Frostburg mining journal., 1889-12-07


shall. 1t is useless to ask me to do so.
would die sooner.
will YOU not let me tel him?" asked
Arthur. will you not let me explain to
him that 1t was through tho Vaccinations
OF an artful woman that he was robbed OF
his bride, and that you were cruelty
cheated? Miss Lois. did you not know
enough Of the character OF Rose Ellis to
make you doubt
Lois started up. her eyes glittering. a
deathly pallor on her lovely face.
Rose! Was 1t Rose?" she cried. Il
never knew that never even suspected It.
Mr.. Hazard, how did you discover tlAAs
For heavens sake tell me! Do not keep
me in SUSPENSE"
She sank back. trembling. on the sofa.
her delicate hands clasped in piteous ap-
peal.
For 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 it was through his influence that you
were made so wretched?" he asked at
length
Henry attached to Rose!" said Lois.
slowly. why. Henry"
She paused. blushIng painfully.
Henry has repeatedly assured you OF his
attachment to yourself you would say"
suggested Arthur.
YES. He has long desired to marry nc,
even before my engagement to-to-Major
Hartwcll."
And yet, three years ngo. he promised to
| marry Hose Ellis. She has returned home
now, determined to make him fulfill that
promise. IIo has put her off from time to
time with'the excuse that he was poor. and
has tod her that at your death he would
inherit your money. and could then marry
her. He tells her that you cannot live long,
but that if he married her now you would
not leave him penny, and that she must
therefore have patience"
Lois pale cheeks had flushed. There
was an angry sparkio in the soft, dark eyes
raised to Ar:hur'S face.
How have you learned all this, Mr..
Hazard?" she asked.
viii you not tell me first how Rose
Fills managed to deceive you?"
If | only darcd!- murmured the poor
girl, signing. Il have kept silent SO long
that now"
For your own sakc-for Cyril's!"
She did not speak for q moment. Her
face was hidden in her hands. and II nerv-
Gus trcmor shook her from head to foot.
1t must have been from some powerful
motive that you have kept silent so long"
said Arthur, looking at hor ptyinglv.
1T was for his sake, for his alone" she
burst out, almost wildly. Il did not
think of myself at all. But, oh, l could
not have his blood upon my hands. MIR.
Hazard, you will think me foolish. even
worse than that. | fear; but was always u
coward and easily frightened. lhe evening
before | was to lie married. | went with old
Mrs. Iirds to see sick child. to whom |
was much attached. 1t was dusk before
started for home, and took path through
the wood, which was shoItcr than going
| around by the road. All at once Il heavy
cloak was thrown over my head, and was
forced to my knees. Then the cloak was
torn aside and looking up | saw il woman
standing over me. Her face was concealed
10y hideous black mask. and l did not
recognize her voice. She told me that she
loved Cyril. and had sworn to kill him
sooner than see any other woman than her
self become his wife. She said that If
dared marry him she would shoot him
through the heat within an hour alter the
ceremony. She swore this, calling on
heaven to witness her vow, and so so.emn
was her manner that did not doubt FOR an
instant that she would carry out her threat
il | fulfilled my engagement to Cyril. had
heard frequently of Just such desperate
deeds committed by jealous and re-
veugc'ul women. On my knees !
promised her that | would give Cyril up,
and would refuse any explanation of the
net. She told me that if | married him his
blood would bc upon my head. This was
NV reason for breaking my engagement
and dared not see Cyril for fear he would
wiring my secret from me. and then per-
suadc me there was no danger, and insist
on running the risk. My love for Cyril gave
ne courage to shield him from danger at no
matter what cost to myself. If married
him it was at the risk oil his life. | could
not thus put it in jeopardy"
How cruelty you have suffered" said
Arthur. And then ho told her of the con-
vcrsation he had overheard the night
before.
Your cousins motive in preventing your
marriage is very plain" he said, in con-
ciusion. He hoped to win you for him
self, while he led Rose to believe that it
was simply that he might come into pos
session of your money IN case you died un-
married"
Il would not have believed Henry so base,
SO cruel!" said Lois
Suppose we send for Rose and ask
her II few plain qucstions?" 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-
| mcnt the real reason why her presence was
drsii ed.
She had thought Mrs. Andrews wanted
to send some special message to her grand
mother which could not be intrusted to IA
servant, and when she was ushered into
tho library and saw the Squire, Mrs. An
drews, Lois and Arthur Hazard in council,
sHc was throughly frightened for once in
her bold. rrckl IS life.
At first she denied fatty having played
any such palt as that ascrbed to her; lut
whom she saw that the story was known in
all its details, she broke down and con-
fcsSed.
She had been induced. she said. by Henry
to intercept Lois in tho wood. and to
frghtcu her rs she had done: for Henry
was poor and needed his cousin $ money,
which would, of course, como 10 him at
her death if she died unmarried
And hO promised to make me his wife
inside of six months; but no put it Off, say
ing he WAS too poor. I'm So'ry now that
ever lent my hand to deceivng Miss Lois.
qtirr. 1t was too bad TO cheat her for
nothing.
You ought to be so~ry." said the
Squi L, sternly. mo punishment would
be too severe for you. AT present. how
| ever. cannot determine what steps to take
you may go, and | hope never to see your
face aGain!"
Ros. quailed under the looks lcvcled upon
her and shrunk from the room, unable to
mako any reply.
The squire then sent for his nephew, and
II It pimy into view Cnsued. Henry Dray-
ton had no excuse to olor for his trcachery
save his lovo for Lois, and this his uncle
refused to accept.
Go" he said. You are tho son of my
only brother, and loved him we'll but I
hope heaven Will spare me the pain OF cvcr
hearing your name again.
An hour later Henry DraytOn had left his
unclcs house for ever. and IL few days later
sailed for Australia, accompanied by Rose
Ellis. the guilty partner of his villany.
Arthur Hazard was eager to inform Major
Hartwell of the happy turn affairs had tax
en-, and rode into Nestholt 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 next day the Major was AT
Westholt. where Arthur met him with a ear
riage, and gave him Il full and complete his
tory OF all that had occurred.
he Major Listened in silence, too deeply
moved to speak, as he realized all that Lois
had suffered for his sake.
she is in tho pHrlor waiting for you,"
CafI A. hNt- tht. al