Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-08
CHAPTER v.
THE TRAGEDY.
Two weeks wcnt bY.

Two NttkS went nN.
10 was wet winter night. quite dark
at five O'Clock. with the slccty rain
freezing rs il fell until the cobble-stone
pavements of the little town held YER
table man-trap in every round and hol-
low; but John Tendyke, returning 10 his
room after his six O'Clock dinner. trod
the slippery way in safety. and looked
about him rs he shut out the dark and
cold and damp. with well-satisiicd eyes.
His room in the bank building was
large. and lighted only by the soft coal
fire burning i'm the open CRATE. which
sent Pickering shadows into the far cor
ncrs. about the tall bookcases and the
screened alcove where his bed stood.
But IL was not the comfort Of his sur
roundings which was putting Mr.. Ten
dyke in good humor with himself.
There's hardly n doubt but she'll
give in he was thinking, rs he walked
softly back and forth in the red CLEANS
of the fire, ON the alert for some expect
eel sound. eff she don't, I'll make
enough to console me for her loss. |
don't think have left n loopholc open
to bctray mo il / am driven TO that
course and his mind was cast forward
over his projected plans, until the slight
click for which ne had watched appraised
him that some one had entered the outer
room of the bank.
Lock the door. Mignon, and bring
/ the Key" he said, throwing open his
own door to let a bar of light fall into
| the darkness.
" thought you could he persuaded to-
come if sent for you, Mrs. France. II
domestic felicity wore on every one as it
wears on you. ought to think twice be-
fore counting that state"
She made n little motion with her
hands, of impatient pain.
Don't mock me. You know what is
/ telling ON me. What is the doom YOU
have to threaten me with?"
She stood beside the hearth. disdain-
ing the seat he offered her, the hood of
her gosSamer cloak fallen back from
her face. and the pickering light plainly
showing the ravages which the last few
weeks had made there. Varick's hard
heart hardened yet moro as he real
lied that he could never get more than
the faded remnants Of the beauty and
affection which she had given to France.
you will have il ut once" he NUT
tered. "Like taking n bitter dose at
one gulp and making faces afterward.
Well, Mignon. I've got everything in
such shape that / want YOU to leave
with me tonight for New Orleans.
where l will restore you TO yonr fathers
carr until YOU can get legal separation
from the fellow who robbed me of my
promised bride. He will sue for di-
yOrce fast enough when YOU are gone
You can marry again rs soon rs IL is
granted in any State but this; promise
10 marry me then. and promise in turn
not TO press any advantages / may hold,
or 10 annoy you meanwhile"
He was weighing every word he ut
tered. and watching the effect.
TO give due weight to the PROPOSE
ton and incline you To look upon it IA
vorably, may as well add that, il You
refuse. Rodney France will be branded
tomorrow rs n swindler and n scoun-
drel; a fitting mate for the other sharp
er scoundrcl. his partner, who decamped
with the spoils. and leaves him to bear
the burden Of public indignation as best
he may"
"Do IL II you dare. Your villainy can
not reflect upon him"
Can not Il? Well. Mrs. France, I
won't argue the matter with you. but
Just appeal to your knowledge of me
whether il Is likely or not that have
put in months of time without winding
him up in n net Of appearances that viii
tell against him far more than me-"
You forget that 1 can bear witness
against you"
do you really think intend to leave
you that chanceP' and now the ferocity
Of the mans nature showed itself. DO
you think enticed You here for no 9TH
CT purpose than TO have you defy meP
Yes. enticed; for I've no reason 10 think
you'll yield unless put on the thumb