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ComFrort
Juty
Creatures of Destiny; or, Where Love Leads
stsorsis OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
Harding, a handsome Bsher Jad of sixteen,
vlog” ia ihe village of Ravensford, is questioned by
n-taced mai 3 to Raven Castle,
F Lady Marie Celistiog Denteigo, and. the
Seach |t- Laurence, boowiag ‘the ¢hort
cuts gains the castle terrace loug befor .
e of Fr, reucl re Tn the.
jundye and hie Grst_ love beco
or the Marquis of Belmayne, and the, mo Mr.
Still “foie, each,
Sherborne's client elmny He.
Sther they mate sa Sogarement be een, thelr culidren.
{aus Mavie'aed Loed Beluayoe. "air jooks
over the battleawnt and sees a, youns ‘ce "hee belt
fastened’ by a diamond Laurence Harding les
in wait, te knows. the ‘apa, calling bimself Snap-
is there and detects him woop ething.
pin; the
e
id
Mari co bi
Fellows, ‘the butler, sees. that y
the knife Is found. | Giving the ‘clasp
Larry mak ig eucupe and en:
ters Bel iiaayoe Park where be meets ng marquis,
Lord Belniayne. | Golng home he tells the, story tO
Reuben Payne, who recalls t of a
young gypey girl, who lived at one of tue Hall lodges
and marcied Joba Gray. a sallor.
fivbing with Larry. Returoing to the store they”
a& strunge boat, two at the ours, and the third Larry
recognizes as c. Turning to answer the
Questions of oue something ty thrown over bis eyes
bis arms pinioued and he is flung into 2 boat. Nine
years later Lady Marle. returning from London meets | g
B rin, the on
is “her promise. t0
¢ home and
A young man with Larry’s face an
tbe name of Darnley, Is saved with Spon. & vesweoget,
who claims @ fortune awaits thal
three days’ march and they Bod re eich ruby: mines
Lady Marie is conscious th does # Bot love Pailtp
for a
wuprltations “fee sen
‘Lord, Beimayne entertains the
e older ones who can-
‘Leaving bis viol turns to the
Marie in tears xing
be walks along, bis memory
to improvise, when he hears @
gi? He pearly stumbles over a
rfeua from Puilip, plays the
Dato correctly and Philip stands spellbound.
Bn ad Tq a ‘musician by birth, av Is itip. thet
‘luck, that he Is @ gypsy, @ man
2 aod where he sikes nd best
for comp:
ftom a severe ‘illacss, tells Larey
the romance of cartier Fears.—his love. tor beautiful
ey0ey gicl. Mirlam by ‘name, who gives ber heart 3
fe the Es bang Chaos ef vice ae eile resenting Ut
in the Englist Change. Sh Ing a cl ™ bling
s re joined by Linda Hep:
er i adi ig and tramping to
nite Fo be mine Spon
sixth share. vo hinda marages the
Sogrexcening spreparing the food i Larry jikes
‘Ao auteuit Is made to rol ane ofa ala
wot Ore iets Meeting. the ey! fhe. “ “Jeteating
sees be is not ‘wane Larr; Realizing
ie impossibly for, b By ‘s, coated, Philip. se leaves @
By Charles Garvice
Copyright, 1905 by Smith Publishing House,
Linda Hepburo’s visit and story had meant?
