-: -;.-.!-'-r-yT.
'
iV".
3food.iycr Slaci er.
nOOD-KIVErV-OR,
Her Rival s - Valentine ;
Without any desigivlhe'y left' Vida to her
,elfi but in it she saw a systematic avoid
ance of her. . ,
Conscious guilt prompted the thought, and
; In her heart she hated and despised them
all. ,'. v.. -" V r! ; ., . V',..' .
Shortly after ten o'clock she stole away to
. Juer room ana shut herself in.
Then she took a retrospective vlotf of her
past, and it wasnot at a)l satisfactory; iihe
saw the mad folly she had toon guilty of,
and repented so far as regards herself.
She was sorry she had woven siich a ter
rible net about herself, but did not regret
the misery and pain slfe had jtfven to others.
- "I would do It all over again': she said
.fiercely, "only J would do it hotter. I am
not a Moore there la nothing soft, or gentle,
or forgiving in me.'Jt is riiy mother's blood
. the blood of the ora.CastUlans. that burns
in my veins. - .,';.; .''-,
: "We love tip well for oursolves, and hate'
too thoroughly for thfi'fe who thwiirt us."
By-and-by Kulh came and knoqfctd gently
: -at her door. Y ' .: Y' .
: - 'Vida dear, are you asleep?" '
- Vida iyould not answer, but stood quite
still, with a scornful smile upon her face,
suitU Ruth went away. ' .;'": ' , ' f
!'I cannot play the loving cousin to-night,"
'she muttered. "If she' had come hi, the
temptation to stab her might have been too
great." -Y, - - Y
From the folds of her dress she took cut
the "small, highly-tempered dagger with
, -which she had taken Bardolpii Dimsey's
life, The keen 'blade was in a leathern
sheath, and removing it, she held the glit
tering dangerous toy at arm's-length, and
looked at it with a fierce light burning In
the depths of her dark eyes. ' ', x.
"You were a' friend to '.me," she. said.
"You saved me from a fate more bitter than
. death. By-and-by, whAi panned Into a cor
ner by my enemies, you shall save me
-again' , )' . " ; Y", ' .' ',';
re she slept she had recourse to one of
'the bottles on her toilet-table containing an
" essence that has been the bane of many wo-
men. The- dangerous indulgence had be
come the habit of her life. . '
i Unconsciousness of things around her she
obtained,, but it was not blessed sleep that
, came to her aid. . :-. ,' .... ' '. .
It was another tageof consciousness,
vivid and horrible. Y !
The dreams of the opium-eater , were .not
more terrible. -YJ ..-'' "' ' "
Like him she felt an unnatural lightness,
, and yet had the weight of the . Atlantic in
her heart A bright light surrounded her,
and yet it seemed akin to unfathomable
'-darkness. ; ' ' - " .'' Y - - Y. '"-
No one was visible but she could hear the
tramp of men as If an army were passing
by, and the shriek of women in peril 0
shame and death. , v
She was not here or -there lu any particu
lar place, but In many f .imiliar scenes at
once, and . it seemed to her as if he spirit
had swollen to infinite size and was surging
to and fro like the restless sea. ,
. What words can depict the horror of Such
-anight? And it is no wonder, then, when
she awoke and found daylight had come
. that she hailed It as a friend. ... t
"If that is sleep; which I have endured,"
she said as she looked forth from the case
' ment, "I wish to sleep no more. Let me be
wakeful and watchful to the end." 1 ;',
A bird on a tree close by began to chirrup
a morning-song to its mate, stimulated by
the early sunshine. , ., ," '.,' 1
She listened, but its sweetness of sound
found no "echo in her heart. . , . - -
"The .little feathered fool," she said, "be
lieves in love. But' at the best it Is but a'
fleeting tiling. ' ; .
"Summer will soon pass, and when the
' cold of winter comes, your mate will leave
you.. But it is, perhaps, something to be
loved a while. Even one brief hour of love
has been denied me." .'.
' i ' , ' CHAPTER XV. i
Y , THK DAWH BREAKING. ,Y'" '
The secret of Basil's expected re turn leap
. ed out, and all the country was ablaze with
It"., , .' ' ' ' ; '- - '. .
