The Conshohocken Recorder, January 18, 1895

              ;
S
THE RECORDER.
NO. t1397. CONSHOIIOCKEN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1895. •Jl»LOO ran VEAR
■ AUTHOR OF I ^ K
\ ft' ** COPvRi<inl£.p .09< 8» t«t AUTf
'SWAUTHOR oF
A
do yon make this
told ine last
Hnviiijj i-omi! to this resolution, I
propped ap the opou doox, BO as to close
the eutraiH-r to the chamber of death,
and descended to the lower regions.
Finding viol mils md fuel iu the kitchen,
I oooked myaatta meal and made a suffi-ciently
good breakfast Then I lighted
my pipe and took my seat at the front
Joor to watch for the OOmfng of Felix
Briarfleld. Whether my suspicions
would be di.'-pelled or confirmed by his
£eiucanor 1 WM of course unable to say
nntil the inter-,nw took placa But I
was most anxious to know.
All that morning I looked down the
winding road to Marshminster, but saw
no one oomiag therefrom. Not a sonl
was in sight, and if I did for a moment
think that Strent and his daughter
might returnanil declare themselves in-nocent
the thought was banished by a
few hours' outlook. The inn, as I said
before, was on a slight rise, and I could
see far and wide. No human being was
to be seen, and as the hours p;issed I
grew almost horrified at the grewsome
solitude. To be alone with a dead body
in a lonely house iu a lonely moor is
hardly healthy for the mind
Toward noon I took a resolution.
"If," said 1. "the mountain won't
oome to Mohammed, why, then, Mo-hammed
must go to the mountain."
The interpretation of this was that I
intended to see Felix Briarfleld at Bellin
Hall, Marahminster Face to face with
him, and I would force him to explain
why he had not kept the appointment
It seemed to mo a suspicious circum-stance.
Perhaps Strent had told him
Francis was dead, and therefore it would
he useless for him 'to ride to the Fen
inn. If this were so, it wonld go a long
way toward implicating him in the
crime.
I re-entered the house, locked up
everything, and strapping on my knap-sack
took my departure toward Marsh-minster.
Some way down the road I
looked back at the ruin and saw it loom
more grim and ghastly than ever. Even
in the bright sunshine it oonld not ap-pear
otherwise than eerie, and it was
with great pleasure that I left it be-hind.
Yet under those sloping roofs
Francis Briarfleld lay dead, and it was
to discover his assassin and avengo his
death that I set my face toward Marsh-minster.
CHAPTER HL
Late in the afternoon I tramped into
Marshininster. • It was by no means my
first visit to that sleepy provincial town.
Und> C t beahadow of the cathedral towor
dwelt relatives with whom I had afore-time
spent ohool and oollage holidays,
Their house v. a.s the goal of my pilgrim-age,
and a Wl •■!,'- to n OOUJ)
me for t'>. ■• walking tour.
The tragic ocenrrenoe at the Fen Inn
altered ;:'i! I:IV plans. With an assassin to
be ti... k< : afl no ibne for com-fortable
idl dal Iriarfleld had
been my friend, and 1 owed it to his
memory to averj je his death, It was no
easy task I had set myself. I recognized
that from the first
In place, therefore, of seeking thecen-ter
of the town and my maiden aunt's 1
turned off at the outskirts and made
for Bolliu Hall. According to the story
of F»aneis, his brother was staying
with the Bellius, and it was necessary
that I should see him at ouco about the
matter. My acquaintance with Mrs. Bel-lin
and her daughter was confined to
carnal conversation at crowded "at
homes" during the season I had hardly
the right to thrust myself on them un-invited,
but my business brooked no
delay. The sooner Felix knew the truth
the better it would be for him. If he
wore guilty, I could punish him for his
crime by denouncing him at once to the
authorities; if innocent, he need lose no
time in hunting down those who had
■lain his brother. Besides I wished to
put Olivia on her guard against the
man masquerading as Francis Briar-fleld
That I intended to do in any case,
whether he was innocent or gnilty.
