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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News-Record, 1902-08-21, Page 3August, 21st 1902 111.1.111.41 The Crime of Hallow -Fen: THE liEtRESS OP GRA,YSTONE HAIL. 1:3 •Eg By LAURA. JEAN LIESEy. Author of A Broken Betrothal," 41`rfte Heiress of Cameron Hall," Parted at the Attar; Etc. \R'S . Pr. Montgomery met him at the - door. • •It's all right, my boy I" he cried, with chewy netu•tiness. S'She'e get- ting along capitally; a day orotwo Of absolute rest, and she will be as good as over. Dui: 1 wont eep you standing talking here, She is in the inner room; you shalt go to her," Ah, what a reunion that was 'Tow he clasped Bonnylin to his madly -beating heart, kissing her and caressing her and weeping ever her. A few words convinced him thett she had no idea as to how- she es- caped from her prison house. Ile saw the doctor had wisely spar- ed her the recital lest it should prove too much for her and overcome her completely. • lerapk Fenton and Dr. Moutgom- ery were soon called into the room, and with his arm lovingly claeped around the sweet little bride who had been so miraculously snatched from the grave, Le Roy arranged his future pinus. it was decided that they should go abroad with as little delay as pos- sible. What more natural than that the bereaved husband should seek other clinics at once, leaving behind him forever the story of the sorrowful pat? • Bonnylin, heavily disguised, was to go on the same steamer; find once across the seas, a new life of hive, hope and happiness was to begin for them. It is useless to go into detail ex- plaining all that happened within the next week. Le Roy had nurchased his ticket for the Servia, bound for Liverpool. His friends had engaged the stateroom adjoining his for a 'widow who was booked us Mrs. Black. Was it accident or fate that caus- ed Basil Severne to take passage on. the same steamer bound for Liver- pool, and a still crueler fate that as- signed him the statei•ooninext to Bonnylin's ? CHAPTER XXIX. forward, •grasp her' In his strong, steel -like grstsp, crying out "Ilonnyliu, •my wife, What are you dein bei?" ' Then she must tell WM. Tell him how she had believed hint (lead, and married the Mall she loved. • God help her, how his harshlaugh would ring out on the s• mmer ate, aed. he Would cry out with fierce ex- ultation • . , 'Yea are not his wife; you are mills n YOU must leave hira and cones With Inc." . Then he would tear her front Le Roy's arms and force her to go with, him, that inennt the darkness and bitterpess of death. If she demur- red, made the slightest resistance he would in malignant fury' cry out: to the world who she was. That would be the revenge he would take upon her. • • • These thoughts flashed with light- ning rapidity through. her brain, and all in the space of the moment, which seemed like long ages; in which he had been standing there. '"X beg your pardon, xnadam," he said, ia the harsh voice she remem- bered so well; "I hope I haVe not startled you I" . . A faint, choking cry broke from 13onnylin's white, stiffening lips. She tried to turn and fly', Mit Heaven its self seemed against. her; she had not even power to lift her white, trembl- ing hands or •turn her face away.. ' As no reply fell from her lipsliasil Severue turned his eyes from the star-Sowa wave & and looked at her, He started back, with o !terrible oath, . • • "Bbritiylin .1" .he cried hoarsely ; "ala, • fair of face and .false of heart, I have tracked you down at last, heve 1 ?" In. an instant he had gained her side, and was grasping •the white arm that was Upheld to -shield her. Then' foie ore awfut moment, while the sea 'waves moaned .around them and the silvery moonlight drifted down upen her terrified faee, there was profound silence between them., As a: 'frightened dove stands mes- merized, petrified before a deadly ser- Bonnylin stood on the deck of the pent, • Bonnylin stood- ,before steamer watching the blue line .01 Seriatim, In the cairn of the, sumiter shore as it faded away in the • night her '-doods• had 'overtaken her. tame with childish delights sadly at His. otiger-distorted. /am lividwith variance, it is to be feared, with the arotised hatred • •and triumph,. was. character of the quiet widow she had terrible to see: Bones/in.'s tees assumed. . Whip to behold in its pale; pathetic But her happiness was short-lived. • Icivelinese and Unutterable fettr.. Berme the st( anier had been an hour "I have found you at last 'res- at sea, she began to experience sea- 'putted- Basil Severn°, harshly,• "The sickness, and retired at ouce to her . hour that :1 hev0 longed for'hae cabin. it was fully eight days be- • come at last !", fore she was able to leave it; and to • His foce• darkened., • and in a single mitki:the matter all the more pitiful instant . it •• seemed to grow •almost Le Roy dared not go to her. Shefiendish .in its awful •fierceness. • was .elitirely in the charge of the 1 "You are 'shecked to see me alive, steamer's physician and the ste: I can. readily 'believe," .he went on. wardess. harshly. "But