Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-06-19

For once startled cat of her self command.
Elizabeth gave little cry. while her father
staggered back against the wall
s.Dead-deadl What do you meant How
did she dief he asked
THAT is known to God and her alone.r an
suered Godfrey. ''She went out last even-
inc in her canoe. When | arrived here this
,norning she was missed for the first time.
,yslked along the beach and found the canoe
and this insideo it, and be placed the sodden
shoe on the table.
There was a silence. In the midst of it
Oven Davies burst into the room with wild
ewes aud disheveled hair.
as il truen he cried; 'tell met cannot
he true that Beatrice is drowned She Cannot
have been taken from me just when l was go
inc 10 marry her Say that il is not truefn
great fury filed Geoffrey's heart He
walked down the room and shut the door, a
rsd light swimming before his eyes; then he
turned and gripped Owen Davies shoulder
like wise.
IYou accursed blackguard-you unmanly
cprtn he said; You and that wicked wo-
,nan and he shook his hand at Elizabeth,
s.conspred together to bring a slur upon
Reatrice. Youdid more; you threatened TO at
tack me. to try and ruin me if she would not
give herself up to you. You loathsome hypo-
critic. YOU tortured her and frightened her;
now | am here to brighten you. You said
that YOU would make the country ring with
your tales. | tell you this-are you listening
10 mel-if you dare to mention her name in
sucl a sense, or if that woman dares, | will
break every bone in your wretched body-by
heaven. | will kill your and he cast Davies
from him, and as he did so struck him heavily
across the face with the back Of his hand
The man took no notice either of his words
ar of the deadly insult of the blow.
as il true,n he screamed; sis it true that
she is deadn
"Yes,n said Godfrey, following him and
bending his tall square frame over him, for
Davies had fallen against the wall, Eyes, 1t is
true-she is dead and beyond your reach for
ever. Pray TO God that you may moi one day
he called her murderers-all Of you-you
shameless towards
Owen Davies gave one shrill cry and sank
in a huddled heap upon the ground.
There is no Cod he moaned; "tiod
promised her to me, 10 be my own-you have
killed bert you-you seduced her first and
then YOU killed her. | believe you killed her
Oh, shall go madl"
"Mad or sane said Godfrey, 'say those
words once more and will stamp the life
out of you where you are You say that God
promised her TO you-promised that woman
To a hound like you'll All, be carefulw
Owen Davies made no answer. Crouched
there upon the ground he rocked himself to
and fro and noaned in the madness OF his
baked desire.
"This man. said Godfrey, turning toward
and pointing TO Elizabeth, who was glarlng at
him like a wildcat from the corner OF the
room. said that there is no God. say that
there is a God, and that one day. soon or late,
vengeance will find you out-you murderess,
YOU writer of anonymous lettersl you who,
70 advance your own wicked ends, whatever
they may be, were not ashamed TO try and
drag your innocent sisters name into the dirt.
never believed in hell till now, but there
must be a hell for such as you, Elizabeth
Granger. Go your ways; live out your time;
but live every hour of it in terror of the ven
geance that shall come so surely as you shall
die Now for you, sir he went on, addressing
the trembling father II do not blame you
40 much, because | believe that this viper
poisoned your mind. You might have
thought that the tale was true. 1t isnot true;
tits a lie Beatrice, who now is dead, came
into my room in her sleep, and was carried
from it as she came And you, her father,
allowed this villain aud your daughter TO use
her distress against her; you allowed him to
make a lever Of it, with which to force her
into a marriage that she loathed. Yes, cover
up your face--you may well do 50. Do
your worst, ne and all of you, but remem-
Der that this time you have to deal with
man who can and will strike back, not with
a poor friendless gIrl.n
Before heaven it was not my fault, Mr..
Bingham, gasped the old man. II am limo
cent of it. That Judas woman Elizabeth be-
trayed her sister because she wanted to mar
~ him herself and he pointed to the Heap
upon the floor. "She thought that it would
prejudice him against Beatrice and he-he
believed that she was attached to you, and
tried to work upon her attachment
500 said Godfrey, "now we have it all.
And YOU. sir, stood by and saw this done.
You stood by thinking that you would make
a profit of her agony. Now | will tell you
what | meant to hide from you. l did love
her do love her-as she loved me. be-
lieve that between you you drove her to her
grave. Her blood be on your heads forever
and forever"
"Oh. take me home,n groaned the Heap on
the 1OOr-'Uh Jake llie uOiiles LiildOcSh4 utl Q
not 20 alone Beatrice will haunt me. My
brain goes round and round. Take me away,
Elizabeth. aud stop with me. You are not
afraid of her you are afraid of nothing"
Elizabeth sidled up 10 nim, keeping her
fierce eyes on Godfrey all the time. She was
utterly cowed and terrified, but she could
still look fierce She took the Heap by the
hand and drew him thence, still moaning and
quite crazed. She led him away TO his cas-
tie and his wealth Six months afterward she
came forth with him to marry him, half wit
ted as he was. A year and eight months af-
terward she came out again to bury him, and
found herself the richest widow in Wales.
But mark the sequel. In her breast lay the
seed of a fatal and shocking malady. Within
three months of her deliverance Elizabeth too
was dead. and the wealth passed elsewhere
They went forth, leaving Godfrey and Mr..
Granger alone The old man rested his head
upon the table and wept bitterly.
.sBe merciful!n he said, do not say such |
words to me. loved her, indeed, did, but |
Elizabeth wcs too much for me, and am so
poorl On. if you loved her also, be mercifuli |