Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-16
Philip BayloH S Bride;
MAJORVILLARg FATAL MISTAKE.
By RETT WILDWOOD.
CHAPTER xxV-GContinuedl.

CHAPTER XXV-GCOntinued).
AS Toinette's glance fell full upon the
intruder, her pale lips fell apart, her eyes
dilated wide and white, and shrinking
back with a shuddering, convulsiye ges-
lure, she uttered an exclamation Of sicken-
ing terror.
My GOdl It is Dulcie risen from the
dead to haunt and reproach mel"
Then in moment, as the girl came
nearer, and looked at her with big, solemn,
hopeless eyes, that seemed to darken with
mystery until they were almost black, she
saw her mistake.
This was no vision conjured up by
guilty conscience, but real flesh and blood.
"Yesl" she cried, in an altered tone,
springing to her feet. Alive! How dare
you come back after leading us all to
think you had destroyed yourself in the
river2"
Il never intended to deceive any one as
to my fate, Dulcie said in a hollow voice.
The life 1 led here was killing me. My
only thought was to go away and hide
myself where he-my husband-WOuld
never see me again.
I believed you were dead. said TOi-
nette, clasping her cold hands.
Tt did not occur to me until recently
that a false impression might prevail 1
have come back to set the matter right be-
fore any harm is done"
Thought is quick. It does not come
piecemeal but like the lightning's flash.
In a moment TOinette understood what
her rivals unexpected appearance meant
to her. Defeat, ruin, overwhelming shame,
unless something could be done at once
to change the condition of affairs.
Heaven pity me! You are too late!" she
walled, hinging herself PROSTATE at Dull
cies feet.
The girl bent over her and tried to raise
her, a look Of horror creeping into her sad,
blue eyes.
What do you mean, Toinette? Tell me
tell mel Why are you here and not at
Bonnyview Hall? Why do you say have
come too late?"
The sickening dread and terror in that
voice must have given TOinette her cue,
if she had not taken it already.
4, Dulcie, pity mel" she moaned.
AOu know how passionately love Philip.
I-I-beHeved you had drowned yourself
in the river. My very life was burden,
separated perhaps forever from my lover.
It seemed such a cruel fate. I could not
bear it. L was tempted beyond my
strength. IL" She broke of abrupt
~ and flung herself face downward on
the floor. My God, Dulcie, how can I
ever tell your"
Don't be afraid" And the gentle girl
knelt beside her. 1T is best that I should
know all the truth
You shall, though it blisters my tongue
to speak it. Philip believed as L did. He
felt guilty and remorseful He turned
even from me in his hour of trouble.
That maddened me. He did not love you,
but in the first frenzy Of the shock it was
easy to persuade himself he did. He
possesses a high sense Of honor. saw
my own hopes of happiness slipping away.
I was desperate.
Now you will learn what I did in my
madness. I went to New York, and by a
clever artifce contrived that Philip should
find me there under such circumstances
that he would be led to think I was his
missing wife.
Dulcie started and drew back in sudden
repulsiOn from the PROSTATE figure.
You succeeded"
Yes. The wonderful likeness we bear
each other served my purpose in this case
as it had done before. Philip was de-
ceived L came to Highlands. 1 be-
ieved you we're dead, please remember. ]
could not live with Philip as his wife 6
day or an hour unless really bore thai
relation to him. So 1 prevailed on him
to send for a clergyman, and-and--"
He married your"
Dead silence for moment. Dulcie re.
treated still further from the miserable
creature who had supplanted her, deeper
horror stealing into her moonlight eyes.
All at once Toinette raised her head and
caught the glitter of the diamond ring OF
her hand-the wedding ring she coveted
With q sudden, swift bound she was or
her feet, and springing at the stupehec
girl like wild beast, had torn it iercely
from Dulcie's finger before the latter coulC
offer Esay resistance.
1T should have been mine!" she Kissed
I am Philip Rayner's wife. Let come
what will, 1 am resolved to maintain my
position before the world"
just then footsteps were heard approach
ing the door. Half mad with excitement
Toinette added, in a sibilant whisper:
Philip is coming. 1 hear him. Listen
Dulcic. You pretend to love him. d.
you realize what he has done by making
me his wife? Rendered himself liable tt
imprisonment for bigamyi A word from
my lips VIII send him to prison, perhap
for life.
Dare betray me, breathe one word O
the impOsture, and swear I will speak it
He shall rot in q grimy cell. I coul'
better bear that than yield him up to you
arms"
The footsteps were coming nearer. Toi
nette's face was Of one hvid wilderness. /
crisis had come, and she must nerve her
self to meet it.
"Choosel" she Kissed, just above he
breath. THAT mans fate is In your hands
Give up your name and identity to ne
be Toinette Lynton-or Philip RaynO
sleeps tonight within the stone walls O
prisOn!'
CHAPTER XVI
THE SACRIFICE
There was time to say no more Tn
door swung slowly open, and Philip ad
vanced into the room.
Dulcie had stood like frozen figure
staring DULY into the death-Whits face O