The Panola weekly star., 1883-08-11
CHAPTER H.
nOpNEY's PAnrNElL
Wha, can lie ,lopn

| y W nhl van NC tlnf
II was the question which Mignon
had asked herself over and again since
Nnrick's visit 10 the cottage, She knew
him nf old M a relentless cnemy-a
subtle, unprincipled, malignant man,
WIN could veil his deepest hatred under
u false smile, aud strike his bittcrcst
blow when when he had lulled his vic
tim into fanclcd security, How foolish
Of her TO fancy that II II she once broke
his chain he would let her go.
lie would not marry me when he
could, she thought, angrily. "Why
should he carcP"
All, she knew why well enough. As
La June she had been worth more
money 10 him than his wife could
have been. lie had made her feel that
when the scales fell from her eyes and
she had futilcly resisted him. Her
father had been on his side, too. Al
ways n gambler, Trcdcgar Almont had
never reaped the rich results Of his pro-
fession until hc became associated with
Varick; and hc was not apt 10 give
these up for the foolish fancies of his
daughter.
"Not sing thcrcPn he would say,whcn
she tried 10 appeal to him. "Non-
sense, my dear, You are rs secure
from all insult rs you would be- In the
Governors parlor, with your father and
your future husband both at hand to
protect yonL It's only n choice between
going there and having Varick and his
friends here Ia entertain
What wonder that she thought mon
hard and mcrcilessp What wonder
that, when Rodney France came, with
out questioning. and proposed an elope-
ment two weeks from the day when he
met her first, she should fly to tho Ills
which she knew not Of from such as SUR
rounded herp
And now the brief peace she had
known was broken. The serpent had
reared It's ugly head amid her roses;
II could be Paradise 10 her no more.
Rodney was away much Of the time,
now. lie was anxious Ia launch him
self on the sea Of business life as speed
ny W IN07fbits
81 think ! have found the very thing
| want said he, coming back from the
city week after that Incident by the
river. "rye the chance Of n partner
ship with man who impresses me most
favonbly. though mot him to-day for
the second time. A returned Califor-
nian, who looks more 10 business capac-
ity than capital from his associate. lie
wants to start n savings bank In River
ton, n hundred miles north Of here.
which busy little town offers an open.
Ing for such an institution. lie says
thero are immense fortunes TO be built
up In the Western mines. but there arr
immense risks 20 be taken; and for his
part he prefers TO 60 slow, with certain,
though moderate, success ahead"
"Oh, Rodney, don't speculate, what.
ever else YOU dor
my dearest, there's some sort o.
speculation In every new enterprise |
man undertakes. But don't fear; Tn
as much opposed TO illegitlmaie ventures
rs YOU can be"
Rodney had burnt his fingers In gold
gambling before he came Of age. II,
had begun with different sort Of gam
bling, had won, and had carried hi
winnings into the gold room. TO hav'
them slip. like magic, from his grasp
II was this operation. coming to HI
guardians ears which had caused th
latter TO delay the transfer Of his fund
when Rodney came Of age; done. q
course, with the young mans full con
sent.
They wer walking under the tree
which surrounded the cottage. the sur
set light pouring In rosy food over III
scene. Approaching upon the tul
which deadcncd bis footsteps, came
servant In plain livery. who lifted b
hat 10 Rodney. with a grave air.
"a package, sir; with Miss sangci
ford's compliments.
"0h. Dennis. Il is you." cried Ro,
ney. more discomposed than he liked |
2 show. "Sothe Sangcrford family rea
. y are In the ncighborhoodpn
d I'VE took possession Of our new cou,
: try seat the latter part Of May. sir,r r
b sponded Dennis. stifliy. with wave
!, tho hand indicating villa which owe
Z looked the cottage grounds. mo n
. swer. sir. my young lady said"
What has she sent you, Rodney
4 asked Mignon. as the man turned AVA
. "Lettersfh
III looks like H. must say d
d might have chosen . moro suitat
time"
"Rodneyr' she exclaimed. sccusin
ic ". you have been In lose with h,
and you never told me. You may
l. well confess at once"
'is ~ win make you despise me. Nj
4 ''Oh. no. I think not But Il NAL
y ~ sorry for her.n
!. sorry exclaimed Rosincy. with
= ~ nt6rslIng intensity. ..Is fhai wu
. nn's IlveP Why. MIeioa. Il 1 were :,
\ ~ I 11s111. p hed evvv earsd