HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News-Record, 1902-07-03, Page 3-
11110'
July 3rd, 1902
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J. e ,1. 1 j 11
The Crime of Hallow -E en
THE HEIRESS OF GRAMME Map
L -J Et . •
By LAURA JEAN. LII3BEY4
Author of "A Broken Betrothal," 'The -Heiress -of
Cameron 1L411," 44 Parted at the Altar," Etc.
"rckic
"There could be no Inti•m in thu
experizuent; why of course not, for
they say that our grandmothers used
eu try all kieds of tricks en Hulluw-
e'en. at, midnight, that witching
hour when ghosts and goblins are
supposed to walk abroad. 1 guess
we're no bet ter than our grandmo-
thers were.
"Well, here goes, tight or wreng!
it will be such runt Of course my
fate is settled, but wouldn't 1 stare
in the most profound awe if the
(building waters took the share of
Le Jtoy's hundsome face; but of
course they must if the test is true.
"Itly guests won't miss me, 1 am
sure."
'raising a long, dark cloak from the
wardrobe, and throwing a thick veil
over her gulden curls, Bonnylin stole
carefully out of the house by way
of the bark Stairway.
Over the ()echoed and tht•ough the
melon -patch, over the durr•ing civet;
and through -the narrow belt of for-
est., Bonnylin flew with winged feet.
The Black Pool was the mune giv-
en to a small pond lying at the edge
of the forest.
It was not the pleasantest spot
ill the world, even with the sun-
light shining 00 its still, inky wat-
ers; but al night, with the shadows
. of the gigantic willows lying across
it, and the ravens eieeling and whirl-
ing above it, it was a locality path-
er to be dreaded.
But our dauntless. fun -loving hero-
ine was a stranger to the word
fear.
She would have gone to Black
Pool after she had °nee stetted out,
even though an array with drawn
swords stood in the way.
There was- a lighted clock in the
ehureh-steeple down in the valley,
and Bonnylin could see, LAS Nile stop-
ped, pantitee and breathless on the
very edge of the pool, that it want-
ed but two- minutes now to the mid-
night hour.
"I had • little 11)110 to spare," she
told herself, with a rollicking laugh,
as she threw off the tho•k cloak and
veil.
"Now here's all ready foe the -ex-
periment!" she cried, bonding • her
dbnpled, roguish face ()NW the nate
tionless pool. Ali, how plainly the
dark t1 (1' reflet.ted every dainty
feature as Bonnylin hent over it.
"Let ute SO', the \vote's that cell up
the vision re so met h i • like
these," she inermmad with a little
saucy laugh. -of course it's all
nonsense; but itt say them 'any-
how:
" TI1 cross my hands in the shape:
of a de
In hopes my true -love 1 shall see; .
Not in his riches, nor in his array,
But in the clothes he 1110arS every
day.' "
The great. clock in the valley
stt•uck the hour . of midnight in
hoarse, clanging strokes; as the last
vibt•ation died away, out of the ,
very depths of the Black Pool -out
of the inky waters -ea fare seemed to I
gathet• shapen. man's face peering I
up at her from ovet• her shoulder in
the water into which she gazed with
wide, tettor-stricken eyes..
It was not the features of her
handsome lover, Le Roy Pierpont,
whose bride she was to he on the
7 foliowing week, that he sew.
Like one pet t•ifitel, she was staring
down with frightened teas into the
face of Basil Severne, the man whom
she had detested at first sight. •
The man whom Le Roy had called
an evil genius, . a modern Blue -
heard.
Bonnylin staggered back,- threw up
her hands with n wild shriek_ and
101 clown in the long grass Iti a 'clew'
faint on the vet•y bt•ink of the Black
Pool.
CHAPTER HI.
When Bonne•lin t•egatned conscioue-
ness, she found herself supported
against. the trunk of a tree; some
one was bending over her, laving her
face with the watet• of the Black
Pool.
-Welf, Miss Dare,' said a harsh,
cold voice, '.1 0111 elect yo see you
yourself again. 1 thought you had
more stamina in vour nature than
to faint nt the reflection of a face
looking over your shoulder"- this
very gt•itnly.
Bonnylin opened wide her great,
blue, velvety eyes allfl Stared up in-
to the dark, grim, haughty face of
Basil Severne.
"I did not know; 1 thought T
thought.---" She stoppucl ts.hort
in constet•nation and dismay.
"Yoe thought I wns a ghost, or
a ghoul, or something of tile sort,"
Ito said impatiently; "hut 1 am nei-
ther the one nor the other, 'Miss
Dere; my presence here is most en.e-
ily explained. (hitting across hits
hotno 1 canto 0.' 1085 you quite by
accident. 1 had 13 olnethin te say
to 1' (((1, something. which I coitIcl not
find time to tell you dieing the
evening, 115 every motnent ,of your
tintwns so filled yet I had
come tn Oraystoue to -night for
the sole purpose of "spealdrec with
von im an importunt stedeet, an 1
but tor this oppot•turre meeting, I
shelled have gone 11001e w ith the
words enspoken. I must levee ap-
proached you too hastily and frigh-
tened you, for you fe-II at. my feet
in a dead faint."
Ity this time lionnylin wan quite
over her fright.
" could you hnve of nueh
great 1011)1>1' 11)11(1' to stay to sue?"
she inquired, with all it young girl's
keen curiesity. "I will listen to
what, e.011 have to Pay now, if you
like; that is, if it will not take you
too long to tell it."
"The sum cod sithstanee can he
told in a, few simple words,"
he said, leaning nonchalantly hack
(ignited. the .1 runic of a tt•er, end
folding his arms deliberately as he
Raved al her: "yon must break your
engagement. with voting Pierpent
without delny, for you can never
marry him."