The news reached the ears, of the inspec
tor, and he smilodRS he thought of his words
coming true. Y' : r . .
"But what could have taken him away?"
he thought; "had he anything to do with
the death of that gipsy fellow?" - '
- It was possioie, oi course, anu me lues
was as good as any other -that had present
ed Itself. " .,, v .-
The murder of Bardolph had remained a
complete mystery up to that time, and the
police had absolutely no clue. . .
Now the inspector thoughtthatsometliing
might leak out ' w , , -.
"I'll ride ove nd tee how the land lies,',',
he -thought, and in the afternoon of the
twelfth he appeared at Briarwood, and en
quired for Mr; Brandreth. ,'
"Gone to'fiordonfells," he was told, and
to Gordonfells he rode without delay. ;
There he asked for , Mr. Moore, and as he
was being shown into the library, Vida pass
ed by. :'' ' ': ' ' . :'.. '."' ,'.
- ! She knew the man, and a hot flush.passed
over her face.as he bowed and said: ... . : , i
"Good-day, miss.'' , - . .
It seemed to her that his eyes Had a por
tentous meaning in their depths, but it was
a false alarm. . .
. He had no suspicion of the prohd hand
some woman who glided by, and was busy
'comparing her with rather a plain wife he
had at honie as lie entered the library. . -
Mr. Moore gave him good-morning, and
bade him be seated, t - .;. t
"I've come to you, Mr. Moore," he said,
"to take the liberty to 'ask you for a bit of
advice." . - , - V . , . : .
. . "A strange thing for the doctor to Come
3to the patient," replied Mr. Moore, smiling.
"Well, so it is, and it's about Mr. Basil
Brandreth, Mr. Moore. ' I hear he Is coming
back." - . '-.. A',.
: "Such, indeed, is the case." V . .
"May I ask when he is expected?"
n "To-morrow." v, ; . - . ..u, , .
. .;"Well, .Mr.' Moore, duty , is duty,- as' you
kriow." ;"' , ;
"Assuredly it is." ,, .'':"('','
"And I must do mine. . If you will ex
cuse me, I should like to'be here to-morrow
to ask Mr. Basil Brandreth . a few nuos-'
tions." . - ' , I
"I don't know that there is any partieular
objection to your doing so.i'fyut it would be
better if you waited until the next day.".
i "Mr. Moore, duty is duty: I must know
why Mr. Basil Brandreth went so suddenly
awav." -. - - -
"And suppose he does not choose ' to tell
you." ' r . ' ','-
"I shall arrest'him for the murder of Bar
dolph Dimsey.'the gipsy, Mr..Moore."
Mr. Moore stared at the unmo'ved inspec
tor, who went on in his business-like tone:
"I've ascertained that the gipsies left here
about the time of young Mr. Brandreth's
dlsannearance. unrl that Rardolnh Dimsev
did notgo with them, nor was he seen abuuC
here after that tune. Mr. Basil comes back
alive, and as a matter of duty I must kno.w
where he has been, and what he has been
doinsr." ' - : ' '; - '
"But'lie has given his word not to 'say
anything about it, said Mr. Moore. -"Sorry
for that, Mr. Moore," said the in
spector; "but I can't allow that to interfere
with the course of duty." . ; -
Mr. Moore was nonplussed. He could see
that the situation was likely to be rather
complicated. : V
. He had do fear of Basil having to suffer
for a crime of which ho was undoubtedly
innocent, but he could not dear himself
without breaking his word, and with a lot of
publicity that would be eminently disagree
able. ; ' t ;',-.- "' ' ' 4" '!' " '-.
"Would you like to see Mr. Brandreth,,
Dennis?" he asked. . " :
- '.'No, unless'ho is prepared to give me the
explanation I crave, Mr. Moore." .' '
"T am afraid he is not. at liberty to do
that.'1, . .'Am ;V . ..1
. . "Then I miist wait until to-morrow.'.' i f
' "And not until tjie next day?"
"No, Mr. Mogr.', I dare not" . ,: -He.
rose up, and bowing, asked If Mr.
