Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-12-11


Il have done nothing with her." she
painted, you are her guardian, not I!'
"You did not take her away from me
last night?"
mo-
my God What shall 1 do now?@
The words were pathetic, in their
heart-rending agony, and must have
touched any heart. though it were made
of stone.
Old Jean reeled to chair, sank into
it, and buried his face in his hands.
Meanwhile, muttering inarticulate
words, which would have been curses
in the mouth of man, and probably
were in hers, Cora Boyden turned and
swept toward the door, only to be ar
rested by the voice of the lawyer.
Mrs. Boyden," he said, lone mo-
nent."
She turned and bent upon him
look OF impudent inquiry.
Where are you going ?" he asked.
II am going to leave this place,
since my life is no longer in safety
here. Heaven only knows what you
may do next"
ASoAAhS VIC NenotuouS assault, Mr.
Edgar said:
Before you go, Miss Clifford has
something to say to yos."
Little Oracle had removed her veil.
thus exposing her pale, fower-like
face. She rose as the lawyer ceased
speaking, and stood with one hand
resting upon the back of her chair for
snpvort
The stirring events of the past few
days had overtaxed the delicate girls
powers of endurance, and even her
loving mother was ignorant of what q
critical condition she was in.
Cora Boyden regarded her deadly
rival for moment with curious eyes,
the hooking smile again playing about
her pallid lips.
II shall be glad to hear Miss Clifford
speak" she said, laying scornful stress
upon the name; II will confess to hav.
ing some curiosity to know whether so
daring an impostor speaks grammatic-
ally"
1t was hateful thrust, but appar-
emily little Oracle did not regard it.
"Mrs. Boyden, she said, in her sweet,
low voice, "doAnot hold me responsible
for the unhappy fate which has befallen
you. OF course, l know nothing OF
your circumstances in life, but know
enough of its hardships to be able to
pity any woman who is left alone and
friendless upon the world. This for
tune which has come to me is far, fal
in excess of my wants. Let me beg
you, therefore, If can ever be of serv
ice to you, not to hesitate to apply tc
me if | can serve you"
Noble words, indeed, but they were
cast away as pearls before swine.
There certainly is some honor among
thieves!" sneered Cora Boyden; show
ever, cannot thank you, since I con-
slider your words an insult Though l
were starving in the streets, I could not
afford to accept the charity of base
impostor!"
yer, warningly.
Though slightly paler, little Oracle
bravely returned to the onset.
Though you will not accept me as
friend in need" she said, gently, "at
least do me the favor to tell me where
"Your lover?" with a shrill laugh OF
triumphant revenge.
Yes, Rupert Arnim."
At last accounts he was carousino
at an inn down the road My servants
tell me that he got into some drunken
brawl and has been murdered"
"Murdered!'
Gas l have not seen him in twenty
four hours, it is quite probable that he
has ended his worthless existence"
Her lying speech was interrupted by
piercing cry, cry of mortal agony,
and as she escaped from the room she
heard heavy fall, which assured hel
that her poisoned shaft had struck
home.
For hours the very existence of the
wretched woman was forgotten in the
all-absorbing anxiety for poor little
Oracle. She lay in an unbroken swoon.
which so closely resembled death as to
terrify her anxious watchers.
At last, as midnight rang through
the silent house, servant was dis
patched in hot haste for the nearest
physician.
In the room which had been he,
bridal-chamber Clarissa Clifford sat
beside the bed upon which lay the
darling child whom she had recovered
only to lose again.
1t seemed to her during those weary
hours as if life was too hard to bear, as
if the cup at her lips was too bitter to
taste, as if she were doomed eternally
to the wretchedness of despair.
IF she Dies she cried, in the agony
of her soul, ooh, Lord, take mel"
Below stairs, good Lawyer Edgar
paced up and down the lighted hall,
prey to the most narrowing anxiety.
While he hoped for the best, he an.
ticipated the worst, and it was with
actual dread that he awaited the al
rival of the doctor.
In the meantime he had assured him
self that Cora Boyden had decamped.
Upon inquiry it transpired that she
had ordered out the carriage and had
been driven away. This, at least, was
some comfort
Naturally, he doubted the scheming
woman's assertions concerning Arnim,
and he determined at the earliest mo
ment to ascertain the truth of them.