as it swung inward, it almost grazed against a huge
+high-backed chair, stiff and grim, but reckoned among the elegant
+pieces of furniture that are always, or nearly always, uncomfortable.
+This chair occupied the angle, and behind its capacious back was
+comfortable room for one or two persons, should they fancy occupying a
+position so secluded. The act of opening the door completely screened
+this chair from the view of any person not directly opposite it, until
+such time as the door should be again closed.
+
+As Celine Leroque opened the door and disappeared one might have
+fancied, had they been gazing at that not-very-interesting object,
+that the high-backed chair moved ever so little.
+
+Celine flew along the hall and down the stairway, tearing viciously at
+something as she went. Once in the open air, the brisk autumn breezes
+caught something from her hand, and sent little fragments whirling
+through space--paper scraps, that might have been dissected particles
+of a bank note.
+
+Cora listened in some surprise to the messenger, who broke in upon her
+meditations with a trifle less of suavity than was usual in Miss
+Arthur's maid.
+
+"A gentleman, to see me! Are you quite sure, Celine?"
+
+Mrs. Arthur, for various reasons, received but few friends, and Celine
+thought now that she looked a trifle annoyed.
+
+"Well, Celine, where is the gentleman? Stop," as if struck by a sudden
+thought, and changing color slightly, "tell him I am out, but not
+until I have got up-stairs," she said; "not until I have had an
+opportunity to see him, myself unseen," she thought.
+
+"But, madame," hesitated Celine, "he is in the little parlor. He saw
+madame at the upper end of the terrace."
+
+"Confusion! What did he say, girl?" excitedly.
+
+"He said, madame, that he wished to speak with you; that he was an old
+friend."
+
+"Well, go along," sharply. "I will see the man."
+
+Celine turned about and Cora followed her almost sullenly. She had
+some apprehension as to this unknown caller, but he had seen her, and
+whoever he was she must face him, for Cora was no coward.
+
+Celine tripped along thinking intently.
+
+"This man is Edward Percy--Edward Percy, the lover of two women. He
+was frightened when he saw this Mrs. Arthur, and my words reassured
+him; why? At the mention of a strange caller, she must needs see him
+before she permits him an interview--for that is what she meant. Do
+they know each other? If so, the plot thickens."
+
+Edward Percy had certainly been agitated at sight of Mrs. Arthur, and
+had as certainly recovered when assured that the lady _was_ Mrs.
+Arthur. He looked the image of content now, as he lounged at the
+window. Under the blonde mustaches, a smile of cunning and triumph
+rested; but his eyes looked very blue, very, very calm, very
+unfathomable.
+
+"Madame Arthur, sir."
+
+Celine opens the door gently, and admits the form of Cora. Then, as
+the two face each other in silence, the door quietly closes, neither
+one having glanced toward the girl, who has disappeared.
+
+Cora stands before him, the folds of the crimson shawl falling away
+from the plump, graceful shoulders, and mingling with the sweep of her
+black cashmere wrapper in rich, graceful contrast. One fair hand
+gathers up the crimson fabric and, instinctively, the other thrusts
+itself out in a repellant gesture, as the soft voice utters, in tones
+of mingled hate and fear: "_You!_"
+
+He laughs softly. "Yes, I. I knew you would be delighted." All the
+time he is gazing at her critically, apparently viewing her loveliness
+with an approving eye.
+
+And now the woman feels through her whole being but the one
+instinct--hate. She has forgotten all fear, and stands before him
+erect, pallid, but with eye and lip expressing the bitterness that
+rages within her.
+
+"You won't say you are glad to see me? Cruel Alice," he murmurs,
+plaintively. "And after all these years, too; how many are they, my
+dear?"
+
+"No matter!" fiercely. "They have given the devil ample time to claim
+his own, and yet you are upon earth!"
+
+"Yes," serenely; "both of us."
+
+"Both of us, then. How dare you seek me out?"
+
+"My dear wife, I never did you so much honor. I came to this house for
+another purpose, and Providence, kind Providence, has guided me to
+you."
+
+The woman seemed recalled to herself. Again the look of fear
+overspread her face, and looking nervously about her, she said. "For
+God's sake, hush! What you wish to say say out, but don't let your
+voice go beyond these walls."
+
+"Dear Alice, my voice never was vulgarly loud, was it? recollect, if
+you please," in an injured tone.
+
+"Well! well! what do you want with me? Percy Jordan, I warn you--I am
+not the woman you wronged ten years ago."
+
+"No; by my faith, you are a handsomer woman, and you carry yourself
+like a duchess. Why didn't you do that when you were Mrs.--"
+
+"Hush!" she cried; "you base liar, it did not take me long to find you
+out, even then. Don't forget that you have lived in fear of me for ten
+long years."
+
+"Just so," serenely; "haven't they been long? But they are ended now,
+my dear; my incubus is dead and--"
+
+"But documents don't die," she interrupted; "don't forget that!"
+
+"Not for worlds. For instance, I remember that in a certain church register
+may be seen the marriage lines of Alice Ford and--ahem--myself. And
+somewhere, not far away, there must be on record the statement that Mr.
+Arthur, of Oakley, has wedded the incomparable Mrs. Torrance, a blonde
+widow--ahem. Where did you go, my dear, when you left my bed and board so
+very unceremoniously?
+
+    "'What had I done, or what hadst thou,
+    That through this weary world till now
+        I've walked with empty arms.'"
+
+He stretched out those members tragically.
+
+"And I don't forget that I was never legally your wife, as you had
+another living," cried Cora, ignoring the latter part of his speech.
+
+"No; of course not. Does Mr. John Arthur know that you were once my--"
+
+"Dupe? no," she interrupted. "Come, time passes; tell me what you
+know, and what you want."
+
+"Softly, softly, Mrs. Arthur. I know enough to insure me against being
+turned out of Oakley by you; and I want a wife and a fortune."
+
+"I don't understand you."
+
+[Illustration: "The soft voice utters, in tones of mingled hate and
+fear, '_You?_'"--page 149.]
+
+"Possibly not, Madame Arthur." Then, with mock emotion: "Might I,
+dare I, ask you to give to my keeping, that incomparable maiden, that
+houri of houris, your young and lovely sister-in-law, Miss Ellen
+Arthur?"
+
+The woman looked at him in silence for a time, and then, flinging
+herself upon a couch, burst into a peal of soft laughter. She
+understood it all now.
+
+"So you are the expected lover!" she ejaculated, laughing afresh; "and
+she is up-stairs, in bright array, waiting for you."
+
+"And I am down here, pleading for permission to address this pearl of
+price."
+
+Cora arose and gathered her crimson wrap about her shoulders. "And how
+is it to be between us?" she asked coolly.
+
+"My sweet Alice, if you were John Arthur's widow instead of John
+Arthur's wife, it should be as if the past ten years were but a
+dream."
+
+"Indeed--provided, of course, I were John Arthur's heiress as well."
+
+"Certainly!"
+
+"And how is it that you are once more fortune hunting? Five years ago
+you inherited wealth sufficient for your every need."
+
+The elegant Mr. Percy went through the pantomime of shuffling and
+dealing cards, then looked at her with a grimace.
+
+"All?" she inquired, as if the action had been words.
+
+"Every ducat," solemnly. "So what is to be my fate, fair destiny?"
+
+Cora mused, then laughed again. "After all, you may prove a friend in
+need," she said. "I shan't interfere between you and Miss Arthur; be
+sure of that."
+
+Then they fell to settling the preliminaries of a siege upon the heart
+of Miss Arthur, together with other little trifles that occurred as
+they talked. They had both thrown off their air of hostility, and
+were seated opposite each other, conversing quite comfortably, when
+the door swung open, and Miss Arthur stood before them; Miss Arthur,
+in the full glory of snowy cashmere, with cherry satin facings; Miss
+Arthur, with curls waving, and in all her war-paint.
+
+The two plotters arose, and saluted her with much empressement.
+
+Miss Arthur advanced a step and stood beside the high-backed chair,
+one hand still resting upon the door. Percy came toward her with
+outstretched hands.
+
+"Ah-h-h!" screeched the spinster, "what was that?"
+
+Turning quickly she encountered nothing more formidable than her
+French maid, who had evidently hurried to the spot, for she breathed
+rapidly, and said, in an anxious manner:
+
+"Pardon, mademoiselle, it is I,--did mademoiselle ring? I thought so."
+
+"You stepped on my dress, girl," said Miss Arthur, sharply. "No, I did
+not ring; perhaps Mrs. Arthur did."
+
+"I did ring, Ellen," lied Cora, sweetly, wondering what lucky
+providence sent the girl to the door just then. "I rang for you, as
+Mr. Percy here, in whom I have discovered a Long Branch acquaintance,
+would hardly treat me civilly, so impatient has he been to see Miss
+Arthur."
+
+Miss Arthur looked somewhat appeased. "You may go, Celine," she said,
+with her most stately air.
+
+Thus she sailed forward to meet Mr. Percy.
+
+Celine departed, smiling an odd little smile. She went to her own room
+and sitting down upon the bedside, meditated. Presently she arose, and
+walking over to her mirror, gazed at her reflected image, and shaking
+her head at it, murmured:
+
+"What a nice little maid you are, Celine Leroque--and how these
+people will love you by and by! You now hold in your hands the thread
+that will unravel this mixture of mystery, and when the reckoning
+comes, it will not be you that falls."
+
+Thoughtfully she paced the little apartment. By and by she threw
+herself upon the bed and closed her eyes, still thinking. If she could
+only know just how these two had separated--Edward Percy and Cora
+Arthur; and what part Lucian Davlin had played in that separation
+drama. Did Cora know Lucian ten years ago--did Percy know him for his
+rival? Suddenly the girl sprang up, and smiting her two palms
+together, exclaimed:
+
+"If these two men were rivals, then we may yet find a reason why
+Lucian Davlin should attempt the life of Edward Percy!"
+
+And now what should she do?
+
+Claire Keith's bright face rose before her as she asked herself the
+question. Claire must be warned and saved; but how? The girl's brow
+darkened.
+
+"She will scorn the man," she muttered, between pale lips, "and then
+she will learn to value that other. She will grieve for a time,
+perhaps, but not for long; then--then she will become _his_ wife,
+while I--What right has she to all the blessings?"
+
+The girl stood motionless, with hands tightly clasped. The conflict
+lasted but a moment when, in a firm, clear voice she continued:
+
+"It would be base not to save her from this wretch--and save her I
+will; and I will restore to Olive Girard her husband; is that not
+payment enough for all they have done for me? But he, Clarence, my
+hero--why must I yield him up without a struggle? She does not love
+him; she never will love him if I say the word; she is as generous
+as--as I am base, I think. No, it is not base to love him, to try to
+win him. And why not? I must think, think, think."
+
+All that day and night the girl pondered deeply. In the morning she
+arose weary, unrefreshed.
+
+"I will save Claire Keith from the suffering that befell me," she
+said. "But she shall not have all the good things of this life, and I
+none."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+CORA AND THE FRENCH MAID MEASURE SWORDS.
+
+
+During the day, Miss Arthur communicated to her maid the fact that Mr.
+Percy would remain in Bellair for the present. He was going away for a
+day on business; then he would return and take up his abode at the
+Bellair inn.
+
+"Would monsieur be absent to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Then, as mademoiselle would not especially need her, would she
+graciously give her the day? Her sister had just returned from Paris,
+and would very soon leave the city _en route_ for Washington. Her
+sister was in the service of Mrs. General Delonne--of course
+mademoiselle had heard of Madame Delonne; knew her, perhaps. Celine
+much desired to see this sister, and expected to get some valuable
+hints from her regarding the very latest French _coiffeurs_, etc.,
+etc. In short, could mademoiselle spare her to-morrow, just for one
+little day?
+
+Mademoiselle, after due deliberation, perhaps in consideration of the
+new _coiffeurs_, graciously consented. This matter was settled while
+the dinner toilet of the lady was in progress; and Celine spared no
+pains to make her mistress satisfied with herself and all about her.
+
+"How long had Mr. Percy been in the little parlor, Celine, before I
+came down?" questioned the lady.
+
+She was still a trifle dissatisfied at having found her lover so
+cosily _tete-a-tete_ with her fascinating sister-in-law.
+
+"Oh, a very short time, my lady--I mean mademoiselle."
+
+"And how did he meet Mrs. Arthur?" anxiously.
+
+"Madame was just entering from the terrace; they met in the hall,"
+glibly.
+
+"And did they meet like old friends, Celine?"
+
+"Oh, no! mademoiselle; quite formally. At first I fancied he was
+really displeased at meeting her--but of course mademoiselle knew the
+reason for that," slyly.
+
+"Hush, you foolish girl," said the flattered spinster; "it's all
+right, of course." And she relapsed into reverie.
+
+Miss Arthur had exhausted her patience waiting for her tardy admirer,
+and, finding her own apartments dull, had come down to the parlor,
+thus interrupting the interview, to the disgust of more than one of
+those interested.
+
+Mr. Percy had many questions yet to propound to his newly-found wife,
+as he called her, and she, knowing him so well, felt a trifle more
+uneasy than was comfortable, wondering what use, if any, he intended
+to make of the small amount of power he still possessed over her. She
+must hold another interview with him, and that soon. Meantime, she
+left him to the tender mercies of the happy spinster.
+
+It was late in the evening when she at last found a convenient
+opportunity, and crossed the hall in the direction of Miss Arthur's
+dressing-room. She was about to open the door and enter, when her
+movement was anticipated by Celine, who appeared upon the threshold in
+hat and shawl.
+
+Mrs. Arthur seemed not at all abashed, but pushing the girl back into
+the room, stepped in herself and closed the door. "You were going out,
+Celine?" smiling sweetly.
+
+"Yes, madame," respectfully.
+
+"May I ask where?"
+
+"Certainly, madame. I have leave to go and see my sister to-morrow. I
+am going to telegraph her that she may expect me. Can I serve madame?"
+
+Madame pondered a moment.
+
+"Celine," she said, abruptly. "Why did you pretend to answer a ring
+this morning, when your mistress came down to the little parlor?"
+
+"I trust madame was not offended," deprecatingly.
+
+"No, no," impatiently; "but I want to understand you."
+
+"Madame shall. Madame must know that my mistress is not always smooth
+in temper?"
+
+"Yes," laughing wickedly.
+
+"This morning she bade me admit the gentleman, tell him she was in the
+grounds, and then come to her. He came, and almost immediately saw
+you, madame, walking on the terrace."
+
+"Stop. How did he act when he saw me, Celine?"
+
+The girl looked at her in apparent hesitation. "Madame will not be
+angry with me?"
+
+"No, no."
+
+"He looked almost frightened, and took his hat, as if about to go."
+
+Cora uttered a low, triumphant, "Ah, did he?"
+
+"Then he called me back as I was leaving the room to summon my
+mistress, and asked me who you were. I told him. He looked relieved,
+said he had mistaken you for an old acquaintance, and bade me ask you
+to come to him, and say nothing to Miss Arthur until he desired it."
+
+"I see; but why did you follow her, when she came down? Did she know
+we were there?"
+
+"No, madame."
+
+"Then why--"
+
+"Pardon," with a sidelong glance at her face, "but madame is
+beautiful, and my mistress is jealous. I thought you might wish me to
+do as I did, and I desired to serve you, madame."
+
+Cora eyed her keenly. "But why serve me, Celine?"
+
+"Madame has ever been gracious to Celine," said the girl, lowering her
+eyes. "Even a servant appreciates kindness--my mistress never
+considers that."
+
+Cora's thoughts flew fast. If she could trust this girl, she might
+make her very useful. She had sought this interview to question her
+concerning the adventure of the morning, and now might she not be of
+still more service?
+
+A few more sharply-put questions were asked, and answered with
+corresponding shrewdness. Then Celine detailed, in her own way, her
+interview with her mistress on the subject of Mr. Percy's visit.
+
+Cora was at last fully satisfied that, for some reason, Miss Arthur
+had aroused a feeling of antagonism in the breast of her maid. She
+resolved to profit by this state of affairs. Accordingly, a few
+moments later, Celine Leroque flitted out from the house the bearer of
+two important messages.
+
+One, in writing, was a telegram to be sent to Lucian Davlin.
+
+The other was a verbal message to be delivered, in some way, to Mr.
+Percy before he quitted the grounds of Oakley.
+
+Pausing at a safe distance from the house, Celine produced from her
+pocket some waxen matches. She lighted one, having looked cautiously
+about her, and spreading open the telegram to Mr. Davlin, read these
+words:
+
+     Come down to-morrow without fail. It is most important.
+
+                                                        C.
+
+"So," muttered Miss Arthur's maid as, flinging away the match, she
+hurried on her way; "so he must be consulted; he must come down. In
+the absence of Percy, too. I wonder if he knows, this Percy, that
+Lucian Davlin at present personates the dutiful brother of his fair
+lost love." Such a sneer rested on the face of the French maid. "Well!
+Mr. Davlin must come and, unfortunately, I can't be present at this
+interview. However, I shall be able to judge pretty accurately by
+their future movements what was its portent."
+
+Edward Percy, as he chose to call himself, was not aware of the
+position held by Lucian Davlin in that household. Cora had seized an
+opportunity to murmur to Miss Arthur a soft warning.
+
+"Ellen, dear!" she had said, "pray don't mention Lucian to Mr. Percy,
+unless you wish to shorten his stay with us. The fact is, the two had
+a slight misunderstanding while we were all at Long Branch, about a
+horse or something. Lucian was very much to blame, I think, but they
+parted bad friends. It is best never to interfere in men's quarrels,
+so I have not mentioned Lucian's name to him at all."
+
+Cunning Celine! Her tact had made this explanation seem a quite
+probable one; and as Miss Arthur certainly had no desire to drive Mr.
+Percy from Oakley, she assured her "kind, thoughtful Cora," that she
+would be very guarded and never once mention Mr. Davlin's name in his
+enemy's presence.
+
+Of this fact, of course, Celine was in total ignorance, as she
+proceeded on her way, which was not to the telegraph office; at least
+not yet.
+
+Hurrying through the Oakley wood in the opposite direction from the
+village, she crossed the meadow and approached the cottage of Nurse
+Hagar. A light was dimly visible through the paper curtains, but no
+sound was heard from within. The girl listened at the door a moment,
+and then tapped softly.
+
+Presently slip-shod feet could be heard crossing the uncarpeted floor,
+and a key creaked in its lock, after which the door opened, a very
+little way, and the old woman's face peered cautiously out into the
+night. Then she hastily opened the door wide and admitted the visitor.
+
+"Is it you, dearie?" she asked, rather unnecessarily, surveying her
+critically by the light of a flaring tallow candle.
+
+"No, Aunt Hagar, it's not I," laughed the girl; "it's Miss Arthur's
+French maid that you see before you. And don't drop that tallow on her
+devoted head," lifting a deprecating hand.
+
+"Umph! we seem in great spirits to-night," leading the way back to the
+fire-place, beside which stood her easy splint-bottomed chair.
+
+"So we are," assented the girl; "and why shouldn't we be, pray? Aren't
+we a very happy French maid, and a very skillful one, and a very lucky
+one?"
+
+"How should I know?" grumbled the old woman; "what do I know? I'm only
+old Hagar; don't mind explaining anything to me!"
+
+"By which you mean, beware of your wrath if I don't explain things to
+you; eh, auntie?"
+
+[Illustration: "Celine looked cautiously around her."--page 159.]
+
+Hagar mumbled something, not exactly intended to be a speech but
+simply a small growl, illustrative of her mood. Then, as if her
+dignity had been sufficiently asserted, she relaxed her grimness,
+and looking kindly down upon the girl, and pushing her toward the big
+chair, said:
+
+"But law! child, you look fagged out. Sit down, sit down, and don't
+mind an old woman's grumbling."
+
+"Did I ever?" laughed the girl, sinking into the big chair as if
+indeed willing to rest. "But I can't sit here long, nursie; my day's
+work, or rather my night's work, is not yet finished."
+
+"Not yet? Oh, Madeline, my little nursling, give up these wild plans
+and plots; they will bring you no good."
+
+"Won't they?" nodding significantly. "I think they will do me good,
+and you, too, Nurse Hagar; and before very long, too. Why, bless you,
+these precious plotters won't wait for me to bring them into my net;
+they are tumbling in headlong--all of them. They are helping me, with
+all their might, to bring about their own downfall. Hagar," and the
+girl leaned suddenly forward and looked closely into the old woman's
+face, "I want you to come back to Oakley."
+
+Hagar started back as if struck by a knife. She was about to open her
+lips and set free a torrent of indignant protest, when the girl lifted
+her hand, interrupting her in the old characteristic way.
+
+"Wait until I explain, auntie. I want you to go to Oakley to-morrow,
+at the hour when Mr. John Arthur is always supposed to be taking his
+after-dinner nap. Just after dinner, I want you to see Madame Cora;
+manage it in your own way, but see her you must."
+
+"I won't!" broke in the old woman.
+
+"You will," said the girl, quietly, "when I have told you why."
+
+Drawing her chair close to that occupied by her companion, she resumed
+in a low voice:
+
+"Yesterday Miss Arthur sent me to the village to purchase some
+trifling articles for the adornment of her precious person. Returning
+through the woods, I came upon Mr. Davlin and his 'sister,' conversing
+very earnestly, just at the lower end of the terrace. I arrived at the
+hedgerow stile just in time to hear madame say, very emphatically,
+that something must be done immediately. They were going down the
+terrace steps when I passed them, pretending to be in a great hurry.
+As soon as their backs were toward me, I turned quickly, and without
+noise crossed the stile, followed them on the opposite side of the
+hedge, and listened."
+
+Here the speaker paused and looked up, but her auditor was gazing
+moodily into the fire, and never stirred nor spoke.
+
+"Madame was saying," resumed the narrator, "that she was heartily
+weary of the part she was playing; that its monotony sickened her;
+that they had secured the victims, and fate had been kind enough to
+remove the only stumbling block in their path, save the old man
+himself; that she considered my very sensible demise a direct answer
+to her pious prayers."
+
+The old woman shuddered and cast a look of horror upon the speaker.
+
+"They had evidently discussed this matter before, and partially
+settled their plans, only the man seemed to think it was too soon to
+begin to act. But madame declared that she should do worse if they did
+not commence operations at once, and finally she overruled him."
+
+"Of course," savagely.
+
+"Of course. Well, I now lost a little of their conversation, but I
+kept the thread of it. You see, I had to move very cautiously, and
+sometimes fall behind them a bit, when the leafage became less thick."
+
+Hagar nodded.
+
+"Their plan was a beautiful one, and they have already set it in
+motion."
+
+"Already?"
+
+"Already; don't interrupt, please; I will tell you how in good time.
+First, then, madame is to fall ill--not desperately ill, but just ill
+enough to be interesting, and to alarm the old man. By the way, Mr.
+Davlin left this morning for the city; that is one move. He is to
+remain in the city until after the illness of madame, who is to refuse
+to receive any of the village doctors. Finally, he is to be sent for,
+and admonished to bring with him their old family physician, who has
+but just returned from Europe. Well, they come, the brother and the
+family physician--do you follow me?"
+
+"Yes, yes!" nodding eagerly.
+
+"They come. And the doctor says madame is threatened with a malignant
+fever, and orders everybody out of the house. It is needless to say
+that Miss Arthur flies instantly; but _le docteur_, interviewing the
+half-sick, fidgety old man, discovers that he, too, is threatened with
+the fever. Of course, he can not leave then."
+
+Old Hagar's eyes were twinkling, and she was bending forward now in an
+eagerly attentive attitude. "No," she breathed, unconsciously.
+
+"Well, the heroic brother will refuse to fly from the fever, and will
+implore the skillful man of medicine to remain and minister unto the
+sick. The good doctor stays. Of course, such of the servants as are at
+all likely to prove troublesome, through possessing a trifle more
+brains than is usually alloted to an idiot, will be kindly told that,
+rather than endanger their lives, the household will dispense with
+their valuable services. Then a nurse, perhaps two, will come down
+from the city, and the plotters have the game in their own hands."
+
+Here the girl paused, and leaned back in her chair as if her story
+were done.
+
+"And then?" exclaimed Hagar.
+
+"And then!" echoed her companion, bending forward and resting her hand
+upon the old woman's wrist; "and then madame will recover--but John
+Arthur will remain an invalid and a prisoner! It will be said in the
+village that the fever has affected his brain, and his unpopularity,
+arising from the fact that he has always shunned and scorned the
+village folk, will insure them against intrusive investigators.
+Auntie, they have hatched a pretty plot."
+
+"But," objected Hagar, "they will have to stay at Oakley, if he is to
+be a prisoner. They won't dare leave him with keepers and--"
+
+"True," the girl interrupted. "I don't know how they will manage the
+rest; but having settled this much, madame and her 'brother' paused at
+the end of the path. I saw her as she looked up into his face, and
+this is what she said: 'When he is once a prisoner, what could be more
+natural than that a crazy, sick old man should _die_ some day?' Then
+the man replied, 'Nothing;' and they both returned to the house,
+without another word."
+
+For some moments silence reigned in Hagar's dwelling. The old woman
+seemed either unable, or unwilling, to utter a word of comment upon
+the story to which she had been so attentive a listener.
+
+Celine at length arose and said, as she began pacing to and fro before
+the old woman. "Well, have you anything to say to this?"
+
+"Yes," quietly.
+
+"Then why don't you speak out? Are you horribly shocked?"
+
+"No."
+
+"No? Well, so much the better!"
+
+Hagar arose, pushed back her chair, crossed the room, and, pulling
+back the curtain, looked out into the night. Then turning her
+inscrutable old face upon the girl she said, quite calmly:
+
+"Why should not others measure out to John Arthur the same bitter
+draught that he filled for your mother, years ago? Bah! it is only
+retribution!"
+
+"True," said the girl, sternly. Then, in a guarded tone: "And you
+would make no attempt to overturn their finely laid plans?"
+
+"I? _No!_" fiercely. "You? I thought you wanted revenge."
+
+"And so I do,--and will have it."
+
+"How, then?"
+
+"Will you go to Madame Arthur?"
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Ah, now you reason. I will tell you."
+
+Hurriedly she unfolded her plan; and after some differences of
+opinion, dame Hagar agreed to play her part in the coming drama.
+Having finally arranged Hagar's _role_ to their mutual satisfaction,
+Celine hurriedly recounted her day's adventures, saying, by way of
+_finale_:
+
+"So now you see, nursie, I must hasten and send madame's message on
+its way. I shall depend upon you to tell me if Mr. Davlin comes to
+Bellair to-morrow, for I have a fancy that madame will manage, in some
+way, to prevent his coming to the house, as it was fully settled that
+he was not to appear at Oakley until summoned to his sister's
+sick-bed."
+
+"I can easily learn if he appears at the Bellair station."
+
+"Exactly; that is all I wish to know. Now I must go and waylay Mr.
+Percy. So good night, auntie, and cheer up; our time is coming fast."
+
+"And trouble coming, too; God help us."
+
+The girl turned upon her swiftly, with flashing eyes. "Are you afraid?
+Do you want to give it up?"
+
+"I am afraid for you. But give up now; never!"
+
+"Brave old nursie!"
+
+The girl flung both arms about the old woman, and kissed her withered
+cheeks.
+
+"Never fear for me; my star is rising. Don't forget your mission,
+auntie; good-night."
+
+The "good-night" came back over her shoulder, as the girl was hurrying
+down the cottage steps, and Hagar closed the door behind her
+retreating figure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+FACE TO FACE.
+
+
+It is surprising to note how many pretexts a resolute, husband-hunting
+spinster can find for keeping a victim at her side, long after his
+soul has left her, and gone forth with yearning for a downy couch, a
+fragrant cheroot, or a fairer face.
+
+Edward Percy could be agreeable, for a reasonable length of time, to a
+very ugly woman. But even he felt himself an injured man when, at a
+late hour, he said good-night for the eleventh time to his fair
+enslaver--literally an enslaver, he thought. As the door of Oakley
+manor actually and audibly closed behind him, he heaved a sigh of
+gratification, and strode rapidly down the winding avenue.
+
+When the first group of trees had sheltered him from the view of the
+infatuated spinster, should she still be gazing after him, Mr. Percy
+paused, and standing in the shadow, produced a cigar and was
+proceeding to light it, when a hand fell lightly upon his arm, and he
+turned with a confused idea that she had followed him, and was about
+to lead him back a prisoner. But the figure that he dimly saw was,
+certainly, not that of Miss Arthur.
+
+"Pardon, monsieur! but I have a message for you."
+
+"Ye gods!" ejaculated the aggrieved man.
+
+Evidently the girl interpreted his thoughts, for she stifled a laugh
+as she said, quickly: "Not from Miss Arthur, monsieur; but from
+madame."
+
+"Oh, from madame," drawing a long breath. "Well, even madame will be a
+blessed relief; out with it, girl."
+
+"Madame will be grateful, I am sure," said the girl, mockingly.
+"Madame desires a word with you--now, to-night. Will you follow me?"
+
+"Where?"
+
+"To madame; she will be in the terrace arbor directly."
+
+"Oh, very well," replacing his cigar in his pocket; "lead on, then."
+
+Celine flitted on before, until the arbor became dimly visible down
+the pathway. Then she paused, pointed it out to her companion, and
+said: "Madame will soon join you there, sir. Now I must hasten to my
+mistress; I have kept her waiting too long."
+
+With a low, mischievous laugh she darted away in the direction of the
+house.
+
+Percy turned and gazed after her; then followed a few paces and
+watched again, until she disappeared under a wide portico. Heaving a
+sigh of relief he turned back toward the arbor.
+
+"I want no eavesdropping," he muttered; "and that minx might listen if
+she had time. She is no more a French maid than I am; she forgot her
+_monsieur_ just now. But a sham maid is very appropriate for a sham
+maiden; now for Alice;" and he entered the arbor.
+
+[Illustration: "I am afraid for you. But give up now; never!"--page
+167.]
+
+Had Mr. Percy been able to follow the retreating footsteps of the
+objectionable French maid, however, he might have found occasion
+to change his opinion of her lack of time for eavesdropping,
+and there was excellent opportunity for its practice about the
+shrubbery-surrounded arbor.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Meantime Ellen Arthur, having reluctantly bidden her "blonde demi-god"
+a last good-night, sought her chamber, swelling with satisfaction, and
+feeling somewhat hungry. Passing the door of her sister-in-law's
+rooms, she encountered Sarah, the romantic housemaid, who was just
+entering, bearing wine and a tiny glass. Glancing within, she
+encountered the gaze of Cora, who stood holding in her hand some black
+lace drapery.
+
+"Horribly late, isn't it?" yawned that lady, nodding good-naturedly.
+"Set down the wine, Sarah, and then you may go. I'm so dismally
+slumbersome that if I keep you to help me, I shall fall asleep on your
+hands. Have some wine, Ellen?"
+
+"No, thanks," said the spinster. "If you don't want Sarah, she may
+bring me up a nice lunch as soon as possible. I won't detain you any
+longer; good-night."
+
+And Miss Arthur, who had meditated entering and giving Cora the
+benefit of some of her maiden dreams and fancies, marched away, a
+trifle offended at the manner in which her sleepy sister-in-law had
+anticipated and warded off the interview. Cora's good-night floated
+after her as she sailed down the corridor. Then she heard the door
+closed and the bolt shot into the socket. A little later, the door
+opened noiselessly, and a female figure glided down the dark stairways
+out into the night, and toward the arbor.
+
+"Celine shall undo my hair," Miss Arthur thought, "and I'll have her
+try that new set of braids and puffs, if it is late. I don't feel as
+if I could sleep."
+
+But Celine was not dutifully waiting in her mistress's dressing-room.
+
+Sarah appeared with the lunch, and offered her services, but was
+summarily dismissed, for Miss Arthur did not deem it wise to initiate
+the house servants into the fearful and wonderful mysteries of her
+toilet. Therefore, she lunched in solitude and disgust, but heartily,
+notwithstanding, having just put off her very elaborate, but rather
+uncomfortable evening dress and donned a silken gown, acting as her
+own maid.
+
+Then she fidgeted herself into a most horrible temper, and sat
+deliberately down before the grate in a capacious dressing-chair,
+determined to wait until the girl came, and deliver a most severe and
+stately reprimand, the exact words of which she had already determined
+upon.
+
+The lady, sitting thus with her feet on the fender, her hands
+comfortably clasping the big arms of the dressing chair, and her head
+lolling rather ungracefully over its back, fell into slumber.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+If Mrs. John Arthur had made a midnight appointment with Lucifer, she
+would have fortified herself for the encounter by making a "stunning"
+toilet. It was one of her fixed principles--she had fixed
+principles--never to permit friend or foe of the male persuasion to
+gaze upon her charms when they would show at a disadvantage. So when
+she entered the arbor, which was suffused with a soft moonlight glow
+from a heavily-shaded lamp, for the arbor stood among dense shrubbery,
+and but for this lamp would have been in Egyptian darkness, she was
+indeed a personification of loveliness.
+
+Ungracious as was his mood, Percy would not have been a beauty-adoring
+mortal if he had not paid involuntary tribute to the charms of the
+woman who was his bitterest foe. Gazing down upon her a moment, he
+said in his soft legato:
+
+"I am almost angry at you for being so beautiful, after having taken
+yourself to other lovers, _Ma belle_."
+
+The woman smiled triumphantly, as she threw herself into an easy
+chair, and said in her softest, sweetest tone: "And did you expect me
+to go mourning for you all these years, sir?"
+
+"I don't think you were ever the woman to do that;" dropping lazily
+into a rustic seat near her. "May I smoke?"
+
+Cora nodded.
+
+"Are you sure we are quite safe here?" looking about him. "Somehow, I
+am suspicious of that sharp French maid."
+
+"Quite sure," nodding again. "Mr. Arthur was in bed before I came out;
+Miss Arthur was ordering up a lunch to her room, and the French maid
+must needs be in attendance for an hour or more; and besides, I know
+she is not at all dangerous. None of the other servants ever have
+occasion to come here, and most of them are in bed by now."
+
+"So your charming sister-in-law eats, does she? After parting from me,
+too; ugh!"
+
+"Eats? I should think so," laughing softly; "in her own room, when her
+stays are not too tight."
+
+"Spare me!"
+
+He held up both hands in mock deprecation; then, dropping his
+bantering tone, said, as he puffed at his cigar:
+
+"But now to business. You did not come out here in such bewitching
+toilet to tell me that my charmer eats?"
+
+"Hardly," with a pretty shrug.
+
+"For what, then?"
+
+"To come to an understanding with you," coolly.
+
+"As how?" in the same tone.
+
+"As to our future standing with each other."
+
+"I thought that was settled to-day?"
+
+"Did you? I don't think it was settled."
+
+"Well, what remains, fair Alice?"
+
+"Will you drop that name?"
+
+"For the present, yes; but with reluctance."
+
+"Oh, certainly!" bitterly. "Now, what are we to be henceforth?"
+
+"Friends, of course," knocking the ashes off his cigar.
+
+"You and I may be allies; we can never be friends," she said,
+scornfully.
+
+"Don't trouble yourself to be insulting, Mrs.--a--Arthur."
+
+"Then don't make me remember how I have hated you!"
+
+"Have you really hated me? How singular."
+
+"Very!" sarcastically; then: "If you don't drop that disagreeable tone
+we shall quarrel. I wish to know what you want with Ellen Arthur."
+
+"Shade of my grandmother! If you don't drop that disagreeable name, I
+shall expire. Haven't I had enough of her for one day? Alice, I know
+revenge is sweet, but spare me."
+
+"Bother! I must talk about her, else how can we settle anything? Do
+you suppose I am going to allow that sweet girl to be deceived?" This
+with mock indignation.
+
+"Oh, no; certainly not! Well, if I must, I must. First, then--"
+
+"First, what position do you intend to take towards me?"
+
+"That depends upon yourself."
+
+"On conditions?"
+
+"On conditions."
+
+"Name them."
+
+"I am to be received as an honored guest whenever I shall choose to
+visit Oakley."
+
+"Well."
+
+"Next, you are to do all in your power to further my suit with
+Miss--you know."
+
+"That's an easy task."
+
+"Lastly, you are to promise me not, now or at any future time, to
+declare to any one aught you may know that might be to my
+disadvantage."
+
+"That is to say, I am not to tell Ellen Arthur, or others, that you
+have two wives--"
+
+"Softly; one, my dear, _one_. Mrs. Percy Jordan, number one, is dead;
+you alone are left. You see, Alice, my dear, the thing is reversed.
+You have two husbands now, while I--"
+
+"Will have two wives as soon as you can get them!"
+
+"Just so."
+
+"And what guarantee have I that you will not betray me to Mr. Arthur?"
+
+"The very best in the world; mutual interest."
+
+Cora pondered. "I don't see but that you are right," she said, at
+last. "It certainly will not be to your interest to attempt to annoy
+me now, but how long is this truce to last?" looking at him keenly.
+
+Percy smoked away in tranquil silence.
+
+"Of course, I understand what you mean by a marriage with Miss
+Arthur," scornfully. "How long will it take you to squander her
+dollars? And after that, what will you do?"
+
+"Question for question, fair cross examiner; how long do you intend
+remaining so quietly here, the bond slave of this idiotic old man? And
+what will you do when this play is played out?"
+
+"Because I ran away from a profligate young husband, who had decoyed
+me into an illegal marriage--illegal for me, but sufficiently binding
+to have put you in the penitentiary for a bi--"
+
+"Don't say it, my dear; don't. It's an ugly word, and, after all, are
+we not both in the same boat?"
+
+"No," angrily. "Do you think I have been so poorly schooled during
+these years that you can make me think now that you have any hold upon
+me? Bah! your case is but a flimsy one. When you deceived me into a
+marriage with you, you had already another wife. You hid me away in a
+suburban box of a cottage, fancying I would be content, like a bird in
+a gilded cage. You never dreamed that meek little _I_ would follow
+you, and find out from the woman's own lips that she had a prior claim
+upon you!"
+
+"Candidly, I didn't credit you with so much pluck," said Percy,
+coolly.
+
+"No! and when I charged you with your perfidy, and wept and upbraided
+you, and then became pacified when you told me that every proof of
+your marriage with that other was in your control, you did not dream
+that I would feign submission until I had gained possession of the
+proofs of both your marriages, and then run away?"
+
+"And succeed in baffling my search for ten long years," supplemented
+he, grandiloquently. "No, fair dame, I did not."
+
+"Your search, indeed! It was not a very eager one."
+
+"Well, in truth it was not. The fact is, your beauty entrapped me into
+that very foolish marriage; but I was a trifle weary of blonde
+loveliness in tears, etc., so I didn't get out the entire police
+force, you see."
+
+"And you wouldn't have found me if you had."
+
+"Indeed! why not?"
+
+"Because, if it will afford you any satisfaction to know at this late
+stage of the game, I sailed for Europe the very day I quitted your
+house."
+
+"No!" opening his eyes in genuine astonishment. "Had it all cut and
+dried? Well, I like that! Why, little woman, if you had only developed
+one half the pluck latent in you, before you flitted, I would never
+have given you 'just cause,' etc., for leaving me."
+
+The woman smiled triumphantly, but made no other answer.
+
+"Well, what next? I am really becoming interested in your career."
+
+"Sorry I can't gratify your curiosity. My career has been a very
+pleasant one--seeing the world; generally prosperous. And this brings
+me back to the starting point: why should you think, because I left
+you with good cause, ten years ago, that I must necessarily forsake,
+sooner or later, a husband who is kindness itself, and who leaves no
+wish of mine ungratified?"
+
+"First reason," checking them off on his fingers: "Because you don't
+love this old man, and love is the only bond that such women as you
+will not break."
+
+"Thanks!" ironically, bending her head.
+
+"Second, because a dull country house, be it ever so elegant, will not
+long satisfy you as an abiding place. I have not forgotten your
+girlish taste for pomp, pageant and all manner of excitement; a taste
+that has doubtless become fully developed by now. Third, because you
+have, at this present moment, a lover whom you prefer above all
+others, and to whom you will flee sooner or later."
+
+"Perhaps you can substantiate that statement," sneered Cora.
+
+"Well, not exactly; but I know women. My dear, say what you please to
+me, but don't expect to be believed if you will insist upon doing the
+devoted wife."
+
+"I insist upon nothing," said Cora, rising, "and I have not time for
+many more words. Let us come to the point at once: With my life, after
+I left you, you have nothing to do; you know nothing of it now, and
+you will learn no more from me. Of you, I know this much. I know that
+you clung, after your fashion, to the skirts of your unfortunate wife,
+spending her income and making her life miserable. I know that six
+years ago you inherited a fortune from a distant relative. I know that
+from that time you utterly neglected your wife, who had been an
+invalid for years; and that soon after she died, heart-broken and
+alone."
+
+Percy turned upon her, and scrutinized her face keenly; then, coming
+close to her, said, meaningly: "And then I wonder that you did not
+come back to me."
+
+For a moment the woman seemed confused, and off her guard. But she had
+not sought an interview with this man without fully reviewing her
+ground.
+
+"I had ceased to care for you," she said, lifting her unflinching eyes
+to his face; "and I did not need your money. Come, enough of the past;
+you have squandered your fortune, and now you want another. You want
+to put yourself still more into my power by marrying a third wife--so
+be it; I consent."
+
+"Not so fast. You are first to promise me to place in my hands, on my
+'marriage morn,' those unpleasant little documents which you hold
+against me. In return for which you will receive a sum of money, the
+amount of said sum to be hereafter arranged. Then we go our separate
+ways."
+
+"And if I refuse?"
+
+"Then, painful as it is, I must do my duty. You are to give me your
+answer when I return to Bellair; no time for tricks, mind. If the
+answer is no, then I interview Mr. John Arthur."
+
+"And you return?--"
+
+"The day after to-morrow."
+
+"Then you shall have my answer. Until then--"
+
+She swept him a stately courtesy, which he returned with a most
+elaborate bow.
+
+Without another word from either, they separated; she gliding swiftly
+and silently toward the house, he going once more in the direction of
+Bellair village.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+How long she had slept it never afterward occurred to Miss Arthur to
+inquire. Something recalled her from the land of visions, and starting
+up in her chair she saw Celine, standing demurely before her, her face
+wreathed in smiles, and no signs of any uncanny adventure lingering
+about her.
+
+Beholding her safe and sound Miss Arthur began to pour out upon the
+luckless head of Celine, the vials of wrath prepared for her benefit.
+
+The girl listened with a face indicative of some secret source of
+amusement. Noting her look of evident unconcern, and the laughter she
+seemed vainly striving to keep under, Miss Arthur brought her tirade
+to an abrupt termination, and demanded to know what Miss Celine
+Leroque saw, in her appearance, that was so very ludicrous.
+
+Whereupon Miss Celine Leroque dropped upon a hassock, at the feet of
+her irate mistress, and laughed outright--actually laughed
+unreservedly, in the presence and despite the rage of the ancient
+maiden!
+
+[Illustration: "Then you shall have my answer. Until then--"--page
+178.]
+
+Then observing that she was preparing another burst of wrath, the
+girl appeared to be struggling for composure, and vainly endeavoring
+to articulate something, of which Miss Arthur could only catch the
+name, "Mr. Percy." Thereupon she fairly bounced out of her chair,
+demanding to know "what on earth" Mr. Percy had to do with her maid's
+reprehensible conduct.
+
+"Oh, mademoiselle, everything!" gasped Celine. "Only let me explain,
+and mademoiselle will laugh, too. Oh, _Mon dieu, Mon dieu_!"
+
+Calming herself by a violent effort, Celine told her story, and its
+magic dispelled the wrath of her much neglected, sorely aggrieved
+mistress. Such a pretty little story it was, interspersed with sly
+looks, knowing nods, and rippling bursts of laughter. Listened to
+with, first, disdainful silence; then, growing interest; last,
+spasmodic giggles, _apropos_ ejaculations, and much blushing and
+maidenly confusion.
+
+"You see, mademoiselle, after you had gone down, I went to my room, to
+take just a few little stitches upon some of my poor garments, that I
+must wear to-morrow. I don't know how it was, but I sat on my bedside
+thinking, after it was done, and fell off asleep."
+
+"Off the bed?"
+
+"Oh! no, no, mademoiselle; off into sleep, I mean. When I awoke I was
+anxious to know how much time I had slept away, and came down to your
+apartments. You were still in the drawing-room, and I passed on to the
+kitchen, surprised to find that it was very late. 'I will hasten,' I
+thought, 'and can so go to the village, and telegraph my sister before
+my mistress rings for me;' for I didn't think," with a sly look, "that
+you would be at liberty _very_ early in the evening. The--what you
+name him?--a--operateur, was out, and I had to wait a little time.
+Coming back so late, I became afraid of the woods, and took the path
+along the highway. Entering at the front and coming up the avenue, I
+was about to pass around by the east walk to the side entrance
+when,--" stifling a laugh.
+
+[Illustration: "O, Mademoiselle, every thing!" gasped Celine.--page
+180.]
+
+"Well?" impatiently.
+
+"When the front door opened and I, standing in the shadow, saw the
+light fall upon the face and figure of Monsieur Percy."
+
+"Yes; go on."
+
+"I mention this, mademoiselle, only to show you how I know so
+positively that it _was_ monsieur who--oh! oh!" laughing again softly.
+
+"Who?" with increased impatience; "who did what, girl?" eyeing her
+suspiciously.
+
+Celine composed herself and continued: "Seeing monsieur, I stopped,
+for I did not wish him to discover me abroad so late. So I stood in
+the thick shade until he should have passed. He came slowly toward me
+and, just about four paces from my hiding-place, paused, turned and
+looked, back at the house. I could see him gazing toward the upper
+windows, and presently I saw your shadow upon the blind as you entered
+your dressing-room. The light shone out from your window, too; and
+after looking for a while, I heard him murmur to himself: 'That must
+be her window; I believe I am bewitched, for I can't bear to lose its
+light,' and then--"
+
+"Stop laughing, you ridiculous girl! And what then?"
+
+"And then, mademoiselle, he began walking up and down within sight of
+your window--"
+
+"Ah!" rapturously.
+
+"Oui; and I--oh, mademoiselle, he was in the very path that I must
+take to approach the side entrance. And he walked and walked, and I
+waited and waited. Then I thought I would try getting around by the
+other way, and creep up carefully from the terrace. So I crept along
+to the other side, back of the arbor, and up the terrace, and managed
+to reach the entrance unseen. _Mon Dieu_, mademoiselle, the door was
+locked! I was shut out! What was I to do then? I sat me down in the
+shadow of the portico and waited once more. After a terribly long time
+I could see that he was not moving up and down. I peeped cautiously,
+and he seemed to be departing. Then I came out stealthy as a cat, and
+found that he was going away, and the reason--"
+
+"The reason?"
+
+"Oui, mademoiselle; the light in your room had disappeared."
+
+"Disappeared!"
+
+"Oui, mademoiselle. Then I bethought me there might yet be a chance. I
+came up to the front entrance and tried the door. It was not locked.
+My heart leaped for joy. I blessed the carelessness of the servants,
+and stole cautiously in. I came to this room. All was dark; but the
+coals there showed me your figure in the chair. I could not mistake
+the graceful outlines of mademoiselle. I entered very quietly,
+relighted your lamp--some little breeze must have flared it out while
+you slept. I was looking at you, and wondering what you would say if
+you knew how nearly crazy with love you had driven that stately,
+handsome Monsieur Percy, when you awoke."
+
+It is needless to say that, long before Celine had finished her
+recital, her mistress was in the best of humors. Indeed, Celine's
+volubly uttered, intensely flattering, highly probable recital, had an
+exhilarating effect upon her; so much so, that the lady found sleep
+now quite impossible. So poor Celine was doomed, after all, to build
+the new braids and puffs into a wonderful edifice upon the head of
+Miss Arthur, and to repeat over and again the sweet story of "how he
+loved her."
+
+The "wee sma'" hours were beginning to lengthen once more when Celine
+was released from duty, and went wearily up to her room; wearily, yet
+with undimmed eyes, and the mischievous dimples still lurking about
+the corners of her mouth.
+
+She muttered: "Bah! it is better than sleep, after all; if only the
+others were as easily duped as she!"
+
+By which words, a listener might have been led to suppose that Celine
+Leroque had been practising deception upon some confiding individual.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+GATHERING CLUES.
+
+
+Claire had been absent all the morning, had gone to make some call; at
+least she had said to Olive, at breakfast, "I think I will take the
+ponies, Olive, and drive into the city this morning. It is nice out of
+doors, and I have made no calls since I came here."
+
+Olive Girard sat alone in her cosy drawing-room. She had been reading,
+but the book was somehow not in tune with her mind or mood. She had
+allowed it to fall at her feet, where it lay, half opened, while she
+drifted away from the present in sorrowful reverie. Lifting her eyes,
+she saw a cab drive away from the villa gate, and a form hurrying
+along the marble pathway. Springing up, Olive herself threw open the
+door, and clasped her arms about--Miss Arthur's French maid! who
+returned the caress with much enthusiasm.
+
+"Madeline, my dear child, how glad I am to see you!"
+
+"Even in this disguise?" laughed the girl.
+
+"Even in blue glasses, and that horrid jacket," smiled Olive. "What an
+ugly thing it is. Come and take it off, _ma belle_; do," leading the
+way up the stairs.
+
+"I come, autocrat, and I shall much enjoy getting out of this
+head-gear," shaking her bewigged head. Then abruptly, "Where's
+Claire?"
+
+"Out for a drive and some calls," without looking back. "How surprised
+and glad she will be to see you. Now, come in and make a lady of
+yourself once more." She led the way into Madeline's room. "Are you
+tired, dear?"
+
+"Not at all."
+
+"Then come into my boudoir when you are dressed, and we will have a
+cosy chat while waiting for Claire."
+
+"I won't be long," responded the girl. "I have a good many things to
+say to you, which had better be said before Claire comes."
+
+"Very well; I await your ladyship," and Olive closed the door, leaving
+Miss Arthur's maid alone.
+
+"I thought so," muttered she, tearing off the blue glasses; "she has
+gone to meet Edward Percy. Poor dupe! it is indeed time to act."
+
+She discarded the ill-fitting jacket, flung away the ugly black wig,
+and, in a very few moments, stood arrayed in a pretty, neatly fitting
+gown, glowing and lovely,--Madeline Payne once more.
+
+"I wonder if I shall see or hear of _him_," she whispered to herself
+as she crossed to Olive's boudoir. "Oh, if I could! It would be one
+ray of sunlight only to clasp his hand!"
+
+Olive had been informed of all that Madeline herself knew, of the
+doings at Bellair, at the time when the girl went down, disguised as
+Celine Leroque. Now, therefore, Madeline lost no time in making Olive
+acquainted with, at least a part of, the events that had transpired
+during her sojourn in the Oakley mansion, in the capacity of maid. Of
+Edward Percy she said not a word, for reasons of her own, wishing to
+keep all knowledge of him from Olive for the present.
+
+"You see, I was just in time, Olive," she supplemented, when Mrs.
+Girard had expressed her astonishment at the startling revelations of
+the past four weeks. "I had not an hour to lose in setting my snare
+for these plotters. They little dream what is in store for them. Poor
+Kitty! I feel like a wretch when I think of the advantage I took of
+her, by making her poor dead body a weapon, as one might say, against
+a villain whom she would never have lifted a finger to injure in her
+life. But I could see no other way. Do you know, Olive, they are going
+to erect a stone over her, bearing my name?"
+
+Olive looked up in surprise. "No! is it possible?"
+
+"Yes, quite. I fancy John Arthur thinks he will feel more thoroughly
+assured of my demise, when he can see my name on a marble slab."
+
+"Now, tell me what especial purpose brought you up to town to-day."
+
+Madeline moved restlessly in her chair. "A medley," she said, laughing
+uneasily. "A woman's reason; things being quiet, I wanted recreation,
+and to tell you of my success thus far. Then, a detective's reason; to
+get from you some information bearing upon your own affairs, as
+connected with Lucian Davlin. Then I want to see Dr. Vaughan, in his
+professional capacity. But mind, Olive, not a word to him of my
+discoveries just yet."
+
+"Certainly not, if you do not wish it."
+
+And this was all the mention made by either of Clarence Vaughan.
+
+"You see," began Madeline, after a brief silence, "Mrs. John Arthur
+and her quondam brother, hold occasional private interviews. As they
+generally prove interesting, I make it a point to be present whenever
+possible. Now, from some chance words dropped at different times, I
+have been led to think that if I were more fully informed in regard to
+this Percy, I might find the missing link. Indeed, I may tell you I
+have found a clue, just the shadow of something that, if I could
+develop it, might prove of wonderful value to both of us."
+
+"Oh! if you could find out anything that would throw light upon this
+dark wrong they have done Philip, these men--"
+
+"Well, Olive, I think we may hope. Now, may I begin to cross-question
+you?"
+
+Olive smiled sadly. "Go on, my little lawyer."
+
+"First, then, were you personally acquainted with this Percy?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You have seen him?"
+
+"At the trial; yes."
+
+"Describe him."
+
+"A blonde man, handsome, some would call him, with a soft, languid
+voice. I did not observe further."