!" cried Tionnylin, saringing
to her feet nnd storing at. him With
mlfelaned nstonishment that woe
e- de -peening with each breath into the
neat intense newt; "you are either
a fool or a madmen -or perhaps In-
to 81(1)1 ed -that's the plain English
of it Step outof the path and let
me mots; 1 won't Beton to such non -
nese. If Le Roy was here he would
give you g sound thraehinge and
throw e•ott into the pool in the bar -
.1(111.''
''Mit
(10711 on that. fallen log,"
Said Basil Severtic, froweing elett•kly;
"yoli Shall 1101; paSS until you hear
what I have to sit,y." • .
"4suppose you would- -Use your
sti•etatth to prevent rile from 'olag,"
cried lionnyliii, !Whito. to the lips
with anger. •
"1 shell if necessary," he replied, •
calmly.
Bonnylin redected a .titoinent.• Pere
hans it would -be best teepretend to
comply ,with his •request bY reseating
herseleadli•it -would throw him off.
his guard -and thee she could spring
to her feet anti dash post MM.
She sunk back ton the mossy log,
eye en as to why I shall not marry the
•i
lig him contemptuously.
Well, now! what remain can you
0
gentleman I love?" she ,demantled.•-
"leot• the simple reason fate has. a
clifferetit husband in store for you,"
litue ili•exlied, advancing a• step nearer!,
. .
"Pate is very kind' to meddle • with
013' affairs," cried honnylin, ironical,.
ly, cresting her golden head and curl-
ing her red lips scoridully, "but a,11
the same, When it collies to enarry-
ing, 1'11 be likely- to suit myself,
larltap•s-as yeti know so much ab.out
the inaet:r-you can • tell nte who
the puny is, to whom Mr. Pierpont s
place ehould be given." - ' •
• "Pate shoWed you his Rice reflect-
ed with your Own in the -• Bleek*.
l'°'1(1
1)1e."iClea WaS' SO 11(101930 -..,ponny-
lin laughed aloud.. . .
••What -not ',yourself?" .ctied the
girl, fairly_ convulsed With •Iteughter-
evc•n t•hough.her Word§ were tinged -
a it 11 cut t f fig: sarcasm... . -. -
"Yes," he eepliede "when you hear
what T have to tell: you 7- here and
now -there will •be no :hesitatioe, • I
fancy, yOu Will cousette, to be My •
bride within elie...1.four.:'!.. • •
"Did ever aernan .haveestich a"wild,
mad fence'?" cried Donnylitie angrily..
'Why, you might •its• well' lineginei.
the eight would turn 'suddenly into
clay, that poet yondete,ieto .seetiting.
• fire,. and I from a sane person -well,
into 411 idiot. The ditys• mei. :. eVer.,
.when. men can .force •yotteg•-giels ,ititti
ninerying them." - ... :
. ..
. ,
'I said you Will eneery Ina Of vitae',
own. free ! will," -replied Dead' • ;S0--•
„came, eeplia. er•phere will .be eio . co-.
ertion-7ho iterstritaime'•Afteteyou haye
heard nil. T. have. to• say• yeu , take ,
fate intoyam -own hatule-you •catt,
anewer Me yes .90 .ne-e-you Will . eee :
thero. is method in. My ,nuitinees,
you call it." . . • - ' -" "•.• .
?"There is -nothing you eould - .tell
ine-nothing under the .high., heavens.
that would influence me .to. give up
my lover, e,nd,inarryla•man I hate -e.
. yes, YOU may as welleknow the • exe,
act treth-I hated you from the first
moment' I saw. you. Why, •k •_' would
ns -soon think Of killing yoneree•-• of
into•t•ying you-SO;there!"s.., 7 . • . •
'You would tie "scion ',think of kill-
ing .1210, would you?" he . -tepee:tech
hoarsely, -"Then. let. Inc tell. you , YOU .
would not be the first Dare - whose
hand 'would- be stained .With human
11100c1,• and who wees:•destined• to face.'
the gallows!" • . .. !
Bonnylin sprung to her .feet 7in the
wildest terror. .• ...
•
.
"Surely he was In the -preeence. of'•
an escaped . maniac,':shetold 'here
self, and • like a'. startled . -fawn . Ithe.,
a ttentpfed to' . dash headlong past .
Min; but he entimpated her ''.ntoyee,
Meet; ' and - reechieg..stiddlinly -efter- •
ward, grasped. hnth..Of.hee -fluttering;
skeeter wrists.e.. ' •• --.! • .-. , • , • •
"1 /nest force• you i.e'lieten to Me,
since it meet be .so," 110 said sternly,
even haughtily. • : ... !
And, . standing -there lender a the
trees on that fatal.HelloW-0'en, Rena:
nylin Dare lietened•th 'the' strangest, •
most startling revelation that. -..eveie-.
fell from mortal lips. -- -, . 7 , . •
Tie had long sincedropped: • !her
wrists, bet the girl made •noatteinpt •
to fly; she stood before him; trans...
. „ ..
fixed - with horror., '.like • ah . imago -
ctu•ved in stone, Seaecely breathing,
iii leer intense exciteinene and ' anit--'
iety• to catch everysyllable he - ute
tared. •• • .. . . .
"I have finished new, 'Miss ,There,"
he conclu.cled, .""and. now, I stand
here waieing.•ycitir decision. Adman -
her, I Wish it plainly .undeestoocl .1
use no -come/ion; T• do not. atteMpt to.
force your„inclibations -in itey • Way;
1 sillMlY say, .. Will.you miu'ry. the -
71.4, or no.?" .' .. ... .
"For the 'love of Heaven give Me.'
HIM) to think!" ceied••11.Onitylin wild-.
ly and incoherently. "My brain, -.ie .
dazed -I am going mad, mad, 1110,111"
"Will an hoin"s time snit you?" he
1181(0)1.. 1,-. .
.. _
•"Yes," tenseVered . ,Tionnylin, wildly,
"Go,. leave, me; give the an. hour to.
think; and: reineitibe; if .37oe come
haek and fInd'ing dead, it IS your
words that • have killed me."' ••• !