But if she did so and Larry wrote, rejecting
her. ee, vould have broken falth Je Enitip | pur:
pose Under circum:
would” have felt, as any bigomio died egiche that “it
as her duty to break with Phillp; but she had
grown “aceustomed to the idea of Gacriticing her-
self; and, as can well be understood, Linda's
the idea. ‘If Larry
inher check famed
at least, take Pili "oe th
01 the
y should not she, Marie, rise
rospection generally lead
the end Marie
came to might bave
foreseen. She decided to wait, to let things drift:
though, In thus deciding, she felt, like a rudder:
less bark, a piece of jetsam and flotsam floating
on the wide rospause ol of an ocean of doubt and
ancertainey,
She did not tell Lady Merston of Linda Hep-
burn’s visit; for she knew that Lad. Merston
would regard the whole story, and Linda’
duet, a8 theatrical, even impréper ; and that she
ly marriage. Indeed,
8
el
oe
3B
re fe
fag the Interview. bec
would lack all the force which Linda's pre:
and Individuality. and ber wa of tel hog tbe
etery ft Larry's broken heart and ruined life, had
fhe excitement of the visit, her mental ai
flon, “the knowledge that her, life's bapnicess
hung in the balance, which Larry could tilt
or the other, threw Marie b:
a. couple of gaye, she
ay mn the third
eure her e:
eagerly scanned. the passes nore but, of ‘course,
she did not see Linda Hepburn; and she returned
to the house welgbed down, yet irritated by sus-
pense.
Meanwhile Philip yas. leading bis lonely life
at tbe Hall. Great as was bis passion for Marie,
and eagerly as he desited the wedding, be was.
to tell the truth, though he would 20 have ad-
mitted it, almost relieved by her absence; for,
Since the ‘aight of the, Seapper’s revelatiog,
Pallip had felt constrained and
Marle’s presence. Ie told bimselt, when he
bait suspected bis ‘embarrassment. that) It was
gaused by the uncertainty, the dread of a stip
‘twixt the cup and and tbat he would
cquecimlty aha his ease of mii
The Soapper had made, an appointment for the
Payment of the thousand pounds,
to the Hall one night with a handbat
to carry it away. The Role transaction smacked
of melodrama, and Philip, as he watched, with
moody brow and set Sipe the man put the
Tolls of ‘gold if the bag.
“You are tieh ma What. will rou do
with it? Sou spoke of Fong abroad. would
be a good plan; it would relieve my mina” for,
of course, Pean' never feel at ease while you are
near me"
“Don” ty. trouble yourself about that,
lord” sali
for bin ton, and witb ber maid
ese for Larry. and
e girl's:
adon
He re
oENlip Koows “Larry's
p tells, bis sod. story and
Marle to bim.
meet for
st Lady Marie nol bist ear, while Lady
ber happiness is stirred jhemorge at thought ot
Phiip. A. tetegram. is to Lady Marie; she
Felzed the opportunity, ‘the cou tess | Js returning home
and will be call in ‘the evening. asnered into
fhe drawlog-room and Lady Marie ia fu evening dress,
ve is astonished and anks for the countess,
qbarey. eee says sof i be ‘Countess
Norm: 7 and with Qiese words be realizes
Marle cen never be uttered.
mands ke he tells the story of
Phiip's attempt to, nave i hl
ound
webat
of Normandyke to tl,
terrible
with “retarolng Meatth Pullip
and encounters the Snap-
resences, Philip orders
pingolentiy, vee, "shapnee als a tory vu
Toe
remler every 1 blOK,
0 ity ad, Pip
Toate to believe t fads Bist
ad down snd 4 tate paid quartediy.
ne,
to the mine. admits, the, lons, taking
“ant bias ane ecto to make : er reating | c
at bis
¢ Linda anke
To Rosiand’ he tor form a. tok
meanwhile, Marie fatte il and’ ber
Dosrician orders London, Linda visits Marie
BRA pleads. for Larry—his love for ber—-ble bonor and
manbood when be learns she Is engaged to another.
Bee etaite her love for Larry, thateit Is, too deep to
tee bis life wrecked and implores Marie to save bim.