Moore had anything to ask him more. On
receiving an answer in the negative he took
"As he was walkiirs: through thejiall on
his way out he m t fhoabe, and being sus
ceptible to feiualu beauty in a rustic as well
as a refined form, he stopped to exchange a
few words with her. , ,
' "Fine day, miss," he said.' r ' . ;
"Very line, Fir," replied Phoebe. V
"Good news tlilV about Mr. 'Basil Bran
dreth." . ... V y i " T'" : "'
a Phosbe smiled,
'. "Very good news," she said. v .
"And rather unexpected 'too. Curious
thing his going away, anyhow." v
"He didn't go," said Phosbe, "he was
taken away.'.'. sc?'s&!fi"'-'
'Oh, indeed," returned the Inspector. "J
should like to know wh took hijn." i
"No doubt you wonuv" said Phcooe pertly;
"but you won't at least, not from me."'
"Oome now." said the insnector. "let us.
be friends, and have a littie cnai togemer.
I've got a wife at home, but she's ailing,
and can't be long for this Vorld. 1 shall
want a number two one day."
'And If you do. what- then?" asked-
Phoebe. .- ' - . ' ' '.
"Why, I should come to Gordontells for
her," he answered. , .- "
'Would you, indeed."' said Phone, with
a mocking, curtsy; "but wouldn't that be a
waste of time. ' Nobody here would allow
you to throw yourself away." - (
"We will see when the time comes. 'Now
just tell me if you know anything of Mr.
Brandreth." v - ". . - r. '.,'.
"Of course I do I" v '
' "He was fond Of gipsy company, .wasn't
he?" .a'-: i '".':': '..! - i "
f'Goodness gracious, no I" exclaimed Phoe
be. "What nonsense you are'talking I" .
... "But'you have seen hiui talking to a gipsy
girl; come now, haven'j; you:"' , "
"No," said Phosbe; "and Fm afraid that
Mr. Moore has been giving you wine. or you
would not talk such rubbish. So 1 will bid
Vou good day.'V ,. .
" n i i . .. . k r j i , , , n, ..
..J lie UlfSpt'UlUl WUllli Ult illiiU
ever. io was groping aoout in tne aarK,
and had no idea which way to face so as to
get out of the mystery. But as Jie said, duty
was duty, and with regard to iJasu his course
was clear.'' - -Y'-v - - ' - -
As the whole country had rung wltn tne .
storr of the mvstoiioUs- murder iii the bel-'
fry, an elucidation of the affair would be of j
material proiessionai service lomiu. Apaiw
therefore, from tlie sense of duty, he had
his own interest at his back to urge him on.
Of course Mr. Moore did not keep the In;
terview a secret He saw no reason for do
ing so, and Mr. Brail Ireth- was soon after
made acquainted with .what had passed. He
laughed at the idea of Basil' being guilty of
the gipsy's' death, and Mrs. Moore smiled
at'it;but they were one and all: uneasy.
There was still so much of the mysterious
attached to Basil's story. -. ' ' .
Vida was admitted by Mr. Moore to tne
discussion which followed, and only Euth
kept in ignorance of whqt had passed.
'She has suffered too much already," saia
Mrs. Moore, "and it would be cruel to antici
pate further evil." -- ' - '.' -'.
Vida earnestly advocated Basil's inno
cence, and succeeded In allaying Mr. Bran
dreth's suspicion of herself, If indeed he en
tertained any. She also suggested some-,
thing that was at least very reasonable. - .
"I think," she said, "that the fellow must
have been making love to some girl, and,
having betrayed- her, paid the penalty or
his falsehood with his life." , ,
"I never thought of that," said Mr. Moore.
"Nor I." said Mr. Brandreth, "and it does
not appear to have suggested itself to our
friend the inspector." - ; ; : " ''
Mrs. Moore quietly said a i
"Our rustic maidens are not given to as
sassinate their false lovers. They may weep,
and go to the extent of taking their own
lives in the nearest pool, but they have
neither the- brains no; fhe resolution to
avenge themselves In tt manner suggested
byVida."!-''1'.;- ! --;.; . ,
'Tt may not have beea rustic maiden,"
said Mr. Branfreth. j - i . '
, Who else &'ould lien to that, class of
vagabond?" said Vida kntemptuously, but
sheiwas whiter with - slden fear, and her
Troice had losi half the nsic- df its tone. . -'Mr.