"What if T had not told•yOu-What
then?" he demanded, ... , .
.. ,
She shivered like a tender - flower
..
in a winter blast..; .. . •• .
"11; is beste-that-•-I-IctioWl"• she
-answered, .with a wild _soli. • " '
He glaneod at his Watch by the roe
client white light of 1.110. 1)100)1,
. .
"1 will be hackie 000 hour,-" he•
snici; and turning, he left her, Welke
Mg rapidly away.• .• .
As the echo of his f oetsteps died
away on .the dead leaves, .poor Bon-
nylin flung •herselfface downward on
the grass, uttering the wildest cries..
that ever 'welled up from a tern and
bleeding heart. .
"Oh, God, .if I could hitt ' • CHOC"
S110 Moaned, piteouslY.' "Oh, La Iloy,
my love, iny darlilig-theotherhalf
of MY very soul -the God evholn .. 1
tbaugitt so just' has parted. you and,
me. Heaven teach m0 how to MVO ;
without you. 'I !cannot lyear the ..
thought -oh, I cannot bear it! IIOW ,
eau the flowers bloom., the sua give
light, and the World move On, and '
we, who love each other so. Well,
vallt in different paths? 011; 00d,
eend Ine death atid end it all, for if
I' Ilve,I must be this matt's bride; he
knoiVe there is Ito need to coerce or
pereutuleeaGod pity me -he knows • I
dare not refuse. Vou Will curse Me,
darling; I shall Shrink beneath the
hot blast of your seorching Words,
tittering ne retort. Haeh Word Will
be a chigger thrust; the pity of it. is
that they Will not kill nie, eatd• end
it ell."
THE CLINTON' NEWS RECORD
The moments came and went, drag-
ging 1,1:ele slow lengths by.
At last the hour was up.
Slowly, like the knell of death,
BOallYlite heard 'Basil Severne's re-
turning footsteps.
Ire did not see her at first, and
stood utotionless he entered tile
gla"dShe is not here," he said grimly
to himself.
ri hen he saw something golden a
little further .on, on which the moon
was shining, and he knew she had
not fled as he had at Curst expected.
Slowly she rose to her feet and
0(1)1.) tinted Mai, mid for a, moment
tit stot d gazing steadily into eaeh
oilre.'s face. •
"Nom* answer, 'Miss Dare," he said
calmly. "May I hope it is yeS'?"
l'Yoe. know it is yes!" cried .the
girl', stormily and ricklessly. oX will
Marry you; but, remember., I w.111
kill you enoner thee t•e foreed to live
with you, aml then kill myself."
Ile merely smiled at the awful
theeat, eemerking It. 250.8 like the
fable of the pretty white kitten alto
attempted to slay the fierce 'lion, and
met a et•nel fate for its andeeity. 7
"But come," he said, wrappaig her
in the thick Cloak and veil she hod
throttle off, "My itortiC • anti carriage
aril close at hand. We Mille u. long
ride before us."
Without remonstrance, Tionnylin al-
lowed him tee lift her 'into the Ye-
terrilde ride was over et lost,
and I3asil Severne drew rein before a
small stone chapel ett the heart. of a
Ckl:TilliiSWood,the lady, reverend eir,"
Ilennylin heard Severne 'say, and she
Icemv by that they Ineci becte expect-
ing her.
The whIte-haired minister bowed
gravely, and they took their piece S.
rive Minutes More mal the elate'
fetters thot hOund 1.1c,at,ylin Dare to
linsil Severeee were sectu•ely forged -
the 'fatal words • were utteeed which
- made ber his In ide. • .
'Mrs. Severna," Said •her -bus -
hand, as he helped het again into
the buggy earl picked up the relits,.
mulling grimly Le vee how elm slime*
in horror froth ,the tilill, "'l sviIl
tell gou• my plans for the•fut tire ,• ae•
We ritie along, • • .
"You ellen go back tei. hlraYst one
ITall to -night tied.ritesti the neet three
days there as useal, providing, ie the
interim for toi exit 'bled tour abroad.
can keep' our- moat:oat: a SC,:
eret until come. fol. you,' if that
suits you . hest; or: divulge it if eeou
care • 1.0 e'clo so. is • llondey
itielat. Yee may expectme tit' Gray-
stope.nall 1.hurstlay morning," •
. No, anewer fell fi•am ;the bride's lige .
! Beg, ' •_ . ,' .
"De You hear nie, Bonnytin•- •
Meet,.
lSeverne?" ha asked gelnily.
• flonliyliir bowed }Iry beatftiful gold-..
.01:Cheat! in' silence: By this. time they
had reached the dielc; • covered liticlatil!,
.111111, sValltleil .1 ke deal), w'jth.t,rock.•
he'd: (1 )'iver. •• ,-.•••. •
•21.5.110..ell Sexerne- guided his, 'hovie •
• in ti• tile Shadow of tlt eirirk portals,.
something tali antl.dark sprarae.front.
the • busla s that .skieted the reactside
e that lehely Spoo:en tall • "figure' ,
wearing -it tows a „ a WI all •
t•y
and .0, that. itiet Lott Seem tada • 1,61'1.11
.1vae, hurled back ou. its hitiinciteA,
.aid the •conirnmid, .‘"Ilaltlh' was Otto-
'•dered out. hoarsely. ' •'• • •
'Tn a trice Sevevim had grospecl his.
whip and sprung, front 'the ,vehicla,
and the next instant a terrific en -
ti ti ter created, . mingled with SUOIT
frightf01 curses. and impreCatiotie;
111111 the ••teeritied gii l's bleed ran•
eold in her veins. .S 000 it • became
appat•ent to a hee that they were
'struggling on tlte vete' brink' of the:.
bridge; one Moment mere and, locked
in each ethem
r's -ebrace, 'they had
erastied .. through tire.. ratting • and:
won't- Own togoi,ber-down into ;the'
dark watert beloW, . ' .