+
+"Would you know him if you saw him again?"
+
+"Certainly. His was a rather uncommon face, and then the
+association--"
+
+"Just so," interrupting her; "and would he know you?"
+
+"I think not. I was heavily veiled, by Philip's order."
+
+"Now, try to recall all that Philip has told you of this man."
+
+"They were college students together. Philip said that Percy was
+indolent and vain, and too fond of female society of any sort or
+grade. He made wonderful progress in such studies as he chose to apply
+himself to, and, had he been less of a sybarite, might have obtained
+high rank as a scholar. But he was erratic, full of queer conceits,
+and never made himself popular with either professors or students."
+
+"Social standing not good, eh? Now, as to his finances."
+
+Olive looked somewhat surprised at this question, but replied: "His
+parents were not well to do, but he was a favorite with a rich old
+uncle, who paid his college expenses and made him a liberal allowance.
+However, he fell into disgrace just before his class graduated, and
+his uncle cast him off. He never took his degree."
+
+"What was the occasion of his disgrace?"
+
+"Some scandalous affair with a mechanic's daughter; the particulars I
+did not learn."
+
+"Of course not. They are of no consequence. This happened how long
+ago?"
+
+Olive mused. "Philip is now thirty-three; this was twelve years ago."
+
+"Good! Did he hear of Mr. Percy after that?"
+
+"Yes; in less than a year, he married a wealthy woman, ten years his
+senior, and a widow, so it was reported. Percy, it is said, denied
+this marriage, and continued to live and go and come, like a bachelor.
+If the marriage ever occurred, it was kept, for some reason, very much
+under the rose. Be this as it may, Percy was always provided with
+money from some source. He used to gamble sometimes, but was not an
+habitual gamester. Philip said he was too much of a sybarite and
+ladies' man to be wedded to such sports."
+
+"Yet he played with Lucian Davlin, and lost heavily?"
+
+"True."
+
+"Well, is this all you have to tell of Mr. Percy?"
+
+"Not quite. About a year before the catastrophe of the hunting party,
+the uncle who had cared for him during his college career, died. Percy
+inherited his wealth, the old man, after all, making his will in favor
+of his graceless nephew." Olive paused for a moment, then added, "I
+believe that is all I can tell you of this man. I have not seen or
+heard of him since poor Philip was sent to prison."
+
+Madeline sat gazing abstractedly into the grate fire, her hands
+clasped in her lap, working restlessly, as was their habit, when she
+was thinking deeply. Suddenly a sharp exclamation broke from her lips,
+and Olive turned towards her a look of surprised inquiry. But Madeline
+was clasping and unclasping her hands nervously, with eyelashes
+lowered, and brow knitted in a frown.
+
+"Olive," she said, after a long cogitation, "you have put into my
+hands another thread, a very valuable one. Don't ask me any questions
+now; I want to get my ideas in shape."
+
+Olive's face wore an anxious look, but she had learned the lesson of
+patient waiting, so she quietly acquiesced, and then a long silence
+fell between them.
+
+Madeline resumed the conversation, or rather recommenced it. She made
+no further mention of that part of the subject nearest the heart of
+Olive Girard. She made inquiries as to affairs and recent events at
+the village, talked of Claire, and finally said:
+
+"Olive, I want you to go out with me during the day, and perhaps we
+had better go early. I must return to Bellair by to-morrow morning's
+train, you know."
+
+"Yes; and I am sorry that you stay with us such a very short time.
+Where do you intend going, Madeline?"
+
+"To a detective,--that is, if you will repeat your generous offer,
+which I so cavalierly declined not long ago, to be my banker for an
+indefinite time."
+
+"Gladly, dear child; now you are beginning to be sensible. But the
+detective,--may I venture to inquire?" with assumed hesitation.
+
+"You may," laughed Madeline. "And don't give me credit for all the
+ingenuity. True, I have racked my poor feminine brain and feminine
+instinct, coupled with the knowledge obtained by some keen experience
+with Treachery, Despair, and Hate. These grim but very efficient
+instructors have aided me materially, simple, inexperienced girl as I
+was so recently--or so long ago, as it seems to me. And good old Aunt
+Hagar, who has been in this woful world many years--years full of
+vicissitudes and sharp life-lessons--is my counsellor and adviser. She
+aids me greatly with her shrewdness, and knowledge of the world and
+the folk in it. So we have discussed this point together and concluded
+that, in order to leave no loopholes open in our nice little net, we
+had better have the movements of Mr. Lucian Davlin closely watched
+while he is in the city."
+
+"To discover--"
+
+"Who he calls upon, and what manner of man he will choose to assume
+the _role_ of 'physician from Europe,' etc. Without putting the full
+facts of the case into the hands of the officer, we will arrange to
+know all about the man who will help Davlin carry out their last
+scheme. No train shall leave the city on which he would, by any
+possibility, set out for Bellair accompanied by this sham physician,
+without the knowledge of our man, or men, of skill. All discoveries
+made are to be reported, through you, to Mademoiselle Celine Leroque,
+who will receive said reports in _propria persone_, at the Bellair
+post-office. Then I must proffer a request, that Doctor Vaughan will
+hold himself in readiness to come to Oakley, should I find it
+necessary to summon him, accompanied by another physician, or not, as
+shall be hereafter decided."
+
+"I don't just see how all this is to end, but these two steps appear
+to me to be in the right direction. I am ready to undertake your
+commissions, and to act as your banker to the fullest extent of your
+needs."
+
+After a few more words they decided that, as Claire did not return,
+and time was precious, they would order a carriage immediately after
+luncheon, and pay a visit to the detective forthwith. Accordingly,
+half an hour earlier than usual, a light repast was served, and
+sparingly partaken of. Then having left a message for Miss Keith, who
+was momentarily expected, the two friends drove into the city.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WIELDS THE SURGEON'S KNIFE.
+
+
+Returning two hours later, they found Claire impatiently waiting their
+arrival, radiantly beautiful, and overflowing with joy at sight of her
+beloved Madeline.
+
+"You delightfully horrible girl!" she exclaimed, after greetings had
+been exchanged, and they had all seated themselves in the
+drawing-room. "To think that you are growing more lovely every day,
+and that you go and hide all your beauty under an old fright of a wig,
+nasty blue spectacles, and deformities of jackets! I declare, it's too
+bad! And then to wait on an old spinster who wears no end of false
+hair, and false teeth, and false--"
+
+"Puzzled already. So much for not being a lady's maid; Now, I can
+enumerate every 'falsehood' assumed by that lady."
+
+Then Madeline gave a ludicrous description of Miss Arthur and her
+peculiarities, causing even grave Olive to laugh heartily, and Claire
+to exclaim that she should watch the advertisements, and try playing
+ladies' maid herself.
+
+Madeline once more recounted, in brief, the state of affairs now
+existing at Oakley, or as much as she had told Olive, during which
+recital impulsive Claire kept up a running fire of comments,
+indicative of surprise, indignation, disgust, and very one-sided
+interest.
+
+"I never heard of such a nest of vultures," she exclaimed, excitedly,
+when Madeline had completed her story. "Why, it's worse than a chapter
+out of a French drama. Goodness gracious, Madeline Payne, I only wish
+I could help you deal out justice to these wretches! Where is my fairy
+godmother now, that she don't come and convert me into a six-foot
+brother, to take some of this burden out of your little weak hands?"
+
+"Not so weak as you may think, you little warrior. These hands,"
+holding them up to view, "have a very strong cause, let me tell
+you--and you think you would like to help me?" laughing oddly.
+
+"Wouldn't I!" with a fierce nod that made her two companions laugh
+again.
+
+The afternoon was wearing away, and Madeline began to grow restless,
+at finding no opportunity for saying a word in private to Claire. At
+last fortune favored her. Olive, seeing her gardener digging about a
+little summer-house, which was a favorite retreat on a warm afternoon,
+bethought herself of a plan for adding to its comfort, by laying down
+certain vines, etcetera, for next season's growing. So she bade the
+girls note how she should have improved her arbor by another season,
+and hurried out to begin an argument, that from previous experience
+she knew would be hotly contested.
+
+[Illustration: "You delightfully horrible girl!"--page 191.]
+
+This was Madeline's opportunity. And as soon as Olive was out of
+hearing, she turned to Claire saying:
+
+"Claire, I have not told you, nor Olive, all that I have discovered.
+For reasons, which you will understand later, I have thought it best
+to make them known to you first. We must invent some excuse for
+absenting ourselves from the parlor for a while."
+
+Claire looked grave and somewhat startled for an instant, but
+recovering her composure she said, simply: "I am at your disposal,
+dear."
+
+"I think I had better go to my room and lie down," meaningly. "Tell
+Olive, when she comes in, that I feel fatigued, and have gone to my
+room to rest. Then you had better plead letters to write, and follow
+me. Can you manage it?"
+
+"Easily," smiled Claire. "Why, Bonnie, Aileen, this becomes more and
+more mysterious and interesting."
+
+"Wait before you pass judgment; now I am gone."
+
+Madeline quitted the drawing-room and sauntered leisurely up-stairs.
+
+When Olive reappeared, Claire carried out the little programme, as
+arranged, and hastened to join Madeline, musing as she went:
+
+"What could have induced that odd darling to confide in stupid little
+me, while she leaves wise, thoughtful Olive in the dark?"
+
+Madeline was pacing the floor when Claire entered the room. She
+motioned her to a chair, and pushed the bolt in the door, thus
+rendering intrusion impossible.
+
+"What _can_ you be thinking of, Madeline, with that gloomy face?"
+exclaimed Claire, nestling into an easy chair as she spoke.
+
+"I am thinking, Claire," replied Madeline, gazing down at her sadly,
+"of the first time I ever saw your sister, and of the errand on which
+she came to me. How full of hope I was that morning! How radiant the
+day seemed, and how confident I was of happiness to come; as confident
+as you are to-day, Claire, darling."
+
+There was something in Madeline's tone that sounded almost like pity,
+as she uttered these last words. Claire started and colored, but still
+was silent.
+
+"Olive did a brave, generous deed, but at that time I almost hated her
+for it," musingly.
+
+"Oh, no, Madeline," interposed Claire, "you don't mean just that, I am
+sure. You never really hated our noble, unhappy Olive."
+
+"I felt very wicked, I assure you," smiling faintly. Then, abruptly:
+"How should you have felt, similarly placed?"
+
+"I?" wonderingly; "mercy! I can't tell."
+
+"Claire, think," in a tone almost of entreaty. "I want to know--I must
+know."
+
+"You must know? Why, Madeline?"
+
+"Because--because I want to find out what is in you; how strong you
+are."
+
+Claire looked more and more mystified. "State your case, then," she
+said, quietly. "I will try and analyze myself."
+
+"Good; now, Claire Keith, suppose that you love some man very much,
+and you trust him without knowing why, for no other reason than that
+you love him. When you are happiest, because you have but just parted
+from your lover--"
+
+Claire started and colored a little.
+
+"When you are thinking of the time, not far away, when you shall not
+part from him any more--suppose that just then I, a friend whom you
+have loved, come to you and say: 'This hero of yours is false; he is a
+two-faced villain; he has deceived you; he is not honorable; he will
+betray you if he can.' What would you answer me?"
+
+Claire lifted her head proudly. "I would make you take back every word
+you had uttered, or prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt!"
+
+"And if I proved it?"
+
+"Then I would thank you; and hate myself for having been deceived, and
+him for having deceived me."
+
+"Would you grieve for him, Claire?"
+
+Quick as thought came the answer:
+
+"Grieve for him! No; I could no more love a liar and a villain than I
+could caress a viper! I tell you, Madeline, I understand your feelings
+when you say that you hate Lucian Davlin," shuddering.
+
+"And you would not hate me also for rudely undeceiving you?"
+
+"Hate my best friend; my benefactor? No!"
+
+"I am thankful!"
+
+"But, Madeline, what does all this mean? Is this what you wanted to
+say to me? What can my feelings have to do with your case?"
+
+"Claire,"--Madeline's face was very sad again--"this case is _our_
+case."
+
+"_Our_ case?"
+
+"Yes, ours; Olive's, yours, mine. And now I am going to test your
+strength."
+
+Claire did not look very strong just then.
+
+"You saw Edward Percy to-day."
+
+Claire Keith sprang to her feet. "How do you know that? And what has
+he to do with the case?"
+
+"I know it because we, Mr. Percy and myself, came to this city by the
+same train, and I could easily surmise that his business here was with
+you."
+
+"Well?" haughtily.
+
+"Ah!" sadly; "you are almost angry with me now. But listen, Claire.
+Are you perfectly familiar with all the facts connected with poor
+Philip Girard's sad disgrace?"
+
+"I think so," coldly.
+
+"You know that he was convicted upon the testimony of Lucian Davlin
+and another?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you recall the name of the man who was wounded, so said the jury,
+by Mr. Girard?"
+
+Up sprang Claire, her eyes blazing. "Madeline," she cried, "I see what
+you are coming at. You have got into your head the ridiculous idea
+that this man Percy and Edward Percy are the same. It is absurd!"
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because--because it _is_!" Then, as if the matter were
+quite settled, "why, he must have been in Europe at the time."
+
+"Claire, you are getting angry with me, and I have a long story to
+tell you. But there is an easy way to settle this matter. Are you
+willing to let me take the picture you have of Edward Percy, and
+accompany me into Olive's presence while I ask her if she ever saw the
+original?"
+
+Nothing else could have so effectually quenched Claire's wrath. She
+saw that Madeline had some strong reason for her strange words.
+Sitting down with paling cheeks and trembling limbs, she thought. Then
+looking across at Madeline, she said, wearily:
+
+"I can't understand you at all, Madeline. It never once occurred to
+me to connect the man who brought all that trouble upon poor Philip
+with my Edward Percy. It does not seem possible that they could be the
+same. I had supposed the other Percy to be a man like--like Davlin."
+
+"My dear, did you ever see Davlin?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And you have fancied him a sort of handsome horse jockey, and this
+Percy one of the same brotherhood?"
+
+"Perhaps;" smiling a little.
+
+"Claire, Lucian Davlin is an Apollo in person, a courtier in manner,
+and a Mephistopheles at heart. And Percy is an abridgement of Davlin."
+
+"I can't see," said Claire, rather frostily, "even if Edward Percy is
+the man who was wounded by some unknown person five years ago, why he
+must of necessity be a villain and a deceiver. It would be very, very
+unpleasant, of course, to find that such were the case. But I could
+not hate Edward Percy for that, even if the fact must separate us."
+
+"Claire, Edward Percy is not only the man who helped send your
+sister's husband to prison, but he is a villain doubly perjured; a
+deceiver, a betrayer. If justice ever gets her due he will end his
+days in the penitentiary."
+
+Then, seeing that Claire was about to speak: "Let me finish; now you
+shall have your proof."
+
+She recounted all there was to tell, from the day when Claire showed
+her the picture and she distrusted the face, to the present moment.
+
+Claire Keith listened in immovable silence; not a muscle quivered. For
+many minutes after Madeline had finished her recital, she sat staring
+straight before her, like a statue. At length she arose and crossed to
+the door, drew back the bolt with a steady hand, put up a warning
+finger, and said, in a voice like frozen silver: "Wait;" then
+disappeared.
+
+Madeline scarcely had time to wonder what she meant, before Claire was
+back, standing before her, calm and cold as an iceberg. She held in
+her hand the picture of Edward Percy, with the face turned away, and
+this she extended to Madeline.
+
+"It is best that we make no mistakes," she said, quietly; "go show
+that to Olive. Don't tell her how it came into your possession; ask
+her if it is he. Then come back to me."
+
+"Shall I tell her--" began Madeline.
+
+"Tell her nothing until you have brought me back the picture."
+
+She pushed her toward the door.
+
+Madeline walked down-stairs, sorely puzzled, but thinking fast. "She
+fights these facts bravely," she muttered. "Does she doubt, I wonder?"
+
+Olive was sitting before the window, watching the movements of John,
+the gardener, when Madeline entered the parlor. Going straight to her,
+she placed the picture in her hand, and said:
+
+"Do you know that face?"
+
+Olive Girard gave a startled cry.
+
+"Madeline, how did you come by this?"
+
+"No matter," calmly; "do you know the picture?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"The man who sent my husband to prison--Percy."
+
+Madeline took the picture from her hand. "Are you sure?"
+
+"I could swear to the face after these five years."
+
+"Thank you, Olive. Now be patient; I must go back to my room for a
+little while. Don't ask me any questions yet. When I come down I will
+tell you how I obtained this, and why I have talked to you so much of
+this man."
+
+Madeline walked out of the room, leaving Olive staring after her in
+bewilderment.
+
+Claire was sitting in the same attitude as when she left her. "Well?"
+she said, raising her eyes.
+
+"She recognized it immediately. She would swear that it is the man who
+sent her husband to prison."
+
+"Thank you, dear."
+
+Claire took the picture from her hands, and without once glancing at
+it, she bent forward and dropped it into the grate.
+
+Madeline threw herself on her knees at the girl's side. "Oh, Claire,
+Claire! I have made you miserable; forgive me."
+
+"What for? You have done me a great service. Do you think I want that
+man's love?"
+
+"But Claire--"
+
+"I loved an ideal; that ideal, see;" pointing to the grate. "Do you
+think I shall cry after a pinch of ashes?" looking her full in the
+face. Then, with a shrug of annoyance. "You have roused poor Olive's
+curiosity; she must hear of this miserable discovery of ours, or
+yours--bah," stamping her foot angrily, "my pride is hurt more than my
+heart!"
+
+"Your pride need not suffer more than it does already, Claire. You
+have seen me humbled to the dust; see me so still; and surely it won't
+be so very bitter to think that poor Madeline knows that your sunny
+life has suffered one little shadow. I will tell Olive all I know of
+Edward Percy, save that you have ever seen him. The knowledge that he
+has crossed your path can in no way benefit her, or aid us in
+unmasking him. Evidently, he does not know that you are in any way
+connected with the fortunes of Philip Girard. Let this rest between
+us. If this plan suits you, perhaps I had better go and tell my
+story to Olive. I have twice postponed a revelation to-day."
+
+[Illustration: "She bent forward, and dropped it into the
+grate."--page 200.]
+
+"The plan does suit me. Many, many thanks, dear Madeline," said
+Claire, calmly and gently. "And now, as I must, of course, be supposed
+to first hear this story after it has been told to Olive, or at that
+time, I would prefer being present when you enlighten her. Let us
+dress for dinner, go down together, and--I leave the rest to your
+tact."
+
+Madeline could readily comprehend that it would be easier for Claire
+to sit, with Olive, a listener, than to wait and hear the story from
+the lips of her sister. If it were left to Olive to tell, Claire's
+face might betray her heart, perhaps. But now, hearing it from
+Madeline, and with Olive, whose surprise and dismay at the revelation
+would quite effectually cover up any signs of emotion Claire might
+manifest, the thing did not appear so difficult.
+
+Madeline signified her approval, and they separated to dress for
+dinner.
+
+Claire Keith made her toilet with swift, firm fingers, and all the
+while she was thinking fiercely, scornfully. She was not stunned by
+the blow that had stricken her love and her pride. Rather, it seemed,
+she was quickened into unusual activity and clearness of thought.
+
+After a time, perhaps, she would feel more the sadness, the cruelty,
+of the hurt; now she felt the outrage to her pride, and a fierce
+self-scorn that she could have ever loved a man so base. She hated
+Edward Percy for having deceived her, and equally she despised herself
+for having been thus deceived by this specious flatterer.
+
+"You little fool!" she scoffed at her image reflected back from her
+mirror. "You are a very idiot among idiots! I wonder where are all
+your high notions now. So," giving her hair an angry jerk, "you
+perched yourself aloft on a pinnacle, didn't you? You looked down upon
+all your sisterhood who were deceived, or betrayed, or sorrowing; and
+you wondered how women could be so weak; how they _could_ be deluded
+by base men. You looked upon poor dead Kitty, and wondered what was
+the flaw in her intellect that made her the slave of a gambler and a
+villain. You argued that only an unsophisticated school girl could be
+deceived as was poor Madeline. Oh, you have been very proud, and very
+high has been your standard of manly worth, Miss Claire Keith! So high
+that the man who has occupied it might easily slip from that pedestal
+to--Haman's gallows!"
+
+At this point in her tirade, something suspiciously like a sob arose
+in her throat, and checked her utterance. But it did not retard her
+activity, and in a much shorter time than she usually spent upon an
+evening toilet, Miss Keith stood, accoutered and defiantly calm, at
+Madeline's door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+A DUAL RENUNCIATION.
+
+
+Madeline Payne had lingered over her toilet, pondering the
+incomprehensible manner of Claire Keith. She now stood before her
+mirror, brush in hand, thinking.
+
+"Not ready yet?"
+
+If Madeline could believe her eyes, Claire was actually smiling!
+
+"I thought you would be waiting for me," continued Claire, composedly,
+pulling a big chair forward, and sitting down where she could look
+full in Madeline's face. "But it is just as well; there is something
+that I want to say, before we go down. Why don't you go on with your
+hair?"
+
+Madeline's hand, brush and all, had dropped to her side, and she was
+silently staring at her friend. Without a word she resumed her
+employment, looking more at Claire than at her own reflected image.
+
+"You guessed rightly, when you accused me of having seen Mr. Percy
+to-day," pursued Claire.
+
+"Accused, Claire?"
+
+"Well, informed, then. I did see him. He wrote me a letter; it was
+posted at Bellair; you see," smiling bitterly; "that I have no reason
+for doubting anything you have told me."
+
+A new light broke over Madeline's face. "Do you doubt?" she asked,
+quickly.
+
+"Not one word!"
+
+"Oh!" drawing a breath of relief. "You were so composed I thought--"
+
+"That I was hoping to disprove your statements? Not at all. And why
+should I not be composed? Do you think my heart could break for such a
+man?"
+
+"Hearts don't break so easily," said Madeline, gloomily, "but they
+ache sometimes."
+
+"Do they?" placing her hand over her heart and smiling faintly. "Well,
+mine don't ache either, yet; but it burns."
+
+Madeline stayed her brush again. "No," she murmured, "it don't ache
+_yet_."
+
+Claire made a gesture of impatience. "Oh, I know what you mean,
+Madeline! By and by my heart will ache, of course--I know that, having
+discovered, quite recently, that I am human. One can't feel outraged
+and angry always, and sometimes, I suppose, my day-dreams will come
+back and haunt me. Well, that is a part of the price we have to pay
+for intruding into dreamland when we are not asleep. But this is not
+what I began to say. Edward Percy met me to-day, and this is what he
+told me: He said he was going away, upon some geological expedition,
+and would most likely be gone a year. He wanted me to promise to hold
+myself free until he could return and claim me. He would exact no
+other promise now, only pledging himself. At the end of a year, all
+obstacles to our open engagement would be removed. I, of course,
+supposed, then, that the 'obstacles' referred to, were business and
+financial ones. Don't think, Madeline, that we have been in the habit
+of meeting clandestinely. He visited me openly in Baltimore, but not
+often enough to excite remark; and we frequently met at other places,
+as he went in the best society there."
+
+Claire paused, but Madeline went on with her toilet in grave silence.
+
+"Madeline, darling, I can't thank you enough for opening my eyes
+before it was too late, while it was no worse--and I can't explain my
+feelings. I despise him, and I despise myself for being thus duped. It
+is my pride that is suffering now but, of course, I know that, despise
+the man as I may, my heart will be heavier and my life darker, because
+of what I believed him to be. Now let us go to Olive."
+
+Madeline Payne threw her arms impulsively about her friend and
+murmured, brokenly:--"Claire, Claire! you are braver than I, and far,
+far more worthy. You have a right to be happy, and you shall be."
+
+And in that moment the girl renounced a resolve she had taken, and a
+hope she had cherished.
+
+As they descended the stairs together Claire fancied that she looked
+paler, and a thought sadder than before.
+
+They found Olive and dinner waiting. As they took their places about
+the luxury-laden board, three lovelier women or three sadder hearts
+could not have been found in a day's journey.
+
+Of the three, Claire Keith was the calmest, the most self-possessed.
+All that was to be related by Madeline, all that Olive was waiting in
+anxious expectation to hear, she knew already. The best and the worst
+had been revealed to her; her own course was clear before her. So she
+ate her dinner with composure, and bore a large share in the table
+talk that, but for her, would have been rather vague and spasmodic.
+
+Dinner was an ordeal for Olive, at least, on that day, for her mind
+was filled with thoughts of Philip, and wonderment as to how the
+picture of the man who had been his ruin came into the possession of
+Madeline, who was making herself more and more of a mystery.
+
+Madeline, too, was restless. She wished the revelation were made and
+done with. She wondered if she could control the future so far as
+Olive was concerned, for she had made her plans, and did not propose
+to let the work be taken out of her hands.
+
+When Madeline had related to Olive the events that had been
+transpiring at Oakley, she had narrated faithfully the scenes between
+Cora and Percy, but she had withheld the name of the latter, a fact
+which was not even noticed by Olive, who had not been especially
+interested in this last actor upon the scene.
+
+Now, when dinner was over, and they had grouped themselves about the
+grate, its ruddy glow illuminating the twilight that was fast giving
+place to evening shadows, Madeline retold the story of Percy's first
+interview with Cora on his arrival, and his second, in the
+summer-house, the overhearing of which had caused that long absence
+from Miss Arthur's dressing-room, which necessitated her ingenious and
+highly improbable explanation to the aggrieved spinster, with which
+the reader is already acquainted.
+
+During this recital the face of Olive Girard was a study. It changed
+from curiosity to wonder; from wonder to a dawning hopefulness of
+finding in all this a possible clue, that might help her husband to
+his freedom. Then despair took the place of hope, as the clue seemed
+to elude her grasp. At the end, astonishment and incredulity fairly
+took away her breath. She sank back in her chair without uttering a
+word.
+
+Madeline waited for comments, but Claire was the first to speak.
+During the recital she had been able to think, and to some purpose. As
+the disjointed fragments were joined together by Madeline, Claire was
+drawing shrewd and close inferences. Now she lifted her head and
+asked:
+
+"Madeline, have you formed any sort of a theory, as to how all this
+might affect Olive and Philip?"
+
+Madeline looked up in surprise at the question, and answered it by
+asking another: "Have you?"
+
+"Yes, but I think Olive would rather hear yours; and mine is, as yet,
+but half formed."
+
+Olive had regained a measure of her composure, and now she sat erect,
+and said, eagerly:
+
+"Madeline, I have been too much surprised and shocked to think
+clearly. Think for me, child, and for mercy's sake, tell me at once
+all that you suspect."
+
+"I suspect much," replied the girl, gravely; "but what we want is
+_proof_. First we want to find out who is the party who accompanied
+Madame Cora, or Alice, as Percy called her, to Europe, for to Europe
+she went. Did she know Lucian Davlin ten years ago? Did they go
+together to Europe?"
+
+"You want to know, first of all," said Claire, interrupting her, "when
+the intimacy of those two did begin. The woman may not have known him
+ten years ago. It would be easier to find out if they have been allies
+during the past five years."
+
+Madeline turned a look of surprised admiration upon the speaker as she
+replied:
+
+"You are right, Claire, and keener than I. Yet, my theory is, that
+they were friends before the woman fled from her cottage in the
+suburbs. I think the stealing of the marriage certificate has a strong
+savor of a man's thoughtful cunning. The woman could not have been so
+deep a schemer in those days. Now, Olive, let us suppose that these
+two were plotting in unison. Edward Percy's first wife dies, and no
+one the wiser about the marriage. Then he inherits his uncle's wealth.
+If Edward Percy were to die then, the woman, Cora, could come forward
+as his widow, display the proofs of their marriage, and inherit his
+fortune. He seems to have no living relatives, but, even should other
+heirs appear, she would claim her widow's portion."
+
+"Good heavens!" gasped Olive.
+
+"Wait," pursued Madeline; "now, don't you see, supposing all the rest
+true, that if Lucian Davlin attempted the life of this man, with the
+view of getting his money, and if he failed in some manner
+unknown,--don't you see that, holding over Percy's head the fear of
+the law, and the proofs of his having committed bigamy, he might thus
+silence him? Then, that the two disliking Philip Girard, and finding
+the opportunity to throw suspicion upon him by circumstantial
+evidence, would naturally do so."
+
+Olive Girard was fearfully agitated, but, after a few moments, had in
+a measure recovered her self-possession. Then the three seemed seized
+with a desire to talk all at once. And talk they did,--fast,
+earnestly, excitedly at times.
+
+At last, out of many words, they evolved a plan of action, and having
+arrived at a definite conclusion, they settled down into partial calm
+once more; a calm that was broken by a most agreeable ripple.
+
+Doctor Clarence Vaughan was announced, and ushered into their
+presence, all in the same moment.
+
+Doctor Vaughan was glad to see Madeline; that was evident. But while
+he expressed his pleasure in frank, brotherly fashion, his eyes
+wandered from her face to that of Claire Keith.
+
+It was only a look, but Madeline Payne would have exchanged all the
+smiles, hand clasps, and brotherly words she could ever hope to
+receive from him, for one such glance from his eyes. But the tender
+wistfulness was all for Claire--blind Claire, who saw nothing of it.
+
+Madeline withdrew her hand from his clasp, uttering, as she did so, a
+flippant commonplace in response to his hearty greeting, but Claire
+had caught the look in his eyes, and the false gayety in Madeline's
+voice, and it caused her to wonder.
+
+Heretofore she had lived in a dream of her own, and had been careless
+of the varying expressions of those about her. Her dream had been
+dispelled, and she seemed now to have a keener eye for the emotion of
+others. Troubles of our own, sometimes, open our eyes to the fact that
+our friends are not all supremely happy. Then we naturally fall to
+speculating as to the cause. This was the case with Claire. She
+speculated a little as to why the eyes of Dr. Vaughan rested upon her,
+with that half-sad expression in them. Then she wondered why the
+spirit of perversity had possessed Madeline, and induced her to extend
+to Doctor Vaughan so shabby a welcome. Then, without realizing it, she
+fell to observing the manner of these two more closely.
+
+"Well, Miss Payne, what report do you bring from the enemy's country?"
+he asked, after a few commonplaces between himself and the mistress of
+the house.
+
+"I have not been in the enemy's country, Doctor Vaughan; the enemies
+are infesting mine."
+
+"As you please, little warrior," smiled he. "Then may I ask, how goes
+the battle?"
+
+"Oh, yes! you may ask," crossing over and seating herself beside
+Olive, "but your curiosity must wait. It's a ridiculous, tiresome
+story, and wouldn't amuse you much, or interest you, either. I am
+going to let Mrs. Girard inflict it upon you, when she thinks you need
+a penance."
+
+"I think _you_ need a penance now, Miss Payne, for accusing me of too
+much curiosity, and too little interest."
+
+"Oh, I didn't mean that, exactly," shrugging her shoulders carelessly.
+"I suppose, of course, a physician is interested to a certain extent
+in all his subjects, living or dead; but I can't let you dissect my
+mind to-night. Besides," laughing maliciously, "I know you would
+recommend leeches and blisters, and maybe a straight jacket, and I
+can't be stopped in my charming career just yet."
+
+Clarence Vaughan seemed not in the least offended by the girl's cool
+insolence. He smiled indulgently, and when Olive ventured a gentle
+remonstrance, he murmured to Claire, with a half laugh: "Miss Madeline
+is incomprehensible to me; do you understand her, Miss Keith?"
+
+[Illustration: "Dr. Vaughan was ushered into their presence."--page
+209.]
+
+And Claire, looking across at her friend, replied, oddly: "I love
+her, Doctor Vaughan, and I begin to understand her, I think."
+
+"Do you?" smiling down upon her. "Then some day will you not interpret
+her to me?"
+
+Claire's answer was again given oddly, as, lifting her eyes to his
+face, she said, quite gravely: "If it is necessary to do so, perhaps I
+will."
+
+Then conversation became general; rather Dr. Vaughan talked, and they
+all listened.
+
+Claire found herself thinking that Doctor Vaughan was a noble-looking
+man; not alluringly handsome, as was Edward Percy; not possessing the
+magnetic fascination that Madeline had described as belonging to
+Lucian Davlin. But he had a fine face, nay, a grand face, full of
+strength and sweetness; not devoid of beauty, but having in it
+something infinitely better, truer, and more godlike than mere
+physical beauty can impart to any face.
+
+Then she thought of Madeline, of her loneliness, her sorrow, and her
+need of just such a strong, gentle nature to lean upon, to look up to,
+and to obey. "She would obey _him_," quoth Claire to herself.
+
+Next she fell to watching Madeline, through half-closed eyelashes. She
+saw how the girl listened to his every word; how, when his eyes were
+not upon her, she seemed to devour him with a hungry, longing,
+sorrowful gaze.
+
+"As if she were taking leave of him forever," thought Claire.
+
+And that is what Madeline was doing. When she came to the city, it was
+with the determination to win the love of this man, if it could be
+won; to let nothing stand between herself and the fulfillment of that
+purpose. But all this had been changed, and seeing how bravely Claire
+bore the shock of her lover's baseness, how proudly, how nobly, she
+commanded herself, Madeline had abandoned her purpose.
+
+"I am not worthy of him, and she is," she told herself.
+
+When she declared that Claire should be happy, she bade farewell to
+her own hope of future happiness. She would help him to win the girl
+he loved, and then she would be content to die; aye, more than
+content.
+
+To-night, therefore, she was saying in her heart a farewell to this
+man, who was so dear to her. She had almost hoped that she should not
+meet him again for the present, and yet she was so glad to have seen
+him once more. She was glad of his presence, yet fearful lest her good
+resolution might be shaken. She would not let him be too kind to her,
+rather let him think her ungrateful, anything--what could it matter
+now?
+
+"Shall you not come back to the city soon, Miss Payne? Surely your old
+home can not be the most charming place, in your eyes," questioned
+Clarence, after a time.
+
+"I don't intend returning to the city--at least, not for some time,
+Doctor Vaughan."
+
+Clarence looked perplexed.
+
+To break the silence that ensued, Claire crossed to the piano and
+began playing soft, dreamy fragments of melody.
+
+Presently Olive took up the conversation, and when Madeline again
+turned her face toward him, he was listening to Olive and looking at
+Claire. It was the same look, yearning, tender.
+
+Claire, all unconscious of his gaze, was looking at Madeline, as she
+played softly on.
+
+As Olive and Clarence talked, Claire saw the face of the girl grow
+dark; she saw her eyes full of a hungry, despairing light, and
+gradually there crept upon her the remembrance that she had seen that
+same look, only not so woful, in the eyes of Clarence Vaughan; that
+same look fixed upon herself. Involuntarily her fingers slipped from
+the keys, and she turned from the instrument to encounter the same
+gaze fastened upon her now; ardent, tender, longing eyes they were,
+and her own fell before them.
+
+Claire Keith was troubled. She wanted to be alone, to think. She
+murmured an excuse; her head ached; she would retire.
+
+Clarence had noted an unusual brightness in her eye, and a feverish
+flush upon her cheek. Now, however, she was quite pale, and as she
+extended her hand to him with a strange, new sensation of diffidence
+and consciousness, he clasped it for a moment in his own, and said,
+earnestly: "You do not look at all well, Miss Keith; you are sure it
+is only a headache?"
+
+"Quite sure," smiling faintly.
+
+"Then good-night. I shall enquire after your head to-morrow."
+
+"Thank you," she murmured.
+
+Then nodding to her sister and Madeline, she glided from the room.
+
+It had _all_ come upon her at once. Edward Percy was an impostor;
+Edward Percy, as she had believed in him, had never existed. The love
+that she had believed hers was hers no longer, or, if it were, she no
+longer desired it. Almost simultaneously with this knowledge, came the
+unspoken assurance that she was the possessor of a worthier love, a
+manlier heart.
+
+She could not feel glad to know this, yet she was not sorry. Somehow
+it soothed her to know that she was not a forsaken, loveless maiden.
+It was something to possess the love of so good a man, even if she
+could make it no return.
+
+But Madeline. Poor Madeline; she loved this man; she needed his love,
+she must have it.
+
+Claire pulled back the curtains from her window, and gazed out into
+the starlit night. "She needs this love," the girl murmured. "Clarence
+Vaughan shall learn to love her, if I can bring it about. Yes, _even
+if I loved him_, I would give him up to her."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+STRUGGLING AGAINST FATE.
+
+
+When Claire left the drawing-room, Madeline had started up as if about
+to follow her. Recalling herself, she sat down again, keeping, as
+before, near to Olive, and taking as little share in the conversation
+as was possible. She dared not trust herself too much; her good
+resolves were strong, but not stronger than was the charm of his voice
+and presence.
+
+"Let them think me uncivil," she murmured to herself; "what does it
+matter now?"
+
+But her trial was not over. Olive and Clarence had held frequent
+council together concerning the wayward girl, and how they could best
+influence her aright without breaking the letter or spirit of their
+promise to her. And the absence of Claire added to their freedom of
+speech.
+
+Olive had intimated to Doctor Vaughan that Madeline had taken some,
+perhaps unsafe, steps in the pursuit of her enemies. He, understanding
+the impetuosity of the girl, as well as her reckless fearlessness,
+could not conceal the anxiety he felt.
+
+Acting under an impulse of disinterested kindness, Clarence Vaughan
+crossed the room and sat down by Madeline's side.
+
+"Miss Madeline," he said, as respectfully as if to an empress, "we,
+Mrs. Girard and myself, cannot get rid of the idea that somehow you
+partly belong to us; that we ought to be given a little, just a very
+little, authority over you."
+
+There was a shade of bitterness in the girl's answer. "You have the
+_right_ to exercise authority over me, if you choose to do so. You are
+my benefactors."
+
+They felt the reproof of her words. This keen-witted, uncontrollable
+girl, was putting up barrier upon barrier between herself and their
+desire to serve her. Very quietly he answered her:
+
+"You do us an injustice, when you suggest that we claim your
+confidence on the score of any indebtedness on your part. It has been
+our happiness to serve you. If we have not your esteem, if we may not
+stand toward you in the light of a brother and sister, anxious only
+for your welfare and happiness, then we have no claim upon you."
+
+"My happiness!"
+
+The face was averted, but the lips were pale and drawn, and the words
+came through them like a moan.
+
+Olive stirred uneasily. She could see that the girl was suffering,
+although she did not guess at the cause.
+
+"Yes," continued Clarence, laying his hand gently upon hers;
+"Madeline,--will you let me call you Madeline?--will you let me be
+your brother? I have no sister, almost no kin; I won't be an exacting
+brother," smilingly. "I won't overstep the limits you set me, but we
+must have done with this nonsense about benefactors, and gratitude,
+and all that."
+
+No answer, eyes down dropped, face still half-averted, and looking as
+if hardening into marble.
+
+"What is my fate?" still holding her hand. "Can you accept so unworthy
+a brother?"
+
+"Yes," in such a cold, far-away tone.
+
+He lifted the hand to his lips. "Thank you, Madeline," he said, as if
+she had done him high honor.
+
+Madeline felt her courage failing her. How could she listen to him,
+talk to him, with anything like sisterly freedom, and not prove false
+to her resolve to further his cause with Claire? And yet how could she
+refuse him the trust he asked of her?
+
+It was very pleasant to know that he was thus interested in her; she
+felt herself slipping quickly into a day-dream in which nothing was
+distinct save that there existed a bond between them, that he had
+claimed the right to exercise authority over her, and that she was
+very, very glad even to be his slave. Listening to his voice, a smile
+crept to her lips, and--
+
+                "The eyes smiled too,
+    But 'twas as if remembering they had wept,
+    And knowing they would some day weep again."
+
+"I don't intend to give up my claims upon Madeline; I elected her my
+sister, when I brought her home with me. And I had been flattering
+myself that I was to have a companion, but I am afraid she will run
+away from me. She ought to take Claire's place in my home, ought she
+not? Claire is with me so little," said Olive.
+
+Madeline smiled sadly. "I could never do that," she said; "I could no
+more fill Claire's place than I could substitute myself for the rays
+of the sun."
+
+"Claire would laugh at you for that speech," said Olive.
+
+"But it is true; is it not?" appealing to Doctor Vaughan.
+
+He colored slightly under her gaze. "We don't want two Claires," he
+said; "but you can be yourself, and that will make us happy."
+
+The girl let her eyes fall, and rest upon her clasped hands.
+
+"I would like to make you happy," she said, softly.
+
+"Really?"
+
+"Really," lifting her eyes to his face.
+
+"Then, promise us that you will let us help to right your wrongs, and
+that you will come back, like a good sister, and stay with Mrs.
+Girard."
+
+Her face hardened. "I can not," she said, briefly.
+
+"You will not," seriously.
+
+No answer.
+
+"Madeline, what is it you wish to do?"
+
+"What I wish to do, I can not. I can tell you what I intend to do,"
+sitting very erect.
+
+"Then what do you intend?"
+
+"I intend," turning her eyes away from them both, and fixing them
+moodily upon the fire, "to follow up the path in which I have set my
+feet. I intend to oust a base adventuress from the home that was my
+mother's; to wrest the fortune that is mine from the grasp of a bad
+old man, and make him suffer for the wrong he did my mother. I intend
+to laugh at Lucian Davlin, when he is safe behind prison bars; to hunt
+down and frustrate an impostor, and by so doing, clear the name of
+Philip Girard before all the world." Her voice was low, but very firm,
+dogged almost, in its tone.
+
+He turned a perplexed face toward Olive.
+
+"What does it all mean?" he asked.
+
+"What she says," replied Mrs. Girard, flushing with suppressed
+excitement. "She has found a clue that may lead to Philip's release."
+
+He moved nearer to the girl, and taking her hand, drew her toward him,
+until she faced him. "Madeline, is this true?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will hold me to a promise not to lift a hand to help clear
+the name of my friend?" reproachfully.
+
+"Yes," unflinchingly.
+
+"Are you doing right, my sister?"
+
+She attempted to draw away her hand.
+
+"Child, what can you do?"
+
+She turned her eyes toward Olive. "She will tell you what I have done.
+I can do much more."
+
+Olive came suddenly to her side. "Oh, Madeline!" she said, "let him
+take all this into his hands. It is not fit work for you. It will
+harden you, make you bitter, and--"
+
+Madeline wrested her hand away and sprang up, standing before them
+flushed and goaded into bitterness.
+
+"Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say it. It will harden
+me; it has already. It will make me bitter and bad, unfit for your
+society, unworthy of your friendship. I shall be a liar, a spy, a
+hypocrite--but I shall succeed. You see, you were wrong in offering me
+your friendship, Doctor Vaughan. I shall not be worthy to be called
+your sister, but," brokenly, "you need not have feared. I never
+intended to presume upon your friendship; I never intended to trouble
+you after--after my work is done. Ah! how dared I think to become one
+of you--I, whom you rescued from a gambler's den; I who go about
+disguised, and play the servant to people whom you would not touch.
+You are right; after this I will go my way alone."
+
+Her voice became inarticulate, the last word was a sob, and she turned
+swiftly to leave the room.
+
+Olive sprang forward with a remorseful cry, but Clarence Vaughan
+motioned her back, and with a quick stride was at the door, one hand
+upon it, the other firmly clasping the wrist of the now sobbing girl.
+Closing the door, which she had partially opened, he led her back,
+very gently, but firmly, and placing her in a chair, stood beside her
+until the sobs ceased. Then he drew a chair close to her own, and
+said, softly:
+
+"My little sister, we never meant this. These are your own morbid
+fancies. Because you are playing the part of amateur detective, you
+are not necessarily cut off from all your friends. We would not give
+you up so easily, and there is too much that is good and noble in you
+to render your position so very dangerous to your womanhood. You have
+grieved Mrs. Girard deeply by imputing any such meaning to her words.
+Can't you understand, child, that it is because we care for you,
+because we want to shield you from the hardships you must of necessity
+undergo, that we wish you to let us work with and for you?"
+
+Madeline shivered and gave a long, sobbing sigh. He took both listless
+hands in his own.
+
+"Now, sister mine, won't you make me a promise, just one?"
+
+Her hands trembled under his. How could she resist him when his
+strong, firm clasp was upon her; when he was looking into her eyes
+pleadingly, even tenderly; when his breath was on her cheek, and his
+voice murmured in her ear? She sat before him, contrite, conquered,
+strangely happy; conscious of nothing save a wish that she might die
+then and there, with her hands in his. She was afraid to speak and
+break the spell. He had said that he cared for her, was not that
+enough?
+
+"Tell me, Madeline."
+
+"Yes," she breathed, rather than uttered.
+
+[Illustration: "Yes," she cried, wildly, "I know; you need not say
+it"--page 219.]
+
+"Thank you. Now, sister, we are going to trust to your sagacity in
+this matter. But you must promise me, as your brother, who is bound to
+look after your welfare, that you will take no decisive steps without
+first informing us, and that as soon as the work becomes too heavy for
+your hands, you will call upon me to help you. My sister will surely
+do nothing that her brother cannot sanction?"
+
+She dropped her eyes and said, simply: "I will do what you wish me
+to."
+
+"You will give me your confidence, then?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Am I to hear a complete history of all that has happened thus far
+from Mrs. Girard?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And, after hearing it, may I communicate with you?"
+
+She glanced up in surprise.
+
+"Or," continued he; "better still, may I come down to Bellair and talk
+things over with you, should I deem it advisable?"
+
+"If you wish;" looking glad.
+
+"Mind, I don't want to intrude; I will not come if you don't desire
+it; but I shall wish to come. And you may manage our interviews as you
+see fit. I will do nothing to compromise you in the eyes of the people
+you are among. May I come?"
+
+"Yes;" very softly, and trembling under his hand.
+
+"Then we will say no more about all this to-night. You have already
+abused your strength, and if you don't get rest and sleep we shall
+have you ill again, and then what would become of our little
+detective?"
+
+Olive came forward with outstretched hands and pleading eyes. "I can't
+wait any longer to be forgiven for my thoughtless words," she said.
+"Madeline, you will forgive me?"
+
+"Of course Madeline will," replied Clarence. "Now you had better
+forgive Madeline for putting such a perverse construction upon your
+words, and then we will send her away to get the rest she must have."
+
+"I was abominable, Olive," said the girl, so ruefully that Clarence
+laughed outright. "Of course, I know you are too kind to say a cruel
+thing. I--I believe I was trying to quarrel with you all; do forgive
+me."
+
+"Of course you were trying to quarrel with us; and I haven't a bit of
+faith in your penitence now, young lady," said Clarence, rising and
+smiling. "I can't believe in you until I am assured that you will go
+to bed straightway, and swallow every bit of the wine I shall send up
+to you."
+
+"With something nice in it," suggested Olive.
+
+"With something very nice in it, of course. Now, will you obey so
+tyrannical a brother, and swallow his first brotherly prescription
+without making a face?"
+
+All his kindness and care for her comfort brought a thrill of gladness
+to the girl's heart, and some of the old _debonnaire_, half-defiant
+light back to her eyes, as she replied, while rising from her chair,
+in obedience to a gesture of playful authority from Clarence, "Will I
+accept a scolding and go to bed, that means."
+
+Then making a wry face and evidently referring to the wine: "Is it
+very bitter?"
+
+"Not very; but you must swallow every drop."
+
+"And I will order the wine," said Olive, touching the bell. "You know,
+Dr. Vaughan, that Madeline leaves us in the morning?"
+
+"No?" in surprise. "Must you go so soon?"
+
+"Yes," demurely, "unless I am forbidden."
+
+"We are too wise to forbid you to do anything you have set your heart
+on. Then I must tell you good-by here and now, for a little time."
+
+"Or a long one," gravely.
+
+"Not for a long one. 'If the mountain won't come,' you know;--well, if
+I don't get _very_ satisfactory reports from you, look out for me."
+
+"You can't get at me," wickedly.
+
+"Can't I? Wait and see. I'll come as your grandfather, or your maiden
+aunt."
+
+"Please don't," laughing, "one spinster is enough."
+
+"Well, I won't, then; I think I'll come as your father confessor."
+
+At this Olive joined in the laugh.
+
+"Good-night, Dr. Vaughan."
+
+"Good-night, Miss Payne," with exaggerated emphasis and dignity, but
+holding fast to her hand.
+
+She looked at the hand doubtfully, then up into his face.
+"Good-night--brother," with pretty shyness.
+
+"That is better," releasing the little hand. "Good-night, sister mine.
+Mind you drink every drop of the wine."
+
+"I will!" quite seriously. "Good-night, Olive."
+
+Olive stooped and kissed her cheek. "Good-night, dear," she said, "and
+happy dreams."
+
+Dr. Vaughan opened the door for her, and smiled after her as she
+looked back from the foot of the stairs. Then closing the door he came
+back, and stood on the hearth-rug, looking thoughtful.
+
+"It is a difficult nature to deal with, and in her present mood, a
+dangerous one. She is painfully sensitive, and possesses an
+exceedingly nervous temperament. Then, that episode with Davlin was
+very humiliating to her, and it is constantly in her mind. Evidently
+she has lately been under much excitement, and she is hardly herself
+to-night. I think, however, if I were you, I would make no further
+effort to dissuade her from her purpose. It will do no good, and harm
+might come of it."
+
+"Indeed, I will not," said Olive. "How thankful I am that you were
+here; your calmness and tact has saved us something not pleasant. I
+don't think I could have managed her myself."
+
+"Probably not; and now I will prepare a soothing and sleeping draught,
+and then, as it is late, will detain you no longer. Perhaps you had
+better see that the draught is administered."
+
+Olive gladly accepted the charge, and shortly after Doctor Vaughan
+took his departure, wise and yet blind; blind as to the true cause of
+Madeline's outbreak and subsequent submissiveness.
+
+Madeline obeyed to the letter the instructions of Doctor Vaughan. As a
+result, she fell asleep almost immediately, before calm thought had
+come to dispel her mood of dreamy happiness.
+
+In the morning she awoke quieted, refreshed, and quite mistress of
+herself. She did not once refer to the events of the previous evening.
+Only, before taking leave of Claire, she whispered in her ear:
+
+"Dear Claire, you can make a noble man happy. Let his love atone to
+you for this present bitterness. God bless you both."
+
+It was an odd speech, truly. But as Madeline turned her back upon the
+pretty villa, and was driven swiftly to the railroad depot, she
+wondered why Claire had responded to it only with a passionate kiss
+and with tears in her beautiful eyes.
+
+And Claire, having seen her driven from the door, fled precipitately
+to her room. Locking herself in, she fell upon her knees beside a low
+chair. Burying her face in her hands she wept bitterly,--not for
+herself, but for the girl who was so heroically resigning to another
+the man she loved; who was going forth, alone, to encounter hardship,
+perhaps danger, to fight single-handed, not only her own battles, but
+those of her friends as well.
+
+"And I dared to judge her," said the girl, indignantly. "I presumed to
+criticise the delicacy of this grand, brave nature! Why, I ought to be
+proud to claim her friendship, and I am!"
+
+From that hour, let Madeline's course seem ever so doubtful, let Olive
+fear and doubt as she would, Claire Keith stoutly defended every act,
+and averred that Madeline could do nothing wrong. And from that hour,
+Claire began to plot upon her own responsibility.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In due course Doctor Vaughan called, and was closeted with Olive a
+very long time--rather, with Olive and Claire, for this young lady had
+surprised her sister, by expressing a desire to hear what Doctor
+Vaughan would say of Madeline's adventures. To tell the truth, Claire
+had fancied that Clarence would criticise more or less, and it was in
+the capacity of champion for the absent that she appeared at the
+interview.
+
+After the matter had been fully discussed, Doctor Vaughan addressed
+himself to Claire: "Miss Keith, you have been a good listener. Won't
+you give us your opinion as to the achievements of our little friend?"
+
+Claire came forward, with a charming mixture of frankness and
+embarrassment: "First, let me make the _amende honorable_, Doctor
+Vaughan. I presented myself at this interview with the full intention,
+and for the express purpose, of waging war upon you both, if
+necessary, and I had no doubt that it would be."
+
+Doctor Vaughan looked much astonished.
+
+"But," pursued Claire, "I have misjudged you. I did not think you
+would so heartily approve of Madeline's course, and I was bristling
+with bayonets to defend her."
+
+"I must own to being of Claire's opinion," interposed Olive, looking
+somewhat amused.
+
+Clarence smiled and then looked thoughtful.
+
+"I can easily understand," he said, seriously, "how you ladies might
+have looked upon the course Miss Payne has taken, as an objectionable,
+even an improper, one. The position in which she has placed herself
+is, certainly, an unusual, a startling one for a woman of refinement
+and delicacy. But we must consider that the occasion is also an
+unusual one, and ordinary measures will not apply successfully to
+extraordinary cases. As to the impropriety, no one need fear to trust
+his or her honor in the keeping of a woman as brave and noble as
+Madeline Payne is proving herself."
+
+"Then you do not censure Madeline for refusing to trust the matter in
+the hands of a detective?" questioned Olive.
+
+"The matter _is_ in the hands of a detective, Mrs. Girard; in the
+hands of the shrewdest and ablest little detective that could, by any
+possibility, have been found. Why, Madeline has accomplished, in a
+short time, what the best detectives on our regular force might have
+labored at for a year, and then failed of achieving!"