Brandreth--agajilooked at her with
curious earnestness, an with a puzzled air.
He was like a man wif a problem- before
him, of which he kneWot even the direc
tion o' the answer. ;: j1: ;':'; -'':.' . -'-, .
The changelir Vidaras--noticed also by
Mrs. Moore, and Wherihe had' withdjawn
from the little circle tl retired,' she said
; "Vida has not beerwell for some time
past; I wonder what her?'.' .
- "I have noticed, ijalso,'! replied Mr.1
Moore, "but women oiier age are change
able. It is the unsettl era of their exist
ence." , ': . - - ; ...
And so the subject is dismissed. ,;
The morning of tlieirteenth of February
broke unpropitiousIyThere was a heavy
murky sky above, ana mist below upon '
the earth. The little ind that rustled the
buddings trees was ra and chill. ', r
' Among the fust to Imoving was Phoebe;
and it was evident blier heavy eyes and
feverish air that she ad passed a restless
night . The corridorVas still wrapped in
gloom when she erepp Bath's door. -
Listening intently fc could just hear the
soft breathing of tliSleeper, and clasped
her hands ink thankfiess. For days she
had been haunted withe belief that Vida
would in some way $mpt to take the life
of her younz mistrea .. . , ,! ,'-. , ,
; Long Delore tne ' ual nour sne qmetiy
entered Kuth's roomnd without disturb
ing her proceeded tojst and arrange it
" Euth awoke earli thari usual, and for
the first time duringier long trial, showed
nervousness. J. : j.. ' . ",";''.- "'
' She had borne up Ively through suffer
ing, but nowHhat joyas. near at hand she
was in danger of breing down. :
"Won't you come f a walk, miss?" said
Phoebe; "it's foot so le as it might be. but
'the air will d you gd." : ,
"iNot until Alter Diktast, .replied Kuth.-
"And when iyou i miss, may I attend
'upon you?". : .) . '' ,
"I do not think It 1 shall need yon,
Phoebe." ,'i? .'!;-'.. j v's'. :
"It is a fan" of 'ne,. missj' urged' the
girl. "Now tfcat MjJasil is coming back
I feel as if I jwas gig to part , from, you,
and you have . -een kind to me." ' ' r t
""Nonsense, Phoet" said Euth, smillngj
"1 am hot going to ft with youf and If 1
have been a good itress you have fully
deserved all you hareceived from me and
more."' . '. j : : '
i "It's kind of youisay so, miss, and" I'll
ask it as a,favor jt) you will keep me by
you if you go, out toy.'' - "
."Very well, Phaj" said Buth.
Vida appeared s'tly after, and seemed
to be In the rhuJt spirits. Sho rallied
Kuth on her pIef4ks.
"Fiohwu yea &ep
"and so rob yoJclieeks ot their, rosegl
Basil will scarcesnow you." ' :
"I shall be bet soon," replied Ruth. V
The feeling ofjitatiuii was - not confined
to her; it pervdl the whole household,
from Mr. Moorathe servants. 1 ' ' - ;
Only Vida w;film and self-possessed.
She was reyoa in the course she had
decided upon ; he needed was the oppor
tunity. Promjjby her embittered feel
ings she was rifed to turn the joy of that
house into moifng. ; ; ., ' '
"He shall coi
there, .with a heart full of
lover's yean
she said, "and find her
dead." . ..
She had the.
ll phial filled with poison
In her dress-p
t ready for use, but sought
In vain for an (y opportunity for using it
- At the breaLMable they sat apart, and
afterwards Eipressed for a walk.
"l win go wyou, saiu v iaa. . .
, "Do, dear,"ii Euth. , .. . '
i -Vida went stairs, dressed, 'and came
down again tfd not only Euth ready, but
Phoebe also. ! .. . ' - - '
"Do you wjthe girl?" she added, i .
"It Is Phoe) farncy, '.' was Euth's reply.
