Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-12-08

her hand upon his arm, heart and soul
breathed forth the secret that had made
her life one great void of misery since
she had first seen his handsome, earn est
face.
With shock he looked up. Wonder
ment, intelligence in his glance, it drove
her back abashed.
Her face betrayed her secret, she
loved him! His face told Enthusiastically
that he read that secret Alright.
"Oh how could I? But pity you so!
Think me unwomanly, but ii your heart
is breaking so is mine. Go, Mr. Mar
shall-Raymond-go! and leave me to
the Indebtedness Of the secret your
suffering has wrung from my lips.
She was sobbing, shrinking, now. In
CONSERVATION her companion regarded
her. She loved him! This had been
the secret of her hayward moods.
Despite himself great wave Of pity
swept his chivalrous heart.
81 am sorry, he said brOkenly. "a
true womans regard is better than Il
false friends treachtry. Miss Mercer,
when I leave you, it is never to know
happiness again, but I may know the
peace OF having done my iull duty ii |
trace this affair down to The last.
must see Edna-she shall tell me from
her own lips what l already know!
Then I am content to cherish my misery
in silence. Speak! Win my gratitude,
at least, by telling me whittier she has
gone.
There was no reply. Only the sub
dued sobs broke the waiting silence.
You know where Edna Isl" persiSte
Marshall
yes, know" cried Beatrice, lifting
her face. flashing with jealousy and
emotion; but do you think [ will tell
you-send you to beg at the feet OF a
woman unworthy Of you? Leave me!
If you are suffering, I am tortured.
Oh! cruel! cruel! cruel!"
Her frantic hands swept the open
portfolio across the desk as she shran k
from him, hiding her humiliation, her
jealousy her love in hot, burning tears.
About to speak reassuriagly to her, to
plead with her anew Tor the knowledge
he SO craved, Raymond Marshall started
as if dealt sudden blow.
His eyes happened to fall to the open
portfolio. lie rccoiled, stared closer,
and then sprang to his feet with q wild
intelligent, hopeful cry.
Ii
there Individually by the woman who
love, was the record of hatred and
treachery that had SO nearly blfghted
his life.
There were the first experiments Of
the clever forger to simulate Edna
Deane's handwriting. There was a
copy of the miss.ve he had received that
morning. There, too, was the draft Of
the more masculine epiStle that had ac-
cOmpanied it.
Beatrice Mercer had looked up at his
strange cry. Her eyes met his, follow
ing their glance to the portfolio, and
then, shrinking back, her guilty face
told the truth.
You wrote that-you wrote those let
ters!" fairly shouted Marshall. "Oh,
blind, wicked that I was, to doubt my
true hearted darling! 1t was a cruel
forgery-a plot. Speak, Beatrice Mer-
Ger! All you have told me, all those
letters told, was a falsehood."
Beatrice had snatched up the port
folio Defiance in her face, she painted
like a tigress at ay
eff [ did," she cried wildly, ut was
only to save you q fruitless chase. [
alone know where Edna Deane has
gone. | know that she will never dare
write to you or see you again. You
hate me, you spurn me-you, for whom
| would have given q lifetime ct devo-
ton. Then find the palefac child
YOU dote over, but never with my help"
A great, joyful glow sprang to the
face OF Marshall.
So be it," he cried. Knowing her 10
be true, knowing all this forgery TO be
Is lie, love Will ind a way. Revealed! in
your trne colors at last, know what to
expect OF you; but, ass I live, 1 VOW
never to- rest till | find the Woman [
love, the victim of some dark plot, ii L
pursue her half the world Overt"
He strobe from the BOOM and che
presence Of the woman OF whom he bad
made relentless enemy as he spoke,
strong in the consciousness OF loves
mighty power.
Yes, he would find the woman be
loved, though peril, pri,ation, death
barred his Way, and cruel Schemers
wrought dan geroEa5 pitfalls fol- his eager
Feet at sNery step he took
All these mig ht be evaaed. Pesti--
Fence might pass him by, perils Craze
him unssathedx death itself be WardeG
back by the love that knew 10 obstacles,
but mora weirG, mere tortuaus than ne
ever dreamed WAS the path that was,
leading him, to- that far day when, once
again, standing lace to face with Edna,
he should shrink before a mystery and
q plot tlSat w0uld daunt, tppall, and
battle evel his bsld courage and try his
loyal sout as by alA ordeal OF fire.
TO. BE GNNTINUED.l