The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-12-10
Oh APTEis ~.



Ecatr.ce Mercer was seated at desk
correcting some exercises OF III pupils,
her own portfolio spread out before her.
The color died fro h I in as she
recognized her visitor, then it turned
dee red with roa .tionaTy emotion
His thoughts We're too full of Edna 10
allow OF his reading Alright the tremu-
loas emotion, the Ia f-reprcsse fright
that his host SIS betrayed
Miss Mercer lie s. ole, hoarsely,
Il have come to ask of ,ou the irfo"-
nation that Miss Chandler refuses.
Why did Edna DeaHe leave the semi
nary? Where has she gone?
| cannot tell you
His eyes flashed excitedlv. He
clcnche hi hands in an excess OF SUI
! fering AMI suspense
You must" he gas ell, franticalIy
DO you understand what | am eldnr-
in-? Doubt-angush- heart breaking,'
From beneath her yelled cyeli Is the
girl sud- d his working face. Craft
ness was there, bat W Il masked \
sinister triumph i'll her heart gave her
strength TO simulate.
Il pity you. she said, softly. 4
would be glad 10 tell you ali, but it is
useless.
"Eseless:"
Yes. She has left the seminary.
Hopelaic, her friends, forever. She has
gone 70 her relatit es under a VOW never
70 reveal her true identity. Happy in
her new life, with golden promises Of
wealth, you must not blame her i'm
petuou, nature if she finds new friends
who make her tor4 ct the Cd.
How we'll the shaft Went home, The
blank despair, the settled conviction Of
IA thieSsness III the man ) face was
pitiablc t. witness.
she left no word for me-" he forced
himself to ask
No. She wrote letter to Mr.. Bar
ton Brins!ey. bat it is unmanly for YOU
To ha,e me tcIray NY friend
Speak o dercd Marshall fiercely
"Do you not see that this suspense is
killing me-
Then know the worst, answered
Beatrice baking all her fancied pow er
on final venture She wrote to Par
ton Brinslcy. This morning he le t
Hopedale. Miss Chandler saws he has
gone away on business. / think il is TO
see Edna's new relatives and ress his
suit there. Mr. Marshall oh, why will
YOU force me- To I'll these hit or truths.
Forget her She is unwo thy OF YOU
She never knew her own mind. There
are tr2"r hearts, hearts longing for u
love they would cherish and never be-
tray.
His head ha4 sunk ON his breast He
believed now, and his heart was broken
Ecatrice had drawn nearer to him.
Her eyes aglow, he. che ks throh hing
her hand upon h 5 arm, heart ana soul
breathed forth the secret that had made
her life one great void of misery since
she had first seen his handsome, earnest
face.
With Il sho.k 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.
"Ol' how could | But l pity YOU So,
Thin me unwomanly, but if your heart
is breaking 50 is nine. Go, Mr. Mar
shall Raymond-go, and leave ne to
the Indebtedness Of the secret YOUR
suffering has wrung from my fps.
She was soothing, shrinking. nov. In
! CONSERVATION her companion regarded
her She loved HIM This had been
the secret of her hayward moods.
Despite himself a great wave OF pity
swept his chiva!rous heart
Il am sorry, he said hrotenly. \
true woman's regard Is better than a
false friend treach ~. Miss Mercer.
when leave you, it i never 70 know
happiness again. but I may know the
peace Of having done my full duty if
trace this affair down 10 the last
must see Edna-she shall tell me from
her own lips what / already know,
Then l 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 sohs broke the waiting silence.
You know where Edna is: persisted
Marshall
Yes, l know cried Beatrice. lifting
her face. flashing with jealousy and
emotion; but do you think I will tell
woman unworthy OF YOU: Leave me!
If you are suffering. | am tortured
oh, cruel, cruelt cruel
Her frantic hands swept the open
portfolio across the desk as she shran h
from him. hiding her humiliation. her
jealousy. her love in hot. burning tears
About TO speak rsasSuriagiy 10 her, 10
plead with her anew for the knowledge
he 50 crayed. Raymond Marshall started
as ii dealt a sudden blow.
His eyes happened to fall TO the open
portfolio. He rccoileI, stared closer,
and then sprang to his feet with a wild
intelligent. hopeful cry.
For upon sheet OF paper, written
there Individually by the woman who
had Just so shame-facedly confessed her
love, was the record Of hatred and
rreachery that had so nearly bnghted
his life.
There We're the first experiments Of
the clever forger 10 simulate Edna
DeGae's handwriting. There was a
copy Of the miss.ve he had received that
morning There. TOO. was the draft Of
the more masculine epIsIle that had az
c04s,e,l:ed i