Vida turncihreatenihs flash upon Phoe-
bei but the gid hot quail. 1 In what she
had sot hei sP do she was as resolute as
Vida herself" :. .':':. ' ' ,
There is (ity'of time yet," thought
Vida; "I ha) whole day before me."
i s f ! . , ...'.
, - ;. SAPTEB XVI. . . '
; - daylight. ' -' -
They wal'to the" village, visited some
of the old ife, -and alter discussing all
the prevailjulments returned to Gordon-
fells.. , .'..- ' ,. -
LuncheoM ready, afid they simply loft
their hats inantles in the hall, and went
in. . I,.. . : i
Euth drpnly water, and Vida rallied
her uj)on i - ' . - -
"You wpea a little stimulant before
Basil eomjshe said ' "It will never do
to meet hrith the face ot a ghost" . -. -
Tt is BWh,o will bring back the roses,"
said Mr. Je. - , .. ,
It was, the whole, a dull party. All
were strUP to a pitch of excitement that
kept tlipbm talking much, and, occu
pied witlfir own thoughts and specula
tions, tWt for the most part sik;nt.
Just af meal was concluded, Barker
came in(i his face a picture of joyous
vivacityBgling'with solemnity, aild laid
an envelcontaining a telegram by Euth's
side. ..-"::' ' '' :'-.'.' v -'-
'Mesfr waiting to hear if there is any
answer said. . Y
Euthied the envelope, glanced at its
contenld passed it to her mother in si
lence, fds f. tiled her at the moment
Itwsfckly handed .round, as a look
sufficebsorb. the contents. ..- -' .
"Win at four o'clock.",
Thajall, buthow pregnantwlth glori
ous tid And it was then two o'clock.
Only-yours, and he would be there.
Aftpw moments their tongues broke
looseue news of Basil's coming was
protnlonveyed to the domestics by the
feverP' ker, who, while lingering about
outsiccidBntally" heard the contents
;of tlie telegram! Y , .,,; -i
Euth was the first to- leave the 'dining
room, and Vida followed.
. "Where are you going, Birdie?'' she asked.
'i "I feel that I must be alone," answered
Euth. "I am going to shut myself In my
room." -
: "May t not come, with you' .
"Not now, dear.", ,:
"But by-andrby before he conufe?" -.-'
"Yes, a little before. I, feel that I shall
want you by my side," - ... . , .
: With an evil light in her eyes, Vidagllded
away.;--, y : .. . .;" ; - - ..i.- -. .
. She thought she had all safe now. ' "
: It was at twenty minutes to four that Vids
sought Barker, and bade him bring some
wine to her room. :, r Y m
, VPort will be the best, I think," she said,
and in five minutes Barker, guessing for
whom It was needed, brought It to her with
two glasses.' , ' ' ." J
! "Thank you, Barker ; that will do." ' , v
.' He left the room, and in the left-hand
glass Vida poured half the contents of the
phial. '. w" : .-. ,-j-' ' " v- ' . .'' i
It was colorless, and without any percep
tible odor. . ; ' " ',.-- 5 ; . -.
lv "Now for the last scene of this eventful
story,? she said, and went to Euth's room.
The door was unfastened and she enter
ed, Euth was walking to and frcy pale and
trembling. .--.'., '.-; ' ,
"Come to my room," said Vida. T have
some wine.' A little you must have,.or you
will break down." . . ' ,- , , ,
She did not see Phoebe standing hi the
shadow of the cm-tain, and, Euth passively
obeying they went out, Phoebe following. '
They entered Vida's room, aad still she
saw nothing of Pheebe. The door was left
open, and Vida poured out some wine.
"Here, Birdie,?' she said, pushing forward
the fatal glass, "drink." ; y . ; -
"Hark!" cried Euth: "I heard the sound
of wheels." .', ;; '::,:;';-'-' -..-'.
She rushed to the window, and Vida tol
lowed. - r .. ::
-A carriage was coming up the drive. '
"It is Easil, my love."
! "Come here and have some wine," said
Vida hurriedly, "you-will' faint if you do
not. Here, drink." t ; - ,' - ! '
She took up the gtass,' and Euth hastily
drank the wine, Vida at the same moment
emptying hers. ' .
