Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25


| has fallen ''across this hour, dividing light
| from dark?''
She is leaning against the walI-her face
covered with her hands She seems dead
to his approach; it is as though the powers
OF seeing, of hearing, have deserted her
but alas! not the power of feeling. To mel
very hearts core she is feeling now, poor
soul, and bitterly!
; AS he LAYS his hand upon her arm, she
springs suddenly into an erect attitude and
stided cry breaks from her Shee looks
at him wildly. What, or whom, she had
expected to see, is as vet unknown TO him.
but the expression on her face he never for
gets to his dying day. And her cry, too
Low as it is, it is almost as terrible as the
expression of horror in her large eyes
Don't look like that, said he, shaking
her slightly. 1t is the gentlest of all shakes
perhaps, but sfterward-well, he never
quite forgave himself for it. "Thinkp'
saws he, bending over her ''Collect YOUR
self! What is it2 What has happened?"
''That man. saws she. Her voice is a
mere gasp She lays her hand on his arm
and clings to him as one might to the rock
when the raging seas are round him. "For
Gods sake hide me. Hide me!' says she.
He loosens her hand from his arm.
"What man?"
"Be was there. 1 saw him." Her great
frightened eyes are gazing into his; the
poor hands he has repulsed are clinging at
friehtedly to each other
"Who was it you saw?" asks he, his tone
devoid of all kindliness "Prav remem-
ber," says he courteously, but with a GER
tain hauteur, ''that in this house no one
shall harm you. Speak freely then. Let
me help you if can.
"Who can help me?" saws she. She looks
towards the open door. "Oh, shut it!''
cries she: "shut it quickly! Did he
she looks now at him and her voice falls to
a Whisper terrified whisper, "did he see
me? Did he? Do you think he saw me?
Oh, if he didp' She gazes at him, and see
ing him so deadly silent, her face grows
stronger. "Speakp' cries she; "why don't
you speak? Do you think he saw me?''
Once again she lays her hand upon his
arm, and once again he repulses her, nav,
recoils from her-but so slightly-so more
in thought than deed, that she in her dis
tracted state does not notice it
"He! Give me his name" exclaims he,
harshly.
''Gastonr' says she. ''You must have
seen him? You-why," with sudden return
of agonizing thought, "you asked him herel
of all menu
Something seems to break within her,
and she falls to weeping, not loudly, not
aggressivelv, but in most sad fashion,
heavily, pitffully. But in Drayton's heart
there is no pity for her. His face grows |
livid.
''Gaston Vernerr'
He feels choked. He thrusts her from
him. The sickening doubt, the hateful fear
of this afternoon is Oh him once again, and
this time past allaying. How easy it all
seems now; how clear is the explanation.
What mad fool he was to let her beauty
dupe him, few hours ago, into belief in
her innocence.
Even then he had known! That word
guilt-he had shrunk from it then, he had
put it behind him, but now it
cries aloud, it will not be silenced. Guilt!
Disgrace
The whole thing is so plain. 1t is hardly
necessary to go into it. Werner! Werner
of all men! And those diamondsl And
her fear-her horror! To ask even uues-
tion seems superfiuous-and yet
A very passion of desire to- hear her
speak, to get the truth if possible from her
false lips, possesses him. He turns fercely
upon her
What is this man to you?" demands he,
in low, but terrible tone.
Her tears cease, but she begins to
tremble.
'Oh! don't speak to me like that" SAYS
she. "Have pity on me. He"-iooking at
him with ewes dull with remembered griefs
-''he had no pityr"
''He!-he" repeats he, furiously. The
word has maddened him. And then, SUBJ
DUNG himself by O violent effort, "An-
swer me, )" says he, coldly, austerely.
II cannot," family.
'You shallr' His tone is almost tyran-
meal 1t is sharp, decisive 81 will have
the truth, " says he, "whatever 1t may cost
either you or me. Remain here 1 shall be
door, and she, a sudden fresh fear occur
ring to her, runs after him.
''You," says she painting, "vou-you are
not going to tell him?"
What men you have knownp' saws he.
his lips curling, his voice vibrating with
"No! 1 go to make certain ar
rangements, lest" bitterly, ssanvthinp
should make him suspect your presence
here
'You will come back?" asks she, fever
.shly.
Come back ? Do you wish me back 2"
A strange look of surprise of disgust, grows
Wltnln MS miserable ewes. Was ever
woman so dead TO honest feeling? "I have
told you shall come back in half an hour,
to learn the truth %
''Oh hurry, hurry, hurry g' cries she
vehemently. She has forgotten everything,
save the fear of being alone, while CASTOR
is In the house. Dravton gives her a part
ing glance. What glance it is She does
not see it, having shrunk back into the
gloom Of the room, and it is we'll she does
not.
As he hurries toward the garden to ar
range the movements of his guests so as to
eaye himself free tor the interview he has
not only sought, but commanded, he tells |
himself that probably she will be gone
when next he seeks her. Thirty minutes is |
4 long time-there are many possibilities in |
t-when one is flying girom-from-shame I |
CHAPTER XVII.
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