The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-03-14

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| James yon--nay --so."
The words we're gaspel forth some
how from Dora's white lips II til,
servant obsarve, the agitation whicl
bad Suddenly overpowered his mistress
he was too wei trained 70 manifest th'
least surprise, and quietly Withdrew
from the room. closing door after him
"Oh. heaveni is it You. mark Dillon
thought you were dead Il"
She had risin while speaking tbs
above words, hnt the hoarse whisper
in which she uttered them. died 70 81
lenco before sbs had fneshed, and Dors
Austin fell heavily forward in a deai
swoon at the strangers feet.
The souhties her fall was quickly fol
loved BIZ IL .f issspAping door at tbs
@ufther end oythe room, as Tr. Austin
model. wearing startlad look OF he,
beautiful face, hurried it from the ad-
ipinining studio. But the strangers
back WAS turned to her as he bent ovei
the PROSTATE figure of Dora.
Nor was he aware of the woman s
presence in the apartment until she
touched him lightly on the shoni-
der and in a rather timid voice, said,
"Is the Lady ill., sir? Il was in the next
room. and hoard Heavens, Mark! you
her-''
"Eilen!' The man had suddenly
turned his face to ward the speaker,
whiln still stopping orer Mrs. AHtin +
eenspless body. "Oh. recoliect. - be
continued sternly; "you told me that
Won went out as model, ard this wo-
mans husband is an artist That ac-
counts, perhaps, for your being here,
and You may thank yonr stars for hav-
ing so good an evcuae. If I thought
yon had followed me-"
The angry fash CT his eyes finished
the sentence more powerfully than words
coull have done.
Trembling in every limb. the woman
answered plaalingly: Il had no thought
Of following vou, Mark. l never i'm
agined that you knew this lady, T.
Leave the honse instantly, Ellen.
Don't hesitate moment, but go at
once"
Tie woman shulderel, au,l turned
toward the door leading into the stu
lio.
81 may explain this matter to yon
some time, the man continual; "bnt
remember. warn you against remain
ing in this house mqnaat longer than
yen can help.
When the studio door had closed be
hind the woman's retreating steps. Mark
Dillon once more beut over the white
face os Dora lAustin. 4 faint shivel
convulaei her frame at this moment,
snd while his gaze was eagerly fast
ened upon !er couutenance, the siiken
lashes slowly lifted themselves from
her eyes.
"rhen it was no dream" shs mur-
rnared. hoarseIy, rising from her fall n
posture, assisted by the man she ad-
,ltessed. "You have come" she pres
eutly continued, "to reveal all to-Mel-
vile Austin.
She sank back into On arm chair now,
with a weary, gaspIng sigh.
Il haven't come to do anything OF
the sort. Dora Dillon," the man said,
With kind of sallen emphasis in his
grnrf tones. "i don't wish to claim
Won as a wife. Yoa believed me dead,
three years ago, and married Melvin
Austin; there is nothing particularly
culpable about your conduct as far as
eau discover. / shall be the last one,
depend upon it my dear Mrs. Alrtin,
to xeveal anything disagreeab!e con
corning your atecedents.
And Why will you reveal nothing:
Let there be no Disguise between rs,
Mark Dillon. | know your brutal ma
ture thoroughly. You came here this
morning to sell your silence. Is it not
SOP
You are perfectly right Mrs. Austin
or Mis-. Dillon. Which is it to be,
by the way?'
His tones we're deiantly supercil'i
ous: his keen, cruel, eyes we're hxeo
uDou the agonized woman with some
thing of a serpent's pitiless gaze whet
the prey is within easy distance, arc
possession has become certainty.
But Mark Dillon started lack witt
amazenent, as Dora answered hin
calmly, scorefnlly and decisively IN thu
| following words: II shall not deceive
! the man to whom owe all the happi
ness have ever enjoyed in this worlf
the man whom love, honor and rev
erence. as only nature like Melville
Anstin is worthy of being regarded
When | married him, Mark Dillon,
acted upon my firm conviction of you
death. Now, I know myself to havt
been in error, and but single course
remains to me. The instant shat Mel
vim Austin returns home, ! shall inform
/ him of the trn.h.
Are you mad, Dora Dillon? he ex
claimed, every trace of his sunerclii'on'
manner gone, and nothing bnt furi-
ons surprise remaining. Are you mad
thus to throw away the position yor
| haee won?-to make of yourself a peg
carly out cast?-to-"
"Enongh of this. Mark Dillon, she
interrupted, haughtily. "Yonr game
was bold one, but it has proved
failure. All, my hushanal'
| Melville Austin had suddenly enter
ed tie apartment. CHANGING at the
ashen pale countenance Of Dora. looi
Of amazement overspread his own
Then. turning towards the stranger