+
+Claire threw a look of triumph at her sister. "Oh, how glad I am to
+hear you say all this, and how glad Madeline would be." Then she
+checked herself suddenly.
+
+"I can suggest but one improvement upon the present state of things,"
+said Clarence, after a moment's reflection. "That is, if we can
+persuade Madeline to permit it, and I think we can, we should set two
+men at work, neither one to be aware of the employment of the other.
+One to trace out as much of the past of this man Percy, as may be. The
+other to perform the same office for Davlin. Of course, they would not
+be advised of the actual reason for these researches, and so their
+investigations would in no way interfere with Madeline's pursuit of
+the game at Oakley. I don't think we could improve upon the present
+arrangement there."
+
+"And how do you propose to bring this about?" questioned Olive.
+
+"By going down to Bellair, as soon as I can get the necessary
+permission from our little _generalissimo_, and talking the matter
+over with her. I think she will see the propriety of the move, don't
+you?" appealing to Claire.
+
+"I think she will follow your advice," gravely.
+
+"I hope she will," said Olive.
+
+"I _know_ she will do exactly right," asserted Claire, so positively
+that they both smiled.
+
+"I think I may venture to agree with you, Miss Keith," said Dr.
+Vaughan.
+
+"You had better, both of you, where Madeline is concerned," looking
+ferocious.
+
+"I begin to think that valor is infectious," laughed Olive, and
+Clarence joined in the laugh.
+
+Altogether the result of their council was pleasing to each of the
+three. Olive was hopeful; Clarence was full of enthusiasm, and more
+deeply in love than ever with generous Claire; and she was pleased
+with his frank admiration of Madeline's courage, and full of hope for
+Madeline's future.
+
+"He admires her now. He will love her by and by," she assured herself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+HAGAR AND CORA.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Lucian Davlin had hastened to Bellair in response to Cora's
+summons, full of conjectures as to what had "turned up."
+
+When the noon train from the city puffed up to the little platform,
+Lucian Davlin was among the arrivals, and at the end of the depot
+platform stood the dainty phaeton of Mrs. John Arthur. That lady
+herself reined in her prancing ponies, and the whole formed an object
+of admiration for the few depot loungers.
+
+As Lucian Davlin crossed the platform and took his seat beside the
+lady, an old woman hobbled across the track. Casting a furtive glance
+in the direction the ponies were taking, she hobbled away toward the
+wood.
+
+Miss Arthur's maid had surmised aright. It was no part of Cora's plan
+to permit the inmates of Oakley a view of Mr. Davlin on this occasion.
+So the ponies were driven briskly away from the town, and when that
+was left behind, permitted to walk through the almost leafless woods,
+while Cora revealed to Lucian the extent of the fresh calamity that
+had befallen them in the advent of Mr. Percy.
+
+"Well, what have you to say to all this?" demanded the lady,
+pettishly, after she had disburdened herself of the story, with its
+most minute particulars. "This is a pretty state of affairs, is it
+not? I am worn out. I wish Oakley and the whole tribe were at the
+bottom of the sea!"
+
+"Stuff!" with much coolness; then taking a flask containing some amber
+liquid from a breast pocket he held it between his eyes and the light
+for critical examination.
+
+"Stuff? where? In that flask?"
+
+"No, in your words. This," shaking the amber liquid, "is simon pure;
+best French. Have some? I felt as if I needed a 'bracer' this
+morning."
+
+"Up all night, I presume," eyeing him askant.
+
+"Pretty much;" indifferently. "Won't take any? Then, here's confusion
+to Percy," and he took a long draught. "Now, then," pocketing the
+brandy and turning toward her, briskly, "I'm ready for business. How
+the deuce did we let this fellow pounce down upon us like this? I
+thought he was safe in Cuba?"
+
+"He will never be safe anywhere, until he gets to--"
+
+"Heaven," suggested he.
+
+"I suppose it was stupid," she went on, gloomily. "But when Ellen
+Arthur raved of her dear friend Mr. Percy, how was I to imagine that
+among all the Percys on earth, this especial and particular one should
+be _the_ Percy. I wrote you that she had a lover of that name; did it
+occur to you that it might be he?" maliciously.
+
+"Well, candidly, it did not."
+
+"We were a pair of stupid fools, and we are finely caught for our
+pains."
+
+"First statement correct," composedly; "don't agree with the last,
+however."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Does he know I am on deck?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Didn't inquire after me, or say anything about the documents?"
+
+"No special inquiries."
+
+"Well, then, where is the great danger?"
+
+"Where?" much astonished.
+
+"Yes, where? If you told me all the truth concerning yourself ten
+years ago, we can make him play into our hands."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Don't go too fast. When you told me that he believed you to have left
+home because of an unkind step-mother, was that true?"
+
+"It was true. I did leave home and come to the city when I was but
+sixteen, because my father was a drunkard, and my step-mother abusive,
+and we were poor and I was proud."
+
+"Don't doubt that fact;" with an outward gesture of the supple hand.
+"But you told him that you had two big step-brothers!"
+
+Cora laughed. "A big brother is an excellent weapon to hold over the
+heads of some men," she suggested.
+
+"True," with an amused look. "Why didn't you brandish one over me?"
+
+"Over you?" laughing again. "You and Percy were two different men."
+
+"Much obliged," lifting his hat with mock gravity. "Well, we are 'two
+different men,' still; just let your pretty little head rest, and
+leave Percy to me."
+
+"I wish to Heaven you had made an end--"
+
+"'Ah-h-h. I have sighed to rest me,'" warbled Davlin. "Cora, my love,
+never put your foot on too dangerous ground."
+
+"Well, I do wish so, all the same," said she, with feminine
+pertinacity.
+
+"Now, tell me what your plan is. We want to understand each other, and
+have no more bungling."
+
+"All you will have to do will be to keep quiet and follow my cue. When
+I come down, we must manage it that I meet Percy in Miss Arthur's
+absence. The rest is easy; this Mr. Percy will not find his path free
+from obstacles, I think."
+
+"What game will you play?"
+
+"Precisely what I am playing now. I am your brother. That will explain
+some things that puzzled him some time ago," dryly. "I am your sole
+protector, saving the old chap, don't you see."
+
+The woman pondered a moment. "I think it will answer," she said, at
+last. "At any rate, it is the best we can do now."
+
+A little more conversation, and Cora was quite satisfied with that and
+other arrangements. Then the ponies were headed toward the village,
+and driven at a brisk pace, thus enabling Mr. Davlin to catch the
+afternoon train back to the city. No one at Oakley was any the wiser
+for his visit. It was no uncommon thing for Cora to drive out
+unattended, and she returned to the manor in a very good humor,
+considering the situation.
+
+Cora's drive had given her an appetite, and she had partaken of no
+luncheon. She therefore ordered a very bounteous one to be served in
+the red parlor. Mr. Arthur was enjoying his usual afternoon siesta;
+Miss Arthur was invisible, for which Cora felt duly thankful; and so
+she settled herself down to solitude, cold chicken and other edibles,
+and her own thoughts.
+
+Ever and anon she gazed listlessly from the window, letting her eyes
+rove from the terrace to the hedgerow walk, the woods beyond, and back
+again to the terrace. Suddenly she bent forward, and looked earnestly
+at some object, moving toward the stile from the grove beyond. A
+moment later, it appeared in the gap of the hedge.
+
+Cora leaned back in her chair, still observant, muttering:
+
+"I thought so! It is that ugly old woman. Now, what in the world does
+she want here, for--yes, she is entering the grounds, coming up the
+terrace."
+
+True enough, old Hagar was coming slowly along the terrace, taking a
+leisurely survey of the window facing that walk, as she did so.
+Casting her eyes upward, they met the gaze of Mrs. Arthur. Then, much
+to the surprise of that lady, she paused and executed a brief
+pantomime, as grotesque as it was mysterious.
+
+Cora drew back in some astonishment, pondering as to whether or no the
+old woman might not be partially insane, when Susan, the maid of the
+romantic mind, appeared before her, and announced that the object of
+her thoughts was in the kitchen, and begged that Mrs. Arthur would
+permit her an interview.
+
+Cora was still more surprised. "What can she possibly want with me?"
+she asked herself, quite audibly.
+
+"If you please, ma'am," volunteered Susan, "she said that it was
+something important; and that she never would have put her foot inside
+this house, begging your pardon, only for you."
+
+Flattering though this statement might be, it did not enlighten her
+much. So, after a moment's reflection, Mrs. Arthur bade the girl,
+"show the old person up."
+
+Accordingly, in another moment almost, old Hagar was bowing very
+humbly before the lady with the silken flounces. Susan retired
+reluctantly, deeply regretting that she could find no time to stop up
+the key-hole with her ear, thus rendering it impossible for prying
+eyes to peep through that orifice.
+
+"Well, old woman," began Cora, rather inelegantly, it must be
+confessed, "what on earth were you making such a fuss about, down on
+the terrace? And what do you want with me?"
+
+A close observer of the human countenance divine would never have
+judged, from the small amount of expression that was manifest in the
+face of Hagar, that her reply would have been such a very humble one.
+"I want to serve you, dear lady."
+
+The "dear lady" pursed up her lips in surprise. "You--want--"
+
+"To warn you, madame."
+
+Cora was dumb with astonishment, not unmingled with apprehension. What
+had broken loose now?
+
+"I am only a poor old woman, lady, and nobody thinks that old Hagar
+has a heart for the wrongs of others. I said that I would never cross
+John Arthur's threshold again; but I have seen your pretty face, going
+to and fro through the village streets, and I knew there was no one to
+warn you but me."
+
+"Oh, you did," remarked Cora, not knowing whether to be alarmed or
+amused, at the old woman's earnestness. "Well, old--what's your name?"
+
+"Hagar, lady."
+
+"Well, old Hagar, do you mean to tell me that I am in any particular
+danger just at present?"
+
+"Is the dove in danger when it is in the nest of the hawk?" said
+Hagar, closing her eyes tight as she uttered the words, but looking
+otherwise very tragical.
+
+Cora laughed musically. "Good gracious, old lady!" She was modifying
+her titles somewhat, probably under the influence of Hagar's
+flatteries. "You mean to compare me to a dove," laughing afresh,
+"in--a hawk's nest? Oh, dear! oh, dear!" wiping her eyes. "Now, then,
+please introduce me to the wicked hawk."
+
+Hagar was getting tired of her part, and she made a direct rush at the
+point of the business, and with very good dramatic effect. "I mean
+your husband," she said, vehemently. "I mean John Arthur. He is a bad
+man. If he has not done it already, he will make you miserable
+by-and-by."
+
+Cora drew herself up and tried to look severe. "Old lady," she said,
+with supernatural gravity, "don't you know that it is very improper
+for you to come and talk to me, like this, about my husband?"
+
+"Just hear her!" sniffed Hagar, rather unnecessarily; "all because I
+think she is too young, and too pretty, to be sacrificed like the
+others--"
+
+"Like the others? What others?"
+
+"Like his first wife. She was young, like you, and a lovely lady. His
+cruelty was her death. And then he must worry and abuse her poor
+daughter, until she runs away and comes to an untimely end. And now--"
+
+"Now, you fear he will make an end of me?" briskly. "Sit down, old
+lady," becoming still more affable. "So Mr. Arthur ill-used his first
+wife, my predecessor?"
+
+"Thank you, dear lady; you are very kind to a poor old woman," seating
+herself gingerly on the edge of a chair opposite Cora. "Yes, indeed,
+he did ill-use her. She was my mistress, and I shall always hate him
+for it."
+
+Cora mused. Here was an old servant who hated the master of Oakley;
+might she not prove useful, after a time? At any rate, it would be
+well to sound her.
+
+"You were very much attached to the lady, no doubt?" insinuatingly.
+
+"Yes; and who would not be? She was very sweet and good, was my poor
+mistress. Oh, he is a bad, bad man, madame, and you surely cannot be
+very happy with him."
+
+"And he was unkind to his step-daughter, too?" ignoring the last
+supposition.
+
+"Unkind? He was a wretch. Oh, I could almost murder him for his
+cruelty to that poor dead lassie!" fiercely.
+
+"Perhaps he was none too kind to you," suggested Cora.
+
+"Oh, he never treated me like a human being. He hated me because I
+tried to stand between her and harm. But he could not get rid of the
+sight of me. I have a little home where he can't avoid seeing me
+sometimes. I believe, if I kept always appearing before him, he would
+go raving mad, he hates me to that extent."
+
+"Um-m! Is that so?"
+
+"Yes, indeed. Why, lady, if I were without house or home, and you, out
+of the kindness of your heart, were to take me into your employment as
+the very humblest of your servants, I believe he would kill us both."
+
+"You think he would?"
+
+Cora actually seemed to encourage the old woman in her garrulity.
+
+"Oh, I know it. It's not much in the way of charity, or kindness, you
+will be able to do in _this_ house. If he don't imprison you in one of
+these old closed-up musty rooms, you will be lucky. He is very
+dangerous. Sometimes I used to think he must be insane."
+
+Cora started. "Well, Hagar," she said, sweetly, "it's very good of you
+to take so much interest in me. He is very cross sometimes, but,
+perhaps, it won't be so bad as you fear."
+
+"I hope it won't," rising to go and shaking her head dubiously; "but I
+am afraid for you."
+
+"Well," laughing, "I'll try and not let him lock me up, at any rate.
+Now, is there anything I can do for you?"
+
+[Illustration: If ever you want to make him feel what it is to make
+others suffer, Hagar will help you.--page 238.]
+
+"Oh, no, lady. You looked so pretty, and so good, that I wanted to
+warn you; that is all. I should be glad if I could serve you, too, but
+I could never serve him. I don't want for anything, dear lady. Now the
+old woman will go."
+
+"I won't forget you, Hagar, if I ever need a friend."
+
+Hagar turned toward her. "If you ever want to make him feel what it is
+to make others suffer, Hagar will help you."
+
+There was a vindictive light in the old woman's eyes, and she hobbled
+out of the room, looking as if she meant all she had said.
+
+Cora sat, for a time, pondering over the interview, and trying to
+trace out some motive for insincerity on the old woman's part. But she
+could see none. She resolved to investigate a little, and all that
+evening was the most attentive and agreeable of wives. Abundant and
+versatile was her conversation. Deftly she led the talk up to the
+proper point, and then said, carelessly:
+
+"Driving through the village, to-day, I passed that queer old
+woman--Hagar, do they call her? She glared at me, oh! so savagely."
+
+"She is an old hag!" Mr Arthur answered, with unnecessary fierceness.
+"I don't see what Satan has been about, all these years, that he's not
+taken her away to her proper atmosphere."
+
+"Why," in pretty surprise, "I thought she used to be one of your
+servants?"
+
+"She was a servant to my first wife," moodily. "I got rid of the
+baggage quick enough, when Mrs. Arthur died. She is an old viper, and
+put more disobedience into that girl Madeline's head, than I ever
+could get out."
+
+"What a horrid old wretch she must be!" shuddering.
+
+Then the conversation dropped, and Cora was satisfied.
+
+"The old woman shall be my tool," she thought, triumphantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+TO BE, TO DO, TO SUFFER.
+
+
+On the day that followed the events last related, Madeline Payne
+returned to Oakley to resume her self-imposed task.
+
+Leaving the train, the girl took the path through the woods. When she
+had traversed it half way, she came upon old Hagar, who was seated
+upon a fallen log awaiting her. Looking cautiously about, to assure
+herself that the interview would have no spectators, Madeline, or
+Celine, as we must now call her, seated herself to listen to the
+report of Davlin's visit, and the success of Hagar's interview with
+Cora.
+
+Expressing herself fully satisfied with what she heard, Celine made
+the old woman acquainted with the result of her visit to the city, or
+as much of it as was necessary and expedient. Then, after some words
+of mutual council, and a promise to visit her that evening, if
+possible, the girl lost no time in making her way to the manor, and
+straight into the presence of her mistress.
+
+Considering that her maid was--her maid, Miss Arthur welcomed her with
+an almost rapturous outburst. Celine had held high place in the
+affections of Miss Arthur, truth to tell, since her astonishing
+discovery of Mr. Edward Percy, in the character of young Romeo,
+promenading within sight of his lady's window.
+
+"Celine," simpered Miss Arthur, while the damsel addressed was
+brushing out her mistress's hair, preparatory to building it into a
+French wonder; "Celine, I may be wrong in talking so freely to you
+about myself and my--my friends, but I observe that you never presume
+in the least--"
+
+"Oh, mademoiselle, I could never do that!" cooed the girl, with wicked
+double meaning.
+
+"And," pursued Miss Arthur, graciously, "you are really quite a
+sagacious and discreet young person."
+
+"Thanks, miladi." Then, as if recollecting herself, "Pardon,
+_mademoiselle_, but you are so like her ladyship, _Madame Le Baronne
+De Orun_, my very first mistress--"
+
+"Oh, I don't mind it at all, Celine. As I was saying, you seem quite a
+superior young person, and no doubt I am not the first who has made
+you a sort of _confidante_.
+
+"Merci! no; my lady. _Madame Le Baronne_ used to trust me with
+_everything_, and often deigned to ask my advice. But French ladies,
+oui, mademoiselle, always put confidence in their maids. And a maid
+will die rather than betray a good mistress--"
+
+"Exactly, Celine--are you going to put my hair so high?"
+
+"Very high, _miladi_."
+
+"Oh, well; will it be becoming?"
+
+"Oui; La mode la Francaise," relapsing into ecstacy and French. _"Le
+coiffeur comme il faut! Chere amie, le-chef-a-oeuvre!_"
+
+Miss Arthur collapsed, and Celine continued to build up an atrociously
+unbecoming pile of puffs and curls in triumphant silence.
+
+Celine never indulged in her native tongue, so she assured her
+mistress, except when carried away by momentary enthusiasm, or
+unwonted emotion. It was bad taste, she averred, and she desired to
+cultivate the beautiful American language.
+
+Presently Miss Arthur made another venture, feeling quite justified
+in following in the footsteps of so august a personage as _Madame Le
+Baronne_.
+
+"Did you see Mr. Percy after you left Bellair?"
+
+"No, mademoiselle."
+
+"Did you observe if he returned in the same train with yourself?"
+
+"No, mademoiselle." Then, with a meaning little laugh: "Monsieur will
+not remain long from Oakley."
+
+Miss Arthur tried to look unconscious, and succeeded in looking
+idiotic.
+
+"Pardon, mademoiselle, but I can't forget that night. Mademoiselle is
+surely relieved of one fear."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"The fear of being wooed because of her wealth."
+
+Miss Arthur started, then said: "There may be something in that,
+Celine; and it is not impossible that I may inherit more."
+
+"Ah?" inquiringly.
+
+"Yes. Possibly you have learned from the servants that Mr. Arthur lost
+a young step-daughter not long ago; just before you came, in fact."
+
+"I don't remember. Did she die, mademoiselle?"
+
+"Yes. She was a very wild, unruly child, a regular little
+heathen--oh!"
+
+"Pardon, oh, pardon, did it hurt?" removing a long, spiky hair pin,
+with much apparent solicitude.
+
+"A--a little; yes. As I was saying, this ridiculous girl was sent to
+school and no expense spared to make a lady of her."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Yes; and then she rewards my brother for all his kindness by running
+away."
+
+"_Merci_, mademoiselle!" suddenly recalling her French.
+
+"And then she died among strangers, just as provokingly as she had
+lived. She must even run away to die, to make it seem as if her home
+was not a happy one."
+
+"What a very wicked young person; how you must have been annoyed."
+
+"We were all deeply grieved."
+
+"And I don't suppose that dead young woman was even grateful for
+that."
+
+"Oh, there was no gratitude in her."
+
+"Of course not! Now, mademoiselle, let me do your eyebrows," turning
+her about.
+
+"But," pursued Miss Arthur, "when she died, my brother acquired
+unconditional control of a large fortune, and you must see that my
+brother is getting rather old. Well, in case of his death, a part, at
+least, of this fortune will become mine."
+
+"Yes, madame."
+
+"My brother is too much afraid to face the thought of death and make a
+new will, and papers are in existence that will give me the larger
+portion of his fortune. Of course, Mrs. Arthur will get her third."
+
+Celine was now surprised in earnest.
+
+Miss Arthur had spoken the truth. With shrewd foresight, she had made
+John Arthur sign certain papers two years before, in consideration of
+sundry loans from her. And of this state of affairs every one, except
+their two selves and the necessary lawyer, had remained in ignorance.
+
+The girl's eyes gleamed. This was still better. It would make her
+vengeance more complete.
+
+And now Miss Arthur was thrown into a state of girlish agitation by
+the appearance of Susan, who announced that Mr. Percy was in the
+drawing-room, awaiting the pleasure of his inamorata.
+
+She bade Celine make haste with her complexion and, after the lapse of
+something like half an hour, swept down to welcome her lover, with a
+great many amber silk flounces following in her wake.
+
+Celine Leroque gazed after her for a moment and then closed the door.
+Flinging herself down "at ease" in the spinster's luxurious dressing
+chair, she pulled off the blue glasses and let the malicious triumph
+dance in her eyes as much as it would.
+
+"Oh, you are a precious pair, you two, brother and sister! The one a
+knave, the other a fool! It is really pathetic to see how you mourn my
+loss. I have a great mind to--"
+
+Here something seemed to occur to her that checked her mutterings, and
+sent her off into a deep meditation. After a long stillness she
+uttered a low, mocking laugh that had, too, a tinge of mischief in it.
+Rising slowly from the dressing chair she said, as she nodded
+significantly to her image reflected back from Miss Arthur's dressing
+glass:
+
+"I'll put that idea into execution some nice night, and then won't
+there be a row in the castle? Ah! my charming mistress, if you had
+spoken one kind or regretful word for poor Madeline, it would have
+been better for you!"
+
+What was the girl meditating now? What did she mean?
+
+"Yes, good people at Oakley, I believe I'll take a little private
+amusement out of you _all_, while I feel quite in the mood. I won't be
+too partial."
+
+Then she betook herself to her own room and let her thoughts fly back
+to Olive and Claire and--Clarence.
+
+Presently, for she was very weary, spite of the previous night's
+repose, she fell asleep.
+
+Late that evening she flitted through the woods and across the meadow
+to the cottage of old Hagar. Sleep had refreshed her and she had
+dreamed pleasant dreams. She felt stout of heart, and firm of nerve.
+
+Old Hagar was overjoyed to see a smile in her nursling's face, and to
+hear, at times, a laugh, low and sweet, reminding her of olden days.
+The girl remained with her old nurse for nearly an hour. When they
+parted there was a perfect understanding between them, in regard to
+future movements and plans.
+
+No one at Oakley was aware of Lucian Davlin's flying visit; thus much
+Celine knew. But of the purport and result of that visit, she knew
+nothing. Nor could she guess. She must bide her time, for there seemed
+just now little to disturb the monotony of waiting.
+
+One thing was, however, necessary. When the time came for Miss Arthur
+to leave Oakley, Celine must remain. To that end she must contrive to
+fall out with the spinster, and "fall in" with Madame Cora. If that
+lady could not be beguiled into retaining her at Oakley, she must
+resort to a more hazardous scheme. She had already taken a step toward
+ingratiating herself with Mrs. Arthur, and with tolerable success. She
+was maturing her plans and waiting for an opportunity to put them into
+action.
+
+No doubt but that by the time she had accomplished her object, if it
+could be accomplished, the opposite forces would come into conflict.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+SETTING SOME SNARES.
+
+
+Three days had now passed since Madeline's return from the city. On
+the morning of the fourth day, she seized the first leisure moment for
+a visit to the post-office. Instead of the single letter from Olive
+that she had expected, she found three.
+
+They were enclosed in one wrapper. This she removed on her way back to
+Oakley, and found the first, as was the wrapper, addressed in Olive's
+hand. The penmanship of the second was fairy-like and beautiful, and
+she recognized it as Claire's. At sight of the third, her heart gave a
+great bound, and then almost stood still. It was superscribed in a
+firm, manly hand, and was, it must be, from Dr. Vaughan.
+
+Once securely locked in her room, Madeline opened the first of her
+letters with eager fingers. Yes, Olive's first. The desire to see what
+_he_ had said was strong in her heart, but she had decided not to
+humor her heart. She held his letter caressingly for a moment and then
+putting it beside Claire's opened and read Olive Girard's letter.
+
+It was like Olive's self; sweet, womanly, hopeful, yet sad:
+
+     DEAR MADELINE:
+
+     I am only now beginning to realize the new life and hope you
+     have put into my heart. As I think again of what you have
+     done and are doing, I cannot but feel faith in your success.
+     Oh, if I could but work with you; for you and for Philip!
+
+     Again and again I implore you to pardon me for ever doubting
+     your wisdom or strength. If at any time I can aid you--such
+     poor aid--my purse is yours, as your cause is mine.
+
+     Claire and Doctor Vaughan will speak for themselves. And as
+     I dare make no more suggestions to so wise a woman, I only
+     put in a faint little plea. Do, pray, grant Doctor Vaughan's
+     request, and may God aid you in all that you do.
+
+                                                   OLIVE.
+
+"Doctor Vaughan's request!" repeated the girl. "Would that I could
+grant him not only all his requests, but all his wishes!"
+
+Then she opened Claire's letter.
+
+     MY GRAND MADELINE:
+
+     How proud I am to claim you for my friend! I shall never
+     again conduct myself with any degree of meekness toward
+     people who have not the happiness of knowing you. And you
+     should hear Doctor Vaughan extol you! He says you are wiser
+     and braver than any detective. That he would trust you in
+     any emergency. That if any one can lift the cloud that hangs
+     over poor Philip, it is you.
+
+     My heart tells me that you will yet prove the good angel of
+     Philip and Olive, as already you have been mine; and soon, I
+     pray, you will become that and more to Doctor Vaughan; you
+     must and shall. I shall have no wish ungratified when I can
+     see your trials at an end; and yourself, surrounded by us
+     who love you, happy at last. Don't let all these other
+     claimants push me out of your heart; always keep one little
+     place for your loving, grateful
+
+                                                 CLAIRE.
+
+Madeline's eyes were moist when she lifted them from the perusal of
+this letter.
+
+"Bright, beautiful, brave Claire," she murmured; "who could help
+loving her?"
+
+Then her eyes fell again upon the letter, and she started:
+
+"'You will become that and more to Doctor Vaughan,'" she read. "What
+can she mean? Can it be possible that, after all, I have betrayed
+myself to her?"
+
+She re-read the letter from beginning to end, her face flushing and
+paling.
+
+"Oh!" she whispered softly, "she has read my heart, and we are playing
+at cross purposes! What a queer rivalry," the girl actually laughed;
+"a rivalry of renunciation. Does she yet know how he loves her, I
+wonder?" Then, her face growing graver, "she won't be long in making
+that discovery now."
+
+She took up Clarence Vaughan's letter, almost dreading to break the
+seal.
+
+     MY BRAVE LITTLE SISTER:
+
+     You perceive, I have commenced my tyranny. And instead of
+     being able to grant favors to my new sister, I am reduced to
+     the necessity of begging them at her hands. In a word, I
+     want to come to Bellair. Not to be a meddlesome adviser; I
+     am too firmly a convert to your method of procedure for
+     that. Besides, I should have to declare war upon Miss Keith
+     if I presumed thus far. But I do desire to further your
+     plans, and to this end would make a suggestion that has
+     occurred to me since hearing of your marvelous detective
+     work.
+
+     Believe me, I cannot express the admiration I feel for your
+     daring and tact. I have no longer the faintest scruple as to
+     trusting this issue, so important to all of us, in your
+     hands. And I am more than proud of such a sister.
+
+     May I come to Bellair, say on Monday next? I will stop at
+     the little station a few miles this side of the village, and
+     walk or drive over, and find my way to the cottage of your
+     old nurse, where you can meet me, unless you have a better
+     place to suggest. I shall anxiously await your answer, and
+     am your brother to command.
+
+                                     C. E. VAUGHAN.
+
+Madeline's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining.
+
+"How they all trust me!" she ejaculated; "and they always shall. I
+will never be false to their friendship; no, not if to serve them my
+heart's blood must become wormwood and gall."
+
+She re-read all her letters, but would not allow herself to linger too
+long over that of Clarence Vaughan. She had resolved to have no more
+weakness, no more outbreaks of passion. She was very stern with
+herself. Even as a friend and brother, she would not allow her
+thoughts to dwell too much upon him, until she grew stronger, and more
+perfect in her renunciation.
+
+Then she sat down at her humble little table, and answered her
+letters.
+
+To Olive she wrote a sweet, cheery note, telling of her gratitude, her
+affection, her hope for the future; and then she added a womanlike P.
+S. as follows:
+
+     Please say to Doctor Vaughan that I will be at Hagar's
+     cottage on Monday evening, but can't tell the precise time I
+     may be able to appear. If he follows the main road through
+     the village, until he has passed the grounds of Oakley, he
+     will have no difficulty in finding the cottage. It stands
+     alone, almost in the middle of a field, facing the west, and
+     is the first habitation after Oakley.
+
+"I cannot write to him," she said; "at least not now."
+
+Then she wrote Claire a long, cheery letter, saying little of herself,
+and much of her friends,--of all save Doctor Vaughan. She _would_ not
+mention him tenderly, she _could_ not mention him lightly; so she
+would say of him nothing at all.
+
+But if Madeline was astute, Claire, too, was beginning to develop that
+quality. So when the latter young lady read this letter, she smiled
+and said: "The dear little hypocrite! As if she could deceive me by
+this evidently studied neglect. Oh! you proud, stiff-necked, little
+detective!"
+
+And their game of cross purposes went on.
+
+Madeline had sealed her letters, and was about to reach for her hat
+preparatory to hastening with them to the post office, when her
+attention was arrested by a sound, slight but unusual, and not far
+away. She stood erect, silent, motionless, listening intently.
+Presently the sound was repeated, and then a look of intelligence
+passed over the girl's face.
+
+"Some one is in the deserted rooms," she thought. And she abandoned
+for the present her purpose of going out.
+
+There was but one way to approach the closed-up rooms, and that way
+led past the door of Madeline's room.
+
+A few paces beyond her door, the hall connecting the west wing with
+the more modern portion, made a sharp curve and opened into the main
+hall of that floor. Celine Leroque opened her door cautiously, having
+first donned her not very becoming walking attire. Then she took up
+her position just outside the angle of the western hall, and so close
+to it that if an approach was made from below, she could easily retire
+behind the angle.
+
+[Illustration: "She stood erect, silent, motionless."--page 248.]
+
+She had grown heartily tired of her sentinel task when, at last, a
+soft rustle was heard near at hand. Celine turned so quickly into the
+narrower hall that she fairly ran upon and stopped--Mrs. John Arthur!
+who uttered a sharp exclamation expressive of surprise and annoyance.
+
+Celine poured forth a mixture of French and English, expressive of her
+contrition and horror at having "almost overturned madame," and wound
+up by saying, "Madame has been to my room? Madame has desired some
+service, perhaps? If so, she has only to command."
+
+Cora drew a breath of relief, having sufficiently recovered from the
+collision and accompanying confusion, to draw a breath of any kind,
+and at once rallied her forces.
+
+"Yes, Celine, I wanted you to do something for me, if you will."
+
+"Anything, madame."
+
+Madame was collecting her thoughts. "I--I wanted to ask if you could
+find time to come to my room and try and do something with my hair.
+Your hair-dressing is perfect, and I am so tired of my own."
+
+Celine would be only too happy. Should she come now? She had just
+returned from the village; she would put off her hat and be at
+madame's disposal. But madame was not inclined to be manipulated just
+then. Celine might come to her dressing room and do her hair for
+dinner--after she was done with Miss Arthur, of course.
+
+So they separated, mutually satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+A VERITABLE GHOST.
+
+
+What a day of glory it had been to the spinster, this day on which
+Madeline had read her three letters, and Cora had explored the shut-up
+wing.
+
+And what a day of torture to fastidious Edward Percy, who would have
+welcomed any third presence, even Cora or John Arthur--any one,
+anything, was better than that long slavery at the feet of a painted
+and too-visibly ancient mistress. But even the longest days have an
+end. At last he was set at liberty, and he hurried back to the little
+inn, literally kicking his way through the Autumn darkness.
+
+The old house of Oakley stood, with its last light extinguished, tall
+and somber, against a back-ground of black sky and blacker trees. At
+last every soul under its roof was asleep--all but one. That one was
+very wide awake and intent on mischief.
+
+Love-making, dear reader, although you may not know it, is a wearisome
+business, even if ever so agreeable. Especially is it wearisome to
+those like Miss Arthur--maidens whose waists are too tight, whose
+complexions will ill-endure lip service, and whose tresses are liable
+to become not only dishevelled but dislocated. Therefore, when Miss
+Arthur had dismissed her lover, with a sigh of regret, she lost no
+time in doffing her glories with a sigh of relief.
+
+Even a very rich and hearty luncheon, which her maid had provided, was
+gormandized rather than enjoyed, so tempting did her couch look to the
+worn-out damsel.
+
+Miss Arthur had refreshed herself with an hour's uninterrupted repose,
+and was revelling in a dreamy Arcadia, hand in hand with her beloved,
+when something cold falling on her cheek dispelled her visions. She
+started broad awake, and face to face with a horrible reality.
+
+The moon was pouring a flood of silvery light in through the two
+windows, facing the south, whose curtains were drawn back, making the
+room almost as light as at mid-day.
+
+And there, near her bed, almost within reach of her hand, stood
+_Madeline Payne_, all swathed in white clinging cerements, ghastly as
+a corpse, hollow-eyed and awful, but, nevertheless, Madeline Payne!
+Over her white temples dropped rings of curly, yellow hair, and across
+the pale lips a mocking smile was flitting.
+
+Miss Arthur gasped and closed her eyes very tight, but they would not
+stay closed. They flew open again to behold the vision still there.
+The spinster was transfixed with horror. Cold drops of perspiration
+oozed out upon her forehead and trickled down her nose. She clutched
+at the bedclothes convulsively, and gazed and gazed.
+
+Wider and wider stared her eyes, but no sound escaped her lips. She
+gazed and gazed, but the specter would not vanish. Poor Miss Arthur
+was terror-stricken almost to the verge of catalepsy.
+
+In consideration of the persistence with which they return again and
+again, according to good authority, ghosts in general must be endowed
+with much patience. Be this as it may of the average ghost, certain it
+is that this particular apparition, after glaring immovably at the
+spinster for the space of five minutes, began to find it monotonous.
+
+Slowly, slowly from among the snowy drapery came forth a white hand,
+that pointed at the occupant of the bed with silent menace.
+
+[Illustration: "Near the bed, almost within reach of her hand, stood
+_Madeline Payne_, all swathed in white!"--page 252.]
+
+The spell was broken. The lips of Miss Arthur were unclosed, and
+shrieks, one following the other in rapid succession, resounded in the
+ears of even the most remote sleepers.
+
+With the utterance of her first yell, Miss Arthur had made a desperate
+plunge to the further side of her bed, away from the specter; and,
+turning her face to the wall, shut out thus the appalling white
+vision.
+
+Having once found her voice, Miss Arthur continued to clutch at the
+bed clothes, glare at the wall, and shriek spasmodically, even after
+her "inner consciousness" must have assured her that the room now held
+others beside herself and the ghost, supposing it to be still on the
+opposite side of the bed.
+
+Cora, in a state of wild _deshabille_; John Arthur, ditto, and armed
+with a cane; Susan and Mary, half in the room and half out; then
+Celine Leroque, apparently much frightened, without knowing at what.
+
+A volley of questions from the master of the house, and a return of
+courage to the mistress. But Miss Arthur only gathered herself
+together, took in a fresh supply of breath, and embarked in another
+series of howls.
+
+Nothing was amiss in the room; it could not have been a burglar. The
+night lamp was burning dimly behind its heavy shade; on the table were
+the fragments of Miss Arthur's lunch; and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur had
+found easy access through the closed, but unbolted door.
+
+After a time, a long time, during which Cora and Celine administered
+sal volatile and other restoratives, Mr. Arthur douched her with oaths
+and ice water, and the servants whispered in a group, the maiden found
+voice.
+
+It was a very feeble voice, and it conveyed to her audience the
+astounding intelligence that she had seen a ghost--Madeline Payne's
+ghost.
+
+Upon hearing her story, John Arthur seemed at first a little startled.
+But Cora only laughed, and Celine, glancing significantly at the lunch
+table, said, with a slight smile:
+
+"Mademoiselle has nerves, and she may have lunched heartily before
+retiring."
+
+John Arthur strode across the room and viewed the _debris_ of
+luncheon. "Humph!" he grunted. "Oysters and salads, potted meat and
+pastry; strong coffee and lemon syllabub with brandy. Good Lord, I
+don't know what should have kept the contents of an entire cemetery
+from sweeping down upon your slumbers, you female gourmand. Ghosts
+indeed!"
+
+And he stamped out of the room in high dudgeon. His tirade was wholly
+lost upon his sister, however, for that lady was whimpering
+comfortably and putting all her feeble energy into the effort.
+
+Cora glanced up as the door banged after her lord and master, and
+ordered the servants back to bed. Then she turned toward Celine,
+saying:
+
+"That door was certainly not locked when we came to it, for I was here
+even sooner than Mr. Arthur."
+
+Celine smiled again: "Mademoiselle dismissed me before she had
+finished her luncheon. I had disrobed her previously, and she said she
+should retire as soon as she drank her coffee. She may have forgotten
+the door."
+
+Cora turned toward the bed. "Did you lock your door, Ellen?"
+
+But Ellen did not know; she could not remember if she had or had not.
+
+Then Cora said to Celine: "I am glad to find you so sensible. We shall
+have hard work now to convince those ridiculous servants that there is
+not a ghost in every corner."
+
+"I do not think that graves open," replied the girl, seriously.
+
+Then she gave her undivided attention to her mistress, who bade fair
+to be hysterical for the rest of the night.
+
+Miss Arthur would not be left alone again. No argument could convince
+her that the specter was born of her imagination, and therefore not
+likely to return. So Cora bade Celine prepare to spend the remainder
+of the night in Miss Arthur's dressing room.
+
+Accordingly, Celine withdrew to her own apartment, where her
+preparations were made as follows:
+
+First, she shook out the folds of a sheet that hung over a chair, and
+restored it to its proper place on the bed. Then she removed from her
+dressing stand a box of white powder, and brushed away all traces of
+said powder from her garments and the floor. Next, she carefully hid
+away a key that had fallen to the floor and lay near the classically
+folded sheet. These things accomplished, she made a few additions to
+her toilet, extinguished the light, locked her door carefully, trying
+it afterward to make assurance doubly sure, and retraced her steps to
+relieve Cora, who was dutifully sitting by the spinster's bed, and
+beginning to shiver in her somewhat scanty drapery.
+
+As the night wore on, and Miss Arthur became calmed and quiet, the
+girl lay back in the big dressing chair, gazing into the grate, and
+thinking. Her thoughts were sometimes of Claire, sometimes of
+Clarence; of the Girards, and of Edward Percy; then of her success as
+a ghostess, and at this she would almost laugh.
+
+But from every subject her mind would turn again and again to one
+question, that repeated itself until it took the form of a goblin and
+danced through her dreams, when at last she slept, whispering over and
+over:
+
+"What is it that Cora Arthur carries in a belt about her waist? what
+is it? what is it?"
+
+For the girl had made a strange discovery while Cora was sitting
+beside Miss Arthur's bed, clad only in night's scanty drapery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+SOME DAYS OF WAITING.
+
+
+Doctor Vaughan had written that he could find his way with ease to
+Nurse Hagar's cottage, and he did.
+
+Swinging himself down upon the dark end of the platform, when the
+evening train puffed into Bellair village, he crossed the track, and
+walked rapidly along the path that led in the direction of the
+cottage. He strode on until the light from the cottage window gleamed
+out upon the night, and his way led over the field. Half way between
+the stile and the cottage, a form, evidently that of a woman, appeared
+before him, and coming in his direction.
+
+The figure came nearer, and a voice, that was certainly not
+Madeline's, said: "Is the gentleman going to old Hagar's cottage?"
+
+"Are you Hagar?" replied Clarence, Yankee fashion.
+
+"I am Hagar; and you are?"
+
+"Doctor Vaughan."
+
+"Then pass on, sir; the one you seek is there."
+
+And the old woman waved her hand toward the light and hobbled on.
+
+Clarence stared after her for a moment; but the darkness had devoured
+her, and he resumed his way toward the cottage.
+
+In hastening to meet a friend we naturally have, in our mind, a
+picture. Our friend will look so, or so. Thus with Clarence Vaughan.
+Expecting to meet a pair of deep, sad, beautiful eyes, lifted to his
+own; to behold a fair forehead shadowed by soft, shining curls; judge
+of Clarence's surprise when the opened door revealed to him a small
+being of no shape in particular; a very black head of hair, surmounted
+by an ugly maid's cap; and a pair of unearthly, staring blue glasses.
+
+Madeline had chosen to appear "in character" at this interview. She
+intended to keep her own personality out of sight, and she felt that
+she needed the aid and concealment that her disguise would afford. She
+would give Claire's schemes no vantage ground.
+
+So Madeline Payne was carefully hidden away under the wig and pigment
+and padding; and Celine Leroque courteseyed demurely as she held the
+door open to admit him, and said:
+
+"Good evening, _Monsieur le Docteur_; you perceive I am here before
+you."
+
+"Rather, I don't perceive it. _You_ are here before me in a double
+sense of the word; yes. And I suppose you call yourself--"
+
+"Celine Leroque, at your service; maid-in-waiting to Miss Arthur, of
+Oakley."
+
+Doctor Vaughan laughed.
+
+"Well, won't you shake hands with an American of no special
+importance, Celine Leroque?"
+
+She placed her hand in his and then drew forward a chair.
+
+"I hope you found no difficulty in getting out to-night?" he said,
+sitting down and looking at her with a half-amused, half-grave
+countenance.
+
+"None whatever; I have been suffering with a sick-headache all day."
+
+"And you can get in again unseen?"
+
+"Easily; in the evening the servants are all below stairs."
+
+"But what an odd disguise! Do they never question your blue glasses?"
+
+"Not half so much as they would question the eyes without them. They
+believe my eyes were ruined by close application to fine needle-work.
+And then--" she pushed up the glasses a trifle, and he saw that the
+eyelid, and a line underneath the eye, were artistically
+_rouged_--"they all acknowledge that my eyes look very weak."
+
+"I fancy they'll find those eyes have looked too sharply for them, by
+and by."
+
+She laughed lightly. "I hope so."
+
+Sitting there in her prim disguise, the girl felt glad to gaze upon
+him; felt as if, look as much as she would, she was gazing from a safe
+distance.
+
+Dr. Vaughan came straight to the point of his visit, beginning by
+requesting a repetition of such portion of the facts she had
+discovered as related most particularly to the two men, Davlin and
+Percy. Then he made his suggestion. To his surprise it was a welcome
+one to the girl.
+
+"That is just what I have had in mind," she said, thoughtfully. "After
+reflecting, I have changed my plans somewhat, and I don't see my way
+quite so clearly as before."
+
+He was looking at her attentively, but asked no questions.
+
+"Since I came from the city," she resumed, with some hesitation, "I
+have thought that I would be glad to talk again with all of you. But
+it won't do to incur the risk of more absences, for if I do not
+mistake the signs, things will be pretty lively up there," nodding in
+the direction of Oakley, "before many days. So perhaps we had better
+see what our two heads can develop in the way of counterplot, and you
+can make known the result to Olive."
+
+"If your own invention will not serve, I fear mine will be at an utter
+loss. But you know how glad I shall be to share your confidence."
+
+"My invention must serve," she said, firmly, and quite ignoring the
+latter clause of his speech; "and so must yours. You see, my plan
+before going to the city was a comparatively simple one. I intended to
+work my way into the confidence of Mrs. John Arthur. Failing in that,
+Hagar must have been reinstated, and then the _denouement_ would have
+been easy: to get possession of specimens of the medicine prescribed
+for Mr. Arthur; to hunt down this sham doctor they are to introduce
+into the house; to show John Arthur the manner of wife he has; to make
+my own terms with him, and then expose and turn out the whole pack.
+But all this must be changed."
+
+"Changed? And how?"
+
+"I can't turn them out of Oakley. I must keep them there, every one of
+them, at any cost."
+
+Dr. Vaughan looked puzzled. "We can't allow them to kill that old man,
+not even to vindicate poetical justice," he said, gravely.
+
+"No; we can't allow just that. But don't you see, if we turn these
+people away now, we defeat a chief end and aim--the liberation of
+Philip Girard?"
+
+"True."
+
+"Well, this is why I have changed my plan."
+
+He looked at her with an admiration that was almost homage.
+
+"And you will give up your own vengeance, for the sake of Olive and
+her happiness?"
+
+She laughed oddly. "Not at all. I only defer it, to make it the more
+complete. Now, listen to what I propose to do, and see if you can
+suggest anything safer or better."
+
+And then she unfolded a plan that made Clarence Vaughan start in
+amazement, but which, after it was fully revealed, he could not amend
+nor condemn. He could see no other way by which all that they aimed at
+could be accomplished.
+
+"Of course, the plan has its risks," concluded the girl. "But we could
+try no other scheme without incurring the same, or greater. And I
+_believe_ that I shall not fail."
+
+"I wish it were not necessary that you should undergo so much; think
+what it will be for you," gently.
+
+"Oh, for me, ..." indifferently; "I shall be less of a spy, and more
+of an actress,--that is all."
+
+"Then I shall set the detectives at work?"
+
+"Immediately."
+
+"Have you any further instructions, any clue, to give them?"
+
+"Nothing; it is to be simply a research. Neither must know to what end
+the information is desired. It will be better to employ your men from
+different Agencies, so that one may not know of the other, or his
+business."
+
+"And is there nothing more I can do?"
+
+"Nothing, for the present. When once we get these men together, we
+shall all have our hands full. Then you can help me, perhaps, as I
+suggested."
+
+"Well," sighing, and looking at his watch, "it's a strange business,
+and a difficult, for a young girl like you. But we are in your hands;
+you are worth a thousand such as I."
+
+"Nonsense," she said, almost angrily. Then, abruptly, "When does
+Claire return to Baltimore?"
+
+He started and flushed under her gaze. "I--I really don't know."
+
+"Then, as my brother, I command you to know all about Claire. She is
+my special charge to you. And you are to tell her, from me, that I
+won't have her go away."
+
+"Then I must do all in my power to detain her? Your command will have
+more effect than all of my prayers," he said, softly.
+
+"Well, keep on reiterating my commands and your prayers, then; by and
+by she won't be able to distinguish the one from the other. What time
+is it?"
+
+He smiled at the sudden change of tone and subject. "Half-past nine,"
+he said.
+
+While the words were on his lips, Old Hagar entered.
+
+Clearly it was time to end the interview. Doctor Vaughan must be ready
+for the return train, which flew cityward soon, and Celine Leroque
+must not be too long absent. So there were a few words more about
+their plans, a few courteous sentences addressed to Hagar by Doctor
+Vaughan, and then they separated.
+
+The next day two men were at work,--following like sleuth hounds the
+trail on which they were put, unravelling slowly, slowly, the webs of
+the past that had been spun by the two men who were to be hunted down.
+
+And now came a time of comparative dullness at Oakley. Even eventful
+lives do not always pace onward to the inspiring clang of trumpet and
+drum. There is the bivouac and the time of rest, even though sleeping
+upon their arms, for all the hosts that were ever marshalled to
+battle.
+
+[Illustration: "Well, it's a strange business and a difficult."--page
+261.]
+
+Celine Leroque found life rather more dreary than she had expected
+during these days of inaction. After all, it is easier to be brave
+than to be patient. So, in spite of her courage and her
+self-sacrifice, she was restless and unhappy.
+
+And she was not alone in her restlessness. It is curious to note what
+diverse causes produce the same effects. Cora Arthur was restless,
+very restless. The fruit of her labor was in her hands, but it was
+vapid, tasteless, unsatisfying. What _her_ soul clamored for, was the
+opera, the contact of kindred spirits, the rush and whirl, the smoke
+and champagne, and giddiness of the city; the card-won gold, and
+painted folly that made the be-all and end-all of life to such as she.
+
+She did not lose sight of the usefulness she trusted to find in Celine
+Leroque, however. During these days of _ennui_ and quietude, the two
+came to a very good understanding; not all at once, and not at all
+definite. Only, by degrees, Cora became convinced that Celine Leroque
+cherished a very laudable contempt for her would-be-girlish mistress,
+and that she was becoming rather weary in her service. Once, indeed,
+the girl had said, as if unable to restrain herself, and while
+dressing Mrs. Cora's yellow hair--a task which she professed to
+delight in:
+
+"Ah! madame, if only it was _you_ who were my mistress! It is a
+pleasure to dress a beautiful mistress, but to be constantly at war
+against nature, to make an old one young--faugh! it is labor."
+
+And Cora had been much amused and had held out a suggestion that, in
+case of any rupture between mistress and maid, the latter should apply
+to her.
+
+But if existence was a pain to Celine, and a weariness to Cora, it was
+anguish unutterable to Edward Percy. He would have been glad to put a
+long span of miles between his inamorata and himself had he not felt
+that, with Cora in the same house as his fair one, it were more
+discreet to be on the ground, and watch over his prey pretty closely.
+But to this man, who made love to every pretty woman as a child eats
+_bon bons_, the task of wooing where his eye was not pleased, his ear
+was not soothed, and his vanity not in the least flattered, was
+intensely wearisome.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK.
+
+
+The first thing that Doctor Vaughan did on returning from Bellair, was
+to seek an interview with Henry, the dark servant of Lucian Davlin.
+
+It was a mixed motive that had first prompted Henry to espouse the
+cause of a helpless, friendless girl; a motive composed of one part
+inward wrath, long nourished, against the haughty and over-exacting
+Lucian, and one part pity for the young girl who, as his experienced
+eyes told him, was not such as were the women who had usually been
+entertained by his master.
+
+He had expected to assist her to escape from the place, to enjoy his
+master's chagrin, and to see the matter end there. But Madeline's
+illness had changed the current of events, and strengthened his
+determination to stand her friend, if need be, more especially when
+Olive, pressing upon him a generous gift, had signified her wish that
+he should continue in Madeline's service. She had added that when he
+chose to leave his present master, she would see that he fell into no
+worse hands, for so long as the sick girl remained under that shelter,
+Olive felt that the man must be their servant, not Davlin's. And, to
+do him justice, Henry had long since become truly attached to the two
+ladies.
+
+He lost no time in responding to the summons of Doctor Vaughan, and
+was eager to know of the welfare of the "young lady" and Mrs. Girard.
+Doctor Vaughan satisfied him on this point, and then said:
+
+"I am authorized by Miss Payne to see you, and ask some questions that
+she thinks you may be able to answer. First, then," said the doctor,
+in his kindly manner, "how long have you been with your present
+master?"
+
+"Nearly three years, sir."
+
+"And how long has the woman whom he calls Cora been known to you?"
+
+"She has been known to me all that time, sir," replied Henry.
+
+"You first saw her in company with Davlin?"
+
+"No, sir; she came to his rooms when I had been there but a few days,
+and ordered me about like a countess. I didn't know the ropes then,
+but she made me know my duty soon enough," dryly.
+
+"Evidently, then, she and your master were friends of long standing,
+even at that time?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"You used to hear them talk often, I suppose?"
+
+"I used to hear parts of their talks. They seemed not to care to have
+even so much of a machine as I, hear them at all times."
+
+"Now, will you try and recall some of these fragments of talk? Think
+if you heard them speak of their travels, together or separately; and
+if you can recall the names of any persons or places they have
+mentioned."
+
+Henry pondered. "I think," he said, after a time, "that they have been
+in Europe together. In fact, I am sure of it."
+
+Doctor Vaughan started. "Oh! that is to the point. You don't recall
+any time mentioned?"
+
+"No, sir. They used to talk of luck with the cards, and sometimes
+spoke of operas or plays, and almost always disagreed. Sometimes I
+would hear him describing men to her, and she seemed to be getting
+ready for a part in some 'game' that he was trying to play."
+
+"Very likely."
+
+"Once I heard them having high words about some old man that she had
+been fleecing, and he said that she had carried the thing too far; and
+that if she did not keep out of the old man's way, she might get into
+trouble. I heard the name," putting a forefinger to his forehead and
+wrinkling his brows; "it was--was--Verage; 'Old Verage,' she called
+him."
+
+"Verage!"
+
+"That was the name; I am sure, sir."
+
+Clarence took out a note-book, and made an entry.
+
+"When did this conversation take place?" he asked.
+
+"Not more than two months before the young lady was brought there,
+sir."
+
+"Ah!" Evidently a fresh glimmer of light had been thrown on the
+subject. "And you heard nothing more about this old man?"
+
+"No, sir. I think she must have gone away from town at that time, for
+I did not see her again, until--" here Henry seemed to catch at some
+new thought.
+
+"Until when?" asked Doctor Vaughan, with some eagerness.
