Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1891 — Dr. Elfenstein's Mission [ARTICLE]

Dr. Elfenstein's Mission

fi Remarkable Romance.

BY EMILY THORNTON.

CHAPTER XXVI. ETHEL NEVBROAiL RECEIVES AN OFFER. “Miss Nevergail,” said Andrew, a pompous footman at Castle Cairn, as ho knocked at tho door of Lady Linwood’s boudoir, and was bidden to enter, “a gentleman is in the drawing-room who wishes to see you. ” “Did he give you a card?” “No, miss, neither would he tell his name. ” “Do you know him?” still queried Ethel. “I cannot call his name, yet I have often seen him.” “It is of no consequence. I will be ■with him presently,” returned the governess, as she resumed her book and continued the Ibsson she was giving her charge. On no account would she neglect a duty for any person whatever. When the task was finished, and not until then, she descended the grand broad stairway and entered the drawingroom of the castle. There a surprise, indeed, awaited her, in the presence of Robert Glendenning. Certainly she had never anticipated a visit from her former tormentor, and the sight of him now brought back so many unpleasant recollections that she hastily turned to retreat. Too late! The young man started forward and placed himself between the door and her slight figure, thus completely preventing her sudden flight. “Pardon me. Miss Nevergail,” he. remarked, in a perfectly respectful manner, very different from his former unpleasantly familiar one. “I am very anxious to have a little conversation with you, before leaving this place forever, and therefore I beseech you to remain a few minutes. I promise not to detain you Jong.” “Very well, ” returned the young girl, gravely, taking the seat he offered her. “Why do you leave shire?” “The death of my uncle has, of course, deprived my sister and myself of his care and guardianship. As the title and estate now fall to his younger brother, Fitzroy, the present incumbent must remove and leave the hall, to be occupied or not by the new baronet, as he sees fit. Lady Constance will seek a residence with some relatives in London, and we shall make a home somewhere together, un less—unless Here the young man paused, greatly embarrassed for a proper conclusion to the sentence he had commenced. Breaking the silence again, for it was becoming oppressive, he resumed: “Miss Ethel, I come this morning to lay before yon a proposition that I hope will meet with your approval and sanction. I must first, however, express to you my deep regrets for the offensive manner in which I used to treat you. I know not why I was led to make myself so disagreeable. I was probably prompted by a spirit of mischief, but as soon as you left the Hall so suddenly I became aware of my great mistake. “1 never tnought I should miss you as much as I did, but as soon as 1 could see you no more I became miserable. I lost my appetite and was almost beside myself with despair. I saw then, for the first time, that I really loved you. “Nay,” said he, seeing her start up indignantly, as though to leave him, “Jo not go. Allow me to finish what I came to say. I loved you, but I felt that it was without hope. In my egotistical haste I knew that I had won, perhaps what I merited, your contempt. “To-day I felt that I could endure this misery no longer. I resolved to see you, to ask forgiveness for my course in the past, and to crave the privilege of retrieving my former mistake by being allowed to visit you as a friend until I can win your love and ask you to become my wife. If you will permit me thus to visit you. I will send my sister to a safe retreat with a lady friend, and will take board in this village, where I cm see you often, and finally succeed in perhaps winning your regard.” “Mr. Glendenning,” interposing Ethel, “what you propose is an utter impossibility. I can and do forgive the annoyance I confess your c onduct occasioned me in other days, but the proposed visits 1 must positively decline. It could never result as you seem to imagine, for I assure you my affections could never be won. ” “You are hasty in thus answering,” interrupted the lover. “Y’ou surely cannot thus foretell what your feelings would be under such different auspices. Allow me.” “Indeed, indeed, Mr. Glendenning, I must interrupt you by distinctly saying that, as I am situated, I cannot receive visits; therefore, I must beg of you to receive this,, my final answer. It would be the same after years of friendiy intercourse. I do not love you, and I never can love you. I forgive you, and will ever think of you kindly; beyond that we can never go. ” “Then there is no necessity for my remaining,” he said, sadly, as he arose to leave. “None whatever," was the firm reply. “Miss Nevergail, believe me, as long as I live I shall regret having made your

