The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-10-06

was the first to greet her; Ross Terry's
halEsister, Miss Duval, was presented to
to her.
Il thought you were not expected for
days yet" she said, with guilty conscious
ness struggling at the sight Of Ross Ter
rvs frank, bright face, lighting, as it did,
upon beholdihg her.
s'Neither were We, / believe. It's alldu
to Mignon. She hastened my movements
bv her beseeching letters. She was home
sick, tired of Portsmouth like Marianne
Of the Moated Grange, 'aweary, aveary.
So to Portsmouth I Went and here We both
came at the earliest possible moment af-
terward."
"You are from Portsmouth, Miss Du-
val ?, asked Helen, interestedIy. "The
second Of our party who halls from that
place. Do you chance to have known there
Mr.. Vargrave p
Over Mignon Duval's face a sudden,
startled pallor spread.
"Whom 2, she asked, with an abrupt,
sharp intonatiou which drew her brothers
eyes upon her.
"Mr. Allan Vargraye. He is here at
present"
''Here!" She caug ght that watchlul glance
upon her Just in time, repressed the strong
agitation which had come into both her
face and voice. II think | do know Mr.
Allan Vargrave," she said, very quietly,
and left her place moment after passing
through one of the open windows to the
verandah.
She stood there leaning against vine
wreathed pillar her hands hanging before
her strained in tight clasp, her eyes up
on the sky where heavy black clouds were
fast massing, while lurid glow from the
west was shed angrily over the storm
threatening scene. A touch fell upon her
shoulder; she looked up with start into
her brothers face.
"Mignon," he asked, most abruptly,
"what has that man ever been to you? He
has been something; your looks tell me
that"
'sHe is nothing now, Ross
Gle is this: He is an unprincipled
scoundrel, an adYenturer, and my rival
IF he were an honest man | would take ny
chance beside him, and whatever the re-,
snlt, abide BY it. Now, whatever my fats
may be, Helen must be saved from him.
What DO You know Of him, MIIgnoua No
thing good III be bound. =
Nothing but what is false and base and
cowardly. o, Ross, brotherl all the suf-
tering Of al my life has been through him.
You asked what he was to me. He was
my lover, my betrothed husband, and af-
ter our wedding day was set he deserted
me for richer woman, deserted her IN
turn when misfortune and adversely befell
her. Pray Heaven the blight of his evil
doing may not fail upon you"
"or her," said Ross Terry, quite below
his breath.
The black clouds massed yetmore black
ly. The parlors were shrouded IN gloom
dense as night. White Lightning flashes
cut through the darkness now and again.
A group Of guests il the house, slivering
with delicious sense Of the terrible in na-
tural manifestations, had assembled there.
Lights ?' repeated some one as these
were proposed. 20, dear, no! Let's have
the storm at its grandest. There's some
thing horribly fascinating in these summer
thunder gusts"
The thunder broke out il. a sharp, rat
tling burst at that. A rift Of swift, eYanish-
ing light cut through the gloom, and then
ia one dense sheet the rain came down.
You are not afraid?" asked Vargrave,
joining Helen where she stood in one Of
the long, open windows.
.sCertair ly not; like it. There was a
full minute Of constant lighta | stood here
first 81 the world lookel spectral under
it.
And you looked like a spectre outlined
against It in al this white drapery. Will
you not take cold 2"
Not I. Have you spoken to Mr.Ter-
ry?n