+
+"The day before the young lady came," said Henry, in a low tone, and
+moving a step nearer the doctor. "Madame Cora came dashing up in a
+close carriage, and she wore a heavy veil. I noticed that because she
+was rather fond of displaying her face and hair, and I hardly ever saw
+her wear anything that would hide them. She came up-stairs and ordered
+me to send a telegram, which she had already written, to my master. I
+sent it, and she stayed there all day. She sent me out for her meals,
+and I served them in the large room. She spent the most of the time in
+walking up and down--that was her way when she was worried or
+angry--and looking out between the curtains. My master answered the
+telegram, but when the midnight train came in, a man who went down in
+the country with him, a sort of tool and hanger-on of his, came to me
+while I was waiting below, and told me to tell Mistress Cora that the
+train was a few minutes late."
+
+"Stop a moment. This man, who was Davlin's companion,--what was his
+name?"
+
+"I never heard him called anything but 'The Professor.'"
+
+"The Professor! And how did he look?" making another entry in the
+note-book.
+
+"He was a middle-aged man, sir, not so tall as master, rather square
+in the shoulders, and stout built. He wore no beard, and was always
+smoking a pipe."
+
+"Very good," writing rapidly. "Now, then, let us return to the lady."
+
+"Well, sir, she was very impatient until my master came, and then they
+had a long talk. I heard him speak of the old man Verage again, and
+she seemed a little afraid, or annoyed, I don't know which. Then he
+seemed to be telling her of some new scheme, and there was a great
+deal of planning and some chaffing about her going into the country.
+Just at daybreak they sent me for a carriage, and she went away in it,
+closely veiled as before. He told her he would join her without fail.
+I have not seen her since. That same morning he brought the beautiful
+young lady to his rooms, and," smiling so as to show all his white
+teeth, "I think you know all the rest, sir."
+
+Clarence nodded and then appeared lost in thought. Finally, he lifted
+his head from the hand that had supported it, and said:
+
+"Since your master has returned to town, how does he employ his time?"
+
+"Very much as usual."
+
+"And that is in--"
+
+"Gaming."
+
+"Is it true, Henry, that the room below your master's apartments is
+fitted up for private gambling?"
+
+Henry stirred uneasily, and looked his answer.
+
+Doctor Vaughan smiled. "I see how it is," he said. "Well, then, this
+man, the Professor, do you see much of him of late?"
+
+"A great deal, sir; he is very often with my master at his rooms, but
+they never go out together. They have had a great deal of privacy
+lately; something new is afoot."
+
+"The man is a sort of decoy-duck, I fancy?"
+
+"Yes; what the gamblers call a capper, or roper-in."
+
+"Well, Henry, I think I won't detain you longer now. Take this,"
+putting into his hand a twenty-dollar bill, "and keep your eyes and
+ears open. If your master leaves town, observe if the Professor
+disappears at the same time."
+
+Henry expressed his gratitude and his entire willingness to keep an
+eye upon the doings of Mr. Davlin and the Professor, and bowed himself
+out, muttering as he went: "They will make it lively for my fine
+master before very long, and I think I am on the side that will win."
+
+Meantime, Clarence Vaughan, quick in thought and action, was hurrying
+on his gloves preparatory to a sally forth on a new mission. Henry had
+given him a hint that might turn out of much value, for among the
+patients then on the young doctor's visiting list, was one Verage,
+old, ugly, and fabulously rich.
+
+First of all, Clarence Vaughan called at the Agency which had been
+decided upon as the best one to entrust with the investigation
+relative to Mr. Edward Percy. He gave his man no clue to the present
+whereabouts of his subject, but set him back ten years or more,
+sending him to visit the scenes of school episode, and bidding him
+trace the life of the man, with the aid of such clues as he thought
+best to give, up to that time. Next, he visited another Agency, and
+placed a man upon the track of Lucian Davlin.
+
+Then he called a carriage and drove straight to the residence of old
+Samuel Verage. It was early in the day for a professional visit or for
+a visit of any kind. Nevertheless, Doctor Vaughan was admitted without
+delay, to the presence of the master of the house.
+
+Old Samuel Verage sat in his large, softly-cushioned armchair, in a
+gorgeously beflowered dressing gown.
+
+He was glowering over the dainty dishes which had lately contained a
+bountiful breakfast. Evidently he fancied that the doctor had called
+in anticipation of a serious morning attack, or to choke off his too
+greedy appetite, for he chuckled maliciously as Clarence entered the
+room, and greeted him with,
+
+"Oh! You thought you were ahead of me this time, didn't you? I say,
+now, _did_ you think I would be worse this morning?"
+
+Clarence surveyed his patient with considerable amusement.
+
+"You won't suffer from a hearty breakfast. It is the supper that you
+must look out for. But my call this morning was, in part, to inquire
+about a lady."
+
+"About a lady! Of course, of course; go ahead; who is she?"
+
+"That's precisely what I want to know. The fact is, my business is
+rather peculiar, and delicate."
+
+The old man rubbed his hands gleefully. "Good! very good! A mystery
+about a woman! Come out with it; don't be backward."
+
+"Very well; the woman that I want to inquire about has been known as
+Cora Weston."
+
+Old Verage fairly bounced out of his seat as he yelled: "Cora Weston!
+Where is she? What do you know about her?"
+
+"Not quite enough, or I should not have ventured to inquire of you,"
+said Clarence, calmly.
+
+Old Verage tumbled into his chair again. "Then you don't know where
+she is?" sharply.
+
+"What could you do if I put her in your power?"
+
+"Lock her up in jail, if I wanted to," fiercely.
+
+Little by little Clarence Vaughan extracted from the old man the
+details of the plausible scheme by which Davlin and Cora had succeeded
+in transferring a very considerable amount of cash from his pockets to
+their own. He felt elated at the result of this interview. It placed a
+weapon in his hands that might be wielded with telling effect when
+time served.
+
+"Well, you may be able to get even with her yet," he said, rising to
+go, after Verage had concluded his tirade; "many thanks for giving me
+some information. I may be able to return the compliment soon."
+
+"But hold on!" cried Verage, as if seized by a new thought; "I say,
+now, what is all this questioning about?"
+
+"Some of her sharp practice has come to my knowledge, and she has
+made a little trouble for one of my friends. I want to know all that I
+can about her, for it may be necessary to put a stop to her career."
+
+With a renewed expression of his thanks for the information given,
+Clarence bowed himself out of the old man's presence, with a sense of
+relief at inhaling the fresh, pure air of the outer world. Then he
+turned his steps homeward, assured that it had been a good day's work
+well done.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+CLAIRE TURNS CIRCE.
+
+
+There was more to tell than to learn, when Clarence called, a day or
+two later, at the villa.
+
+The expert who had been dogging the steps of Lucian Davlin, had made
+his report, it is true. But that report was a very unsatisfactory
+affair:
+
+A man, whom Clarence readily identified with the Professor, was an
+almost constant visitor at the rooms of the Man of Luck, but they,
+that is, the Professor and Davlin, were never seen on the street
+together, nor, indeed, anywhere else. In short, Lucian Davlin had been
+closely shadowed, but with no success to speak of. He came and went
+just as such a man usually does. And no person that might be made to
+answer for a doctor, had been visited by him or had visited him
+unless, and this began to appear possible, the Professor himself was
+the man.
+
+After a long and serious discussion of the pros and cons of the case,
+Olive and Clarence decided they would instruct the detective to
+transfer his attentions to the Professor, only keeping a general
+_surveillance_ over Davlin. They began to fear that they were watching
+the wrong man.
+
+Those were pleasant days to Doctor Vaughan; the days when he rode down
+to the pretty villa to consult with Olive and to look at Claire.
+
+And those were pleasant days to Claire as well. Once, and that not
+long before, she had taken but little interest in Clarence Vaughan.
+She had thought of him very much as had Madeline that first night of
+their meeting, when she looked at him sitting near her in a railway
+carriage, and regarded him as just a "somewhat odd young man with a
+good face." Now, Madeline thought him not only the noblest but the
+handsomest of men. And Claire was beginning to agree with her.
+
+But on one thing she was determined. Doctor Vaughan must learn to look
+upon her only as a friend, and he must learn to love Madeline. So
+Claire and Clarence vied with each other in chanting the praises of
+Madeline Payne, and learned to know each other better because of her.
+
+One day when he called, Claire chanced to be alone. Somehow she found
+it hard to be quite at her ease when there was no Olive at hand,
+behind whom to screen her personality from the eyes that might
+overlook that sisterly barrier, but could not overleap it. If his eyes
+had said less, or if she could have compelled her lips to say more!
+But her usually active tongue seemed to lack for words and she found
+herself talking in a reckless and somewhat incoherent manner upon all
+sorts of topics, which she dragged forward in order to keep in check
+the words which the look in his eyes heralded so plainly.
+
+When she was almost at her wit's end, and tempted to flee ingloriously
+in search of Olive, that lady entered and Claire felt as if saved
+from lunacy. But she could not quite shake off the consciousness that
+had awakened in her, and soon framed an excuse for leaving the room.
+Once having escaped, she did not return, nor did Olive see her again
+until she came down to dinner, and Doctor Vaughan had gone.
+
+While lingering over that meal, Olive said, after they had talked of
+Madeline through three courses, "I think, by-the-by, that Doctor
+Vaughan expected to see you again before he went."
+
+If I were writing of impossible heroines, I might say that Claire
+looked conscious; but real women who are not all chalk and water, do
+not display their feelings so readily to their mothers and sisters. So
+Claire Keith looked up with the countenance of an astonished kitten.
+
+"To see me? What for?"
+
+"How should I know, if you don't?" smiling slightly.
+
+"And _how_ should I know?" carelessly.
+
+"Well, perhaps I was mistaken. But why have you kept your room all
+this afternoon?"
+
+"I have been packing. Please pass the marmalade."
+
+"Packing!" mechanically reaching out the required dainty.
+
+"Yes, packing. You don't think I came to spend the winter, do you?"
+
+"But this is so sudden."
+
+"Now, just listen, you unreasonable being!" assuming an air of grave
+admonition. "Don't you know that I have overstayed my time by almost a
+month?"
+
+"Yes, but--"
+
+"Well, don't you know that if I tell you beforehand that I am going,
+you always contrive excuses and hatch plots, to keep me at least three
+weeks longer?"
+
+"I plead guilty," laughed Olive.
+
+"Well, you see I have staid out my days of grace already. And knowing
+your failing, and feeling sure that I could not humor it, I have just
+taken advantage of you, and packed my trunks."
+
+"And you won't stay just one more little week?"
+
+Claire laughed gleefully. "What did I say? It is your old cry. Now,
+dear, be reasonable. Mamma wants me, and the boys want me. You have
+plenty of occupation just now. It will take you one-third of the time
+to keep me informed of all that happens."
+
+"Well," sighed Olive, "of course you must go sometime; but you don't
+mean to go to-morrow?"
+
+"I do, though."
+
+"What will Doctor Vaughan say?"
+
+"Whatever Doctor Vaughan pleases. I can't lose a day to say good-by to
+him, can I?"
+
+"But why didn't you tell him good-by to-day?"
+
+Claire looked up in some surprise. "Upon my word, I never thought of
+it."
+
+And she told the truth. She had thought only of how she could avoid
+another meeting.
+
+Olive looked puzzled. "And I supposed that you liked Doctor Vaughan,"
+she said, after a moment's pause.
+
+"Why, and so I do; I was very careless. Olive, dear, pray make my
+adieus to him, and all the necessary excuses. I do like the doctor,
+and don't want him to think me rude."
+
+And Olive accepted the commission, and was deceived by it. For she,
+absorbed in her own fears and hopes, was not aware of the drama of
+love and cross purposes that was being enacted under her very eyes.
+
+When Clarence called, on the next day but one, he found, to his
+surprise and sorrow, that the bright face of the girl he loved so well
+was to smile upon him no more, at least for a time. Making his call an
+unusually brief one, he rode back to the city in a very grave and
+thoughtful mood. Or, rather, the gravity and thoughtfulness usual in
+him was tinged with sadness.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On the same day, almost at the same hour, Claire Keith stood in her
+mother's drawing-room, answering the thousand and one questions that
+are invariably poured into the ears of a returned traveler.
+
+By and by, drawing back the satin curtain, that shaded the windows of
+the drawing-room, Claire gazed out upon the familiar street which
+seemed smiling her a welcome in the Autumn sunshine. Finally she
+uttered an exclamation of surprise, and turned to Mrs. Keith.
+
+"_Merci!_ Mamma! what has happened to the people across the way? Why,
+I can't catch even one glimpse of red and yellow damask, not one
+flutter of gold fringe; have the _parvenus_ been taking lessons in
+good taste? Positively, every blind is closed, and there isn't a
+liveried being to be seen."
+
+Mrs. Keith laughed softly. "I don't know what has happened to the
+_parvenus_, my dear, but whether good or bad it has taken them away,
+liveries and all. The house has a new tenant, who is not so amusing,
+perhaps, but is certainly more mysterious. So, after all, the exchange
+may not have been a gain to the neighborhood."
+
+Claire peeped out again. "A mysterious tenant, you say, mamma? That
+must be an improvement. What is the Mystery like?"
+
+Mrs. Keith smiled indulgently on her daughter.
+
+"There is not much to tell, my love. I don't know whether the lady
+who has taken the house is young or old, handsome or ugly, married or
+single. She lives the life of a recluse; has never been seen, at least
+by any of us, to walk out. But she drives sometimes in a close
+carriage, and always with a thick veil hiding her face. She is tall,
+dresses richly, but always in black, although the fabric is not that
+usually worn as mourning. She moves from the door to her carriage with
+a languid gait, as if she might be an invalid. No one goes there, and
+I understand she is not at home to callers, although, of course, I
+have not made the experiment myself. There, my dear, I think that is
+about all."
+
+"She seems to be a woman of wealth?"
+
+"Evidently; her horses are very fine animals, and her carriage a
+costly one. Her servants wear a neat, plain livery, and apparently her
+house is elegantly furnished."
+
+"And mamma," said Robbie, who had been standing quietly at her side,
+"you forget the flowers."
+
+"True, Robbie. Every day, Claire, the florist leaves a basket of white
+flowers at her door."
+
+"I like that," asserted Claire. "She must have refinement."
+
+"She certainly has that air."
+
+"Well," said Claire, laughing lightly, "I shall make a study of the
+woman across the way."
+
+With that the subject dropped for the time. But as the days went on,
+and she settled herself once more into the home routine, Claire found
+that not the least among the things she chose to consider interesting
+was the mysterious neighbor across the way.
+
+And now, having put considerable distance between herself and Edward
+Percy, she wrote him a few cool lines of dismissal.
+
+And here again the individuality of the girl was very manifest. Many a
+woman would have written a scathing letter, telling the man how
+thoroughly unmasked he stood in her sight, letting him know that she
+was acquainted with all his past and his present, and bidding him make
+the most of the infatuation of the last victim to his empty pockets,
+the ancient Miss Arthur.
+
+What Claire did was like Claire; and perhaps, after all, she best
+comprehended the nature she dealt with. Certainly no tirade of
+accusing scorn could have so wounded the self-love of the selfish,
+conscienceless man as did her cool farewell missive.
+
+Edward Percy was in a very complaisant mood when Claire's letter
+reached him. True, he had received no reply to his two last effusions;
+but knowing that Claire must be soon returning to her home, if she had
+not already gone, he assured himself that it was owing to this that he
+had received no letter as yet. He never doubted her attachment to
+himself. That was not in his nature.
+
+Opening a rather heavy packet, as he sat in his cosy sitting-room, out
+dropped two letters; two letters full of poetry and fine sentiment,
+that his own flexible hand had penned and addressed to Miss Claire
+Keith. His letters, and returned with the seals unbroken. He could
+scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. His handsome,
+treacherous, light-blue eyes darkened and widened with astonishment
+and anger.
+
+He never moved in a hurry, never spoke in a hurry, never thought in a
+hurry. And slowly it dawned upon his mind to investigate further and
+find some clue that would make this unheard-of thing appear less
+incomprehensible. Accordingly he took up the envelope that had
+contained his rejected letters, and drew from them a brief note:
+
+                                   BALTIMORE, Saturday, 6th.
+
+     It will scarcely surprise Mr. Percy to learn that Miss Keith
+     desires now to end an acquaintance that has been, doubtless,
+     amusing "intellectually" and "socially" to both.
+
+     Of course, a gentleman so worldly-wise as himself can never
+     have been misled by the semblance of attachment, that has
+     seemed necessary in order to make such an acquaintance as
+     ours at all interesting. A flirtation based upon a "sympathy
+     of intellect," must of necessity end sooner or later, and
+     has, no doubt, been as harmless to him as to CLAIRE KEITH.
+
+Yes, without doubt Claire knew how to hurt this man most. He was not
+permitted to know that she felt the keen humiliation, which a proud
+nature must suffer when it discovers that it has trusted an unworthy
+object. Instead, he was to feel himself the injured one; the one
+humiliated. He, the deceiver, must own himself deceived. When he
+believed himself loved, he was laughed at. His own words were flung in
+his teeth in an insolent mockery. "A sympathy of intellect;" yes, he
+had used these words so often. He had obeyed the beckoning of a Circe,
+and now she held out to him his swine's reward of husks.
+
+Edward Percy had been dissatisfied with others, with circumstances,
+and surroundings, many a time and oft; but to-day, for the very first
+time, he felt dissatisfied with himself.
+
+And Claire had revenged her wrongs twofold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE MIMIC STAGE.
+
+
+Always, in life, little events pave the way for great catastrophes.
+The mine burns slowly until the explosive point is reached, and then--
+
+Fate was taking a leisurely gait, seemingly, and moving affairs at
+Oakley with a deliberation that was almost hesitating. Nevertheless,
+things were moving, and in the wake of little events, great ones
+could already be discerned by the plotters and counter-plotters, who
+waited and watched.
+
+Celine Leroque was in better spirits than usual, in these days.
+Indeed, considering how exceedingly probable it seemed that she would
+be turned adrift at any hour by her present mistress, Celine was very
+cheerful.
+
+And Miss Arthur had cause to complain. Beyond a doubt her French maid
+was becoming careless, very careless. Sometimes Miss Arthur was
+inclined to think that her scant locks of well-dyed hair were pulled
+quite unnecessarily, while her head was under Celine's hands. But this
+she endured like a Spartan, only exclaiming when the torture became
+unbearable. And when she finally ventured a protest, disastrous was
+the outcome.
+
+With many an apology, Celine fingered the curls and braids, inquiring
+with every touch of the hand or adjustment of a hair-pin: "Does that
+hurt, mademoiselle?"
+
+Being assured, when the hair-dressing was done, that she had
+accomplished the task without inflicting so much as a single twinge of
+pain, she held open the door for her mistress, cooing her satisfaction
+and beaming with delight.
+
+But alas for the poor spinster! Before she had been half an hour in
+the society of her beloved _fiance_, her unfortunate habit of tossing
+and wriggling her head brought Celine's gingerly architecture to
+grief. A sudden twist tumbled down full half of the glossy "crown of
+glory" from Miss Arthur's head to Mr. Percy's feet, and--we draw a
+veil over the confusion of the unhappy spinster.
+
+The lady having retired to her dressing-room to relieve her feelings
+and repair damages, a scene was enacted in which the lady did the
+histrionics and the maid apologized and giggled alternately, until the
+one had exhausted her anthem of wrath and the other her accompaniment
+of penitence and giggles.
+
+Then a truce was patched up, which lasted for several days.
+
+Celine had advanced to the verge of disrespect, when speaking of Mr.
+Percy, on more than one occasion. Several times she had said that he
+"had a familiar look," and she fancied she had seen him somewhere. But
+she had always checked herself on the very border-land of
+impertinence, and never had been able to tell if she really had before
+seen the gentleman or no.
+
+But she had put the spinster on the defensive, and had also excited
+her curiosity.
+
+During this time Mrs. John Arthur was slowly dropping into her _role_
+of invalid. First, she gave up her habitual walks about the grounds
+and on the terrace. Then, her drives became too fatiguing. Next, she
+found herself too languid to appear at breakfast, and that meal was
+served in her room. She was not ill, she protested; only a trifle
+indisposed. Let no one be at all concerned for her; she should be as
+well as usual in a few days. And Celine, who was very sympathetic, and
+was the first to suggest that a physician be consulted, was laughingly
+assured that if madame were sick, she, Celine, should be her head
+nurse.
+
+Mrs. Arthur had been absent from the family breakfast table for two
+days, when Miss Arthur met with a fresh grievance at the hands of
+Celine.
+
+Celine had been unusually garrulous, and had been regaling her
+mistress with descriptions of the great people, and the magnificent
+toilets she had seen, while with some of her former _miladis_.
+Suddenly she dropped the subject of a grand ball which had transpired
+in Baltimore, where her mistress was the guest of the honorable
+somebody, to exclaim:
+
+"It has just come to me, mademoiselle, where I must have seen Monsieur
+Percy. It was in Baltimore, and they said--" Here she became much
+confused, and pretended to be fully occupied with the folds of her
+mistress's dress.
+
+Miss Arthur looked down upon her sharply, and asked, "What did they
+say?"
+
+Celine stammered: "Oh, it was only gossip, mademoiselle; nothing worth
+repeating, I assure you."
+
+The curiosity and jealousy of the spinster were fully aroused. "Don't
+attempt any subterfuges, Celine," she said, in her loftiest tone. "I
+desire to know what was said of my--Mr. Percy."
+
+The girl arose to her feet, and with much apparent reluctance,
+replied:
+
+"They said, mademoiselle--of course, it was only gossip--that he was
+very much of a fortune-hunter, and that he was engaged to some woman
+much older than himself, who was immensely rich."
+
+Miss Arthur sat down and looked hard at her maid. "How do you know
+that Mr. Percy is that man?"
+
+"Oh! I don't know, my lady--mademoiselle. I only said that I thought I
+have seen him in Baltimore; the Mr. Percy they used to talk of there,
+must have been another."
+
+Miss Arthur looked like an ancient Sphinx. "Do you think that Mr.
+Percy is that man?" she asked.
+
+"_Merci!_ my lady, how can I tell that? It might have been he; and the
+old woman there might have disappointed him, you know," artlessly.
+
+Miss Arthur was literally speechless with rage. Without replying, she
+rose and swept into the adjoining room, closing the door behind her
+with a bang.
+
+Celine smiled comfortably, and went to minister unto Cora, to whom she
+confided her belief that Miss Arthur was dissatisfied with her, and
+meant to discharge her. "And only think, madame," she said
+plaintively, "it is all because, in an unguarded moment, I compared
+her to an old woman. It is so hard to remember, always, that you must
+not tell an old woman she is not young."
+
+And Cora laughed immoderately, for she much enjoyed her
+sister-in-law's discomfiture.
+
+But Miss Arthur did not dismiss the matter from her mind, when she
+banged the door upon Celine. Angry as she had been with that damsel,
+it was not anger alone that moved her. Jealousy was at work, and
+suspicion.
+
+That evening, sitting beside her lover, she said to him, carelessly:
+"By the way, Edward, were you ever in Baltimore?"
+
+The gentleman stroked his blonde whiskers, and smiled languidly as he
+answered: "In Baltimore? Oh, yes; I think there are few cities I have
+not visited." And then something in the face of Miss Arthur made him
+inquire, with a slight acceleration of speech: "But why do you ask?"
+
+Miss Arthur considered for a moment, and replied: "My maid, Celine,
+thinks that she has seen you there."
+
+She was watching him keenly, and fancied that he looked just a trifle
+annoyed, even when he smiled lazily at her, saying: "Indeed! And when
+is your maid supposed to have seen me there?"
+
+"I don't know when,"--Miss Arthur was beginning to feel injured; "I
+suppose you are well known in society there?"
+
+He smiled and still caressed his chin. "So so," he said,
+indifferently.
+
+"Edward!"--the spinster could not suppress the question that was heavy
+on her mind--"were you ever engaged to a lady in Baltimore?"
+
+He turned his blue eyes upon her in mild surprise. "Never," he said,
+nonchalantly.
+
+She looked somewhat relieved, but still anxious, and the man, after
+eyeing her for a moment, placing one hand firmly upon her own, said,
+in a tone that was half caress, half command,
+
+"Ellen, you have been listening to gossip about me. Now, let me hear
+the whole story, for I see it has troubled you, and I will not have
+that."
+
+She, glad to unburden her mind, told him what Celine had said. Perhaps
+Celine had counted upon this, and was making, of the unconscious Mr.
+Percy, a tool that should serve her in just the way that he did. At
+all events, while he listened to the spinster, he assured himself that
+if the French maid were not, for some reason, an enemy, she was
+certainly a meddler, and that she must quit Miss Arthur's service.
+
+He said nothing to this end that evening. But he fully satisfied Miss
+Arthur that he was not the person referred to by the girl. And to
+guard against further inquiries or accidents, he told her of several
+men of the name of Percy, who were much in society, and might be, any
+one of them, the man in question.
+
+And his _fiance_ was calmed and happy once more.
+
+She was as clay in the potter's hands, and Mr. Percy found it an easy
+matter to convince her, a few days later, that her invaluable maid was
+not the proper person to have about her. Accordingly, one fine
+morning, Celine was informed, in the spinster's loftiest manner, that
+her services were no longer desired, and a month's wages were tendered
+her, with the assurance that Miss Arthur "had not been blind to her
+sly ways, and trickery, and that she had only retained her until she
+could suit herself better."
+
+Celine took her _conge_ in demure silence, and sought Mrs. Arthur
+forthwith. Cora was really glad that she could at last command the
+girl, for many reasons, and they quickly came to an understanding.
+
+Great was the surprise and inward wrath of the spinster when, within
+ten minutes from the time Celine had left her presence, a maid without
+a mistress, she appeared again before her, and laying upon the
+dressing case the month's wages she had received in lieu of a warning,
+said:
+
+"Mademoiselle will receive back the month's wages, as I have not been
+in the least a loser by her dismissal. I enter the service of madame
+immediately."
+
+And then Celine had smiled blandly, bowed, and taken her departure,
+leaving the spinster to wonder how on earth she should manage her
+hair-dressing, and to wish that Edward had not insisted upon setting
+the girl adrift until a substitute had been found.
+
+The fact that the girl was retained in the house annoyed Mr. Percy not
+a little. But it did not surprise him that Cora should wish to keep
+her. He had long before made the discovery that the sisters-in-law
+were not more fond of each other than was essential to the comfort of
+both.
+
+Celine had been but two days in the service of her new mistress when
+that lady found herself too ill to be dressed for breakfast, even in
+her own room, and she kept her bed all day.
+
+John Arthur, in some alarm, had declared his intention of calling a
+physician. But Cora objected so strongly that he had refrained. Before
+evening came, however, Celine sought him, as he was sitting in what he
+chose to call his "study," and said:
+
+"Pardon my intrusion, monsieur, but I am distressed about madame. This
+afternoon she is not so well, and surely she should have some
+medicine."
+
+The old man wrinkled his brows in perplexity, as he replied: "Yes,
+yes, girl; but she won't let me call a doctor."
+
+Celine sighed, and moving a step nearer, murmured: "Monsieur, I will
+venture to repeat what madame but now said to me, if I may."
+
+He signed her to proceed.
+
+"Madame said that a stranger would only make her worse; that she would
+distrust anyone she did not know; but that if her dear old physician,
+who had attended her always in sickness, could see her, she would be
+glad. Alas! he was in New York, and she did not like to ask that he
+might be sent for. It would seem to you childish."
+
+Of course this speech had been made at Cora's instigation, but it had
+the desired effect. John Arthur bounded up, and bade Celine precede
+him to his wife's chamber; and the result of his visit was what the
+invalid had intended it to be. She was so pretty, and so pathetic, and
+so very ill! Celine declared that she was growing more fevered every
+moment, and as for her pulse, it was like a trip-hammer.
+
+John Arthur had an unutterable fear of illness, and after trying in
+vain to persuade Cora to see one of the village doctors, whom, he
+declared, were very good ones, he announced his intention to telegraph
+to the city for the doctor who had been her adviser in earlier days.
+
+And to this Cora reluctantly consented. "It seems foolish," she said,
+plaintively, "and yet I don't think I _ought_ to refuse to send for
+Doctor Le Guise. I feel as if I were really about to be very ill, hard
+as I have tried to fight off the weakness that is coming over me."
+
+"And madame is so flushed, and wanders so in her sleep,"--this, of
+course, from Celine.
+
+John Arthur arose from the side of the couch with considerable
+alacrity, saying: "I will telegraph at once. What is the address?"
+
+Cora lay back among her pillows, with closed eyes, and made no sign
+that she heard. He spoke again, and the eyes unclosed slowly, and she
+said, with slow languor:
+
+"Send to my brother; he will find him." Then closing her eyes, she
+murmured, "I want to sleep now."
+
+Celine turned toward him an awe-struck countenance and motioned him to
+be silent. He tip-toed from the room, thoroughly frightened and
+nervous, and sent a message to Lucian Davlin forthwith.
+
+When he was safely away, Cora awoke from her nap, and desired Celine
+to let in more light. This done, she propped herself up among her
+pillows, and taking from underneath one of them a novel, bade her maid
+tell everybody that she was not to be disturbed, while she read and
+looked more comfortable than ill.
+
+Towards evening, John Arthur looked in, or rather tried to look in,
+upon his wife. But Celine assured him that her mistress was sleeping
+fitfully and seemed much disturbed and agitated at the slightest
+sound, so his alarm grew and increased.
+
+When the evening train came he hoped almost against reason that it
+would bring the now eagerly looked for Dr. Le Guise.
+
+But no one came. Later, however, a telegram from Lucian arrived, which
+read as follows:
+
+     Doctor can't get off to-night. Will be down by morning
+     train.
+
+                              D----.
+
+In the morning, Cora was much worse. She did not recognize her
+husband, and called Miss Arthur, Lady Mallory, which made a great
+impression upon that spinster.
+
+Celine, who seemed to know just what to do, turned them both out,
+which did not displease either greatly, as the brother and sister were
+equally afraid of contagion, and were nervous in a sick-room.
+
+At length the doctor arrived, and with him Lucian Davlin, the latter
+looking very grave and anxious, the former looking very grave and
+wise.
+
+Celine was summoned to prepare the patient for the coming of the
+physician. When this had been done, and the wise man arose to go to
+his patient, John Arthur and Lucian would have followed him. But he
+waved them back, saying: "Not now, gentlemen, if you please; let me
+examine my patient first. That is always safest and wisest."
+
+So the three, Lucian, Arthur, and his sister, sat in solemn silence
+awaiting the verdict of the doctor from Europe. At last he came, and
+the gravity of his face was something to marvel at. Advancing toward
+Mr. Arthur, the doctor seemed to be looking him through and through as
+he asked:
+
+"Will you tell me how lately you have been in your wife's room."
+
+John Arthur answered him with pallid lips. "We were there this
+morning, my sister and I."
+
+The doctor turned toward Miss Arthur, looking, if possible, more
+serious than ever.
+
+"I am sorry, very sorry," he said. "And I hope you have incurred no
+risks. But it is my duty to tell you that Mrs. Arthur is attacked with
+a fever of a most malignant and contagious type, and you have
+certainly been exposed."
+
+Mr. Arthur turned the color of chalk and dropped into the nearest
+chair. Miss Arthur, who could not change her color, shrieked and fell
+upon the sofa. Lucian groaned after the most approved fashion. And
+the man of medicine continued,
+
+"Above all things, don't agitate yourselves; be calm. I would advise
+you to retire to your own rooms, and remain there for the present. I
+will immediately prepare some powders, which you will take hourly. We
+will begin in time, and hope that you may both escape the contagion."
+
+[Illustration: "I am sorry, very sorry."--page 288.]
+
+Then he turned to Mr. Davlin. "My dear boy, you had better go back to
+the city; at least go away from the house. This is no place for you."
+
+But Lucian shook his head, and said that he would not leave while his
+sister was in danger.
+
+The following morning Dr. Le Guise presented himself at the door of
+Miss Arthur's dressing-room. After making many inquiries, such as
+doctors are wont to terrify patients with, he pronounced upon the
+case: She had thus far escaped contagion. But her system was not over
+strong; in fact, was extremely delicate. If there was any place near
+at hand, suited to a lady like herself, his advice was to go there
+without delay. She was not rugged enough to risk remaining where she
+was.
+
+Before sunset, Miss Arthur was quartered at the Bellair inn. She had
+dispatched Mr. Percy a note the day before, bidding him delay his
+visit. Now she was under the same roof with him, greatly to her
+delight, and his disgust.
+
+John Arthur had not fared so well at the hands of the learned
+physician. He had swallowed his powders faithfully and hopefully, but
+the morning found him languid and dismal, with aching brain and
+nauseated stomach.
+
+The doctor shook his head, and bade him prepare for a slight attack of
+the fever. It promised to be very slight, but he must keep his room,
+for a few days at least, and attend to his medicine and his diet.
+
+And so the drama had commenced in earnest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+A STARTLING EPISODE.
+
+
+Claire Keith had said truly that the woman across the way would prove
+interesting to her.
+
+She grew more and more fond of watching for the tall form, with its
+trailing robes of black, its proudly-poised, heavily-veiled head, and
+slow, graceful movement. Sometimes she saw a white hand pull away the
+heavy curtains, and knew that the owner of the hand was looking out
+upon the street. But the face was always in shadow. She could not
+catch the slightest glimpse of it.
+
+"She has strong reasons for not wishing to be seen and recognized; I
+wonder what they are?" Claire would soliloquize at such times.
+
+Then she would chide herself for being so curious. But the fits of
+wondering grew stronger, until she came to feel an attraction that was
+more than mere curiosity; a sort of proprietorship, as it were, in the
+strange lady. She began to wish that she might know her, and at last,
+in a very unexpected manner, the wish was gratified.
+
+Claire had returned from a grand ball, weary and somewhat bored.
+Disrobing with unusual haste, she sought her couch. She had supposed
+herself very sleepy, but no sooner was her head upon the pillow, than
+sleep abandoned her, and she tossed restlessly, and very wide awake.
+
+Finding sleep impossible, and herself growing nervous, Claire at
+length arose. Throwing on a dressing-gown, she pushed a large chair
+to the window, and flinging herself in it, drew back the curtain.
+Glancing across the way, she was startled by a light shining out from
+the upper windows of the mysterious house. She had looked at that
+house when quitting her carriage, because to look had become a habit.
+But there had been no light then; not one glimmer. And now the entire
+upper floor was brilliantly illuminated.
+
+Claire rubbed her eyes and looked again. Then, with a cry of alarm,
+she sprang to her feet and rang her bell violently.
+
+From the roof of the house a single flame had shot up, and Claire
+realized the cause of that strange illumination. The upper floor was
+in flames!
+
+She turned up the gas and commenced making a hurried toilet. By the
+time the sleepy servant appeared in answer to her ring, she was
+wrapping a worsted shawl about her head and shoulders, preparatory to
+going out.
+
+"Rouse papa and the servants, James!" she commanded, sharply. "Number
+two hundred is on fire! Go instantly!"
+
+Giving the startled and bewildered James a push in the direction of
+her father's sleeping-room, she darted down the stairs. She unbolted
+and unchained the street door, and hurried straight across to number
+two hundred, where she rang peal after peal.
+
+The tiny flame had grown a great one by this time, and almost
+simultaneously with her ring at the door, the hoarse fire-alarm bell
+roared out its warning.
+
+It seemed an age to the girl before she heard bolts drawn back. Then
+the face of an elderly male servant peered cautiously out through a
+six-inch opening. In sharp, quick tones Claire told him that the roof
+was in flames. The statement seemed only to paralyze the man.
+
+Claire gave the door an excited push and spoke to him again. But he
+never moved until a voice, that evidently belonged to the lady of the
+house, said: "What is it, Peter?"
+
+Claire answered for him: "Madame, the roof of your house is in flames!
+Alarm your servants and make your escape!"
+
+Through the doorway Claire saw a white hand laid on the man's
+shoulder, and suddenly he became galvanized into life.
+
+Then the chain fell, and the door opened wide.
+
+Claire and the mysterious lady were face to face.
+
+By this time the people were moving in the street, and from the
+windows of Claire's home, lights were flashing.
+
+The woman drew back at the sound of the first footstep, and seemed to
+hesitate, with a look of uneasiness upon her face. Instantly Claire
+spoke the thought that had been in her mind when she rang the bell:
+"Madame, your house will soon be surrounded by strangers. Secure such
+valuables as are at hand and come with me across to my home. There you
+will be safe from intruders."
+
+The lady raised her hand, and saying, simply, "Wait," hurried up the
+broad stairs.
+
+Now all was confusion. Down the street came the rushing fire engines;
+servants ran about frantically, and people went tearing past Claire in
+the crazy desire to seize something and smash it on the paving stones,
+thereby convincing themselves that they were "helping at a fire."
+Regardless of these, Claire stood at her post like a little sentinel.
+Just as the first engine halted before the house, the mistress of all
+that doomed grandeur crossed its threshold for the last time. Then she
+turned to Claire, and the two hurried silently through the throng, and
+across the street. The door was fortunately ajar. The servants and
+Mr. Keith were all outside, so the girl and her companion had been
+unobserved.
+
+Claire led the way straight to her own room. Ushering in her
+companion, she closed the door upon chance intruders, and turned to
+look at her. The stranger had appeared at the door in a dressing-gown
+of dark silk, and this she still wore, having thrown over it a long
+cloak, and wrapped about her head, so as to almost entirely conceal
+her features, a costly cashmere shawl. This she now removed, and
+revealed to the anxious gaze of Claire the face of a woman past the
+prime of life;--a face that had never been handsome, but which bore
+unmistakable signs of refinement and culture in every feature. The
+eyes were large, dark-gray, and undeniably beautiful. The hair was
+wavy and abundant; once it had been black as midnight, but now it was
+plentifully streaked with gray. The face was thin and almost
+colorless. The hands were still beautiful, with long slender fingers
+and delicate veining; the very _beau ideal_ of aristocratic hands.
+
+This much Claire saw almost at a glance. Then the lady said, in a low,
+sweet voice that was in perfect unison with the hands, and eyes, and
+general bearing:
+
+"I cannot tell you, dear young lady, how much I thank you for your
+courage and hospitality. I could not have endured the going out upon
+the street in that throng."
+
+Claire laughed softly, and said, with characteristic frankness: "I
+guessed that, madame, for I must confess to having, on more than one
+occasion, seen that you do not desire observation."
+
+[Illustration: "The mistress of all the doomed grandeur crossed the
+threshold for the last time."--page 293.]
+
+The stranger looked at her with evident admiration. "You were kinder
+and more thoughtful for a stranger than I have found most of our sex,
+Miss ----; I beg your pardon; I am so much of a hermit that I don't
+even know your name."
+
+"My name is Keith,--Claire Keith."
+
+Then the girl crossed to the window and looked over at the burning
+building, while the stranger sank wearily into a chair.
+
+"Your house is going fast, madame. I fear nothing can be saved," said
+Claire. "The upper floor is already gone."
+
+The stranger smiled slightly, but never so much as glanced out at her
+disappearing home.
+
+"I hope my landlord is well insured," she said. "As for me, I have my
+chiefest valuables here," drawing from underneath the cloak, which she
+had only partially thrown off, a small casket, and a morocco case that
+evidently contained papers. "I keep these always near me; as for the
+rest, there is nothing lost that money cannot replace."
+
+Claire looked a trifle surprised at her indifference to the
+destruction of her elegant furniture, but made no answer. And the
+stranger fell into thoughtful silence.
+
+A rap sounded on the door, and a gentle voice outside said: "Claire,
+dear, are you there?"
+
+The girl turned upon the stranger a look of embarrassed inquiry. "That
+is mamma," she said.
+
+The lady smiled half sadly at her evident perturbation, and replied,
+with a touch of dignity in her tone, "Admit your mother, my dear. I
+was about to ask for her."
+
+Claire drew a sigh of relief and opened the door.
+
+"My child," began Mrs. Keith, as she hurriedly entered the room,
+"James tells me that you--"
+
+Here she broke off as her eyes fell upon the stranger, and Claire
+hastened to say: "Mamma, this is the lady whose house is burning. I
+ran over there as soon as I saw the first flame and asked her to come
+here."
+
+Mrs. Keith was not only a lady, but a woman of good sense, and she
+turned courteously toward the intruder, saying, "You did quite right,
+my dear. I trust you have not been too seriously a loser by this
+misfortune, madame."
+
+The lady had risen. Now she stepped forward and said, in her
+unmistakably high-bred tones, "I have suffered no material injury, I
+assure you. And your daughter has done me a great kindness. I was
+about to ask if I might see you, as I felt that it was to you, as the
+mistress of this house, that I owed some explanation regarding myself,
+before accepting further hospitality from your daughter."
+
+Mrs. Keith bowed gravely, and the stranger continued,
+
+"My name is Mrs. Ralston. I have lived for nearly ten years a secluded
+life, having been an invalid. Messrs. Allyne & Clive are my bankers,
+and have been for years. Mr. Allyne is an old family friend. If you
+will ask your husband to call upon him, you will be assured that I am
+not a mysterious adventuress."
+
+Mrs. Ralston smiled slightly, and Mrs. Keith smiled in return as she
+said, cordially: "Your face and manner assure me of that, Mrs.
+Ralston. And now will you not permit me to show you a room where you
+can rest a little, for it is almost morning, and your night's repose
+has been sadly disturbed."
+
+"I must accept your hospitality, Mrs. Keith, and ask to be allowed to
+intrude upon you until I can communicate with Mr. Allyne, and he can
+find me a suitable place of residence."
+
+"Don't let that trouble you, pray. We shall be happy to have you
+remain our guest," and Mrs. Keith turned to leave the room.
+
+Mrs. Ralston held out her hand to Claire, and that impulsive young
+lady clasped it in both her own, as they bade each other good-night.
+And so the mysterious lady was actually under the same roof with the
+girl who had been so much interested in her and her possible history.
+
+Mr. Allyne was well known to Mr. Keith, and a man whom he highly
+esteemed. On the following day, at the request of Mrs. Ralston, he
+called at the banking-house of Allyne & Clive.
+
+On learning that Mrs. Ralston was the guest of his brother banker, and
+of the demolition of her house, Mr. Allyne was doubly surprised. And
+his statement concerning the lady was not only satisfactory but highly
+gratifying. She had been left an orphan in her girlhood, and was from
+one of the oldest and proudest of Virginia's old and proud families.
+She had now no very near relatives, and having separated from a
+worthless husband, had lived mostly in Europe. She had resumed her
+family name, and although the husband from whom she had withdrawn
+herself, had squandered nearly half her fortune, she was still a
+wealthy woman. He spoke in highest terms of praise of her mind and
+accomplishments, and assured Mr. Keith that she was not only a woman
+of unusual refinement and culture, but one also of loftiest principles
+and purest Christianity. If it were not that it would be the very
+place where this worthless husband would be likeliest to find her, he
+would not allow her to occupy any home save his own. And, lastly, Mr.
+Allyne stated that if he, Mr. Keith, could prevail upon Mrs. Ralston
+to remain under his roof, he would do Mr. Allyne a great favor.
+
+"For," concluded that gentleman, "she lives too secluded, and she is
+so well fitted for such society as that of your wife and daughter; she
+is a woman to grace any household."
+
+Mr. Keith returned home and faithfully reported all that he had heard
+concerning their guest.
+
+Claire had been very much in love with the grave, stately lady from
+the first, and after a morning's chat with her, Mrs. Keith was not far
+behind in admiration.
+
+And the woman who had lived alone so much, found this cheery little
+family circle very pleasant, so when Claire and her mother begged her
+with much earnestness to remain with them, she did not refuse.
+
+"I cannot resist the invitation which I feel to be so sincere," she
+said. "I will remain with you for a time, at least, but I am too much
+of a hermit to tarry long where there is such a magnet as this,"
+turning to Claire.
+
+And Claire laughingly declared that she would forswear society, and
+don a veil of any thickness, if only Mrs. Ralston would share her
+isolation.
+
+So she stayed with them, and soon became as a dearly loved sister to
+Mrs. Keith; while between herself and Claire, an attachment, as
+unusual as it was strong, sprang into being. They drove together, read
+together, talked together by the hour, and never seemed to weary of
+each other's society.
+
+Enthusiastic Claire wrote to Olive and Madeline, giving glowing
+descriptions of her new found friend. But because of the events that
+were making Olive and Madeline doubly dear to her, and because she
+could not speak of them to a stranger, however loved and trusted,
+Claire said little to Mrs. Ralston of her sister or of the little
+heroine of Oakley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+WAITING.
+
+
+The expert who had been tracing out the goings and doings of Percy,
+made his report.
+
+After it had been thoroughly reviewed by Clarence and Olive, they were
+forced to confess that they were not one whit the wiser. The detective
+had found how and where Percy had squandered much of his fortune, but
+had brought to light absolutely nothing that could be of use to his
+employers. And so they abandoned the investigation in that direction.
+
+But when the report of the Professor's case was sent in, they found
+more cause for congratulation. First, it had been discovered that the
+Professor had visited three different physicians, all of them men
+bearing reputations not over spotless. Next he had made sundry
+purchases from two different chemists; and third, last and all
+important, he had been dogged to the bazaar of a dealer in theatrical
+wares, where he had purchased a wig, beard, and other articles of
+disguise.
+
+Two days had passed since the above discoveries were reported. Then
+the detective called upon Dr. Vaughan and informed him that Mr. Davlin
+and the Professor, the latter disguised with wig, beard and
+spectacles, had taken the early morning train that very day, and that
+he, the detective, had been lounging so near that he heard Davlin call
+for two tickets to Bellair.
+
+And then they knew that the siege had begun.
+
+Three days later, Olive received the following letter, which speaks
+for itself:
+
+                                OAKLEY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
+
+     DEAR OLIVE:
+
+     The engagement has opened in earnest.
+
+     Last evening, Mr. D. and _le Docteur_, between them,
+     frightened the two maids out of the house. This morning I
+     succeeded in scaring away the old housekeeper, which made a
+     shortage in servants. Old Hagar happened along just then _by
+     some chance_, and declared herself not at all afraid of
+     contagion; so madame bade her brother employ her. The cook
+     remains, as _Monsieur_ and _le Docteur_ must eat. My meals
+     are served in madame's dressing-room, and shared by that
+     lady.
+
+     Courage, my friend, our time is almost here. And I am yours
+     till death,
+
+                                   M----.
+
+This letter was perused by Olive and Clarence with almost breathless
+eagerness and interest. And then they found themselves once more
+waiting eagerly for fresh tidings from the "seat of war," as Clarence
+termed it.
+
+At last came a letter from Madeline that aroused them as the clarion
+stirs those arrayed for battle. It ran as follows, bearing neither
+date nor signature:
+
+     TO ARMS, MY FRIENDS!
+
+     If you were among the village gossips to-day, this is what
+     you would hear, for it is what is fast spreading itself
+     through the town:
+
+     The lady up at the mansion has been very ill, but is now
+     better. Her husband took the fever from her, and, being old
+     and his constitution enfeebled by the dissipation of his
+     earlier days, he came near dying. Now they hope that he will
+     live, although the danger is not yet passed. But _if he does
+     live_ he will never be himself again. The fever has affected
+     his brain, and he will be _hopelessly mad_.
+
+     That is what the villagers know.
+
+     What they do not know is, that Mr. D---- and the _doctor_
+     have already fitted up two rooms in the most secluded part
+     of the closed-up wing, and that the "insane" man will be
+     removed to those rooms to-night.
+
+     One fact concerning _le Docteur_, your expert has failed to
+     discover, is that at some time the man has made a study of
+     medicine. This is only a theory of mine, not a discovery;
+     but when I tell you what he did, I think that you both will
+     agree with me. A few days ago the _doctor_ walked down to
+     the village one morning, and coolly presented himself at the
+     door of Doctor G----'s office.
+
+     Doctor G---- is the least popular and least skillful of the
+     three physicians here, but of course the city man was not
+     supposed to know that. He, the city doctor, informed Doctor
+     G---- that although his employer had not desired it, as he
+     had perfect confidence in the present treatment of Mr.
+     A----, still it was always his practice to consult with
+     another physician.
+
+     So he desired Doctor G---- to accompany him to O---- and see
+     his patient; not that he had any doubts about the disease,
+     but because, in case of a serious termination, it was always
+     a consolation to the friends to know that every precaution
+     had been taken. Doctor G---- came, to find the patient in a
+     bedrugged stupor. He endorsed everything _le Docteur_ chose
+     to say, and went away feeling much puffed-up because of
+     having been called in to consult with a New York physician.
+
+     You see they are moving very carefully, and do not intend to
+     have any doubts raised.
+
+     Miss A---- of course remains in the village, and receives
+     reports daily concerning her brother, and her Knight is
+     still at her elbow.
+
+     Henry has been here for a week, and does not dream of my
+     identity.
+
+     Hagar and myself, between us, have managed to get possession
+     of a specimen of every drug that has been administered to
+     Mr. A----, also of the harmless nostrums that are dealt out
+     to madame for appearance's sake.
+
+     There is but one thing more that I must accomplish, and that
+     must be done to-night, if possible. If I succeed in this,
+     two days more will see me _en route_ for the city. If I
+     fail--then I must remain here, if I can, and try again. In
+     any case, I must make my new move within the week. So look
+     out for the chrysalis; it remains for you to develop it into
+     the butterfly.
+
+This letter chanced to arrive during one of Doctor Vaughan's afternoon
+visits, and Olive read it aloud to him, saying at the end, and almost
+without taking breath,
+
+"Something she must accomplish first. If she has secured the
+medicines, and they are safe not to run away in her absence, then what
+is it she means?"
+
+Clarence shook his head, saying: "I have no idea. She speaks as if the
+thing, whatever it is, was attended with some risk."
+
+"And this explains Henry's absence," Olive said, tapping the letter in
+her lap. "No doubt he was summoned without any previous warning. Of
+course, he is a mere tool for his master. They will hardly dare let
+him see their game."
+
+"Hardly; but if they were not using him to Madeline's satisfaction,
+she would have revealed herself to him."
+
+"True."
+
+"We are approaching a crisis now. If this new movement fails,--but I
+hardly think it will."
+
+Olive looked up in alarm. "Oh, don't suggest failure," she exclaimed.
+"She _must_ succeed. What will become of poor Philip if she does not?"
+
+Clarence lifted his face reverently. "I believe that the Power above
+us, who permits evil to be because only from pain and sorrow comes
+purification, has not permitted the life of this beautiful young girl
+to be darkened in vain. Out of her wrongs, and her sorrows, and her
+humiliation, He will allow her own hands to shape not only a strong,
+true, earnest womanhood for herself, but the weapons which shall
+deliver the innocent, and bring the guilty to justice."
+
+And Olive felt comforted, and her hope took new wings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+MR. PERCY SHAKES HIMSELF.
+
+
+It was noontide at Oakley, and a December sun was shining coldly in at
+the window of Mrs. Cora Arthur's dressing-room. Within that cozy room,
+however, all was warmth and brightness. A cheerful fire was blazing
+and crackling in the grate. Sitting before the fire, wrapped in a
+becoming dressing-gown of white cashmere, was Cora herself, looking a
+trifle annoyed, but remarkably well withal. Wonderfully well,
+considering how very ill she had been.
+
+Lounging near her, his feet lazily outstretched toward the fire, was
+Lucian Davlin.
+
+"What did you write to Percy?" he inquired, consulting his watch.
+
+"Just what you told me; that I had something of importance to
+communicate, and desired him to call to-day at two," replied Cora.
+
+"But--aren't you looking a little too well for a lady who has been so
+desperately ill? It won't do to arouse his suspicions, you know."
+
+Cora crossed to her dressing-case, went carefully over her face with a
+puff-ball, and did some very artistic tracing in India ink under and
+over each eye. Then she turned toward him triumphantly. "There!" she
+exclaimed, "now I shall draw the curtains," suiting the action to the
+word, "and then, when I lie on this couch, my face will be entirely in
+the shadow, while from the further window there will come enough light
+to enable him to recognize you."
+
+At this moment a rap was heard at the door. Cora threw herself upon
+the invalid's couch, and lay back among the pillows. When she had
+settled herself to her satisfaction, Mr. Davlin opened the door,
+admitting Celine Leroque.
+
+"Monsieur Percy is below, madame," said the girl, glancing sharply at
+the form in the darkened corner.
+
+"Come and draw these coverings over me, Celine, and then go and bring
+him up," replied Cora.
+
+Then she glanced at Lucian, who said, carelessly: "Well, my dear, I
+will go down to the library."
+
+Celine adjusted the wraps and pillows and then went out, closely
+followed by Lucian. She was not aware that Mr. Percy was expected, the
+message having been sent by Henry. And she was not a little anxious to
+know the nature of the interview that was about to be held.
+
+Mr. Percy, conducted to Cora's door by Celine, entered the room with
+his usual lazy grace, and approached the recumbent figure in the
+darkened corner, saying, in a tone of hypocritical solicitude:
+
+"Madame, I trust you are not overtaxing your strength in thus kindly
+granting me an interview."
