Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-07-27

e. t--- -!.ADi.C Cicdl Gu DcIOiS lIfe SIlIIek
ii ,l.c ashtened women had die
away. Castlemaine was standing a
before, that disagreeable smile still
upon his lips. A sudden rnovemen
Of his had saved his life. Mrs. Vers
ly was unable to suppress cry Q
horror. She had felt sure of her aim
she had meant to kill him. Now, b,
, was leering at her as Extensively a
ever.
Great God he bears a charm
ed life .,-.,.... s
!. Castlemaine held up his. sleeve
showing i a bulletihole. through the
cloth. ..ru.ll a
Nobody hurt, ladies'" he said
coolly. 6i >f 20. 500 f;ssq
Mrs. versly, on her guard again
masked the deadly glitter of her:eyes
under dropping lashes. s
/. ,"How careless of me-" she ex.
claimed. =" I did not know the pis.
Itol was loaded. Nor did I see Mr..
| Castlemaine." i'2t -
| Van Loon, having risen to his feet,
Hooked fxedly into her face. "You
puzzle me" he said, under his breath.
II believe you hate chat man.
| She laughed. ~, - :.
Mr.. Castlemaine 2" in a guarded
whisper, 40. ;no-why should 7?
He is a stranger to me" -
Van Loon shrugged his shoulders.
| II don't know, be answered. and
walked sway. a ssr,l ....r
Castlemaine took advantage of the
opportunity. A moment later he
was again leaning over her chair.
| MADAM is unlucky, for a person
Of her experience, he, said. ".Per-
haps she has got out of practice in
sixteen years. No wonder,
She; trembled.
| 1.-The hand which fired that
treacherous shot in the Bois de Bou-
logne should have been surer. Mad
am evidently believes in the saying
chat dead men tell no tales" ~
She grasped his arm. Apuzzled ex-
preston showed itself through the
frightened pallor of her face. Ssi $
!" Who are you2" she gasped. for
the second time since they first met.
II have told you already. Ran
dolph Castlemaine, at your service"
And he crossed over to join his niece.
Mrs. Versly sat with knitted brow.
She caught Vendale's eye, presently.
Uncle and niece were exchanging a
few words, so she signed for him to
approach.
"You. are very pale," he said,
pausing beside her. Are you ill?"
"Yes," she answered, shortly.
Take me back to the hotel"
He offered his arm and they walked
ewav together. The shrubbery hid
,.llem from sight Of those within the
arbor before they had gone half-a-
dozen yards.
The Castlemaincs are friends of
yours the beautiful Circe said,
icnIv.
y. arc.
50 .ag 10 lis arm in pretty
a9.pes,qe.,. am Interested III
.le;q, ;. ond1ie Pray tell HE
all You may know OF jhan.
"That is very little. Six months
since they were utter strangers. Mr..
Castlcmaine is not communicative. l
know nothing of their past history
save the fact they have resided in
France. for the most part, and that
Miss Castlemaine was educated in
that country"
Mrs. Versly gave a sudden start.
"And this is all You. can tell me?"
she said, in disappointed tone.
".All."
They walked on. She was con-
tent to drop the Castlemaines out of
her conversation now. .Hor spirits
rose. She dazzled Vendale with her
wondrous beauty, she held his senses
in thrall with her smile and seduct-
i've arts. They sat down in q cool
recess of the parlor, and the mo-
ments fed unnoted.
You have charmed away my I'M
disposition, she confessed, at last, in
fute-like accents.
Mr.. Castlemaine, coming back to
the hotel an hour later, found them
still lingering in the cool recess. The
widow shot him a swift glance OF
triumph, which said palmer than
words could lave done:
You see have not wholly lost
my power over this man. I don't in
tend to loseit."
Miss Castlemaine entered, present
ly. Mrs. Versly had soon decided
on. her role. She clamored for an
introduction, and during the remain
der of the day was so exceedingly
aFable and gracious to the young
beauty that the knowing ones among
the Reef House guests opened wide
their eyes.
Lucretia Borgia and zenobia,"
commented a daring blonde. The =
Widow Versly is dangerous. That
affair in the arbor was not so much of
an accident as some people thought.
She hates the Castlemaines. She
will murder one or both Of them,
take my word for it. She is equal to
anything Of the sort"
Of course such traitorous suspi-
cions were only whispered among
the chosen few. Bank stock and
coupon bonds are wonderfully potent
in hushing scandals, of whatever ma
ture.
When Mrs. Versly locked her
chamber door for the night she held
q long talk with her French waiting
maid, a woman in whom she had. i'm
plicit trust.
/" did YOU ever hear of DR.. Alber-
tino?'
The maid started violently.
II 1 4