The Morning herald., 1877-10-15


should lack no assistance, nor any necessary
comfort for her time Of trial. which, now,
was very near, and then himself fly to Scot
land, and to Clarence Hartley, by whom
Arthur knew he would be well guarded un-
til immunity could be gained for him from
the consequences Of that wretehed duel
If, contrary to his fears, Sir Jonas Rath-
borne should be mercifully indulgent to the
! daughter, who had been so disobedient to
him; generous to the man to whom, con-
sulting only her own heart, and not her
father will, she had chosen to give herself;
why, then, Arthur would have no need to
fly, for the interest which Sir Jonas Rath-
borne possessed, would, no doubt, be suf6-
cient to screen his son-in-law from punish
ment for an act which he had done his ut
most to avoid.
Pale and weak, his left arm supported by
scarf, he arrived at the mansion, and pro-
ceeding directly to the breakfast room, en-
countered only Mistress Augusta Cameford.
Amazed and affrighted, as we have before
said, by Augustus wild and dishevelled ap-
pearance, and astounded by the words with
which she had greeted him, Arthur with
difficulty found power Of speech to say:
"For Heavens sake! has something ter
rible occurred here during my absence p
Arthur was, Of course, thinking Of his
young wife, and forgetting all else in his
terror for her, he next exclaimed:
"Where is Rosalie :" a .-.
"You dare to ask that Of me, Of the
woman whom you have SO cowardly sacri-
feed for that insipid doll p cried Augusta.
Then, again advancing close to Arthur,
she continued, savagely: .%'a, %
"How dared you write those letters to
me? How dared you to entrap me into an
swering them ? Your darling Rosalie moped
and pined, no doubt, when her fond husband
was not by her side, and you left with her
NV letters, did you not, that she might be
merry at my cost ?" and as she said this she
clutch I'D Arthur's wounded arm, and ex-
torted from him a cry Of pain.
A horrid smile fitted across the widow
now distorted features.
r "That is but bodily torture" she cried,
"and yet you vince ce-wait, wait TIL have
) wrung your soul with an agony like that
: beneath which you and your darling wife
l have wantonly, for your mere sport, caused
> mine to groan and writhe," and again she
D paced wildly about the room, presently
again stopping before Gresham, TO say
= with quiet, concentrated rage, which at
3 fected him even more unpleasantly thar
| her widest bursts Of fury:
eyes, my letters told you truth, I did low
l YOU; there is more sport for you and YOU
pretty Rosalie; but now, hate you, with 6
g hatred which both Of you will ere long bit
: terly rue to have evoked; now, laugh a
: that, as you before have made derision O
g my love"
t She paused, and horrible was the look sh'
s fixed on Arthur.
y II have written no letter to you, and hav'
j. received none from you'll" Gresham, seizinl
the first opportunity which Augusta ha1
|. afforded him to speak, now earnestly said.
q "Ah! have already terrified you" Mis-
o tress Camelford exclaimed, with savage ex
IS ultation. "And I am not surprised to fin,
you lack the courage to avow acts whicl
l. were the doings of coward; I do not won
der that, sufficiently brave to slay man
:. YOU yet should need the daring to confron
woman, whose hearts best and deares
feelings you have cruelty outraged"