Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-10-31

| shall. 1t is useless TO ask me to do so. L
"will YOU not let me TIL him?" asked
| Arthur. will you not let me explain to
| him that 1t was through the mac chinations
| 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. n
| deathly pallor on her lovely face.
"Rosel Was 1t Rose?" she cried. Il
never knew that-I never even suspected it.
Mr.. Hazard. how did you discover this7
| For heavens sake, tell me! Do not keep
me in suspenSel'
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 wretehed?" he asked at
length.
Henry attached to Rosel" said Lois.
slowly. "Why. Henry
She paused. blushing painfully.
Henry has repeatedly assured you of his
attachment to yourself, you would say"
Yes. He has long desired to marry ne,
even before my engagement to-to-Major
Hartwell."
And yet. three years ago. he promised to
marry hose Ellis. She has returned home
now, determined to make him fulfil that
PROMISE He has put her off from time to
time with the excuse that he was poor, and
has told 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 sparkle in the soft. dark eyes
raised to Arthur's face.
How have you learned all this. Mr..
| Hazard?" she asked.
viii you not tell me first how Rose
| Ellis managed to deceive your"
III only dared!" murmured the poor
girl, signing. Il have kept silent so long
| that now"
For your own sake-for Cyril's!"
She did not speak for moment. Her
face was hidden in her hands. and nerv-
Gus tremor 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 her pityingy.
1T was for his sake, for his alone" she
burst out, almost wildly "I did not
! think OF myself at all But, oh, l could
| not have his blood upon my hands Mr.
/ Hazard. you VIII think ue foolish. even
! worse thGu that, Ifear. tut was a.ways a
coward ana oasily frightened. The evening
/ before ! was to be married, l Went with old
] Mrs Kinds 10 see sick child. to whom !
/ vu5 much at-uehed. II was dusk before 1
the wood, which was shorter 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
standing over me. Her face was concealed
by n hdeous black mask and / 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 II
dared marry him she would shoot him
through the heart within an hour after the
ceremony. She swore this, calling on
heaven to witness her VOW and so solemn
was her manner that did not doubt for an
instant that she would carry out her threat
II fulfilled my engagement to Cyril. | had
heard frequently of just such desperate
vengeful women. On my knees l
promised her that / would give Cyril up.
and would refuse any explanation of the
act She told me that il married him his
blood would be upon my head This was
my reason for breaking my engagement.
and dared not sec Cyril for fear he would
wiring my secret from me. and then per-
suaae me there was no danger, and insist
on running tho risk. My love for Cyril gave
me courage to shield him from danger ut no
matter what cost to myself. If married
him it was at the risk of his life. | could
not thus put It in jeopardy"
How cruelty you have suferedl" said
Arthur. And then he told her Of tho con-
|
before.
Your cousins motive in preventing your
marriage is very plain" he said. in con-
clusion. "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 cruell' said Lois
Suppose we send for Rose and ask
her II few plain questions?" 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 ieturued accompanied
by Rose, who had not imagined for mo-
ment the real reason why her presence was
desired.
She had thought Mrs. Andrews wanted
to send some special message to her grand
mother which could not be intrusted to
servant. and when she was ushered into
the library and saw the Squire. Mrs. An
drews. Lois and Arthur Hazard in council.
she was thoroughly frightened for once in
her bold. reckless life.
At first she denied fatty having played
any such part as that ascribed to her: but
when she saw that the story was known in
all its details. she broke down and con-
fessed.
She had been induced. she said. by Henry
to intercept Lois in the wood. and to
frighten her as she had done; for Henry
was poor and needed his cousins money.
which would. Of course. como to him ut
her death If she died unmarried
And he promised to make me his wife
inside OF six months; but he put it Off. say
ing he was too poor. I'm sorry now that 1
ever lent ;ny hand to deceiving Miss Lois,
Squire. 1t was too bad to cheat her for
| nothing."
You ought to be sorry" said the
| Squire. sternly, mo punishment would
be too severe for you. At present. how
| ever. cannot determine what steps to take,
You may 90, and hope never to see your
| face again!"
Rose quailed undor the looks leveled upon
her, and shrunk from the room, unable to
make any reply.
The Squire then sent for his nephew and
stormy interview ensued. Henry Dray-
ton had no excuse to offer for his treachery
save his love for Lois ind this his uncle
refused to accept.
Go" he said. You are the son of nv
only brother. and loved him we'll but I
hope heaven will spare me the pain OF ever
hearing your name ag' in"
An hour later Henry Drayton had left his
uncle s house for eveI and u few days later
sailed for Australia accompanied by Rose
Ellis, the guilty partner of his villainy.
Arthur Hazard was enger to inform Major
Hartwell of the happy turn affairs had TAX
en-. and rode into Westholt at once to dis
patch II telegram to him.
Como 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 car
riage, and gave him full and complete his
tory OF all that had occurred
The Major listened In silence, too deeply
moved to speak. as he realized all that Lois
had suffered for his sake.
"She is In the parlor waiting for you,"
said Arthur. as they drove up the broad