+
+He knew so well how to assume the manner best calculated to throw her
+off her guard and into a rage.
+
+But Cora, understanding his tactics, and her own failing, was prepared
+for him. In tones as smooth as his own she answered:
+
+"You are very good, and I find my strength returning quite rapidly. In
+fact," and here a double meaning was apparent, as she intended it
+should be, "I think I shall soon be _stronger_ than before my
+illness."
+
+There was silence for a moment. Evidently Mr. Percy was not inclined
+to help her to put into words whatever she had in her mind.
+
+"I sent for you," she continued, "because I have something to say
+before you meet with a person who, as you are likely to remain one of
+this pleasant family, you must of necessity, and for policy's sake,
+meet with the outward forms of politeness." Here she paused as if from
+exhaustion, and he, lifting his fine eyebrows slightly, kept silence
+still.
+
+Cora, beginning to find her part irksome, hurried to its conclusion.
+"You have heard, no doubt, of the presence of my brother in this
+house. I sent for you that you might meet him, and I desired my maid
+to show you to this room first, that I might venture a word of warning
+and advice. My brother is not the stranger that you evidently imagine
+him. Beyond the fact that you and I were once married, that I of my
+own will forsook you, and the reason, or part of the reason for so
+doing, he knows little of our affairs. For my sake he will make no use
+of that knowledge. But I think it best that you understand each other.
+Will you please ring that bell?"
+
+He obeyed her, looking much mystified and somewhat apprehensive.
+Celine appeared promptly, and disappeared again in answer to Cora's
+command:
+
+"Show my brother here, Celine."
+
+When the door opened, he turned slowly and met the cool gaze
+of--Lucian Davlin!
+
+That personage approached the invalid, saying: "You sent for me to
+introduce me to this gentleman, I suppose, Cora?"
+
+Mr. Percy arose slowly, and the two confronted each other, while Cora
+nodded her head, as if unable to answer his words.
+
+As Percy advanced the light from the one window that had been left
+unshrouded fell full upon the two men, who gazed upon each other with
+the utmost _sang froid_. Two handsomer scoundrels never stood at bay.
+And while the dark face expressed haughty insolence, the blonde
+features looked as if, after all, the occasion called for nothing more
+fatiguing than a stare of indolent surprise.
+
+Cora's voice broke the silence: "Mr. Davlin is my brother, Mr. Percy.
+Please stop staring at each other, gentlemen, and come to some sort of
+an understanding."
+
+"Really, this is a most agreeable surprise," drawled Percy, looking
+from one to the other with perfect coolness.
+
+[Illustration: "Mr. Percy arose slowly, and the two confronted each
+other."--page 306.]
+
+"And quite dramatic in effect," sneered Davlin, flinging himself
+into a chair. "Sit down, Percy; one may as well be comfortable. How's
+the fair spinster to-day?"
+
+Percy waved away the question, and resumed his seat and his languid
+attitude, saying: "Upon my word this _is_ quite dramatic."
+
+Davlin laughed, airily. "Even so. I hope the fact that this lady is my
+sister will explain some things to you more satisfactorily than they
+have hitherto been explained. And if so, we had better let bygones
+drop."
+
+Percy turned his eyes away from the speaker, and let them rest upon
+the face of Cora. Again ignoring the remark addressed to him, he said,
+slowly: "I don't see any very strong family resemblance."
+
+"I don't suppose you ever will," retorted Davlin, coolly.
+
+"And I don't precisely see the object of this interview," Percy
+continued.
+
+Davlin made a gesture of impatience, and said, sharply: "Hang it all,
+man, the object is soon got at! It's a simple question and answer."
+
+Percy brushed an imaginary particle of dust off his sleeve with the
+greatest care, and then lifted his eyes and said, interrogatively:
+"Well?"
+
+"Will you have war or peace?"
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Upon what?"
+
+"The terms."
+
+"Well!"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+Percy examined his finger nails, attentively, as if looking for his
+next idea there. "To be let alone," he said, at last.
+
+Davlin laughed. "And to let alone?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Then we won't waste words. Rely upon us to help, rather than hinder
+you. There's no use bringing up old scores. If you vote for an
+alliance of forces, very good."
+
+Percy nodded, and then rising, said: "Well, if that is all, I will
+take my leave. No doubt quiet is best for Mrs. Arthur," bowing
+ironically. "By-the-by," meaningly, "when you find yourself in the
+village, Davlin, it might not be amiss to show yourself at the inn."
+
+"Quite right," said Davlin, gravely. "Possibly I may look in upon you
+to-morrow."
+
+Mr. Percy nodded; made a graceful gesture of adieu to Cora, who
+murmured inaudibly in reply; and the two men quitted her presence.
+
+In a few moments Davlin returned to Cora, smiling and serene. "I told
+you we could easily manage him," he said. "He won't trouble himself to
+go to war, save in his own defence. You did the invalid beautifully,
+Co., and I feel quite satisfied with the present state of things."
+
+But Mr. Percy had not looked and listened for nothing. He went
+straight to his room, and shutting himself in, began to think
+diligently. Finally he summed up his case on his fingers as follows:
+
+"First, are they brother and sister? I don't believe it. Second,
+taking it for granted they are not, what is their game? If the old man
+dies, and if I can ferret out the mystery, for I believe there is one,
+_who knows but that two fortunes may come into my hands_? I must watch
+them, and to do that, Ellen must go back to Oakley, and they must
+invite me to be their guest!"
+
+Mr. Percy arose and shook himself, mentally and physically
+
+But alas for Celine! She had heard almost every word of the interview,
+through the key-hole of a door leading into an adjoining room, and it
+had told her nothing, save that there was to be peace between the two
+men, and that there had been, perhaps, war.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+A SILKEN BELT.
+
+
+Mr. Percy and Miss Arthur were openly engaged now, and were anxiously
+waiting for the recovery of the sick at Oakley, in order to celebrate
+their marriage.
+
+The spinster was in a frame of mind to grant almost any favor to her
+lover to-night. And when at last she, herself, led up to the subject
+she wished to broach, he foresaw an easy victory.
+
+"Oh, Edward," she sighed, with a very dramatic shudder, "you cannot
+think how I dread to-morrow's ordeal, the visit to my brother! Suppose
+poor John were to rave at me,--me, his own sister!"
+
+He took the hand that was quite as large as his own, and caressed it
+reassuringly. "I don't think there is the slightest danger, Ellen,
+dear, but I am convinced I must attend you to-morrow. I shall feel
+better to be with you."
+
+"Oh, Edward!" sighed the maiden, enraptured at this declaration of
+tenderness, "you are so careful of me."
+
+He smiled and still caressed her hand, saying: "Listen, darling,"
+drawing her nearer to him, "I don't like to have you here; it is not a
+fit place for you. And I find that remarks are being made. This I
+cannot endure. Besides, I do not think it right for you or me to leave
+your brother so entirely at the mercy of--Mrs. Arthur. Promise me that
+you will consult a physician to-morrow, and as soon as the danger of
+contagion is past, you will go back."
+
+"But I can't bear to leave _you_, Edward."
+
+"And you shall not. I will come to Oakley too."
+
+"You? Oh, how nice! Have they asked you to come?"
+
+"I saw Mrs. Arthur's brother to-day, and we settled that."
+
+"Oh, _did_ you? Then you are good friends again?"
+
+He turned upon her a look of inquiry. "Again?"
+
+"Yes; Cora told me not to speak of Mr. Davlin to you, as you were not
+good friends, and it might make you less free to come to the house."
+
+Mr. Percy's eyebrows went up perceptibly. "Mrs. Arthur is very
+thoughtful; but she was mistaken; our little misunderstanding has not
+made us serious enemies."
+
+"Oh, how nice!" rapturously.
+
+"_Very_ nice," dryly. "Now you will be a good girl and go back soon?"
+
+"I don't think Cora will be over anxious to have me come back," she
+said, looking like a meditative cat-bird. "I know she kept that Celine
+in the house to spite me."
+
+"I can readily understand how she might be jealous of you, dear.
+Perhaps she fears your influence over your brother. At any rate, your
+duty lies there. When it is time to do so, don't consult her or
+anyone; take possession of your former apartments, and stand by your
+brother in his hour of need."
+
+Miss Arthur promised to comply with her lover's request, and he
+managed at last to escape from her, and seek the repose which he
+preferred to such society.
+
+All this time John Arthur was a prisoner in the west wing. He was
+attended by the doctor sometimes, by Celine occasionally, and by Henry
+almost constantly since the arrival of that sable individual.
+
+Lucian Davlin, having no taste for the work, kept aloof as much as
+possible. Himself and Dr. Le Guise, as he called his confederate, had
+labored hard and, with the assistance of old Hagar, had put the rooms
+in proper condition for the occupancy of a lunatic. And a lunatic John
+Arthur certainly was. Once before his removal, and once since, he had
+been seized with a paroxysm of undeniable insanity.
+
+John Arthur had been, and still was, the dupe of his supposed
+brother-in-law and Dr. Le Guise. We have all heard of natures that can
+be frightened into sickness, almost into dying; of an imaginary
+disease. John Arthur's was one of these. And, with a little aid from
+Dr. Le Guise, he had been really quite ill.
+
+Henry had been constituted his keeper, a position which he filled with
+reluctance, and there was a fair prospect that sooner or later he
+would break into open mutiny. Although he could not guess at the
+nature of the game his master was playing, yet he felt assured that it
+was something desperate, if not dangerous.
+
+He had promised "his young lady," as he called Madeline, to remain in
+Mr. Davlin's service until she bade him withdraw, and but for this
+would hardly have submitted to remain John Arthur's keeper on any
+terms. Henry had a certain pride of his own, and that pride was in
+revolt against this new servitude.
+
+He had not met Cora here, and had no idea that she was an inmate of
+the house.
+
+Dr. Le Guise had relieved Henry on the morning of the day that Miss
+Arthur ventured, for the first time since her flight, within the walls
+of Oakley manor, escorted by Mr. Percy. He had detected some signs of
+fever, although Mr. Arthur declared himself feeling better, and
+administered a powder to check it.
+
+Soon the patient began to show signs of increasing restlessness, and
+by the time Henry appeared to announce that Miss Arthur desired an
+interview with Dr. Le Guise, he began to wrangle with his physician
+and gave expression to various vagaries.
+
+Consigning his charge to Henry, with the remark that he "must watch
+him close, and not let him get hold of anything," Dr. Le Guise hurried
+down to the drawing-room.
+
+The doctor listened to Miss Arthur attentively, while she made known
+her desire to return to the manor if the danger of contagion was at an
+end. Then he replied, hurriedly:
+
+"Quite right; quite admirable. But if you will take my advice, I
+should say, don't come just yet. There will be no danger to you, in
+going to your unfortunate brother for just a few moments--a very
+few--and then going straight out of the house into a purer atmosphere.
+But to remain here now, to breathe this air just yet--my dear lady, I
+could not encourage that; the danger would be too great."
+
+And then he led the way straight in to John Arthur's presence,
+explaining as they went that the cause of his removal from his own
+rooms was to escape the fever impregnations still clinging there.
+
+John Arthur was sitting in the middle of his bed, beating his pillows
+wildly, and imploring Henry, between shrieks of laughter, to come and
+kiss him, evidently mistaking him for some blooming damsel. As the
+damsel declined to come, the lunatic became furious, and hurled the
+pillows, and afterwards his night-cap, at him, with blazing eyes and
+cat-like agility. This done, he began to rock himself to and fro, and
+shout out the words of some old song to an improvised tune that was
+all on one note.
+
+Dr. Le Guise turned to Mr. Percy, whispering: "You see; that's the way
+he goes on, only worse at times."
+
+Mr. Percy turned away. The fair spinster who had been clinging to him
+in a paroxysm of terror, attempted to faint, but remembering her
+complexion thought better of it and contented herself with being half
+led, half carried out, in a "walking swoon." And both she and Mr.
+Percy felt there was no longer room to doubt the insanity of her
+brother.
+
+Having seen them depart, Dr. Le Guise sought out Mr. Davlin. Finding
+him in Cora's room, he entered and informed the pair of the desire
+Miss Arthur had manifested to come back to her brother's roof, and of
+his mode of putting off the evil day of her return.
+
+"Humph!" ejaculated Davlin, "what does it mean? I saw Percy in the
+village this morning, and he told me quite plainly that he desired an
+invitation to quarter himself upon us."
+
+"And what did you say?" gasped Cora.
+
+"Told him to come, of course, as soon as it was safe to do so."
+
+"Well!" said Cora, dryly, "I don't think it will be very safe for
+either of them to come just at present."
+
+"Oh, well," said the doctor, cheerfully, "we have got seven long days
+to settle about that. And if they insist upon coming, and _then catch
+the fever_, they mustn't blame me."
+
+And Dr. Le Guise looked as if he had perpetrated a good joke.
+
+John Arthur's insanity was as short-lived as it was violent. He lay
+for the rest of the day quiet and half stupefied. When night came on,
+he sank into a heavy slumber.
+
+At twelve o'clock that night, all was quiet in and about the manor.
+
+Cora Arthur was sleeping soundly, dreamlessly, as such women do sleep.
+In the room adjoining hers, Celine Leroque sat, broad awake and
+listening intently. At last, satisfied that her mistress was sleeping,
+Celine arose and stole softly into the room where she lay.
+
+Softly, softly, she approached the couch, passing through a river of
+moonlight that poured in at the broad windows. Then she drew from a
+pocket, something wrapped in a handkerchief.
+
+Noiselessly, swiftly, she moved, and then the handkerchief, shaken
+free from the something within, was laid upon the face of the sleeper,
+while the odor of chloroform filled the room.
+
+Nimbly her fingers moved, pulling away the coverings, and then the
+clothing, from the unconscious body. It is done in a moment. With a
+smothered exclamation of triumph, she draws away a _silken belt_, and
+removing the handkerchief, glides noiselessly from the room.
+
+She steals on to her own room in the west wing. Here she locks the
+door and, striking a light, hurriedly rips the silken band with a tiny
+penknife, and draws from thence two papers.
+
+One glance suffices. Replacing the papers, she binds the belt about
+her own body, and then envelopes herself in a huge water-proof, with
+swift, nervous fingers.
+
+And now, for the second time, this girl is fleeing away from Oakley.
+Out into the night that is illuminated now by a faint, faint moon;
+through the bare, leafless, chilly woods, and down the path that
+crosses the railway track not far from the little station. Once more
+she follows the iron rails; once more she lingers in the shadows,
+until the train thunders up; the night train for New York. Then she
+springs on board.
+
+For the second time, Madeline Payne is fleeing away from Oakley and
+all that it contains; fleeing cityward to begin, with the morrow, a
+new task, and a new chapter in her existence.
+
+But no lover is beside her now; for that love is dead in her heart.
+And no Clarence breathes in her ear a warning, for now it is not
+needed. Since that first June flitting, she has learned the world and
+its wisdom, good and evil.
+
+And the cloud that Hagar saw on that June night, hangs dark above the
+house of Oakley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+CROSS PURPOSES.
+
+
+An irate pair were seated at breakfast the morning after Celine's
+flitting. And while they ate little, they talked much and earnestly,
+sometimes angrily. They had arrived at the conclusion, which, although
+erroneous, had been foreseen by the astute Celine, namely: That the
+robbery had been committed at the instigation of Mr. Percy, and that
+Celine had been brought over and used by him as a tool.
+
+It was evident that something must be done, and that quickly.
+
+While these papers were in the hands of Percy, as undoubtedly they
+were at that moment, it were best to keep that gentleman as much as
+possible under their own eye.
+
+[Illustration: "With a smothered exclamation of triumph she draws away
+a _silken belt_!"--page 315.]
+
+Yesterday, it had seemed desirable that Miss Arthur and her _fiance_
+should be kept out of the house of Oakley. To-day, they agreed that
+the quicker the pair took up their abode beneath its hospitable roof,
+the sooner they, Mr. Davlin and his accomplice, would breathe
+freely. If they could get the two in the same house with themselves,
+they might yet outwit Mr. Percy--with the aid of their friend and
+ally, the sham doctor, if in no other way. Meantime, they would not
+make the robbery known; or rather, they would inform the servants and
+all others whom it seemed desirable to enlighten, that the girl,
+Celine, had possessed herself of certain jewels and of Mrs. Arthur's
+purse, and fled with her spoils.
+
+Accordingly, Hagar was summoned and told of the base ingratitude of
+the French maid. Whereupon she was much astonished, and ventilated her
+opinions of French folk in general, and that one in particular.
+Through Hagar, the other servants, now few in number, were informed of
+the defalcation, and the extent of damage done by Miss Celine Leroque.
+Then the kitchen cabinet held a session forthwith, and settled the
+fate of their departed contemporary, being ably assisted by Hagar.
+
+The Professor was made no wiser than were the rest of the tools who
+served the plotters. But he was somewhat surprised upon being desired,
+by Mr. Davlin, to equip himself for a walk, the object of which was to
+allay the alarm of Miss Arthur and her friend, and invite them to the
+manor forthwith. Said invitations were to be followed up with the
+doctor's assurance that, having made a more minute examination, he was
+fully satisfied that there was no fear of contagion from Mrs. Arthur,
+and but little from her husband; none, in fact, unless they desired to
+be much in his room.
+
+The worthy pair set out for the village, and were so fortunate as to
+meet Mr. Percy on the very threshold of the inn. Having exchanged
+greetings and cigars, and having discussed the weather and various
+other interesting topics, the gentlemen sent up their compliments to
+Miss Arthur.
+
+They were soon admitted into the presence of that lady, where more
+skirmishing was done, during which Dr. Le Guise unburdened himself, as
+per programme, and then Mr. Davlin fired his first shot.
+
+"By-the-by, Miss Arthur, you may congratulate yourself that you did
+not retain that impostor of a French maid longer in your service."
+
+Lucian had purposely placed himself near the spinster, and where he
+could observe the face of Percy without seeming to do so. But that
+gentleman was glancing lazily out at the window, and his face was as
+expressionless as putty. Lucian uttered a mental, "Confound his _sang
+froid_," as he continued:
+
+"She has robbed my sister of jewels and money to the tune of a couple
+of thousand, and has cut and run."
+
+"Goodness gracious, Mr. Davlin!" shrieked the spinster.
+
+But Percy only turned his head lazily, and elevated his eyebrows in
+mute comment.
+
+"Yes," laughing lightly, "I suppose the hussy fancied that she had
+made a heavier haul still. My sister had about her person some papers,
+or rather _duplicates of papers that are deposited in a safer place_.
+The jade took these also, thinking, no doubt, that they were of value
+or, perhaps, without examining them to see that they were worse than
+worthless to her."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Davlin, what an artful creature! I was sure she was not quite
+to be trusted. But who would have supposed that she would dare--"
+gushed Miss Arthur.
+
+"Oh, she is no doubt a professional; belongs to some city 'swell mob,'
+begging your pardon. But I shall run up to the city to-night, I think,
+and try and see if the detectives can't unearth her."
+
+Still no sign from Percy; not so much as the quiver of an eyelid.
+
+So Mr. Davlin came straight to the issue, thinking that surely Mr.
+Percy would betray something here; perhaps would refuse to come to
+Oakley. In such case, Lucian felt that he should be tempted to spring
+upon and throttle him from sheer desperation.
+
+But again he was mistaken, for no sooner was his invitation extended,
+than Mr. Percy accepted it with evident gratification, saying, in his
+easy drawl: "Shall be delighted to change my quarters. Anything must
+be an improvement upon this. And as your--ah, Dr. Le Guise--says there
+is positively no danger, Miss Arthur will of course be rejoiced to
+return to her proper place."
+
+And of course Miss Arthur assented.
+
+Before leaving, Mr. Davlin arranged that the carriage should come for
+Miss Arthur the next day, and that a porter should immediately
+transfer their luggage to Oakley.
+
+"My faith," mused he, as he strode back to tell Cora of his mission;
+"but he carries it with a high hand. I didn't think there was so much
+real devil in him. He is playing a fine game, but I don't think he can
+dream that we suspect him. If we can deceive him in this, and get him
+into the house, we will be able to accomplish his downfall, I think."
+
+Meantime, Edward Percy was viewing the matter from his own
+stand-point.
+
+"Luck is running into my hand," he assured himself. "They are
+evidently a little bit afraid of me; there's nothing more
+awe-inspiring than a cool front, and I certainly carry that. Once at
+Oakley, it will be strange if I don't fathom their little mystery. If
+they are doing mischief there, I won't be behind in claiming the
+lion's share of the spoils."
+
+According to arrangement, Miss Arthur and her lover were transferred
+to Oakley on the following day, and there the game of cross purposes
+went on.
+
+Cora received Miss Arthur with much cordiality, averring that she had
+missed the society of "dear Ellen," more than she could tell, and
+declaring that now she should begin to get well in earnest.
+
+Messrs. Davlin and Percy affected much friendliness, and watched each
+other furtively, day and night.
+
+Dr. Le Guise reported an unfavorable change in his insane patient and
+forbade them, one and all, to enter his room.
+
+Cora and Davlin protested against the doctor's cruel order, but in
+vain. Mr. Percy made no objections, but kept his eyes open. One
+evening, the second of his stay at the manor, he saw, while coming up
+the stairs with slippered feet, the form of Mr. Davlin as it
+disappeared around the angle leading to the west wing. Then Mr. Percy
+stole on until he stood at the door of the wing. Satisfying himself
+that Davlin was actually within the forbidden room, he waited for
+nothing further, but glided quietly back to his own door, looking as
+imperturbable as ever and saying to himself:
+
+"There is a mystery; and we, _rather I_, am not to see Mr. Arthur at
+present. Well, I don't want to see him; but _I hold the clue_ to your
+little game, my fair second wife."
+
+Lucian Davlin went to the city, but he did not set a detective on the
+track of Celine Leroque. He chose his man, one who had served him
+before, and set him about something quite different. Then he returned,
+feeling quite satisfied and confident of success.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+A SLIGHT COMPLICATION.
+
+
+And what of Celine, or Madeline, as we may call her once more?
+
+She had said, when writing to Olive, that her stay in the city must be
+very brief. But even her strong will could not keep off the light
+attack of fever that was the result of fatigue and exposure to night
+breezes. And the morning following her arrival at the villa, found her
+unable to rise from her bed.
+
+Dr. Vaughan was summoned in haste, and his verdict anxiously waited
+for. "It was a slight fever attack," he said, "but the wearied-out
+body must not be hurried. It must rest."
+
+And he forbade Madeline to leave her room for a week at least, unless
+she wished to bring upon herself a return of her summer's illness.
+
+Much to his surprise and gratification, Madeline did not rebel, but
+replied, philosophically: "I can't afford to take any risks now; I
+will be good. But you must watch my interests."
+
+During the first day of her "imprisonment," as she laughingly called
+it, Clarence and Olive were put in possession of all the facts that
+had not already been communicated by letter.
+
+Upon one thing they were all agreed, namely, that it would be wise for
+Clarence to make another journey to Bellair.
+
+"They won't be able to accomplish much during the week that I must
+remain inactive," said Madeline. "But it will be safest to know just
+what they are about. Besides, I have reasons for thinking that Henry
+is growing dissatisfied, and it is to our interest to keep him where
+he is for the present. Had a suitable opportunity offered, I should
+have made him aware of my identity. But as it did not present itself,
+I left it with Hagar to inform him that he was serving me by
+remaining."
+
+Dr. Vaughan prepared to visit Bellair on the second day after the
+arrival of Madeline. But almost at the moment of starting there came a
+summons from one of his patients, who was taken suddenly worse.
+Thinking to take a later train he hastened to the sick man; but the
+hour for the last train arrived and passed, and still he stood at the
+bedside, battling with death. So it transpired that nearly three days
+had elapsed since the flitting of Celine Leroque, when Dr. Vaughan
+entered the train that should deposit him at dusk in the village of
+Bellair.
+
+It had been prearranged by Madeline and Hagar that, in case of any
+event which should delay the return of the former on the day
+appointed, the latter was to visit the post-office and look for
+tidings through that medium. Madeline had been due at Oakley the day
+before, and so, of course, to-day Hagar would be in attendance at the
+office.
+
+Dr. Vaughan had written, at the moment of quitting his office to visit
+his patient, a hasty supplement to Madeline's letter, stating that he
+was delayed one train, but not to give him up if he did not appear
+that evening. He would certainly come on the next day's train.
+
+Clarence was somewhat fatigued as he entered the railway carriage,
+having spent the entire previous night at the bedside of his patient.
+He went forward to the smoking car, thinking to refresh himself with a
+weed.
+
+Four men were engrossed in a game of cards not far from him. As they
+became more deeply interested, and their voices more distinct above
+the roar of the cars, something in the tones of one of the men caught
+his ear, reminding him of some voice he had sometime heard or known.
+The speaker sat with his back to the young man, and nothing of his
+countenance visible save the tips of two huge ears. These, too, had a
+familiar look.
+
+Clarence arose and sauntered to the end of the car, in order to get a
+view of the face that, he felt assured, was not unknown to him.
+
+The man was absorbed in his game and never once glanced up. Our hero
+having taken a good look at the not very prepossessing face, returned
+to his seat. He had recognized the man. It was Jarvis, the detective
+who had been recently employed by him to shadow Lucian Davlin.
+
+It was not a remarkable thing that Jarvis should leave the city on the
+same train with himself, but the circumstance, nevertheless, set
+Clarence thinking. Could it be possible that the man had found
+something to arouse his suspicions, and was he following up the clue
+on his own account?
+
+Clarence felt an unaccountable desire to know where the detective was
+going. If he were going to Bellair, then he must be bought over. If he
+were going to Bellair, he, Clarence, must know it before the village
+was reached. It was hardly probable that the man's destination was
+identical with his own, but he had now determined to run no risks.
+
+Throwing back his overcoat, and setting his hat a trifle on one side,
+Clarence sauntered up to the group of card players, assuming an
+appearance of interest in the game. As he paused beside them, Jarvis
+swept away the last trick of a closely-contested game, and then said,
+consulting his watch the while:
+
+"There's for you! I've got just three-quarters of an hour to clean you
+out in, so come on."
+
+[Illustration: "Jarvis swept away the last trick of a
+closely-contested game."--page 324.]
+
+Three-quarters of an hour! The exact time it would take to run to
+Bellair.
+
+Clarence shifted his position so as to put himself behind the two men
+seated opposite Jarvis. As he did so, the expert glanced up,
+encountering the eye of Dr. Vaughan.
+
+"How are you?" said that young man, nonchalantly.
+
+Jarvis shot him a keen glance of intelligence, and replied, in the
+same off-hand tone: "High, you bet!"
+
+Jarvis was attired like a well-to-do farmer; and Clarence guessed, at
+a glance, that his three companions were strangers, two of them being
+commercial tourists, without a doubt, and the third, a ruddy-looking
+old gent, who might have been anything harmless. Taking his cue from
+the "make up" of the detective, Clarence, after giving him an
+expressive glance, said, easily, "Sold your stock?"
+
+Jarvis cocked up one eye as he replied, while shuffling the cards:
+"Every horn!"
+
+"Want to buy?"
+
+Jarvis looked him straight in the eye. "Want to sell?"
+
+"Yes, rather."
+
+Jarvis dealt round with great precision, and then said: "All right,
+Cap. I'll talk with you when I get through this game."
+
+Clarence nodded, and presently sauntered away. As soon as his back was
+turned, Jarvis jerked his thumb toward him, saying, confidentially:
+
+"Young fellow; swell farmer; big stock-raiser." And then he plunged
+into the game with much enthusiasm.
+
+Clarence resumed his seat and, for a few moments, thought very
+earnestly. The words of the detective had confirmed his suspicion. He
+now felt assured that Jarvis was bound for Bellair, and if so he was,
+no doubt, in the employ of Lucian Davlin, for some unknown purpose.
+What that purpose was, he must know at any cost.
+
+By the time his plans were fairly matured, he observed that the group
+of card-players was breaking up. In another moment, Jarvis lounged
+lazily along and threw himself down upon the seat beside him.
+
+In little more than half an hour they would be due in Bellair, and
+what Clarence desired to say must be said quickly. Taking out his
+cigar-case, he offered the man a weed, which was accepted with
+alacrity, and while it was being lighted, Clarence said: "Are you
+especially busy now?"
+
+"N-o; only so-so."
+
+"Learned anything more in regard to my man?"
+
+"Davlin?" interrogatively.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"No," puffing contentedly; "we don't move in a case after it's paid
+off."
+
+"I see," smiling; and then, making his first real venture: "Could you
+do some work for me to-morrow?"
+
+Jarvis looked keenly at him, and Clarence hastened to say, with
+perfect, apparent, candor:
+
+"The fact is I have been put back by a patient, and my own personal
+affairs have been neglected. So I have been unable to look you up at
+the office, in order to put a little matter into your hands. To-day I
+am called away unexpectedly." Then, as if struck by a sudden thought,
+"How long will you be out of town?"
+
+Jarvis shook his head. "Don't know."
+
+"By Jove, what a pity. I'd rather have you than any other man, and I
+won't stand about money; but my work won't keep long."
+
+The doctor's flattery and the detective's avarice combined, had the
+desired effect. Jarvis unbent, and became more communicative. "Fact
+is," he said, squaring about, "I don't know my lay just yet."
+
+"No?" inquiringly: "Going far out?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well," as if about to drop the conversation, "I'm sorry you can't do
+the job. It's big pay and success sure. The truth is," lowering his
+voice confidentially, "there are two parties beside myself interested,
+and both have plenty of money. It's a snug sum to the man who does our
+work."
+
+The detective looked grave, and then became confidential in his turn.
+
+"The fact is,"--he was fond of using "facts" when it was possible to
+lug one in--"I am sent out to a small town as a sub."
+
+"A sub.?"
+
+"Yes; substitute. You see, one of our men was detailed to do some work
+for a chap who came to the Agency from this little town. It was a case
+of record hunting. Well, the man went out last night all O. K.; he was
+a little on the sport when off duty, but a tip-top chap when at work.
+Well, he got into a gambling brawl, and this morning they brought him
+in, done up."
+
+"Done up?"
+
+"Yes; killed, you know."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"And so, you see, I am ordered down here to take the instructions of
+my gentleman, in the place of my pard, who won't receive any more
+orders here below."
+
+"Then you don't yet know precisely what is required of you?"
+
+"No; I was packed off at half an hour's notice, and don't even know
+the name of my employer. I have my instructions and his address here,"
+tapping his breast pocket. "I believe the party lives out of town, at
+some manor or other."
+
+Clarence was thinking very fast. There was but one "Manor" in or near
+Bellair. He looked at his time-card; there was but one town between
+them and that village. Holding the card in his hand he said:
+
+"Well, I will try and tell you what I want done; that is, if there is
+time--how soon do you leave the train?"
+
+Jarvis now scented a fat job, and thinking only of getting the
+particulars of that replied, rather incautiously, as he consulted the
+time-card in the hand of Clarence.
+
+"By goshen! it's only two stations off--Bellair."
+
+"Oh! Bellair, eh?"
+
+Jarvis nodded ruefully, and then asked: "Where do you land?"
+
+Clarence smiled a little as he replied: "Wait until you hear my
+business, then you will know where I am going."
+
+"All right; fire away."
+
+And the expert settled himself into a listening attitude. "The truth
+is, Jarvis, I want you back on the old case."
+
+"What, the gambler's?"
+
+"Yes, Davlin; he is about at the end of his rope, and will, in a short
+time, be trying to quit the country. Did you ever see the woman who is
+his partner in iniquity? You heard considerable of her while looking
+up this business."
+
+"Heard of her? I should think so. Never saw her, though."
+
+"No matter; you may see her soon. You see, they are now at work upon a
+fine piece of rascality. She has actually married an old man,
+supposing him to be wealthy, and Davlin is figuring as her brother.
+In reality, the old man, their victim, holds only a life interest in
+the property. So you see, even if they succeed with the thing in hand,
+they won't make much. And the person who will inherit, after the old
+gentleman passes away, is aware of their real character and is ready
+to spring upon them at the proper moment."
+
+Jarvis gave a long, low whistle.
+
+"Now, then, there is another crime--one that occurred some years ago,
+with which this man and woman are connected, and they are allowed to
+go free for a little time in order to complete the evidence in this
+second case."
+
+Jarvis nodded sagely.
+
+"So you see there will be double fees, and large ones. First, from the
+heir, and next, from the parties interested in the last case. The two
+are friends, in fact, and work together. Of course, I should expect to
+act according to the rules of your office, and I know that you are
+paid by your manager, but--if you can put me in possession of all the
+movements of Lucian Davlin for the next week, in addition to the
+salary paid you by your head officials, I will promise you one
+thousand dollars. If, later, you can supply the missing evidence, it
+shall be five thousand."
+
+Jarvis looked hastily behind him. "Is he in this train?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then were the dev--"
+
+"Wait," interrupted Clarence. "I'll tell you where he is. But first
+you may attend to the business on which you came to Bellair. You may
+obey the instructions you shall receive to the letter. But I must know
+what it is you are bidden to do."
+
+Jarvis knitted his brows and finally said, as if giving up a knotty
+problem, "Make things plainer; I am befogged."
+
+"Plainly, then," said Clarence, "you are going to Bellair; and,"
+drawing out his pocket-book, "you are not retained as yet for this
+work?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well," placing a one hundred dollar bill in his hand, "I retain you
+for my case, here and now, and you may accept the other fee if you
+like."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Look at the address of your new client."
+
+Jarvis took from his pocket a number of cards, shuffled them off
+deftly and, selecting the right one at last, read slowly the name of
+his unseen employer. Then he glanced quickly up at Clarence, re-read
+his card, and leaning back upon the cushion, shook with silent
+laughter.
+
+"Well, if you ain't the rummest one yet! And I'm your man! Why, bless
+my soul, you are a lawyer and detective all in one!"
+
+Clarence smiled, but he knew this was the highest compliment that
+Jarvis was capable of. "Then I may depend upon you?" he asked.
+
+"You bet!"
+
+They were nearing the village of Bellair now, and Clarence, who did
+not intend to let Jarvis know too much concerning his movements, gave
+him some hasty instructions, and ended by asking: "When do you go back
+to the city to report?"
+
+"By the next train. Davlin is expecting me, and I shall take his
+orders and then go back."
+
+"Very well; I'll see you in town to-morrow. Now, as it won't do to
+risk the chance of being seen together, I will go into the other car."
+And Clarence sauntered away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+"THOU SHALT NOT SERVE TWO MASTERS" SET AT NAUGHT.
+
+
+Meanwhile, as they steamed into the village, which was the destination
+of both, Mr. Jarvis soliloquized, as he caressed his wallet pocket:
+
+"I know who will butter my bread. Davlin is as slippery as an eel, and
+will end in trouble. Dr. Vaughan is a man of his word, and I don't
+need his bond. I'm sure of one thousand, if not of five. And I never
+was over fond of this gentleman gambler."
+
+It may be remarked that Davlin was a man pretty well known by the
+police and detectives. A gambler riding the top wave of success might
+have found more favor in the eyes of Jarvis. But he knew, because of
+his previous investigations, that Davlin was not "flush" at that time.
+
+Clarence kept carefully out of sight when the train reached the
+village. Springing lightly to the ground, on the opposite side from
+the platform, he walked swiftly away, unnoticed in the darkness. Once
+more he crossed the field and knocked at the door of Hagar's cottage,
+and this time it was Hagar who admitted him.
+
+Eagerly he listened, while the old woman told him how very fast Cora
+was recovering now; how they had got Miss Arthur and Percy back into
+the house; and how very careful both Cora and Lucian were to treat
+them politely. Madeline had not confided to Hagar the story of Olive,
+and the old woman knew no more of Edward Percy than that he was, as
+she termed it, "a handsome hypocrite."
+
+Clarence questioned Hagar closely. Had they made any attempt to find
+the one who took the papers?
+
+"No," Hagar replied; "they had said that Celine Leroque had stolen
+money and jewels, but they had not said one word about any papers."
+
+Last of all, she told him how, fearing that Henry was becoming too
+restive, and fearing, also, the effect of too much of the Professor's
+medicine upon the somewhat enfeebled system of the prisoner, she had
+made known to Henry the fact that he was working in the cause of his
+young lady. On learning this, and having it proved to his
+satisfaction, for he was at first inclined to be skeptical, he had
+been much delighted, and had since carried out the orders of Madeline
+as transmitted through Hagar.
+
+Their conversation lasted a full hour, and then, having learned all
+that could be learned from that source, and having delivered all of
+the messages sent by Madeline, he bade the old woman a kind
+good-night, and retraced his steps across the field and back to the
+village.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the night train halted at Bellair, Jarvis seated himself in the
+smoking-car, feeling quite self-satisfied. When the train moved on, he
+lighted a very black cigar, and began to contemplate the situation.
+
+"Well, how do we stand now?"
+
+As the voice of Clarence Vaughan fell upon his ear, Jarvis bounded
+from his seat like an india rubber ball and stared wildly at the young
+man who had dropped down into the seat beside him as if from the
+ceiling.
+
+"Well, you are a rum one," said he, at last. "Might I ask where you
+came from?"
+
+"From the ladies' carriage."
+
+"Oh!" with the air of having made a discovery. "So you ride out of the
+city in a smoking-car for the purpose of riding back in the ladies'
+carriage?"
+
+Clarence laughed again, settled himself comfortably in his seat and
+took out his cigar case. "Not exactly," proceeding to light a weed. "I
+am on pretty much the same business that you are, to-night." Then,
+taking a big puff, "I have been to Bellair, like yourself."
+
+"The deuce you have!"
+
+"Yes; how did your business prosper?"
+
+Jarvis eyed him sharply. "Perhaps you know already."
+
+"Perhaps I do. You have not got to look for stolen diamonds, have
+you?"
+
+Jarvis laughed derisively.
+
+"Or stolen money?" pursued Clarence.
+
+Jarvis shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Or stolen--_papers_?"
+
+Jarvis began to look foxy.
+
+"Or a runaway young woman?"
+
+Jarvis thought furiously for a moment; then turning square upon his
+interlocutor, said, significantly: "So there are stolen papers?"
+
+Clarence smiled, but said nothing.
+
+"And," pursued Jarvis, "when one loses one's papers, say deeds, or
+a--marriage certificate, one naturally thinks of hunting the records
+for proofs that such papers existed."
+
+"And that is your work?"
+
+Jarvis nodded.
+
+"Take you out of the city?"
+
+"Only a few miles."
+
+Clarence reflected for a time, and then said: "You can do your work,
+but report all discoveries _to me_."
+
+Jarvis assented, and they continued to talk of the matter in hand
+until the city was reached. Then, having made an appointment for the
+coming day, and agreed to let the work of shadowing the gambler or,
+rather, his business, remain a "private spec." to Jarvis, they
+separated.
+
+Thoroughly wearied, Clarence sought his bachelor apartments and the
+repose he so much needed.
+
+Early the next day he was up, and after paying a visit to his patient,
+he turned his steps, or the steps of his horse, in the direction of
+the villa.
+
+He found Madeline sitting up, feeling much better, and looking
+altogether lovely. Drawing their chairs near together in front of the
+crackling grate fire, the three discussed the result of the journey to
+Bellair. Having first related the news imparted by Hagar, Dr. Vaughan
+turned to Madeline and asked:
+
+"What is your theory, sister mine, in regard to this change at Oakley?
+Why have they turned about and taken up Miss Arthur and her _fiance_
+with such sudden affection. Have you guessed?"
+
+The girl smiled up at him as she replied: "Certainly; have not you?"
+
+"You incorrigible little lawyer! Yes, but give us yours first."
+
+"Why," said Madeline with a light laugh, "I suppose they have been
+suspecting the wrong party. They think that I was an emissary of Mr.
+Percy's."
+
+"Undoubtedly that is the truth," assented Clarence.
+
+"And," added Madeline, "believing the documents in his possession, it
+is easy to understand that they prefer having the gentleman under the
+same roof with themselves."
+
+"True; now, the question that interests us is, how long will it be
+before they find out their mistake?"
+
+"I think," said the girl, reflectively, "that their game will be
+covert, not open, attack, from the fact that they have kept the loss
+of the papers so carefully from the servants. If this is true, they
+will move cautiously, and aim to convince the man that they do not
+suspect him."
+
+Clarence nodded.
+
+"You see the necessity for action, do you not?" Madeline said, after a
+silence. "I must make my next move within a few days."
+
+"I don't fancy that we need fear any new developments that will be
+dangerous to our cause just yet."
+
+Then he told them of his meeting with the detective, and its results,
+adding: "You see, Jarvis can withhold his reports to suit our
+convenience, and you can grow strong, feeling secure."
+
+Meantime, Jarvis set about his task of record hunting. He was
+energetic and resolute as a sleuth hound on the scent; so he soon made
+one or two discoveries.
+
+One day, very cleverly gotten upon as a dapper lawyer, he dropped in
+at the office of Messrs. Lord & Myers, bankers. Mr. Lord was an old
+man with a shrewd, twinkling eye; and as the sham lawyer had selected
+his time wisely, he found the old banker alone.
+
+They were closeted in close converse for nearly half an hour, at the
+end of which time, the dapper lawyer took his departure, looking
+rather downcast; and Mr. Lord, with his little eyes brighter than
+ever, sat down and penned a letter to his friend and brother banker,
+Mr. Allyne, of Baltimore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+MR. LORD'S LETTER.
+
+
+The friendship that had sprung up between Claire Keith and Mrs.
+Ralston, grew and strengthened as the days went by.
+
+Claire's enthusiasm had overflowed in more than one letter to Olive.
+The oft-repeated wish that her new friend and her much loved sister
+might meet, had at last drawn from that somewhat preoccupied sister a
+very cordial invitation to bring Mrs. Ralston to New York.
+
+When this invitation came, Claire, feeling that it was now time to
+unfold to her friend the sad pages of Olive's history, sought her for
+that purpose. But as she deemed that the time had not yet come for
+telling anyone of the hoped-for lifting of the cloud, especially as to
+do so she must tell too of Madeline, she refrained from mentioning the
+names of the actors in that miserable drama.
+
+Mrs. Ralston was deeply interested in the story of Olive's sorrow; and
+having heard it, she felt a stronger desire than before to see this
+beautiful, sad-hearted sister, who was so beloved by Claire. Bending
+down she kissed the fair face, flushed with the excitement Claire
+always felt when recounting her sister's wrongs, and those of Philip
+Girard, and said, tenderly:
+
+"Thank your sister in my name, my darling. And tell her that I will
+certainly avail myself of her kind invitation, at some future time."
+
+Claire's eyes danced eagerly. "Oh, I wish we could go now--at least,
+soon."
+
+Fate chose to grant Claire's desire in a most unexpected manner, for
+while they were still sitting, talking, in the semi-twilight, the
+library door opened and a servant announced Mr. Allyne, to see Mrs.
+Ralston. At once Mrs. Keith and her daughter arose to leave the room.
+But Mrs. Ralston said, earnestly:
+
+"Pray, do not go; there can be no need for a private interview."
+
+And as at that moment Mr. Allyne himself appeared on the threshold,
+the ladies all advanced to welcome him, and, this ceremony being over,
+resumed their seats.
+
+"I have just received this letter from Mr. Lord," said Mr. Allyne,
+after some moments of general conversation. "Read it, and then tell me
+your opinion of its contents."
+
+The lady took the letter, looking the while somewhat anxious. As she
+read, the look of apprehension deepened. When at last she dropped the
+letter, her hands were trembling visibly, and her face was pale and
+agitated. For a moment she sat in silence, her eyes full of fear and
+her hands working nervously. Then she seemed to recover herself by a
+powerful effort of will. Taking up the letter, she placed it in the
+hand of Mrs. Keith, saying: "Read it, dear friend."
+
+Mrs. Keith took the letter and read:
+
+                                        NEW YORK, Dec. 7th.
+
+     WM. ALLYNE, ESQ.,
+
+     _Dear Sir:_--A man assuming to be a lawyer called on me this
+     afternoon, and requested information regarding our friend,
+     Mrs. Ralston. If I am not much mistaken he is in reality a
+     detective--I think I remember him in the Mallory case--and
+     is, doubtless, looking up evidence in regard to the lady's
+     second and most unfortunate marriage, either at the
+     instigation of her vagabond husband or some of his supposed
+     heirs.
+
+     If you know the present address of Mrs. R., it would be well
+     to communicate with her, as some of her old servants are now
+     in this city, at service, and this fellow might ferret out
+     something through them.
+
+     Having no authority to act in the matter, I could do no more
+     than baffle this man's inquiries so far as I was concerned,
+     much as I desire to serve the lady when I know the way.
+
+     One thing: the fellow evidently believes in the story of her
+     death.
+
+                     Yours, etc.,             J. M. LORD.
+
+The three, Mrs. Ralston, Claire and Mr. Allyne, listened in silence
+while Mrs. Keith read this letter. When at last she raised her eyes,
+Mrs. Ralston said:
+
+"I must go to New York immediately, Mrs. Keith, and do, pray, allow
+Claire to accompany me. I must accept of the hospitality of Mrs.
+Girard, and I can not go alone."
+
+Mrs. Keith looked grave for a moment. Then, she said: "Mr. Allyne, is
+it necessary that Mrs. Ralston should go at once?"
+
+"I think it advisable," replied Mr. Allyne. "Once in New York, Lord
+can receive Mrs. Ralston's instructions, and act for her. In cases
+like these I don't think it is best to trust to correspondence."
+
+"And, oh! don't let us delay a moment! Once there, I can keep my old
+servants, who are all true friends, from inadvertently betraying me.
+And I can trust Mr. Lord to find out who is the instigator of this
+search," said Mrs. Ralston, eagerly. "Mr. Allyne, when can we start;
+how soon?"
+
+"Not earlier than to-morrow morning."
+
+"Claire, can you be ready on such short notice?" asked the now anxious
+lady.
+
+"I? Oh, yes, indeed!" laughed the girl. "I could be ready in an hour!
+I do detest waiting--don't you, Mrs. Ralston?"
+
+"Very much, just now," said that lady, making an effort to smile;
+"forgive me, dear friends, but I am really unstrung. The thought of
+being hunted by that man is too horrible, after these years of
+peace."
+
+"Then don't think of it, dear Mrs. Ralston," cooed Claire. "You will
+be as safe as safe in the seclusion of my sister's villa. And you can
+set things straight soon, when we have arrived. There can't be much to
+fear, can there, Mr. Allyne?"
+
+"Nothing very formidable," said the banker, rising to take his leave.
+"Pray, don't exaggerate the trouble, Mrs. Ralston. Prompt attention,
+such as Lord will give the matter, will make all safe. Besides, he is
+not hunting _you_; the man thinks you dead."
+
+"True; I had forgotten," said the lady, looking somewhat reassured.
+"Claire, we will pack to-night, and then try and be content until it
+is time to go."
+
+"Meantime, I will telegraph to Lord and let him know that you will
+come, and when," said Mr. Allyne, taking up his hat to depart.
+
+The morning of their departure dawned clear and bright. Claire was in
+extravagant spirits, while even Mrs. Ralston seemed to catch the
+infectious cheeriness of the day, and her companion's mood.
+
+When they were about to enter the carriage that was to take them to
+the depot, a letter was put into the hand of Miss Keith. She flung
+back her veil and leaning back among the cushions perused it in
+attentive silence. Having finished, she looked up with a little frown
+upon her brow, and exclaimed:
+
+"How very provoking!"
+
+Mrs. Ralston looked alarmed. "Is your sister ill?"
+
+"Oh, no; it's Madeline."
+
+"The young girl I have heard you speak of?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Is _she_ ill?"
+
+"No; she got well, just to avoid me; she is gone."
+
+"Gone?"
+
+"Yes; or will be, when we arrive. Why, how stupid I am not to explain!
+Madeline Payne has been with Olive nearly a week. She has been sick,
+but is better, and will leave there to-day."
+
+Claire had said but little concerning Madeline, fearing lest in her
+enthusiasm she should say too much. But she had revolved many plans
+for bringing about a meeting between Mrs. Ralston and her "brave
+girl."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+"I HAVE COME BACK TO MY OWN!"
+
+
+Quite the pleasantest of all the rooms that had been so sumptuously
+fitted up, when "Mrs. Torrance" came to Oakley, a bride, was the back
+drawing-room. At least it was pleasantest in Winter. Its large windows
+faced south and west, and all of the Winter sunshine fell upon them,
+glowing through crimson curtains, and helping the piled-up anthracite
+in the grate to bathe the room in a ruddiness of crimson and golden
+bronze.
+
+On this particular December day, the air was crisp and cold, and full
+of floating particles of hoar frost, while the winter sun shone bright
+and clear. Outside, one felt that it was an exceedingly cold sun. But
+viewed from within, it looked inviting enough, and one felt inspired
+to dash out into the frosty air and try if they could not walk _a la_
+hippogriffe, without touching their feet to the ground.
+
+Some such thought was floating through the mind of Mrs. John Arthur,
+who was progressing in her convalescence very rapidly now, and who
+had, on this day, made her second descent to the drawing-rooms.
+
+She had donned, for the first time since her illness, a dinner-dress
+of rosy silk, its sweeping train and elbow sleeves enriched with
+flounces of black lace. As there was, at present, no need to play the
+invalid--herself and Davlin being the sole occupants of the room--she
+was sweeping up and down its length like a caged lioness.
+
+By and by she swerved from her course, and coming to the grate, put a
+daintily shod foot upon the bronze fender. Resting one hand on a
+chair, and looking down upon Davlin, who was lounging before the fire
+in full dinner costume, she said, abruptly:
+
+"How very interesting all this is!"
+
+Davlin made no sign that he heard.
+
+"Do you know how long we have been playing this little game, sir?"
+
+The man smiled, in that cool way, so exasperating always to her, and
+lifting one hand, began to tell off the months on his fingers.
+
+"Let me see, ball opened in June, did it not?"
+
+She nodded impatiently.
+
+"June!" He was thinking of his June flirting with Madeline Payne, and
+involuntarily glanced at the windows from whence could be seen the very
+trees under which they had wandered, himself and that fair dead girl, in
+early June. "Yes, the last of June--I remember,"--reflectively.
+
+"And pray, from what event does your memory date?" exclaimed Cora,
+with strong sarcasm.
+
+He glanced up quickly. "Why, _Ma Belle_, from your introduction to the
+hills and vales of Bellair, and the master of Oakley."
+
+"Oh, I thought it was from the time you received your pistol wound."
+
+Davlin smiled. "Yes, that scratch _was_ given in June; but I don't
+date from trifles, Co."
+
+"Oh! Well, I fancy it was not the fault of the hand that aimed the
+bullet, or rather of the _heart_, that you got a 'mere scratch.' I
+never believed in your card-table explanation of that affair, sir."
+
+"Well, don't call _me_ to account for _your_ want of faith."
+
+"I believe you promised yourself revenge on the fellow who shot at
+you. Why didn't you take it?"
+
+Lucian stooped down and brushed an imaginary speck from his boot toe,
+saying, as he did so: "I was forestalled."
+
+"How?"
+
+"The--fellow--is dead."
+
+"Oh, well, I don't care about dead men--what I am anxious about is
+this--"
+
+"Oh, yes," maliciously. "Return to subject under discussion. You
+embarked in this enterprise in June--"
+
+"Bother," impatiently.
+
+"Late in Summer, bagged your game; in early Autumn, fitted up this
+jolly old rookery--"
+
+Cora gave a sniff of disdain.
+
+"Next--well, you know what next. We haven't been two months at this
+last job."
+
+"Nevertheless I am tired of it."
+
+"No?"
+
+"I won't stay here a prisoner much longer!"
+
+Davlin came close to her, and letting one hand rest upon her shoulder,
+placed the other over hers, which still lay upon the chair back.
+
+"Cora, we won't quarrel about this. The situation is as trying to me
+as to you; more so. But our safety lies in moving with caution, and--I
+will not permit you to compromise us by any hasty act. You
+understand!"
+
+His eyes held her as in a spell, and when, after a moment, the hand
+fell from her shoulder and his eyes withdrew their mesmeric gaze, the
+woman shrunk from under the one detaining hand and turned sullenly
+away, looking like a baffled leopardess.
+
+Davlin resumed his seat and his former careless attitude. Cora walked
+to the window and looked down upon the scene below.
+
+At length the man asked, carelessly: "Where's Percy?"
+
+"Down there," nodding toward the terrace, a portion of which was
+visible from her point of view. "And, of course, my lady is in her
+room watching from her window. When he throws away his cigar, and
+turns toward the house, she will come down; not before."
+
+Davlin laughed at her emphasis, and while the sound still vibrated on
+the air, the woman turned, and flinging herself upon a divan, said:
+
+"There, she is coming!"
+
+Complain as she might in private, Cora had acted her part to
+perfection. Between herself and Miss Arthur, there now existed an
+appearance of great cordiality and friendliness. While she treated
+Percy with utmost politeness and hospitality, the remembrance of ten
+years ago acted as an effectual bar to anything like coquetry, where
+he was concerned.