let me tell you, I 011 the evening of the eighth day, .wotild. hove come' back' .from mY i ‘ • • •ry 0 the physician's or- - grave to have haunted you for what'• ... der, she stole silently out an deck, you have done," he Vent on bitter - eagerly scanning the laces of the.. IY•'' "How dared- you Marry the. PttSsengers loitering about, in search week afteis'inyseettppoeed,deatii?" . of ls. Roy. She could net siatesenewered 'hilt). I se st see him. I" she told her- if her life had depended on it. The. •• self, desperately. . .. very. !lir, that he breathed seemed to . Ile was pot there. Walking to ae stifle her, and his livid eyes seemed • s . . , isolated part of the deck, she made scorching into her very soul. up her mincl to wait patiently for "t did, oat 'die to please you,". he • him; sooner or later he would be 'Wept on. ''I was spared—saved by s • sure tosinake his appearance. ' , a sailor—w.hile rays assailant drown, - .t As Bo n nyl in leaned over the rail- -ed. After a two, months' dangerous ing, drinking in the exquisite beauty .illness I recovered, and weak • as I of the ocean scene, and listening to was, nutde my ' ways, to Graystone the melody of the song the wild hall. - • s ' ' • . waves wei e singing, the hours flew . • "I. hove always • been a Cold, harsh' by unheeded. •stern mon--the last persoa Wheat you One by one the passengere had would suspect ef .being -.Wrecked on quitted the cleck, leaving the lonely the rock of love, yet. •that has been night hour, and Lo herself. . , . ' . ,.., ing to look on a woman's face, But figure lettning on. the railing to the' my fate solitude of the fast -approaching mid- . '`I have lived all'my life never cars And s•et Le Roy had not put in an love comes to every human heart appearance.• sooner or later, At -forty I Met my . Still she felt sure that he would doom, for. it. was then. that. 1 looked mine if she waited. , into Your blue eyes • and. was lost. 'Oh, how heavenly it would bli to Fool that I ' we& ' to allow myeelf to remove this heavy widow's cap from be charmed by your dimpled, fails 1k1, head, and these horrid blue false face ! X couldahnost cerse glasses froin my eyes for one little myself for inst.fallys The wisest and minute," she murmured, taking a bravest men are Seldom ferttinate in: hasty glance around and seeing she love aftairs: • . • • • was, as she supposed, alone. • "There are sone men who cen nev- i Tastily unts Mg the widow's cap, er , win the. hearts. of *omens Who. re - she let it fall bac upon her neck by pel love, whose very preseece is'irks • its string, and with deft fingers re. some: 1 was all of,this. to you, . moved the odious, troublesome ' beautiful Bonnylin. You hated me at glasses. •first sight, yet the more .you despis- How the night winds caressed the ed and. shrank from. me; the more •I• lovely, golden curls and the sweet,. worshiped you. When a mart of d 1 in pl ed face. forty, loves,. it is with a paSsion .as , Iler surroandings carried her beck deep as his 'own soul ; such Was my to that 'memorable night on the • love foe yeti. Forty tints -old in ocean steamer, when Le Roy, her . your eye's,, I was riot young and gay Oaring, handsome lover -husband, had enough to please you :and though risked his brase, young life to save, you married. me because of the tee- ters. • rible iwoi d I ' held over your, bead, Through what strange scenes they we were further apart than the earth had been together since then. Was and the stars," . . she the same willful, petted caprici- A low moats broke front Bonnylin's OUS darling of those days ? She ask- 'UM dying (WO • cry"' the Pitying ed herself. . %Voters ; but Basil Reveille was so sBut still, though I have ouffered engrossed in recalling the Past that so much, I have Le Iloy's loves" she he.never heeded it, but Went on sloW- murmured thankfully. ly 1. '• . • A slight noise directly behind her '",PhiS..beings me back . to the time Stn.rtled her, and glancing hastily of my illness, how I ealled for. you around, she saw a genleman tend- by night and by day as I 01.4sed en ing beside her, with both of his arms my feverish pillow, s I shell never Ironing on the railing. . forget the snowy. afternoon I opened Why did the very sir seem stifling the gate and walked up the serpee- and oppressive? Why did the gold- tine path that led to Groystone en light seem to die out from the MIL ' moon, the stars to fade, the beauti- ' "X had said over and over again fel sea to grow black as hades, and ' to my famished heart, 'When Donny - the heart in her bosom to beat With lin heerd . of my death, did -those onc• terrible, awful throb ? blue 'eyes fill with tears ? Did one The do -bell:tied man took a step kitul feeling 'thrill her heart for the foi•ward, and Bonnylin raised her husband of an Maur, whom she hot white arms, es though be: eeching never lOved 7' • And •when. X stood Heaven to ectve her; it chill so bitter, Safe end tinhitemed on the threshold, so deep, she thought it must be I fed my • fond, foolish heart with the death. crept 0 er her. Even before belief that you would fly to itte with his voice fell upon her terrified ears, open arras, crying :. '.0h, Basil, My she knew the horrible truth. --it was husband 1 . Thank God 1' • Basil Severne, IRO the grave given "How X pictured by night and by back its dead ? The man whom She ditY 'What that meeting between Us had believed to be lying cold and Would be ! 