The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-14
'BETRAYED;
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of LoUe, Intrigue and
Crime.
BY NRS. ALICE P. CARR1STON.

CHAPTER XXXIn.-fContlnued)
He did not imagine for moment that
Cora would charge herself personally with
the infiction of her vengeance; but She
had said, he then remembered, that the
hand would be found She was rich
enough to find it, and this hand might
now be here.
faster, beg of you! nm cold.
He quickened his steps, and resolved
to return to the house by the public road.
When he reached the edge of the woods,
although he still thought he heard at in.
tsrvals the sound which had alarmed
him, he reassured himself and assumed
his flow Of spirits as if little ashamed
even Of his panic.
He detained Flora to look at the pre-
text Of their walk. This was small wall
of rock over a high excavation. Two
trunks Of trees had been thrown across
the narrowest part of the excavation,
forming q species OF bridge-alwsys Civ:
ing those who ventured upon it the mosi
complete and picturesque view OF most
wonderfel and romantic spectacle.
Flo had never before seen this species
OF bridge, which her brother had recently
placed there. After some minutes OF
contemplation, as he was showing hel
with his hands the two trunks Of the
trees:
Must we pass these2" she asked, in .
broken voice.
If you are not afraid, said Eugene;
"and, after all, I shall be with you.
He saw she hesitated, and her face,
under the moonlight, seemed to him to
become 30 strangely pale that he could
not refrain from saying:
i thought you were braver."
She hesitated no longer, but put her
foot on the perilous bridge against he,
wish, always cautiously advancing.
She half turned her head, and hel
steps became unsteady.
All at once she staggered.
Eugene rushed to catch her, and in the
trouble Of the moment his hand struck
her with some force.
The unfortunate woman uttered a
shrek, made gesture as If to push him
off, and, repulsing him, rushed wildly
over the bridge and ran into the woods.
Eugene, repulsed and frightened, not
moving her thoughts, followed her In
great haste.
He found her near the bridge, with he,
back against tree, her face turned
toward ulu, t6EIluo0 yee "ohoSAoS'
Coward" she exclaimed.
he looked at her. with real bewilder-
ment, when he hea the sound Of rapidly
approaching footsteps, and shadow
passed out Of the depths Of the woods.
He recognized Mrs. Leland.
She ran toward them, palpitating, e1.
cited, seized the hand of her child, and
turned to him.
SRnth beraIn she cried
Now he understood all.
A strangled cry ratified in his throat;
he pressed his forehead convulsively be-
tween his two hands, and let fall his
arms despairingly; then he said In a
hoarse voice:
You take me for q murderer" and
stamped in the wild agony of his rage.
We'll, what are you doing here2 Save
yourselves them" 49,.
Terrified, they obeyed him-they fed
the mother dragging her daughter with
long strides; and he saw them disappear
in the night.
He remained there, in this wild place.
The hours passed on without his number
ing them. Sometimes he went up and
down in the narrow space which sepa-
rated the bridge from the abyss; some
times stopping suddenly, his eyes lowered
and fixed, he seemed as immovable and
sepseless as the trunk of the tree against
which he leaned.
II there is, as we hope, divine hand
which weighsin q just balance our griefs
against our faults, these moments ought
20 have been counted for this man.