+
+Scarcely had Cora settled herself comfortably upon her divan, when the
+door opened noiselessly, and Miss Arthur sailed in, diffusing through
+the room the odor of Patchouli as she came. She was, as usual, a
+marvel of beflounced silk, false curls, rouge, and pearl powder. Her
+face beamed upon Cora in friendliness as she approached her, saying,
+with much effusion:
+
+"Oh, you poor child, how delightful to see you once more among us, and
+looking like yourself."
+
+Lucian arose and gallantly wheeled forward a large easy chair, saying:
+"And how charming you look, Miss Ellen; you make poor Cora appear
+quite shabby by contrast."
+
+Cora cast a rather ungrateful glance at the gentleman, and the
+spinster simpered, "Oh, you horrid man! Brothers are so ungrateful!"
+
+At this juncture, as Cora had predicted, Mr. Percy presented himself,
+and the four fell into attitudes, in front of the grate--Percy leaning
+on the back of Miss Arthur's chair, and Cora and Davlin in their
+former places.
+
+"_Merci_," said Miss Arthur, pretending to stifle a yawn, "why can't
+we all be out in this keen air and sunshine? If there were but snow on
+the ground!"
+
+"Snow!" cried Cora, annoyed out of her usual assumption of feebleness;
+"don't mention it, if you don't want me to die. We won't have snow, if
+you please, until I can drive in a cutter."
+
+Percy laughed softly; his laugh was always disagreeable to Cora, as
+having an undercurrent of meaning intended for her alone. And Davlin
+said:
+
+"Hear and heed, all ye gods of the wind and weather."
+
+"Well, laugh," said Cora, half laughing herself, "but I am beginning
+to feel ambitious. Do let's try to set something afoot to make us feel
+as if we were alive, and glad that we were."
+
+"Agreed, Cora," cried Miss Arthur, gushingly, "only tell us what it
+shall be."
+
+"Suggest, suggest;" this from Davlin.
+
+The spinster glanced up coquettishly, "Edward, you suggest."
+
+Percy caressed his blonde whiskers thoughtfully, and letting his eyes
+rest carelessly on Cora, said, meaningly: "Let's poison each other!"
+
+"Or commit suicide!" retorted Cora, coolly.
+
+"Let's be more sensible," said Davlin. "Let's organize a matrimonial
+society, get up a wedding, and go on a journey."
+
+"Anything that will break the monotony," said Cora, while the fair
+spinster giggled and put her hands before her face.
+
+At that moment the monotony _was_ broken.
+
+While the words were still lingering on the lips of the fair
+convalescent, the door was opened wide by old Hagar, who said, as if
+she had been all her life announcing the arrival of great ones at the
+court of St. James:
+
+"_Miss Madeline Payne!_"
+
+Then she stepped back, and a vision appeared before them which struck
+them dumb and motionless with surprise.
+
+Across the threshold swept a young lady, richly robed in trailing silk
+and velvet and fur; with a face fair as a star-flower, haughty as the
+face of any duchess; with amber eyes that gazed upon them
+contemptuously, masterfully, fearlessly; with wave upon wave of golden
+brown hair, clustering about the temples and snowy neck; and with
+scarlet lips half parted in a scornful smile.
+
+She swept the length of the room with matchless grace and
+self-possession, and pausing before the astonished group, said, in a
+voice clear as the chime of silver bells:
+
+"Good-evening, ladies and gentlemen! I believe I have not the honor of
+knowing--ah, yes, this is Miss Arthur; _Aunt Ellen_, how do you do?"
+
+There are some scenes that beggar description, and this was such an
+one.
+
+[Illustration: "_Miss Madeline Payne!_"--page 346.]
+
+Miss Arthur, who clearly recognized in this lovely young lady the
+little Madeline of years ago, was so stricken with astonishment that
+she utterly forgot how appropriate it would be to faint.
+
+Cora sat like one in a nightmare.
+
+Percy was conscious of but one feeling. True to his nature even here,
+he was staring at this vision of beauty, thinking only, "how lovely!
+how lovely!"
+
+And Lucian Davlin? At the first sight of that face, the first sound of
+that voice, he had felt as if turning to stone, incapable of movement
+or speech. At that moment, had Cora once glanced toward him, his face
+must have betrayed his secret. But her eyes were fixed on Madeline.
+
+Davlin felt a tempest raging within his bosom. Madeline alive! This
+glowing, brilliant, richly robed, queenly creature--Madeline! Again in
+his ears rang her farewell words. Quick as lightning came the thought:
+she was his enemy, she would denounce him! And yet, throughout every
+fiber of his being, he felt a thrill of gladness. Again there surged
+in his heart the mad love that had sprung into being when she had so
+gloriously defied him. She was not dead, and he was glad!
+
+Old Hagar had closed the door after her young mistress; and now she
+stood near it, calm and immovable as a block of ice.
+
+Madeline Payne stood, for a moment, gazing laughingly into the amazed
+face of the spinster. Then she said: "Come, come, Aunt Ellen, don't
+stare at me as if I were a ghost! Introduce me to your friends. Is
+this lady my new step-mamma?"
+
+Cora roused herself from her stupor, and said, haughtily: "I am _Mrs.
+Arthur_, and the mistress of the house!"
+
+"Ah! then you _are_ my new step-mamma? And you have been very ill, I
+understand. Pray, don't rise, madame; you look feeble." Then, turning
+again to Miss Arthur: "Don't you intend to speak to me, Aunt Ellen?"
+
+"But," gasped the spinster, "I thought, that--you--"
+
+"Oh, I see! You thought that I was dead, and you have been grieving
+for me. Well, I will explain: I ran away from my respected papa
+because he had selected for me a husband not at all to my taste. Not
+desiring to return immediately, I seized an opportunity that came in
+my way, and bestowed my name upon a poor girl who died in the
+hospital, thus making sure that my anxious friends would abandon all
+search for me. However, I have thought better of my decision, and so I
+return to my own home to take my position under the _chaperonage_ of
+my pretty step-mamma, as the _Heiress of Oakley_!"
+
+These last words opened the eyes of Cora to the new "situation."
+Springing to her feet, she forgot for the moment all her weakness, and
+cried, wrathfully: "You cannot come here with such a trumped-up story!
+Madeline Payne is dead and buried. You are a base impostor!"
+
+Madeline turned tranquilly towards the spinster. "Aunt Ellen, _am_ I
+an impostor?"
+
+"No," said Ellen Arthur, sullenly; "you are Madeline Payne. Any one in
+the village could testify to that."
+
+Madeline turned to Cora. "Step-mamma, I forgive you. It _is_ hard to
+find the entailed estate of Oakley slipping out of your hands, no
+doubt, but this world is full of disappointments."
+
+Cora's eyes sought Lucian. That gentleman, who had, outwardly at
+least, regained his composure, telegraphed her to be silent.
+
+Miss Payne asked: "Which of these gentlemen is your brother, Mrs.
+Arthur?"
+
+Lucian stepped forward with his usual grace, saying; "I am Mrs.
+Arthur's brother, Miss Payne. Pray, let me apologize for her
+discourteous reception of you; she has been very ill, and is nervous."
+
+Madeline sank into a chair and surveyed him coolly, while she said:
+"It is not necessary to apologize for your sister, Mr.--"
+
+"Davlin," supplied Miss Arthur.
+
+"Davlin," repeated Madeline, as if the name had fallen upon her ears
+for the first time. "No doubt we shall be the best of friends by and
+by. I certainly have to thank her for making so marked an improvement
+in these old rooms," glancing about her.
+
+Here the still confused Miss Arthur, in obedience to a sign from her
+lover, said: "Miss Madeline, this is my friend, Mr. Percy."
+
+Mr. Percy advanced, bowing like a courtier. The young lady scrutinized
+him coolly, saying, with a gleam of mischief in her eyes: "I am
+delighted to meet any friend of my aunt's."
+
+Then she turned to Davlin again: "But where is my step-papa? I have
+kept myself partially informed of events here. Is he still unable to
+be about?"
+
+Davlin looked very serious: "Miss Payne, I fear that my unhappy
+brother-in-law will never recover his reason."
+
+Madeline uttered an exclamation expressive of concern, and said: "Oh,
+Mr. Davlin, then don't let him know that I am here; at least not yet.
+I am so afraid of the insane. I couldn't bear to see him now."
+
+Cora drew a breath of relief, on hearing this. But Lucian, who knew
+the girl better, began to fear her, and mentally resolved to define
+his own position as speedily as possible. One thing was evident; it
+was no part of her plan to betray him, at least not yet.
+
+"Nurse," said Madeline, turning to Hagar, "see that a room is prepared
+for me immediately, and send a servant to the station for my luggage.
+Also, prepare a room for my maid, who is below, and tell her to get me
+out a dinner dress immediately."
+
+Then turning to Cora, "Step-mamma, you look fatigued. Do go to your
+room and rest before dinner. Mr. Davlin, at what hour do you dine?"
+
+He explained their reason for dining so early, and she said, as she
+turned again to Cora,
+
+"Do lie down, step-mamma; there is still a half-hour before dinner.
+And now I will go look after my maid."
+
+She swept them all a stately courtesy, and Percy springing forward to
+open the door, she thanked him with a charming side glance, and passed
+from the room like a young princess.
+
+There was dead silence among them for a full minute after the door had
+closed behind her. Then Percy turned with a disagreeable smile upon
+his face, and said:
+
+"You don't stand in need of something exciting _now_, do you,--Mrs.
+Arthur?"
+
+This was too much. Cora sprang to her feet and casting one meaning
+glance toward Davlin, swept from the room, erect and firm, utterly
+regardless of the fact that her exit was quite incompatible with the
+invalid _role_ she had been sustaining.
+
+An angry flush overspread the face of Lucian Davlin, as he realized,
+after one quick look at the face of Percy, how thoroughly she had
+betrayed herself. He was too good a diplomat, however, to quit the
+field without a stroke in his own behalf. So giving a low whistle he
+turned toward the spinster, saying:
+
+"See what excitement will do. One would think she had the strength of
+two of us."
+
+To which Percy responded, dryly: "She certainly did not step like an
+invalid."
+
+Then the three stood looking aimlessly at each other or anything,
+seemingly not at all inclined to converse.
+
+After a few moments of listless gazing out at the window, Lucian
+turned upon his heel and quitted the room. He was too wise to approach
+Cora in her present mood. Even had he thought it advisable, he felt
+little inclination to see and converse with her or anyone then. Like a
+man in a dream, he wandered out and down the wide hall. Almost
+unconsciously he opened the library door, and crossing to the great
+double window, leaned against the casement and looked out.
+
+Again his eyes rested upon the grove where he had so often wandered
+with the lovely girl who, to-day, had so coolly ignored him. Then she
+had clung to him with trusting affection; now,--how did she look upon
+him now? Could the love that she surely had felt for him in those
+Summer days, have entirely died out in her heart? Did not a woman's
+love outlast her anger? And was he not the same man, with the same
+will-power, and the same strength of magnetism?
+
+Where had she been all these months? And how came she here now, robed
+liked a princess; she, who had certainly left her home penniless?
+Clearly, she had found friends. Who were they? And what did they know
+of matters here at Oakley?
+
+For once Mr. Davlin was at a loss how to act. Would it be safe to
+stay? Would it be wise to go? Would he be able to control Cora in this
+new emergency? One thing was certain: The heiress of Oakley meant to
+be mistress in her mother's house, and she was in a fair way to
+possess the throne.
+
+Lucian turned away from the window, and from the scene that mocked
+him, muttering: "I will see her alone, let come what will. I will make
+one struggle to regain my power over her, and if I succeed--"
+
+Evidently the wily gambler could not testify as to what would be
+likely to follow. For the second time since his partnership with Cora,
+he found that lady a stumbling-block by no means despicable.
+
+On leaving the drawing-room, Cora rushed up the stairs, and throwing
+open the door of her dressing-room, fairly precipitated herself across
+the threshold, forgetting in her blind rage to close the door behind
+her. She stood still for an instant, and then, springing to the
+window, threw it wide open, letting in a flood of wintry air. For a
+moment she leaned across the sill, drinking in deep draughts of the
+frosty ether. Then dashing down the sash, she turned swiftly, and
+encountered a pair of bright black eyes that looked in at her from the
+secure darkness of the hall. Sweeping across the room, she confronted
+the owner of the eyes, demanding haughtily:
+
+"Who are you? And how dare you spy at my door?"
+
+The woman--for it was a woman--came forward and said, respectfully:
+"If you please, I am Miss Payne's maid, and I was just bringing up
+some things from the hall, ma'am," lifting to view a chatelaine and
+shawl strap. "I didn't mean to annoy you. I was only surprised to see
+such a pretty young lady here."
+
+Miss Payne's maid was a large woman of a very uncertain age, arrayed
+in sober black, not at all like the usual ladies' maid. But she seemed
+so very respectful, and full of contrition at having annoyed such a
+"pretty lady," that Cora made no further assault upon her, but closed
+the door with unusual emphasis instead, and gave way once more to the
+wrath that was filling her soul.
+
+To be baffled like this now; now, when her schemes were approaching
+fruition; now, when this fair domain, this splendid fortune, was just
+within her grasp, to have it plucked from her hand by a mere girl, who
+mocked her while she said, "this wealth is mine, this house is mine;
+woman, you have schemed in vain!"
+
+And this was not all. She had bound herself hand and foot. She had
+jeopardized her liberty, for what might not occur, now that this girl
+could demand access to the imprisoned old man, her step-father? If she
+dared, she would go away that very night. But no; this would only
+confirm suspicion, if suspicion were entertained.
+
+Not the least drop in her cup of bitterness, was the knowledge that
+Edward Percy was secretly enjoying her discomfiture. As she thought of
+him, and his look when she swept past him, Cora stopped short in her
+angry promenade, and frowned fiercely. Then she crossed to her mirror
+and surveyed her agitated face, saying, half aloud:
+
+"At least I will rob him of that pleasure; baffled as I may be, he
+shall never enjoy my discomfiture! I can act a part yet. And Edward
+Percy shall find that if my schemes are to be overthrown, his, too,
+may suffer. He rejoices to see me thwarted; I will thwart him, let it
+cost what it may!"
+
+And Cora began to smooth her rumpled locks, and put her somewhat
+disarranged toilet in order, with swift, firm fingers. While she was
+thus occupied, there came a tap upon her door. Recognizing it at once,
+as Davlin's knock, she said, "come," and never once lifted her eyes
+from her task.
+
+Lucian, finding that the dinner hour was at hand, and beginning to
+fear that Cora might still further commit herself, had thought it
+wisest to come and see what was the state of her feelings, and
+endeavor to persuade her to play out her part. He entered the room
+with some apprehension; but seeing her so composed, came close as she
+stood before her dressing-glass and said, as he gazed down at the
+flounce she was busy adjusting:
+
+"Now is the time for pluck, Co. You will come down?"
+
+Cora gave a last touch to the silk and lace and then, letting the
+sweeping train fall from her hand, and standing very erect before him,
+said:
+
+"Yes, I shall go down. Do you suppose I will let that man think that I
+am completely annihilated? There; don't talk to me now! I shall not
+forget myself again, never fear. But after dinner, come to me here.
+You were wise enough to bring me into this charming 'corner,' now let
+your wisdom take me out of it, or I will extricate myself in my own
+way."
+
+Again the iron hand fell upon her shoulder, as her partner in iniquity
+hissed in her ear:
+
+"And I intend that you shall not be a fool! Our game is not lost. Let
+me once get the lay of the land, and we may win yet."
+
+She turned her eyes upon him with angry incredulity. "How, pray?"
+
+"Wait and see!"
+
+She made no reply, but, taking up her dainty handkerchief, turned to
+leave the room, motioning him to precede her. In the hall, she paused
+at the head of the stairs, saying:
+
+"Go down; I will come directly."
+
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+"Go down," she repeated; "I know what I am doing."
+
+She went slowly down the hall in the direction of the room before
+which stood Madeline's luggage that had just arrived from the little
+station.
+
+Lucian gazed after her in some amazement, watched her tap softly,
+heard the door open, saw her enter the room, and then went slowly
+down-stairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+CORA UNDER ORDERS.
+
+
+When Cora entered the room, Madeline Payne stood before her mirror,
+while her maid, kneeling beside her, arranged the folds of lustrous
+azure silk that fell about the slender form.
+
+The door had been opened by Hagar, who could scarcely keep her eyes
+off the beautiful face and form of her young mistress, and who was, in
+consequence, making very slow progress with the work of putting away
+the garments that had been discarded in favor of the lovely dinner
+dress.
+
+Madeline realized fully that the part she was now playing was even
+more difficult and distasteful than that which she had abandoned. But
+she was resolute. To go back now would be worse than death. While she
+felt a thrill of repugnance as she saw the fair, sensual face of John
+Arthur's wife reflected in her mirror, she turned with smiling
+countenance, saying:
+
+"Is it you, step-mamma? How kind of you! Am I delaying the dinner?"
+
+"No more than I am," smiled Cora, in return. "I thought you might like
+me to wait for you, as you are so much of a stranger to your old
+home."
+
+"Oh, I am not at all timid, I assure you; but it is nicer to go
+together. Am I almost ready, Strong?"
+
+"Almost, Miss Payne."
+
+"How quickly your maid dresses you," said Cora, resolved to keep the
+conversational ball rolling.
+
+"Oh, yes; Strong knows how to pack things so that what you want first
+is uppermost, and I had my dinner dress in a hand traveling-case."
+Then, turning about she asked, abruptly: "Have you a good maid,
+step-mamma?"
+
+Cora laughed nervously as she replied: "I have no maid, good or bad.
+My maid ran away a week ago, after robbing me and nearly killing me
+with chloroform."
+
+"Mercy, what a wretch! What have you done with her?"
+
+"We have not found her."
+
+"Did you look?"
+
+"Yes; detectives are looking for her now."
+
+"Well, I hope they will find her. Now I am ready; come, step-mamma."
+
+And together the two descended the stairs.
+
+Three faces reflected three degrees of surprise, as the ladies entered
+the drawing-room with every appearance of good feeling and mutual
+satisfaction. Davlin and Percy took their cue immediately. The only
+one whom an observer would have pronounced not quite at ease, was Miss
+Ellen Arthur, who stared from one to the other rather more than was
+polite, and who sustained her part in the conversation in a very
+nervous, fragmentary manner.
+
+Dinner being announced, Mr. Davlin promptly offered his arm to
+Madeline, who accepted it with perfect nonchalance. They followed Cora
+to the dining-room, themselves followed by Miss Arthur and Percy.
+
+Where four people separately, and each for his own end, determine to
+appear cordial and perfectly at ease, each one bent upon completely
+blinding the other three, there must of a necessity be much
+conversation, and more or less hilarity, whether real or assumed.
+
+These four, who were waging upon each other secret and deadly war, ate
+and drank together; and while Madeline regaled them with a fictitious
+account of herself during the time she had been supposed dead, the
+others listened and commented, and vied with each other in paying
+hypocritical court to the heiress of Oakley.
+
+"You see, step-mamma," said Madeline, as they lingered over their
+dessert, "I was never ignorant of what was going on here. My old nurse
+kept me informed. When I sent you the fiction of my death, I had no
+intention of returning, for I had determined never to live at Oakley
+during my step-father's reign. But upon hearing of his insanity, I
+resolved to come back, being now, of course, the real head of the
+house. Mr. Arthur being _non compos mentis_, I, as heiress, assume
+control of my own."
+
+If a wish could have killed, Cora would have closed forever that
+insolent smiling mouth. But she felt herself powerless.
+
+Davlin, with inimitable tact, came to her rescue: "Cora will be only
+too glad to welcome the queen back to her own. Indeed, she has been
+for some time declaring her intention of abdicating, for a time at
+least, and taking Mr. Arthur south to some medicinal springs. But the
+doctor fears the change will not benefit him."
+
+Madeline turned her eyes upon Cora. "She can't go just yet," she said,
+with odd decision; "I want her society. Where is your doctor, Mr.
+Davlin?"
+
+"He is up-stairs with his patient, Miss Payne. He usually joins us at
+breakfast, but not often at dinner."
+
+The truth was that Lucian, not feeling upon safe ground, had advised
+the "doctor" to keep discreetly out of the way of this shrewd young
+lady for the present, lest her keen questions should draw out
+something not to their advantage.
+
+Miss Payne turned to Cora again. "You have perfect confidence in the
+skill of this doctor, step-mamma?"
+
+"Oh, yes!" said Cora, positively; "he has been known to me a very long
+time. Besides, we had in one of the Bellair doctors, who agreed with
+Dr. Le Guise in every particular."
+
+"Well, I must see this learned gentleman to-morrow, and my step-papa
+also, I think. Step-mamma, you look fatigued; dining is too much for
+your strength. Let us leave the gentlemen to their wine and cigars."
+
+As if she had been presiding at that table all her life, Miss Payne
+arose, bowed to the two men, and preceding the two astonished ladies,
+swept from the dining-room.
+
+Cora, as she followed the graceful figure, could hardly restrain her
+mortification and rage. She felt a longing amounting almost to frenzy,
+to spring upon the girl and stab her in the back.
+
+The two men did not linger long in the dining-room. Each felt anxious,
+for reasons of his own, to be again in the presence of Miss Payne, and
+so soon joined the ladies in the drawing-room.
+
+After a little more hypocrisy on all their parts, Cora arose to retire
+to her apartments, declaring that the excitement of Miss Payne's
+arrival had made her forgetful of herself and her health, and that she
+began to feel her fictitious strength departing.
+
+Madeline, too, arose, and offering her arm to Cora, said that she
+would also retire. Nodding a careless good-night to the three deserted
+ones, she left the room, with the fair invalid leaning languidly upon
+her arm.
+
+To the surprise and dissatisfaction of Cora, Madeline not only
+accompanied her to her own apartment, but entered with her. Having
+closed the door carefully behind them, she turned about, and dropping
+all her assumed gayety and friendliness, said with the air of a queen
+commanding a subject:
+
+"Now, Mrs. Arthur, let us understand each other!"
+
+The sudden and marked change of her voice and manner startled the
+woman out of all her self-possession. She stood staring in the stern
+face of the girl with all of the audacity frightened out of her own.
+
+Cora was an adventuress to the tips of her fingers. She was fond of
+intrigue; she possessed a certain kind of courage; but she was, after
+all, at heart, a coward. She was quite willing to compromise her soul
+for gain, but not her body. In short, she loved herself too well to
+find any piquancy in personal danger.
+
+Since the loss of the papers and the flight of Celine Leroque had
+shaken her feeling of security, Cora had been restive and anxious to
+bring this plot to a climax. She had found it not at all to her taste
+to have Percy holding over her head a sword, be it ever so slender.
+And now, as she confronted Madeline, all her selfishness was alarmed.
+She waited in absolute fear the next words from the lips of her enemy.
+
+"You need not weary yourself by playing the invalid in my presence,
+madame," pursued the girl. "I am quite well aware that your illness
+has been all a sham. I know, too, that you have found the _role_ of
+invalid very irksome."
+
+The eyes of Cora widened still more, and all the color fled from her
+lips. But she made a fierce struggle and, although she could not
+summon up her usual insolence, she managed to gasp out, half
+defiantly: "What do you mean?"
+
+"You understand my meaning," replied the girl, with contempt. "I mean
+that you are in my power, and that you must obey my will."
+
+For a moment Cora's anger outweighed her fear. She came a step nearer
+and said, sneeringly: "Indeed, Miss Payne! That remains to be seen!"
+
+"True," assented Madeline, coldly. "First, then, you had better
+instruct your friend, Dr. Le Guise, not to administer _hasheesh_ to
+Mr. Arthur to-morrow, in order to have him properly insane when I
+visit him."
+
+Cora's knees bent under her, and all the color fled out of her face.
+But she rallied her flying courage enough to say: "Explain yourself,
+Miss Payne."
+
+Madeline drew toward her Cora's easiest lounging chair, and seated
+herself therein with much deliberation, saying, as she did so:
+
+"You had better sit down, Mrs. Arthur; there is no necessity for a
+display of anger, or for any more attempts at deception. The one is as
+useless as the other is transparent. And I have considerable to say to
+you."
+
+Cora moved sullenly toward a chair and sank into it, feeling like a
+woman in a nightmare.
+
+"First, then, for your position," pursued Madeline. "It is sufficient
+to say that I know of your scheme to dispose of Mr. Arthur and inherit
+the wealth you supposed to be his."
+
+Cora was beginning to feel a return of combativeness, and she
+exclaimed quickly: "That is false!"
+
+"I know," pursued her inquisitor, ignoring her retort, "that this man
+you call 'Dr. Le Guise,' is your tool and--_I have had every drug that
+has been prescribed by him analyzed by city physicians!_"
+
+Cora saw that she was indeed undone, and began to fight with the
+recklessness of despair. "I don't believe you!" she cried, reckless
+that she was committing herself. "That old spy, Hagar, has fancied
+these things. How could you get the medicines?"
+
+"Not through Hagar."
+
+"How then?"
+
+"_Just as I got the certificate of your marriage with Mr. Percy._"
+
+The woman sprang to her feet. "You--you are--"
+
+"Celine Leroque, madame!" with an imitation of the ladies' maid
+accent.
+
+Cora fell back in her chair panting.
+
+"Now," resumed Madeline, "why don't you reflect that, if it were my
+intention to denounce you, I could have done that long ago. Are you
+not aware that my step-father is my enemy?"
+
+"Not--in that way."
+
+"In that way precisely. John Arthur tortured my mother until she died
+heart-broken. He made my childhood miserable, and shut me up in a
+convent to pass my girlhood in loneliness. He bartered me in marriage
+to a man older and uglier than himself, for ten thousand dollars. Then
+I defied him to his face; swore to revenge upon him my mother's wrongs
+and mine; and ran away. Do you understand now why I have allowed you
+to persecute John Arthur?"
+
+Cora's courage began to revive. "I think I do," she said, slowly.
+
+"You see, Mrs. Arthur, it is in my power to arrest you; first, for
+Bigamy, and second, for Attempted Poisoning."
+
+Cora looked at her coolly. "But you won't do either," she said.
+
+"Won't I? And why not?"
+
+"Because, to do either, you must bring your own name into too
+prominent notice."
+
+Madeline laughed scornfully.
+
+[Illustration: "You--you are--!" "_Celine Leroque_, madame."--page
+362.]
+
+"You forget," she said, "I left my home for revenge. I feigned to be
+dead--I returned to Oakley in disguise--for revenge. Do you think that
+I will let my pride stay me when, by exposing you, I can complete my
+vengeance upon John Arthur?"
+
+Cora's countenance fell. She had not viewed the matter in just that
+light. She made no answer, and Madeline continued:
+
+"Don't flatter yourself that I shall hesitate, if I cannot effect my
+purpose otherwise. I am not disposed just now to war with you, but if
+you do not see fit to accept my terms, then I must turn against you."
+
+"What do you want of me?" sullenly.
+
+"I want you to continue as we have begun. I want Miss Arthur, Mr.
+Percy, and your brother, to believe us the best of friends. Above all,
+I want John Arthur to think us allies."
+
+"And what then?"
+
+"Then, you will be safe so far as I am concerned. Then, when I have
+accomplished my purpose and hold in my hands the keys to the Oakley
+coffers, you shall have money, and shall go hence to resume your
+career in whatever field you choose."
+
+"What security have I for all this?"
+
+"My word!"
+
+"And if I reject your terms?"
+
+Madeline smiled oddly.
+
+"What is to prevent my leaving this place now, to-night?" said Cora.
+
+Madeline laughed, saying: "Do you want to try that?"
+
+"If I did, what then?"
+
+"Then--you would not be permitted to leave these premises!"
+
+"Ah! you have spies in this house!"
+
+"Yes; and out of it. There is no chance for you to escape. There is
+no chance for any one to escape. Mrs. Arthur, is this man that you
+call your brother really such, or is he, too, in your plot?"
+
+Cora looked at her keenly, but it was no part of Madeline's plan to
+let her know that she had ever seen Lucian Davlin before that evening.
+Her face was as calm and inscrutable as the face of the sphinx.
+
+"No," said Cora, at length "my brother does not know of it."
+
+"I am glad of that," replied Madeline. "But, for fear of any
+deception, he will be kept under _surveillance_; and if anything is
+communicated to him I shall surely know it."
+
+"Why did you rob me of those papers?" asked Cora, abruptly.
+
+"Because," said Madeline, leaning forward, "you and I have a common
+enemy."
+
+"What! not Percy?"
+
+"Yes, Percy!"
+
+Cora looked amazed. "But--have you known him before?"
+
+"I never saw him until he came to Oakley."
+
+"I can't see how he has incurred your enmity here."
+
+"He has not incurred my enmity here. I hated him before I ever saw
+him."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he has wronged a friend who is as dear to me as life."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"Don't puzzle your brain over this; you won't be enlightened. It is
+sufficient for you to know that you can serve me if you choose,
+because we are both enemies of the same men." Then, rising, "Now
+choose; will you remain here as my ally, or leave in disgrace, and a
+prisoner, as my enemy?"
+
+Cora reflected, and finally said: "I accept your terms."
+
+"Very good; and now for precautions. You must allow me to supply you
+with a maid."
+
+"What?"
+
+"You are an invalid; I am well and strong. What could be more natural
+than that I should desire you to have every care and comfort that I
+can desire? I shall give you my maid; she will supply the place of
+Celine Leroque."
+
+"I won't have her," cried Cora, angrily. "I won't have a jailer."
+
+"Certainly not; you will have my maid, however. I will get another
+to-morrow."
+
+"I won't have her!"
+
+"Nonsense." Madeline stepped quickly to the door and opened it.
+"Strong," she said, softly.
+
+Instantly in stepped Strong, who had been just outside awaiting the
+orders of her mistress.
+
+"Strong," said Madeline, "I am going to let you wait upon Mrs. Arthur.
+She is in delicate health, and needs a maid. You must be _very
+attentive_, and don't let her get into any draughts. You can sleep in
+the dressing-room; and if she is not _well cared for_, I shall hold
+you accountable."
+
+Cora looked at the big, robust woman, so appropriately called Strong,
+and felt that she was indeed a prisoner.
+
+Strong bowed in silent submission to the will of her late mistress,
+and turned her broad visage upon her new one.
+
+Madeline moved to leave the room, saying, with a return to her former
+manner: "Good-night, step-mamma; try and go down to breakfast with me
+in the morning, won't you?"
+
+Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and swept across the
+hall, and Cora heard her door close behind her. Not deigning a single
+glance at Strong, Cora sat tapping her foot upon the carpet and
+reviewing the situation. After some angry musing, the practical side
+of her nature began to assert itself. She reflected that she was not,
+after all, in immediate danger; and that she would be still, to all
+outward appearance, the mistress of Oakley. There was not much to fear
+just now, and she would keep her eyes open.
+
+Meantime, she would not be unnecessarily uncomfortable. And so, being
+by nature indolent, she decided to make the most of the unwelcome
+Strong. Turning toward the statue-like figure near the door, she
+galvanized it into life by saying:
+
+"Strong, get my dressing-gown from that closet, and then take off my
+dress."
+
+And Strong commenced her duties with cheerful alacrity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+MYSTIFIED PEOPLE.
+
+
+John Arthur sat before a smoldering fire, gazing moodily down at the
+charred embers that had lost their glow and only showed a dark red
+light here and there, as if to assure one that there was fire in the
+grate.
+
+He was thinner than of old. His face wore a sickly pallor. His hands
+that clutched the arms of his invalid's chair worked incessantly,
+indicating surely that his nerves were in anything but a state of
+calm. He was feeble, too, in body; but his mind, spite of the verdict
+of the Bellair physician and the drugs of the Professor, was still
+unimpaired.
+
+In the solitude of the two rooms, out of which he had not once
+stepped since first he was removed to the west wing, he had had ample
+time for reflection; but he had by no means arrived at a state of
+mental beatitude.
+
+He had found it useless to struggle, useless to bluster, to argue or
+to plead. Henry was a merciless jailer, and Dr. Le Guise a sarcastic
+one.
+
+His breakfast had been served, and stood upon the table beside him;
+but he scarcely glanced at it. When Henry came in from the ante-room
+to remove the things, he said, without looking up: "Go ask Le Guise to
+come to me."
+
+Henry carried away the tray, deposited it in the ante-room, locked the
+door of the chamber carefully, and made his way to the breakfast-room.
+
+At that moment, the incongruous mixture called the family, were there
+assembled, including the Professor. The latter was just then
+discussing the condition of his patient with Miss Payne, in blissful
+ignorance of the fact that the young lady was fully conversant with
+his mode of treatment, and the true condition of her step-father's
+health.
+
+"You see, my dear young lady," the Professor said, pompously, "his is
+the worst form of insanity; the very worst. When a patient raves
+constantly we know precisely what to do with him. But when he is, at
+times, to all appearance, as sane as yourself, and yet liable at any
+moment to blaze out a perfect madman, one dislikes to treat him as a
+madman, and yet it is not safe to consider him a sane being."
+
+Madeline nodded, with a splendid assumption of profound interest.
+
+"It's a sad case," she said, pensively. "I almost dread the
+interview."
+
+"I think he is quite collected this morning, and he may be calm
+throughout. I hope so, for I should not like to have you witness one
+of his tantrums."
+
+"I have seen him in tantrums when he was considered sane," said the
+girl, with an odd intonation.
+
+Then looking up, she saw Henry, who had entered the room and stood
+staring at her in speechless amazement. Hagar had informed him that
+his young mistress was in the house. But he was not prepared for the
+vision of loveliness that the girl presented, as she turned toward him
+clad in her morning robe of snowy cashmere bordered with swansdown,
+and trailing after her like a train of snow. Luckily no one noted his
+start of surprise and quick glance of recognition, and Madeline said:
+
+"Is not that my step-father's attendant, doctor? I think he wants
+you."
+
+The "doctor" beckoned Henry to approach, and said, affably: "Well, and
+how is our patient, Henry?"
+
+"About as usual, sir. But he wants to see you."
+
+"Oh, he does? Poor soul, I'll come directly, Henry." Then, turning to
+Madeline: "Shall I break to him the news of your arrival?"
+
+"No; not unless you think it unsafe to surprise him."
+
+"On the contrary, an agreeable surprise might prove beneficial."
+
+The Professor, who had received sundry instructions from Davlin,
+assumed to be ignorant of the fact that the patient supposed his
+step-daughter dead.
+
+Smiling a little at the hypocrisy of the man, who pretended to have at
+heart the interest of a patient supposed to be in an excessively
+nervous state, yet was quite ready to expose that patient to the shock
+of meeting, without previous preparation, one supposed to be dead and
+in her grave, Madeline turned, and with a gesture brought Cora to her
+side.
+
+"Is Dr. Le Guise aware that my step-papa believes me to be dead?" she
+asked.
+
+Cora and the Professor looked dubiously at one another for an instant.
+Then the former, seeing her cue in the face of the latter, said: "He
+is not."
+
+"Well, step-mamma, I am going up to see him soon, and, on second
+thought, it will be best to have the doctor inform him of my
+resurrection."
+
+Cora nodded.
+
+"And," pursued the girl, "I will only say that I desire you, doctor,
+to inform him that I feigned death for reasons of my own. That I am
+here in the flesh, and will appear in his presence soon. When you have
+prepared him for my coming, have the goodness to come down and tell
+me."
+
+Saying this she turned away, after which the Professor quitted the
+room to obey the summons of his patient.
+
+Lucian Davlin had witnessed the interview, the summons and the
+departure, from a distance. He had found no opportunity for conversing
+with Cora, as yet, and was sorely puzzled by the present aspect of
+affairs.
+
+He had watched the two narrowly, but he found himself unable to read
+the true meaning lurking beneath the soft words that fell from the
+lips of Madeline. He could hear no jar in the music of her voice,
+could catch no glance that would give the lie to her honeyed words.
+She was playing her part like a born actress.
+
+He had not expected to see Cora accept the situation without a
+struggle. He was glad to find that there was to be no scene, and
+yet--somehow he felt himself at a disadvantage.
+
+He had viewed the situation from his stand-point, however, and had
+decided upon his course of action.
+
+First, he was resolved not to quit the field until he had made a
+desperate attempt to regain his power over the heiress of Oakley.
+Second, he would use stratagem in order to obtain an interview with
+her.
+
+In due time, Dr. Le Guise came among them once more, and announced to
+Madeline his readiness to conduct her into the presence of his
+patient.
+
+"He is quite prepared to see me, then?" questioned Madeline.
+
+"Quite, although I left him a trifle agitated and upset."
+
+As they paused at the door leading from the hall of the west wing, she
+said:
+
+"I will go in alone, Dr. Le Guise."
+
+"As you please." Then, as it were an afterthought. "I really believe,
+for your own safety, you had better keep Henry near you."
+
+"I shall be in no danger," she replied, and entered the outer chamber,
+closing and locking the door after herself.
+
+In answer to her knock, the door of the ante-chamber was unlocked and
+opened by Henry. Madeline swept across the threshold and extended her
+hand to the faithful fellow, saying:
+
+"Henry, I am glad to see you. I hope you do not find your present
+duties too heavy?"
+
+"Not since I knew I was serving you, miss," said the man,
+respectfully.
+
+"You are serving me, Henry. I need you here very much; and rest
+assured you shall have your reward for all you have done or may do for
+me."
+
+Evidently the prospect of reward was not unpleasing to him. His
+countenance beamed satisfaction.
+
+"And, Henry," continued his mistress, "attend to this. You are not, on
+any account, to give your charge any more of the medicine prepared for
+him by the doctor."
+
+A look of surprise shone from the eyes of the negro, but he answered
+simply, like the well-trained servant he was: "Yes, miss."
+
+"Above all, Henry, you are to let the doctor think that you administer
+all that he gives you."
+
+Henry signified that he fully understood and would obey his
+instructions. Then he opened the inner door, and John Arthur and
+Madeline Payne stood once more face to face!
+
+For a moment, the two eyed each other in silence. Then John Arthur
+said, with a sneer on his lip, and in a tone which proved clearly that
+time and imprisonment had not taught him meekness:
+
+"So, you young jade, what escapade have you been up to now? And how
+dare you come back here like a young princess? Why don't you keep out
+of my house?"
+
+Madeline laughed scornfully. "_Your_ house!--But I forgive you,
+step-papa; of course you are not accountable for your words."
+
+Her tone was mockery itself. The man found it difficult to restrain
+his wrath as he looked in her scornful face and said: "Don't dare to
+pretend to believe that I am crazy! Are you in league against me,
+too?"
+
+Wishing to draw from him just how much of the baseness of Cora he
+believed in, or suspected, she dropped her voice and asked, in assumed
+surprise: "Is it possible that you believe some one to be plotting
+against you?"
+
+"Is it _possible_! How else could I be kept shut up a prisoner in my
+own house?"
+
+The girl seemed to ponder. "Who is your enemy?" she asked.
+
+"Every one in this house."
+
+"What! Surely not your wife?"
+
+"I'm not so certain of that."
+
+"But she, too, has been sick."
+
+"Have they locked _her_ up?" snapped he.
+
+Madeline smiled. "Well, not exactly; she is not allowed much liberty,
+though."
+
+"Why won't she come and see me?"
+
+"Mercy! She is too delicate."
+
+"Seems to me you are well informed for one so lately arrived."
+
+"I _am_ well informed, Mr. Arthur. But I am not a late arrival."
+
+"What do you mean?" sullenly.
+
+"Just what I say," with an odd laugh. "I have been in this house since
+you were first put in these rooms."
+
+He sat like one stupefied. At last he sprang up and fairly yelled, "In
+the fiend's name, explain this chicanery. Why are you here? Who is
+keeping me a prisoner, and wherefore? Is it _you_, you little virago?"
+
+"Softly, step-papa; one thing at a time. I am here because _you_ are
+here," she said in a voice of unruffled calm. "Who is keeping you a
+prisoner, you ask? I am."
+
+Once more he seemed on the point of giving way to a paroxysm of rage,
+but controlled himself and said, sullenly:
+
+"I suppose I may thank you for my imprisonment from first to last."
+
+"You may thank me if you choose, but it will be bestowing your
+gratitude upon the wrong party. I did not lock you up. I simply
+permitted it."
+
+"And why have you leagued with my wife--curse her--to shut me up like
+a thief?"
+
+"Why?" her voice rising in angry scorn, "Do you ask me _why_? Why did
+you make my mother almost a prisoner in her own home? Why did you
+crush her in life, and blaspheme her in death? Why did you drive her
+daughter from the home that was hers, to escape from your cruelty,
+your insults, your avarice? John Arthur, how dare you ask me _why_ you
+are here!"
+
+Again the flashing eye, the ringing, wrathful voice, the white,
+uplifted hand. They menaced him again, as on that June evening when
+she had defied him and then fled out into the darkness, not to return,
+save in dreams, until now.
+
+Again he felt a thrill of terror, and he sat before her mute and
+cowering. At last he found voice to say: "Do you mean that you intend
+to keep me a prisoner?"
+
+Her eyes met his full. They were cold as snow and resolute as fate.
+"You will never leave these rooms until you accede to the terms I have
+to propose."
+
+Her audacity fairly stunned him. He fell back a pace as he said:
+"What--terms?"
+
+"First, you are to agree to resign the guardianship of my property.
+Second, you are to leave Oakley forthwith and forever, and to keep
+ever and always away from me and all that is mine."
+
+"Bah!" he cried, angrily, "do you think I am a fool? I won't resign my
+guardianship; the property is _mine_, not yours!"
+
+"Then I will choose a new guardian immediately. How ignorant of law
+you are, step-papa! Don't you know that you are legally _dead_? Don't
+you know that a lunatic can't hold property? Legally, I can choose a
+guardian to-morrow."
+
+"You she-devil! But I am not a lunatic!" sneered he.
+
+"How obtuse you are, step-papa! You _are_ a lunatic; we have the
+certificates of two physicians to that effect; and that is all the law
+requires. Now, be reasonable; what can you do?"
+
+"I'll get out, by heavens," he yelled; "and I'll put you in State's
+prison for false imprisonment!"
+
+She turned upon him with the utmost composure. "My dear sir, you have
+not one witness to prove that you are a sane man. There are many to
+prove that you have been subject to violent fits of madness."
+
+She turned again, and he, no longer seeking to control his rage,
+sprang toward her, uttering a volley of curses.
+
+During their entire interview, Henry had stood like a sentinel at the
+outer door of the ante-room, while that leading into the chamber of
+the prisoner stood wide open. At the first accent of rage, he darted
+forward; and as the girl sprang away from her step-father, that
+gentleman felt himself seized and hurled with scant ceremony to the
+middle of the room.
+
+"Don't you try that, sir!" cried Henry, in high wrath. "You won't find
+me a friend, if you do."
+
+"So," panted the old man, "this is one of your hirelings, is it? And
+pray, sir, what is this young fiend to pay you for your services?"
+
+"That's my affair," responded the man, coolly. "You can't buy me off;
+and if you try that game again, you will get yourself into a straight
+jacket."
+
+Madeline laughed, and said: "There, Henry, you need not be alarmed for
+me. But when you report this attack to the doctor, tell him that I
+think he had better take measures to secure his safety and yours, in
+case your patient should be again seized with a fit of violence."
+
+John Arthur immediately saw that he had damaged his own cause.
+
+"You had better sleep upon my proposition, Mr. Arthur," said Madeline,
+from the threshold. "If you pine for liberty, send for me. And don't
+think, for a moment, that I shall allow you to go free without taking
+the necessary precautions to insure myself against any trouble you
+might desire to make me. Adieu, Mr. Arthur." And she swept from the
+room.
+
+John Arthur stood for many minutes in the same place and attitude.
+When his anger would permit him, he began to wonder. She had come and
+gone, and how much the wiser was he? Where had she been all these
+months? Why had she allowed them to think her dead? Who were her
+friends, for friends she must have found? Why had her presence in the
+house, if she had been here, been kept from him? How had she gained
+the ascendancy over every one in that house? He thought so long and
+intensely that he started up, at last, almost beginning to fear that
+he was becoming mad.
+
+When Dr. Le Guise again came into his presence, he began to question
+him. But it was labor lost. Dr. Le Guise would not admit that he was a
+sane man. Dr. Le Guise knew nothing, absolutely nothing, outside the
+range of his professional duties. He was sorry for his patient; very
+sorry. He assumed to take all assertions on the part of Mr. Arthur as
+so many fresh evidences of insanity.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't try that, sir!" cried Henry, in high
+wrath.--page 375.]
+
+He was very grave, was Dr. Le Guise, but not to be moved. In fact, the
+prisoner fancied that he could observe in the doctor's tone, manner,
+and countenance, an unusual degree of complacency, and relish for his
+position and authority. And the prisoner was right. The reason for
+the doctor's placidity of manner was simply this:
+
+Madeline on leaving the rooms of the west wing, had encountered the
+worthy "doctor" just at the turn of the passage, and she had paused,
+saying:
+
+"Dr. Le Guise, you were right about my unfortunate step-father. He is
+quite mad, and really a dangerous charge. An ordinary fee is too
+little to offer you, considering what you have undertaken. I don't
+know what terms my step-mamma has made with you, but I will volunteer
+to double her price. You will be amply remunerated, and must consider
+the house and everything in it at your disposal, so long as you keep
+your patient safe, and do not permit him to do any mischief."
+
+The astute Professor had taken in the full meaning of her words, which
+served to quiet the fears that had haunted him since the advent of
+Miss Payne; fears that the young lady would prove to be an enemy, and
+one keen enough to fathom the secret they were keeping hidden in the
+west wing.
+
+He had seen that, for some reason, neither Cora nor Davlin dared, or
+did, oppose her. Now he fancied he understood the reason; it was
+because they did not fear her, for her interests were in common with
+theirs.
+
+"He is certainly a dangerous man," said the Professor, gravely; "I
+will obey your instructions to the letter."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+DAVLIN'S "POINTS."
+
+
+Madeline having left the morning-room, accompanied by the too
+observant Professor, Lucian saw at once his opportunity for a few
+words with Cora. Without too great an appearance of haste, he moved
+across the room, pausing before the fire, in front of which Miss
+Arthur was seated, and addressing to her a few careless words. Then he
+glanced at Percy, who sat at the most remote corner of the room,
+assuming to be much interested in some geological specimens in a
+little cabinet.
+
+Cora divined his intention. She knew, too, that this was the very best
+place for an interview, which she desired to make a brief one, being
+somewhat afraid of committing herself if she allowed him to ask too
+many questions. So she moved over to the window, and seated herself in
+a low chair.
+
+She had decided upon her own present course of action. She would play
+her part well while she remained at Oakley, and she would escape from
+it as soon as she had succeeded in blinding the eyes of her jailers,
+for she mentally acknowledged them as such.
+
+When Davlin at length crossed the room, and dropped carelessly down in
+the chair at her side, she lifted her eyes to his, and said,
+inquiringly: "Well?"
+
+He looked at her keenly for a moment. Then, not to lose any time by
+useless words, came straight at the point.
+
+"Time's precious, Co. We can't attract attention by a long dialogue,
+and yet we must talk things over. When can I find you alone?"
+
+"Not at all for a day or two."
+
+"Why not?" elevating his eyebrows.
+
+Cora rested her head upon her hand in such a way as to conceal from
+those at the opposite end of the room, the expression of her face, and
+said:
+
+"Because I want to be sure that we can talk without being observed.
+Miss Payne seems very friendly, and has given me her maid because,
+she says, an invalid needs waiting on, and she sleeps in my
+dressing-room. I don't want to excite suspicion by sending her away,
+in order to admit you, and--I don't see that there is much to be
+said."
+
+Lucian seemed weighing her words for a moment. Then he asked: "What do
+you make of Miss Payne?"
+
+"What do you make of her?" she retorted, quickly.
+
+"Nothing, as yet."
+
+"No more do I."
+
+Another brief silence, and then he asked: "Do you think there is any
+immediate danger--for us?"
+
+"As how?"
+
+"From him: Arthur."
+
+Now came Cora's grand coup. She felt pretty sure that Lucian knew of
+her interview with Madeline, and believed that she would be telling
+him no news when she said:
+
+"Listen! She went with me to my room last night, and she asked a good
+many questions about him. And I am sure of this: she is no friend to
+him, and if she sees no reason for suspecting any of us, she won't
+trouble herself about him. She told me that she ran away from home
+because she had been so oppressed by him, and that his attempt to
+marry her off, in order to put money in his own pocket, was only one
+among many of the things she had endured at his hands. Of one thing I
+am sure: the old man may be a stumbling-block to us, but he is an
+object of positive hatred to her."
+
+Cora uttered this combination of truth and falsehood without the least
+compunction. If she could have warned him of the danger hanging over
+them without jeopardizing herself, she would have done so. But that,
+she knew, was impossible.
+
+He had planned this "game" which now bade fair to be such an utter
+failure, and if anyone must suffer, why, let it be him. And then, too,
+she reasoned, she had not gathered from the words of Madeline that she
+suspected Mr. Davlin of duplicity of any kind. As for the Professor,
+Cora cared little what became of him. She could gain nothing and
+might, doubtless would, lose much by warning him.
+
+Lastly, Cora assured herself that were their positions reversed, and
+Lucian the one who saw that his own safety lay in leaving her to her
+fate, he would not scruple to make her his scapegoat. And in this she
+was quite right.
+
+Again the man seemed to puzzle over some knotty, mental question. Then
+he arose, and leaning against the window frame in a favorite attitude,
+glanced across at Percy and the spinster as he asked, slowly: "Did she
+say anything about me?"
+
+Cora looked up in genuine surprise. "About you? No; why should she?"
+
+"I mean," he said, "did she say anything to cause you to think that
+she suspected us?"
+
+"No," shortly; "why should she? She never saw either of us until
+yesterday."
+
+"What do you think brought her back here just now?"
+
+"It's easy enough to see why she came back. She has heard of the
+insanity of Mr. Arthur, and has come, as she said, to take possession
+of her own."
+
+Another pause; then Cora said: "Is the Professor 'up' to anything
+new?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then don't let him take the alarm. It would hurt us. We can't run
+now, and I don't think we have much to fear. We will lose the
+money--that's all."
+
+Lucian looked out upon the evergreens and graveled walks of Oakley,
+and said, under his breath: "Will we?"
+
+Then he turned upon his heel and sauntered out of the room.
+
+The question that was then uppermost in his mind, the question that
+had been since the first shock of her reappearance had given him time
+to think, was, why had Madeline returned to Oakley?
+
+Was it, as she alleged, because she had changed her mind, and wanted
+to be mistress of her own? Or was it because he was there? If he could
+convince himself that the latter reason was the true one, then he
+would know how to act.
+
+She had kept herself informed of affairs at Oakley. Then she must have
+known of the fact that the so-called brother of John Arthur's wife was
+Lucian Davlin. She must have known that. Of course she knew it. Did
+not her manner on the evening of her arrival prove that? Not for one
+instant did she lose her self-possession. Had his presence been
+unexpected, she could hardly have restrained every sign of emotion, of
+recognition. Clearly, she was prepared for their meeting.
+
+Ah! now he was getting at things. If she came to Oakley, knowing him
+to be established there as a member of the family, she came
+_expecting_ to meet him. She was not afraid of him, then. She was not
+averse to meeting him. Perhaps--he began to think it highly
+probable--she came solely to meet him. If so, did she come for love,
+or--for revenge?
+
+If she came for revenge why did she not denounce him? But no, she
+would hardly do that. What woman would? But she might have assumed
+toward him a more hostile attitude.
+
+Finally, his masculine vanity helped him to a conclusion. A woman
+seldom forgets her first love so easily, and he could meet her so
+differently now. She had _not_ forgotten her love for him. He could
+win it back, and her forgiveness with it. And then--then, if he could
+but manage Cora, what would hinder him from marrying her, and being
+in clover ever after! He was tired of roving; they could go to the
+city; he need not give up gaming, and--he really loved the girl; had
+loved her since the day she had escaped from his snare.
+
+Having arrived at this stage in his day-dream, he began to feel
+buoyant. And when he heard from the Professor the result of Madeline's
+visit to her step-father, his complacency was at high tide.
+
+"It's all in a nutshell to me," said the Professor, as they smoked
+their confidential cigars in the privacy of Lucian's own room. "Mind,
+I don't suppose she _is_ up to our game; she can't be, you know; but
+she is pretty thoroughly convinced that what she thinks is his
+insanity, is but temporary."
+
+"How do you know that?" interrupted Lucian, sharply.
+
+"Not from anything _she_ said; I had very few words with her. But look
+here, Davlin, isn't this a clear case enough? When I went up to see
+the old fool, after their interview, I find him in a paroxysm of rage.
+Of course he makes his complaint; his _ravings_ informed me of this:
+She told him that she did not really think him very crazy herself, but
+two doctors _did_, and she didn't feel called to dispute them. She
+told him that he could not prove himself sane in any court in America;
+and that he, being insane, was dead in law; and she was going to
+choose another guardian."
+
+Lucian Davlin fairly bounded from the chair. "That's it!" he
+ejaculated under his breath.
