The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-04

N inc nniL
.Weilr' he asked, at length, In
happy, ringing voice, holding her away
q little 30 that she might see the bright
ness IN his eyes and guess how matters
were.
George. 1t can not belt il too soon
for--thatl"
cit is not too soon and my darling
NAV hold her he as high as she pleases
aud fear no one on this earth. The
cloud has passed away, and the future
shall be as full OF happiness as love can
make It"
"You-you mean"
IL mean that the man who ls account
able for your sisters death has confess
cd at last Your name IL free from even
the shadow Of stain"
The sudden revulsion Of feeling was
90 great that for q moment she reeled
and swayed helplessly In his arms.
at is too strange too good to be
true,n she gasped, breathiessly.
Tell mean / not the best detect
i've In the world Z" he asked, gayly.
~ want to know all about it, from
the very beginning.
1T Is strange story. When Weare
was down here, he told you how !
happened once to save his life, and
dozen times he professed his gratitude
to me, and swore that some day he would
repay me In kind Well, l went to his
address in London, and by good luck
found him, though he was on the point
- eth ft F1r axto
goodness knows where. | told him all
how we loved each other, and that the
only barrier between us was the unex-
planned mystery OF your sisters death,
imploring him to tell me anything he
knew. You know his impulsive way.
He caught hold Of my hands and wrung
them hard. always told you would
prove my gratitude he said. You
saved my life-it Is yours to do with as
you choose. shot Ada Warrington be-
cause she was untrue
A low cry burst from Elaines pale
lips. All these years, exhaustively as
she considered the matter, this solution
Of the enigma had never suggested itself
to her. That he, her sisters lover, who
had appeared SO broken-hearted at her
death, could have been its cause seemed
too horrible to believe.
:" 1t Is not true-it can not bel He is
saying 50 to save me, sacrificing himself
from a mistaken sense Of gratitude
g thought so myself at first, but he
managed to persuade me at. last that it
was not quixotism, but the actual ter
ribIe fact"
Taking large white envelope from
his pocket, he placed it in Elain g hand.
Here Is confession that he partic-
ularly wished you to read. He said it
would explain his conduct, though 1t
could not excuse It,"
She drew out sheet Of closely writ
ten paper and read it aloud. Her voice
ialtered, but the perfect silence that
reigned about them made every word
distinct.
| Though every tongue may execrate
me when the truth is known, there is
\ only one for whose opinion | care, and
this perhaps because she is the only one
who has real cause to think OF me with
contempt and scorn.
THAT killed Ada Warrington seems
to me an act that circumstances justi-
fed; but nothing can pardon or extenu-
ate the fact that by my own cowardly
dread Of exposure have spoiled her sis
ter's life. 1t is she only. who has the
right to condemn.
when Elaine Warrington stood up
before those idiots who believed her
guilty, and i saw her slowly realizing
the terrible suspicion that was in their
minds, l suffered more than | ever shall
again, even if l expiate my crime by
death. To remain silent while she bore
the burden Of my sin-to feel myself so
weak and miserable wreteh-zwas even
worse than il others had known my
meanness and scorned me for it-for
was judge and culprit in one. No other
will ever view me in SO despicable a
light. But was resolved that, unless
1t was case Of an innocent PERSONS dy-
| ing in my stead, / would not speak,
would not give my life for her unworthy
one. While they thought me grew
ing for her love / was inwardly reviling
her memory, heaping imprecations on
the false woman who had wrecked my
happiness. -
~ had thought her 80 sweet and true,
so child-like and artless in her frank
admission of her love for me. From the
first her evident pleasure at my coming
had hattered my vanity, and gradually
it awakened something deeper in my
heart--only gradually. For long time
! was in doubt as to which sister l pre-
ferred, and, coxcomb that was, tried to
make myself acceptable to both. Each
was SO charming in her different style
Elaine with her shy dignity and semi
prudish demeanor and the deep gray
eyes that betrayed a passionate loving
soul, Ada with her happy gayety OF heart,
every feeling on the surface, and her
pretty winning ways that subjugated
nearly every man with whom she came
In contact.
" In such state of indecision, it takes
! little to turn the scale. One day came
upon Ada unexpectedly alone in Sc