The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-22
THE HISTORY OF A LIFE.
~ THR AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER XV-(CoNTNuED.)

ing you, anu Only gave you suL1CIeHI W
make you sleep for few hours"
$50 you say"
"Look here, Margaret, if I had want
cd to get rid of you in that way, had
IN excellent chance once"
"When was thatp'
"One night you were wild with drink,
whilst in Paris, and you rushed from the
hotel into the street."
'I do not remember it,"
"Perhaps not, but I do. And l re-
member also how you leant over the
parapet of the bridge, clutching at the
homework with your shaking hands in
such position that one touch from me
would have sent you into the water.
There was no one by-not even the sound
of distant step; who need have known
II / had chosen to rid myself then of
the creature whose wicked extortion
made my own life SO desolate? But in
stead of this, led you gently home, put
you to bed with my own hands, and so
nursed the viper that only lived to
sting"
"You were afraid to kill me-"
"Perhaps, afraid of my own conscience.
If / could have stiied it then, the gain
wasso great, l must have done the deed"
"Have you stifed it nowT inquired
Margaret, her hollow feverish eyes fixed
on Euphemia in terrified inquiry; "have
you stifed it now2"
Euphemia drew herself up to her full
height, grandly.
"Whatever my faults may be-and
Heaven knows | do not seek to excuse
any of them-I have never forgotten,
or am likely to forget, the commandment
which says, Thou shalt not kill"
Euphemia's tone and manner were
sufficiently trustworthy to reassure Mar
garet, and her head fell back on her pill
low, wearily.
Euphemia came to her bedside once
more.
"You had better think over my offer,"
she said, "and try and remember that
you will either have that or nothing; for
It is impossible that I should be able to
give mere."
"And how am | to live upon sixty
pounds year?' grumbled Margaret.
~ might as we'll ask how am to dress
upon forty; for, of course, Mr. Roper
fancying that have hundred pounds
yAlr for that purpose, will expect to
zee me richly and appropriately attired
at all times. When he complains, what
excuse shall l give him?'
"You must find or make one, that is
clear."
"But it is not so clear how" said Eu-
phemia, disdainfully.
"It is not my business to find your ex-
cuses."
ut ought to be, since you, by your ex-
tion, render them necessary"
"You brought it all on yourself"
"That is Just what makes it SO unbear-
able. If my own sin and folly had not
brought me to this pass, it would not be
half so hard to bear. | can see now how
much suffering might have saved my
self if only | had resisted temptation,
and kept to the path of duty, in spite of
its thorns."
ut is too late to think of all that
now"
eyes, too late," sighed Euphemia,
mournfully. Besides, as | made my
bed, must lie in it, only that may as
we'll warn you that if it becomes too
hard, you will be the greatest sufferer.
For in my present state of misery almost
any change would be an Improvement"
"Why don't you tell everythingw
meered Margaret.
because l am such miserable cow
ard, that l dare not break the heart of a
good, honest man, who loves me-"
She said lhis softly, and with bowed
Aead, and it is more than probable that
she spoke the truth. She had never
really loved Mr.. Roper, as she discov-
cred when the old dream was suddenly
revived; but she reyerenced him truly;
and his tenderness was very grateful to
her torn heart.
How, then, could she so cruelty wound
that noble nature, which, incapable of
doing ill, could believe none in Others?
The very thought of hissquiet despair, his
utter, hopeless agony, his disappoint-
ment, made Euphemia feel as if the con-
fession were beyond her strength, and
that any suffering were better.
Margaret was watching her keenly
You may be sure that she did not want
the other to act upon her suggestion, and
only meant to give her pain by the pro-
position. But Euphemia's long reflective
silence rather frightened her, and so she
said: II will think over that matter of
sixty pounds; but if l was you, ! would
get Mr.. Roper to double my allowance.
They say he is rich, and I have seen
enough to know that he would not refuse
you anything if he could help it,"
Il should never dare TO ask him."
zone would think he was an OGRE"
said Margaret. sharply; ''it seems as If
you do not dare ask him for anything"
'1f respected him less, l might"
"Then I'd try and get over my respect,
If was you."
(which would not be much to your
advantage, Margaret; for if once | con-
quer that feeling, what is to hinder me
from telling him the whole truth?'
"Why, your own interests, to be sure
'1 do rot think / care much for them
now have learnt at last how LITTLE