The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-02-09
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
f(sontiaatcd from Second Pace

prise.
For moment The question seemed to
be utterly absurd.
But Ii d moment there flashed across
his mind hundred things which at
the TINE heihad never observed looks,
words, ramarks, the bitterness of which
he hsa not been able to understand when
uttered.
We'll, = he said, @it may be 80, But
this I can truthfgllAy swear: never, by
wcrd or deed, did ever give Clare Ray
1nond reason to think that / desired her
for a wife. May has always been my
choice. even from childhood"
II fear, then, she has misunderstood
lyou,n said Mr.. Armstrong; TOR her
manner Is very strange and suggestive
of some hidden secret Let us hope it Is
all my fancy. And nov TO business"
".
The message of Guy 10 May restored
her greatly. and sac seemed BY night
time to have quite recovered herstrength.
At the usual time for retiring she was
chatting gayly to Glare, who had been
strangely reserved aud silent.
AT length she interrupted her.
May" she said ssyou pain me by
these happy, trusting words Of yours. I
have kept silent up till now, because you
were 50 weak and i'll; but it is only Just
that / should speak. Give nae your
promise first that you win be brave. and
that you viii believe that only tell you
what do for your good.
May turned very pale, but she slipped
u trusting hand into that of her enemy.
Tell me all, she said; it viii be bet
ter for me to know.
You must hope still for the best
dear. said the willy raitress, ssbecauss
nothing short of utter compulsion will
forca words from me. But Guy LIS.
TRANCE is guilty; ! saw him myself in
the woods; saw him strike the woman
to the ground in his rage
's0h, Clare, Clarel 1t is not, it cannot
be true!" cried May, as she flung herself
on the breast Of her supposed friend.
~ will never believe that Guy could be
q betTnyar and murderer
No, no. May said Clare, pressin &
Mays head to her breast in pretended
fondness, that she might not see the
vengeful glitter of her eyes, the serpent
like triumph on her face; II do not say
that. saw and spoke with Guy after it
Ewasall over, and can relieve your heart
|of great deal"
ssTell me-tell me thea. I beg said
May. do not fear for me. Anything
tis better than suspense. tits that which
prostrates me aud seems to rend my heart
with hopeless despair
Listen. then, May, said Glare. aDo
mot intexrslpt me and will explain all.
but above all remember that not word
LOT what say must be repeated to any
one, not even to my mother
4 promise that, whispered poor May,
still nesting her aching head on the
warm bosom OF her betrayer, 'sall shall
he sacred between you and me. .
We'll, them" continued Clare, 81 saw
Guy LsEstrange strike this woman down,
as I havesaid, and she saw me and knows
that | was witness to all. She will tell
this when she RECEIVERS her senses, and
they viii force me to be a witness against
him. But he has quite cleared himself
an my eyes. That woman is not his wife
nor anything TO him. She never was;
OF that he has convinced me. It was all
hatched up STORY to extort money, but
SO well was it ooncocted that, in his hor-
ror and dismay to find that his marriage
with you would be put off and all his
prospects of happiness perhaps blghted
forever, that he lost command over
himself and struck her, never intending
20 dealso violent blow
I .sBut it was cowardly to strike a
woman at all, . sobbed MAY.
Yes; it would have been utterly cow
ardly and wicked had he meant it," said
Clare, ssbut he did not do it in preanedi-
tation, and he was bitterly repentant
after. He wanted to remain, and do his
best to restore her to consciousness, but /
persuaded him to fl while no strangers
were about; and having seen that the
woman was quickly recovering her
senses, and hearing footsteps approach
ing, confess fed, too. 1t was then
met Guy again and heard from his lips
the proof OF his innocence of what the
woman charged him with
What is to be done, them she znosued.
81 wish he had not struck that woman.
1t seems 10 lower him in my eyes. On,
Glare, if that part of your story could be
blosted out / should be q happy girl"
You do not love him, then" said
Clare, gently putting her FROM her and
rising; IF you did you would find ex-
cusss for him in his utter despair at be-
ing compelled TO leave you as he feared
he would. Good night, May. He sent
you hopeful, loving message / don't
think it would conduce to his well doing
Il he heard your doubts and complain
fngs tonight.
But stay, Clare" cried May, clinging
to her; ''wfat is to be the end Of it ali?
II he did this thing, If that woman forces
you TO speak, he viii be convicted"
There is no doubt of that, said Glare;
sand lie win be heavily punished. We
nlnst make up cur minds to bear that
unless one OF two most unlikely things
happens"
s.Waat are theyf'
'skdTher that the woman dies before
she recoyers consciousness or that he es-
capes Tne latter is the more innproha-
bic in these matter OF fact days Of well
built places Of detention and wide awake
police And pet such things do occur,
and Eaere is at any rate hare pcssibili-
" that ne might escape. II he does he
will, of course, have to fly the country.
t<..A- L r -.