CHAPTER XXVI. + -—
PHILIP RECOVERS THB RUBIES,
INDA had gone so quickly, so suddenly,
that Marie, confused and agitated Wy
varied emotions, scarcely realized th
she bad gone; when she did realize tt.
she remembered that Linda had given
her no address, so that Marle could not
"room and down the stairs,
ansom
imnort.. Had she really placed the future of ber
life in Larry's hands? od what ould | be say
and do; what would he decide? Her t beat
thickly, and the color came acd wa ‘ain ber
face; sometimes her cheeks buraed hotly. Larry
was mew het fo America—how AS Anda
Hepburn to communicate with bim? (She would
have to write—a cable would not be full enough
n 1 m
decision. Mean bile what was jone about
nilip? He eager for the marriage. woul
expect the wedding to take os as soon a8 be
expect tHe gough. © Should she tell bim all that
back to her} h'
the Snapper, in bis soft. voice
& reassuring nod.
to do
he la iced sideways, with his eves cunning as
t Philip's moody face—“and of taking
my daughter Miriam, with me.
‘Philip and ture way
face whe hidden he ebarp. e¥
“T've got a Title speculation amy eye: and,
fe it comes of all ri 1 shan’t come Bask tor
zo that bis
yea if forever, as ne Song says. Don't. you
Ineke™ oursele, aneomfortable, my lord, about me.
And ean ad, seen a lot of the
who has
world, aud Sho vwisbes you well,” he continued,
io bie silkiest voice, and with his eyes narrowed
ht offer a word of advice, I'd say 2
Get. Wading over, ty 40F6. ‘A bird in the
hand's worth
Philip freed upon bie vith an impotent fry,
“Hold your tongue—-and get out © sight,”
he said between bis teeth,
e Snapper held ‘aD. bis + ads sr
took. “up the bag, and, with a low sets
hat, weot out by the ‘windo
For some days Pullip did. not see
ver went 01
walks, alwa.
cepted the’ invitations to
sionating bis loneliness, bis and
Sent him. At these diuners be dispinyed ‘his
eb au arkedly, and and
oe
took ail the exercise be ld, aad
walked art his bead erect, bis shoulders square,
suggest ted defiance of the
Kea ‘ait. the way, on there very long. walks, be
thought of that Which had befallen bim, of "the
cruel blow dealt bim by the fate he defied, and
hardened bis heart lo, the course be bad taken,
nd was taking. to balk that blow. He wrote to
Marte ‘cally, bis letters full” or ove, and always
containing & prayer that she would soon recover,
nd elr marriage might theo take place;
two :from
red over 10 the solitude
laid aside as priceless
gi
8
nd ae aly ne received
bree letters which he
bis own room, an
freabirres:
‘The ere moments
moments when through Se var ich, a past
self as be was, and realized all the Diackuess of
pe action. ne ont
Lawleys’, een dining. He
had been “particularly rlgbt and cheertut that
rem:
evenin} left them
pratulaitog themselves on the chai ange.
bey did pe. ot eee om as he limpe wine the
road, bis
his his face pale aod line
under lip caught fois tee
1 joon was nearly
at its full, and lit ap bls road; the dark firs of
t ‘ood stood out against the deep-blue sky;
and, with perhaps an uaconsclous desire to escape
the soft but, Be iiant Nght. welch, irritated bim,
he turned off the drive entercd th: ood, It
was oore and reposeful here. and “ fer ‘toothed
and ted: but even here the
whieh ‘had asst atled bi Ae the onen. Set clone rio
him. Aused: nt, and, estiog ge fs
thick, be looked up through th
stars. How often had toe ola Bolin, "tbat "Pail
ho had gone forever. is he was
i now ; but with a heart’ ot reste “at peace ich
all ma ia ‘he old Philip had found deligbt in
King the solema echoes of these mighty Isles to
jotta tha
of immortal must; the vio
night
‘aking be
the strain!
Phin had lave ed had been shattered the
the present Fhilip
h a deep
light of a lantern,
rank, for he had no
ere, and he stood
mysterious hour, the
ordinary gypsy, who ‘wanders fom fair to Yair, or
Seriat Rights by" W. H. Gannett, Pud., Inc.
wats upon the common, witb a mind on en
with that of the farm laborer, apd po tion
wb hich could not be satisfied by frequent ste
0 the ale house. This old man bad an individ-
uallty of his own; he had evidently “traveled a
reat deal, and, as be said, bad 8
man, was proved by the way in Which he hi
influenced Philip and overcome all his scruples.
