Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-31


TRUE TO JOAN.
"Youp exclaimed Miriam, springing to
her feet with outstretched hand, and then
something in the expression ofthe Generals
face as he advanced into the room sent a
sudden chill to her heart
joan" she faltered.
"She is no worse" answered General
Conray slowly, as if he understood her un-
spoken question. 'I have come to Scot
land on purpose to see you, Miriam" he
added, with his stern eyes fixed upon her,
'to learn the truth at last from your own
lips"
As he said this Miriam's face suddenly
flushed and then grew pale, and her eyes
fell before his
"what do you mean?" she asked in an
unsteady voice.
'I mean are the words that Joan has
spoken in her sleep and in her delirium true
or false? Was Robert Conray your lover
or hers?"
As he asked this question in loud, harsh
voice, the Dowager Lady MacKennon en-
tered the front drawing room and paused
on the threshold as she did so. She had
been told that General Conray had arrived,
and she knew him to be the brother-in-law
of Miriam, and she had gone into the draw
ing room for the purpose of receiving him,
when his startling words fell on her aston
ished ears She was quick Of hearing and
she distinctly heard his question, and if she
had acted nightly she would, of course,
have left the room. But she did not do
this. She stayed and listened to CONVEX
sation she knew very well that she was not
intended to hear. She had a sort of grim
inward satisfaction in doing this. She
never trusted pretty women, and her
daughter-ln-law was pretty, and she be-
ieved she was about to hear something to
her disadvantage, and so she remained in
the interests of her son.
Miriam did not for moment answer
General Conray, she hesitated, and then
she looked up in his face
"Has poor Joan been delirious then? As
i'll as that, and ]. was never toldr'
"You are playing with me, and did not
come here to listen to subterfuges. Yes,
Joan has been very i'll, but before her ILL.,
ness she spoke words in her sleep which
filled my very soul with horror. Miriam,
Won swore at the inquest that you were
with Robert Conray at the night of his
death?"
eyes" said Miriam, trying to speak
steadily, though she knew her voice
faltered.
"Was this true then, or were Joan's raw
ings true? She cried out frst in her sleep
about Robert Conray-that she had loved
him--that he was hers, not yours? Will
Al Co. So T. 10 l.o%
to me; if she deceived me must knowp'
"She did not deceive you," answered
Miriam; she must save Joan at any cost she
was thinking. "Robert Conray was my
lover, I was with him in the grounds the
night of his--death.
HOf his murder?' interrupted General
Conray, steruly. SIN her fever Joan spoke
at least some words which believe to be
true; she said Hugh Ferrars, the man I al
ways suspected, killed him; the young man
who was your lover, and whom / dissp-
proved Of, and that you hid him; that yOu
know where he is?"
Miriam visibly started.
"Why should you believe her rawlings; the
rawlings of fever7" she said in a faltering
voice.
II do believe them at all events be-
lieve there is something in all this; that
something has preyed on Joan's mind, and
that you are keeping something back. This
Ferrars was your lover, did be murder Rob-
ert Conray in some jealous rage?"
'1 know nothing" answered Miriam.
II see by your face, I hear by your voice
you dol Joan said you knew where Ferrars
was hiding, and I asked where, and she said
somewhere by the sea. Did she mean
Newbrough-on-the-sea? 1t is my duty to
hunt this man down; to discover Robert
Conray's murderer if I can, and you must
help me"
81 can do nothing; know nothing"
Joan must have had something to go
upon, and believe she had. If this Fer
rars murdered Robert 1 believe you knew
it and you screened him at the time, and
would screen him now"
81 repea. know nothing" said Miriam;
''nothing but what said at the inquest 1
parted with Robert Conray alive and we'll
that night, and the next time saw him he
was dead"
what is there in truth that appeals to
some subtle instinct of our souls, guiding US
almost with unerring touch? Miriam spoke
these words positively-she was fighting
for her sister, lying for her sister, and Gen. |
eral Conray did not believe her. He had |
believed her before, because no doubt had |
then entered his mind. Now that it was !
there her words did not convince him. He |
stood looking at her hardly and severely,
and he believed her to be guilty Of what he |
pccused her Of
'You will say nothing then" he said at |
length.
''Nothing but what have said before. I |
was engaged to Robert Conray, and Joan |
knew it, though you did not. But what
urally do not wish Sir James to hear of |
this tragic story"
81 do not wish to tell him. Let him be- |
lieve In you if he can. But 1t is we'll |
known that Ferrars was your lover; that
vou ct one time ct least encouraged him,