Bellin Hall was a grotesque specimen
of architecture, built by Jeremiah Bel-lin,
who had made his money oat of
blacking. It was uncommonly. like a
factory, bat perhaps the deceased Jere-miah
liked something to remind him of
the origin of his fortune and keep him
from thinking his ancestors came over
with William the Conqueror. He mar-ried
the daughter of a baronet and then
took his departure to the next world,
leaving his widow well providod for
and his daughter an heiress in her own
right
Mrs. Bellin was a pretty woman,
with no brains and a giggling laugh
Her daughter had the beauty of her
mother and the brains of her father, so
she was altogether a .charming girl.
How she could tolerate her billy, dolly
of a mother 1 could never ' understand.
Perhaps 3;t years of constant forbearance
had inured hi- to the trial
Ihj ajxivinit at the front door I teamed
mac -«r. v.nariicia waswitinn ana sent
up my cant, requesting a private inter-view.
For the present I did not wish to I cis is lying (load at the Fen inn."
itSoeis.
"By what sight
mad assertion''"
"From what Francis
night."
"But 1 tell you 1 am Francis," he
said savagely "Don't I know my own
name?"
"If you are the man you assert your-self
to be, where is the pearl ring?"
"I lost it."
"Yon did not. You never had it I
saw it on the linger of Francis no later
than last night"
"1 think yon are mad, Denhatu!"
said Felix, white with passion, "or else
you most be talking of Felix, who is iu
Paris."
"That untruth will not serve, ' I said
coldly. "Felix is before me, uud Fran-soo
Olivia, as it was my intention to
warn Felix that I was cognizant of his
trickery. My theory was proved correct
by the following dialogue:
Myself—Is Mr. Briarfleld within?
Footman—Yes, sir. Mr. Francis
Briarfleld has just returned from town.
After Which question and answer 1
was shown into a room. Observe that 1
had said "Mr. Briarfleld, " and the foot-man
auswerod '' Mr. Francis Briarfleld
Now, as I well knew that the man
bearing that name was lying dead at the
Fen inn, it was conclusive proof that
Felix, to gain the hand of Olivia, was
masquerading as his brother. I had just
argued this oat to my complete, satisfac-tion
when Felix mado his npp&ronca
Tho resemblanco between the brothers
was extraordinary. I had some difficul-ty
in persuading myself that the man
before me was not he whom I had seen
dead that morning, the same pale face,
dark hair and jaunty mustache, the
same gestures, the same gravity of de-meanor
and actually the same tones in
the voice. . There was not the slightest
difference between Felix and Francis.
The one duplicated the other. I no longer
wandered that Olivia was deceived.
Despite my acquaintance with the
brothers, I should have been tricked
myself. As it was, I stared open moat h
• (1 at the young man.
"This is a pleasant surprise. Den-ham,"
he said looking anxiously at
me. "I did not know yon were in Caw
part of the world"
"*Jlor was I nntil yesterday.
• walking tour and last night
I am on
slept at
the Fen inn
'Tho Fen inn," he repeated, with a
■light start. "What took yon to that
out of the way place?"
"I came by the marshes, and as 1
was belated had to take the shelter that
offered"
"But, man alive," said Felix, rap-ing
his-eyebrows, "the inn is empty1"
This time it was my turn to be as
tonished If Felix thought the inn was
empty, why did he appoint it as a meet-ing
place for his brother? He either
knew too much or too little, so it be-hooved
me to conduct the conversation
with the utmost dexterity.
"It was not empty last night at all
events," I retorted, keeping my eyes
fixed oil his face.
"Indvedl Are gypsies encamped
there?'' he said coolly.
"Well, not exactly,' 1 answered,
emulating his calm. "It was in charge
of a man called Strent and his daugh-ter."
"This is news to me. 1 was alwa.v
nndi r the impression that tho Fon UlU
was quite deserted,"
" Y ■ i have not been near it
"No. Wol ly goes near it Thej
it is haunted "
"Pshaw," I answered angrily, "oi
oldwiii s tale) And yet," 1 added
a moment's thought! "it may well be
haunted after what took place tin re last
Dight"
"This begins to grow Interesting,
said Felix. "Had you an adventure?"
"Yes. 1 met with your brother. "
"Impossible! My brottios Kelix is in
Paris."
