Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-03

still STOPPING over Mrs. Austin's senseless
body. aOh, recollect," he continued
sternly; you told me that you went out
as model, and this woman's husband is
an artist. That accounts, perhaps, for
your being here, and you may thank
your stars Tor having so good an ex-
cuse. It I thought you had followed
me-"
The angry flash of his dark eyes finish
ed the sentence more powerfully than
words could have done.
Trembling in every limb. the woman
answered, pleadingly: II had no thought
OF following you, Mark 1 never mag
med that you knew this lady. Il"
Leave the house instantly, Ellen !,
Don't hesitate moment, but 90 at once y
s'The woman shuddered and turned to-
wards the door leading into the studio.
Il may explain this matter to you some
other time the man continued; "but re-
member, warn you against remaining
in this house a moment longer than YOU
can help
When the studio door had closed be-
hind the woman's retreating steps, Mark
Dillon once more bent over the white
face Of Dora Austin. A faint shiver con-
vulsed her frame at this moment and
while his gaze was eagerly fastened upon
her countenance, the silken lashes slowly
lifted themselves from her eyes.
"Ihen it was no dream" she murnur-
ed, hoarsly, rising from her fallen pos
ture, assisted by the man she addressed.
You have come" she presently contin-
ued, to reveal all to-to Melville Aus
TIM
She sank back into an arm chair now,
with q weary, gasping sigh.
haven't come to do anything of the
sort, Dora Dillon" the man said, with a
kind of sullen emphasis in his gruff tones.
don't wish to claim you as my wife.
You believed me dead, three wears ago,
and married Melville Austin; there is,noth-
ing particularly culpabie about your
conduct as far as I can discover I Shall
be the last one, depend upon it, my dear
Mrs Austin, to:reveal anything disagreeble
concerning your antecedents.
And why will you reveal nothing?
Let there be no disguise between US,
Mark Dillon. know your brutal nature
thoroughly. You came here this morn
ing to sell your silence. Is it not so?"
You arc perfectly right, Mrs. Austin
Or Mrs. Dillon. Which is it to be,by the
way?'
His tones were defantly supercilious;
his keen, cruel eyes were fixed upon the
agonized woman with something of a
serpent's pitiless gaze when the prey is
within easy distance, and possession has
become certainty.
But Mark Dillon started back with
amazement, as Dora answered him calm
ly, scornfully and decisively in the fol-
lowing words: 81 shall not deceive the
man to whom ! owe all the happiness I
have ever enjoyed in this world-the
man whom l love, honor and reverence,
as only nature like Melville Austin is
worthy of being regarded. When I
married him, Mark Dillon, I acted upon
my firm conviction of your death. Now,
| know myself to have been in error,
and but a single course remains to me.
The instant that Melville Austin re-
turns home, shall inform him Of the
truth"
care you mad, Dora Dillon?' he ex-
claimed, every trace Of his supercilious
manner gone. and nothing but sort of
furious surprise remaining. care you mad
thus to throw away the position you have
won?-to make yourself a beggarly out
cast?-to-'
Enough of this, Mark Dillon she
interrupted. Your game was bold one,
but 1t has proved a failure. All, nv hus-
band"
Melville Austin had suddenly entered
the apartment. CHANGING at the aahcn
pale countenance of Dora, look of amaze
ment overspread his own. Then, turning
towards the stranger, who stood beside
the chair in which she was seated, MIR.
Austin said: "It strikes me that I heard
your voice raised in rather disrespect
ful, loud tone, as stood in the hall a mo-
ment ago. Were you addressing this lady,
sir2 Dora, who is this persona"
slight tremor shook Dora Austin's
frame, and her CHASTITY lips quivered for
an instant. She had risen low, and was
addressing Melville, who listened silent
y until she had ceased speaking, stupe-
tied, doubtless, by the dreadful IMPORT of
what she uttered:
''That man, Melville, is my husband.
Five years ago, before. you and 1 had ever
met, poverty had reduced my mother and
myself to the last stages of want. On nv
mothers death, and while I was still al
most child in years, Mark Dillon asked
me to become his wife. We were mar
ried, and I soon discovered that nv
wretched, friendless position had been ex-
changed for one Of a greater misery. I
had become united to man from whose
vile, wicked life my whole nature turned
in loathing. One evening, in fit Of
drunken fury, he struck me. That night
| fed from his house. During the year
that followed, I succeeded in supporting
myself comfortably on the proceeds O.
needlework. Two months before chance
had made me acquainted with you, Mel
vile, / had learned accidentilv of nv
husbands death in France. You know
what followed. To-day I learn for the
first time since our marriage, that Mark
Dillon lives"
ooh, God. can this be true?"
The words seemed wrung from the
very depth of Melville Austin's agonized
soul. Staring first at his wife, and then
at the moody, crest-fallen man beside her,
his face expressed the keenest intensity
of mental suffering. And now the icy
CalmneSS with which noro bod cno1,on