1 protnised myself that still in death, the man who had fore-. X Would devote my life hi trying to ed her into that hated marriage on win your heart and inake you love that fatal ITallow-eve, the Man from itle. /nstead of that, what did T whotn she had believed Heaven had find ?" he asked, fiercely, old almost freed her, stood in the flesh tefete' involuntarily his hand crept to her lovely White throat, and Ida clasp .\_Ilis dark, burning fierce eyes Were tighteited around it, AXed upon the water -..it wits only a question of a fete fleeting Wends be . 'CHAPTER; XXX; fore he would turn theist upon Iter.„, face—and then—ehe dared not think- "Instead of that, What did Iliad?" What would happen then. • he repeated fiereely. "Miss Thichest. The shock was gm tvWful, So hoeer met me at the door, and the hor- rible, Bonnylin stood like one dazed, rible Words that greeted .me when, / rooted to titer Spot, /healing like a... called for you *ere., that you had Married, and gone atvay. leaf III a Wan, $ho pita eXpeeted Mai to WIN( " 'Urri4d 1' I Cried 404_0'4 quite 1 CLINTon ay:WS-RECORD believing nay ienSea were, playing false—that I had not heard aright 'When did she marry, and whom ?' " 'On the week following your Hal low -e'en party,' elle informed me "and the happy gentleman was 1.41r Le Roy Plerpant, of Avenue A, Bos ton.' "I turned on ixty heel, cursing, lik one driven Iliad. Alitrried—and th very week after my sulMoSed death You would, not honor oven MY fleRM •ory by waiting it few months 0 weeks. "That thought turned me into. fiend incarnate. I Vo*Ocl a terribl oath of vengeance against Yon, vowed that I would hunt you dawn and tear you from your lover's arras and force you to go back with me. "Yoa shall rue the day you wed decl—one week after my suppose death -‘-fair, false lionnylin. 1 wit show what love turned to hatred ca do. • "It will be it glorious vengenanc to force you to return to me—t snatch, you from. love ond happiness to torture you with the knowledg that you are aline, and mine yo must be while your life lasts. Th shackles you hate still bind you fast You ehall find that I, and I alone am your lord and master. Love ra you initY not, • but obey me yo shall "Go to Le Roy PlerpOnt, ana him what X have said—tell hire all. "Tell him when the steamer land X shall quietly 'claim you, Let him denser or make an outcry, if he dare and in that moment your freed= ay, your very life, will be lost to you. IWouki rather see you die on the gallows, innocent or guilty than see you happy with the man who has won your heart, and whom yoa love, "He will realize this ; he will •un- desLand hew completely you are In my Power, and for your sake he will not -dare raise a firiger to aid you to escape your just fate !" • Ruffian nature toad stand no more, . It was quite true all that he had said, ; all terribly wrong, yet none the Tess time; He could claim her—this stern, dark-browed man, who had vowed to take such terrible vengeance against her ; he eould tear her from her darling's arms, defying her•loSe, scorning and jeering at her agonized prayers, Poor Donnylin: tried to repress the moans Of mortal terror that sprung to her pallid lips. { been saved. fo Then Dead Severne was still alive , to persecute her and hunt her down. That he would search for her until ha found her again she well knew, , that is, if he had but the slightest , inkling of what her fate hod lame-. - that she had been spared, But lie should never find her—neV- • pr. She would hill herself before e, his very eyes and thus end it all ere I he should ever again lay halide on , her. ✓ Poor Dormylin tried to look the future in the. face—the horrible fu - a ture tvhieh seemed doubly dark to • her now. X "Heaven grant that he may not , lind me and part me front my "love," , was the pitiful prayer she sent up to • the Great White Throne. - Poor' child, she Was too innocent, d or rather too ignorant of God's laws 1 and man's, to realize the grievous • •ivrong she was committing in cling- •ing to - this honorable, noble youug e mans -it she was Basil Scdterne's wife. o • She was blinded by this mighty , power of love. O "Let me try to forget that hor- u x•ible Hallow -e'en, and that one act e of folly that accrued from it," ;she . cried out Sharply to herself, "let me , -blot out the past as though it had e never been, and think that my .life U dates from this moment." ' Poor guilty Donnylin's conscience 1 needed no accuser. It would have • .1•-•wn teors from. „the eyes 01 the $ hardest hearted, even though they realized 'her position, to see how ,she , clung to Le • Roy's • love, the love ,'.