"I am talking of Francis. "
"Francis," ho repeated, with a dis-agreeable
smile, "Francis? Well. Den-ham,
I am Francis."
"I think you are making a mistake,
Briarfleld," said I coldly. "Your broth-er
Francis slept at the Fen inn last
night"
"I slept in this house. "
"I quite believe that But yon are
Felix!"
"Oh." said Brinrfleld bursting into
n harsh lniiirh, "I see you are making
the Inevitable mistake of mixing me up
vith my brother. It is pardonable un-ier
tke circumstances-, otherwise I
-.iirht re " .1 your plain speaking."
The assurance of the man was so com
,»lute thai I wondered if he knew that
his secret wan safe by tho death of his
brother. Such knowledge would account
for his complacency. Yot it was quite
impossible that he could know of the
death, as he certainly had not been to
the inn. I knew that from my own
knowledge.
"If you aro Francis, " said I slowly,
"you aro engaged to Miss Bellin. "
"I am," he answered haughtily,
"but by what right you"
"One moment, Mr. Briarfleld Miss
Bellin gave her lover Francis a pearl
ring. I do not seo it on your finger."
He glanced down at his hand and
grew confused.
"I lost it," he muttered—"I lost it
some time ago."
"That is not true!"
"Do you dare to"
"I dare anything In connection with
what I know to be a grand Yon are
Dating yourself otf an
What! Francis dead?" he oried uu- ;
guardedly
"Ah. you admit it is Francis?"
"No, 1 don't, "he retorted quickly
"I only re-echoed your words. Whatdo
you mean by saying such a thing?"
For answer I rose from my seat and
made for the door The farce wearied
me
"Where are you going, Denham?" ho
asked, following me up.
"For tho*polico, " 1 answered, facing
| him. "Yes, 1 am determined to find
out the mystery of Francis Briarfleld's
! death. Yon, his brother, decline to help
| me, so I shall place the matter in the
: hands of tho authorities. "
"Upon my soul, Denham," said Fe-lix,
detaining me, "you aro either mad
; or drunk. I declare most solemnly that
| I am Francis Briarfleld From this story
i of yours I should think it was my broth-
[ er Felix who is dead, did I not know
i he is in Paris?"
"A fine story, but it does not impose
| on me," I answered scofflngly. "Listen
to me, Briarfleld. Your brotlier Francis
went out to South America some six
mouths ago. Before he went he was en
gaged to Miss Bellin. The mother
would not hear of the marriage, so the
engagement was kept quiet You alone
knew of it and took advantage of snefa
knowledge to suppress the letters sent
to Miss Bellin through you by Francis
and represent yourself to Olivia as
her lover returned three mouths before
! his tinio. You, I quite believe, are sup-
! posed to be in Paris, so that yon may
I the more easily carry out the game."
"This is mere raving "
"It is the truth, and you know it
As Miss Bellin did not answer his let-ters,
Francis thought something was
wrong and returned home. Afraid lest
be should find oat your plot, yon asked
him to meet you at the Fen inn, and
there either intended to throw yourself
on his mercy or—to murder him. "
"Murder him I" he repeated fiercely
"It is false!"
"That will be for the police to deter-mine
"
"But surely, Denham, you don't in-tend
to inform tho police?"
"I am going to do so now. "
Felix seized me by the arm and drag-ged
me back to my seat He was now
much tigitated, but made every effort to
restrain his emotion.
"Sit down," he said in a hoarse tone
"You do me wrong, Defcham—on my
soul you do ino wrong. I was engaged,
I am engaged, to Olivia Bellin. 1! i
mother oonsented to our engagement
after 1 retnrni d to England three months
ago. Felix, I believe, is in Paris. I
"You won't believe mat i am r run-cis?"
In- sai11, evidently making sonio re-solve.
"No You are Felix!"
"Ono moment, " he said, going to the
door. "I shall prove my identity and in
a manner that will admit of no denial "
With that he vanished, and I waited
to HIO what further evidence he would
bring forward to back up his imposture.
CHAPTER IV.
