The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-02-20

| the windows
You may 90, my good fellow, the man
said. Il have particular business with Mrs |
Austin
'Nes-James you-may-go.'
The words were gasped forth somehow
from Dora,s white lips. If the servant OBJ
served the agitation which had suddenly
overpowered his mistress, he was too well
trained to manifest the least surprise, and
quietly withdrew from the room, closing the
door after him.
oh, heaven is it you, Mark Dillon? l
thought you dead-I-'
She had risen while speaking the above
words, but the horse whisper in which she
uttered them died to silence before she had
finished and Dora Austin fell heavily for
ward in a dead swoon at the strangers
feet.
The sound of her fall was quickly follow
ed by that Of an opening door at the further
end of the room, as Mr.. Austn's model,
wearing startled look on her beautiful face
hurried in from the adjoining studio. But
the strangers back was turned to her as he
bent over tho PROSTATE figure of Dora.
Nor was he aware of the woman's presence
in the apartment until she touched him
lightly on the shoulder, and in a rather tim
id voice said, is the lady i'll, sir l was in
the next room and heard
Heavens, Mark you here =
'EUcnN The man had suddenly turned
his tace towards the speaker, while still
STOPPING over Mrs. Austins senaeless body.
oh, | recoilect, he continued, sternly; you
told me that you went cut as a model and
that this woman's husband is an artist. That
accounts, perhaps, for your being here and
you may thank your stars for having so good
au excuse. II I thought you had followed
| me-
The angry flash of his dark eyes finished
the sentence more powerfully than words
could have done.
Trembling in every limb, the woman an
swercd pleadingly 4 had no thought OF
following you, Mark. | never imagined
that you knew this lady, l.
Leave the house instantly, Ellen Don't
hesitate a moment, but go at once
The woman shuddered and turned toward
the door leading into the studio.
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 behind the
womans retreating steps, Mark Dillon once
more bent over the white face of Dora Aus
tin. a faint shiver convulsed her frame at
this moment, and while his gaze was eagerly
fastened upon her countenance, the slken
:. lashes slowly lifted themselves from her
eyes
'TheG it was no dream she murmured,
: horsely, rising from her fallen posture, as
sisted by the man she addressed. You have
come, she presently continued, 'to reveal all
, Toto Melville Austin.
It She sank back into an arm chair now,
.e with weary, gasping sigh.
e u haven't come to do anything of the sort
9 Dora Dillon the man said, with kind OF
sullen emphasis in his gruH' tones. Idon't
e wish to claim you as my wife, You believed
is me dead, three years ago, and married Mel
vile Austin there's nothing particularly
# culpable about your conduct as far as car
discover shall be the last one, depend
:, upon it, my dear Mrs, Austin, to reveaI
anything disagreeable considering your an
-. tecedeuts
80 And why will you reveal nothing? Lei
., there be no disguise between us, Mark Dill
lon. | know your brutal nature thoroughly
You came here this morning to sell your 81
l.. lence is it not so?
!, 'Yol are perfectly right, Mrs. Austin
!, or Mrs. Dillon. Which it is to be by the
~ way p
- His tones were defaptIv superciious hi.
y keen, cruel ewes were fixed upon the agon
i, lied woman with something o a serpent,
pitiless raze when the prev is within eas,
, distance and posses.ion has become .
- certainly.
But Mark Dillon started back with amaze
~ ment as Dora answered him. calmly, scorn
u mIIv and decisively. in the following words
- 81 shall not deceive the man to whom | ow,
&c all the happine,s have ever enioyed in thi
- world-the man whom I love. honor ant
reverence as only a nature like Melville Aus
e. tins is worthy of being regarded. When
u married him. Mark Dillon, acted upon m
" firm conviction of YOUR death Now, I kno,
ld myself to have been in error, and a singl
ei course remains TO me. The instant tina
lie Melville Austin returns home, shall inforr
him of the truth
IT. Are YOU mad Dora Dillon? he exclaimed
On every trace Of his eupercilious manner gon,
Nv and nothing but sort Of furious surpris
ne remaining, Are YOU mad, thus to thro,