• Which should never have been hers. • She might as well haste attempted to beat back the waters of the mighty ocean. • The darknessof death seemed to Close in around her, she threw out her white arms With, the imost pites• ous -cry that " ever arose from a breaking heart; the lovely bine, eyes dilated wildly. • . She had heard a footstep swiftly approaching—a footstep she knew but too:well. •• "God be pitiful 1" was the cry that fell from .her white, quivering Hoe, • • It Was Le Roy Pierpont. • This was the one secret she had kept carefully locked in her own beeast.'froin Le Rost,' and now her Mortal foe would drag, the skeleton from the eloset • of the dark Past, and Le •Roy, her heart's leve, would suite •the day ,his fair, lismorable name had been coupled With herstup- •on the lipS of men. • • She was not Le Roy'S'bricle. Ile would never porde!' her for 'keeping the crime of that Hallow -e'en A gie- cret from him, for. inthe eyes, of Heaven that forced. marriage was a crime that nothing could blot out. , With hurtled • footsteps Le Roy pierpont was crossing the- deck. He had seen and.' recognized: Bonnylin, though her back was turned toward him. Re 'mistook the tall figure be- side' Iterfor one Of the sailors-. Ile .could not hear what they, Were say- ing; for the.. wind 'carried the 'sound • of their voices away from hint• , "How imprudent of Bonpylirt to talk to one 01 the sailors, and at . this time • of , night," • he thought, with sudden feet—she was So . inno- cent, thoughtless, and childish. He • Must 'certainly wara her. against re- peating any •such rinpruslence.' A death -like despair fell over Bon- nylin as Le Roy approached. A sud- den impulse surged from her heart to her- brain tO spring to Le Roy's side, Clasp her miens about him, awing "Oh my love, whom I have loved better than. life, Protect me; rather than giveine over to in5i mortal foe, strike me dead with your own hands, dear, and dying X will bless you. • I cannOt live without you, LeRoy,nty darling, my. lost love f" 'the impulse had no sooner entered Bonnylin!a dazed brain than she act- ed upon it, • 1Vith a wild, agonising shriek, that startled the Sea birds whirling about and arottud-the• steamer,she wreache ed hei• White OM free front Basil Severne's grasp, flew over the deck, and cast • herself with wild cries,. heart-rending to hear, into' Le Rey Pierpones outstretched arms.. • "Oh, Le Roy, intt loVe !" she. panted, bllt that sentence never was fihished. • •. . Over the water there rose shrieks and groans and terrible 'cries, mingl- ed with •the sound of hissing steam.. and crashing timber. • • It was the story of a careless en- gineer, who had gone to sleep at his post.The result. was, the great boilera had burst, carrying death ahd destruction in their path. • • In an instant the =Jostle steamer, Withitt such • a few hours of port, was a total wreak, and was rapidly sinking, and its lying freight 0 Minion beings *ere precipitated into the sett. There was no time for life-boatS. Wite shall picture that horrible Scene upon which the pale inoott beamed and the light Of the stars fell ? With a strong clasp that no- thing but death could sever, Le Rey Pleepont clung to Bonnylins exclaim - Ing: ""I'Intult God we are together, dar- ling. If God intends it, we Will be saved together, if not—we will die together, lionnylin, My lore 1" Even a:midst the horrors of that awful moment, it atm& him chill- ingly that she should wafer : "Dotter death than life, Le Roy. No one eould part us from oath other in death." He had eatight onto a plank of driftwood' and though his arms Were f strained; bruised and swollett, Le Roy Siteceeded in clinging Lo it, and hold- Jttg Donnylin up, until day broke, and With the (limn help Cane to hand. The tereible Wrtek bad been The life -boat had landed the..pecti- e'd steamer Passengers at a small,- • isolated English village. Le Roy was glad to ncitice that aulidet the fright and confusion the passen.gers had paid no heed to Bon- • nylin's personal appettra.nce, and the absence of the• blue glasses and the widow's cap. indeed they could not place the little golden -haired crea- ture, none • of them remembered hay.- .. iindgenstseitoy.n• her, • on ,the stearaer, Even the captain was puzzled as to •her. • ' CHAPTER XXXI. • • • Li- Roy Pierpont lost: tie ' time in engaging . a conveyanc.e to take Don- nylin and hiniselt to an isolatedvil- lage out of the range •of general travel. . • During the drive' he was fizna,Sed and not a little •anxious at the great change that had eome Over 11°IntlYWiina.S. e only ''.nat./ al, he thought, t"that she should be highly nervous • . and agitated 'atter •puch-ii thlilltng escape frotnit watery. grave;" . but.. he. Was test prepared for what fol- 171etiing er white: arms 61.•Ound Ms. neck and ;slipping down on her .knees before.him in the coupe, and looking up into his face with a look. in the paitss--blue eyes.: he had never seen. there. before,. 13oinlyIln implored•shim , not to remain, -day or an hour, abroad that they ayoid, and to return by thci next • Ocala:ter to, , Dosten or New York. • • • Le lioy looked sit lier aghast. . • . "You forget,. darling,. how licippy • we peoinised ourselves we :hould. be .1 over here,'! he said, attempting to chier her up. "We are to. beginlife anew together, you knew. , We will perchcise. a Villa. Jo some. beautiful,. ' ' plettieesque Sind, 'and five only for• each ether. What more. contentment.