residence at the H-ll so disagreeable. I You certainly had enough to endure in being under obligations to amuse an irritable invalid. The rude manner in which you wore dismissed excited my deepest sympathy,” “For which I am very grateful," kindly returned the young girl. “If ever, as a friend, I can serve you in any manner, will you allow me to do so?” “I will, if I know your address ” “That is not quite decided, but I will leave it with the Postmaster of this place. And now, thanking you for your kind forgiveness, although feeling deeply for my unrequited love, I will bid you farewell.” Robert Glendenning held out his hand as he spoke, and seeing that genuine tears were floating in his eyes Ethel laid hers in it without hesitation. Stooping over the little white hand he pressed his lips upon it, then hurriedly left the room and she saw his face no more. That night the whole family left the Hall, and the grand old mansion was closed waiting for the arrival, or orders, of Sir Fitzroy Glendenning. The residence of this gentleman was unknown, but it was believed that lie went to America, therefore every effort was to be made by the proper ones to discover his retreat, in order to make known to him the honors that awaited his acceptance. Yet, while this resolve and duty was to be immediately put in force, many hearts rebelled agaipst his return, and the present aspect of affairs certainly did not denote esteem or affection. All united ip feeling that, although acquitted by JaW of any knowledge of his unhappy brother’s fate, circumstances still looked very dark where he was concerned.

CHAPTER XXVII. THE MYSTERIOUS WALLET. Drawing art easy seat close to the cen-ter-table for Mrs. Clum to occupy, Dr. Elfenstein seated himself in his own office chair, and laying the wallet before him. said: . i “This, Mrs. Clum, is a little bag, containing something very much vaJued by the poor man who has just left this world. I presume it will, acquaint us with the residence and address of his near relatives. In order that they may be notified of his death, I deem it my duty to immediately examine its contents, and as I do so 1 wish you to be present as a witness to the transaction.” Signifying her willingness to be this witness, Mrs. Clum bade him proceed. The keys to the wallet Dr. Elfenstein found tied close to the edge of the handle. Inserting this in the lock, he at once opened it and drew forth its contents. All that presented itself to his notice was about fifty pounds in money, and a package of closely written papers. These papers were without address or signature, but seemed a short journal of daily events. Little did Dr. Elfenstein dream, as ho so coolly turned over these leaves, that they contained matters so vitally important to himself and his future life. Seeing no other mode of ascertaining who the dead man really was, the Doctor commenced at the beginning to read what follows: “June 18 — “My God, my God! Why hast Thou forsaken me? is now almost daily my cry. “Alone! horribly, cruelly alone! how can it be that I still exist? “Nearly eighteen years have I survived this dreadful solitude, and not until today have I gaihed from my unnatural keeper the slight boon of pen, ink and paper. This gained, I will divert myself by noting down some incidents of my life. But to what purpose do I write? “Who can over read what, out of an aching heart, I shall commit to these pages? “I know not! “Yet, after my death, some person may penetrate this living tomb, and then they shall here see recorded the terrible wrong, the fearful fate that has thus befallen an unhappy peer of the realm! “Have 1 been missed from my home? Has any one mourned over my unexplained absence? Has my poor Constance wept over my loss? And has my dear brother Fitzroy forgiven my harshness now that he thinks me dead?

“Dead? Yes; all think rce’dead! “I see clearly at ihis late date the whole of Reginald’s fiendish plot. “He used that dagger on my arm to draw blood, in order to leave the impression that I had been murdered, before he shut me into this living tomb. “Yet I live. I, Sir Arthur Glendenning, Bart., am alive to-day, incarcerated in this concealed room, built in the ruined part of my own residence. ” “Ha!” exclaimed Earle Elfenstein, starting to his feet as he read thus far. “What have 1 here? If this be true, we have an explanation of Sir Arthur's fate. Mrs. Clum, we must have others present at the reading of this important paper. Let us both seek instantly for the presence of our neighbors. Will you summon Lawyer Huntley, who lives next door, while I go for Rev. Mr. Lee? Not one moment will we waste, for who knows but yonder corpse may be all that is left of poor Sir Arthur Glendenning. ” Replacing the papers and keeping the precious wallet in- his hand, Earle at once left the house for the manse, while Mrs. Clum ran out to summon Mr. Huntley. In less than half an hour they both returned to the physician’s office, accompanied by the above-named gentlemen. Then, while eager attention was to be seen on every tace, the Doctor again opened the wallet and read as far as we have written above. “Merciful heaven, can this be true!” exclaimed Mr. Huntley. , “Doctor, please read that last clause once more. lam so dazed with surprise that I can scarcely understand it.” “Yet I live. I, Sir Arthur Glendenning, Bart, am alive to day, incarcerated in this concealed room, built in the ruined part of my own residence,” again read Dr. Elfenstein. After a pause he continued: “The fact that this room existed was known only to my father, Sir Geoffrey, and he, shortly before his death, confided the secret to my brother Reginald and rayself. We three were alone together when he taught us how to open the panels by the aid of a sharp pointed kntfe, and after leading us inside this strange apartment. he charged us to keep the existence of the place a profound ferret, as the time might come when such a hidden retreat might become of immense importance. “Dear father! how little did he dream that Reginald, for the sake of usurping my lawful title and estates, would drag me hither, in the darkness of night, and, by chaining me like a beast to the floor, by the help of hts valet, Antoine Duval,

