Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-01

I
stricken widow to vile Paul Ford
ham and his wealth into her nets
Iknew she was artful, despite her
innocent, childish ways; but II
she dare come into collision with
me she shall be crushed-crushed
as | would strike nolsome insect
TO the ground"
She sat there, silent and motion
less. for well.nigh half an hour ;
then there came a soft tap at her
chan Der door.
"Come in," said Bertha.
And Mrs. Raymond entered.
81 beg your pardon for disturb
ing you, Miss w an, but were
YOU aware that you had lett your
bracelet on the piazza fioor' Here
1t is.r
"It takes you aud Mr.. Fordham
some time to discover the loss ol a
bracelet said Bertha, tauntingly'
i"I am really sorry to have given
Won the trouble of 50 heightened
a search"
Zaidee RaymOud's cheek flushed
painfully.
"If you would but allow me to
conGde in you, Miss Wyman," she
faltered, drawing a step or two
nearer to the naughty Saxon
beauty. "Mr. Fordham has told
NE"
81 do not wish 10 become the
repository of your confidence 'sald
Bertha, with chilling abruptneSs,
"nor do | care what Mr.. Fordham
chooses to tell you. Good night
And she motiohed Mrs. RaymGld
imperatively from her presence.
81 should have struck her in
another second" she murmured to
herself, tearing the lace frill away
from her throbbing throat as il its
slight pressure impeded her free
respiration. 81 have seen the
nurses shrink away from me as
child, when my temper arose.
There was murder In my eyes, they
said. think murder was in my
heart when 1 stood there facing
that treacherous, black.eyed wo-
man. Let her beware how she
ventures to come between me and
mine -
Unconscious Paul Fordham II
be could only have known, as he
paced up and down the dewy lawn,
smoking his cigar, the thoughts
that were passing through the
mind of his lovely betrothed.
"Bertha,' he said, the next after
noon, as they stood together by
the great, spicy sweet briar brush,
"do you know that / had quite a
chat with Mrs. Raymond last
night
~ am aware of it," answered
Bertha, lndlfferently, STOPPING to
gather a scented spray.
"And, by Jove, Bertha, the
little creature had the most ro-
mantle life, to"
81 dare say" said Bertha, turn
ing abruptly away. "The breeze
Is too strong out here. | think l
had better 60 back to the library.
Paul stared at his companion in
utter bewllderment.
81 suppose that means she
doesn't want to talk any more
about Zaidee Raymond. Well, of
all incomprehensible creatures a
woman is the most incomprehensi-
BILE They're leagues and leagues
beyond my penetration, the whole
race OF them. l supposed she
would be interested 1; and here she
snaps my head of before 1 get out
a dozen words"
And Paul followed Bertha to the
library, confused aud not altogether
pleased at the arbitrary decisive
ness of the beautiful blonde.
1t was about a week after ward
that Bertha Wyman was coming
home from long walk to a distant
farm house, where an old school
mate of hers resided. She had re
fused Paul Fordham's escort
probably because she had seen hin
, walking up and down the long hal
with Mrs. Raymond at bis sid'
. that very morning; and now sh'
, felt a little wearied, somewha
lonely and very cross. The SUI
f had been down about half an hour
bat the west was still illuminated
with belt of orange brightness
and the winding river, tangle'
/. along the shore with starry, wate
). lilies, reflected the warm glow O
q the sky like a second armament.
I As Bertha descended into it'll
]. wooded hollow, fragrant with viii
j. rOses-fOr she had avoided tn
n thorOughfare, unfrequented thong
it was, and chosen instead shade
bypath-she became conscious tha
j. two other persons we're stiolilD
8 along the road itself, from whic
u she was only divided by a tangle
e mass of wild grape vines festOOne
)f from the slender branches OF a fe'
% silver birches-two other person
Paul FOrdbam aud Zaidee Ra!
= mond.
II The color died away from BE
r eloj. .onoo-hot Anahad chaek Z