The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-06-13

an end this day, when ! resolve to dare the
"Or shall It b. at an end tomorrow, when.
unless That girl shall 10 given up to me. /
shall strike my last blow, and destroy you?"
do so, then. madam Give me the coup
dc grace. 1t will be mercy"
"You ars mad to refuse an offer that am
a. mad, perhaps, to make to you; but il be-
should have lucid interval, send Inc word
that you accept my offer; else prepare for
prison and disgraceful exposure"
CHAPTER XXI
"ADELAiDE, the time his come when all
cOnCeRlment from whatever cause between
us, must be at an end, snid Orville Devilc.
ns, with npnle and rrsolutc brow, lie stood
before his vito in the dressng-room.
With eyes full o. sympathy. tl,at Christian
vie took his hand, and drew towards him II
chnir near her son.
Mr. Daville.
With their langunge.master in the parlor,
ut their studies. They are safe for some
hours"
ut il well; for would not be interrupted"
He paused. pnssed his hand across his brow,
and seemed lmrplexed,
Dear Orvlle speak freely to me. You
know TINT there is very little which do not
already know
You know nothing. since have told you
nothing. You only conjecture, though We
have conversed upon that conjecture M
though il hnd been mutually recognized
truth. That is past. Now all must be open
and clenr bet wcen U.s.
Adelaidc looked up at him with eyes full of
anxious inquiry.
Hear me, then, Adelaide. Lionne, when,
years ago, she broke in upon your happiness.
told YOU nothing but the trutl,-truth. until
now. unncknowledgsd ly mo. Yes. Adelaide;
] married her. Forgctul or ignorant OF the
true nature Of that indissolublc bond that
from ourchilihood united me to yourself, and
| yielding to u violent though false and tran.
silent excitement of the senses, i arc,i not mite
my iate with TINT beautiful young lioness OF
the Observation-Disclosures discovered to lie our
cousin. the daughter aud leiress of the bun.
ishcd Enrl of Glen Lcnnark.''
:. Adclnide dropped her eyes, compressed her
lips, and tightly cnspe.l her hands. ns il to
conatrain md iepress the emotion TINT WIS
swelling Mt her heart. Mr.. Devillc con-
tinued-
II was called from tho side OF my fatal
bride to the sick.bed OF my mother, where,
alas! soon learned that my mad passion
was ns evanescent ms it had been violent and
that my hasty marriage was u crime and a
felony, exposing my liberty md honor to
yenrs ago, had let child, now grown up n
lovely and loving woman, benrinS my name,
everywhere recognized MS my vie. ! soon
came to love you, not with blind i,lo!atry of
passion. but with nll the hottest DEVOTION my
soul. sought TO forget Tho fatal episode of
the forest, and to confirm my true marriage
with you. As We were preparing Cor our
bridal tour l-ionne came, md you know tho
rest"
Adelaide dropped her hendu upon her bosom,
and Mrnng her l'ale hands together, as though
silently wrestling with the strong agitation
! TINT wns shaking her whole frame
| MIR. Deville continued
The rage, grief, and despair OF Lionne was
at first natural-justifablr hut her long-con.
tinue,, persistent, ruthless mnlgnity ag,inst
me and all connected with me liz madness
"i.ct us I've inst. She had enough to drive
her mad. sighed Lady Adelaide.
"And now. continued Mr.. Dcvlle, "aauirs
approach crisis. The certificate olmy-yes,
will speak the fatal word-ieonious mar
riage with herself is in her possession, u ter
rible weapon tor my destruction. She will
| use it.
Lady Adelaide shuldercd as with nm acue
fit, and covered her ince will, her hands,
'Shc will use it. unless obey tho order she
gives me- however unreasonable, improper,
or even criminal, that order may bs
"Oh. Orville!"
"At her command gave up, without pos
mark"
sit was her right. md not ours, dear l,us.
| hand"
"At her command stepped down from Tho
seat o! distinction upon which the suf1rnses
OF my .ren.ls had placed mo.
