Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-09

A light step startled him. He wheeled about in his chair sharply to meet the smil- ing gaze of Lura.
 ''You must be weary after your days vigils, Mr Starbright. I am requested by Grace to ask you to come in out of the damp. She is indeed most solicitous after your health"
 He realized that a hidden sarcasm lurked beneath her words, and he felt angry:
 "You have met Grace, then?" he ques- toned, indifferently.
 "Yes. We are already friends. Feeling somewhat indisposed she requested me to call you and"
 sSit down there, Lura Joyce," he inter rupted, shortly ''I wish a word with you"
 He pointed to the vacant chair near. She accepted it without word, and cast de- mure glance at him from under her sandy brows.
 "Why have you come to Lone Hollow" he demanded, bluntly.
 ''This is to be my home hereafter" was her reply.
 ''Your home?"
 He seemed angered at the announcement.
 "Yes, Captain Starbright, my home," she repeated, grimly. II am Grace's cousin, and she has kindly invited me to live under the same roof with her. With a million more or less at her command can see no harm in this"
 
 "Now permit me to ask you one"
 She lifted her head, and her short red curls danced defiantly. He made no re- mark and she proceeded.
 "Now, sir, why is it that you are here' Answer me that, please"
 II am simply guest" "Slmply a guest! Do you expect me to be Geve that, Clinton Starbright?" II care not what you believe" "I suppose not You may, however, be ! forc this war dance ends," fired the girl, with an emphasis quite unnecessary, he thought. He remained cool under her whitening gaze. This was not the first time the two had crossed swords. Once, not a year before, he had actually paid court to the fiery Miss Joyce. At the time he was led to believe that she was to inherit large fortune. A col ! lapse in her fathers fortune came sud- i denly, and immediately after, the death of the old speculator. Then Captain Star | bright lost all interest in the girl, and had l had the i'll grace to make sport of her at his l club. Lura Joyce had come into possession | of the facts, and from being friendly she came to be tho Captains most relentless enemy He had more than once felt what it was to have this girls hate, and he real 1 ized that it was no small affair. Now she had followed him to Lone Hol- l low, and of course would use her influence to cheat him out of the million that would fall to the fortunate one who married i Grace Penroy. It was this fact that gave ! the schcming man such uneasiness and vex. ation.
 Miss Joyce, of what use is it to put your self forever in my path !'' he finally de- manded. If you would only show proper regard for my feelings, would be willing to cry quits and use you well in the future. There isn't the least sense in our being | enemies"
 liam your enemy because 1 know you, Clinton Starbright," she said, grimly. Il know more than you imagine of the part you had in tragedy of a year ago. l am here, for one thlng, to watch you and see that you take no unfair advantage of innocence. 1 I suppose you can comprehend that'' "I thlnk ought.''
 "You haven't spark of honor in yorr compositions" she went on. "I can read you like a book. To me your nature is as 1 transparent as glass. 1 understand your motive for coming here; realize the peril in which the Penroys exist, and let me tell you at the outset that if you win in the game you arc playing you will have tc earn your success"
 "You speak in riddles, Miss Joyce," he returned, affecting not to understand her meaning.
 II shall not rork that way, at all events,
 she retortcd.
 "Again I say your language is all a rid self, Miss Joyce.' "I do not think it is necessary"
 "You doubt my sincerityl" hurt expression touched his darlzlN handsome face. There was one woman liv
 ing who could neither be deceived nor flat tered by the dangerously handsome Cap tain a fact that he was soon to realize to hi:
 chagrln.
 "I have no doubts on the subject, Cap tain Starbright," she declared. ''I knOt that you are not sincere. Honesty and yo, 2 parted company long time ago, soon afte you came to years of understanding, } should judge. know why you are gues at Lone Hollow, and mean to thwart yo1 in every thing" r "This is why you are hereW "Perhaps."
 He smiled and pluckcd at his mustache. ) However displeased he might be he faile
 to show it on his countenance. "I can afford to laugh at your insinus [. tions, Lura Joyce," he said, in an eas 1 tone Il know how jealous women ar z prompted to do and say things that to sens ble people seem extremely foolish" He then attempted to rise to his feet. Sh , l prevented him with Q sudden gesture c Q angry vehcmence. { ''Cowardv she hissed. ''That could b 0 jealous of such a snake as you is beyon D the possibilities. Have you forgotten tha
 scorned your advances III other days? y might have been chained to you then had
 so wished. I did not. A coward in wa
 and sneak in peace is not the stuff {
 make women jealousl That insinuatfo r will not pass current, Clinton Starbright. I He pluclzed more 1iercely at his mustact a then, and bit of red shot into his swarth
 cheek. It was evident that she had touche t tender spot at last. He came to his fe'
 then, and confronted her with a black lool c II had hoped that you would be reasons l ble, Miss Joyce," he said, in a low tone Q disgust and rage. Il find that you do n, = mean to be any thing of the kind, sol SUI a pose it must necessarily be war betwee l, us, but in the end will teach you a lesso > that you will not soon forget"
 When he would stride away she sprar 0 up and caught hls arm, bending her fa' d close to his until the trembling curls (