keep me a prisoner for months, years, life! “Oh, that horrible Antoine! how I always disliked his soft, fawning ways, his smooth tongue and cringing airs. “Villain that he is! Villains, indeed, both master and man. “But I will not thus anticipate. I will go back to our father's leading his two young to this place, and pointing out its many conveniences for spending a time in hiding. “ ‘See,’ he said, ‘here is a bathroom, with all its appointments, opening from this small and neatly furnished bedchamber. Soft mattresses, plenty of bedding, heat from an unseen register, through pipes leading to the kitchen ranges. Oh, everything is complete!’ “It was the only time I ever saw this room, until the night I was thrust within it by my inhuman brother, Reginald, two days and one night after I was forcibly taken from my bed. “Ah, that night! when they overpowered me in my own room, shall I ever forget it? “Shall that terrible scene ever be obliterated from my weary brain? “I had retired rather earlier than usual, and had fallen immediately asleep. About midnight, I should judge, I was awakened by feeling a hand pressing something to my nostrils. “I instantly had my complete senses, sodashed the hand with the chloroformed sponge from my face, then sprang with a bound.upon the floor. “Two men stood above me. and firm hands seized and pressed me back, while a gag was forced into my mouth. “A diiji light was burning, and I saw that, although masked, one figure was like Fitzroy’s, and his dressing-gown was wrapped around his form.

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE JOURNAL CONTINUED. On how I struggled to free myself! Once I did get a hand loose, and tore the mask from one face, to find It was not Fitzroy but Reginald who was perpetrating this outrage upon me, his elder brother. “Turning then to the other, I recognized the form and voice of Antoine Duval. “In the course of the conflict, Reginald drew out a dagger and plunged it into my arm, then threw the dagger, red with blood, on the carpet, saying grimly: “ ‘Fitzroy’s dagger. Lie there and testify that he did this deed!’ “Oh, my brother, my innocent brother! have they dared accuse thee of my death? “This question harrows me night and dav. “Alas! I tremble for Fitzroy, when such a fiend as Reginald has proved himself to be is let loose upon his track. “But to go on: Binding my bands—for all my strength could avail little against two hardy men—they passed a rope around my body, after first putting on my clothing, and, dragging me from the window, swung me from the balcony to tho ground below. “Carrying then my helpless form to the lake, they there bound up my wounds, staunching the flow of blood, which until then they had allowed to drip as it would, then turned and noiselessly bore me to a lonely cave, situated in the heart of Demon's Wood —a place never frequented, and, I presume, the existence of which was unknown. “This place had been prepared for my reception, and after fastening me firmly to a staple with a chain they had in readiness, they loft me, gagged and helpless, there alone, for two days and one night. “Twice they both came with food, and, while one stood with a pistol over my head, to prevent a word, the other fed me. ''l “On the second night they visited me about midnight, and, merely saying: “ ‘All is now ready for your reception, rise and go with us,’ they placed me in a wagon as before, and took me back to the Hall. “Leaving the wagon concealed outside the grounds, tiiey between them carried me to the ruined part, and, entering, conveyed me into this, my prison, which they had secretly arranged for my use. I was not brought here at once, it seems, because on the very night of their daring outrage they had discovered that some revolving iron shelves they had fitted to the entrance could not be securely fastened, as the large screws to be inserted were too short. Not wishing to postpone the horrible business, they had hastily prepared the cave, and held me there until other screws could be procured. “Now all was ready, and here, just eighteen years ago, I was thrust and kept a prisoner by means of a long chain fastened from my ankle to an iron bolt in the wall. “Notone word was spoken until I was securely fastened, then the gag was taken from my mouth and the ropes from my limbs. “At first my tongue and mouth we so stiff I could make no sound, but seeing that both were leaving me, closing the entrance securely inside by standing up the shelves and tightly screwing in place the long screws, I found voice, and calling to them to pause I begged an explanation of the cruelty to which I had been subjected, and asked why I was to be imprisoned there and how long I was to be detained. “At first Reginal would not answer, but finally he did astonish me by these words: “ ‘You are to be kept concealed in this place as long as you live, so the sooner you die the better for all! I shall not, however, take you life! I never will be a murderer! Food will come to you every night, about half past nine or ten. , on these shelves. You will empty tne plate on dishes you here, and setting ft back tho empty plate will at once return to me. By this returning plate I shall know you still live. When you fail to return it no more will come, as you will then be supposed to have died. I alone shall attend to sending this food.’ |TO BE CONTINUED.]