Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-06
BETRAYED:
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of LoUe, Intrigue and
Crime.
By MRS. ALICE P. CARR1sroN.
CHAPTER xxxm-CContinued.l

>
He did not imagine for a moment that
Cora would charge herself personally with
the inhiction of her vengeance; but she
had said, he then remembered, that the
hand would be found She was rich
enough to find it, and this hand might
now be here.
Flo" he said, -lst us walk little
faster, I beg of you'll am cold"
He quickened his steps, and resolved
to return to the house by the public road.
When he reached the edge of the woods,
although he still thought he heard at in
tervals the sound which had alarmed
him, he treasured himself and assumed
his flow of spirits as if a little ashamed
even Of his panic.
He detained Flora to look at the pre-
text of their walk. This was small wall
Of, rock over a high excavation. Two
trunks of trees had been thrown across
the narrowest part of the excavation,
forming a species of bridge-always Civ
ing those who ventured upon it the most
complete and picturesque view of most
wonderful and romantic spectacle.
Flo had never before seen this species
Of bridge, which her brother had recently
placed there. After some minutes of
contemplation, as he was showing her
with his hands the two trunks Of the
trees:
Must we pass these?" she asked, in 3
broken voice.
IF you are not afraid, said Eugene;
and, after all, shall be with you."
He saw she hesitated, and her face,
under the moonlight, seemed to him to
become so strangely pale that he could
not refrain from saying:
Il thought you were Drawer"
She hesitated no longer, but put her
foot on the perilous bridge against her
wish, always cautiously advancing.
She half turned her head, and her
steps became unsteady.
All at once she staggered.
Eugene rushed to catch her, and in the
trouble of the moment his hand struck
her with some force.
The unfortunate woman uttered q
Shrek, made a gesture as if to push him
of, and, repulsing him. rushed wildly
over the bridge and ran into the woods.
Eugene, repulsed aud frightened, not
knowing her thoughts, followed her In
great haste.
He found her near the bridge, with hel
back against a tree, her face turned
toward him, terrified yet.menacing.
Coward" she exclaimed
He looked at her with real bewilder-
ment, when he heard the sound of rapidly
approaching footsteps, and a shadow
passed out of the depths of the woods.
He recognized Mrs. Leland.
She ran toward them, palpitating, e1-
cited, seized the hand of her child, anC
10
Both herel" she cried.
Now he understood all
A strangled cry ratified in his throat;
he pressed his forehead convulsively be-
tween his two hands, and let fall his
arms despairingly; then he said in &
hoarse voice:
you take me for a murderer" and
stamped in the wild agony of his rage.
We'll, what are you doing here? Saw,
yourselves thenl"
Terrified, they obeyed him-they fled
the mother dragging her daughter will
long strides; and he saw them disappear
in the night.
He remained there, in this wild place
The hours passed on without his number
ing them. Sometimes he went uD an(
down in the narrow space which sepa
rated the bridge from the abyss; some
times stopping suddenly, his eyes lowere'
and fixed. he seemed as immovable ant
senseless as the trunk of the tree agains
which he leaned.
If there is, as we hope, a divine ham
which weighs in a just balance our grief
against our faults, these moments ough
TO have been counted for this man.