• For ,ofte • • a wful moment' llonnedin
• fairly beld Ina' breathe
elrea t ' Heaver)! neither rose ,agaiii.
•No doubt,they had been.',caught,
leeked in each a:tines:deadly •: cm -
'niece, between the' ja'qrs of 'tlio'lluge
tockS in 'the river' bed. , •
• Evert in the widening eireles... had
:died tievay noW that. had marked tbe
•spot Where they'•weet dowit. •
• Tionitylin elutelted the reine with a
wil(1, ' terrified cry; then they fel)
front her neevelese•graep. • :
• Freed for themm
. oent of ell. .cen-
, .
•trol the • fiery block 11. )1'80 • •elerted
forward, • cl sh lig headlong 'or( r. the
bridge, up the serpentine road, uhirl-
ing• roiderritellieg down the valley,
• through beetles and braiublts, syiif I •
AlS et.lieht.ning flash -too •swift. for the
revOlutien of the wheele of the buggy•
-it ,was alma:ging after it; too : swifi
rev the lei:rifled girl who was c:ing.
there, Meng the dehrig, he found
' her -that slender, rigid figure, still
robed in the Sky-blue tulle, and She
dark cloak wraPPed around her.
With a mighty cry and a bound be
was at her side.
eoh, nay darling! ray darling!" be
cried out sharply. "She is dead!"
Out no; placing ids hand
frantically over her heart, he found
that It still fluttered feebly.
' Ood had spared her to him; she
was eot dead.
Lifting her in his strong arms as
though she had been an infant, he
bore her to a, clear, rippling brook
close hy, and proceeded to lave her
face And her little white hands,
'After fully an hour's labor he. wan
rewarded by seeing .1,11e lovely blue
eyes flare open.
One glance Into that beloved face,
and she threw up her white Mteds
with a piteous, heact-reneing cry:
"Oh, Le Roy, Le Roy, it was a
horrid dream, wasn't it?" she ma,.
Ironed, cowering close to him and
.clinging ta him with a fran:ciicglgitreaosepo;
then she sprung from his arum and
looked at him with wide,.
eyes, tend feet, as pale•es it • would.
• 0500 ab°Illarighttemy
deattil'or' had returned to
her, and with the shock she went oil
intotahnanthotheie. deadosrt. faint more alarm
ii4.
At that moment a farmer's wagon.
rolled • leisurely up the rlad. mr,
Pierpont hailed the fame), end a
'few' words sufficed to explain the sit-
uation, and ho willingly commuted to
go out of his way -to convey ! Arise
Dare back to limestone flutll,'
"Do not question her about tide
teshtitepaadteetert•hoeyn, stltiee ileoCupnicaseQt,"dohercon-i
Miss Rochester's arms. "No doubt
Abe will toll us all about it in her,
01511 good Utile. She Was evidently
e her amidst -the debris of broken care
trltil:ra:ewahleoenlsg..i, that rocid, for 1 found
.
:Strange to sny, Bennylin had had
a 111081. iniraeulOuS. escape iron' in.
jury, the tong, :thick .grass having
deadened:, the fall. No bones were
broken, the tender skin even WitS 110t.
• h.1:1111eiste(fiC)r thre:.e days Mis's Itocheatee
fory)ee,nlo
d.her teo•k15 il
keelphtureeaou7311.a.
ghost ,
child," she declared, wonderieg vegi
nely why the doctor's medicine .
her no good. • "This Is Friday," she
Went on, "and Youeehave• forgotten,
clear, next leItughty is your "•wedding.
'cley-this:white face. Weln', 'do at
all." • . ,
• , A bitter cry that quite upset Miss
Itochesttr's nerves fell from 1301)03'-
lin's• lips.
"There witi be no wedding," • she
moaned, 'turning her faP': to the wales,
• Had the girl gene starkentedl, •
Miss • Rochester loel,eit 'at
• aghast.• • • ' ' ,•
'SeddenlY 13ennylin spreng to, her
,feet .with a stavtled 'cry. •• • • "
• '''Fritley," shewIlispered sharply;
you say to7;clay.:witit :Friday?'" •
• • Miss ltochester nodded.. .
features Worked
: . , , •
• "11(1-1113' terrible 'foe.7.-inust ..have
found' death beyond all doubt in the
waters,'' she -Mattered ••• below*
tier • ha ath,'• l!for he t•iitl •he werad.
come' for me 'The'recley.,"• nn1 whit
the thought ca.me•enothereliis .death
'made her free.. .: • • : •. : •
"My 'darling,•what excites you so?"
ask -ed Miss -Rocheeter, enviously, ees
she wrung her little white hands to-
gether and coinmenced to pace • the
floor hurriedly. •• •••• • ..•
• 'Nothing," • .niettered• Bonnylin,
f.i1.11.1tio.V.• intich .haptien'• ed sin
"Sce:'You
•
hate -hem ill, dear," Miss. Rechester
went on, hoping to divert her iet•t•erae
et ion; "y,ott .iremeinle3r Afr,' Seiteerie,
-.tee tell, dark •genteeman who was nt
• '•Your IIallowee'en party? Well,. :he;
top, Met With a serious accident that
• nightaaty, I may' any' a fatal one.
Two days biter his deed beds', tore.
Intitileteci, :eats round in .the
. bend .of the riyer; he. was identified.
by- • his •1 i neh , nclIcerch ter, . Whit. h
•bore .his name in ftill', staniped •upon '
• it, which Was fotind clutched •tightly
111 hie. I, anti..•
• el'idut a trete, to, such sac! subjects.
• I mitet ‘..spezele.: to you: Of graver
t hitt 8," dedared- Miss. Roelatster, •
Slonnvilles White hands 'affec-
tionately:, ',Now, tell . Me, deer,. why
•••eaitt persist in refusing to see your
lover from day •to.tiay? Poor Le Itoy
is tilin0st .bedrt-lirolien over it, he
ciinnot undaratand you, Is yotir heart
0110)100d toward hint?" ' .
