The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1883-08-18
CHAPTER
rItE rnAuKDi
Two weeks went by.

INo weeks went Nv
II was u wet winter night, quite dark
ut five O'Clock. with the .lccty rain
freezing rs IL fell until the cobble.stone
pavcments of the little town held q YER
table man.trap In every round and hol-
low but John rcndyke, returning to his
room after his six o'clock dinner. trod
the slippery way In safety. and looked
about him rs he shut ont the dark and
cold and damp, With wcll-satisiicd eyes.
His room in the bank building was
large, and lighted only by the soft coal
iir' burning In the open CRATE. which
sem fickcring shadows into the far cor
ner,. about the tall bookcases and the
screened alcoyc where his bed stood.
hut !, was not the comfort II his sur
roundngs which was putting Mr.. Ten
dyke ina good humor with himself
"Thcr's hardly u doubt but she'll
give IN" he was thinking, ms he walked
softly bacAand forth In the rud CLEANS
OF the iirr. ~ the alert for some expect.
cd sound. IL she don't. III make
enough 10 eonsolo me for her loss. |
don't think hive left u loophole open
to bctray me u ! am driven TO hat
course" and his mind was cast forward
oyer his projected plans, until the slight
click for which he bad watched appriscd
him that some one had entered the outer
room Of the bank.
"Lock the door. Mlmon, and bring
the key he said. thriving open his
own door to lot n bar Of light fall into
the darkness.
81 thought you could h. pcrsuaded 10
come II ! sent for YOU. Mrs. France. II
domestic felicity wore on every ono as il
wears on you. | ought to think twice be-
forc counting that state"
She made n little motion with her
hands. Of inpatient pain.
Don't mock me. You know what Is
telling on me. What l. the doom you
have to threaten me withP"
She stood beside tho hearth. disdain.
ing the seat he offered her, the hood d
her gossamcr cloak fallen back from
her face, and the Pickering light plainl,
showing the rayages which the last few
weeks had made thcc. Varick's har,
heart hardened vet moro rs he real
lied that he could never grt more thar
the faded remnants Of The beauty ant
affection which she had given 10 France
"rUu viii hasc II at once" he NUT
tcrcd. Lilo taking a bitter dose a
one gulp and making faces aftcrwari
Well. Mignon. I've got everything |,
such shape that | want You 10 leay,
with me tonight for New Orleans
where l will restore You 10 your father,
carr until you can gct q legal separation,
from the fellow who rubbed me Of m,
promised bride. lie will sue for . al
vorcc fast enough when you are gone
You can marry again As soon rs Il
granted In any Ststc but this; prumis'
TO marry me then, and ! promise In tur
not 10 press any advantages I may hold
or 10 annoy You meanwhile"
lie was weighing every word he ut
tered. and Watching the effect
10 give due weight to the PROPOSE
ton and incline you 10 look upon ID IA
vcrably, ! may as well add that, II yo'
refuse, Rodney France will he brande,
tomorrow as q swindlcr and n scnnn
drcl; = fitting mate frs the other sharp
"a e.oundrcl his partner. who decampe,
with the spoils. and leaves him 10 bea
the burden o. public Indignation as hes
he msy.a
"Do u II you dare. Your v%illainy cal
not reflect upon him.
Can not IN Well. Mrs France.
won't argue the matter with you, hu
Just appeal 10 your knowledge Of m
whether Il i likely or not that I hav'
put In months IL time without windin,
him up In = net of appearances that vii
tell s~sis.s him far sae~~ sh.r me"
You ioryes that | can bear witnes
sgAInst yous"
DO you really think I Intend 10 lesv,
~ that chanc<P'' and now the l.rpeit,
q We nzan's nature skoued itsslf. ID
~ eg1icri nm Inn fDr . o1h
a11as IN ~ ~ =
t>4 49, - rw - raspao - ~