* 'could this. atorlit'hold for us 1" „ • • • "If You love me take me, away •at. • once, LeRoy I" She sobbed bitterly, .. burying her golden headinher teens! • blings hands, "If thiS s a caprice,. there was -never anything heard like it, ,Bonny - he " said ravel "'Sureo was not ill—she must have constant change of scene—or die. The hapless young husband renew - ° his tenedrelperh'sl°eIsisenap ite°siraptet'anl:rto to lh hint more pitifully than ever. Lt was such a quiet, beautiful j lace Le Roy decided that despite Donny- lin's protestations they should re, main there for the present. And the day following this ' an- nouncement Bormylin heard that guests Were expected there soma thne during the next fortnight, • ' "Do you know their names and if they are Americans ?" milted Donny - lin, faintly. "Yes, they are Atnerican gentle- Men—toutists, traveling' for plea- sure," the landlady answered, men- tioning the twines of five or six. "There was one name I eould not quite make out among them," con- tinued the lady --"it seemed to be Herue—or Severne—it was blot- ted so it was almost illegible." • The earth seemed to reek • beneath Donnylin's feet, and the _odor of the roses ainongst which she Stooi to stifleher—but she. recovered hew - self. by o mighty effort. Theywere not comings -for a fortnight; and even though her deadly fear were realized, even- though it were Basil Severn°, Jia should not find her here. That afternoon, when, Le Roy re- tut•ned from a drive, he found Bon- nylin in a state of nervous excite- ment, and he' blotted himself . for leaving her by herself even for .oue short hourSthough she had begged ltlm to go; How fair she looked as she ad- - vanced 'hurriedly to meet hire. He :carried that picture of his young wife With Jam for many a long day as he saw hees-thart, standing on the stems porch, -the dark -Crimson roses that •climbed over the archee! ,,stoor. forming a glowing background for - the little figure in the white mull dress, with the pale •white blossoms on her breast, and the slanting rays of the red gold suplight falling on hercurling hair atid upturned face. ' 'When they were by themselves, I3onnyl1n brought •• knelt down 'athis feet, telling that shci couldhappy longerhe must take her away 'rit once. . . For a. moment he • caressed the golden head thoughtfully; "It is quite intsoesible, .he declared, "we' xnust wait until we get a remittance frinn home to set- tle our bilis here and take us on; it will be along in the • courae. Of a' • week 'or so I dare say," • • ' Hew was he to know that down deep in her heart she was moaning. -Out. in agony ; . ' "A Week or so: Heavenhelp me, • my life might'. be blasted by: that time laid in • ruinsand the bitter-. . ness of death surrounding me." . • No WOridOr she pleaded With him in • words eloquent and tearful, pleaded • with.all the agony a prisoner feels as bo ,raises his 'eyes to the face Of his '..juilge to stay' a, death sentence. Yes,” , it • was life or 'death with Beinnylin. s.seelliolena.et„ -her' very soul. _ lay. in hi ds For : the first time in his life she Conlil not ohange his resolution. •She rase from her kime.s altd•loOke.' ed•at him 'with a whltc,. awful face. • ."Be reasonable,my darling," . • be ealds holding out. his amrns to ; .het' "t wotild do anything 'in tba• World to please Yoe or aria fronis.You . one, Smile; . hitt this is impossible, . • You. know nothing .of. businesS• affairs, . -and I Wouldn't'. have your • pretty head 'nsaddled• with • it • for worlds, for if there is:anythirig 1 ab- hor. it' is a, hard, crusty, . business womitn 01. course .you did net know, dear, that affairs 01 ties kind.neecl it Sew des% and now . that I have explained it to you, say .to yourselfs • 'Le Rey, know? best, Week will not matter; then he will tole° Me wherever I choose." • • For answer Bonnylin drew o deep breath, • then fell down tit, his feet in it deep swoon. It Was dusk . when she regalned consciousness. • Le RoY 'teas sitting •thoughtfully by her couch,. She begged him to leave .her. alone; o'brief hour, she told him; and - :to Milner her, -he left, her by herself, and went down into',the,office. • . Creeping stealthilyto a Werdrobe,„ she qpiekly donned' her hat and sack; and.. glided 'noieeleesly . from the room, taking care to lockthedoor • and slip the key in her .Pocket, • - et strange, . desperate resolve . had • come to her, and she trusted to fate to help her .carry .it out • - "A• *mean, has been -known to de 'eteanger things than. this. for love's • sweet sake," she Muttered .pantingly; as slidhurried on her fatal • errand. bply Heaven could have • ioretolld the bitter end so near. • reason •will tell you • My clazding is better, for 'us to •renattin here." • •• Do not tot ter° Inc Le °Roy 1" she ..answered. ''We 'must :leave here I Es•eey hour we remain 'here is killing me 1 • I shall • never restuntil • we • are: safe on the 