Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-11-18

By MISS M. &. BRADDON.
or ParlSlan


why, Pauline" exclaimed Camilla,
they are both bridal wreaths."
Can you guess why it isl"
| No indeed"
| Because there will be two brides to-
morrow. [ never break promise. To-
morrow Don Juan MoraquitoS will
| divide his fortune; one half he will re-
serve for himself and wife, the other
he will give to mis- daughter and the
husband of her choice"
! but, Pauline, how in Heaven
name will you accomplish this?"
That is my secret. There is very
little time left for my work. 1t is now
nine O'Clock, l must go out Immediate
IT,"
! go out, and at this hour?"
1T is absolutely necessary"
| But, dear Pauline. you Will have nv
carriage, you will let me accompany
your
| Neither; go on foot and alone"
She hurried from the room before Ca
militia could demonstrate further. and
| the Spanish girl, bewildered and
| amazed, seated herself near tie table,
looking musingly at the two bridal
| WreathS.
That night silas Craig sat alone in
| the office in which was the map OF
| America.
The lawyer had trillmphed over the
man who had ScOrned HIM.
He had seen Gerald Leslie's proud
nature abased to the very dust, and the
| darling child of a doating father sold
| to her most deadly enemy; for the slave
has no greater enemy than the harden
| ed protilgate, whose guilty passions her
| charms have awakened.
SliaS Craig was winner in the game
| OF llte-What cared he for the dark Sc
| crets upon the cards he had played?
He was rich, and he could defy man
kind.
He had dined sumptuously after the
fatigue OF the slave sale, and the table
before him was spread with glittering
deranters of the choicest wines.
This man reveled i'll the luxury of a
palace; but he had risen from the gut
| ter; and his low and groveling soul still
wore the degradation of the foul haunts
| In which he had been reared.
He lounged in his easy-chair, slipping
wine, which sparkled like melted Jew
els III the light OF the shaded lamp.
He was disturbed from his reverie by
the entrance of the slave who waited
upon him.
"a lady, massa," said the man.
pshaW; why you must be dreaming"
No, masSa, me wide awake. A lady,
very beautiful lady, with white hands
and rings, oh, golly! dey shine like
stars"
Did she tell you her name?"
NO, maSsa, but she glib me dis"
The negro handed Silas card.
This card bore the name of Mile.
Pauline Corsi.
Beneath this card was written this
warning:
There are secrets which Silas Craig
may wish to preserve; if so, he will do
we'll to see Mile Corsi."
Like all base creatures, SilaS was a
coward. The card dropped from his
trembling hand, and his bloated face
grew ashy pale.
admit the lady" he said.
The slave left the room and in a few
minutes returned with Pauline Corsi.
During those few brief moments,
Sllas Craig had recovered from his first
impulse of terror.
What could this woman know of his
secrets?
Who was she but the paid dependent
of Don Juan Moraquitos? He had
nothing to fear therefore.
All the native inSolence of his nature
returned, and when the governess en-
tered the room, he neither rose from
his seat nor offered her a chair.
The impertinence did not escape
Pauline Corsi. With a smile of pro-
vOking assurance, she seated herself
opposite to the lawyer, and threw back
the dark veil that had shaded her face
1--WE shall understand one another
better, by-and-by, Mr.. Craig" she said,
quietly.
May 1 ask the motive of this rather
untimely visit?"
I'VE will come to that in good time,
my dear Sir" replied Pauline, laugh
ing; perhaps there are several motives.
Suppose then, that we begin with
motive number one"
The lawyer writhed beneath her
calm assurance.
Il must tell you, mademoiselle," he
said. that these amt my business
hours, and that if you've anything par
ticular to say to me, you'd better call
another time. Though l should think"
ess of Don Juan MOraquitos can't
have much business with lawyers"
But the wife of Don Juan Moraqui-
tos may, Mr.. Craig"
"The wife"
"Yes, | see your client does not give
you his entire confidence. / am to be-
come Pauline Moraquitos before twelve
O'Clock tomorrow"
The lawyers cheeks once more grew
ashy pale. Again sudden terror
seized him. He felt that there was
some mystery shrouded beneath this
business, of which he now heard for
the first time.
Il know the question which very
naturally rises to your lips" said Pau
line, with quiet elaboration. you
would ask what motive can have in
duced Don Juan Moraquitos to take
before it is asked: The 71otiue is most
powerful one"
Silas quailed beneath the look which
accompanied these emphatic words.
Pauline COrsi had not boosted idly of
the power of her will.
The guilty lawyer, versed in every
art of lying and chicanery, trembled,
he scarcely knew why, III the presence
of this frail girl.
DO you ask the nature of this mo-
tive?" said Pauline.
81 do" he faltered, pouring out a
glass of wine. His hand shook so yio-
1ently that the neck of the decanter
ratified against the rim of the glass,
and he spilled half the costly liquid as
he raised it to his uuivering lips.
lie nad no reason TO rear TINS french
woman-but the strength of her indom-
liable will had magnetic power over
him, and his brutal nature bowed be-
meath its force.
Il will tell you, Silas Craig" an
swered Pauline; there are some Sc
cretS which, once known, give to the
norcon uhn dicoouorC thpn fearful