Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-10-25
But there was light ahead,
CHAPTER XXIV.

BARBARA LISTENS TO AN AWFUL REVELATION
-lIER HUSBAND APPEARS IN AN NEW
CHARACTER-AND ALSO MRS. vICKoRY.
Barbara moved with quick steps over
the moonsheencd highway in the direc-
ton of the city, her soul agitatcd with
painful emotions.
How pleasant and happy her factory
life seemed TO her now In this supreme
hour OF her ruin and misery.
How mrch like home seemed the good
old boarding house of Mrs. Moriarty,
across whose threshold she could never
set her foot again--nevcr again as the
pure and happy maiden, the leader and
admired of all among them.
Where We're her footsteps tcnding2
Barbara had no more idea than the
bright new moon that beamed down upon
her and lighted her pathway. Was fate
guiding her footsteps-good fortune beck
oning her on over the white and dusty
roadl
These questions will soon be answered.
She plodded on fcvciishly, impatiently,
rs If anxious to reach the city, as if she
knew the purpose which carried her
there. The trees, ever going in the night
breeze, cast their shadows over the path
way, and the air was redolent with the
fragrance they cast around.
!, She had travelled about n mile when she
came TO turn in the road. Here she
paused for a moment TO nc arrange her
bundle which had become loosened by
careless swinging at her side. Having
fixed it to her satisfaction, she was about
to 60 around the bend in the road when
her attention was attracted to voices in
conversation.
One of the voices seemed familiar, but
was still too far away for her to recognize
| it.
Barbara pcered around the corner and
| to her horror and establishment beheld
her husband and woman, whom she, in
n moment after, recognized as Mrs. Vick-
DRY, coming slowly in the direction where
| she was standing the heads of both bowed
in conversation, which, on the womau's
| part, seemed animated.
| To meet them was the last thing in tho
world Barbara desired. There was but
| one resource left for her if she wished ia
escape observation, and she took it.
She darted into the midst of the trees
that lined the road ON 10th sides, and
with painting bosom, awaited until they
should pass by.
They had no such intention, howcv-
er; for upon coming TO the corner. they
paused, seemingly with the intention oi
bringing their interview to close at that
point.
Mrs Vickory seemed greatly excited and
her voice in the still night air. fell full
and distinct upon the cars of Barbara
Blake, and what she there heard almost
froze her blood with horror.
For the first time she there learned that
Mrs. Vickory was in disguise; and wher
she listened to the stern, strong tones o
her voice, and looked upon her tall figure
now no longer bent and aged in appear
ance, she felt herself near q cruel and
vindictive woman. Az the conversation
progressed between the two, the horror
in her soul deepened. and the fearful
character of the man she had so fondly
loved, became more and more apparent
Now, for the first time in her life she knet
the nature, black and diabolical, in all III
natural deformity. of the man she bat
called husband. So she stood listening tC
the fearful plottings of the two conspira
tors.
Murder was foot-a human life wa.
| being sacrificed to crafty the ambition,
and avarice Of these two hendish souls
and the life threatened was almost rs deal
TO Barbara as her own.
AT last the wicked conversation wa,
concluded. The two conspirators parted
Blake saying as he was leaving Mrs.Vick
Dry.
sYes, you had better finish the business
rs soon "a possible. All my work IN TIM
accursed town is done--in few days
shall return home, and then. when thing
are properly arranged. no, for Europei-
BE careful what you do--one single mis-
step will spoil all, and then good ny Il
-"