+
+"Then," pursues the Professor, puffing away tranquilly, "she comes
+straight from this interview and meets me, to whom she says that, 'It
+is a most deplorable and dangerous case; that he is really liable to
+attack me or Henry at any moment; that I must take every precaution
+and guard against his sudden attack, even if I were forced to confine
+him still more closely; and that she had suspected him of partial
+insanity long ago.' Now, what do you think of that?"
+
+Precisely what he thought it was not Mr. Davlin's intention to tell.
+One idea, however, he expressed promptly enough: "I think," he said,
+leaning a little forward and looking full at his companion, "that you
+had better take the advice of Miss Payne. Confine him close, the
+closer the better; but don't drug him any more at present!"
+
+The Professor nodded serenely as he said: "Right, quite right. Just
+what I was about to suggest."
+
+He might have added that he had resolved upon taking the course
+indicated, even if the suggestion had not been made. "The young lady
+holds the winning cards," he had assured himself. "I will take her
+orders before I get myself in too deep!" His "too deep" meant deep as
+the grave.
+
+And now Lucian had a new subject for conjecture. If Miss Payne
+proposed to appoint for herself a guardian, who would she select? Who
+had been caring for her during all these months? Was it man or woman?
+
+The only information she had volunteered had been implied rather than
+spoken. In answer to Miss Arthur's rather abrupt query at the
+breakfast table, as to how she had managed to prosper so well in a
+strange city where she had no friends, the girl had replied, with a
+little laugh:
+
+"I suppose it has never occurred to either yourself or Mr. Arthur that
+I might have found out some of my mother's friends. I was put in
+possession of my mother's journal on the very day that I ran away from
+Oakley. I am not so friendless as you may think."
+
+Lucian was again puzzled, but knowing the girl as he did, he was not
+prepared to believe that a guardian, in the form of a lover, would
+appear. He was now convinced that Cora, whom at first he had somewhat
+doubted, was not for some unknown reason attempting to deceive him.
+
+The Professor's story had corroborated hers, and given him, as he
+expressed it, "a fresh point" in his game. But alas for Lucian! Every
+fancied discovery only beguiled him farther and farther from the
+truth, and rendered him more and more blind to the chains that were
+being forged about him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+THE DAYS PASS BY.
+
+
+Several days passed and still Lucian Davlin had not found the much
+wished for opportunity to converse with Madeline. Neither had he been
+able to find Cora alone. Visit her room when he would, there was the
+burly waiting-maid. Finally Cora had warned him, with some asperity,
+that his "actions looked rather suspicious," and then he obeyed her
+gentle hint and remained aloof.
+
+Two days after the bestowal of Strong, the maid, upon the
+not-too-grateful Cora, an angular, grenadier-looking female presented
+herself at the servants' entrance, announcing that she was "the new
+maid;" and she was installed as high priestess of Madeline's
+apartments without loss of time.
+
+The servants below stairs made comments, as servants will. Even Miss
+Arthur, Percy, and Davlin agreed in calling the two maids,
+respectively, "Grenadier" and "Griffin."
+
+But only Cora knew that the two were better learned in the art of
+spying than in matters of the toilet. She knew herself to be under
+continual surveillance. Above stairs or below, Madeline or Hagar,
+Strong or Joliffe were not far away. And yet she had not abandoned her
+plan of escaping.
+
+One morning, Cora, looking from the window of her dressing room, saw
+two men moving about in the grounds below. Upon commenting upon their
+presence there, Strong had answered, readily;
+
+"Yes, madame, Joliffe tells me that they are here to sink a well. Miss
+Payne has decided to have a fountain among those cedar trees, and they
+are to go to work immediately."
+
+"But a well in winter! They can't dig."
+
+"They don't dig; they bore. It's to be a fountain, madame."
+
+But in spite of the "fountain" explanation, Cora knew that the house
+was guarded from without as well as from within.
+
+"It's no use to warn Lucian, or anybody, now," she thought. "It would
+only get us all into worse trouble."
+
+But still she did not abandon the thoughts of her own escape.
+
+And now began a time of trial for poor Ellen Arthur. Madeline Payne,
+after studiously ignoring the two men for some days, began to unbend.
+She commenced by conversing with Percy, listening to his slow and
+stately sentences, smiling her approval, and completely captivating
+that susceptible gentleman. Then, by degrees, she drew Lucian into the
+conversation, and smiled upon and listened to him.
+
+All this Cora observed, wondering what the girl was trying to do;
+while the spinster looked on in untold agony, fearful lest this fair
+sorceress should avenge herself for some of her childish grievances by
+robbing her of her lover.
+
+Meanwhile Lucian Davlin interpreted all this in his own favor. "She
+is proud and still resentful," he thought. "And she is using Percy as
+a medium of approach to me."
+
+At last Lucian, growing impatient, resorted to an old, old trick. He
+watched his opportunity, and one evening, as Madeline was following
+Cora from the drawing-room, the door of which he was holding open for
+their exit, he pushed into her hand a small scrap of paper.
+
+She would have dropped it; her first impulse was to do so, but Cora
+turned as her hand was about to loosen its clasp upon the fragment. So
+she passed on, carrying it with her to her own room. There she opened
+it and read these pencilled words:
+
+     For God's sake do not torture me longer. You have condemned
+     me without a hearing. Be as merciful as you are strong and
+     lovely. At least let me see you alone, when I can plead for
+     myself.
+
+Half an hour later, Hagar tapped at his door. When he opened it, she
+put in his hand a bit of paper, on which were these faintly-pencilled
+lines:
+
+     If you desire my friendship, you must date our acquaintance
+     from this week. You never knew me in the past.
+
+"And she is right," muttered he; "the Madeline Payne of last summer,
+and the Madeline Payne of now, are to each other as the chrysalis to
+the butterfly, in beauty; as the kitten to the panther, in spirit; as
+the babe to the woman, in mind. That Madeline pleased me; this one, I
+love."
+
+So he accepted the position, and did not give up striving to draw from
+her some special word, or look, or tone, that he need not feel
+belonged as much to Percy as to himself.
+
+Meantime Percy was revolving various things in his learned head.
+
+He had been, as a matter of course, deeply impressed with her beauty,
+and he had been much puzzled as well.
+
+Having witnessed her arrival, he had fully expected rebellion from
+Cora, for Cora was not the woman to be barred out from a prospective
+fortune and make no sign. But there was no war, and no indications of
+battle. Cora and the heiress were wonderfully friendly. Mr. Percy
+could not understand it.
+
+The manner of Davlin toward him had not changed in the least,
+remaining as studiously polite as when he was so cordially invited to
+take up his abode under the hospitable roof of Oakley.
+
+That of Cora was decidedly different. While before she addressed him
+with a sort of conciliating courtesy, and had seemed desirous of
+furthering his plans and hastening on his marriage with Miss Arthur,
+she now manifested an almost contemptuous indifference, not only to
+himself, but to his _fiance_.
+
+True to her nature, Cora was gathering up what gleams of satisfaction
+she could. When she had become assured that it was not Percy who held
+possession of her stolen papers, and that the girl in whose hands they
+were was more his enemy than hers, she rejoiced in his discomfiture to
+come. Seeing that it was no longer necessary to propitiate her enemy,
+she indulged in the luxury of acting out her hatred, when she could
+without betraying to Davlin this change, which might require an
+explanation.
+
+That some sort of understanding existed between Miss Payne and Cora,
+Percy instantly surmised, and every day confirmed the belief. That
+Miss Payne held the power, he also believed. So believing, he began to
+wonder if it were not better to "be off with the old love," and seek
+to win the heiress, for the vanity of Mr. Percy inspired him to
+believe that it would not be a hopeless task. He had heard, however,
+of that person who, "between two stools," fell to the ground, and he
+was careful not to reveal to Miss Arthur the laxity of his affections.
+
+And so the days moved on.
+
+Percy dividing his attention between his _fiance_ and Miss Payne;
+studying the latter, and closely watching Davlin and Cora.
+
+That last named lady smiling and lounging below stairs, sulking and
+smoking above, and always under surveillance.
+
+Davlin, having assured Cora that he was acting from motives politic,
+paying open court to Madeline.
+
+That young lady calmly acting her part, thoroughly understanding and
+heartily despising them all.
+
+John Arthur alternately raging and sulking, obdurately refusing to
+accede to his step-daughter's terms, and vowing to escape and wreak
+vengeance upon every one of them.
+
+"Dr. Le Guise," calm as a Summer morning, and taking more real ease
+and comfort than all the others combined.
+
+Hagar watchful and anxious.
+
+The two new maids making themselves popular in the kitchen, and
+"sleeping with their eyes open."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And still no clue by which Madeline and her efficient _aides de camp_
+could unravel the web of doubt that still clung about, and kept a
+prisoner, the long-suffering Philip Girard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.
+
+
+After some days of outward calm, came a ripple upon the surface of
+events.
+
+It had been a dull, cloudy day, with occasional gusts of wind and
+rain; wind that chilled to the very marrow, and rain that froze as it
+fell.
+
+The three men, Davlin, Percy and the Professor, had been constrained
+to abandon their customary morning walk, with cigar accompaniment, up
+and down the terrace. And the well-borers had been obliged to stop
+their work.
+
+Mrs. Arthur had kept her room and her bed all day long, afflicted by a
+raging toothache. Strong was kept at her side, almost constantly
+applying hot water, laudanum and various other local applications. As
+the day advanced, the sufferer seemed growing worse; and when Madeline
+came in to administer consolation, and see if the woman were really
+ill, Cora sent for Dr. Le Guise, vowing she would have the tooth out,
+and every other one in her head, if the pain did not stop. But when
+the Professor arrived, her courage failed her. She drew back at the
+sight of the formidable forceps, saying that she would "try and endure
+it a little longer; it seemed a bit easier just then."
+
+All this Madeline noted. Retiring from the room she signaled to Strong
+to follow her out. "What do you think of her?" questioned Madeline of
+the latter, as the door closed between them and Cora.
+
+Strong looked dubious. "I really don't know what to think, Miss
+Payne," she said. "If it is shamming, it is the best I ever saw."
+
+"True," answered Madeline; "I am at a loss. You had better apply some
+test, Strong, and--keep all your medicines out of her reach. Don't let
+her get any laudanum, or anything; and presently report to me. She
+must not be left alone, however; when I send Joliffe in, do you come
+to me."
+
+Madeline passed on to her own room, and Strong returned to her
+patient.
+
+When Joliffe went to her relief, Strong presented herself before
+Madeline, saying: "I can't think she is shamming, Miss Payne. I
+suggested a mustard blister, and she never made a murmur. I put it on
+awful strong, and she declared that it was nothing to the pain. When I
+took it off her cheek was red as flannel, and she wanted it put on
+again. She says it relieves her, and thinks if the pain don't come
+back she will sleep. I made sure of the bottles all the same," added
+Strong. "I have used a lot of chloroform on her, but of course some
+would evaporate." And she held up to view a half-filled chloroform
+vial.
+
+She was right; full half an ounce had "evaporated," during the brief
+minute when she had stood in the hall to confer with Madeline.
+
+Altogether, Strong had a hard day.
+
+Cora kept her continually on her feet. The blinds must be opened, and
+shut again, every fifteen minutes. The room was too hot, and the fire
+must be smothered. Then it was too cold, and the fire must be
+stimulated to a blaze. And no one could wait upon her but Strong.
+
+As night came on, the paroxysms of pain returned in full force, and
+Strong was implored once more to apply the soothing mustard.
+
+When Madeline looked in at ten o'clock, Cora was groaning in misery,
+and Strong was applying a blister. When she again looked in, an hour
+later, the invalid, with blistered face and fevered eyes, feebly
+declared herself a "trifle easier," and Strong was bathing her head
+with _eau de Cologne_.
+
+Madeline soon retired to her room, and her couch. But for half an
+hour longer, Cora kept the now yawning Strong at her side. Then she
+said:
+
+"Go now and get some rest, Strong. Leave the mustard on my face, and
+then I think I can sleep. I am getting drowsy now."
+
+Strong replaced the mustard, and raked up the fire. Then she looked
+carefully to the fastenings of the doors, and returned to the bedside.
+Already her mistress was in a heavy slumber.
+
+Putting in her pocket the keys of both doors, Strong retired to the
+dressing-room and, loosening her garments, threw herself down wearily
+upon a couch, and was soon sleeping the sleep of the just, and
+breathing heavily.
+
+For some moments after the loud breathing told that her maid was
+asleep, Cora lay quietly, but with eyes wide open. Then she stirred,
+making a slight noise, but the heavy breathing continued as before.
+
+Cora now raised herself up on her elbow and again listened. Still the
+heavy breathing. Again she moved audibly, at the same time calling
+softly: "Strong!"
+
+But Strong slumbered on.
+
+Quickly snatching the bandages from her much enduring face, Cora
+sprang lightly from the bed. Taking something from under her pillows,
+she stole noiselessly into the dressing-room and up to the couch of
+the sleeping Strong. In another instant there was a pungent odor in
+the room, and something white and moist lay over the musical proboscis
+of the slumbering giantess.
+
+In five minutes more, Cora Arthur stood arrayed in a dark traveling
+suit, with a pair of walking boots in one hand, and the key of her
+chamber door in the other. Swiftly and silently as a professional
+house-breaker, she opened the door and passed out, closing it quietly
+behind her.
+
+Like a shadow she glided down the now unlighted stairway, and through
+the dark and silent hall, in the direction of the dining-room. Turning
+to the left, she paused before a side door, the very door through
+which Madeline had escaped on a certain eventful June night, and
+noiselessly undid the fastenings. In another moment she was outside,
+and the door had closed behind her.
+
+She drew a long breath of relief, and sat down to put on her shoes.
+Her escape was well timed; the train for the city, the midnight
+express, was due in twenty minutes. Strong would hardly waken before
+that time, and then--she would be flying across the country at the
+heels of the iron horse.
+
+Rising to her feet, she took one step in the darkness--only one. Then
+a light suddenly flashed before her eyes, a heavy hand grasped her
+arm, and a gruff voice said: "This is a bad night for ladies to be
+abroad. You had better go back, ma'am!"
+
+Cora made a desperate effort to free herself, but the hand held her as
+in a vise, and the bull's eye of the dark lantern flashed in her face
+as the speaker continued:
+
+"Yes, you are the identical one I am looking for. Got a red
+face--toothache didn't make you a trifle lightheaded, did it? Come,
+turn about, quick!"
+
+And Cora knew that Madeline Payne had not been as blind as she had
+seemed. It was useless to struggle, useless to protest. The strong
+hand pushed her toward the entrance. The man gripped the lantern in
+his teeth, while he opened the door, and pushing her through, followed
+after. Closing the door again, and never once releasing his hold upon
+her, he forced her unwilling feet to retrace their steps, saying, as
+they ascended the stairs:
+
+"Show the way to your own room, if you don't want me to rouse the
+house."
+
+Quivering with rage, Cora pointed to the door, and was immediately
+ushered, with more force than politeness, back into her own
+dressing-room and the presence of her still insensible maid.
+
+"Now, then," said her tormentor, "where is Miss Payne's room? No
+nonsense, mind; I'm not a flat."
+
+Cora, thoroughly convinced of the truth of this statement, sullenly
+directed him to Madeline's door.
+
+"Stand where you are," was the next command of the man; "it might jar
+your tooth to move."
+
+And Cora stood where he had left her, while he aroused Miss Payne and
+communicated to her the news of the night's exploit.
+
+In a very few moments Joliffe appeared, and without so much as casting
+a glance at Cora, set herself to arouse the stupefied Strong--a feat
+which was soon accomplished, for the woman had nearly exhausted the
+effects of her sleeping potion. A moment later, and Madeline appeared
+upon the threshold. After surveying the scene in silence for an
+instant, she entered the room, closed the door, and said with a laugh
+that set Cora's blood boiling: "So you were tired of our society, and
+fancied that you could outwit me? Undeceive yourself, madame; it is
+not in your power to escape from my hands, and whatever fate I choose
+to adjudge you."
+
+Then turning to the man, she said: "You have done well, Morris; this
+kind of work you will find more profitable than well-boring. You may
+go now."
+
+The man bowed respectfully, and silently quitted the room.
+
+Then Madeline addressed Joliffe: "You will stay here the remainder of
+the night. Let Strong sleep; she is not to blame for permitting her
+charge to escape, and she will be more wary in future."
+
+[Illustration: "This is a bad night for ladies to be abroad!"--page
+393.]
+
+Then turning again to Cora, who had flung herself in a chair and sat
+gazing from one to the other in sullen silence, she said, with a smile
+on her lips: "You should not work against your own interests, Mrs.
+Arthur. Had you succeeded in escaping on the midnight express, who,
+think you, would have been summoned to meet you on your arrival in the
+city?"
+
+"Doubtless an officer," replied the woman, doggedly. "I might have
+known you for a sleuth hound who would guard every avenue."
+
+"Thanks; you do me honor. I should not have summoned an officer,
+however; there is some one else waiting anxiously to welcome you
+there."
+
+"Indeed," sarcastically; "who?"
+
+"_Old Verage._"
+
+Cora started up in her chair. "For God's sake, _what_ are you?"
+
+"A witch," said the girl, demurely. "I am as old as the world, and can
+fly through the air on a broomstick, so don't think to escape me
+again, step-mamma. I trust you will enjoy your brief repose, for it
+will soon be morning, and if I don't see your fair face at the
+breakfast table, I shall not be content."
+
+Cora put two fingers to her blistered cheek, saying: "You can't ask me
+to come down with this face."
+
+"True, I can't. Good-night, step-mamma; it would have been better if
+you had let the doctor pull that tooth."
+
+And Miss Payne swept away, leaving the would-be fugitive to her own
+reflections.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+THE DOCTOR'S WOOING.
+
+
+Mrs. Ralston had become to Olive Girard as one of the family. There
+was a strange affinity between the two women, who had known so much of
+sorrow, so many dark, dark days. As yet, however, there was not entire
+confidence. Mrs. Ralston knew nothing of the movements then on foot to
+liberate the husband of her hostess; and Olive knew no more of Mrs.
+Ralston's past than had been communicated by Claire, which was in
+reality but very little.
+
+Dr. Vaughan had become an ardent admirer of the grave, sweet, pale
+lady, who had, in her turn, conceived a very earnest admiration for
+him.
+
+Always a close student of the human countenance, Mrs. Ralston had not
+been long in reading in the face of the young man his regard for
+Claire Keith. Having discovered this, she studied him still more
+attentively, coming, at last, to the conclusion that he was worthy of
+her beloved Claire.
+
+But Claire appeared ever under a strange restraint in the presence of
+Dr. Vaughan. She seemed always to endeavor to keep either her sister
+or her friend at her side, as if she found herself more at ease while
+in their proximity. Evidently she was keeping close guard over
+herself. And just as evidently she was glad to be in the presence of
+Clarence Vaughan when supported by her sister and friend, and safe
+from a _tete-a-tete_.
+
+Mrs. Ralston was really troubled by this apparent misunderstanding, or
+whatever it might be, that rendered Claire less cordial towards Dr.
+Vaughan than she would have been to one who was only a friend, and far
+less worthy of friendship. She mentally resolved, when a fitting
+opportunity should occur, to endeavor to win the confidence of the
+girl, for she saw that two natures, formed to love each other, were
+drifting apart, with no prospect of a better understanding. And that
+opportunity came sooner than she had expected.
+
+One day, a day destined to be always remembered by the chief actors in
+our strange drama, Mrs. Ralston seated herself at a davenport in Mrs.
+Girard's pretty library to write a letter to Mr. Lord. The promptness
+and energy of that good man had completely baffled the acute
+detective, and the danger which Mrs. Ralston had so much feared, the
+danger of being discovered by her worthless husband, was now past.
+
+She had entered the library through the drawing-room and, both rooms
+being untenanted, had left the door of communication between them half
+open.
+
+Sitting thus, she heard the door of the drawing-room open, and the
+rustle of feminine garments betokened the entrance of one of her
+friends. Presently soft ripples of music fell upon her ear, and she
+knew that it was Claire who was now at the piano, playing dreamily,
+softly, as if half fearful of awakening some beloved sleeper.
+
+After a few moments, the ripple changed to a plaintive minor
+accompaniment, that had in it an undertone as of far-off winds and
+waves. Then the full, clear voice of the girl rang out in that most
+beautiful of songs, which alone should make famous the genius of Jean
+Ingelow and Virginie Gabriel:
+
+    "When sparrows build and the leaves break forth,
+        My old sorrow wakes and cries."
+
+The singer sang on, all unconscious that two listeners were noting the
+passion and pain in her voice:
+
+    "How could I tell I could love thee to-day,
+       When that day I held not dear?
+    How could I know I should love thee, away,
+       When I did not love thee near?"
+
+As the last note died away in sorrowful vibrations, Mrs. Ralston, in
+the library, was conscious of tears trickling down her cheek.
+
+At the same moment there was a discordant crash among the piano keys,
+and Claire's voice was saying, almost angrily: "Dr. Vaughan! how came
+you here? How dared you--"
+
+There was a suspicious tremor in her voice, and she stopped speaking,
+as if too proud to show how very much she had been thrown off her
+guard.
+
+"Forgive me, Miss Keith," the deep voice of Clarence Vaughan
+responded. "Believe me, I did not intend my presence as an
+impertinence. Your servant admitted me, and I thought it not wrong to
+enter unannounced, although I hardly hoped to find you alone. Surely
+you do not blame me for my silence while you sang?"
+
+Claire made no reply. She was strongly tempted to fly and let Clarence
+Vaughan think what he would. But before she could stir, he had moved a
+step nearer and was looking straight down in her eyes.
+
+"Claire," he said, in tones of reverential tenderness, "I have waited
+for the time to come when I might say to you what you must let me say
+now. You have seemed to avoid me of late; I can not guess why. And
+to-day, as I listened to your song, a new thought, a new fear, has
+entered my mind. Claire, tell me, have you read the love that has
+been in my heart since I first saw your face, and have you sought to
+shun me because you love another?"
+
+While he was uttering this speech, Claire Keith had regained her
+self-command, and her answer now came low and clear: "Dr. Vaughan, you
+have not guessed aright. I have not avoided you because I love
+another."
+
+"Claire, nature did not make you an actress. There was love in your
+voice when you sang that song!"
+
+"Thank you," coolly; "I have been taught to sing with expression."
+
+"Claire, Claire Keith, I beg you answer me truly; do you really
+dislike me? You say you do not love another; could you learn to love
+me?"
+
+No answer.
+
+"Tell me, Claire, do you not know how deeply I love you?"
+
+Silence.
+
+"Claire, Claire, speak to me. End this suspense. Will you not try to
+love me?"
+
+She moved away from him, and avoiding his eyes, answered in an odd,
+hard voice: "No, Dr. Vaughan, I will not try to love you."
+
+His next words were uttered almost tremulously. "Ah! I understand. I
+have displeased you; tell me how."
+
+"You have never displeased me. You are goodness itself. Let me pass,
+Doctor Vaughan; I must not listen to you."
+
+"Must not? Then you do avoid me?"
+
+"Yes," almost inaudibly.
+
+"Why?" stepping before her and cutting off her retreat.
+
+"I won't tell you. Yes, I will, too. Oh, how blind you are! How can
+you love me when--when there is some one better, better a thousand
+times, and braver, too. Some one whose life needs your love, because
+it has been so loveless always. I won't love you. I won't listen to
+you. If you want me to be your friend, make the life that is giving
+its best to others, as happy as it deserves to be. And--don't ever
+talk--like this--to me again."
+
+Before he could open his lips, or put out a hand to detain her, she
+had rushed from the room.
+
+Clarence Vaughan gazed after the flying form in speechless grief and
+amazement. Then flinging himself into a chair, he bowed his head upon
+his hands in sorrowful meditation. Sitting thus he did not perceive
+the approach of some one, who laid a hand lightly upon his bowed head,
+murmuring: "Blind! blind! blind!"
+
+Starting up, he saw the face of Mrs. Ralston bending toward him and
+wearing an expression of mingled compassion and amusement.
+
+"Forgive me," she said, her countenance resuming its usual gravity. "I
+was in the library, and heard all. I listened willfully, too, for I
+have been observing you and Claire, and I want to help you."
+
+Clarence dropped disconsolately back in his chair. "If you have heard
+all," he said, "you know that it is useless to try to help me."
+
+Mrs. Ralston laughed outright. "If you were not blind you would not
+need my help," she said. "As it is, you do."
+
+"Mrs. Ralston, what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean that your battle is half won. If you will explain to me one
+half her words, I will explain to you the other half."
+
+"You are laughing at me," he said, wearily. "What can you explain?"
+
+"That ridiculous girl commanded you to bestow your love upon some more
+worthy object; some one who was living for others; or some such words.
+Whom did she mean, may I ask?"
+
+He started up as if inspired by a new thought. "I see!" he exclaimed;
+"She must have meant--a very dear friend of hers."
+
+He could not say the name that was in his thought. It would sound like
+egotism.
+
+"That is sufficient," said the lady. "Now, I am going to betray
+Claire, as she has betrayed this other one. You foolish fellow, can't
+you see that the child loves you and is striving to do a Quixotic
+thing by giving you up to her friend? Think over her words and manner,
+and don't take her at her bidding. If this other, to whom Claire
+commands you to turn, is a true woman, she would not thank you for the
+offer of a preoccupied heart."
+
+"She is a true woman," said Clarence, emphatically. "And as dear to me
+as a sister could be, but--"
+
+"Then let her be a sister still," said Mrs. Ralston, quietly. "And
+don't lose any time in persuading Claire that she is wronging herself
+as well as you; and that you would be wronging still more this friend
+whom you both love, were you to offer her so pitiful a thing as a hand
+without a heart. She is a true woman, you say. If so, she would never
+forgive that. Believe me, Dr. Vaughan, there are even worse depths of
+sorrow than to have loved worthily--and lost."
+
+Mrs. Ralston turned and went softly from the room.
+
+For a few moments, Clarence Vaughan stood wrapped in thought. Then his
+face became illuminated as he said, half aloud: "What a fool I have
+been, that I should have so misunderstood that dear girl! Oh, I can be
+patient now, and bide my time."
+
+And now his reverie was broken in upon by Olive, who entered
+hurriedly, saying: "Doctor Vaughan, are you here alone? I thought
+Claire was with you."
+
+He made no answer to this remark, but said, as he took her proffered
+hand: "I ran down to tell you that I have taken the detectives off.
+Jarvis is still in our pay, in case of emergency. He has sent his
+report to Davlin, and a scant one it was. Of course, Davlin is glad to
+have him withdraw; that is, if he knows, as he must, that the papers
+are not in Percy's hands."
+
+"Then all depends upon Madeline now?"
+
+"All depends upon Madeline."
+
+"Poor Philip," sighed Olive, "what would he say if he knew that his
+fate rests in the hands of a mere girl?"
+
+"If he knew of that 'mere girl' what we know, he would say that his
+fate could not rest in better hands. No man ever had a more efficient
+champion, nor one half so brave and beautiful."
+
+They had not dared to tell Philip of the hope that was daily growing
+stronger in their hearts; if they failed, he should be thrust back
+into no gulf of black darkness because they had cheated him with a
+false hope.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+A FRESH COMPLICATION.
+
+
+On leaving so abruptly the companionship of Dr. Vaughan, Claire rushed
+straight to her room. Closing and locking the door, she flung herself
+down upon a couch and indulged in a hearty cry. She was at once happy
+and sorry, angry and pleased. Presently, Claire sat up and began to
+review things more calmly.
+
+"What a wretched little dunce I am!" she soliloquized. "And what must
+he think of me! Well!" with a little sigh, "the worse his opinion of
+me, the better for Madeline. And here I am this minute, in spite of
+myself, actually rejoicing in my heart because he has not done the
+very thing I have resolved that he should do. But he never will know
+it. Neither shall any one else. I won't give him another chance to
+talk to me; no, not if I have to take to my heels ten times a day.
+It's only right that I should give him up; I, indeed, who fancied
+myself in love with a white-handed, yellow-haired villain."
+
+At this point in her meditations, some one rapped softly at her door.
+
+"Claire, dear," said a soft voice, "open your door; I want to come
+in."
+
+It was Mrs. Ralston, and Claire advanced slowly and turned the key in
+the lock.
+
+"I--I thought it was somebody else," she said, hypocritically. "Come
+in, Mrs. Ralston."
+
+Thus invited, the lady entered. Without making a comment on the
+disturbed appearance of her young friend, she crossed to the window,
+and sitting down in a cosy dressing-chair, said: "Come directly here,
+young lady, and sit down on that ottoman."
+
+Looking somewhat surprised, the girl obeyed.
+
+"Claire, my child, I have a confession to make. I was in the library
+while you sang: 'When sparrows build.'"
+
+The girl's cheek flushed and then paled; but she made no answer.
+
+"And," pursued Mrs. Ralston, "I heard more than your song."
+
+No reply.
+
+"And more than your words!"
+
+"More than--my--my words?"
+
+"Yes; I heard your heart's secret."
+
+Claire's face drooped. "What do you mean?" she asked, deprecatingly.
+
+"My darling, I mean that your heart spoke through your voice, and it
+belied your words. Why did you deny your love for so noble a man?"
+
+Claire raised her head. "I didn't!" she said, suddenly, as if driven
+to bay.
+
+"No," smiled Mrs. Ralston. "You were a wily little serpent. But you
+deceived him."
+
+"I don't care," doggedly.
+
+"Now you are telling a fib!"
+
+"Well, I am not sorry, then," getting hold of her monitor's hand. "Why
+do you turn against poor me, when I am trying to do my duty?"
+
+"Because you are not doing your duty."
+
+"Yes, I am; indeed, I am. You don't know."
+
+"Then tell me, and let me be your friend and adviser."
+
+"But you can't advise," objected Claire, "because you don't know
+the--the other one."
+
+"Well, I do know you."
+
+"There it is!" burst forth the champion of the absent. "You know me,
+but you don't know what a worthless, unattractive little imp I am
+compared to her. You don't know her, but you shall! And when you do,
+poor me will have to take a seat lower down in the tabernacle of your
+affections."
+
+"I wonder if this 'other' would so readily resign her lover to you?"
+she said.
+
+"Would she!" flashed Claire. "Would she _not_? Has she not? Ah, if you
+knew her, you would never say that!" Then suddenly capturing the other
+hand of the lady, she said, in quieter but very grave tones: "Can you
+listen to a long story, Mrs. Ralston; rather to several stories
+combined in one? I am going to tell you what I have so much wanted you
+to know--the story of Madeline Payne."
+
+Mrs. Ralston expressed her more than willingness to hear all that
+Claire had to tell, and the girl settled down comfortably on the
+ottoman at the feet of her friend, and began at the beginning. It was
+indeed a long story, for Claire omitted nothing. As she told how
+Madeline had exposed to her the baseness of Percy, Mrs. Ralston
+started up, her face pale as death, and then sank back in her chair.
+
+"Percy!" she cried. "What--what is his other name?"
+
+Claire stared at her in amazement. "What is it, Mrs. Ralston--you are
+ill?"
+
+"No," almost gasped the lady; "tell me--his name."
+
+"I did not intend to speak his name," Claire said, slowly. "It is
+Edward Percy."
+
+Mrs. Ralston was on her feet in an instant, her face flushing with
+excitement. "Come with me!" she almost shrieked. "Quick! to my room."
+
+Wondering vaguely, Claire followed.
+
+Mrs. Ralston almost flew to her apartment. She flung open the door,
+and in an instant was on her knees beside a trunk, opening trays and
+searching for something eagerly.
+
+"Look!" she cried, suddenly thrusting out something toward Claire;
+something from which she averted her own face. "Look, did you ever see
+that face?"
+
+The girl gave one glance and uttered a sharp cry. It was a miniature
+painted on ivory; painted years ago, but she knew it only too well.
+
+Mrs. Ralston regained her feet, trembling so that she could scarcely
+stand.
+
+"Where did you get it?" cried Claire. "It is he; Edward Percy!"
+
+Mrs. Ralston started forward and took the picture from her hand. "_It
+is my husband!_" she whispered.
+
+With the words on her lips, she fell heavily to the floor, in a dead
+faint.
+
+When Mrs. Ralston awoke to consciousness, she was lying upon her bed,
+with Dr. Vaughan bending over her, Olive standing near, and Claire a
+little aloof, looking pale and anxious. Her first thought was of the
+picture.
+
+"Where is it?" she murmured, addressing Claire, who stepped forward
+eagerly.
+
+"It is here, dear Mrs. Ralston," said Claire. "I caught it from your
+hand after you fell. I thought--" And then she hesitated.
+
+"I understand," she said, looking at the girl fixedly. "Drop it from
+your hand, Claire; drop it _there_," pointing to the grate. "It has
+done its work; we need never look upon it again."
+
+Claire obeyed her silently. For the second time she had consigned to
+the flames the pictured face of Edward Percy.
+
+To the surprise of the three who had so lately seen her coming slowly
+back from the swoon, so like death, Mrs. Ralston raised herself to a
+sitting posture, and then slowly arose from the bed and stood upright
+before them, and there was a flush on her cheek, and a light in her
+eyes that was new to that usually pale, sad face.
+
+"Dear friends," she said, turning toward Clarence and Olive, who had
+been watching the burning of the picture with surprised and somewhat
+curious eyes, "I am quite recovered; and I want to think. Will you
+please leave me alone, quite alone, for a little while?"
+
+Olive, Claire and Clarence went slowly and silently down to the
+drawing-room, Claire keeping very close to her sister and carefully
+avoiding the eyes of the young man. Seating herself beside Olive,
+Claire told, in her own way, all that she knew of the affair.
+
+"I wanted to tell Mrs. Ralston of Madeline," she commenced, "and, not
+to omit anything, I told her poor Philip's story,--all about the two
+men, and how the man, Percy, had appeared at Oakley as the lover of
+Miss Arthur. When I spoke his name, she ran to her room, almost
+dragging me with her, and--"
+
+Suddenly she paused, horrified at a sudden thought. How could she
+explain to these two, who knew nothing of her "affair" with Edward
+Percy--who did not dream that she had ever seen his face--her ability
+to recognize the picture Mrs. Ralston had shown her?
+
+"And?" interrogated Olive.
+
+Clarence Vaughan saw that there was a reason for her hesitation, and
+while wondering what it could be, came to her rescue. "And fainted, of
+course," said he. "Well, she is better now, and perhaps we shall hear
+the conclusion of the mystery all in good time."
+
+If she had dared, Claire would have given him a glance of gratitude.
+As it was, she only averted her face and felt herself a great
+hypocrite.
+
+Doctor Vaughan was to remain for lunch; and while he talked quietly
+with Olive, Claire sat considering what they would say if they knew
+all. Presently her reverie was interrupted by the entrance of a
+servant, who said:
+
+"Mrs. Ralston wishes Miss Keith to come to her."
+
+Claire started up, and without a word to either her lover or her
+sister, hurried into the presence of her friend.
+
+Mrs. Ralston advanced to meet the girl as she entered the room, and
+laying a hand upon her shoulder, said: "I understood you to say that
+your sister knows nothing of your acquaintance with that man. Am I
+right?
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you do not wish her to know?"
+
+Claire hesitated. "I did not then think it was wrong to conceal it
+from her," she said, finally; "but now, if you think it best, I will
+try and tell her."
+
+"But I do not think it best, my darling. I should have been convinced
+of his identity even had I not used the picture as a test. We will say
+nothing on that subject. And now, let us go down-stairs, for we have
+work to do!"
+
+So saying, she led the way from the room and Claire followed,
+wondering how all this was to end.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+MRS. RALSTON'S STORY.
+
+
+Mrs. Ralston entered the drawing-room with the light of a new and
+strong purpose shining in her eyes.
+
+"Dear friends," she said, "sit near me and give me your attention. I
+have a story to tell, and I must not fatigue myself too much in the
+telling."
+
+Without a word, Clarence moved forward an easy chair. As she seated
+herself, they all grouped about her with grave, expectant faces.
+
+"I will make brief mention of myself," said the lady, sinking back in
+the luxurious chair with a slightly weary smile. "My life has never
+been a bright one. Married for the first time at the age of sixteen,
+my childhood was prematurely blighted, and my first real trouble fell
+upon me. It was not a happy marriage, and during the years of my first
+husband's life, I became more and more alienated from my relatives.
+
+"When at last my husband died, I was thirty-six years old, and owing
+to ill-health, looked much older. But--I was wealthy. Then I met a
+man, younger than myself, and very handsome. I was weak and foolish. I
+believed in him and--married him. For four years he squandered my
+money and made my life a burden. At last, when I could endure no
+longer, and when, because he had inherited a fortune from some
+relative, I knew he would trouble himself little as to particulars, I
+caused him to believe me dead and buried.
+
+"In reality I was in better health than usual, and while he was
+spending his new fortune and fancying me in the grave, I sailed for
+Europe. Before I departed, however, I saw him once more, myself
+unseen. It is this part of my story that will make your hearts glad."
+
+She paused for a moment, and her three listeners gazed into each
+other's faces in silent wonder.
+
+"I was going to Europe in company with some friends of Mrs. Lord who,
+of course, knew my secret. They twice postponed their time for
+sailing, and while waiting for them I went with my maid to a little
+mountain inn where travelers only came for a day, and then went on up
+the mountain.
+
+"When I first arrived, the garrulous hostess made frequent mention of
+a hunting party that had gone up the mountain a few days before,
+stopping for dinner at the inn. I had been nearly two weeks in my
+mountain retreat when my maid came rushing in, one day, crying out
+that the hunting party had come back, and that one of their number had
+been badly hurt.
+
+"Well, they brought the wounded man up-stairs, and put him in the room
+that adjoined my sleeping apartment. The partitions between were of
+the sham kind--merely boards papered over. After he was settled, and
+the hum of many voices died away, I went into my little bed-room.
+
+"I had scarcely entered when a voice from the next room, a man's
+voice, deep and full, although then subdued, startled me. I listened
+unthinkingly. 'There's no use in being weak about this business,' he
+said. 'Of course, you can make me trouble if you like, but hang me,
+Percy, I can't see how it will benefit you.'
+
+"I see you are amazed, Doctor Vaughan, and Mrs. Girard is turning
+pale. You are beginning to guess the truth. Yes, it _was_ Edward Percy
+who answered the first speaker, and--Edward Percy is my husband."
+
+Again she paused for a moment. One could have heard a pin drop, so
+breathlessly eager, so silent, were her listeners. No one stirred or
+spoke, and she soon resumed:
+
+"At the first sound of the other voice, I sank down sick with fear
+lest the man should, in some way, find me out. Sitting there, I heard
+him say, in the half fretful, wholly languid tones that I knew so
+well, 'It's easy to talk as you do; show me wherein it will be to my
+advantage, if you don't want me to knock down your pretty story. Curse
+you, what did you try to murder me for?"
+
+"Then the other answered impatiently: 'I tell you, man, I was
+mistaken. I took you for him. Now listen: Neither you nor I love the
+fellow, and we each hold a trifle of power over the other. You can
+refute my statement, if you like, and accuse me of attacking you. In
+that case I may be imprisoned; but that won't keep you above water
+long. If I am arrested for assault with intent to kill, you will soon
+find yourself in the next cell, accused of the still more serious
+crime of bigamy. On the other hand, if you let the matter rest as it
+is, and let _him_ take his chances, I won't use those little documents
+I hold, which prove conclusively that you married a second wife while
+the first was living. Come, what do you say?'
+
+"I remember their very words; not one syllable escaped me then, or has
+drifted from my mind since. And I could have predicted what the next
+words of my husband would be. I know his weakness so well, and I knew,
+too, then, for the first time, that my vague suspicions had been too
+true--that he had indeed been false to me, more than false.
+
+"'I will do this,' said he, halting at every few words. 'If you will
+give me back the money you won from me up there, and will give me up
+those papers, we will not quarrel over this affair. We will let His
+Majesty take the consequences of your act, if you choose. I like him
+even less than I do you. But the money I must have.'
+
+"The other replied: 'I'll do it.' Then the money was counted out and
+the 'papers' changed hands.
+
+"While they talked, I was seized with an unaccountable desire to see
+the man I had once loved. I heard my maid moving in the next room, and
+I arose and went to her. She was a quick-witted creature, and knew
+just what to do. She made me put on a hat and veil, and throw a shawl
+about me, and then bade me go down-stairs, while she knocked at the
+door of the sick-room. When I heard it open I was to come up, and
+while she made a pretense of offering her services, in case of need, I
+could obtain, over her shoulder, a view of the occupants of the room.
+Her ruse was successful. When I ascended the stairs, I obtained a full
+view of the two men. I should know the dark face of the tall stranger
+if I came upon it in Africa.
+
+"To do myself justice, I never once thought of the wrong they were
+doing their victim; never realized that it was my duty to denounce
+them. Having seen the face of my husband I had but one idea, one
+desire; to get away, anywhere, the farther the better.
+
+"Early the next morning, I was _en route_ to the city, and there, to
+my infinite relief I found my friends ready to sail. When at last I
+was actually on the ocean, and realized that I was safe from
+discovery, I began to think of the victim whose name I had not heard.
+But it was too late then, and I tried to ease my conscience by
+thinking that, after all, as Edward was not dangerously hurt, it might
+not turn out a serious matter. I watched the papers, but somehow the
+accounts of the trial all missed me."
+
+As she ceased speaking, her eyes rested sadly upon the face of Olive,
+and she started forward suddenly, saying: "Doctor, she is going to
+faint!"
+
+"No," gasped Olive, half-rising, "I, I--"
+
+And she fell forward to be caught in the ready arms of Clarence
+Vaughan. When at last they succeeded in arousing her from that
+death-like stupor, and she could sit up and look about her, slowly
+recalling events, Mrs. Ralston stepped readily into the position of
+leader, and turning to Claire, said:
+
+"Go and see that lunch is served immediately, dear. We have much to do
+before night, and must not work fasting."
+
+"Oh," cried Olive, as Claire disappeared, "is this true? Will Philip
+be released at last, released with every doubt cleared away, every
+suspicion removed? Tell me, I cannot realize it."
+
+"It is true, dear Mrs. Girard; and now you must not give way to
+weakness. We dare not lose time. Dr. Vaughan, yourself, and I, in
+putting these facts in the hands of the right parties, must hasten the
+legal process by which Philip will be released."
+
+When Claire Keith returned, she found them deep in a discussion as to
+the quickest way of effecting the release of Philip Girard.
+
+"Let me settle it," she said, imperiously. "To-day you will go to see
+Philip's lawyers, and when this stupid law process is put in motion,
+Olive--I know her--will go straight and set herself down outside the
+very prison gates. But your beautiful laws can lock an honest man up
+much quicker than they can let him out, and can serve a warrant sooner
+than do a tardy act of justice. So, if you please, I am going down to
+Oakley to arrest that vile Lucian Davlin, and get him off poor
+Madeline's hands."
+
+"You!" cried the two ladies in the same breath.
+
+"Yes, I! Philip won't want anyone but Olive, and Olive will snub me
+unmercifully if I venture to offer myself as an escort. I'm going to
+do myself the honor of seeing Mr. Davlin arrested."
+
+"Claire is right," said Mrs. Ralston; "the man must be arrested
+immediately."
+
+"And," interrupted Olive, "you must all three go to Bellair; that is,"
+looking at Mrs. Ralston, "if--"
+
+"If I will go?" interrupted that lady. "Yes, I, too, intend to be
+present when Miss Payne gives her enemy up to justice."
+
+[Illustration: "No!" gasped Olive, half rising; "I--I--"--page 413.]
+
+"Are you in earnest about going to Bellair, Miss Keith?" Clarence
+Vaughan asked. "Shall you go, really?"
+
+Claire bestowed upon him a willful little nod over her shoulder,
+saying, as she did so: "I shall, 'really.' I am confident that
+something will happen there, and I want a chance to faint!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+CORA "STIRS UP THE ANIMALS."
+
+
+It was evening--the evening of the day on which Mrs. Ralston had made
+her startling revelation. Madeline Payne stood alone in her own room,
+looking moodily out upon the leafless grove that was fast taking on a
+covering of snow.
+
+The storm that had been impending for days, had broken at last. For
+two hours the snow had been falling thickly, steadily, in great
+feather-like flakes, which quickly covered the brown earth, and
+clothed the naked treetops with a fair, white garment.
+
+Madeline had been standing, motionless and moody, for many minutes.
+Her eyes were full of dissatisfaction, and her lips were compressed.
+She had been taking a mental review of the situation, and its present
+aspect was far from pleasing.
+
+"What a knot," she soliloquized; "what a difficult, baffling,
+miserable knot! To be kept thus inactive just because the last knot in
+the tangle will not come straight--good gracious, how like a pun that
+sounds! How much longer must I smile upon these wretches? How much
+longer must I conceal my real feelings? I will put my forces into
+action, and make my last, desperate venture, for this is becoming
+intolerable. I must force, or buy, this secret from Edward Percy, at
+the cost of his safety, or my fortune, if need be."
+
+She pressed her face against the frosted pane, peering down through
+the gathering night and the snow.
+
+"Mercy!" she ejaculated, "who on earth can be plowing through this
+storm? And on what errand? It looks like--and, as I live, it is, yes,
+it is, Mr. Edward Percy! He is too dainty to expose himself for
+nothing. I must look into this."
+
+While she was musing at the window, Cora, curled up behind one of the
+crimson curtains of the red parlor, had become the possessor of a
+valuable secret.
+
+She had entered the room but a few moments before. Finding it dimly
+lighted, and heated to a Summer temperature, she ensconced herself _a
+la Sultana_ in one of the deep window embrasures, and lay sulkily
+watching the flying snowflakes and the fast coming night. Presently
+the sound of approaching footsteps, and almost simultaneously the
+opening of the door, disturbed her quiet. With a quick movement, she
+drew the curtains together and sat, a silent listener, to a brief
+dialogue.
+
+The new comers were Miss Arthur and Edward Percy. After a few
+sentences had been interchanged, Percy left the room, and then it was
+that Madeline saw him take his way toward the village.
+
+Presently Miss Arthur also quitted the room; and going straight
+up-stairs, Cora knocked at Madeline's door. "Now, then," muttered she,
+"I'll stir up the animals."
+
+Madeline did not look especially gratified at sight of her visitor,
+but Cora entered with scant ceremony. Pushing the door shut with
+unnecessary emphasis, she turned upon her, saying, rather
+ungraciously:
+
+"I have made a discovery of which, I think, you will thank me for
+telling you. And I am going to tell you because I can't spoil their
+plans, but you can, and I want to see them spoiled."
+
+"Your frankness is commendable," said Madeline, ironically. "Go on!"
+
+"Percy and the old maid are going to be privately married to-morrow
+morning."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+Cora related the particulars of her ambush, and gave a concise report
+of the conversation of the lovers.
+
+"He has gone to the village on that very business now," Cora said.
+"She is to walk down to the clergyman's house, and he is to meet her
+there. Then they will come back, and no one to be the wiser."
+
+Madeline laughed. "Be at ease," she said. "I will try and prevent the
+necessity for such a disagreeable walk as that would be for so fragile
+a lady. We won't have a wedding just yet."
+
+"What a cool one you are!" cried Cora. "If you were not my enemy, I
+could admire you vastly."
+
+"Don't, I beg of you," said the girl, gravely. "I am sufficiently
+humiliated by being obliged to deal with you as an enemy."
+
+Cora flushed angrily. "Then I should think the humiliation of being
+made love to by my brother, would overcome you," she sneered.
+
+"It does, almost," replied the girl, wearily.
+
+"Then let me do you another favor. Mr. Davlin is no more my brother
+than he is yours."
+
+Madeline's answer fairly took her breath away. "Madame, you are very
+good, but I have known that from the first."
+
+"What!" gasped the woman; adding, after a moment of silence, "Is he
+your lover as well as--"
+
+"Yours?" finished Madeline. "And what then, Mrs. Arthur?"
+
+"Then," hissed Cora; "then, I hate you both."
+
+Madeline laughed bitterly. "As you have told me a secret, and as I
+don't want to remain in your debt, I will tell you one in return.
+Lucian Davlin _is_ my lover, but I am his bitterest foe!"
+
+Cora came closer and looked her eagerly in the face. "What has he done
+to you?" she asked, breathlessly.
+
+"You may find out later; just now we are even. Understand, no word of
+warning to him, if you value your safety. Obey my wishes, and when I
+am done with you, you may go free. Attempt any treachery, and I will
+give you up to justice."
+
+"I shan't put myself in jeopardy for him now, whatever I might have
+done. You may believe that."
+
+"I think I may," replied Madeline, dryly.
+
+When Cora retired to her own room, to chuckle over the discomfiture in
+store for the spinster and Mr. Percy, and to wonder wrathfully what
+the mystery concerning Miss Payne and Lucian could mean, Madeline
+stood for many minutes lost in thought.
+
+Finally she threw herself down upon a couch, uttering a half sigh, and
+looking utterly weary and perplexed. A moment later, Joliffe entered
+noiselessly, as usual, and the girl said to her:
+
+"When Miss Arthur retires for the night, which won't be for some time,
+do you see Mr. Percy when he is _alone_, mind, and tell him Miss Payne
+desires him to wait her pleasure in the library."
+
+Joliffe bowed and went out again like a cat.
+
+When, at last, the other members of that incongruous family circle
+were safely out of the way, Madeline, warned by the everpresent,
+soundless Joliffe, awaited in the library the coming of Mr. Percy.
+
+Wondering much what the haughty heiress could have to communicate to
+him, and dimly hoping that the tide was turning in his favor, Mr.
+Percy entered the presence of the arbiter of his fate. Bowing like a
+courtier, he approached her.
+
+"Miss Payne has deigned to honor me with an interview," he said, in
+his slowest, softest, most irresistible manner. "I can never be
+sufficiently grateful."
+
+Madeline motioned him to a seat opposite her own, saying, with an odd
+smile: "You shall, at least, have an opportunity for repaying your
+debt of gratitude, sir, and that immediately."
+
+Percy took the seat indicated and bowed gravely. "Command me, Miss
+Payne."
+
+"It rests with you," Madeline began, "whether we shall be from
+to-night neutral toward each other, or enemies."
+
+"Enemies!" he exclaimed. "Oh, that would be impossible."
+
+Madeline was full of inward rage. She longed to lean across the table
+and dash her hand full in that smiling blonde face. But she looked at
+him instead quite tranquilly, and said, with a queer smile: "Then you
+would do me a favor, even at your own personal--inconvenience, Mr.
+Percy?"
+
+"Would I not?" fervently. "Only command me, Miss Payne."
+
+"I will take you at your word, then. Mr. Percy, you will oblige me
+very much by putting off your marriage with Miss Arthur one week
+longer."
+
+Here was a bomb-shell. It electrified the languid gentleman. He became
+suddenly animated by fear. "What--what do you mean, Miss Payne?"
+starting half out of his seat and nervously sitting down again.
+
+"Precisely what I say, sir. It does not please me to have my relative
+leave my house to be married in this clandestine manner. There, don't
+ask me how I discovered what you thought was a profound secret. You
+see I did discover it. Will you put off this romantic marriage--to
+oblige me?"
+
+Percy was trying very hard to think. If he could believe it was
+because he had found favor in her eyes, that she asked this. But no;
+even his vanity could not credit that suggestion. Of late she had
+openly shown a preference for Davlin. What, then, could be her motive?
+Could it be that at the instigation of Cora she had sought this
+interview?
+
+He rallied his forces and replied: "Miss Payne, you have taken me by
+storm. If I may not ask how you made this discovery, may I not, at
+least, beg to know why you make this demand?"
+
+"I have told you; it shocks my sense of propriety."
+
+"Pardon me if I say there must be another motive."
+
+"You are pardoned," coolly; "now, do you grant my request?"
+
+Percy arose from the table flushed and angry. "Pardon me, Miss Payne,
+you demand too much."
+
+"Nevertheless, I _do_ demand it."
+
+"And I beg to decline."
+
+"Then I must deal with Miss Arthur. The knowledge that you have one
+wife in the grave, and another under this very roof, may have the
+desired effect upon _her_."
+
+Percy dropped back in his chair, pale as ashes. All was lost, then.
+Cora had betrayed him! But he resolved not to commit himself. Perhaps
+Madeline had only verbal information. While he was trying to frame a
+speech, however, she knocked this last prop from under him.
+
+"I may as well assure you that parleying is useless. I have known,
+from the first moment you entered this house, just upon what terms you
+stood with Mrs. Arthur. Don't trouble yourself to ask how I know.
+Perhaps you have been puzzled to know why Mrs. Arthur and her brother
+so suddenly became cordial and invited you to Oakley, where you so
+much desired to be. Let me enlighten you. They fancied that you had
+regained possession of important documents--two marriage certificates,
+in fact--for they had lost them."
+
+"What?" ejaculated Percy.
+
+"And--I found them," added Madeline.
+
+His countenance fell again.
+
+"They are in my possession," pursued she. "Shall I show them to Miss
+Arthur, or not?"
+
+"It can't make much difference now," said the man, sullenly.
+
+"Let us understand each other fully," said Madeline. "I am not acting
+in concert with Cora Arthur. She is even more in my power than you
+are. I have no desire to undeceive Miss Arthur. Neither do I wish you
+to leave Oakley. On the contrary, I want you here; you can be of
+service to me, by and by. And I pledge you my word that so long as you
+remain under this roof, those papers shall not be used against you."
