Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-12-13
CHAPTER XIV.

homeward, full OF feelings which II would DO
difficult To describe.
The hour OF bis revenge was come. He had
played his cards and he had won the game,
and fortune with il, and his enemy lay in tho
hollow Of his hand he looked behind him
at the proud towers OF the castle, rejecting
AZ be did 20 that 10 all probability they
would belong to him before another year
was over his bead. At one time be had
earnestly longed TO possess this place, but
now this was not 80 much the object Of bis
desire What he wanted now was the money
With 10000 in his hand be would, together
with what be had, be rich man, and be had
already laid bis plans for the future OF the
Tiger he had heard nothing lately She was
cowed, but he well knew that IL was only Tor
awhile. BY and by her rapacity would 70,
the better OF her fear, and she would recon
mence her prosecutions This being so he
came to a observation-disclosures would put the
world between them Once let him have this
money in his hand and be would start his
life afresh in some new country; he was not
too old for IL, and be would be a rich man.
and then perhaps be might get rid OF the
cares which had rendered 50 much OF his lsfo
valuelesS II Belle would 60 with him, well
and good-if not be could not help IL. II she
did 90 there must be q reconciliation first,
for he could not any longer tolerate the life
they lived In due course he reached The
Oaks and went in Luncheon was on the
table, at which Belle was sitting. She was.
as usual, dressed in black and beautiful TO
look on, but her round, babyish face was
pale and pinched, aud there were black lines
beneath her eyes
II did not know that you were coming
back to luncheon" she said; "a am afraid
there 10 not much to eat"
"Yes," he said. II finished my business up
ut the castle, 30 | thought l might as well
come home. BY the way, Belle, have bic
Of news for you"
"what is itT' she asked. looking up sharply,
Tor sofnething In his tone attracted her atten-
ton and awoke her fears.
"Your friend Edward Cossey, Is going 70
10 married to Ida do Ia Mole"
She blanched till she looked like death
itself, and put her hands 70 her heart as
though she had been stabbed.
The squire told me 50 himself" he went
on, keeping his eyes remorselessly fixed upon
| her taco
She leaned forward, and he thought that
she. was going to faint, but she did not By q
supreme effort she recovered herself and
drank glass Of sherry which was standing
| by her side
81 expected it," she said, In low voice.
You mean that you dreaded IL" answered
MIR. Quest, quietly. He rose and locked the
door, and then came and stood close TO her
and spoke.
Listen, Belle | know all about youi
affair with Edward Cossey. have proofs Of
it, but have forborne 10 use them, because
! saw that in tho end he would weary OF you
and desert you for some other woman, ant
that would be my best revenge upon YOU
You have all along been nothing but his toy
the light woman with whom he amused hi
leisure hours"
She put her hands back over her heart, bu
sald never word, and he went on.
Belle, did wrong to marry you wher
you did not want to marry me, but beins
married, you have done wrong 10 be unfaith
full 10 your vows | have been rewarded b,
your infidelty. and your infidelty has beef
rewarded by desertion Now have pro
posal To make TO you, and IL you are wis
you will accept it. LET US set the one wronI
against the other; let both be forgotten
Forgive me. and will forgive you, and LEI
~ make peace--if not now, then In a littI,
while, when your heart is not 80 sore-ans
go right away from Edward Gsssay aud Id
de la Mole and Honham and Boisingham
| into some new part OF the world, where W,
can begin life again, aud try 70 forget tn
past y
She looked up at him, and shook her heas
mournfully, and twice she tried TO speak an,
twice she failed The third time her word
came
"You do not understand me-" she said
"You are very kind. and am very grateful
TO you. but you do not understand me.
cannot get over things so easily as ! know
most women can; what | have done neve
can undo. do not blame him altogether
and 1t was as much or more my fault thar
bis, but having once loved him cannot z
hack TO you or any other man. II you like
will 60 ON living with you as we live, and
will try TO make you comfortable, but cal
say no more
Think again, Belle he said almost plead
ingly."l dare say that you have never give
me credit for much tenderness OF heart, an,
know that you have ss much against me a
| have against you. But have always love,
you, and | love you now really and trul
love you, and ! will make you good hus
band II you will let me
you are very good. she said, but IL can
not be- aet rid OF me IL you like and MARI
somebody else. am ready TO take the pen
atty OF what have DONE
"Oncs more. Belle, beg you to consider
Do YOU know what kind OF a man this /
for whom you are giving up your Iifei No
only has be deserted you, but do you kno'
now he has got hold Of Ida de Ia Molloi II
mas, as know well, bought her | tell yo
he has bought her a. much as though he ha
gone into tue open market and paid down
price for her. The other day Cossey & So
were going TO toreclose upon the Holman
estates which would have ruined the old ger
tleinan- Well. what did your young man dc
he went 70 the glrl-who hates hiir,, by tn
way. and 10 In love with Col. QuarGch-an
said ~ hfr. III you will promise 10 marry N
when | ask you | will find the thirty thousan
pounds and take mp the mortgages And OF
those terms she agreed 70 marry him An,
now be has got rid OF you and he claims he
promise. That is the history. | wonder tina
your pride will bear such a thing. b.
heaven. would kill the man.
She looked up at him curiously "woul,
your she said iii is not bad idea dar
say Il is all true. He is worthless Why doe
one fall VA love with worthless peoplei Well
there is an end to IL, or beginning Of tn
end As | have sown. 30 must reap" an,
she get up, and, unlocking ths door. left tn
room
Yes, he said, aloud. when she had gone
there is beginning Of the end Upon m,
word. what between one thing and another
unlucky devil hs arm. | had rather stand il
my own shnes than in Edward Cossey's."
Belle went 10 her room aud sat thinking
or rather hrooding. sulenly Then she pu
on her bonnet and cloak and started out
taking the road that ran past Holman castle