: "Now," she said, "go and meet him."
. Euth lost no time. Warmed and stimulated
by the wine,. she walked quickly from the
roomj. Then, Vida for th first time saw
Phoebe.;-' , , . . . ,.-' ; .--: -' ,
' "What are you doing' hpre?!?' she cried
hastily.. . , . "
"I came in with Miss Euth," replied Phoe
be. "I have been here all the time." ' ,;
A sudden spasm caused Vida to start;
there was a look in the girl's face that ap
palledlier. , ) - - ,. '
"Girl,' she shrieked, "what have you
done?" " , . " -
"I don't know,"': replied Phoebe, trem-
bling, "but I was afraid that you meant to !
do harm to Miss Euth, and while you were
,t tne window I rhana&lAc glasses J'Z.
. Theawful. tiuth .burst upon Vida with
lightning' force, and she staggered back.
The girl had not lied, for already the poi
sonous fires were leaping and darting with
in her. In a' few ! moments she - would be
dead. -, - . .. m; .;- .. : .: . .
: She heard' a vehicle stop at the door.aglad
eryfrom Euth; , and the cheery tones of
Basil's voice mingling with the-welcome of
father and friends; then all the fury of a
disappointed woman took possession of her,
and she rushed on Phosbe. . - . .
- The girl was taken by surprise; and .fell
back. The next moment she felt the small
hand of. Vida up'on her throat , A
"Your life for mine," was hissed lu her
ears, and Phtbo crave hcrself un forlost.
( Continued -next week.) '.'. -
s.-H.
Contractor,
Estimates ' '
Satisfaction
HOOD RIVER,
RAND & HAMILTON'S
NEW LIVERY FEED AND SALE STABLE
r : , iSGood iTiirnouts and Saddle Horses . -'
' ;. . ' '-. ''. " '"' . -y . -''.-Yr.Y
Always in Readiness on the arrival of trains, for the Accommodation of Pleasure Seeke:
Y . '..', :Y '. '' Pishing Parties, Tourists, Etc. f .; .' s:. , ( " '
v HORSES BOUGHT AND ISOLD; o
feed and Stabling at the Lowest Possible - Rates' by the Da.
' Week, or Month. .'.. f . . ' ,' ;
t-F Orders left athe Mt. llood hotel will, be attended to with liromptness and dispatt
Trucking
:nVl
40-Acre Farms;
5 and 10-Acre -.Tracts
-ONK MILE FEOM TOWN.
-CHOICii-
FOR SAfrT BY
HJ. R: BONE,
Col pak and Second Sts.
HOOD RIVER, OREGON:
THE GLACIER
- Grant Evans, Propr,
Second St. , near Oak.
Hood River, Kk
Is Shading and Hatr-cuvting neatly dbi
i 'Satisfaction Guflranteed.,
APURnniTIWC"or m
J-tl IMIUUI I 111 l . ref,
Is Sold on a
POSITIVE ;'
GUAPANTEE
to S
iro auy.
lonrt
Y.-
BEFORE ' Cw.
fcxeessive use fta
or through ylseref"
eucc, &e., suqBraii:
ncss, Hearing in? v
Weakness, Hfrfieb)
al Einissious.up tn
Qry,Ixssof P.i:
ftlected often Vn'ng
ity. Price l.tY
mail on receipt r
A WKITTEinC
order, to reftiufc
cure is not efTeo.t
from old and yoimgv o
cured by Aphroditinr.
THE APHRC
BOX 27
For sale by BLAKELEY &
jylOmi
gox;
.ffi
and Builaeil
Tl
e
t
Furnished.
Guaranteed
OREGON.
Bus km Rosidftncft
''-.''. '.'""' ' 1 ' '.','.' X - '.-'
AY''-:-LOTS-.Y;-1;:- V
Y'.' . "':"' ' AY. , y, ' r-;-.-- .V Y ,Y
Barber Shop
Put
. to ciirB: ', .
Y
Draying also Done to Order.' ;
RAND & HAMILTON' '
HOOD KIVKR, OR
r.v
4
. .-.-Wrt.. J