The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-03-14

ing to marry you because you were
rich e
Roland looked at him in unfeigned
Impotence.
And what if you have? am sure
Beryl loves me, and that is sufficient. y
sit would be if it were true; and I
have brought you here to tell you the
time has come when / can prove,
beyond the shadow ola doubt, that
Miss Dean has another lover. / saw
her in his arms not five minutes ago.
Roland was on his feet in second,
| a smouldering fury and jealousy on
his white face.
"You did? Who is he2 Where were
they Oh heavens, Herbert, if you are
lying tome!''
Herbert's lip curled,
II can see no advantage to be de-
rived by such a course. If you wish,
I will take you to the conservatory
and you can see for YOURSELF
They went silently, like a foe creep
ing on his victim, and in the tender
gloom of the quiet, warmly fragrant
| place, Roland Westerton had seen
Beryl Dean-his beautiful, reserved
darling, whose reticent reserve had
enchanted him, his own betrothed
wife-with her arms about the neck
of her companion, and her lovely eager
eyes looking up in his.
He was a tall, handsome fellow.
Roland saw that at the first Devil
dered glance, and he would have
sprung at him and throttled him
before her eyes, had not Herbert gen.
tly restrained him.
Don't be rash Listen, and hear
what she says to him.
And he listened, STOPPING behind
the luxuriant shrubDery. to Beryl's
low, loving voice.
1T almost kills me to think it will
be SO long before l see you again,
dear: must you go
The young man was carreSsing a
tiny curl that lay on Beryls fair fore
head.
Il dare not stay where you are
Beryl. 1t is the sheerest madness.
What if your husband to be should
suspect.
She silenced him by soft hand laid
on his lips.
Hush, dearest! He will never
know, you may be sure. | love you
too we'll to betray you. You believe
that, don't you, dear!"
Then he stopped and kissed her.
'sMy darling, / believe everything
you say ! Let us walk further on; l
imagine I hear some one coming.
One little quarter OF an hour, and then
l must go as l came. If | only might
take you with me Oh Berry,"
And as his entreating voice died
away in the distance, Roland straight
ened his tall figure in rigidity of
furious wrath.
'.She is false Herbert l thauk
you"
And after that night Beryl Deans
name had never passed his lips. When
a note came from her that expressed
her wonder at his prolonged absence
from her. he returned it with out
opening it. When an indignant re-
mOnstrance followed. it suffered a
like fate, and so it ended.
Months after, Beryl Dean left the
city, and now twenty years after no
word or news had come from her
directly, while Roland lived his lonely
careless life in the midst of his
wealth not even the memory of u
beautiful past to think upon, with only
the taste of such bitter Dead Sea
fruit upon his lips as was there this
stormy November night.
Breaking in upon the reverie of pain
that was unusually acute tonight.
there came sharp, imperious sum-
mons at the front entrance of the
silver gong that thrilled out above the
noise of the storm where Mr. Wester-
ton sat.
He listened at the prompt response
of the servant, wondering with an
energy of interest that surprised him.
self who or what could want him or
his at such time of night. in such n
fearful tempest.
He did not know the path Fate had
been making for his feet all these
years. was at last ready for him to
tread. or that the grim unseen
woman on the threshold was hurry
ing on her work to the inevitable end
whose beginning. dated years and years
ago.
He did not know how plainly the
finger of destiny WAS pointing to the
appointed way when servant handed
him a clumsily faded. hastily penciled
note. written evidently in an extrem-
ity Of pain and determination.
He saw that much at glance at the
tremulous ehirographv- tremulous.
and Vet indicating. in its up and down
stroke. a logged stuhbornness 10 say
what was to be said. If the penalty of
the eNertion were severely paid when
the name was Observation-Disclosures
Westerton, with long struggling
mark at the bottom of the first letter.
looked as if the pencil and hand had
fallen and dragged across the paper in
sheer prostration when the effort was
completed.
Mr.. WeSterton' 5 brows contracted.
then his mouth compressed to more
than its usual stern expression. as he
saw the signature for the first time in
years and years-for the first time
since his brother had gone from home
SO long. long ago.
Aad now the message from him was:
Roland. am dying. Come 10 see me