The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-05-29

account for herself by saying that she
and her mother had lived together in
little back room in distant town,
making no change, until now that her
mother had insisted upon coming to
! the country for tho summer, and, to
Ellice's dismay, had journeyed straight
| to McDermott's, and settled down
| there.
lit is near Kings Hill-near Kings
| Hill!n was the only explanation she
gave of her choice, and that when she
became delirious with fever.
That night-of the day when Ellice
had returned later than usual from her
drive with Howard-it was Edith's
turn to sit up through the hours from
midnight until morning L did not
know why it was that sleep complete
| ly forsook me. | think now it must
have been some vague presentiment.
| But after tossing in vain for an hour
on my pillow, l came to the conclu-
sion that might as we'll be wakeful
at Mrs. Lees bedside, and send Edith
away for good rest.
As 1 stood pushing aside the folds
of the portiere in my right hand. /
brushed my left across my eyes to
clear my vision, or to reassure myself |
was not in n dream.
For Edith was standing over the
sick woman, and her dark eyes were
ablaze in her white face.
"Yo GU guilty wretch!' she was say
ing, in suppressed voice hoarse with
passion---''you guilty wretch! If you
had your deserts you should be dragged
out of his house-his house, do you
hearP-to end your last hours in
felon's cell"
"Mercy! Mercyn
The stricken creature on the pillows
was gasping for breath.
MERCY! Yes you shall have mercy
in exchange for silence"
81 cannot keep silence" the poor
soul was moaning. II have wronged
the child long enough. Presently,
when the breath is out of this
miserable body of mine, she will be a
beggar, for my pittance is an annuity
and dies with me. l have never loved
her; have never been good to her.
But cannot die and leave her to beg
who should be mistress here at Kings
Hill.n
Edith's white lips contracted. She
sent a swift glance about the room as
if to detect an eavesdropper.
| confess | was an eavesdropper.
was too startled to 60 forward; besides.
l must know more before | dared to
interfere.
1t was my natural distrust Of Edith
which kept me there in hiding.
The look in her eyes was dangerous.
But the next instant she had passed
her hand across them as If to blot out
that expression, and knelt down gen.
thy by the bedside.
you are right" she said soothing
ly. Leave the whole thing to me, l
will see to everything for Ellice."
"You WHIP You will tell them that
the child is nothing to me-nothing!
That it was because hated the moth
er, that all this while since her death
| have hidden away the papers which
proved her the legal wife of John
King, of Kings Hill, and have kept
Elliee in poverty, working for me.
Hate-hate-n
Tho wretched woman raised herself
upon her pillows; her wild eyes blaaed
her breath, came thick and fast.
Edith's face, turned upon her, haC
the same terrible light in 1.-THE lurit
light of hate.
She laid her hand heavily on the WON
ans shoulder.
"Silence! You will betray yourself
Remember the felon's CELL
But the poor creature was past
warning.
Her breath came CHECKER and faster
she shook off the restraining hand, and
sat up in bed, the long black hair,
streaked with grey, streaming over hei
shoulders.
"Hate--hate-- And God is love
How shall face him--IP" -
Her wild hcart-breaking wall rang
through the room-rang through the
house. With strong convulsive move.
ment she sank back upon the pillows
That ghastly upturned face told even
me that all was over.
Il suppose it was notmany moments,
but to me it seemed hours that / stood
there, benumbed with horror.
Then someone put me gently aside
and went past me into the room.
IL was Howard King; and presently
mamma came in from the other door
and Ellicc.
Edith had risen from her knees
She was CHASTITY white, but quite com
posed. Her voice was steady as sht
said:
'sIt was so sudden! She had beer
sleeping. | watched close beside her
as you see, when change came ovel
hor face, II spasm as of pain, she start
ed up in her bed with wild cry, ant
fell back rs you see, without utterinl
word, quito dead"
The last word reached Ellice through
her trembling bewilderment.
dead! Oh. mother"
She tottered forwards; she woult
have sunk down by the lifeless body
But it was Howard King who caught
her in his arms.
When she chung to him sobbing hel
heart out on his shoulder, / saw Edit
understood as we'll MS /.
That the late morning drive ha(
brought them home pledged lovers.
Edith turned and left the room un
noticed.
Except by me.
/ saw the baffled look in her fac
when she knew she had betrayed tn
dying trust, and lied her soul away
for nothing.
As for me--what would you doP Tel
Ellice-Howard both--or neitherP
For, after all, they are one and wa
only an eavesdropper
But tell me what ought to do.
; DUskY BELLIES IN AFRICA.