Lady Adelaide rlaspel and unclasped her
hands in troubled thought.
| "And finally. when her commands become
err to make them possible sl,o will still, with
the relentless, ruthless maIignity OF her ma
ture, use her power to crush me.
Again Indy Adelaide shook =. with an
ague tit. while she Covered her palo face with
az SGG,,is
\ Ill, l.. ~,
the dread of tho terrible exposure, disgrace,
and ruin attending II criminal trial deferred
me from meeting the crisis that must come,
sooner or later. Longer it were nnmanly to
shrink. Something. must be done"
As he said this, Ito looked intIuiringiy at
the pale and quirerng iare o. his wife, as
though he would have discovered therein
whether she had courage to meet the terrible
ordeal Mt which he limited. She untlcrsto God
his unsroken doubts, aud eontroiing her own
agitation. she raised her face. pale ard still,
to TINT of her husband. und answered.
'Let us try TO reflect what is right to be
done and do il. drawing the consequences"
my noble vie! 1t is what myself Judged
best. The present demand of this lost ,lll-
happy woman il. that We give up TO her our
adopted daughter Perlita. We're mad
enough to ohet this insane command. how
can be sure that her next order would not lie
that should give to you? And where
would her despotism stop? will drre and
meet the tria. The essence of oil crime il in
the intention. Ihad no intention to commit
q felony. The jury will understand that.
Yes once for all, will dare the certificate"
said Mr.. Devle, rising and pressing kiss
upon the brow OF his wife before leaving the
room.
"And IT, murmurel Lady Adelaide, ~
will get the certificate from her. for know
how to appeal to that better spirit TINT,
however confined, still lives in every human
heart
And ! Gull on earth and Hides to crush
me with IL swift destruction the day, the
hour that r,leut," muttered, in low, deep
thunder. II terrible voice Mt her side.
Adrlni.e started, AMI looked up, to see
Lionne, tn" relentless tho terrible, the ubi-
Initous, standing he ore her.
Yes; tho rivals were again face to fncc.
What n picture they made. What II con.
trnst they formed.
Lady Adeinide, with her fur face softly
shaded by her pole. golden tresses, and by
the fine, semi-transparent luce Of n delirnta
breakfast cap, and her fragile form wrapped
in a soft. snow-white cashmere neglige, re-
Ginning on her cnsy chnir, and
Lionne, with he- unconfnel, long. glittering
black ringlcts, rolling fercely buck from her
dark. bright, Respondent countenance, her
tall, finely curvedtigure arrayed in close
fitting black habit. and drawn up to it's
proudest height.
They gazed ut ench other-the soft blue
| eyes uepTec1ttiHsISt the merge, DUCK ones Tie.
family.
"And coll on earth and Iiadcs to crush
me with a swift destruction the day, the hour,
that relent!"
IAN awful adiuration to the evil powers
madam. ! meet il with IN appeal o the bet
ter ind hieher-ayc, to the best and highest
God! and | call OIL heaven to turn aside
from you the curse you have invoked upon
yourself, to endow you with the grace of mer-
cy, aud to bless you-!orgiring Others, for.
given yourself" snid Lady Adelaide in soft
prayeriul tone.
I.ionne smiled in hitter scorn.
"Mili you sit down, madam" said Lady
Adelaide. putting out her hand. and drawing
another chnir'nenrer to her own.
Lonne silently threw herself into the offer.
ed seat.
"And now. will you tell me in what manner
l can be of service to you," inquired Lady
Adelaide. dcprccntingly. for she felt herself,
indeed. us it were, u lamb in the power of u
lioness.
The naughty visitor hesitated, paused in
deep thought for moment, while Lady
Adelaide added
'lf l Gun be of use to you in any way, be-
lieve me. shall he glad"
An ironical smile fitted over the face OF
Lionne, md, In n sarcastic voice, she answer
ed
Very we'll. will inform you how you can
be OF use to me- since to serve me will make
you glad"
CHAPTER XXXII.
1 To-, al ,{.,n