Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-10-29

Il am reduy 10 IeecINe hcf iahSshpPo
message"
''She desires the return of letters in your
possession"
I'm my possession! What letters? My
dear Viola"
"yfr. Garden, l know all about them. Do
not trouble 10 explain"
His mild cxpostulatory tone changed q
little, bat only q little; he was too wise to
betray feeling; and he answered with quiet
scepticism-
Don't you think Lady Martin had better
come to transact her own business herselfY'
Lady Martin has not the least intention
of coming
Then kindly tell her, with all Difference,
that | must answer her letters are too valu-
able 10 be parted with even at the bidding
Of Miss Thorne."
"And what good" l cried. ''can they I've
10 you? What would IL avail you to make
her unhappy, even If by them you could
part husband and wife? Is it of no use, Mr..
Garden, to appeal TO your generosity-tobeg
you not to take advantage of q woman'S
moments OF weskness?'
ut would be better IL you would leave
this matter to be settled by those who I'M
~derstandit. You are exciting yourself quite
unnecessarily"
You shall Judge presently whether / I'm.
derstand it. lappeal to your honor az a
gentleman, Mr. Garden, and 10 your wisdom
as a lawyer. What advantage do you look
for? Is 1t one whose loss cannot be recon-
pensed TO you? If | do not speak Of right
and integrity and conscience, will you not
be magnanimous? | thought a man would
I scorn so mean q revenge"
81 really must decline TO have ANYTHING
to DO with q third person interfering in mat
tiers which concern only myself and Lady
Martin Pomeroy."
And YOU refuse to return those lettcr.?g'
"Certainly."
Because they are hers, and IL Is / who
ask for them? You need rot make that. at
least, your reason. What ground have You
for %supposing them to be written by Lady
Martin? l grant that she was cognisant of
them, that her maid gave them TO you. But
do you know her writing so we'll? She nav
haze been foolish, she may not have acted
always as Lord Martins wife should have
dore; but do you imagine for a moment that
see would In writing compromise herself
with YOU? Keep your letters; but let them
laugh who win. Even q lawyer may be de-
ceived!'
saw him start, AMI felt his eyes fash on
me. 1t was well that the darkness hid my
face, and that he could not see how my
trembling belled the cool tones whose bold
ness | inwardly marvelled at.
"D0 you dare he said, ito tell me that
Lady Martin did not write thcm?'
Dare Is a strong word 10 use, Mr.. Car
den"
"Pcohl Do you expect me TO believe that
trumped-up tale? For what reason, pray,
am / entreated to return theIn?'
1T is |, not Lady Martin, who asks you.
They are of no use TO you, and | will give
Eve hundred pounds for them. There are
only four: il Is not bad value"
Lady Martin offered me a thousand"
$50 | suppose; but my offer is in good
faith"
you mean that hers was not?"
IL mean what you like TO make Of my
words, Mr.. Garden. | offer no explanation.
| have discoyered-she who had learned to
know you has taught me-that you were
writing to her, pretending to be in love with
her. while TO me-
lie took the bait | offered him. Ii was a
last. bitter, and desperate attempt to save
Gwendoline. did not think he could hurt
me, but indeed / hardly considered ii then.
Anything to rescue poor unhappy GwendO-
line, al the mercy, as she had truly said, of
one utterly merci!ess.
broke off abruptly. Idsred not say more;
and with wi.dIy-5eating heart | stood look
ing down on the ground, shlyering with fear
from head TO foot.
He paused to think over his next move. l
hoped that he would think the owner of the
Grange would pay him q more remunerative
price than he could win from Lady Martin
4 pnmarav tknupbt ha would mama spmn
heavy sum. Even if he did not believe lac,
it would be more profitable thus to t~errorse
over me than over her, for he must see that
there was no chance of winning Gwendo-
line. lie answered in the ingra,iating tones
l had ever hated; but | was fool enough TO
think they proved me the victor, puzzled
though | was.
1t shall be-" he said, exactly as you
wish. will give the letters to you, but to
you only. For your sake and Lady Mar
tins, | can trust TO no other hands. Meet
me tomorrow evening at nine o'clock; you
shall have them.'
Il shall be here"
This Is too near the high-road. l will
meet You by the shrubbery gate. Give my
compliments TO Lady Martin Pomeroy, and
tell her that when she Is frank she need not
fear me. Iretaliate only on those who de-
ceive me. Don't stay out longer, Viola; it
is late and cold.'
l hurried away. and ran across the close
cut turf to the Grange. | opened the door,
and passed from the ghos.ly rustling trees
and the night-air into the dark corridor, and
then into TIE warm lighted hall, and, as L
came there, | was brought suddenly face to
face with Uilda.
Her cold blue eyes met me with q naughty
stare.
Il thought you were upstairs with Gwen
doline," she said.
II was" answered.
you have been out" she said. looking
up and down my dress, at my carelessly-
fastened shawl, my rough hair, and per-
haps needing too my white face and pant
ing breath. l had taken of my veil when l
met Mr.. Garden.
YES. in the garden" And then l went
upstairs and % Gwendoline's room.
She was sitting just where | had left her,
and looked up with great wiStful eyes and
cuiyering mouth. She did not speak.
II have seen him. You need fear moth
Ing" | said.
..Have you ihem-the letters? You cannot
have done il, Viola! / have been thinking
while YOU were away that i ought not 10
have involved you in my wretchedness. You
cannot have conquered him! 1t would be
easier to tame q tiger"
You shall have the letters tomorrow" l
answered. 'He has promised to give them
to me-"
.'Child, is it true? Has he made you
promise nothing?' She rose, still holding by
her chair. There was a worslof wild anxiety,
struggling fright, and yearning distrustful
hope In her eyes. II offered him n thou
sand pounds, and he would not rel mt"
There is 10 bride and nc promise; but
he knows his game is useless"
And, when she would let herself be con-
yinced, she began to cry; and had to sit
beside and comfort her for an hour.
CHAPTER XX.
Lord Martin Pomeroy came the next day.
The whole house was In excitement. He