'ocean again I". . . •A• strange suspicion flitted throush • Le' • Roy's mind, frightening ' 1, en greatlY. ''Was his beautiful -• • 'little htide's reason becoming' • dethroned ?" • he asked himself in •disinay... . . . .She 'had passed tlireugh so much it would be little wonder. •. : "Prof/Ilse me we ,sitall go hack at once, dear," 'she urged. . "Listen to my Prayer,or the hour will come in wh telt . you will be Seery that you did not heed you- iriu- remertiber ',.that I *knelt at year feet and im- plored you, if you loved me, to take. ine back 1". " . • •• • 13Y this time they had rea.eb.ed their. destination—a 'small, 'retired inn on the mei iitainsside, in the hecirt Of att, *lilted village. ' ' With fe:u.fui eyes Bonnylin . regard- ed the green etanding. atetind 'the door ofthe hesteley, as she stepped fi•ont the coach. She quite expected to ste it dark form etime quickly.for- • ward from among therm snatch her hand •it'oni Le Roy's- aens,' and cry. 04 fiercely:. "You are my wife! You must . leave him, and ,•coine with . me I" • . • . ' • • . • 'Inquiee if there arnany strangers here; Le Rey," she Said 'faintly, as ,. they 'catered the cozy. Sitting • The information that there were none comforted her slightly; yet the torture of the week they passed' there :nearly drove hermad.. At the sound of every footstep, every -loud, harsh voice, the bitter evy•would tie° tit Tionnylin's. white lips.: • • MY doom hail ladert upon me 1 It is Basil Severne 1" Only these Who have knetvit the weight at some pitifui secret—who f• have lived with. a sword suspended ever their head—can feel foe. her, and • Vealize what poor, helpleSs; beautiful • . Tionnylin. suffered. •• Hew long could she live dreading exposure with the light of every day, wondering how near She was to her • dooin, as the, sunbeams marked the flight of each passing hour? How long could she keep her terrible Neeret away from Le Roy?. How many days, hoere, and weeks Was Heaven to let her live in the sun- , shine of the love she was periling her Soil so piteottsly to cling to? When was the volcano to burst beneath her feet? When Whettd asthle tiloQ•nwadloon,tog sweo over her could she endure this terrible' MIS- pense without goitig mad? Poor Bonnylin had wedded Le Roy Plerpopt with a heart as ffrOm guile as a littleee e child's. Her. ptlfuil oily lay in the fact that she still citing to him, branding her soul by cooing the truth front him when She 1i:revered that Basil SO erne lived. She could never tell what day or vhat hour fate would bring Iter face eighted from a lighthouscz in the gray .dawn, and life -boats had been 1, ordered mit to the rescue at. once, I "Saved, my darling," murmured Le Roy, faintly, as she was taken front his arms and placed in one of the Ilfeeliegig but When he elattiliers to f tc w't) hi Th to mercy for her after thgtt. She titsvv better than to ex. eet it at his hands. They had beett stopping a week at Ci charming 'villa on the Ilhine—when 1. became apparent to Le /toy that ed In after her she clung to hint with p ravel; She had need of 11oate4are Whitening Cheeks and dilated eSteS. and reSt. Still, She persisted She She had heard the captain isay not a foil ba4 been Iost—every 011,9 Itad oor JittIe ilonnylin 5101.8 tO0 111 to CHAPTER. XXXIL • It was it daring .venture, bet Does nylin resolved to riskit; her life,. her lotto and ell her.ltopes of hang 11088lay in the isene.' • . Pausing before the office of the In- ternational Cable . Company, Bonny - lin gianced hastily nround. No one Was 'in Sight, and she herriedly tared. , • One of the young operators sat at , his desk, deeply absorbed in ' the evening copy of one of the London papers . • A faint \odor of • roses • floated thi•ough • the office,' and 'raising his heed, he sew standing at the • win- dow before him the most beautiful vision: of girlhood he Mid eVeebe- held—a lovely, .white, Tiathetic .face fronted in curling golden hair, . and soft, appealing blueeyes gazing at him • from lieeettth long, goldeft. lashes. In aa instant the youtig man Was On his feet. The paper. had no Ne- ther interest for him. "Hoovered What a gloriotle little creatisre!" Was his Inental ejacula- • thin as he gazed at her with admir- tng eyes. e • "I—I—want to send a etiblegram," Said Ileiliesdin, faltering piteously, studying his face withsone swift glanee. The young Man placed paper and itik before her, handing her his owe gold pen. Stilt flonnylin hesitated, Dare she trust this young operator? 1Vottild refuse her request with horror too great for words, or would he gt'ant Donnylin nerved herself for the or- deal. "I—f—want to send -Cablegram," 5110 repeated, raising her great blue eyes to the young man's face, "bet hardly know how to go about it." she murmured confusedly. "T shall be very pleased to tleitist Yoll•" refilled the young operator. Prolatbly you Wish the message sent ; Orough without delay," Uotitiyliit flushed, then tuened dead. ly pale, then flushed again, "You are mistaken," she Milled, with still more confludon. "I want the eablegrant sent to it person In this very villege, and 1 Want it to wear its 'though it tante #.014 g - 5.1 ton." the witter...