The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-24
CHAPTER XIX.

Nov you despise me, don't yous" said
the pale beautiful woman, in voice so sad
that it fell like a funeral wall upon his ear.
"No, no, can't say thatl' Allen groaned.
Chow could 1 have been so deceived"
"Do you forgive me?"
ayes, yes, for Heaven knows it has not
been your faultp'
81 will ever be sister to yon, Mr.. Gray,
and as you saved the life of my little brother
at the risk of your own, shall ever hold
you in grateful remembrance" Like one
stupe6ed, ALLEN stood leaning against tree,
gazing at her and half believing that it was
all dream. At last he said:
"Who is your husband! That dark whis-
kered mana"
She nodded her head in answer She was
weeping softly.
"Gredt HeaUen! He her husband!" He
was more than twice as old as she. and
there was nothing congenial in their
natures.
She rose to go, but, putting out one hand,
he gently touched her arm, and in a voice
of stony calmness said:
mo, no, madame, do not go yet; it is time
that should have an explanation. I have
been bufetted about by the varying winds
OF fortune, till have grown weary Of it,;
let me know the whole truth all of this
mystery. and if l have any honor in my
soul, will keep your secret"
She was weeping softly.
DO you blame me?" she asked again
"No; you have perhaps never given me
any cause to believe you were single, save
when you called yourself Bertha Collins
supposed that you were Miss Collins.
"My English name is Collins, the French
is Collieur, or De Collieur My life has
been such sad one that 1 do not know as
it would interestyou However, as you have
befriended me, if you insist on knowing all,
you SHALL
Allen was seemingly as calm now as If
he had been in his Office transactlng some
ordinary business. His face might have
shown some faint signs of the agony that
was torturing his soul, but could not have
conveyed any thing like an adequate repre-
scntatiOn of the sufferings he was endnr-
ing
He calmly babe her SIT down, and re-took
his place at her side.
"Mrs. Collins, regard me as your brother"
he with an effort said" as a brother very
far away-one whom you will perhaps never
see again. but one who will never blot your
image from his memory. This has, indeed.
been sad romance, but it is almost over
The curtain will soon descend between nv
self and hope forever, but before it falls on
the final act I want the key to this sad
drama. That mysterious stone house on the
bill has been puzzle to Turley's Point for
years. What is in it? Is it prison-house
for people, home for the insane, or place
wherein the fiends assemble for incanta-
tons and unlawful rites?"
" 1t is ALL" she answered, her face deathly
white.
"Tell me all about it -
=" WILL" said the pretty creature with a
deep-drawn sigh. "Colonel Collins, as he
Is known among his few English acquaint-
ances, Inherited the stone house on the hill
from his father, who built it great MANY
years ago. When first erected it was in
tended to be the home of the old monsieur.
but his wife would not live in it, NY mother
was French woman and my father an En-
gllshman. There were but three children in
our family, a brother seven years older than
myself and the little boy whom you remem-