The Florida agriculturist., 1889-02-06
CHAPTER XIX.

that it fell like a funeral wall upon his ear
No, no, can't say that!" Allen groaned.
How could have been so deceived?n
"Do you forgive me!n
"Yes, yes, for Heaven knows it has not
been your fault''
Twill ever be a sister to you, Mr. Gray,
and as you saved the life of my little brother
at the risk of your own, shall ever hold
you in grateful remembrance" Like one
stupefed, Allen stood leaning against tree,
gazing at her and half believing that it was
all dream. At last he said:
WHO'S your husband! That dark whis-
kered mana"
She nodded her head in answer She was
weeping softly.
'GreGt Heaven! He her husbandi'' He
was more than twice as old as she, and
there was nothing congenial in their
natures.
She rose to go, but, putting out one hand,
he gently touched her arm, and in a voice
of stony calmness said
No, 40, madame, do not go yet; tis time
that l should have an explanation. have
been buffetted about by the varying winds
OF fortune, till have grown weary of it:
let me know the whole truth-all of this
mystery, and if / have any honor in nv
soul, will keep your secret"
She was weeping softly
Do you blame me?' she asked again.
No; you have perhaps never given me
any cause to believe you were single. save
when you called yourself Bertha Collins.
supposed that you were Miss Collins.
My English name is Collins, the French
is Collieur, or De Collieur. My life has
been such sad one that I do not know as
it would interestyou. However, as you have
befriended me, if you insist on knowing all,
you shall.''
Allen was seemingly as calm now as if
he had been in his Office transactlng some
ordinary business. His face might have
shown some faint signs of the agony that
was torturing his soul, but could not have
conveyed any thing like an adequate repre-
sentation Of the sufferings he was endur-
ing.
He calmly bade her sit down, and re-took
his place at her side.
Mrs Collins, regard me as your brothas...,,'. -
he with an effort said--ss as, '-I,ener vely
far aWay-one .url~-1i you VIII perhaps n0s0l
see ee,si11 but one who will never blot your
image from his memory. This has, indeed,
been sad romance, but it is almost over
The curtain will soon descend between N.Y.
self and hope forever, but before it falls on
the final act | want the key to this sad
drama That mysterious stone house on the
hill has been puzzle to Tnrley's Point for
years. What is in it? Is it a prison-house
for people, home for the insane, or place
wherein the fiends assemble for incanta-
tions and unlawful rites?"
sit is ALL" she answered, her face deathly
white.
"Tell me all about it +"
"I w1ll,n said the pretty creature, with
deep-drawn sigh ''Colonel Collins, as he
is known among his few English acquaint-
ances, inherited the stone house on the hill
from his father, who built it great many
years ago. When first erected 1t was in
tended to be the home of the old monsieur,
but his wife would not live in it. My mother
was French woman and my father an En-
glishman. There were but three children in
our family, abrother seven years older than
myself and the little boy whom you remem-
ber taking to Mile Camille in Frenchtown.
Three years ago my sfather was alive, and
we were happy, prosperous family Colo
mel Collins, who had been living alternately
in France and America, sort OF an adj
yenturous life, came to our house in Day
ton. o.. where father was at the time known
as one of the wealthiest merchants in the
city. / felt peculiar distrust OF the man
from the first moment saw him. but father
and mother, on the contrary, seemed tascl-
mated with him.
"My mother, like myself, felt an instinct
i've repugnance toward her countryman.