-in Des- ' ypheoerrusnognpretty raleirtee:111.d. possibly get into The young man looked in bewilder- ment et the lovely, flushed face be- fore him. Then. be sanded, wondering what stranger freak; than • this it. ca'bilWegre acomulhderneo, 0.111)tddlabtlYe Cone from over the water," he an- swered. "That would be a deception, you know." over the blank she had filled out, which :an As follows: "Yr. Le Roy Pierpont, Westlakp . Villa: • steDeitomo;inrgtnheciant)e at once. Takm first "Dated Boston, tAo.n.., "I Ain sorry I -cannot send it fo is impossible," he -said, mil A sudden dimness seemed to creep over rionnylin's 5011508, and her biu eyes filled with the bittsrest tears which touched his heart deeply, "Oh, sir!" she asked piteously "haven't you some friend over ther —in. Boston, .1 mean— whom you cotild get to send it hack here?" 01:eltd leyiuome.ng opei•ator ' drlt itt eW .hac The -very suggestion , stag surefy cannot be aware. O *hat you are asking inc to do," h 'rigid; not unkindly: and readily see-- ing. 'ehe •did not. comprehenth d xnatter as a deception, ."Will you tell xne the object of this?" "Yes," said Bonnylin,- amiling through her •tears. "The gentleman adelressed is my hushand, We con here front Boston lately.' X haV been pleading with hint. to retur home; but he is deaf to my prayers I thought this would he sure to in fluence him," she faltered. • Re Was relieved and glad to know ,t ho • he .object of hueh it proposition was .itfim.ent, only .ft *young girl's Schein to hav er own way and outwi her husban'a":41esscould not • under- stand hew a husband, Mid' pdssilil refuse this golden-hairett d`-fitti.....Srati, titre anything: Ando thrill of pointment shot throegh his hear at the thotight that she wet.; married. "Then you absolutely refuse me?' said Boneylin, piteously. . "1 must," he replied. "If I sent it,. do • you know -what the result *mild be to me?", • -"No," faltered Bonnylin, tri3mbling nervously. "As eoon as the deception.was dise covered,' Which 'would be bound. to be the case ultimately, 'I shoeld .not only lose my place here, hut would be thrown into prison, The company is, mate' as parole' ahout the mos - sages that pass in and out . of our hands; as the insPectors.. of the mails are in regard to what passea through • the niails. Think of the die - :grace, that Would Soliow Me, for it never would -be forgottea While 1 lit ed; if I were accused. of lending myself .to such a scheme," he • Said 'earnestly. . . • think , I comprehend .what. you 'mean'," answered Bonnylin, "I 'did pot .keotte.it would be:looked :at in that ,way. • Please fOrget •such a'reqUest was nuicle„." • ' . Before .he could' reply, the little fig- ure .in the long, -dark' cloak, and the sweet ' fa,ce' fronted ..in. 'sheen , of golden hair, had. vanished, • . . Hurrying heineward, BonnyliniseireelY tensed 'for breath until • she found herself once' More in her . own apartMents.' She had hardly. thrown .off her .cloak and hot ere there was knoac at the 'doer, and she hotted Le Roy's 'voice calling: • "Bonnylin, I say., 'Bonnylini why in Heaveit'S •namo ,••• dcin't yeti- answer me? open the door, dear.". ' Mechanically, she pressed the room, sr I back th • 1 It d flu • h What shrunk your woolens ? Why did holes wear so soon You used common soap. UNLIGIIT OAP REDUCES •zaambrsip Ask for the Octagon 'tar, pa4 1 hear her hent beat as she asked the r question. - "On the ninth—that will be the end of the week," was the thoughtless re - NY' e Poor hapless llonnylial How often , a slieht mistake --a word, leads to a tragedy, and wrecks a htunan life. ; tuadvertently the landlady had men - e tioned the ninth ns the date on, which • her guests were to arrive„ when she Imd meant to say the eme. oath. normYlin breathed freer. The ninth Was .the day on Which. Basil Severno f , Would reach the villa, Ah, Well! She • was to leave on the eighth, and en the etehth the steamer on which Le . e ltoy had taken passage was to egtiL Why need she tremble'? By the titne her mortal foe reached the villa she would be on the broad; blues ocean, He would be surato search for her e for long 'Years through every part of e Fitment), never dreaming she had re. A. turnedtoBoston under the existing circumstances. • -•,Thus ,she fod her poor, fluttering• . heart on false fencies, and. her doont, came upon her quite unawares. Slow- ly the days glided by, and the fate- . e fill morning of the seventh dawned t . • CHAPTER XXXII', • - The .eventful :morning brought with t cloud tO warn. Bonnylin of lin- • ' • . teway, she strolled out in7'000 gars • den, down the highway, and on "- ward the margin of the stream that .' skirted the village. . Suddenly the 'sound of .swiftly ap••;. preaching footsteps fell upon . her. ' eag, and through the interlacing branches of -the trees she sawn man .approachingi but Instead of raising her blue eyes as she walked along, • she kept them fixed 'dreamily upon the pretty wild floaters at her feet. • • The man did .not• pass, herg'instead;. he steed still iti the path before her; •- and the harshest, ••bitterest sneering ' laugh thatever was booed fell upon .