Ilonuylin '•eltook het -eurlY' 'golden
»
head; uteceing a, sobbing': •
"No." •
• ".1 wondered 11 11 could be,".setiled
' Vise .1(cichester, "foe up • to -the time
fag to the•tiasilbOarti. to titter a pray- •
er. • ! . • . • , . ••• • • ..
.. A great sycamore tree 'stood et the
cross-roads.-
• Bonny] in• was • • con 50101)S- 1 hatit
loomedup tall and dark betWeen her
• and.the inOonlight;
.,The next. instant 'there erns a fright-
• fel collielon;ett ,erzieb, iinl ..tt fearful,
.bloW an the head. • •
The black horse, freed, from. • his
daehed madly On 'towerd• the
mill Poml, awl' mutt over the brink
of it. .Tlee carriage, crushed . tete
fraeonenes, • lay hi 'the . roadside, end
•mottonlees fignee, • elnd in blue
tulle,' lay apparently lifeless -under'
the sycanw
oe tree,' her sleek face and.
staring, eyes tented' up to. the night
sky... •
CITAB'rEll IV..
•
•
At Oraystone Pall tele merriment
Went on • tong after tonnyliti had
•
stiden. etwaY,. , . • .•
At leegth the gneets 'noticed her
protracted absence and began -Conte
meeting upon it.
Half tin hour ago Miss Rochester
had called Le Roy Pierpont aside
and 'disclosed to Mtn the startling
fact that Mies Dare WaS noWlere to
be found'. • He had quitted • the ball-.
room without attracting atttnelon,•
and. tegether they ransaeltid the old
holm from cellar to garret, the tor -
dell, Park and orchard, but there
was no trace' of Bortnylin.
. Mr. Pierpont hatl grown ultite to
the lips.
Ile looked at Miss llocheater th
keen alarm, . •
"Cart you get ine a lantern?" he
asked hoarsely. "I ant going down
the road to 8e10e011 for her. When
the hour comes for tite, breaking up
,of the party, make some excuse roe
Donnylin's 0.1)8e1100;' your wonian's
Wit will suggest what to say." .
.fetilently the laultern was brought, •
and with a nalbeless• foreboding '
his heart, Le Roy Vierpont hurried
totally on fire' 011)110 of Bonnylifi: but
nage, „
For long houre he searched, calling
ouly the wierd echoes among the
twea answered him.'
In the gray dawn of the early day
he reached the eroeserOache Marked
by the old sycamore tree, fully ten
miles front Oraystone Hull; *31(1
of the Tin 11o15 -e'en party you .seemed
eo fouler him, • • • ••• • • •
cable oVe0, froni the village
talc:Oat day to see you," she Wept
• an. "Vhaven't the ..heitet,..to sold the
poor:fellow :away again to -day; -you
West 803 Bot•ny, darling. I can-
not- tinthirstand why yen refulte.".
Long after. she hactIeft, Bonnylin,
the glyi .sat at the window -with
tightly 'clasped bends and white htee.
"Why not ;sec hint?" the still email
• Volee in her heart whispeeeda• "tied
why not let yout, tontemPliited
.111141'-
t'inge With hint proceed? The horeible
barrier that 'rose tip between you for
one. short hour. has been swept away
by tlilloott of fate. Marry your lov-
et and be 'happy, llnleSs you divulge
• that midnight Seceifiee,youreelf, • he
will meet. 1,n011t of it. Blow can you
give him ttO? d .Whett life would
be to you tht•ough the long years
that lie in the -future without
Would it not be a dying • death?"'
"It would be a ttotisand . times
More bitter than datttlit" sobbed
Thennylin • •"011, , no, no, -iica• conic
v. hat may, I eannot live without
•yoti, Le Roy, darling; 1 cannot give
you ttpl 'Let the marriage go 01.. 1
„wilt' carry the horrible secret • down
to the grave with mel" •
And the marriage did. go on; • a
week. from that fetal Htillow,eren
eight a, dozen ,pretty bridesmaids
tvere robing fair Bonnylin in her
bridal dress.
* * * . it • *
It' Was an intense surprise ior Mrs,
rierpont when site received the Intel-
ligente of her handsome son's • mar-
riage,
She had never even been informed
of his engagement, and now he had
;been married quite two months,
She fluttered down to the library,
where she had left her lovely gtieet
half all hour before, With the open
letter' in 31110hold.
Miss Indite 'MargeaVe, the dark -
eyed beauty whom Mrs. Pleepont
had tot her heart on Lo Roy marry-
ing, and who was her guest for the
holidays, was deeply migrossed over
the pages of a fetter to which she
wits just signing her name.
Ere she hurriedly seals' And det-
patches it -for the obliging postman
outside is waiting tot it -we will
teke teepeep at its Contents!
"Dear Mamma," it commenced ;
then broke abruptly into the Vital
Stlblect UPPerinest In the writer'.
Mind.
