A MYSTERIOUS CASE OR, TRACING A CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 221, 18 September 1893, Page 3

A MYSTERIOUS CASE OR, TRACING A CRIME.

BY X. F. RILL,

Author of 'The Dumb Detective,"Prince end Peasant,' 'The Twin Detectives,' etc.

CHAPTER VIII.

I General Forrest took his beautiful young wife on an extensive tour to the Southern

the bride's visitoi:

citiee.

Hor ambition pointed to a European tour, but the newly-made husband informed her that this was nob the season for Continental travel, and sS oloquontly pictured the discomforts attendant on a sojourn among comfortless foreign hotels during tho winter months, that eho gracefully yielded, and they visited the principal Southern cities, and finished their' tour by a somewhat lengthened stop in Washington. Mrs Forrest had boon tho admired of ali beholders. Hor toilets wore quoted, her beaui v raved about, her diamonds envied.

Dusky bellea hoped they resembled her, while blondes sadly admitted to themselves that sho ' pub out their light, aud killed them.'

Such a magnificent wealth of glossy, waving black hair. . Such exquisite creamy tones of complexion. Such a matchless form, and such grand, dewy, eloquent eyes had never before been seen, at least, not all united in ono charming woman's person. _ Then, too, her manners were so fascinating. How bright and witty she was in conversation ; so merry and artless with the young; so deferential and sweeb with the old.

Tho President declared her the mosb beautiful woman of her time, and inquired what family she was of. , ' An old Southern family, of which she is tho last living representative,' replied her husband, evasively. His wife had no'ver confided nny further particulars about her family to him, and he forbore to question her. Hor success in socioty had rendered his lave for her ten times stronger. He knew men envied him the possession of such a

rare gem. They had been the guests of a member of tho'Senate during their stay in the capital, that geutleman being an old friend of General Forreab, and now thoy were home again in Now York in tho fine mansion on"ilurray Hill, which tho fond husband had purchased as a present for his beautiful bride.

It was furnished and fitted with all tho luxurious grandeur and magnificence that unlimited wealth and highly cultivated taste could suggest. Mrs Forrest's vootna were gems of high art decoration, and her heart swelled with pride as she glanced around and realised that all she beheld was hers.

She had done well with her glorious beauty. She had secured all her hsarb had wished for, attained her highest hopes. 'If they only knew the truth,' she said, as her own Liny page, a negro boy, in an odd antique dress of yollow and crimson, handed her a pile of cards, and perfumed missives, on a tray of filigree gold that had beeu dug up from the tomb of an Egyptian monarch.

'If they only knew ! I suppose come of theso people bavo passed mo on Fifth Avenue and Broadway, when I wore a black cashmere dress made by my own hands, and it was my best, and a hat of three seasons past,' A somewhat bitteramile curled horroyally beautiful lips. ' Time changon all things. If they only know tlio truth !'

Poverty she had known in its most; unlovely aspect, and to a, woman of her temperament lovely it could never be. Wanb of silken garments to deck her fine form, of diamonds to glisten about her magnificent) throat, and flash their brilliancy in her tiny ears, were wants that she folt so keenly that the resistless craving; for them had turned her life-blood to gall.

' And this accursed thing !' she hissed, holding aloft the rounded, perfect arm that bore the armlet where glowed the fiery gems like gouts of blood. ' This badge of slavery ! Must I bear it all my life?'

Her eyes were dilated, hor nostrils distended, her lips curled back from tho pearllike teeth, her ivory white arm aloft, tho loose, flowing sleeve of golden silk falling back from it, she looked like a beautiful fiend.

She was alone, for very reluctantly the general had left her to attend a Stato dinner, and tho reflection of her form was thrown back from countless mirrors as sho stood under the soft gleam of the wax lights.

A light footstep called her buck from her bitter reverie. 'Madam,' said the little page, 'I have knocked three times.' ' And what do you want ?' she asked, sharply. ' Pardon me, madam, but she insisted so ; sho said you would never forgive me if I did nob give you tliie,' Ho hold out tho costly tray, from which queens, long turned to dust in stately pyramids, had oaten fruit; on it lay a pioce of paper—common, course paper. The exquisite ro:-a-flush died out of her cheeks. Who took up the shabby noto and ran her eyes over the lines written there.

