The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-30

| III was terrible work, but She new
paused. though her face grew ralli,
her eyes wild with fear
One last effcrt-a terrible omino,
thud. The body had sunk below I'll
water.
She went home and entered a. 81
had left, unobscrvod, and thtn tire
herself on the couch. bat not to sleeI
but to think of her crime and wonde
was she safe.
She WIS aroused. however. in a fe,
hours, for she had fallen at length int
a deep doze, by the cries of Hester.
Come quickly" Hester cried; ''un
Gle is lying. BE quick Clcta"
Cleta leapel to her feet. her hear
beating. Only an old man dying. All
heaven. what had she feared? Even I.
her soul shc feared to whisper that.
Yes. their uncle, or more propcrl,
speaking, their grand-uncle, was dying
nay. almost dead. the kind old man who
had brought them up from childhood.
Where is-where is Guy ?" the dying
man SAID.
In fow minutes his adopted son stood
at the bedside.
than father to HIM. and q distant re-
latiou, for the true name as we'll o.
name by adoption Of Guy was Singleton,
was almost past speaking, but he point
ed to the girls.
Either Of them, Guy, for you--you
He said no more-his soul had passed
to its God.
Two days later they laid him to rest
in the grave. and then, in the dim old
library, the will was reud.
He gave and bequeathed all he pos
sessed to his adopted son, Guy Single
ton, on condition that no we'd Cleta
Manvers, or Hester Leigh. within the
year. To his other grand-niece, the
one whom Guy did rot marry. he left
ten thousand pounds, to be paid out of
the estate on Guys wedding day.
If Cleta Manners was o beauty, so
was Hester, of a different type, o diff
ferent and nobler.
Cleta was fair as lily, with golden
hair and eyes of cerulean blue, while
Hester's eyes were deep, soft brown,
Ter hair chestnut, thick and wavy.
Cleta's face was rose-tinted and dim.
lied, while flush seldom stained the
air, pure pallor of Hester's delicate
ace.
With all thSpassion of his heart, Guy
owed Hester Leigh-his pur s-souled |
larling, he called her-and any one
night know, when the will was read.
hat she would be the chosen mistress
4 the stately homo where the girls had
pent their lives.
Up and down her own room Celia
'alked.
He loved Hester, and the girl she hat.
q would have love, wealth, position,
lille she would have ten thousand
ounds.
II would dye my hands red again."
he cried, before Hester should reign
IRE triumphant. After all, my crime
light as we'll not have been; yet I
'uld not have trusted him. Had he
we'd, I cannot tell what trick he would
I'VE played me-"
II was to destroy the will, and then
J nearest-of-kin he would inherit all,
I'd to me he would give one third. But
le fool, to never drefc, the other plot
my mind, which his coming would
lwart-a plot that will at least part
ester and Guy, and then perhaps I
i'll win. 1t is my last hope"
Whatever her plot, she played it we'll,
r when, three or four months before
e expiration of the year, Gny asked
ester to be his wife, she simply an
rered him "No."
She gave no explanation, only turned
Idly away, but had he seen her in the
clusion OF her own room he would
I'VE known, no matter what had caused
" refusal, that she loved him.
my love, my love !" she cried though
unworthy, I cannot tear You from ,
y heart"
All, what weeks would have been
least, what weeks of agony -
ID Guy known the truth, had he known
o gypsy mother who accused him of
'ecking her child's life. had cursed ,
m with mothers curse, for the gyp-
girl who had stood under the tree,
en- fed at Cleta's words, lay in her
ave, and her last words to her moth.
had been the name of her lover, Guy
ngleton.
my curse around him and around s
o woman he weds," she cried in o
envy. IL
Was it any wonder, then, that when
ny Singleton asked Hester to be his
fe. white and trembling she refused,
rning coldly away from his pleading?
It was then that Cleta played her q
rds we'll, for Guy found q sympathi-
r in her and man.1ike INV found |