'"I`he 1101144)3)5 1)110 over, and still
Le Itoy Inerpont does not put in a.n
appeacanee; nor hes his mother
heard from him for over two
Months; and yet he knew I was
coating here. •Another girl would
be disheartened by tide lack of in -
think I roust haVe been mad,
yes,
inw3er of our. village, a
itrteau(),Ieldli nid$1 ePoane,t t o ntoht$
tlus e P 01.^:
yes, mad, when I engaged *1)3)51111ygeraetrteadgbit; nut.ret tainnle xie•e-s,
afraid- to break with him, 1. al-
most think he would have murder in
he were well out of my way. at any
would wade through a eat of raging'
fire to gain the ultimatum. Nodi -
to ltiehard Harcourt, the pcivertY-
hie heart if I told hint all waS
over forever between US. wish
pont millions should be min% 4(151
nig ()hall stand between. us!
your daughter India. I have vowed
a hitter letter front
him yesterday, in which he: said,
.1 will never give you up, r n.d a ;
ne el so help me Got ! 1 have
heard yen are going. to .Mrs. Lin-
cohirt) ball on the 2011) 'of this
nlit):0wnytehr., could never hope for an
I, the striteglibg village
entree into that fterthionahle society,
but mark 30t1), India,. I shall find
Inv way ecanehow into the coneerva,
torte Ifeet me there at the stroke
of ten, InIlia. f :411111 be standing
In the dense shadows of• those tall
magnolias at the left of the ene
• trance near the fountain. Fail me
if:yoti dare! for then and there'
we'shall have a final sittleineet. Yott
'must settle all this sickening doebt
bv taking me to your hostess, and
introdueing. me as your atilt -meal
intsbanch' 1 weuld die sootter than
-do that," •Intlia Wrote. "1 •rept at..
Iihs.chsaltd: never be safe while thataltra
• A moroent after India had seal(
end handed the tette]. to the i•ost-
Man, Zirs. Pierpont fluttevecl into
sriolopm clittehlnie the 'open min -
el ;have had such St artlimi news,
Iedia,". she said, ing• into' • a
seat. "Le Roy ie. ntattied!-Ile has
been wedded. • for veer, :two; menthe,
dat:his beide -hy. the' time this • •letter
ift.enarhrsitte,s7will be: here. .wi.h
e 'ho ,
India •Margrave sits belt upright
, in her chair, her • face 'grows pale,-
,and her hands clutch thp ebony and
gold ta.ble for support; the World
'seems to whirl around her, and the
sunehine to grew. dark. .• ,
A•ll in a moment her &cams per»
. 1h -her dreams wither -her golden
.a.ir eaetles ••vanish,-.'nnel ti, hotrible
pang shOois throegh".her. heart, -for
- site' loves helecietime• Le Roy -Pier-
pont as' only such .a.parthienate,
sonthern nature •Cis hers can love.
And in that itivful• •zeomenr, a.s she.
••seis • there. • a • fierce; fiery •Inttred
. eftrings tot in'her hart agaizott the
woman Who hal. won MM.- • • •
read you this teeter,
In -
d1,
134 1) l'
8ti:ft?e
1.F\Siil'ciau
elt.i.'.°'it'terte
t." h. first,.
thore is a :nicety: einglitig, of
sleighebells• outeide. • :• • • • • • , "
site springs .to .the windew„ draWs-•
aRitle the heavy 'plush curtains; and
cal( l)'S a gi impse of her i21'), 'manly
,
son lifting a elender seahelcul figuee
. •4 ept,tts a
• of 'a 'lovely,: dimpled., ait•lah 'roe*.
• framed in golden. hail-. •
There ehe hears Le Iloy's ringing
.voice in the corridor, and the • next
instant,, the. .reptintin themes 'Open
• the cloce and on the threshold meand
eLe Roy ,and his bride. .•
• ••India.Margritve did hole wait to see
time welepme to the ehe,had
fled .uneoticed from "the. drawing-
• rode, he" anothee• ' •
'Mother t" • cried Le • Roy, . sp•ring•-
• in.; forward and. elatiling". Mee"
(her Melds arnts !'have you • no•
word for year sore? NO .welecnne
for his. • beide? • This is Bonnylin
Piet•pont my• yoeing ,wire -'your
daughter." . . •
With a ml
idden niptilse boanylin
:sprung fot•watat' and elatipeti her tons
aronnd Le Iloy's mother's' neck; •••
• ''Love Ine,''. she untrimmed ebftly:
'if not for my -awn sake: for Le'
:1 he never known a OM-
ther's"love, and 1., have..,yeasned -for •
'youre• so Puede." ' ,
The Clasp of the 'two 0,111124
Mrs. Pierpont'n, neek tightened., end
two •sWeete Pith"! roeebed llps, eought
hers ill 11. 1(158,' •
Bless. her, who .09,11111 lieVe 'steeled
their heart ageinst herafter this?
• end' •Moll. Pierpont's heart went out
to her 'the spot.eyen 3)100)111
she :hail made up • her mind'. not 1.9
like Le Roy's young Nide.- • •
At that erotic:II-tweet-le:a etennire
• seene was beln r eneeted. at Gray-
'etone Hall in that far-off Virginia
village..
In the glow:, of the sonset,.a tall, .
bearded anan •hurriedly ,opene'd the:
massive gate, and strode raIddlY
through the snowdrifts that covered
the serpentine .path, tip to 'the, door,
and gaveethe bell a. vigerous
"Merey on us, who •can that .be'?"
• eXclaimed Miss Rochester;who still
reMaincd tut the gall in charge , of
the servants. .
. • •
suppose the best •way to find
out Who •it fp, IS to • anseier the
eatiamons„" .declared John, hetrying •
away.
'Dot one. of the serVatit maids had
forestalled him, 'and had flung' open
the door.
'rhea there wa.s 8 horrible shriek
*-the maid darted down t116 corridor •
like an arrow shot out of it bow. "
"Oh, mercy, mercy!'" she ethrieked
at the trip Of 'her voice, "WS a
ghost -it'd a ghotti."" '
The bearded Man in the. doetway
laughed grimly, taking off his hat
to' Miss Rochester, who had appear-
ed at the eries, with' it low, mirk
nionious bow.
"I see you recogniee Me, madame;
yes, 1 .ain thillil.Sev,erne: I came
within an ace of belonging 1.0 the
other World --a word explains the
situation, 1 wag attacked on Hal-
lotv-ave, reterning• front your party
by the way of the beidge, by a
Masked. footpad. We had a tierce
encounter, and Went over the rail-
ing Into the water togetheie
haVe heard the story of the'
marked handkeechief foond in the
mangleil corpse'$ haul, which was
found in the river and mistaken for
mine; the rascal snatched it' front
me in the Water, and attemptid t�
stranglo me with it. Ile deserved
the fate which overtook him,
"I Was rescued by a fisherinua,
and lay siok, delirious with brain
fever, two Monthe at hie house.