Philip felt curlous, a Hl as angry, tt
' .
ine thackea fully screened by the trunk of a
fir, that the old an was be eadiog, ‘over a hole
which he had dui a, the nd. The handbag
ia which had Bho he gol old was by
his side; and it relleyed hough he knew not
why, concluded tha er Was burying the
ze if bis booty than by burying it.
After all, he was but a gypsy; and Philip’
contempt shifted to himself when he reflected
upon the commonness of the mind and man to
hom he bad yielded.
as noiselessly as be had
Snapper stoop over fhe ‘hele, aud. bring a
canvas. bag, and Philip remained and Watched
reatblessly.
he old man lifted out the bag, and. untying
which, closed tte mouth, thrust in bis
“opened
amazement. po reely
ery; for the things aiittering ia, the
irére gems | rubies, Philip thought.
P/Naturally enough the sight of them
fed ‘his memory to. fash back with lightning.
Tike Saptaity to that night sileat
street. the dim archway. the fetes “igure lying
on the pavement, the man bendin,
Clawilke hands ‘seerchiog the motloaless. form
The scene came back to Philip a8 vividly as if it
were being enacted before his eyes
m
lantern. “ug zbt
7 bies !
There was something tn the Saap-
pers attitude at that moment, in! the moxentent
of bis hands, which con
wtiatl withthe fulet ay Rouen
as one
was the man who ha
before Philip's eyes,
that’ robbery
Now. the assertion that the miod of man is
a complex plece of machinery bas been made, 80
often as to become trite and commonplace; and
fe'Shail not be repeated here. “Extraordinary as
t may seem that Philip should bave- yielded to
the temptation to commit a great crime and work
a grievous wrong, and yet should recoil with In-
dignation ani rror from participating {o a
sset crime and a smaller wrong, such was the
fact. Every drop of blood in bls body revolted
against this injustice. this injury to Larry,
Larry, who relinquishing his search for bis ost
treasure, had stood eh as Philip 10 bis hour of need.
f and his own interests had
robbed Larry: and that
lay the proceeds of
"Pettaps. oad Apna bad time
sider th cyueuces of this ‘cdiden awakening
Of his conscience, Philip might have besitated :
but the sight of the man gloating over the rubles
rry's rubles—drove h mad.
t aery of rage, be threw himself on the
rin and seized the Snapper. the
The Snapper. was so completely ‘taken
by surprise that he was borne backward, the
Tubles “falling from bis hand in a glittering
shower beside the lantern: but in a moment he
had recovered himself; with a
awful oath, he strageled with his
being stronger, nothwithstandiug hi
ceeded in regaining his feet ; but, Pulp ‘got hold
again, and th ruggled and
wrestled. swaying this way an “euat sometimes
ne down, sometimes the other. Philip was
silent, but the Snapper found his voice, and,
with ‘a volley of oaths, panted:
“You young fool! Let me go! Hands off, you
unnatural hound! Do you forget who I am?
Let me go or I'll.
He got one hand free Hr felt for a Kite
Philip was underneath for a moment. nd
looked up at the blade gleaming above
“You thief!" le easped, “T know you say
I know you. ‘ou steal _fhose things.
do not care who or what you mean to
fave then: T intend to brug you to justice.”
‘The Soap per's claw was at Philip's throat. and
gllenced him, Te felt choking.
Knife gleamed above b old
eyes shone banefully d at him
‘you will, willyout” snarled the snapper.
“You'll rob me and send me to jail. ay? I'd rather
go to the gallows. You young fool. you've lost
your senses. Remember what you are before you
venture to interfere with me. Swear to hold your
man’s blazing
tongue. fo my way, or Til kill you.
