The Forrest City times., 1891-06-19
CHATTER VII.

Reluctantly, yet With certain amount of curiosity to know what 1t is he may wish to say to her, Dora wends her way to the gallery to keep her ap- pointment with Arthur. Pacing to and fro beneath the searching eyes of the gaunt cavaliers and naughty danes that gleam down upon him from their canvases upon the walls. Dynecourt impatiently awaits her coming"
 "Ah, you are late," he exclaims as she approaches. There is tone of author ity about him that dismays her.
 Not very, l think" she responds pleasantly, deeming eonciliatory meas hres the best. Why did you not come to the library? We all missed you so much at tea.'
 No doubt" he replies sarcastically. T can we'll fancy the disappointment my absence caused; the blank looks and regretful speeches that marked my defection. Pshaw--let you and me at least be honest to each otherl Did Florence, think you, shed tears because of my non-eoming?"
 This mood of his is so strange to her that, in spite of the natural false smoothness that belongs to her, it rem ders her dumb.
 Look here," he goes on savagely, T have seen enough to-day up in that ac- cursed room ahove--that haunted chamber--to show me our game is not yet won"
 Our game-what gamer" asks Dora, with . foolish attempt at misconcep- tion.
 He laughs aloud--a wild, unpleasant, scornful laugh, that makes her cheek turn pale. It's mirth, she tells herself, Is demoniaeal.
 You would get out of it now, would your he says. Tt is too late, tell you. You have gone some way with me, you must go the rest. 1 want your help, and you want mine. Will you draw back now, when the prize is half won, when little more labor will place 1t within your graspg"
 sBut there must be no violence" she gaspS; mo attempt att"
 What is 1t you would say?" he inter- rupts sternly. Collect yourself; you surely do not know what you are hint ing Ut. Violence! what do you mean by that?"
 @I hardly know" she returns, tremb- ling. Tt was your look, your tone, think, that frightened me"
 Put your nerves in your pocket for the future" he exclaims coarsely; they are not wanted where 1 am. Now to business. You want to marry Sir Ad~ rian, as 1 understand, whether his de- sire lies in the same direction or notp'
 At this plain speaking the dainty little lady winces openly.
 My own opinion is that his desire does not run in your direction" con tinues Arthur remorselessly. We both know where his heart would gladly find it's home, where he would seek bride to place here in this grand old castle, but will frustrate that hope if die for it."
 He grinds his teeth as he says this, and looks with fierce defiant eyes at the long rows of his ancestors that line tho walls.
 "She would gladly see her proud fair face looking down upon me from amidst this goodly company" he goes on, apostrophizing the absent Florence. But that shall never be. have sworn 1t; unless-l am her husband-unless- ] am her husband"
 More slowly, more thoughtfully he repeats his last phrase, until Dora, af- frighted hy the sudden change that has disligured his face, speaks to him to distract attention.
 You have brought me here to-" she ventures timidly.
 "Ay, to tell you what is on my mind. have said you want to marry Adrian; I mean to marry Florelue Delmaine. To-day l disliked certain symptoms l saw, that led me to believe that my own machinations have not been so successful as could have wished. Be- fore going in for stronger measures, there is one more card that I will play. l have written you note. Here 1t is, take it"-handing her letter folded in the cocked-hat fashion.
 What am to do with this?" asks Dora nervously.
 Read 1t. It is addressed to yourself. You will see that l have copied Ad- r5an's handwriting as closely as possi- the end. And yet'-with diabolical smile-"it is no forgery either, as A. D. are my initials also.'
 Opening the note with trembling fin- gers, Dora reads aloud as follows:
 Can yot,-will you meet me tomorrow at four o'clock tn the limewalk? have been cold to you perhaps, but have l not had causcY You think my slight attentions 10 another oeiosens decrease In my love for l am yours heart and soul. For the present l dare not declare myself, for the reasons you already know, and for the same reasons am bound to keep up seeming friendliness with some would gladly break with alto. gethcr. But am happy only with you, and happy too in the thought that our hearts beat as one.
 Yours forever, A. D."
 Dora, having finished reading the let ter, glances at him uneasily.
 "And--what Is the meaning of this letter? What is it written fory What am I to do with itY" she stammers, beating the precious missive against the palm of her hand, as though in