The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-11-08
rory day before the ono set for the wcd.

ding
4 have never told any one that. l never
shall. Il is useless to ask mo to do SO. J.
win YOU not let me TIL himY- asked
Arthur. will you not let. me explain to
him that 1t a through the m~achinattons
OF an urtful woman that he was robbed OF
o che ssdHs' Mss ass I ieas I'D SHi YOU Se's not know know
enough Of the character OF Rose Ellis to
make you doubt
Lois started up. her eyes Glittsring. q
deaf sSo oiy Pal %rs on 4 her ra Lovely fac cried. II
never knew that never even suspected II.
Mr.. Hazard. how did o discover this?
For heavens sake, tell mel DO not keep
me In suspense!s
She sunk bnck, trembling, on the sofa,
her delicate hands clusped in piteous mp.
pal.
For u 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 1t was through his influence that you
were made SO wretched?" he asked at
length; ,, p.. ..m -.
slowly. why. Henry"
She paused. blushing painfully.
Henry has repeatedly assured you OF his
attachment to Yourself. you would say"
suggested Arthur.
SYes. He has long desired to marry nc.
even before my engagement to-to-Maior
And yet. three years ago. he promised to
marry hose Ellis; She has returned home
now. determined to make him fulfil thnt
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 thar If no married her now you would
not leave him n penny. and that she must
therefore havc.paticnce."
Lois pale cheeks had flushed. There
was an angry sparkle in the soft, lark Dyes
raised to ...::hur's face.
How have you learned ull this, Mr..
Hazard" she asked.
Will you not tell me first how Rose
Ellis managed to deceive you?"
III i only dared!" murmured the poor
girl. signing. Il have kept silent so long
that now"
"For your W sake-for Cyrils!"
She did not speak for q moment. Her
Gus tremor shook her from head to foot.
1T must have been from some powerful
motive that you have kept silent 80 long"
said Arthur. looking at her pityingly.
burst put. almost wildly. Il did not
think of myself ut I'LL. But, oil. I could
not have his blood upon my hands. Mr..
Hazard. you will think me foolish. even
coward and easily frightened. Tho evening
before !! was to lie married. | went with old
Mrs. Kinds to see u sick child. to whom /
was much attached. 1t was dusk before /
started for home. and took II path through
the wood, which was shorter thun going
around by the road. All at once IL heavy
cloak was thrown over my head. and l was
forced to my knees. Then the cloak was
torn aside. and looking up l saw II m
standing, over me. Her faco was concealed
by u hideous black mask. and 1 did not
recognize her voice. She told INC that she
loved Cyril. and had sworn to kill him
sooner than see my other woman than her.
self become his wife. She said that il I
dared marry him she would shoot him
through the heart within an hour aiter tho
ceremony. She swore this. calling on
heaven to witness her VOW. ind so solemn
| was her mi thai I did not doubt for an
instant that she would carry out her threat
It l fulfilled my engagement to Cyril. had
heard frequently of Just such desperate
deeds committed by jealous and re:
promised her that 1 would give Cyril up.
and would refuse any explanation OF the
act. She told me that il L married him his
blood would be upon my head. This was
my reason for breaking my engagement.
wiring my secret from me. and then per-
suadc me there Wa no danger. and insist
on running the risk. My love for Cyril gave
me cournge to shield him from danger at no
him it was at the risk OF his life. 1 could
not thus put it in jeopardy"
How cruelty you have sufrered!" said
Arthur. And then he told hcr of tho con-
versation he hnd 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
married"
Il would not have believed Henry so base.
SO cruel!" said Lois
Suppose we send for Rose and ask
her u few plain questions?" suggested Ar
| thur.
do just what you think right. said Lois:
Il do not fear her now"
A servant was dispatched to the cottage
at once, and soon returned accompanied
by Rose. who had not imagined for a mo-
ment the real reason why her presence was
desired.
She had thought Mrs. Andrews wanted
to send some special message. to her grand
mother which could not be intrusted to a
servant, and when she was ushered into
the library and saw tho Squire. Mrs. An
drews.l Lois and Arthur Hazard in council.
she was thoroughly frightened for once in
her bold, reckless life.
At first she denied fatty having played
any such part as that ascribedto her: but
when she saw that the story was known in
all its details. she broke down and con.
fessed.
She had been induced, she said, by Henry
to intercept Lois in tho wood, and to
brighten her as she had done; for Henry
was poor and needed his cousins money.
which would; of course. como to him ut
her death If she died unmarried.
And he promised to make me his wife
inside OF six months; but he put it off. say
ing he was too poor. I'm sorry now that I
ever lent my hand to deceivfng Miss Lois.
Squire. 1t was too bad to cheat her for
nothing"
"You ought to be sorry" said the
be too severe for You. At present. how
ever. l cannot determine whatsteps to take.
You may 20. and l hope never to see your
face again!"
Rose quailed under the looks leveled upon
her. and shrunk from the room. unable to
make any reply.
The Squire then sent for his nephew. and
a stormy interview ensued. Henry Dray-
ton had no excuse to offer for his treachery
save his love for Lois. md this his uncle
refused to accept.
Co he said. You arc tho son of my
only brother. and 1 loved him well, but /
hearing your name again."
An hour later Henry Drayton had loft his
uncle's house for ever. and u few days later
sailed for Australia. accompanied by Rose
Ellis. the guilty partner of his villainy.
Arthur Hazard was eagerto inform Major
en-. and rode into Westho1t at once to dis
patch II telegram to him.
Come at once." he said. Il have faith
omed the mystery. and your presence is
earnestly desired"
At noon the ncxt day the Major was at
riage, and gave him a full and complete his
tory of all that had occurred.
Tho Major listened In silence. too deeply
moved to speak. as he realized all that Lois