Swear!"
Philip was endeavoring to struggle: but sud-
denly be ameased to 28 50. ue re lying on the
ground. sonni him much
fed to
more Guickly ‘and atstinetly than they were to
his assailant; ang he fancied that he beard foot-
steps.
No: you won't a me.” he gasped. “You're
too clever, f09 cunning. “You would be traced,
would be caught. I'm not afraid. I mean
have those Tuntes. I mean to have them, jet the
consequences be what they ma: " Then sud-
genty, he bot forth all bis Strength. and, finging
mat ide, be “ageered to his feet,
Shonfing hoarse!
ae elp! Gearon £ Geddon b xe
e sound 0 ootstepe now a a uamistakably
a his ear; Geddon and a foo!
Teg toward he, spot and Bute veal mat
more loudly for hel led to bold the
an snarticulare ery. the Snapper Sir a
lunge at him e knife; but Phi
aside and trolde
stumbled and aig
in a moment, e the
the old maa iad. Talsappented. ad
takea fitz! e hai rc over the lantern;
and Philip, bl “blunaering after him, rushed into the
arms of
Mareat tieavea! It's his Jordebip ! erted Gea-
don, with amazement What has
happened, my lord? ‘Are’ ma hart? e heard
votces——— Are u burt, my
Phitip leaned. acalnst oT tree, onbeam
fell upon his whit he was sebtiog tor
ce
nib. mobs he bad ‘got it, he geld:
o! I'm not burt,
T found. a man.
someatie te the wood. I closed with Bim. There
was a struggle; then you came, and—he got
off.
The agitated Geddon
Fle was speechless
indeed, after a mom:
calmer of the tw
“Give me your, arm,” be sal
looked round helpless
with wrath and fadigoation
ent or so, Philip was the
“T will go to the
house ete eald tee the tootm
began’ to search the undersrow fs Bo use
Tooklog for ithe man; he has ‘pot clean off for
the present.”
Teaning on Geddon's arms and fol
the footman. Philip w Sweat foto the house.” ‘Genana
brandy: and Philip
quick!
Beated bis accouut of the lacideat,
w
powerless: the| &
“ i sent the police station at once,
ut paid Genin, pone gar lordship. tell. me
at he was like? They" 4{°want a description
°F pill shook his head. -
“I'm ne raid 1 can 't, ean.” pe said. “It w:
n the dark part of we
t any more pa ee ae f
it we give notice to the police ty I
Goubt, the fellow was only a poacher. ‘Tomorrow
0.
fegen ieldea cudgiog|
Sfecet Fake ine mad, my lord, to think of you
g fet on and a used here, within sound of
bas been an old gypsy m
Me man,” said Philip quickly.
I've no doubt ve ‘shal find bim. t the matier
rest till the morning. I don't want ‘the peighbor-
be ur uch eat trifilng matter. I'm
lease do not disturb
sh. to Toda t once.”
Still mut! tering, fis Sauigna tion. Geddon left
pis master: but Philip’ beard him soln De over the
a gearebing the gbrubbery. res
yal was still, aod Philip weot ap is be
bed, lying with Cride-open
eyes an efor
itatiog trout
encounter.
‘rhe hee, everything was there a a
Hed He be lantern, carefully Screen
ing it frot he lows of the house, and. with
trembling ands, “collected fhe Fubles and replact
min the bag. He threw the lantern into “the
AMIR qhtels betitied: carefully covering the
earth with bracken; then he strewed Dracken: on
the confused footprints, and returned to the
ous!
“This was
par tT
je house, went to the scene of the
“CHAPTER XXVII.
LADY MARIE PROPOSES.
Hepburn was a an, but cautious.
