The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-08

"At once"
$50 much the better" replied Fer
rars, u shall expect no mercy, nor
will | give any. Before night either you
or will be q dead man"
II will follow you"
AS they turned towards the door
they saw Stella, her lace pale and sad,
her eyes full Of anxiety, her figure
trembling, and for y second they
paused, aware che had overheard what
had passed between them,
"Harry-Arthurl" she stammered,
FeFraTs felt his heart sink, The name
OF the man he hated was first upon her
lips. lie stood rooted to the spot look
ing at her, all the memory Of the past
rushing on his mind, all the love he had
borne her, and yet bore, stirring in his
heart, obeylng an impulse he stretched
forth his hands, but she shrank from
him; not once had her eyes encoun-
tered his, nor did she betray conscious
ness,of his presence save by the men
ton of his name,
Seeing her, Crawford concluded that
Ferrars questions regarding their mar.
riage would now be answered, and that
he would hear from Stella the story Of
her wrongs. But he did not yet know
the character OF the woman he had
loved and injured, aud had still to learn
that revenge was the last thing she
would have sought, lie stood looking
at her, bracing himself to hear the de-
nunclations he expected from her lips,
but he waited for them in vain.
BravelY striving to calm herself, to
hide the pain she keenly suffered, and
to subdue her fears, she said, looking
at last toward Ferrars and addressing
him: II overheard you speak OF VEN
geance ana death. Whom would you
kill-and whom would you ayeuge?"
The sight of her pale, anxious face,
the vibration Of her voice, stirred Fer.
rars' soul to greater depths of pity, and
tiercer heights OF anger, and answering
her he exclaimed as he pointed to Craw-
ford;
II would kill him and ayenge you"
"WhatP' sho said, a feeble smile
crossing her wan lips, "Would you
ayenge mo by murdering-my hus-
band2"
"Your husbandF" cried out Ferrarss
in tone that plainly told Of his aston
ishment and his delight.
With a sense Of intense relief Craw.
ford turned away. ",lhis Ia TO save
me-" he reflected. aud feeling OF self
reproach came upon him.
"Yes," continued Stella, in firmer
voice, my husband. II The has refused
to answer question rudely asked and
followed by threat, take the assur-
ance from me that there Ia no need OF
bloodshed, no necessity for revenge"
Surprised by her words, he did not
for q second doubt their sincerity or
suspect the motive for which they were
uttered. On the contrary he felt
abashed at what he now regarded as
his intrusion, and grieved that his
had led him into error
Therefore he said penitently, Forgive
me for having acted 80 hastily and
bluntiy, but loved you once; how we'll
you never guessed, nor will you ever
know; and the thought that you had
been wrongod almost drove me mad"
Every word he uttered carried re-
proach to Stella that he little suspected,
and she acknowledged in her heart the
truth OF his assertion that never had
she realized how we'll he loved her.
That she had left one so loyal, so hon
est, and 80 courageous, for one 80 faith
less, so heartless, and 80 cowardly, was
q thought that overwhelmed her and
increased her woe.
In the ordinary course OF placid,
everyday lifeyears might have failed to
reveal what the events of the last few
moments had made plain. These two
men stood before her, contrasted forci.
bly, BY. their deeds, and for the first
time the inner spirit and relative worth
Of each became clear to her.
II have nothing to forgive" she said
sadly to Ferrats. ut is you who have
much to pardon. Forget me, for l was
never worthy Of you"
II could do anything you asked me
save forget" he answered, with world
OF regret In his voice. Then advancing
to whore Crawford stood ut some dis
lance, no said: ~ otter you, sir, my
humblest apologies for having for a
moment thought you guilty Of running
the girl who loved and trusted you"
Crawford made no Response, but
looked ct him with those red-brown
eyes, where dangerous fire slunbered.
II his courage had but equalled his
hate The possibility was that Fesrars
would not haYe been long numbered
among the living AS 1t was, he knew
the sooner the scene ended and the man
departed the better, but he could frame
no words which would suit his policy
without increasing his humiliation.
"lf my apologies are insufficient to
atone for the words used and the blow
struck" added Ferrars, in q lower
voice, 30 that Stella could not hear, II
am ready and willing to give such salts.
fnction M Won desire, / am atayinQ at