There was no donbt that Felix in-tended
to continue passing himself oti
as Francis For how long I was uncer-tain;
perhaps for the rest of bis natural
life or until he made Olivia his wife
In this latter event he could reveal the
fraud with impunity and revert to his
own identity I oonld not help thinking
that he had l-ecii informed beforehand
Of the death oi his broth, r, else he would
not have tl red to keep ap his imposture
with a pos ible rev, lation so near at
hand. Even assuming such ignorance, I
had now told hi in of the death myself and
■0 Strengthened his position. 1 regret-ted
that 1 bad not beeu more cantiona
I was curious to see whom he would
bring forward as a witness to his iden-tity.
Scarcely Olivia, as if she once had
suspicion of the truth she would never
rest until all was cleared up to her satis-faction.
I hardly thought Felix would
run such risk, the more so as his story
of losing the pearl ring could not stand
against my assertion that it was on the
finger of the dead man. If he still per
sisted iu declaring himself to be Fran-cis,
1 determined that he should ride
with me to the Fen inn and there sect
the corpse of the man whose name he
had so shamelessly assumed That
«ld surely settle the matter,
llix was bolder than I gave him
it for, as his witness proved to be
none other than Olivia Bellin. She en-tered
the room with assumed lightness,
hoc her face was anxious, and she glanc-ed
every now and then at Felix SI"
though to seek his aid and cennteuanee
He, as was natural, wore a haggard ex-pression.
His nerves wore tauwiuied ap
to the highest pitch, a matte r of small
wonderment, seeing that his life's hap-piness
depended upon this interview.
'* What is this strange story you bring.
Mr. Denham?" asked Olivia, greeting
me coldly. In our best days wo were
never overfriendly
"Has not Mr Briarfleld told you?"
"I huve not had the time," inter-posed
Felix anicklv. "Bevond »f»«-
(T» b4 continued next meek.)
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Respectfully yours,
ROBERTS & MEREDITH,
FAYETTE STREEl, CONSHCHOCKEN, PA., ^
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WHOLESALE. DEALER IN
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Elm street, below Harry, Oonghohockez.
"Sit down," he said in a hatirn nine,
don't know whom you met at the inn last
night It was not I—it could not have
been Felix. There was no appointment
between us. I am not uiasuueradiuK as
Francis because I am Francia "
"I don't believe yon "
"Yon must! I can bring forward
witnesses to prove my identity!"
"They may be misled by the resem-blance.
Remember, yon and Francis are
twins."
"I said before, and 1 say it again,
yon are mad!" he cried, roughly casting
me off. "Whoever heard of an appoint-ment
being made at a ruined inn? No
one has lived there for mouths. Ask
any one in Marahminster, and they will
tell yon so."
"Strent and his daughter Rose"— 1
began, when he cut mo short
"Who are they? I never heard of
them. They are figments of some dream.
You went into that ruined inn last night
and dreamed all this."
"You don't believe my story?"
"Not one word," Baid Felix coolly,
looking me straight in the face
"Then 1 don't believe one word of
yonrs, " I cried, jumping up. "Let us
place the matter in the hands of the
authorities and see who will be believ-ed
"
"What are yon going to say. Den
ham?"
"Say? That Francia Briarfleld has
died in the Fen inn."
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I Did Not Have Any Ambition
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I would recommend It to all sufferers and would
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UU N orth Tenth Street, Reading, Pennsylvania.
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freezing, Windy Weather.
You'd better get that broken
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have a whole one put in, so
as to be prepared for the cold
weather thats coming. Al-though
wt thought everybody
knew that we have a full assort-ment
of w indow glass, we find
an occasional customer who
don't know it, so we take this
means of 1 tting you know
once again that you can get
all sizes at
WcCOY'S Drug Stores,
Fayette street above Elm and
P. 0. s- of A. Building. j
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1 [3 '~r1 r
wj'y*\.
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TEA GOWN, BALL DRESS AND HOME COSTUME.
, A' tn? rig'1* is a lilac crupon tea gjiwu with a pointHcl yoke of white velvet
broidercd in irold. At thv left is a home doesa of old riw cuahmeiv. Down the fro
there is a told of the material With ohooolat* colored bnttons. In the center ia
mauye ailXuiypon ovcuing gowu with a line of mink fur and |>raae bom.
em-front