The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-05-15

or, rather, as your own were; Tor De-
lieve-to use vulgarism, but one ex-
plieit in this case-I have cut you out
most decidedly
'.f your intentions are the same as
mine are, not were, the question is
answered; for would think the high
est honor earth could give little in COM
parison to the winning of Sybil har-
land for my wife. am simply trying
to win her as such. "
THAT she will never be.'
mot if. as you say, you have cut me
out, but seeing her your wife and mis-
tress of Etheridge Grange will, if pain
full, at least soften the knowledge of my
own loss"
s'She will never be my wife, either"
Paul said slowly, ''or mistress of Ether
idge Grange"
Arthur's eyes flashed ominously.
'.Ah, you have given UP the wooing,
then?" he said questioningly.
Il never wooed her for my wife,
The words had hardly left his lips,
when Arthur raised his arm.
s'Scoundrelt'
The next moment the heir of Ether
idge Grange might have known exact
ly how much earth he would occupy
after his demise, had he only been in
clined to measure it.
''You can get up if you like" his
cousin said, "and | will level you
again.
The next moment he turned away,
not waiting for Paul to get up for the
second leveling.
Arthur walked on, his head bent in
thought, his mind busy with the prob
lem of saving Sybil from his most cow
ardly cousin.
Had he looked back he would have
seen Sybil herself standing by gate he
had just passed, looking after him with
an expression of passionate pain in her
eyes.
An hour later, however, she was list
ening to Paui's words of love, and
though her delicate face flushed at the
ferVor of his manner, wild unutter-
able pain shot through her heart.
Had only Arthur been as true as this
man, who had beguiled her fancy, daz-
zled her imagination, but never touched
her heart-the heart already given to
Arthur, whom this man had led her to
think had only passed his idle time
with her, while another maiden wore
his ring-a betrothal-ring.
Passion, pain, and love thrown back,
struggled in the girls heart, as she re-
membered how she had dreamed of
Arthur's love being hers, and then she
listened to Paul's wooing.
This evening he asked her to be his
wife, and bewildered by the passion
and pleading of his love. and remem-
bering how, as she believed, Arthur
had deceived her, she answered,
Yes
They would be privately married, for
darling, and then, when he won his
edge her.
Three days later Arthur sought
Paul's mother, his face white with ex-
element, his eyes dark with passionate
anger.
''You will pardon me, Aunt Helene,"
he said, ''when / prove my words, no
matter how they may anger-nay,
seem to insult you now. Though he is
my flesh and blood, and bears my
name, were he my brother. my words
would be the same: Paul Etheridge is
a villain!'
Mrs. Etheridge started to her feet,
her face growing pallid; but, before
she could speak, Arthur continued:
81 rely on yCu. his mother, to save
an innocent girl-a girl fair and pure
as the sun-whom he is going to betray
under mock marriage this evening.
| have discovered the plot, but but I
love the girl, and it would look like
like-you understand me, Aunt Helene.
She might not believe me against him.
You will come-you will help me to
save herP"
81 will come" she said slowly.
Half-angered by his aunt's manner,
wondering at her calmness, and yet
feeling that somehow he did not I'M
derstand her. he burst forth:
"By Heaven! he is not worthy of the
name of Etheridge--a name never dis
honored before;" then recollecting
himself; Pardon me; my anger at the
thought carried me away, and l forgot
for the moment he was your SOM
''My sonp' she repeated slowly.
stYes, my son."
When Arthur left hL.ter, Mrs. Ether
ldge stood white and rigid for a mo-
ment
what is this terror that hangs over
meP" she cried.
Two hours later, Paul Etheridge and
Sybil Harland stood before minister.
the ceremony that Sybil believed to be
marriage about to commence.
The ceremony is taking place in q
little unused chapel that lies below
Etheridge Grange.
Suddenly the door is flung open. and
Arthur Etheridge enters, a veiIed lady
leaning on his arm.
A curse left Paul's lips as he met his
cousins glance.
sybll's face was wrapped in veil as
well, and as yet the lady on Arthur's
arm had only seen the CLINT of her vel
low hair, but even that made her heart
grow sick with terror.
'Sybli'' Arthur said, pointing to
the pseudo-minister, ''that man is no
clergyman of any denomination, and I
can prove it. | know who and what he
is-he and have met before"
Then Sybil turned her face, and q
wild cry rang through the chapel, as
Mrs. Etheridge leaped forward
"Sybil'-Sybili-my child! Oh, God.
what is this?' and the next moment
she had clasped the epale trembling girl
in her arms
None of those who stood grouped
there dreamed that a pair of wild black
eyes were watching them from a cur
tanned pew at the lower end of the
chapel.
Paul turned to Arthur, sneer on his
handsome face, an evil light in his
eyes; but suddenly he grew strangely
pale, a look of fear crossing his face,
for the owner of the black burning eyes
had come quickly up the aisle, and
stood in their midst.
Traitor! did you dream l would not
find you? But | have-I have, and
thus do l take my vengeance, and keep
IL