• the sunlit ale. . • . With 'a swift..intnitiOn of dread', . yriorinylin raised her blee, 'terrified .; 'eyes and saw standing before her • Basil 'Severne. She tiled :Ago fly past hien, *but he put' out -his hand •:, and, . .,.catight her white arm. • • ' he •cried aerceiy, "We' meet • again, Did 1 not tell You 'that you should 'never eectuid. me? knew yetis' bad been- saited. I saw •hiin eand yea . . into tke heat; then I lost sight .of „ .voig.'.T. hen been Zealously searching . for youever eiiice;SI want you. to -ansteee me •Ottequestion; have • you. . • dared to come . here with . Le • ROY. Pierpont„ after 'whet happened - that night • on the deck of the ill-fated. steamer,. knowing that yetis heionged t� ine-s-not to him?" . • ' "Spare 'me," murmured Bonnylin, piteously; '."in mercy' spare 'me," she' kneeling. down in the S long, daisv-studded grass atShis lett • and. raisi het beautiful, teri ifled Sae „. . patli•d with. despalis'• to' hie "X ani • at • youi• mercy; oh, be pitiful," s' Pc feoWned . darkly ution.her, it: Itis igt3rionilips f • lilells.k.01.1i.a: ..cureing, • .".IA.Sten to what T . have to say, Deheyln;-fair. bride, — who dared• - Stand at • the .aitar with 'another . • .scarcelY • a weekafter rayssimpotsed clentli—listen to me, 1 Will: be more '. Merciful tnyod then You, deserve; :1 • will 1:e what you 'asked Mete he • • To beecantinitecl.). . With a...quicle step. Le. Roy entered the boudoir.. • : ' • : '"I have bee'n. here ,twicewithin the 7 hour, .knocking for Remissions Why did .you refuse to open the deer,' . . . • , . darling ?".. he . flaked 'reproachfully. "Did yOu take' it 'so: very . Mech. to boortbecause 1 wou.ld not take you • . away . front here ?" .' . •. • ' ..• liorinstlia burst into: .passeinate tore-, • nodding her head, dumbly: "Well, then, .dry those. tears, love:* It pains Me to the hetirt to,see-these precious blue eyes sufinsed by them., Yoli. Shall have . yoer .'own • Way. We .tvi II. go. wherever you. lik.e.'' Ilse nevi', forgot hose she dung her whiCii arms around •hit and thanked him, smiling • up at him 'through. her tears. He kneWit was madness to humor this whim; but he ciould soon - et. have died than refused her, He Was amazed at.the immediate 'change in 'Bonnylin. • She was so gay And. happy, No wonder, poor little, soul; Le Roy had promised to ,take.. heti awaY, ' . She would not be here When the -American .ptii•ty cirri ed at the villa, lf .1)asil- Severn° was among theth, she would 'escape hints - The etreniag that followed: seemed - like a dream to Ise Roy. It was SO much like theOld, huPPY daYe in which he .and '13opnylin were lovers . —those days in which he could :never tia!telnaket%hltlnl'11dwehtr,t.ti11 'coqutttisiittIe:lion;lire11; .. .• loved him or not, - • • . , ' -- Bonnylin was More than happy. at , . the 'prospect of flying the whole lengththe world out of the mach 01 her m t•tal foe, and ,still 10(144 ill her breit‘, her pitiful secret from Le .110,17, . . . ' . . Tied days later She wee seated Itt. the pleasant . morning -room, when • the lanilady joined her. . "Our American guests fir0 .ctintipg to the Villa sooner than we ' expect- • • 71,fialiaa,M171201.7.!...MMANFM . Our Rimless Glasses Please the Particular. They ore fitted be. coming's, to the feat. ores of each patron. The finish of our speettielevvere 13 fault' less, the fit perfect. A. J. GItIGG Seto r-lific Jevestaer and • Optician OltANTit,N,• ONT. ed," she said, "so one of the party, . Mr, Basil Severee, writes." ' • • • Tile shook- of the, worcle Was so great to Donnylin that the Wonder is • __It they did not kill her.. She turned abruptly away, lest •the ghastly pal- lor that overspread her face should , be scut. f uit% elared' she Would faint aunty; She could have erred aloud in her fear' and tingillsh, but all 'sound el on her white lips.' 'Silly dear, Are you 'ill?" cried the lady, "Your face is quite colorless— , even your. lips Mt white. What hall I do forou?" The soilinl of the alarmed video aroused ronnylin as nothing elSe could have eone. She tented 'to her with a ghastly smiles clutching her little white hands so tightly and nervously together that her coatly rings bruised her tender flesh, itul not 111." she said faltering-- ly, "Do not he frightened: it Is a pain that 1 have at times—it pain et Iny heart. it ftightens me, and seemni to take away my senses for it time. It is platiiing now, and I :doll un- derstand what you 'are saying • to me," "It is really of no Moment." ra. plied the landlady, "I thought it Would ifitereat YOu to know our guests are coining a little • S001101. than WO expected." "When are they Cu tome?" asked Tionnylitt faintly, and it almost etetn- ed to her that, the nc1lo,d ati,st 11E$HY'S PHOTO STUDIO" • There's a Geed Dela In the Camera aed a'good deal, in knowing how to use the camera, When WO, make photographs we 1150 the best apparatus ntottey catt buy and we use it all With the skill that tomes front study and experience. That's why our plc - tures excel.