Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-07-27
BAH Take me to a seat. M

recess where she could look out upor
the dancers unseen. Thank you,
she said, sweetly. "Go away now
| I wish to be alone"
Cruel" he murmured, with g
languishing look, but went none the
less.
She waited, eagerly watching the
door. Nobody went in or out unseen
by her keen eyes. Then the figures
swinging in illimitable circles across
the floor were for the second time OBJ
iects of closet scrutiny. A sigh Of
disappointment heaved her bosom at
last.
That sigh was repeated close beside
her. Madam" said voice at her
elbow, (" Don't weary your pretty eyes
with watching. Vendale is not here.
She turned, suppressing cry Of
fear and anger. A man. stood beside
her, tall, dark, handsome despite his
forty odd years. A pair of glitter
ing eyes were fastened immovably on
her face. A malicious smile barely
curled the bearded lip.
Mrs. Versly confronted him with q
gaze that would have made some men
tremble. This insolent stranger bore
it unfinchingly. She noted this fact,
and slight shiver shook her frame.
"Who Ire you?'' she gasped.
"Pardon me" he said, in hard,
smooth voice. ct had forgotten how
necessary an introduction is in mod
ern society. I am Randolph Castle
maine, at your service"
He bowed low, with an exquisite
grace that could only have been
learned at foreign courts. II have
the pleasure of addressing Mrs. Vers-
ly?'
swer.
." Leave me, insolent, before call
for help"
The malicious smile broadencd and
deepencd Madam had best think a
second time before she makes scene, y
he said, in disagrecable tone.
She sat down, gasping for breath.
His hand touched hers the next IN
slant, closing over it. Il. would
speak with you, madam. My good
angel must have sent You in this d.
rection. have been watching for
you.
/" Watching for me ." she repeated,
amazedly.
Almost as earnestly as you We're
watching for Vendale, = said the hard,
smooth voice.
Your pleasu e, sir . she asked,
with a sneer.
Directly, my dear madam. First
let me put to you custom. Versly
is a detestable name, it is $3.50
significant are you tired of it that
YOU have conceived tliis sudden in
terest in young Venjlale?"
She gave him a defiant lock. l
love him, sir. Make what you can
out OF the corifesslon-l love him.
Humph y Mr.. CaStlcmaino's lip
.nrled in bitter mockery- Better
rhan von loved your first husband.
Mr.. Collingwood, I'll be bound, he
,nuttercd.
Mrs. Versly clasped her han,s
She grew lividly pale.
What do you know Of him, or Ct
me . she gasped.
Enough, in all conscience. I
know that Herbert Collingwood died
very suddenly i'll Paris, sixteen years
ago"
. Her fingers closed over his arm.
"Other men have met with sndden
deaths, she cried. 1t is nothing
new. Why should you speak OF my
first husbands death in that t"1e?"
Madam, he was found lad in the
Bois de Boulogue- -oS through the
heart y
His relentless eyes never once
moved from her face. She sat like
one petrifed. A marble-like pallor
overspread all her features. A dead
silence fell between the two. She
broke it at last, giving utterance to a
tortured cry.
"A duel" she said, the words
gurgling over her white lips.
"$>uch was the commonly-reseived
opinion. But you and l know better
madam"
Villain = she Kissed, between
closSset teeth.
Don't get angry, madam. Let
ne tell the rest of my story Herb.
ert Collingwood left widow and one
child, a girl two years old. They
were in straitened circumstances
and the child unaccountably. disap
peared. Do you hear, madam, th'
child. disappeared.
Mrs. Yersly did not answer. Hel
hands We're working convulslvely. 4
deadly, desperate look had come int
her black eyes.
THE mother couldn't have taker
its loss much to heart, continued th'
hard, stell-like voice. =" In less THAI
a month space she married a MI
Versly, who had been dancing at
tendance on her even previous to he
+ first husbands death. Versly!! 4
detestable name, as l said before
Mrs. Collinswocd didn't like it on
whit than L 10. But monsieur
who was Versly, was also enormousl,
wealthy: that made all the differ
ence in the world. So Mrs Colling
wood became Madam Vers!y, AM
lived prosperously for a good man.
! years. Finally she was widowed 70
the second time. But that did no
seriously matter, since Versly wa
old, yellow, and ugly; he left he
I .,bnn1antlv nrovided for in bank stoc