The Forrest City times., 1892-05-27
CHAPTER XI.
DEEPER AND DEEPER STILL.

DEEPER AND DEEPER STILL.
 "It is useless to plead, Kenard: must say mo-"
 They stood in the shrubbery concealed from view, and he had been pleading his hardest for her to consent to become his wife, but she dared not yield.
 The terror of exposure and following punishment was the handspring that work ed within her, and it did more than modesty or prudence could have done in such wo- man.
 But what is your reason?" he asked; yesterday you gave me hope, to-day you drive me to despair"
 "I must have time" she said--''weeks, months. Be mercful to me, Kenard. Go away and come again on-on St. Valentines Eve, and I will be kinder to you"
 She had chosen that night on the spur of the moment. it being then in her thoughts. Tt was ill-fated to Ruth" he said
 And may therefore be fortunate for me-" she replied. Be merciful, Kenard, and go awayw
 And if do, and come back on St. Val. entine's Eve?" he said.
 ''I will be your wife when you will" !" she replied.
 '.To that hold you" he said, "and to- morrow will go to Mentone. can kill the time there. You will write to me?''
 ''As often as dare, but you must write very little to me, as show Ruth my let ters."
 II will be cautious, dearest" he sighed; 'but oh, this weary waitingr'
 They fingered but little time, for Vida was in fear of Phebe, and would not re- main, and they parted there.
 Kenard on going in sought his mother, and told her of his intended departure.
 'I have thought you looked unwell," 1" she said, "and change will do you good"
 She yielded to him as she had always done in everything, and her husband yielded to her, so on the morrow Kenard went away, and the Gordonfells was very dull and sad. Vida and Ruth were thrown more togeth. CT than they had been for weeks past, and drove and rode together.
 One day they drove into Carpingdean foi Ruth to see her dressmaker, and on arriving there Vida set her down at the place, re. fusing to go in with her.
 You will find me at the chemists" she said T want some hair-wash. and shall have it made up after recipe l found the other day in an old book"
 The chemist was not in the shop, and his apprentice was the only person behind the counter.
 He was young man with budding whisk' CTS. very susceptible to ladies' society. vida, to him, was an ethereal creature, being to bow down before and worship.
 He blushed as red as a peony as she enter ed the shop, and when she asked for hair wash proceeded to compound it with trem' bling hands. The rattling he made among the glass bottles was prodigious.
 But the ingredients were few, and he had the preparations ready in two minutes.
 As he laid it before Vida, she looked straight at him, and he was as helpless az humming-bird in the presence of rattle snake.
 You are forbidden to sell posons," she said
 sOh no-o," he stammered, mot exactly forbidden"
 Miss Moore has a very old dog which she wishes to destroy" said Vida. Could you give her something quick, fast, and as pain less as possble?'
 'Is it large or small dog?" asked the as sistant.
 "A very large one-a Newfoundland" said Vida. He brought out small phial, and poured into it from bottle he took out of q locked cupboard small quantity of liquid. Then he nut on the accustomed label announcing it was poison.
 You will be very careful with it, ma'am," he said. 'gThere is enough to kill two peo- pie even in this small bottle"
 We only want to kill dog, of course" she answered sweetly. And here is Miss Moore. Ruth dear. have obtained what we wanted. Do you need anything else"'
 No, think not" replied Ruth.
 And they left the shop together. the as sistant lowing them out with the grace of an ancient chevalier troubled with corns.
 It was not until they were out of sight that he remembered he had forgotten to oo tain yida's signature in the Sales of Poi son. book in accordance with statute in Parliament made and provided.
 But 1t can't matter with people like that" he thought Lord, how handsome they both are If had ten thousand year, I-"
 had not ten thousand, nor one hundred. aud in a kind of frenzy he seized hold of the pestle and mortar and pounded nothing for ten minutes, just to let the steam on.
 Vida, not entirely unconscious of the ef feet of her beauty on the chemists assis. tant, but supremely indifferent to it, drove home with Ruth, chatting gaily, but with the fell purpose of murder in her heart
 As one lie often necessitates another, so crimes of deeper dye have their following,
 The crime from which Basil suffered led to the staying of Bardolph Dimsey, and now for her safety she must remove Phoebe.
 ..Pll bury every atom of my secret in the grave." she said to herself, and if score oi people had stood in her way she woaid :eadily have sacrificed them all.
 As they drove up to Gordonfeiis the ooy with the afternoon post-bag appeared.
 Barker, the butler, was standing as tne door to receive 1t, and with his accustomed air of solemn importance took It 'sfo the L..II ..I.. LsAl