Warned. by Larry's 1 he. did not carry the
bulk of the rubies about him, but, selecting a few
specimens, he deposited the remainder {n a bank,
while he weot about geek king a financier to start
the company. He at a smal] hotel fre-
quented b; Zslonials, ‘ih obe of the strects of the
Strand. here was something impressive in bis
solid appearance and demeas ad,
strange to sa, these Svespleious aye, ‘before
jong e succeeded in hooking his capitalist. As
he was employed nearly all day, Linda was left
elf; and she found the time
‘hands, for she was pos
pir uurest.
She had come away. from the interview with
pady Marie feeling that nyerty’s fate was in
And si bad me is of communi-
with ‘him. noe away there
in the wilds, >{bshting with Ss anieeey and there
the wor nde to bim ‘that would
iit the load ‘from his hea)
ther ‘cikcumstances she could have
et back to Larry. to tell him that
she had ‘seen ay Marie, and place the Geelslon
in bis bands. Knew it would be som
Hime ‘before her father would be able to Feturas
and what might not happen to Lady Marie in the
ena
n
feats nod wtidh Sufects, absorbed In her prob:
is Lady Marie had been wont: to wander
abit ‘absorbed fn, bers.
morning ‘accompanied her father to
the ‘city he had told her pot fo rat for him,
tigbt be kept some t r his business
Sopoiotment, and Linda fischange “the cab. and.
regardless of the direction she w: ing, walked
down Fenchurch street. ~ Net a few
and bi bh
pustioe, heroughtars turned to la
the pretty girl, who walked slowly ‘and
With an enmrossed she were Tost. In
thought. nchureh
street, aud, after looking about her for a moment
ir two, was about to retrace her steps, when she
stopped short and put oer hand a her heart.
In very truth, she thou e dream-
A Fe or the victim of a athietnations for there,
not twenty yards’ from her, other side
of the road, were Latry: and. Spo
She we as £0 amazed, 80 startled, as to be in-
capable’f ‘of movement ; then, at the
Hak Of her life, and to the disgust and indlena:
n of the drivers, she darted across the crowded
treet and seized Larry by the arm, calling him
by pame in aimost terrified accents, Larry, be-
fore he could see who it was, caught bord of ber,
nS drew Her out of the press into'a hop doo;
wei it you, Larry? Is ‘t really you?" she
“ inde he exclaimed in turn, “Yes: it's us,
er you're st leat
you, bow ie you are here artieds Bur
“Never mind me.” said “Tinga, beginning to r
gover herself. “You here! I-can pearcely’ believe
ng. What is the meaning of itt
ve you come?.Has—has anything hap-
es, said Larry, rather gravely. “Something
pe Po! nt. Spon, a iad not let go the
uch to the amuse-
her ton a confection-
said, Miss
mer
ers; aad there he took up the a
Something's happened, as. Larry
in da. He rhe mine's fallen in ” “Elda! jDitered S
you see—three cups not tea, ity you se
Fowl! Bappened two days. after mu me
down _ belo and, for
glanced gratefully ind “emectioustely vat Te
near gen my tomb ‘phe hat bless: sed mine would
High mb but, im, He risked his
- re is your father? Where are you sta:
“asked Larry, who was one of thoss rare is
dou who do not like to hear themselves
oraiere, in’ the cit
aunt he in th oie he is forming the company
‘o the hotel :
fog heres and { wanted yout
alveady thi
oe fhe position | et ‘theit affairs.
da
nda
ne aa acta eeaye ates, te
Linnie? you got your answer ready for me,
She Mushed, but, regarded him steadily.
bir erson.”
aC fn Tea per arson! chou MP Larry
her. “How baa that Fy ote paring ée
ready Marie” she said, in a low votce,
Hay Marte You know—,
Linda. bravely.
have seen her?”
‘And she wants to
Lirey. rose: th
best at down “aeaine® it ashamed of bis eager-
ils
t once,” said Linda - “
Will not say another words no, Mot gapteet Teor J
7 (CONTINUED ON PaGa 9.)
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