+
+"And if I don't choose to remain?"
+
+Madeline laughed. "Then you must take the consequences," she said,
+carelessly.
+
+"And what will they be?"
+
+"Exposure and arrest."
+
+Percy drew pen, ink, and paper toward him. "What shall I write to the
+clergyman?" he asked, sullenly.
+
+"Whatever you choose. And I will send it. Make your peace with Miss
+Arthur, too, in your own way."
+
+"And when I leave Oakley, what then?" he grunted.
+
+"Then, if you have fulfilled the conditions, I will burn the papers in
+your presence, and you are free henceforth."
+
+"There is the note," he said, flinging it toward her as soon as
+written. "After all, I may as well be in your power as in hers," and
+again he arose to go from the room.
+
+"I am glad you take so sensible a view of it," retorted she, looking
+up from her perusal of his note. "Good-night, Mr. Percy."
+
+And thus cavalierly dismissed, Mr. Percy bowed, somewhat less
+gallantly than when entering, and left the room.
+
+"So, that is nipped in the bud," soliloquized Madeline, as she went
+wearily to her own room once more. "When will this miserable
+complication unravel itself, or be unraveled?"
+
+Little did she dream how soon she would receive an answer to this
+question.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
+
+
+The next morning dawned clear and beautiful. Over head, one unbroken
+expanse of blue; under foot, a mantle of soft, white ermine. All the
+trees were transformed into fairy-like, silver-robed, pearl-studded,
+plume-adorned wonders. Diamonds floated in the air, and sunbeams
+lighted up the whole with dazzling brilliancy. Everything was white,
+pure, wonderful, and the whole enclosed in a monster chrysolite;
+earth, air, and sky, were shut within a radiant sphere that had never
+an outlet.
+
+Madeline had passed an almost sleepless night. But when she arose,
+with the first gleam of sunlight, and looked upon this new, white,
+imprisoned world, she felt strong for a fresh day's battle.
+
+"I must go out," she said to herself; "out into this sparkling air. I
+can breathe in the brightness; I know I can. I almost feel as if I
+could catch it, and weave it into my life."
+
+She hastily donned her wraps and set off for a brisk walk, no matter
+where, through that glorious Winter glow.
+
+Under the snow-laden arms of the grand old trees, out of the grounds
+of Oakley. Before she realized it she was half way down the path
+leading to the village.
+
+Something that jarred upon her sense of the beautiful, awakened her to
+herself, and she turned suddenly about.
+
+"How dare ugly little brown bears come out in the white glitter," she
+muttered, whimsically. "I will turn about; he spoils the fairy
+picture. I had forgotten there were boys, or men, in the world."
+
+Something came panting behind her. The "brown bear" had accelerated
+his pace, and now came up at a round trot.
+
+"Hold on a minit; darned if I can see who ye air in this snow," he
+cried, pausing before her and rubbing his eyes vigorously. "All right;
+I thought it was you," he added, after considerable blinking. "I've
+got a tellygram for ye, Miss Payne; orders were not to give it to
+anyone but you, so I chased ye sharp."
+
+Madeline laughed outright as she took the telegram from his hand. The
+boy, without waiting for her words of thanks, took to his heels,
+shouting back over his shoulder: "No answer!"
+
+Madeline gazed for a moment after the flying figure, and wonderingly
+opened the message. This is what she read:
+
+     Be at H----'s to-night when evening train comes down. We are
+     ready for action; have found a witness.
+
+                                              C. V.
+
+Madeline lifted her eyes from the scrap of paper and looked about her
+incredulously, as if she expected to find some explanation shining in
+the air.
+
+"Ready for action," she murmured. "That means--can it mean that Lucian
+Davlin is at last in our power? Can those detectives have solved the
+mystery? Oh! how can I wait until night!"
+
+She fairly flew along now, eager to keep in motion. On, on she went,
+over the stile, through the glittering white-robed grove; on, until
+she reached Hagar's cottage. It was locked and deserted, as she knew,
+but she cared not for that. She must walk somewhere, then why not
+here?
+
+For a moment she stood on the snow-laden door stone, and gazed about
+her. Then swiftly, as swiftly as before, she flew down the path--the
+same path she had taken on the Summer day when she had heard from
+Hagar's lips her mother's story. When she reached the tree in whose
+arms she had nestled so often, where she had listened to the bargain
+between her step-father and decrepit old Amos Adams, and where she had
+been wooed by Lucian Davlin--she paused. There, coming toward her, was
+Lucian Davlin himself.
+
+"What a fatality!" muttered the girl. "He is coming to meet me; has
+been watching me, perhaps."
+
+She stood calmly gazing up at the snow-laden branches, and again she
+saw herself standing underneath them, a hesitating girl, wondering if
+she could let her lover go away alone. Then she turned her head and
+her eyes met those of Lucian Davlin.
+
+"Good morning, Miss Payne," he said, lifting his hat with his usual
+grace. "I am happy to know that we have one taste in common--a love of
+nature in this disguise. Is not the wintry world beautiful?"
+
+"Beautiful, indeed," replied Madeline, resuming her walk homeward.
+"The trees are fairy palaces. It is lovelier than Summer, is it not?"
+
+"It is very lovely," gazing not at the trees but down into her face,
+"but--so cold."
+
+She understood his meaning and replied, calmly: "Cold? Yes; it is not
+Summer."
+
+"No," he assented, with a sad intonation, "it is not Summer. Miss
+Payne, Madeline, will it ever be Summer again?"
+
+Madeline looked up and about her, and smiled as she did so. "Yes," she
+replied, "it will be Summer--soon."
+
+He had turned and retraced his steps at her side. She was walking
+swiftly again, and for some time neither spoke. When they entered the
+grounds of the manor, he said, half deprecatingly:
+
+"Madeline, may I ask this one question?"
+
+"Yes," quietly.
+
+"I saw you pause under that tree and look about you," he said, slowly;
+"was it because you thought of other days, and of me?"
+
+Slowly she turned her face toward him, saying, simply: "Yes."
+
+They were nearing the entrance, and he half stopped to ask his next
+question. "Will you tell me what were your thoughts, Madeline?"
+
+Slowly she ascended the steps, and at the door turned and faced him:
+"I will tell you to-night."
+
+And with a ripple of laughter on her lips, she entered the hall of
+Oakley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+THE SWORD OF FATE.
+
+
+Evening at Oakley.
+
+At last the long day was done: the day that to Madeline Payne had
+seemed almost endless. At last, too, the early evening hours had
+dragged themselves away, and the time of her triumph was at hand.
+
+From out Hagar's cottage a silent party issued, and took their way
+across the snow to the little stile just above the terrace walk. Here
+they paused for a moment. Some one was loitering on the terrace, where
+the shadows fell thickest. Madeline stepped through the gap, saying
+softly: "Joliffe!"
+
+Immediately the form emerged from the shadow. It was the cat-like
+waiting-maid.
+
+"It's all right, Miss," she said, in a whisper. "They are all in the
+drawing-room, but I think they are getting uneasy."
+
+"Well, I will not keep them in suspense long," said Madeline, and in
+the darkness she smiled triumphantly. "Lead on, Joliffe."
+
+Silently they moved on, and paused again at the side entrance; the one
+from which Cora had endeavored to escape but a short time before.
+Madeline opened the door, and in another moment she, with Mrs.
+Ralston, Claire Keith, Clarence Vaughan and two strangers, stood
+within the walls of Oakley.
+
+They moved on like shadows to the rear end of the hall, up the
+servant's stairway, and straight to the west wing. Evidently they
+were expected here too, for in obedience to a light tap, the door
+opened, and they passed quietly within the outer room of John Arthur's
+prison suite.
+
+"Close the door, Henry," said Madeline.
+
+This being done, she turned and surveyed her comrades.
+
+"So far, good," she pronounced. "Now, can you make yourselves
+comfortable here for a little while? Hagar and Joliffe will know just
+what to do as soon as I have, myself, viewed the field of battle; or
+perhaps I had better pilot you in person."
+
+"As you please," said the foremost of the strangers. "I think we
+understand each other."
+
+"Then we won't lose time," said Madeline. "Henry, call Dr. Le Guise."
+
+Henry tapped at the door of the inner room, and in a trice the worthy
+Professor stood in their midst. He glanced from one to another in
+amazement, and the look of confidence forsook his face. He had not
+been prepared to see these strangers, and his first thought was, of
+course, for his own safety.
+
+"Have no uneasiness, sir," said Madeline, seeing the fear in his face;
+"these ladies and gentlemen will not interfere with you. They are here
+because it is desirable that the people below should not know of their
+proximity just yet. You are about to aid us, and need have no fear for
+yourself."
+
+The Professor drew a breath of relief.
+
+While this conversation was going on, Mrs. Ralston and Claire had
+removed their wraps, as if they knew quite well what they were about,
+which, indeed, they did. Now, as Madeline did likewise, preparatory to
+entering the room of the prisoner, they seated themselves, looking
+grave, but perfectly composed. Dr. Vaughan said a few quiet words to
+Henry, and the two strangers stood "at ease," looking as indifferent
+as statues.
+
+Entering the inner room; in company with the Professor, Madeline found
+John Arthur pacing restlessly up and down.
+
+"I wish you to go down-stairs with us for a few moments," said
+Madeline. "It is to your own interest to do so. It is the easiest and
+surest way of imparting to you what you must know, and, when you know
+all, I shall be your jailer no longer. It shall then remain for you to
+decide whether you will accept my terms, and end your days with at
+least a semblance of honor, or whether you will remain here to be
+pointed at as a man disgraced and dishonored, and deservedly so. When
+you have seen justice done to those who have wronged you more than
+they have me, for little as I desire to serve you circumstances have
+constituted me your avenger--you will be free to act as you may see
+fit."
+
+With this she turned and abruptly quitted the room, leaving John
+Arthur fairly stunned by her words, yet utterly unable to comprehend
+their full meaning. Returning to the ante-room, Madeline found Hagar
+awaiting her.
+
+"Well, Hagar," said the girl, "we are ready to go down; is the library
+lighted?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Madeline."
+
+"And the door leading to the drawing-room?"
+
+"Is closed, Miss."
+
+"Then go down, Hagar; open the library door, and leave it open. Move
+the fire screen opposite the door leading to the drawing-room. When we
+are all within the library turn out the light. That is all."
+
+Hagar moved away to do her bidding, smiling grimly.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Time was dragging, in the drawing-room.
+
+Cora was there, not from choice, but because Madeline had so ordered
+it, and the aggrieved lady was not at all inclined to conversation.
+
+Miss Arthur, who was hoping for a _tete-a-tete_ with her lover, was
+alarmingly glum. She had accepted, in good faith, his statement that
+he had received a note from the clergyman, saying that he had been
+suddenly called away and would be absent some days, but she did not
+quite understand why another would not do as well. Somehow, all that
+day, she had found no opportunity for hinting to her lover that a
+Unitarian minister lived quite near.
+
+Finding the ladies so little disposed to be entertained, the two men
+retired within themselves, each after his own peculiar fashion.
+
+Lucian Davlin lounged, in his favorite manner, in a big arm chair, and
+absorbed himself in the mazes of "_Lalla Rookh_."
+
+Percy, seated sidewise on a sofa directly opposite a large mirror,
+gazed languidly at his own reflected image, and furtively at the two
+women opposite, stroking his handsome blonde whiskers the while.
+
+At last Miss Arthur broke the silence by saying, with a side glance
+toward Cora: "There is one thing that I have not yet asked to be
+enlightened about. Perhaps you could explain the mystery, Mrs. Arthur?
+I mean the appearance of Madeline at my bedside not long ago--or her
+ghost."
+
+Cora uttered a disagreeable laugh, and then replied: "How should I be
+able to explain? I am not the keeper of Miss Payne, or 'her ghost.'"
+
+"Probably not; however, you are so friendly, so sisterly, I might say,
+that I thought perhaps--"
+
+"You thought perhaps my step-mamma was in the secret?" said the voice
+of a new comer.
+
+All eyes were turned toward the library, where Madeline Payne stood,
+clad in a walking dress, and looking fairly radiant with suppressed
+excitement.
+
+"You misjudge my step-mamma, Aunt Ellen." As she speaks, Madeline
+advances toward the silent group, leaving the library door ajar. "I
+will explain that singular phenomenon. I intend to clear up all the
+mysteries to-night--here--now. First, then, about the ghost: It was I,
+Miss Arthur, Madeline Payne, in the flesh."
+
+Lucian Davlin's book lies on his knee neglected now.
+
+Edward Percy's face has lost its look of languor.
+
+Cora is flushing red and then paling, while she wonders inwardly if
+her time has come; if she is to be exposed to a last humiliation.
+
+"We will settle another point," continues Madeline, imperturbably, while
+she rests one arm upon a cushioned chair back, and looks coolly from one to
+another. "Some of you have felt sufficient interest in me to wonder why I
+sent home, to my sorrowing friends, the false statement of my death. I will
+explain that. When I left home it was with wrath in my heart, and on my
+lips the vow that I would come back and with power in my hands. I had
+wrongs to avenge, and I swore to be mistress of my own, and to bring home
+to a bad man the heartache and bitterness he had measured out to another.
+Well, I did not know just how this was to be accomplished, but Providence,
+or fate, showed me the way. Then I saw the necessity for coming back to
+Oakley, and to pave the way for my new advent, I sent Nurse Hagar with the
+false account of my death. A girl had died in the hospital--a poor,
+heart-broken, homeless, friendless, wronged, little unfortunate,--'Kitty
+the Dancer' she was called in the days when she was fair to see, and men,
+bad men, set snares for her feet."
+
+What ails Lucian Davlin? He is compressing his lips, and struggling
+hard for an appearance of composure.
+
+Madeline goes calmly on. "The poor girl died forlorn. She had been
+wooed by a vile man, a gambler. She had been to meet him and was
+returning from a rendezvous when the carriage that was conveying her
+to her poor lodging was overturned, and she was taken up a helpless,
+bleeding mass, and carried to the hospital. Then she sent for this
+heartless villain, again and again. She implored him to come to her,
+at least to send assistance, for she was destitute--a pauper. He
+refused, this thing, unworthy the name of man. He was setting other
+snares. He had no time, no pity, for his dying victim. Well, she died,
+and was buried as Madeline Payne, while I, standing beside her coffin,
+prayed to God to make my head wise, and my heart strong, that I might
+hunt down, and drive out from the haunts of men, her soulless
+destroyer."
+
+Madeline pauses, and three pair of eyes gaze at her with genuine
+wonder. But the eyes of Lucian Davlin are fixed upon vacancy, and with
+all the might of his powerful will he is struggling to appear calm.
+
+Madeline turns her eyes calmly from his face to Cora's, and seems to
+see nothing of this, as she resumes:
+
+"Some strange fatality had made this man the bane of other lives, that
+were to be brought into contact with mine. I found that the happiness
+of two noble beings was being wrecked by this same man. One of these
+two had been my benefactor, had saved me from a fate worse than death,
+so I set myself to hunt this man down. And here I found that I could
+accomplish two objects at one stroke. I found that the man was playing
+into my hands. I followed him in disguise. Little by little I gained
+the knowledge of his secrets, enough to send him to State's prison,
+and more than enough. But one thing was wanting. For that I waited;
+for that I breathed the same air with creatures whom my soul loathed,
+and now that one missing link is supplied. At last, I am free! At
+last, I can throw off the mask! At last, I can say to the destroyer of
+poor Kitty, to the man who swore away the liberty of another to screen
+himself--Lucian Davlin, I have hunted you down! I have held you here
+to be taken like a rat in a trap! Officers, seize him! He has been my
+prisoner long enough!"
+
+Was it a transformation scene?
+
+While she is uttering those last words, suddenly the room becomes full
+of people, and Lucian Davlin is writhing in the grasp of the two
+officers; struggling hopelessly, baffled completely, maddened with
+rage and shame. When at last he has ceased to struggle, because
+resistance is so utterly useless, he turns his now glaring eyes upon
+the brave girl whose life he had sought to wreck, and hisses:
+
+"Don't forget to mention how you first came to the conclusion that I
+had wronged you! Don't forget to state that you ran away from Bellair
+with me; that you lodged in my bachelor quarters; that--"
+
+A heavy hand comes in forcible contact with the sneering mouth, as one
+of the officers says, gruffly: "None o' that, my lad. I'd sooner gag
+you than not, if you give me another chance."
+
+But Madeline answers him with a scornful laugh: "That I shot you in
+your own den? Coward! do you think my friends do not know all? Here
+stands the man who saw me in your company that night," pointing to
+Clarence Vaughan; "and here," turning to Claire, "is the sister of the
+woman who came to me, at Dr. Vaughan's request, and told me who and
+what you were! It was these two who nursed me during my illness, and
+who have been, from first to last, my friends. Bah! man, you have been
+only a dupe. Your servant, your doctor, your detectives, are all in my
+service! I have fooled you to the top of your bent, and kept you under
+this roof until we had found the proof that it was you, and not Philip
+Girard, who struck this man," pointing to Percy, "and robbed him, five
+years ago."
+
+With a muttered curse, Lucian Davlin flings himself down in the seat
+he had lately occupied, the watchful officers, pistol in hand,
+standing on either side of him.
+
+Edward Percy, for the first time since her entrance, withdraws his
+eyes from Madeline's face and casts a frightened glance about him.
+Having done this, he feels anything but reassured.
+
+Near the outer door stand the two "well-diggers," who have entered
+like spirits, and now look as if, for the first time since their
+advent in Oakley, they feel quite at home. Nearest to Madeline stands
+Clarence Vaughan. Back of these, a little in the shadow, two
+others--two women. One stands with her face turned away, and he can
+only tell that the form draped in the rich India shawl is tall and
+graceful. But the other--she moves out from the shadow and her eyes
+meet his full.
+
+Great heavens! it is Claire Keith!
+
+He moves restlessly, his fair face flushing and paling. The first
+impulse of his coward heart is flight. But the two "well-diggers" are
+not surmountable obstacles. He turns his face again toward the Nemesis
+who is now gazing scornfully at him.
+
+"I have no intention of neglecting any one of you four," she says,
+icily. "Edward Percy, I told you last night that I would burn certain
+papers in your presence. I am quite ready to keep my word. There will
+be no use for them after to-night. But I shall not stifle the
+testimony of living witnesses against you." Then she raised her voice
+slightly. "Dr. Le Guise, bring in your patient."
+
+John Arthur, pallid with fear and rage, stands upon the threshold of
+the drawing-room, closely attended by the Professor and Henry.
+
+Then Madeline turned to the now terror-stricken Cora. "Come forward,
+Mrs. John Arthur," she says, scornfully. "It is time to let you
+speak!"
+
+When Edward Percy turns his eyes toward Claire, she has instinctively
+moved nearer to Madeline's side, at the same time favoring him with a
+look so fraught with contempt that the villain lowers his eyes, and
+turns away his face. As Madeline now addresses the fair adventuress,
+Claire again moves. She has been standing directly between Cora and
+her Nemesis. Now she takes up a position quite apart from her friends,
+and near the officer who guards Lucian Davlin on the right.
+
+Cora sees that all is lost. But she recalls the promises of safety
+given her by Madeline, and nerves herself for a last attempt at cool
+insolence. Her quick wits have taken in the situation. Now she
+understands why Madeline has led Davlin on, and why her hatred of him
+is so intense. Now she knows the meaning of the words that last night
+seemed so mysterious: "Lucian Davlin is my lover, but I am his
+bitterest foe." Now, as she steps forward, the hate she feels shining
+in her eyes, and with a growing air of reckless bravado as she glances
+at him, Cora, too, is Lucian Davlin's bitter foe.
+
+"Cora!" The name comes from the lips of John Arthur, almost in a cry.
+
+But she never once glances toward him. She fixes her eyes upon
+Madeline's face and doggedly awaits her command.
+
+"Tell us what you know of this man," Madeline says, pointing to Edward
+Percy: "and be brief."
+
+Cora turns her eyes slowly upon the man. She surveys him with infinite
+insolence, and then she turns with wonderful coolness toward Ellen
+Arthur.
+
+"Miss Arthur," she says, with a malicious gleam in her eyes, "this
+will interest you. I knew that man ten years ago. I was making my
+first venture out in the world, and it was a very bad one. I fell in
+love with his pretty face, and married him. Before long I discovered
+that matrimony was a mania of Mr. Percy's--by-the-by, he sailed under
+another name then. I found that he had another wife living; a woman he
+had married for her money. Well, being sensitive, I took offense, and
+after a little, I ran away from him, carrying with me the certificates
+of his two marriages, which I had taken some pains to get possession
+of. After that--"
+
+Cora pauses suddenly and glances toward Madeline.
+
+"After that you went to Europe. You may pass over the foreign tour,
+and take up the story five years later," subjoins Madeline, coldly.
+
+"After that, I went to Europe," echoes Cora. "And five years later
+found me in Gotham."
+
+"Be explicit now, please: no omissions," commands Madeline.
+
+"Five years ago, then," resumes Cora, "that gentleman there,"
+motioning to Davlin, but never turning her face toward him, "came to
+me one day with the information that my dear husband was a rich man,
+thanks to some deceased old relative, and that his other wife was
+dead. For some reason this other marriage had been kept very secret,
+and my friend there argued that in case anything happened to Percy, I
+might come in as his widow, and claim his fortune. Well, Mr. Percy did
+not die, more's the pity. Instead of that he lived and squandered his
+money in less than three years. He was hurt, somehow, and a certain
+Mr. Philip Girard was falsely accused and convicted for attempted
+murder."
+
+"Who was the real would-be assassin?" asked Madeline, sternly.
+
+"Lucian Davlin," emphatically.
+
+Madeline turns swiftly to Percy. "Mr. Percy, explain, if you wish to
+lighten your own burden, by what means did that man persuade you to
+let him go free?"
+
+"By--threatening me with an action for--"
+
+"Bigamy!" finished Cora.
+
+The villain, bereft of all hope and courage, stood white and
+trembling, under the eyes of his accusers and judges.
+
+"I am letting these people hear you tell these things because I want
+that man,"--pointing to John Arthur, who had long since collapsed into
+a big chair--"to hear all this from your own lips," says Madeline.
+
+Turning again to Cora, she says:
+
+"Lucian Davlin made use of the papers--the certificates you had stolen
+from Edward Percy--to intimidate that gentleman, and secure himself
+from danger. Am I correct?"
+
+"Yes," replies Cora, casting a malignant glance from one to the other
+of the accused men.
+
+"Very good. Now we will pass on four or more years. You were in some
+little trouble last June, Mrs. Arthur. Explain how you came to
+Bellair."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Yes, for what purpose. And at whose instigation."
+
+Cora hesitated, and Davlin moved uneasily.
+
+"Don't think that you will damage your cause by making a full
+statement," suggested Miss Payne, meaningly. "Answer my questions,
+please."
+
+Again Cora glances at Davlin. Then turning toward Madeline she assumes
+an air of defiant recklessness, and answers the questions promptly. "I
+came at Lucian Davlin's suggestion, and because he had induced me to
+think that I could easily become--what I am."
+
+"And that is--"
+
+"Mrs. Arthur, of Oakley!" with a mocking laugh.
+
+The old man in the chair utters a loud groan, but no one heeds him.
+All eyes are fixed upon Madeline and Cora.
+
+"You plotted to become John Arthur's wife?" pursues Madeline,
+relentlessly.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And--his widow?"
+
+No reply.
+
+"You planned to keep him a prisoner?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And Lucian Davlin, your pretended brother, was your accomplice?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Madeline turns swiftly toward her step-father, as she does so moving
+nearer toward Edward Percy.
+
+"John Arthur, are you satisfied?" she asks, sternly. "Shall the
+knowledge of your disgrace go beyond this room? Do you choose to
+remain here and be pointed at by every boor in Oakley, as the man who
+married an adventuress, a gambler's accomplice? or will you accept my
+terms?"
+
+John Arthur lifts his head, then staggers to his feet. "Curse you!" he
+cries. "Curse you all! What proof have I that these people will
+respect my feelings?"
+
+"You have my word," replies the girl, coolly. "These gentlemen of the
+Secret Service are not given to gossip. Mr. Davlin will have but
+little opportunity for circulating scandal where he is going. Mr.
+Percy, and your wife, will hardly remain in the neighborhood long
+enough to injure you here, unless by your own choice. Your sister will
+scarcely betray you, and the rest are my friends. Choose!"
+
+Pallid with rage and shame, the old man turned toward Cora.
+
+"You she-devil!" he screams, "this is your work--"
+
+"No," interposes Madeline, calmly, "it is _your_ work, John Arthur!
+What you have sown, you are reaping. Will you have all your guilty
+past, your shameful present, made known? Or will you leave my mother's
+home and mine, and cease to usurp my rights? Choose!"
+
+Every eye is turned upon the old man and his questioner. Every ear is
+intently listening for his answer.
+
+Every ear, do we say? No; one man is only feigning rapt attention; one
+mind is turning over wicked possibilities, while the others await,
+with different degrees of eagerness or curiosity, John Arthur's
+answer.
+
+"Needs must when the devil drives," says the baffled old man, turning
+toward the door. "I will go, and I leave my curse behind me!"
+
+This is the moment which Lucian Davlin has watched. While all eyes are
+turned toward John Arthur, he bends suddenly forward. He has wrenched
+the pistol from one of his guardians, and the weapon is aimed at
+Madeline's heart!
+
+Instantaneously there is a quick, panther-like spring, and Claire
+Keith's little hand strikes the arm that directs the deadly weapon.
+There is a sharp report, but the direction of the bullet is changed.
+
+Madeline Payne stands erect and startled, while Edward Percy falls to
+the floor, the blood gushing from a wound in his breast. In another
+instant, Lucian Davlin lies prostrate, felled by a blow from one
+detective, while the other bends over him and savagely adjusts a pair
+of manacles.
+
+The others, even to Cora, group themselves about the wounded man. Dr.
+Vaughan kneels beside him a moment, then he lifts his eyes to meet
+those of Madeline.
+
+"It is a death wound," he says.
+
+"Prepare a couch in the next room directly. He must not be carried
+up-stairs."
+
+When this order has been obeyed, and the injured man has been removed,
+Madeline returns to the drawing-room, untenanted now save by the
+officers and their prisoner. They are waiting there until the midnight
+train shall be due, and the time approaches. Moving quite near to the
+now silent, sullen villain, the girl surveys him with absolute
+loathing.
+
+"The goddess you worship has deserted you, Lucian Davlin," she says,
+slowly. "It was not in the book of chance that you should triumph over
+or outwit me. The bullet you designed for me has completed the work
+you began five years ago. Go, to live a convict, or die on the
+scaffold, and when you think upon the failure of your villainous
+schemes, remember that this retribution has been wrought by a woman's
+hand! Officers, take him away!"
+
+Through the darkness they hurry him, from the sights and scenes of
+Oakley and Bellair--forever. His goddess has indeed forsaken him. When
+the two officers take leave of him at the prison, he has had his last
+glimpse of the outside world.
+
+[Illustration: "Edward Percy falls to the floor, the blood gushing
+from a wound in the breast!"--page 439.]
+
+From the moment when he failed in his attempt upon the life that had
+defied him, no word had escaped his lips. Silent, moody, and utterly
+hopeless, this proud-spirited, evil-hearted Son of Chance, enters
+the prison gates, and, as they close upon him, we have done with
+Lucian Davlin, a _convict for life_!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+AS THE FOOL DIETH.
+
+
+Edward Percy is dying--was dying when they lifted him from the
+drawing-room carpet, and gently laid him on the couch hastily prepared
+by Hagar and the frightened servants. They have watched beside him
+through the night, and now, in the gray of the morning, Clarence
+Vaughan still keeps his vigil.
+
+The wounded man moves feebly, and turns his fast dimming eyes toward
+the watcher. "I thought--I saw--some one," he says, brokenly, "when--I
+fell. Who--was--the lady?"
+
+His voice dies away, as Clarence, bending over him, answers gently:
+"You mean the lady that stood near the door, whose face was turned
+away?"
+
+"Yes," in a whisper; "was it--my--wife?"
+
+Clarence turns toward the window where Mrs. Ralston sits, out of view
+of the sick man.
+
+She moves forward a little. "Tell him," she says, in a low voice.
+
+Edward Percy is a dying man, but his mind was never clearer. He
+perfectly comprehends the explanations made by Clarence. He had
+recognized the face of his wife when he lay bleeding at her feet. He
+closes his eyes and is silent for some moments. Then he asks, in that
+dying half-whisper, the only tone he ever will use: "You
+think--I--will--die?"
+
+"You cannot live," replies Clarence, gravely.
+
+Again the wounded man shuts his eyes and thinks; then: "How long--will
+I--last?" he questions.
+
+"I can keep you alive twenty-four hours--not longer," says Clarence,
+after a pause.
+
+"Then--I must talk now."
+
+Clarence goes to a table, and pours something into a tiny glass. This
+he brings, and putting it to the lips of the patient, says: "Try and
+swallow this. It is a stimulant. Then lie quiet for a few moments;
+after that you may talk."
+
+This is done, and for a time there is silence in the room. Then the
+wounded man whispers, with an appearance of more strength: "Tell
+_her_--to come here."
+
+Mrs. Ralston moves forward, and he looks at her long and attentively.
+Then, with a turn of his olden coolness: "You grew tired of me," he
+said.
+
+"Yes," she replies, in a low, sad voice, "I grew tired of you; very
+tired. But don't talk of those days now. You are too near the end;
+think of that!"
+
+"I do," he said, slowly. "But I can't alter the past--and--I don't
+know--about the future. I want--to see a--notary."
+
+"Don't you want to see a clergyman?"
+
+"What for? If I am dying--it's of no use to play--hypocrite. I don't
+believe in--your clergyman. I admit that--I wronged--you," he
+continues, gazing at Mrs. Ralston, "and I deceived Miss Keith. If you
+two--can forgive me--I will take my chances--for the rest."
+
+Mrs. Ralston bends above him with a face full of pity, but in which
+there is no love. "I forgive you, Edward; and so will Claire, fully.
+But you did her very little harm. She was not long deceived. Do you
+want to see her?"
+
+"Yes; and--don't let Alice--Cora, you call her--come near me."
+
+Truly, this dying sinner is not a meek one, not a very repentant one.
+
+When they ask him if he will see Miss Arthur, his reply is
+characteristic. "Does she want--to see--me?"
+
+No; she has not asked to see him, they say. But of course she would be
+glad to come to him.
+
+"Let her alone," he says, "she don't want to see me. If she did, it
+would be to scratch out--my eyes--because she is--cheated out
+of--being married. She isn't hurt. She is too big a fool."
+
+When Claire comes to his bedside, accompanied by Madeline, he says:
+"Miss Claire--I loved you better than any woman I ever knew--truly.
+If--you had been Mr. Keith's heiress--I would never have come to
+Oakley. I thought you were--his heiress when--I wooed you--in
+Baltimore. But you are the only woman--who ever beat me--and puzzled
+me. You did not care much, after all."
+
+To Madeline he says, after he has swallowed a second stimulant: "But
+for you, I would not be here. You women have hunted me down. But you
+are as brave--as a lioness--a little Nemesis. I--won't--bear malice."
+
+At noon, the notary comes, and Edward Percy makes an affidavit as to
+the truth of the testimony that will convict Lucian Davlin. It is the
+affidavit of a fast dying man.
+
+All day Mrs. Ralston sits beside him. And Clarence Vaughan watches the
+slowly ebbing life tide. Once he seems struggling to say something,
+and his wife bends down to catch what may be some word of penitence.
+
+"Bury--me like a gentleman."
+
+This is what he says, and Clarence Vaughan smiles bitterly as he
+thinks, "selfish and egotistical to the last."
+
+Night comes on and the end is very near. Over the dying face flits a
+malignant shadow, and he makes a last effort to speak. Again the
+watchers bend nearer.
+
+"I hope--they will--hang Davlin," he breathes, feebly.
+
+The two listeners recoil with horror, at the sound of the vindictive
+wish from dying lips.
+
+These are the last words of Edward Percy. Slowly go the minutes, and
+deeper grow the shadows. Again Clarence Vaughan bends above the couch,
+and then he says: "Your vigil is ended, Mrs. Ralston. He is dead."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+That night, while the house is hushed to a quiet, one portion of the
+household asleep, the other keeping the death-watch, Cora again tries
+to escape from Oakley. But this time Strong is not to be caught
+napping, and the vanquished adventuress resigns herself to her fate.
+
+Two days more, and then Edward Percy is buried, according to his
+request, "like a gentleman."
+
+All that is known outside of Oakley concerning his death is that he
+was shot by Lucian Davlin, between whom, and himself, some feud had
+existed.
+
+And John Arthur and Cora remain, and "keep up appearances" to the
+last.
+
+Dr. Le Guise, or the Professor, has stayed too, for appearance sake.
+But the day after they have buried Edward Percy, he goes, and very
+gladly, back to the city. Madeline keeps her promise; he goes free,
+and none save the few ever know that Dr. Le Guise is an impostor.
+
+At the same time John Arthur turns his back upon Oakley forever.
+"Appearances" are observed to the last. He goes, tenderly attended by
+the Professor, by Cora, and by his sister. Goes much muffled, and
+enacting the _role_ of invalid.
+
+They are taking the sick man South; this is what the villagers think.
+
+But when the train reaches the city, this select party disbands. John
+Arthur becomes active once more and, with his sister, hurries away in
+the nearest cab, while the Professor and Cora separate by mutual
+consent.
+
+And here we will leave them--all but Cora.
+
+She has escaped Scylla only to fall upon Charybdis. As she hurries
+along through the familiar streets, her plans are laid. She will go to
+Lucian Davlin's rooms; nobody will be there to dispute her possession
+for a day or two to come, and she has possessed herself of the keys,
+left behind as useless by their outlawed owner.
+
+When she ascends the steps, some one, who is lounging past the
+premises, looks at her narrowly. As she disappears behind the swinging
+outer door, this lounger becomes wonderfully alert, and hastens away
+as if he had just discovered his mission.
+
+Two hours later, as Cora descends the stairs and emerges into the
+street, the vision of a monkey-faced old man appears before her. And
+while another lays a firm detaining hand upon her arm, the old man,
+fairly dancing with glee, cries out:
+
+"Ah, ha! here you are, my pretty sharper! I didn't have these premises
+watched for nothing, did I? Now I have got you! Bring her along,
+officer, bring her along. She won't dodge us this time."
+
+And Cora is hurried into a cab, closely followed by old Verage, who
+chatters his doubtful consolation, and laughs his eldritch laughter,
+and finally consigns her to prison to answer to a charge of
+swindling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+"AND THEN COMES REST."
+
+
+At last Oakley is rid of its _intriguants_, its plotters and
+impostors.
+
+And Madeline and Claire sit alone in the chamber of the former,
+talking of the strange events that have so lately transpired--of
+Philip Girard's vindication, of Lucian Davlin's punishment, of Edward
+Percy's death.
+
+It is the day following that of the burial, and Mrs. Ralston is lying
+asleep in her own room, with old Hagar in near attendance.
+
+"Poor Mrs. Ralston," says Claire, after a long pause in their
+converse. "She is thoroughly worn out, and yet, weary as she was, she
+must have talked with you for hours, Madeline, after we came back from
+the grave."
+
+Over Madeline's face flits an odd, half-sad smile, as she replies,
+dreamily:
+
+"Yes, we talked a long time, dear; Mrs. Ralston was then in the mood
+for talking. Can't you understand how one may be nervously active, may
+be at just that stage of bodily weariness when the mind is intensely
+alive? The excitement of all she had lately undergone was still upon
+her, and the mind could not resign itself to rest while anything
+remained unsettled or under a cloud."
+
+"Oh, I can understand how that may be." Then, after a pause, "so
+something remained to be settled?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And, between you, you disposed of the difficulty?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Another silence. Then Madeline turns to look at her companion.
+
+"Why don't you ask me what the 'difficulty' was?"
+
+No answer.
+
+"But you want to know?"
+
+Claire laughs nervously.
+
+"And I want to tell you," pursues Madeline. "First, we talked of
+ourselves."
+
+"Oh!" ejaculates Claire, looking immensely relieved.
+
+"Yes, we talked of ourselves first; and we have become great friends."
+
+"Of course!" cries Miss Enthusiasm; "I knew you would."
+
+"We have decided to give our new friendship a severe test."
+
+"How?" asks Claire, forgetting her caution.
+
+"By visiting Europe in each other's society."
+
+Claire springs up excitedly. "Madeline Payne, you don't mean it! You
+_can't_! You _shall_ not; there! Europe, indeed. You are crazy! I
+won't hear of it!" stamping her foot emphatically.
+
+Madeline leans back in her chair and laughs; then suddenly becomes
+grave.
+
+"But I do mean it, Claire, my darling," she says, softly. "And I'll
+tell you what else I mean. Sit down here, close beside me and listen."
+
+Instinctively Claire obeys.
+
+"Now, then," continues Madeline, "you know what an odd, uncultivated
+sort of a life mine has been, and you know that this little world of
+mine has not been a very bright one. Well, ever since I could read and
+think, I have longed to see Italy, and France, and England, and
+Germany, and the Holy Land. My work is done here. There is nothing now
+to prevent my going--no duty to perform, no one to keep me here. I
+could not find a better friend and companion than Mrs. Ralston, and
+she is very anxious to go, and to take me with her. You are all very
+dear to me, but no one needs me now more than she, nor so much. And,
+Claire, don't make any mistakes about me. I am not going away
+sorrowfully, or with any heavy weight upon my spirits. I am going to
+enjoy and make the most and best of the life and youth God has given
+me. I am going for change, and recreation, and rest. I have been
+acting the part of an avenger here, a stern, unforgiving Nemesis, but
+I would do over again all that I have done, if need be. I am not half
+so good as you. I can not submit with meekness to injustice and wrong.
+I shall fight my enemies, if I have more to fight, until the end of
+the chapter. And now I have a confession to make."
+
+Claire stirs uneasily. "Don't," she says, deprecatingly: "I don't want
+to hear a confession."
+
+"But I want to make one, and you must listen. First, however, let me
+tell you that during my talk with Mrs. Ralston, I heard about a
+certain interview, wherein a ridiculous young lady discarded the man
+she loved, because she fancied she would wrong some one else if she
+admitted her love for him, and accepted his. Well--don't turn your
+face away--that was foolish. But my blunder was a downright wicked
+one. Yes, Claire, I will tell all the truth. When you and I stood
+together out under the trees, and talked of Clarence Vaughan; when you
+showed me the picture and told me the little pastoral about Edward
+Percy; I knew that Clarence Vaughan loved you--and I thought I loved,
+nay, I did love, _him_.
+
+"When I came down here and found so soon that Edward Percy was--so
+utterly unworthy, we will say, because he is dead, I felt at once that
+you must be undeceived.
+
+"Then a great temptation came to me, and I said to myself, 'When she
+becomes disenchanted, and ceases to love this man, she will learn to
+value the other and more noble lover; she will learn to love him!'
+
+"All night long, before I came to undeceive you, and to warn Olive, I
+battled with a great temptation. And I yielded to it. Listen, Claire,
+while I tell you how base I was.
+
+"When I set out for the city in the morning, I said to myself: 'Claire
+Keith is the soul of truth and honor. She is generous to a fault. If I
+let her see how much I care for Clarence Vaughan, I shall appeal to
+her pity and her honor, without the aid of words. She will never
+listen to his suit; she will try to advance my interest; she will
+become my ally.' See, dear, how truly I judged you.
+
+"Well, I came. I told you of Percy's baseness, and when I saw how
+brave you were; how full of scorn for the dishonest man; how
+impossible it was for one so unworthy to drag you down, or darken your
+life because of his baseness; I was filled with shame and remorse. I
+knew then that I was unworthy your friendship, or of a good man's
+love.
+
+"Standing in your presence, humiliated by your pure nobility, I
+repented, and I resolved to give up all thought of Clarence Vaughan. I
+did give him up.
+
+"But, Claire, although I did not know it, my very penitence must have
+committed me, and while I was renouncing my designs, you were
+resolving to further them. In some manner I must have betrayed
+myself."
+
+There is a moment's pause. Claire Keith's face is buried in her hands,
+and Madeline, bending toward her, cries out, remorsefully:
+
+"Claire! Claire! Look up and believe me. As God hears me, that is past
+and dead. See how I am humbling myself, and do not doubt me."
+
+Claire's head rears itself suddenly. She flings herself forward
+impetuously, and clasps her arms about her friend.
+
+"Madeline, stop!" she cries, brokenly; "I won't hear you slander
+yourself. Don't I know you too well to doubt you! But I won't have a
+lover; I won't love any one but you."
+
+Again the laugh comes to Madeline's lips.
+
+"Little Miss Impulse!" she says, tenderly. "But, sister Claire, I am
+not done yet. I am going to put you on the penitent's stool now. Just
+imagine yourself in my place for a little. Do you think I could have
+made this confession to you if my weakness were not a thing of the
+past? You know I never could. I am not ashamed to confess that I did
+love Clarence. But I should be more than ashamed, under all the
+circumstances, if I could not say with truth that that love is a thing
+of the past. As my dearest friend, my brother, if you will, I shall
+always love him; but no more than that. I am not sorry that I have
+loved him, for I am a better woman because of it. But, I repeat it,
+that love is a thing of the past. Claire, do you not believe?"
+
+They gaze into each other's eyes for a moment. Then Claire says: "I
+believe, Madeline."
+
+A smile brightens the brown eyes now, and their owner says: "Then
+don't you see that you have made a mistake--one that, for my sake, you
+must rectify?"
+
+Claire begins to look rebellious. "No, I don't," she cries, blushing
+scarlet. "You wicked girl, you have been getting me into a trap!"
+
+Madeline says, very gravely:
+
+"Claire, I want you to trust me in this, as you all have in other
+things. I want you to let me feel that I have not made the friends I
+love best, unhappy. I shall leave you soon: if I have been your
+friend, let me have my way in this one thing. If you don't, all the
+rest will have been in vain. See, my drama is ended; my enemies are
+punished. Now let me make my dear ones happy. Do you know, John Arthur
+has put a new thought in my head. 'Confound you,' he growled; it was
+his parting benediction, 'I might have known your father's blood ruled
+you. I might have looked for cunning and intrigue from that confounded
+Expert's Daughter.' It is true, Claire; I am the daughter of an
+Expert, a detective, brave and shrewd. Hagar says that I am like my
+father, and that I have inherited his talents. When I recall the knot
+we have just unravelled, the war we have just waged, I can but think
+that my father's chosen calling may have become mine. If the world
+ever grows stale, if I pine for change or excitement or absorbing
+occupation, I can go to my father's chief and say, 'I am the daughter
+of Lionel Payne, the Expert, and I have inherited a measure of my
+father's talents.' Do you think he will trust his knotty cases to the
+Expert's Daughter?"
+
+"I think he will, if he is wise. But, Madeline, all this is folly. You
+will never leave us. Olive wants you; we all want you."
+
+"And you will all have enough of me. But, Claire, do not ask me to
+stay now. It is better for me, better for all, that I go away. I must
+let old memories die out. I want to forget old scenes. I want rest. I
+need to school my wayward nature, to teach my heart to beat calmly,
+my soul to possess itself in peace. Claire, I must go."
+
+Just here, some one taps softly. It is a servant who holds in her
+hands a telegram from Olive to Madeline, which runs thus:
+
+     All is well. Philip and I start for home to-night. Meet us
+     there without fail, all of you.
+
+                                        OLIVE.
+
+They read it together, and then Claire burst into tears--tears of joy
+and thankfulness.
+
+"Philip is free once more! Oh, Madeline, Madeline; and it was you who
+saved him; it was _you_!"
+
+Madeline pushes the message into her hand, saying: "If I have done
+such wonderful things, why do you refuse to obey me? Go, now, and take
+this good news to Clarence Vaughan. And mind you, don't come back, for
+I am going to tell Mrs. Ralston."
+
+Half laughing, half crying, Claire is compelled to go down to the
+library alone. Clarence Vaughan is there, pacing thoughtfully up and
+down.
+
+Claire enters softly, the paper ostentatiously displayed in her hand.
+But he looks straight at the blushing, bashful, tear-stained face. Her
+eyes, half glad, half shy, wholly tell-tale, fall before his own. And
+the lover who has waited in patience for his opportunity, seizes it
+now and makes it a moment of victory.
+
+"I have brought you good news, Dr. Vaughan."
+
+He comes straight toward her, and imprisons both little hands,
+together with the "news" they contain.
+
+"You have brought me yourself, then, and I have been lying in wait for
+this opportunity. Claire, shall you ever run away from me again?"
+
+It is useless to rebel. His voice tells her that he knows too much,
+and that he will not be evaded any more.
+
+She gives him one glimpse of her face, and then she is clasped in his
+strong, loving arms, and from this safe haven, after a time, she tells
+her good news, struggling prettily to free herself from the loving
+imprisonment.
+
+"Philip is free, and is coming home."
+
+"Of course; why not, darling? There is no accusation against him now."
+
+"Madeline is going away with Mrs. Ralston. Don't you think she is too
+bad? Can't we make her stay?"
+
+A look of regretful sadness rests for a moment upon his countenance.
+Then he says, very tenderly:
+
+"My little darling, Madeline has earned the right to her own perfect
+liberty. After the fierce schooling through which she has passed,
+believe me, there is nothing left for us to teach her. She has grown
+beyond us. Let her have her will, for she knows best what will give
+her the rest, the forgetfulness, the absorbing interest in other
+things, that her strong nature needs. Madeline has much to unlearn,
+much to forget; and she knows this. She is growing to understand her
+strong, brave self, to value her strength. She will never be an idler,
+never sink into the ranks of the commonplace. If, after a time, she
+finds for herself a worthy love, she will be the tenderest, the truest
+of wives. But she is sufficient unto herself. She has beauty, genius,
+force, a strong will, a splendid intellect. We shall watch her course
+from afar, and I am much mistaken if we do not, some day, hear great
+things of our Madeline."
+
+Claire draws herself gently from the restraining arm, and turns her
+blue eyes upon him.
+
+[Illustration: "She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs the
+restfulness, the peace, the white, pure glory of the dawn."--page
+456.]
+
+"Madeline will never marry," she says softly, sadly. "You are right;
+she is above us, beyond us. God has made her sufficient unto herself."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It is dawn, gray dawn.
+
+Madeline Payne rises from a long untroubled sleep, and flings wide her
+shutters.
+
+What is this that she sees?
+
+All below her an unbroken mantle of white; all about and above, the
+waving of snowy plumes, and floating, misty-white loveliness.
+
+The world is clothed in a new garment; the foot-prints of her enemies
+are hidden, are blotted from the face of the earth. The pathway to the
+cemetery where they lately bore Edward Percy, is obliterated, too. The
+grave of the erring man is covered with heaven's whitest, purest
+mantle of charity and forgetfulness.
+
+Above, below, all about her, is silence and whiteness and peace.
+
+She sinks to her knees, and leaning out, absorbs into herself the
+restfulness, the peace, the white, pure glory, of the dawn.
+
+"It is a token," she murmurs, softly. "It is God's benediction on my
+new day, on my new life. It is the beginning of rest. There is nothing
+old in this fresh, white world. Let the snow mantle rest thus upon my
+past life. Ah, how rich I am! How rich in friends; how strong in that
+I have been able to do some good, to make my beloved happy. Never let
+me repine at my fate. I am rich, and strong, and free. This new,
+white, beautiful world is mine, when I wish to wander. My friends are
+mine, when I wish to rest, and find a home."
+
+Ah, 'tis good to know--
+
+    "God's greatness shines around our incompleteness;
+        Round our restlessness, _His rest_."
+
+Up from the east shoots an arrow of gold, and a bar of roseate light.
+Higher yet, and the world is aglow with mystic, glittering loveliness.
+Diamonds sparkling everywhere; snow plumes waving; the earth's white
+unbroken mantle gleaming and sparkling, and stretching away to meet
+the golden glow at the horizon's edge.
+
+Kneeling there, with her white hands clasped upon the window ledge,
+the glory of the morning falls over her like a benediction; lighting
+up the golden hair; pouring its radiance into the solemn brown eyes;
+kissing the pure pale cheeks; breathing peace, and rest, and hope into
+the long-tried, but conquering heart of THE EXPERT'S DAUGHTER.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+POPULAR BOOKS.
+
+
+_A Mountain Mystery; or, The Outlaws of the Rockies._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 37 original Engravings.
+    Price, $1.50.
+
+    A stirring story of detectives' adventures among the mountain
+    outlaws and stage robbers of the Far West. Our old friends
+    Stanhope and Vernet, reappear in new roles.
+
+
+_Dangerous Ground; or, The Rival Detectives._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 45 original Engravings.
+    Price, $1.50.
+
+    Its incidents are splendidly handled. There is not a dull
+    page or line in it. Dick Stanhope is a character to be
+    admired for his courage; while one's deepest sympathies twine
+    about the noble, tender-hearted Leslie Warburton.
+
+
+_Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 44 original Engravings.
+    Price, $1.50.
+
+    "One of the most fascinating of modern novels. It combines
+    the excitement that ever attends the intricate and hazardous
+    schemes of a detective, together with as cunningly elaborated
+    a plot as the best of Wilkie Collins' or Charles Reade's."
+
+
+_Out of a Labyrinth._
+
+    By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by 36 original Engravings.
+    Price $1.50.
+
+    "We have so often spoken of Mr. Lynch's superb abilities that
+    further praise is scarcely essential. Suffice it to say that
+    this work is in no way inferior to those which have preceded
+    it."--_Aurora News._
+
+
+_The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated by 41 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    An exciting story of adventures in Australia, in the early
+    days, when the discovery of gold drew thither a motley crowd
+    of reckless daring men.
+
+
+_The Bushrangers; or, Wild Life in Australia._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated. Price, $1.50.
+
+    The record of a second voyage to that land of mystery and
+    adventure--Australia--by the "Gold Hunters," and replete with
+    exciting exploits among lawless men.
+
+
+_The Gold Hunters in Europe; or, The Dead Alive._
+
+    By WM. H THOMES. Illustrated by 34 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    The heroes of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures" seek excitement
+    in a trip through Europe, and meet with a constant succession
+    of perilous adventures.
+
+
+_A Slaver's Adventures on Sea and Land._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated by 40 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    A thrilling story of an exciting life on board a slaver,
+    chased by British gunboats, and equally interesting
+    adventures in the wilds of Africa and on the Island of Cuba.
+
+
+_A Whaleman's Adventures on Sea and Land._
+
+    By WM. H. THOMES. Illustrated by 36 fine Engravings. Price,
+    $1.50.
+
+    A vivid story of life on a whaler, in the Pacific Ocean, and
+    of adventures in the Sandwich Islands, and in California in
+    the earlier days.
+
+
+_Running the Blockade._
+
+By WM. H THOMES. Profusely illustrated. Price, $1.50.
+
+    A tale of adventures on a Blockade Runner during the
+    rebellion, by a Union officer acting in the Secret Service of
+    the United States.
+
+Sold on all Railroad Trains, by all Booksellers, or will be sent
+post-paid on receipt of price by
+
+ALEX. T. LOYD & CO.,
+
+133 LASALLE STREET, CHICAGO.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+A NEW DETECTIVE STORY.
+
+By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH.
+
+Author of "Shadowed by Three," "Madeline Payne," etc.
+
+[Illustration: "Don't pull, boys; I've got the drop on ye!" Page 50.]
+
+DANGEROUS GROUND;
+
+OR THE
+
+RIVAL DETECTIVES.
+
+The author's latest and greatest work; intensely interesting. 45
+Elegant Illustrations.
+
+PRICE $1.50.
+
+Sold on all Railroad Trains and by all Booksellers.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+THE GOLD HUNTERS' ADVENTURES;
+
+OR, WILD LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
+
+By WM. H. THOMES, author of "The Bushrangers," "The Gold Hunters in
+Europe," "A Whaleman's Adventures," "Life in the East Indies,"
+"Adventures on a Slaver," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.
+
+[Illustration: "Now for a rush.--Cut them to pieces!"]
+
+A FASCINATING STORY OF ADVENTURE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+A SLAVER'S ADVENTURES
+
+ON SEA AND LAND.
+
+[Illustration: "We saw many species of wild animals." Page 89.]
+
+By WM. H. THOMES,
+
+Author of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia," "The
+Bushrangers," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.
+
+ILLUSTRATED WITH FORTY ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS
+
+SOLD ON ALL RAILWAY TRAINS AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+A Whaleman's Adventures
+
+AT SEA, IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS AND CALIFORNIA.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+By WM. H. THOMES,
+
+Author of "The Gold Hunters' Adventures in Australia," "The
+Bushrangers," "Running the Blockade," etc., etc.
+
+Illustrated with Thirty-Six Fine Engravings.
+
+SOLD ON ALL RAILWAY TRAINS AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADELINE PAYNE, THE DETECTIVE'S
+DAUGHTER***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 26482.txt or 26482.zip *******
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