The Lost Lady of Lone

d the castle at noon and had a private interview with the duke in the library, when it was arranged tha

private one from the father to h

must be public, which you will recognize w

e thoughts concerning it. Pray, will it give u

the banker anticipated for himself when he prepared that l

et been found t

t I have

an who was supposed to ha

f Turkey-the gold one richly set with precious stones. Sir Lemuel had it photographed by my advice, for identification in case of its being stolen. And he left several duplicate copies with me. I gave

luncheon put an en

room where Lady Belgrade awaited them. She received

ped to what they preferred, her lad

t in your charge by her father. She wishes you to send it

it must be read, as the will, in the presence of the household. Pray explain this to Miss Levison, and tell her that I shall be

py more than an hour. Miss Levison is still extremely f

re than half an hour, m

when the girl retired, the conversation turned upon the proceed

other documents appertaining to the deceased banker's estate. They were only waiting for the entrance of Miss Levison and her friends. No one else was expected. There was not the usual crowd of poor relatives who "crop up" at the reading of almost every rich ma

ned and the young lady of Lone entered, supported on each

ever, in contrast to her deep black crape dress, as she

ger seated themselves

to hear the will of the late Sir Lem

," replied the young lady, in a low

x, took out the will, unfold

o his dear friends, an annuity to the dowager Lady Belgrade, and a princely endowment to found an orphan asylum and children's hospital in the heart of Lo

ose, came around to where the ladies sat, and congratulated

ould he congratulate me on an inheritance which came, and could only have come,

o read my dear papa's letter?-since you

," said the lawyer. And returning to his place at the head of the t

on to my charge to be retained and read after the will, in the event of a circumstance which has al

eared his throat,

sington, London, Mo

e, evidently considers indecorous haste. She must continue to think it indecorous, because unreasonable. I cannot, and will not, darken your sunshine of joy, by giving to you now the real reason of my precipitation-the extremely precarious state of my health. Yet, in the event of my being suddenly taken from you, I must prepare this letter to be delivered to you after my death, that you may know my last wishes. If I live to see you wedded to the good Lord Arondelle, this paper shall be torn up and destroyed; if not, if I should be suddenly snatched away from you before your wedding-day, this letter will be read to you, after my will shall have been read, in the presence of your betrothed husband, your goo

father, Lem

face of Salome was bathed in tears

ith his arm around her

out looking up, she stretched o

dear father'

s and restoring them to the japanned box, left his seat,

you tell me if you know what my dear father meant by writing of the precario

. He was really affected with a mortal malady, which his physicians wa

ver hinted

your young life with a kn

f his earthly life! never thinking of his own happiness-always thinking of m

e delivered to you in case of his sudden death, and when he charged me to urge with all my might, your compliance with its instructions. And now

ful friend to our family; but-I must have a li

to himself should be permitted to postpone our marriage; and then he told me that he had left a letter with his solicitor to be read in case of his sudden death, and that the letter would explain itself. He concluded by begging me if anything should happen to him to necessitate the delivery of that letter to y

my dear father directed me, and as you wish me; but my heart is so wounded and bleeding now, I am still so

broke dow

her back to her room," s

nned box, put the key in his pocket-book, an

ir several duties, and then, assisted by Lord Arondel

o were to dine and sleep at

and a couple of glasses, and lighted his ciga

Kage and his clerk

age of the young Duke of Hereward and the heiress of

an, urged it: above all the expectant bridegroom, the Duke of Hereward; onl

ock she had received, could decide upon no

onalities-the impropriety of the daughter's

of the Highlands was over, and the cold Scotch mists were dr

the delicate organization of Salome L

t down his foot" with professional authority

ust marry immediately, and go off with her husband to the islands of the Grecian Archipelago. That is all that can save her. And as for you, my laird duke," continued the honest Scotch doctor, breaking into dialect as he always did whenever he forgot himse

age must and shall take place immediately. You must add your efforts to mine to overcome your niece's scruples. Your ladysh

and as it has been three months now since Sir Lemuel Levison's funeral, I don't see-But, of course, after all, it is for you and Salome to decide as

lover, the counsels of her solicitor, and the arguments of

er protegee. "The ceremony can be performed as quietly as po

y dear father's directions and my betrothed husband's wishes,

hall we fix? And shall the ceremony be preforme

dy Belgrade. We must go up to our town house in London, and be married quietly at St. Peter's in K

nd the sooner the better. These horrid Scotch mists are aggra

exert themselves both at Castle Lone and in London, that before the first of October, Miss Levison, with h

ook lodgings near the

onths before, there was really nothing to do in the way of preparation for the wedding, and no reason for even so much as a

change of scene and of circumstances, and the preliminaries of her wedding and

d never possessed before. And her attendants took care to keep f

ard came to the house and ask

eceived him i

ng papers?" he inquired, as soon

t yet come," answ

important news to tell you. The mysterious vailed woman, supposed to be connected with the robbery and murder at Lone Castle, has been found and arrested. The stolen proper