Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-07-12
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE STORM BURSTS.


Highlands was beautifully situated on
the slope of a gentle hill mile and half
from BOnnyview Hall. The charming
grounds we're full of fragrance and bloom,
but the stately, Old-fashiOned mansion, in
which many generations of RaYners had
lived and died, possessed a quaint beauty
peculiarly its own.
At the open window of the drawing
room sat the fair young bride. Her beau
tifully rounded arms, banded with seed
pearls, were flung carelessly across the
sill. She was gazing out at the lovely
landscape, her great, yelvety eyes full of
sickening dread and terror.
Dulcis had been tWenty-fOur hours at
Highlands, and the bow she expected had
not yet fallen. But it might descend at
any moment. She started and shuddered
violently as her wandering glance rested
at length upon the dark walls of BOnny-
view Hall, dinly seen through the trees.
I shall be exposed --disgrace driven
forth into the world, she said to herself.
the happy days spent with Philip will be
left to me-"
She no longer felt to be struggling
against fate. What was the use? The
sight of TOinettes dead face-fOr such
she supposed it to be-had taken away all
her strength and courage. She was
haunted. She might evade the living, but
who can run away from the dead?
Wherever 1 go, 1 shall see that pale,
! reprOachful face until goaded to confess
sion. she sobbed.
So she had meekly yielded to her hus-
bands wish that they proceed at once to
Highlands and spend the rest of the
It was like boarding the lion in his den;
| but WhV put of the evil hour?
I have been Wanderer nearly all my
life, Philip had said. 1T would be a
delightful sensation to sit down at my
own Preside and feel that I need roam no
more. After all, there is no place like
home. / have been secretly longing for
Highlands ever since we went away"
So she yielded without a Gemurring
word. But Philip wondered at her pallOr
and strange stiffness
They were warmly welcomed by Mrs.
Rusk, the hOusekeeper, though that good
woman had been taken completely by
surprise.
The rrettiest suite of rooms in the large,
elegantly furnished mansion was placed
at Dulcie's disposal. She would have
been happy in Philips unfeigned delight
over this pleasant home coming had she
| been able to forget for a moment the sword
suspended over her devoted head
A long, prosperous life awaits US here,
my darling, he said, brightly. Smile
/ again Danish that troubled look from your
/ face. Is it Major Villars you fear? A
husbands authority exceeds that Of a
/ mere guardian. We can defy him.
Thus he talked on, trying to cheer her,
| never dreaming what sjckening despair
! filed Dulcie's heart, driving her to the
! very verge of madness. Oh, how bitterly
/ was the tried and sOreIy tempted girl be-
! ing punished for her sin!
She went over the whole house with
| him, admiring the large, sunny rooms, the
/ pictures. the rare books, the costly bric-a-
/ brac, the elegant furniture; but at every
/ other step caught her breath, and mentally
asked herself how long she would be per
mitted to enjoy those Iuxuries,
/ DuIcE9 knew she was beginning to
wear the air Of a person haunted By a
/ ceaseless dread Of some invisible, name
less horror. Even the sight Of the beau
tiful things by which she was surrounded
sent pang Of pain to her heart. Had
she not gained these by dishonOrable
silence2
There was bitter sweetness ever in hel
trUstful husbands caresses-they were
really intended for TOinette!
That morning, as they we're walking iI
the grounds, where countless flowers
! bloOmed, tinkIing fountains threw high
their silvery spray the grass grew soft as
/ velvet, and everything looked peaceful as
Eden, conscience had pricked DuIeie'z
heart more sharply than usual and she
felt a sudden impulse to confess all an6
/ meet the consequences rather than remain
as an interloper another hour
Closely cIasping her husbands hand
she drew him along to g rustic bench IN
der a trellis of fragrant roses
Philip, / want TO tell you something.
lie put his arm round her waist, anC
looked into her face with such q loving
happy smile the words sh6 would have
uttered chung ia her throat.