The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-04-03

DldcK lace on her gown.
A fortnight passed, and the hotel gossips
again sound in Miss Fielding's latest coll
quest, for, by that time, SO Max Elliott was
deemed.
He understood now the infatuation which
had possessed his friend, not by experience
for he told himself that each day he
learned to scorn this woman more-but
listening to the low, musical infections Of
her voice and looking into her eyes, which
sometimes softened to a marvellous soft
ness, he acknowledged her acting perfect.
Only to him who knew it to be acting
was there involved no danger. But was he,
intrenched i'll his own fortress, making the
girl feel? Was he gaining the power to
make her suffer- Once his, he would en-
ploy it ruthlessly. but first he must know
that he possessed it. Sometimes he turned
in a momen from warmth into GOODNESS.
She made no comment on his change of
mood. Sometimes he feigned indifference
to her presenee-indifferent still, when
other moths, kept in allegiance by his super
Tor stronghold, fiuttered round the candle:
but, save by a little tired look, he saw from
his covert and distant observation in her
eyes, she welcomed his return to her, all
unquestioning his absence. He found him.
self growing irritated, almost angry.
''Nyill you drive with me this afternoon"
she asked him, one morning.
Eyes" he replied.
And at five o'clock a perfect little trap
stood waiting its mistress occupancy-the
horses paving im%patiently, while the
grooms held their heads, and he, lounging
near, stood waiting Miss Fielding's advent.
Fifteen, twenty minutes passed, and she
did not come. The half-lour had struck,
before, with a hasty apology for her delay,
she took her seat, and, gathering up the
reins in her little gloved hand, gave the
ponies an impatient touch of the whip,
which made the groom scramble for his
place behind almost a Waterloo.
Max, quickly observing her, noted that
her face was unusually pale, and although
there was no redness about her eyes, he
| could have fancied there had been recent
tears there. However, she talked merrily
and brightly, as was her wont, and soon
the sea air brought back the color to her
cheek, and chased the latent look of sad
ness from her eyes.
"What a lovely sky!' she exclaimed, as
a sudden turn in the road brought them in
full view of sky and ocean. and at that mo-
ment the sunset gun doomed from the fort.
The horses made a sharp swerve. The
road was very narrow, with large boulders
on either side. Almost before anyone
could realize how or when it was done, the
wheel had struck one of these, and the girl,
totally unprepared to resist the shock,
was thr >wn heavily to the ground.
Almost as rapidly, Max was beside her.
For the instant he thought her dead.
Her head had struck a small stone, and a
tiny stream of blood was trickling from
her temple, making her pallor the more
| CHASTITY. The thought that she might be
dead came to him with a sickening awful
ness. Death and this bright, beautiful be-
ing seemed so wide asunder; and yet in a
moment. perhaps, they had been united;
but almost with the dreadful fear came the
relief.
She opened the lovely eyes and the white
lips quivered. while she made a feeble mo-
ton to rise. When she had grown a little
stronger he lifted her into the carriage,
and supporting her with his arm, drove
slowly home.
As they approached the hotel she called
strength into action, and gaining the first
entrance, escaped with but little assistance
into the house. By mutual consent they
made no mention of the accident.
For a day or so she was confined to her
room, but when she reappeared, save that
she was a little paler, she had never before
looked more lovely.
Il thank you so much, Mr.. Elliot, for
your kind care Of me- she said, as they
stood together on the mconlit piazza.
"Do not mention it, he answered coldly.
These past few days had identified with a
strange experience. His revenge had grown
distasteful to him he told himself. 1t could
not mend Fred's broken heart, and his own
could only harbor scorn.
The next week he saw but little of Miss
Fielding. He avoided her whenever he
could do so, although he noticed she was
growing wan and pale.
"What are you doing, Max Elliot ~
asked Mrs. Redfern, one morning as she
came upon him seated by an open window
of the long drawing room. Il told you
once that Nora Fielding's fault lay not in
her non- possession of a heart but that no
man had ever touched it. could not say
so to-day. Have you no scruples, no re-
morse ?'
"None. If what you tell me be true,
should only exult. What could feel but
scorn for a woman that could lead a man
on to wrecking his life at her feet? But
you need nave no fear. Miss Fielding is a
capital actress. That is ALL
MARX what | say-you will recall those
words" prophesied the little matron,
sweeping angrily away.
"Never.'' mentally calculated the man,
vaulting through the low window to the
piazza, with a sudden feeling that the
a o.