The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-26
NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY MAY e. ls77-rRPLE SHEET

were scrupuioasly attentive TO hts comfort En-
sconced 10 q large country made chair. the curling
sat happily musing, unconscious OF the enacing
In his daughters room, which, u known to him,
would have ~. 70 nigh! az happy visions aud alisd
No sooner was she freed from her iaher's presence
than Betna ran UP the wide stairs leading from tho
hail. and turning TO the lett entered her room aud
closed the door pitatey, though she did bolt
H. light was burning, and dark form was cover.
ing over .he small hrc on the hearth which she seemed
TO have just Kinded The grl arose and sau
"fou's earlier than usual, Miss betty, an de IRE
has hardly had time 10 burn Jet 'scuse me. please,
Use ookn' de lres, an they was grand
like that forgot about de one had 10 kinde here
"You are very excusabc, Melissa, on such night
as this shall not need you, and you may 60 at once
anu see all tna is going on"
wi the people as'ln. They's dancin' an junketin'
dney down 10 the pint an The master word they
m.sh. keep up me fun vi ten O'Clock.
keep you here LISA Go out and JON them as soon ~
you please !"
and Bctna threw herself INTO cushioned chair,
covered with qualnlly lowered chintz, and drew
It's concealmcnt the letter which hal lain lcaGcn
messenger oil evil so long against her heart
II u had been written by beloved hand the action
which greeted It's nrst appearance was certainly singu-
lar. with strong rcpulslon she throw u from her
nearly across the room and an expression almost OF
loa1Lng came INTO her face she silently regard
ing u as Il unable to make up her mind 10 read It's con-
tents, anxious as she had been to make herself Mistress
OF them whe she sat thus faint, timia knock
came upon the door, but In the crce working OF her
own mind Bcttina did not heed or hear IT, rhe sound
was repeated again without attracting notice. and then
the door slowly opened and Mrs Ronald came in, care
fully closing aud uolting after herself though all
so quietly done that until she spoke Betina was not
aware OF her presence.
ION! Betty. why do you look SO strangelyg', sho
quavered you got letter, OF course, though that
S9y would mol admit TO me What hat docs Gerald sayr
since heard that he has venurcd into the neighbour
hood ag1in''
II don't know what he says, and DO not much
care" was the defiant response. '.Of course, II Is
something TO torture me- some alreat to show that
II II you choose. have not broken the seal By
magnetic power OWNED the nature of It's contents
while held u in my hand, and threw Il from me as
If II had Leen a reptile that could sting me.
Mrs. Ronald stopped aud lifted tho letter, though she
made no attempt TO open II She sat down suddenly,
as II unable 10 sustain herself longer and after brief
pause TREMENDOUSLY said:--
''of course, cannot with your PERMISSION,
break open letter belonging TO you, my dear Gerald,
no doubt, expected, while writing it, that your eyes
alone would road the messages he has you Do
read ~ aud nnd out from what his Object Is in conf
"le has but one object, and that is to drive me to
desperation, responded The gir. suleny. 'sHo has
violated every pledge he made 10 me. | gave him all
mad 10 give. 10 leave me 10 tho supreme wretched-
he has brought upon me. never 10 snow his
gulleu lace TO again, and here he is haunting my
steps and renewing his old prosecutions. on, Nantyi
what am TO dor what can do 10 save my poor old
father from learning the secrets OF my lllc for Two
ave cannot tell what may be done TIL you read your
himself. lear that he IS very bad man, but he Is
your husband-the father OF that poor child through
whosc eAstcuCc ne ua6 sIoat power over YOU ~
her account that he may come hthcr."
oh my babyl my babyi my poor, helpless littlc
one Given up to strangers, while l yearn through
every hour Of my lie Tor her sweet caresses,n walled
Bcttina, wringing her hands anguish 'Gcrald
shall not know where she isl He shall never her
from mel Will betray all 10 my father, and appeal
MN to save botn her aud myself from the power
base man AS he believes Gerald Donham TO bo sooner
| than suffer my child to ial into hts hands.o
she may only wish 10 bid both you and her a final
farewell, timidly suggested Mrs. Ronald, 'and after
bearing with SO much sooner than risk your fathers
4 perhaps
you will not surely shrink from what Is now
sary 10 be done 10 save yourself as far possible,
from the conseq uences Of your imprudence.n
my Jolly has brought mo TO this pass, said Bet
tina, with sudden calnness. 1.-The conceaiment /
have practiscd toward papa renders almost
and left to the mercy OF tho man who has abused my
confidence that degree that have lost all faith IN
him; the mad love | felt Tor him is dead; dead
and buried What can be done2 How am to save
myself from the consequences Of my mprudence, as
| you put ity'
appeal, for she was woman OF lew resources, with
liue courage 10 meet emergency OF any kind. Sne
teebly
| I'VE had arranged our plans so nicely whom Gerald
went away, we thought, Tor good, and my took
lutte Stella till you could md adopt
has upset everything by comingAAck. no rend your
letter, Betty, and see what he has 10 say sug
gest nothng I'LL know his views "
The above we publish us a specimen chapter bu
the continu OF this story will be only in ths
| N. Y. Ledger Ask for the number dated June y
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