' Bring tho woman horo,' she said, in a low, hoarse tone. The boy bowed and withdrew. This eastern dress, this odd, fantastic boy had been a fancy of hers, and, like all her fancies, however extravagant, had been gratified.

Sho said he added by his oriental appearance to the character and beauty of her apartments.

In a few moments a woman camo slowly into the room.

A ghastly, haggard woman, with tho traces of great beauty on her thin, pallid face—a woman who had ' snwn the wind and reaped the whirlwind ' of sin and suffering—a wretched, poverty-stained being.

Sho looked about her defiantly, with no deforonce in her on account of all tho splendour, by which she was surrounded.

'You have come again?' said Mrs Forrest, in a subdued voico unlike her own.

' Yes, I'vo como again and I'll como afrain,' replied tho other, insolontly. ' Well, sib down.' The bride pushed a luxurious easy-chair . toward her ill-clad visitor, and with her own hiitiiis closed tho door.

Tho woman sank into tho chair, casting a disdainful glance -at its delicate creamsatin cushions.

Airs Forrest looked around to coo that all tho doors were shut, for the apartment)they occupied was her dressing-room, and on ono side stood her spacious bed-chambor, on tho other an anteroom and boudoir ; these doors were all concealed by portioros of creamy plush.

' Well, what have you como to tell me?' asked tho lady, as sho sank wearily down on the lounge.

1 I've como to mnko a proposition to you, answered tho other, in tones of refinement;, that illy accorded with her dirty, dilapidated garments.

' Yes. and it is ?' 1 That you fcako' me into your service as your maid.' • Whab, you V , Unboundod'flstoDiahmontrvyaS'expreaßQa

in the voice, and a glance of tho apeake brought a faint flush to the ghastly feature of tho woman she addressed.

' Yos, mo. I havo sunk low enough, God knows, when I am wiying to serve yon.' Such utter contempt was expressed in her voice and look that it was Mjrs Forrest's turn to crimson with auger. ' Well, you know it did etriko me) as being a little incongruous,' said the lady, with a little laugh. 'Ib need not remain so. Your newly acquired wealth would soon fib me for occupy. ing the honourable position of a servant' Tho glance of this wretched creature's eyes were so baleful that the beautiful woman, who was tho mistress of all thiß magnificence, shrank from it. ' Aud you really wish to come hero to such a position as that I'

' I do.'

' When I have offered to pjaco you id comfort —nay more, iv luxury V 'I prefer to liavo my own way.' ' Well, it must be as you say. Lobme have your address, and 1 will send everything that is necessary for you.' ' Thank you. I prefer to make my own purchaaos,' replied the other, drily. ' Very woll; how much will you require !' 'Two hundred dollars will do for the present.' ' Here they are.'

Tho haughty bride counted oub the bills into the emaciated hand of her mysterious ffuesfc.

'Now I'll go. At this time to-morrow your French maid, Angeline, will arrive. You need be under no misapprehension. Sho will do you justice.1 ' Good-night,' answered Mrs Forrest, in a relieved manner, as hor visitor rose to go. 'Good-night. You need not ring for your page; i can find my way out.' With an ironical laugh, she lefb th8 v room.

' What a nightmare!' said Mrs Forrest. 'Oh ! what a lot! Will all fchis compensate for such daily, hourly torture as I must now enduro 1 Will he never come t When she übtored tho words ' all this,' she glanced around her beautiful apartment, with its numberless evidences of wealth and luxury. From behind the plush portiere ot the boudoir entrance the page now made his escape into the vestibule. He had entered the room unheard, and opened the door, and remained behind the curtain, an unseen listener to the whole conversation b etweon the two women,

' Ah, my new mistress, so you have your little secrets too ?' he said to bimsolf.

He was an unusually well-educated ioy for his position, and much older than ha looked, for he was almost a dwarf.

Ho had taken the fancy of a wealthy lady who boarded in a hotel where he acted as one of tho bell-boys. She had taken him to hor home and amused herself toaching him to read, wribe, and speak correctly. By her death he was thrown on the world, whon General Forrest happened to meet with him, and as his beautiful wife had expressed a wish for such an attendant ho was engaged to waib upon her, His name was Jasper, and net was a bold, artful boy, deep, and such a good actor that no one suspected bo was anything but a simple negro boy.

(Zo he Continued.)