The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-06-11
THE LASS OF RICHMOND HILL,
CHAPTER V.

her cousin haggard and aged by ankle
", and bitterly remOrseful for bringing !
her TO such pass. The pure sunshine /
came through the quaint diamond /
paned window and lighted up the SOM
Dre room, as Rex, in an agony of re-
pentance, knelt by the bedside and i'm
plored her to give him Just one kind !
word for PHYS sake, but the memory of
her wrongs came to her quickly, and
raising herself feebly upon her pillows,
she said scOrnfully:
so l am still in captivity, still IN
your power, and have been so near to
GOD. Oh, 1t is awful! Leave me, there
Is no need of your face to remind me of
the despair that has struck at my life,
and nearly lost me my reason. Go; if
mated you once l hate you dOubly now
that l have suffered torment here
What have l done that you should bring
such SURPRISING misery upon me? Go,
go!'
Rex. reused out of his stupor of de-
Jectlon by her fierce reproach, rose and
staggered to the outer room, where
Flora sat doing some hOmely needle
work.
GO to her, Flora, she is sensible now.
but do not let her talk
Flora rose and went swiftly into the
SICK room. Jessie was sitting up III bed,
tears streaming down her white cheeks,
her hands pressed frantically to her
thrObbIng forehead.
''How long have I been HEREOF
Near upon a month, ma'am."
"A month. Good God. what win
people think has become of me?'
What does the world matter, my
/ dear, if you have your huSband?"
My huSbandl Do you mean to say
/ he has kept up that cruel farceP God
! help me. how can fight against such
/ relentless cunning? Oh, why did l not
/ die, and so end all this perplexity.3
Hush, dearie, it is shocking to hear
/ Gods name invoked with such migrate
/ full words"
but can you not understand how
| miserably | am placed in my cousins
! power as L am, and every one by this
/ time imagining us man and wife, as he
has made you believe we are. What
can | say or do to convince you that I
am speaking the truth in telling you
there is no tie between my cousin and
me except our cOusinShip.'
"Try to rest. dear. and no one shall
disturb YOU, | promise. wife or no wife.
III stand between you and the man you
dread so much until you are strong and
well aran. Let that content you, for l
can say no mOTe.'
Jessie sighed and turned her face to
the wall YEARLY. The summer sun
beams reflected in a glass of water
made dancing waves of light upon the
wall, and caught JCsSic's eyes.
While she watched the golden waves
on the wall an idea came to her TO coax
. Flora Nackay to post a letter to DR..
RayuOr, and so summon him to her as
siStance.
After pretended sleep she reused
/ herself and asked for her tea. While
taking it she prevailed upon her nurse
, to get her writing materials and con-
sent to post her letter.
She was persuaded only on one cOndi-
ton, that was that the letter should be
addressed TO 4 lady.
This condition rather batlled Jessie
at first till she thought she could send
to Dr. RayuOr through their mutual
friend Audrey Fisher. Jessie wrote a
letter to that lady desiring her to give
the enclosed long and troubled let
ter to DIR. RaynOr, and eHJrcat hum 10
come OF send at once. as she was in dire
extremity.
The letter to Dr. Raynor fully ex-
planned her position. and the cOmprO-
missing nature of her surroundings;
very humbly and lovingly she pointed
out the sCandalOuS construction the
world would put upon her disappear
ance. and with a gentle pride she as
fured him that should his love not be
proof against the unfortunate COmplI-
cation of events which had made heI
the victim to her cousin S unScrupulOls
conduct. she would release HIM from MS
engagement without further delay. II
was a touching. womanly letter, full OF
heart broken assurances OF her love
/ and chastity.
Flora despatched this epistle by ;
trusted allv. and Jessie. with anxious
looks. daily waited reply. Flora Wa'
as good "a her word and kept Rex away
from her. representing that she Wa
still too i'll to bear the excitement o
seeing him.
1T last the much-desired letter came
Flora gave it to her, amazed by the IN
Z a. I 10 = p l,ff llI
Jessie. recognizing Audrey writing
felt sure the letter contained prom
fse Of speedy rescue. but her face grew
winter as she read its contents which
were as follows:
DEAR .JH-sIH:-I received your letter an
forwarded the enclosure to DR.. Raynor as dc
sired. He has met with an accident while riI
~ see him TO -iyo IT to him myself. Violo
brought mo the reply, which was brief anu a
most cruel / cannot think what you haN
dome To deserve it. He said, Tell Jessie AZ
yricYcd 10 hear of her unfortunate position
The remedy Hcs I'm her own hands, she has bu
ono course Opcu to her. that she must see fo
herself I cannot help her for all tie was enC
ed between US when she with SO little care fo
bower. Tel her send her my best wishes fo
her breakfng troth' Violet told me. wit
tears in her eyes, that her brother was terribl
cut up by your letter, and had sternly forbil
don her ever to mention your name again
him. He Is rapidly recovering from MS acc
dent and Intends to 20 abroad until his hcalt
I Is aompletcly restored. Papa and intond
z accompany DR.. RaynOr and Violet, so that
would be hardly worth while for you 70 writ
grain as l might not get the letter. With syn
patbv and good wishes for your future happ
ness Iremain' yours truly iT1DnHv FISHER.
With a cry of agony Jessie fell bac
in a dead faint.
Rex. who was killing time by sketct
+ ing the view from the sitting-rOOm VII
dow. heard the cry, and rushed IN
see Jessie apparently dead and FlOI
4 wild with anxiety.
8 Quickly taking in the whole situatlO
he laid Jessie more easily. and daShe
z water in her face. and trying to chat
4 her hands he discovered the lettt
q clenched tightly between her fingers.
\ He drew it out with an evil look {
8 Flora. and put it in his pocket.
Z When the dark eyes unclosed to hi
Z again. he left Jessie and eagerly rea
s the letter.
> An exultant look flashed to his eye
- his Iips curIed scornfully as he sa
with wicked Triumph:
THE game is mine; Audrey has kel
J her promise. Now TO get the girl aw5
o.. from here Raynor viii be here as ia
rs love can speed him. What abOl
re that accident though? That may giI
mo me time. | fancy there is truth in tina
Well. | won't trust too much to the d
.d lay that promises, / can afford to
nd more tender with my wilful little gip:
VT now that she is mine.
s.Where is my letter, Flora? q
he where is my letter, | had it in my haI
ais when | tainted? Find IL for me. pleas
adj I am anxious to destroy it at once"
uts Il can't get it for you. Mir. NenI
more took it out of your hand. 4!
him for it, not me, p" answered the wOI
an suIleulV for she knew her low