"Det to the Mildness which brine.
Me here, X wish to nee lion-- Mimi
Dare Without delay, if you please."
Miss Rochester (milled, and re-
plied:
"She lives at Orayptone Itati no
looger, Mr., Severna. Two menthe
ago, a Week after her Hallott-eren
party, she and Mr. Le Iloy Diet -
pont Were 'Married."
"Marqecil" the war's' 1)00 44,1fom
h
13asil Severna's lips in a hoarse cry
horrible to hear. "Married, and
week after her Hallow -e'en party -
do 1 hear right?"
"That is what, I said," responded
Mise Rochester, gazing at his dis-
torted, livid face in surpriee,
"Can yeti tell me where Iderpont
has taken her? Can you give me
her address?" he asked.
cheater, drawing Ilonnylin's hot let-,
a
te'r'C
fecrotlaninthye,c" nswered Miss Ito -
pocket. and reading
hint the clesing sentence, width run.
as follows;
" '011, Le Roy and I are 50 414)11.'
py! our happiness eeerns annost
too great to last; and we love each
other so very dearly, I often pray
Heaven if Le Roy were ever to be
at moment
taken front me, in th
that I might die, too, and be but'',
l 1. love him
ed in his gravel Oh
So dearly that I coe,k1 not live
woold rather
away front hint! I
die! We are going home to his moth-
et's, No, -A —'Avenue,,Boston,
and will reach there by the lima
you receive this. .
" 'Le Roy's, old sweetheart (whom,
he might one day have married
but for me,, he says) is .visiting his
mother, but 1 shall not be haloes
or the lovely India.. for I have all
.• .Le /.!0, y.y,sou,hresat
,rio.volgiy• . •
. •
and in haste,
Basil Severne's face. was a •etrdY
as he. listened. .Ills lips foatnect ancl
grew purple, his fierce eyes glowed
like jets of flame, and the - . veins
stoodout
on. his forehead
dlke
wirieecords..
110 had suddety changed fi'oni a'
Mari to a demon in,human shape-.
it fiend incarnate. • .
Without a word of courteous
' thanks, without c.oMmente he •turned.
_•on his heel and strode down the
snOw-coveted path, banginee'the gate
to after him with it bitter impre-
cation on Ms bearded lips, hurling'
.
muttered. • "I should ho c • come
'one blow from his boot heel. •
Beanylin's little spaniel, that 011)120foaming up to him, to death. with
midnight, train for Restore with a
heart' on fire; mhd for revenge,... •
week after my supposed death," he
" She married him..within one
. . .
*That nighe Basil Severne took the.
, back from my grave, even had . I
died, • to take vengeance ttpon • her
fpr"Stollaste et.'''ould • rather. die .: than
he separated from, her bendsoine
love:: 'tont she shell .be separated
from him. •She is •minee ,I shall
tear them asunder, ,or slay the maii
Who comes between us before' her
• very . eyes: She ehall leave liiin.end
come with me, even though it .hreake
.her heart: .She can Rye. on is. I
' have done' fel' Years) -without-. a
• heart." ' : •• . •
Even while he planned his •terrIble
revenge the train Steamed into. Bose'
ton, .• ' ' •- ' -'• •
. •
•
a
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0111A1'TElZ .V.
:Like.- One mad with. freneY, Jodie
• •
Margrave fled -1:6' ht' own roona, •
She. Would' ra,ther 1) )VC died a
thousand deaths than. welcome home
• Le:' •. 110y ilierppee'e loyely •young
In if e,
; "'Married!. • .elIe• ie autithel to ao-
other!'' she ' panted hoarsely,
I, oh, Heaven! I }bred: ,hini so."
• Tile .beautifehpassineate t.liern
girl !lung herself dOwn among • the
;lilies • •of the velvet. ,carpet, ,weeping
the wildest, bitterest tears t. that'
ever Welled up from a• taming, bro-
ken heart. • • . •
An inane idea ,took poSsession. of
her to •otitshine this lovely. young
.bride, to cativo] her, make the
young bride's fair loveliness •' pale
into • , insig•nificance •when contrasted
with her own dark, daazling splen-
dor. •
• Then Le Roy Pierfoint would Hee
what' he. had• lost; and reg, et, per-
haps...with a • bitter longing, that
he had not chosen her., . • •
- When she went down- to the draw-
•ing-room ao' hour later. ehe was ape
perently calfli. -She held out her
white, jeweled hand/to Le' T103',151U1
the Chaembewitching bewitchng snide, pe-
•
ctilittr to her; and she kisse'd Den-
•
nYlin's red mouth sweetly:. and es ,
shegvaihtil
xedelitit.o. those.
the bitterness of death' was in 'hei-
iearoAnd. Bonnylin, looking into ,.that'
lovely,- dark, sparkling' face, won-
dered vaguely wily Le •11.03' : had
ever chosen her,, when he might have
wedded this peerless., dark -eyed girl.'
Unfortunately, • she put • her
thougl-ts • into words when She
found herself atone with Le Itoy
that evening..
. "I hope you are not going to
get jealous Of Miss. Matgrave, Don-
nY," he said gayly "there
nothing �11 earth detest as metch
as a jealous woman -jealousy is
Worse theo a Scourge. lhave ne-
ver known • an instance of deep,
paesionate jealousy, but what it.
• en'd'Bedutinstfl ItYraogitv
elyOUldhave married
hee :if you had 'not Metne., Now.,
•
wouldn't you, • Le Roy?" ,she • per-
sisted, ' twining her white arms
around. his neck and 'laying her gol-
den head on his shoulder, .
