Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-27

movements. IL was upon the young
man that Mrs. Oliphant concentrated
her wandering glances. and little flush
of actual pleasure sprang into her pale
cheeks.
"Surely II is-yes Il is Gordon Mar
quis, she murmured, and was turning
10 impart that news when the carriage
drew up on the drive, and the two men
whom she feared alighted together.
Mr.. Oliphant, approaching across the
lawn TO welcome his guest, started lit
tie at seeing the lawyer. Manlke, he
wanted 20 face the crisis and have IL
over. IL Is only women who can endure
the torture of suspense, whose nerves
may be stretched upon the rack, but
who will cover their agony and bear it
Unfortunately rather than risk final
blow.
Back again, HARMONY" he greeted
him, rather stiffiy. Just in time; am
most anxious TO see you. Go to my
study and will join you rs soon as
am nc liberty. You can pay your To
spects TO the ladies' afterward. IL you
| like seeing Mr.. Quests glances wan
dering toward the group visible in the
open window.
WIS AllIAAluN ONtIuthTu Ant NOTuNs
Her welcome To Mr. Killuth was only
mechanical. She knew that in few
minutes more her. husband would ex-
cuse himself and withdraw from the
room. His eyes rested upon her fond
", encOuragingly. Would he ever look
at her like that again. she wondered.
IL seemed To her that she must scream,
must break the horrible quiet in some
way; but she sat perfectly. unnaturally
still, drawing one hard breath when
Power passed out.
But he did not 60 directly TO the
study. The gardener had appeared for
instructions, and he went out with him
upon the lawn. He stood there bare
headed. the sun shining down upon him,
tall. vigorous and erect, n picture in her
eyes Of n brave and kindly gentleman;
the noblest, the truest. the most dearly
beloved being the whole wide earth
held. The look which Madame Far
rington had detected in her eyes was
there now. Would she ever see him
like that again? She would give her
very life IL IL would save him from the
blow which she felt was about to fall.
To save him-oh, il she could-if she
cOuldl -
Mr.. Killuth was in animated CONVEX
sation with Madame Harrington, the
young people were still grouped by the
opposite window, Miss Power was no.
where 10 be seen. No one would miss
her for live minutes, no one noticed
when she rose suddenly and glided from
the room.
Another moment and she was facing
Harmon Quest in the study.
Have you come to betray me?''
He started, he had not heard her
enter. and looked up to see her standing
before him, white, desperate, with SOM
Der, haunting eyes looking him through.
- Mrs. Oliphantr'
d" ask, have you come TO betray me?
There is no need of masking your pur-
pose IL you have. / have known for
two months that you held the secret
which ruins me. What inducement can
| offer you TO keep it from my husband?
! IL would kill him to know it, kill him, I
believe, outright. / don't expect that
consideration to weigh with you. Tell
me what will"
" fail 10 understand" he was begin
ming, but she cut him short.
You do not. Shall 1 acknowledge
myself To be-
/" Hushl' he interrupted her peremp-
torily. "You are anxious to betray
yourself. l should say, by these open
windows. Acknowledge nothing while
there is an opportunity for cavesdrop-
pers ut hand" He shut il out as he
/ spoke. 1.-The value of a secret is al
ways diminished by telling It, my dear
lady, and / am not ready at n mo-
ments notice to put n valuation on
yours"
Then you mean to betray mer'
She said il quietly, but with unalter-
bic conviction, unutterable despair.
Mrs. Oliphant, do mean to betrav
you. Not to-day, however. Not even
tomorrow, perhaps, or for many to-
morrows. That depends"
The whole aspect of the man changed
as he spoke. The consciousness of
power, of triumph, broke into his look.
All his life he had found It hard
struggle TO keep even with the world
He had his ambition, and he had been
/ thwarted so often that he had lost faith
in himself, and now the hour of his tri-
umph had come.
That depends" he repeated. Every
man has his weakness, and have mine.
IL is the weakness ofwanting to be, once
In way. hand-in-glove with the upper
crust. / will probably never have n
better opportunity than this. Your
husband once offered me n position in
his household, Mrs. Oliphant, believe
at your instigation. Let him offer il
again with this difference, that / shall
stay. not rs employe. but as guest"
There was no time for her to answer.
/ The door opened and her husband en-
/ tered, starting little to find her there.
"Rose, is this wise? Had YOU not
better retire while settle with the
man?"
She lifted her eyes, wistful and plead
ing. to his face.
"Lct me stay, Power"
Z" As you will. Quest, what success
had YOU in your searchP''
1.-The best of success, Mr.. Oliphant. :"
II can readily believe that" broke
/ from the other, bitterly. 'You have MS
at your mercy. All have to say is,
name your pice."
"For what, may / asks'
"For keeping our secret inviolate."
(which secret, sir?"
81 was not aware that there was moro
than one. Good heavens, man, if YOU
have learned what suspect you have,
out with il. Have you or have you not
discovered the person you were in
search of-ROdney Frances child?'
Il have discovered her in YOUR
adopted daughter. / have discovered
more than that
There was n world of meaning in the
quiet words, world of meaning in the
look which he turned full upon Mrs.
OGphant; n world of meaning which
her husband was quick to see andresent.
"You have discovered nothing re-
garding my wife which do not know"
he declared, sternly. Il have neither
the time and the inclination to enter
into explanations now, but 1 am ready
to pay you well for keeping secret the
discoveries you have made. Once more
l ask you what Is your price. That sum
in bank was originally $50, 900, 1 be-
lieve, and of the whole amount YOU