CHAPTER XL.—Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12337, 20 August 1903, Page 6

CHAPTER XL.— Continued.

A few evenings later a couple of his intimate friends called upon him, and Mr Lawrence requested them to witness his will. This they did, and afterward their conversation turned upon the mysterious disappearance of Violet. t It was the remark of these two gentlemen, regarding the same subject, that Wilhelm Mencke overheard as he dogged their footsteps, when they left the residence of the banker on the evening of Violet's escape from her captor's power. The next day Mr Lawrence was called out of town upon business that would detain him for several days.

Violet felt greatly elated over her success in sending her letter to her friend, and was sure that he would effect her release some time during the next day. She had dilHculty in preserving her self-control in the presence of Sarah, for she knew that the woman was very keen, and wou'l4 suspect her secret unless it was carefully guarded. She retired early, hoping to sleep the time away ; but 'she was nervous and anxious, and a hundred doubts and fears about her letter reaching its destination, beset her, anh counteracted the influences of the drowsy god. But she slept at last, and when morning dawned hope reasserted* itself, and she felt assured that to-* day she , would be free. Oh ! how long the hours seemed until noon, and 3*et no one came. "He will- surely come this afternoon," she said, trying to fortify herself with the hope ; but the day waned, and no sign of any friendly aid was visible ; and, as darkness

came on again, her heart sank," while she st.arted at every step and

every sound so nervously that Sarah at last remarked it. ! "What ails you, Miss Violet ?, What are you afraid of that you keep starting so ?" Violet flushed crimson, and then grew suddenly pale. It would never do, she thought, to betray herself like this, of her captors would immediately remove her to some other place, and then Mr Lawrence would never find her; I ,"I do not want to see Wilhelni Mencke again — don't let him come into the room, will you, Sarah?" she said, hoping to ward off suspicion thus. ! "What are you afraid of child ? He cannot harm you. I would not allow him to "harm you," the woman replied, assuringly. i "But he makes me very nervous. I believe I — loathe him," said Violet. "Her nerves are getting unstrung — she will get sick if she is 1 kept cooped up , like this much longer, ' ' Sarah muttered, to her1 self, while her S3^mpathies went out more and more toward the un- | fortunate girl. j Violet's nerves were becoming unstrung, and she was so terribly diS' appointed that her letter had not ' brought the speedy relief "< she ex^ pected, that she sobbed herself to sleep that night. j The next morning she was weak and unrefreshed, and did not rise until late. I Then she had no appetite for her .breakfast, and sat all day by the window looking out upon the street, watching eagerly every pas- , serby, and listening intently to every footfall upon the pavement and stairs. I No one came, and how interminable the hours seemed ! [ Night shut down uponvher again, and all through its silent and lonely watches the young girl tossed .feverishly and restlessly. j The third morning she was wan and hollow-eyed, and though she arose and dressed herself, she could not sit up, and went back upon the bed, where she lay white and still, eating nothing, and taking no notice of anytaing. Late in the afternoon Wilhelm Mencke came to see how his captive was faring. He was in. excellent spirits, for he had that morning received a telegram from his wife, who said that everything was working favorably for her, and she hoped to be back in New York at the expiration of a week. vSarah expressed a fear that Violet was going to be ill, and this report disturbed him, somewhat, for it wbuld materially disarrange his plans to have to nurse her through a long sickness just now. He tried to arouse her, but she neither could 'not or would not speak to* him, and he at length went away, feeling very anxious as well as irritated. Meantime Mrs Mencke was meeting with the most flattering sue- ' cesses in her schemes. Upon her arrival in Cincinnati she had been received with great cordiality by her former friends, who, of course, had all heard of the recent fortune which had apparently fallen to 'her as nearest of kin to j her ill'fated sister. The lawyer who had it in charge greeted her most politely, expressing his gratification at her return, and over the fact that he would now be able to get rid of the property, which he had feared would be likely to prove an annoying in- '< cumbrance to him. j No one thought of questioning the fact of Violet's death, for both Mrs Hawley and Nellie Bailey had been abroad at the time of the sad tragedy at Mentone, and had testi-

fied to the sad bereavement ; and thus it seemed as if all business would be speedily transacted, Mrs Mencke recognized as the legitimate heir,^ and the fortune of Jonas Huntington surrendered to her without a question. She explained her recent absence in an off-hand manner, saying that she and her husband had preferred to reside in New York since their return from abroad, and that they probably would never make their home again in Cincinnati, as Mr Mencke believed he could be more prosperous elsewhere. Mrs Hawley, her old friend, insisted that she should make her house her home during her stay in the city, and she showed her every possible attention-, going with her often when she visited her former friends, and therefore. Mrs' Mencke seemed like her old ,proud, imperious self once more. All this was very pleasant, and the woman was very much elated, enjoying her return to social life to the utmost. She had been absent just a week from New York when Mr Middle-, ton, the lawyer, informed her that he would make a final settlement on the morrow," when all papers, bonds,money, etc., would be surrendered to her.

It seemed now as if her. triumph was complete, and .she was the life of a grand farewell reception given in her honor that night by Mrs, Hawley. Many people spoke of it afterward, and remarked that they had never seen Mrs Mencke so handsome or so gay during all her previous residence in Cincinnati.

She received the ' congratulations i of her friends upon her recent good fortune with a feeling akin (6 exul- ; Ration in her heart, but with outward composure. Many expressed j regret that she would not remain >! in her old home, and that they ' could not have the pleasure of cougratulating her husband also. S-he thanlced them in his name, but,remarked that pressing business had' detained him in New ' York. ;

She retired that night full of hope and feeling that a bright hi *i.x- v.as opening out before h~er, wJiile die gave not one regretful i nought to the fair young captive w*ic/tn j-he had left to v.he tender mercies of her Coarse husband and" hLs hireling. , '" The next morning she .v&ained to Mr Middleton's .-.ifice for the final settlement he Lad promised. \ Her trunk was parkvil. b'cc tickets purchasedj and ovoeyfhjiig arranged for her. re turn to New York on the afternoon expres:;. Mr Middieton was availing her, but, somehow, ,«he imagined ihat there was a certain construct in his manner as lie greeted hirj which had not been kppaient before.

'•Well," she said, gayly, ?'I suppose my waiting js ended, ~&t d my hopes are to be realized at last." "Ahem !" returned JV»j MicdJeton with some embarrassment, "I .expected that I should ».l- abc, to settle everything, this,- looming' but " ' , " "But what?" demanded his client, with some show «.f impatience, a frown cf annoyance and displeasure settling u^osi her brow. "Haven't I clearly proved my identity, and my claim to this property ? J> she concluded, somewhat sarcastically. "Your identity, Mrs Me.M.ko, is certainly not to be. disputed, but— j but I am obliged to foil <> on that [your claim to Jonas Huntings ton's property is," returned the lawyer, ' gravely. — , "Good gracious ! What do you mean ?" demanded Mcs ftfrncke, sharply, and losing a'J $?r b.:;}ji&nt colour, while a nervous trembling seized her. For reply, Mr Middieton took a slip ,of yellow paper from his table and held it out to her. . • It was a telegram received that very morning— even within that hour. ; ' The woman seized it with a hand that shook like a leaf, anJ read • " "To Ralph' Middleton, Esq. : "New York City, March ?st, isß— Stay all proceedings connected v.ith the Huntington fortune. Violet Huntington is still living. "Wallace Richardson."