"Posilbly,'.' he answered, thought-
lessly and carelessly:. "but you see,
my' darling, meeting you has made
a decided difference,. Mv. liking for
India Was' only a Mere fancy. When
inet•yeti, 1 !tee* fee the first time
'what love theaht.".
"But the cares for you, Le Roy.,"
• declared the little, unsophisticated
bride. . "I; am nure she does."
"Nonsense, my darting; that is
merely your imagination," • he said:
but nevertheless,. Man -like; he WaS'
rather pleiteed a.t theAdeet that he
Still had power to make the ihtek
eyes of it beautifol, girl grow
brighter when he Was near, ete
bring a flush of pleasttre to hee
cheeks a,t the sound of his foot-
eteps, "He Was certainly profound-
ly sorry'," he told himself. "Sure-
ly India Margrave had forgotten her
fancy for hint long since."
Ile watclied India curiously en-
ougli that evening, and as the Hours
Were on he 041/10 to the, conclusien
that Doanylin had hot beenfar very
lsirtati)igghA they had expected no
guests, Miss Mararaws kid come
down to the dratving-room elabor-
ately dressed. .
'That evening Lo Roy noticed,too,
that She wore a heavy amber sa-
tindress garnished with blood -
red passion roses at her theoitt, and
atherbcilitn
Re renebered that he had one
told her laughingly that he liked
that costume best of all those she
wore.
Bonnylin had been too intuit of a.
fun -loving romp t.o devote haeolf to
any great extent to meek; but mu-
gic Was a strong point with India,
the could play the piano with ex-
quisite skill, and sing divinely.
On the first evening of her' arrival
bottle, and for the first time since
'her nukrringe, Ontmlin felt herself
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CLINTON, ONT.
.t,.!•••
....707r.o.....savroa.r.tor...otarysTvata
. :
•
aultti. deserti d and . lentils:east range.: :
• ly homesick.•- • • •
At an -early • hair, pleading fatigue •
from the exciteineet of the day; Le .
Itoa'S !nether :had 'retired to her ••
• .rooin; leaVing her son and his bride.
, and-4mila in the. deawingereolei.
: Far an. hear.or nibt.e India had
, • been conversing eftiriteclly to Le'lloy
about the princiPel sotial events
that , had "transpired sir-Me:he' ' hadben'
To .tbbvi•saY• Cia:V.erstt.t.ien 'Bonnylin -
taken no Pact. ITow could .she, e
'when the .people they spolm of .were
all strangers t41 her? '
It •se happened; .also, that 'neither
of her toinpanions hadead.dressed
• . •
Word to her • •
She 'telt as though sheweredrop-
. ped out .01 their •.very remembrance
as she sat it. little allot " from
thezh„greeing with a strange thrill
of jealous pein•• at, her heart febni
the one to the' other, and vaeuele• •
regretting that :Le VeY had, ever
abetment. , her :to hie holm, until
after this beautiful Southern.
had goe away , •• •
Up• to this time Le'lley, had baert
accustomed to think of, snide...-. ,On,
talk to, only her, his bride.: •
.Now .his thoughtS,, smiles, •,cen-
versation, wero. all c•livichd with tine
otitt11.11410ilw.k:visreU
s mwtoiony. 41..mori jeci.
'MW attene
by ' that
S9 it seet. nadpoor Bort-
India had, turned to 'Le' BoY'Pier-
• .Pont sudden- animation when
she saw the, conversation was about
•
tobecome general..- • •
, 'Youhave not asked 1110 .to sing
for •you," she said. ."Iemarvel at
. that,' you 'are such • a worshiper' • 01.
.1110510." • - ' ,
. "Then •let me hasten to ask you
now,". he replied, smilline 'and leade •
• ing her• 'W. the /nem), .talang po-. • '
sition neer her to tarn the loaves. '
"I want you only to ,listee, Lo
Roy," she s,aid, in .0, , voice.
"The stings I love best I know by •
. heart, Sit .thitvn. in. that chair and
clream,''.• •
• "I shall dream More vividly if I
stand here whereI. can look at •
lvd.lw face,' he ansviered..ettilantly.
Thlery -word or this clielogue had
•• fixate . Upon , Bontiylin's elutrpentstl
She had, Often regretted. her :Want '
of ' power to please the fastidious ••
musical teste of her young '• hus-
band, but •never so bitterly . as now,
when she SaW that power . in. the "
PosSeseloh of [mother, end that oth-
er a beautiful' girl Whom... Le Roy
'might have. weclde4 .but for • here,.
self, •
.'When India Margrave began • to ,
sing., 'then Indeed Le .11ov .PierPorit
quite forget the little shrink-.
ing figure at the .further end Of
the 000111, sittiog in 'the .deep She-
doW of thee bay -window, • •
. The rich,sweet voice, so soft; BO.• .
low, Was filling the ••room with the
sweetest music.
It as like n,c) hm
uan •voiae '.
wthat
" he remembered -it was so seductive,
• so full of passion and teoderness-a
voire that told its owt1.. story -be-
wildering its listeners irresistibly.•
SI,e• sang •of love, Mighty,
500115love, that carried the heart
••of the great world by al arm -as the,
.stormy entrent earrieta,a !collet.
As India Nang, she raised those
dark, languishing eyes mutely to Le
floy Pleepont'S Ate°,
1)) 0t. • mat:malt.,
. • '
V.IPBEnt.'
The eorner stone of the ththool room
which g being added to the Presby-
terian- church was laid .011 Thursday
- last. The ceremony Was perfortned
. Mr, George McEwan, M. P., who af-
terwards laid one hundred dollars nti
lie collection plateeehtet so Many -
=suns for supposing that having got•
into Parliament 118 an Independent-
Libcral he wente to stay there as the
straight party • 'candidate. eSonte •
, peach mai:Mg. refreshmettes fol-
' towed. To the evening an'entertain-
ment was held which was well attend- • •
(I. The school toom will 01 }it about •
2000 and is cat ev:denee of the •theiv-
lug condition of the eluirchz