Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-11-23

rsvoI the mystery at any cost
After bresdaSt he drew Lois aside. a,A
asked Il he could see her alone In 20 iibre.
II. She answered in the affirmative. Iook.
ing . little surprised at % strange = n.
quest, and led the way to the room q onoe.
Arthur closed the door and motione6 tr
her to take . seat on the sofa. She did 20.
and he sat down by her side. q little pux.
zied how best to begin his task. The ifeht
fell full on her face. He could SO everv
change In its expression. which WAS exact
" what he desired.
-Miss Lois" Arthur began. 7 have not
told you. think. that the best friend have
on earth is Cyril Hartwell.'
nervous trembling seized her. and she put
out her hand imploringly toward him.
do not speak OF him. she said. in q low,
shaken voice. II cannot-bear II: and
and it is useless. What said three years
ago must say now.
But I have something to tell you-some.
thing you must hear said Arthur.
1T can make no difference in-in anv.
thing she said. still in the same low. hest
tating voice.
Z must insist. however. that you listen
to what have to tell you. Miss Drayton.
done so. I did not know until Just before
came down here what it was that had so
saddened Cyril Hartwelps life. I have
known him only q little more than two
years. and he is not one to carry his heart
on his sleeve. But he told me the story Of
I let town; but he could not tell me why it
was that you refused to marry him the
very day before the one set for the we'd
ding"
Il have never told any one that. I never
shall. It is useless to ask me to do so.
would die sooner.
will you not let me tell him?" asked
Arthur. will you not let me explain to
him that it was through the Vaccinations
Of an artful woman that he was robbed Of
his bride. and that you were cruelty
cheated2 Miss Lois. did you not know
enough Of the character OF Rose Ellis to
make you doubt
Lois started up. her eyes glittering. .
deathly pallor ON her lovely face.
Rose! Was 1t Rose?" she cried. Il
never knew that never even suspected it.
Mr.. Hazard. how did you discover this?
For heavens sake, tell me! Do not keep
me in suspense!'
She sank back. trembling. on the sofa.
her delicate hands clasped in piteous ap-
peal.
For a moment Arthur was silent He
scarcely knew how to proceed.
Did you never suspect. then. that your
cousin Henry was attached to this girl, and
that it was through bis influence that you
were made so wretched?" he asked at
length.
Henry attached TO ROSe! SAID Lois.
slowly. why, Henry"
Henry has repeatedly assured you of his
attachment to yourself. you would say"
suggested Arthur.
Yes. He has long desired to marry ne.
even before my engagement to-to-Major
HartwelL."
And yet, three years ago. he promised to
marry Rose Ellis. She has returned home
now, determined to make him fulfill that
promise. He has put her off from time to
time with the excuse that he was poor. and
has told her that at your death he would
inherit your money, and could then marry
her: He tells her that you cannot live long.
but that if he married her now you would
not leave him penny, and that she must
therefore have patience"
Lois pale cheeks had flushed. There
was an angry sparkle in the soft. dark eyes
raised to Ar:hur's face.
How have you learned all this. Mr..
Hazard?" she asked.
will you not tell me first how Rose
Ellis managed to deceive your"
If only dared!" murmured the poor
girl. signing. I have kept silent so long
For your own sake-for Cyrirsl"
She did not speak for a moment. Her
face was hidden in her hands. and q nerv-
GUS tremor shook her from head to foot
1T must have been from some powerful
MOtlfc LudG you nave AOpG SllouL 30 lOuks
said Arthur. looking at her pityingly.
1t was for his sake. for his alone she
burst out. almost wildly. Il did not
think of myself at all. But. oh. could
not have his blood upon my hands. Mr..
Hazard. you will think me foolish. even
worse than that. I fear; but was always q
coward and easily frightened. The evening
before l was to be married, I went with old
Mrs. Kinds to see a sick child. to whom l
was much attached. It was dusk before I
started for home. and took path through
the wood. which was shorter than goirg
around by the road. All at once heavy
cloak was thrown over my head. and was
forced to my knees. Then the cloak was
torn aside. and looking up I saw u woman
standing over me. Her face was concealed
recognize her voice. She told me that she
loved Cyril. and had sworn to kill him
sooner than see any other woman than her.
self become his wife. She said that If
dared marry him she would shoot him
through the heart within an hour after the
ceremony. She swore this. calling on
heaven to witness her VOW. and SO solemn
was her manner that I did not doubt for an
instant that she would carry out her threat
II fulfilled my engagement to Cyril had
heard heard frequently of Just such desperate
vengeful women. On my knees I
promised her that would give Cyril up.
and would refuse any explanation of the
act. She told me that II married him his
blood would be upon my head. This was
my reason for breaking my engagement.
and dared not see Cyril for fear he would
wiring my secret from me. and then per-
suade me there was no danger. and insist
on running the risk. My love for Cyril gave
me courage to shield him from danger at no
matter what cost to myself. II married
him it was at the risk of his life. could
not thus put 1t in jeopardy
How cruelty you have sufYered!' said
Arthur. And then he told her Of the con-
versation he had overheard the night
before.
Your cousins motive in preventing your
marriage is very plain he said. in con-
clusion. He hoped to win you for him.
self. while he led Rose to believe that it
was simply that he might come into pos
session Of your money in case you died un-
married.
Il would not have believed Henry so base.
so cruel!' said Lois
Suppose we send for Rose and ask
her few plain questions?" suggested Ar.
thur.
do just what you think right said Lois;
Il do not fear her now.