The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-01
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE.

Il an dyeiDg, Egypt, dyeing,' warbled
Cleo Dole as she dropped a while shawl
Of Shetland wool into kettle Of seething
scarlet dye and pressed it down with the
broom handle.
Her face was flushed from bending
over the hot stove, and all her shining
dark hair had fallen down about her
shoulders.
Heavens, Cleo, what q spectacle you
are" exclaimed her cousin, Doris Linden
entering the kitchen with ecru Norfork
jacket thrown over her arm. "What do
you suppose Marc Vancouver would say
il be saw you nov? He is so very fAsti-
dious, you know"
he? said Cleo unconceTnedly-
you know he is" answered Doris,
impatiently. ~Only see how you are
staining your dress and your hands
won't be tit to be seen for month"
as that all you have to say, cousin ?"
asked Cleo, serenely nnsing the new
scarlet shawl.
NO, Cleo" after slight pause, tell
me, was there really anything between
you and Hamer Wylde last season"
Cleo flushed to the tips of her ears and
bent over the rinsing tub.
Il was engaged to Mr.. Wylde, Doris, if
that Is what you mean"
Engaged" !" a dead-Ehite pallor shut
down over Doris Linden's face, and one
daintily gloved hand clu.ehed spasmodi-
eally at the region Of her heart
"Don't look like that, dear" and Cleo
sprung to her side, alarmed. at was
nothing but mistake. Hamer
fancied he loved me. believed his
affections were reciproeated. We discov-
cred the mistake in time, thank God, to
avoid lifetime of misery. l am engag-
ed TO Marc Vancouver now, Doris"
Are you sure, sure Hamer never real
y loved you?" demanded Doris, her
burning eyes, fixed upon her cousins
face.
Haven't told you it was a mistake
on both sides ?" said Cleo, evzsively.
Doris gazed steadily at the averted
eyes. Then she turned and left the
kitchen without further words.
Cleo mechanically rinsed and hung
out the shaw, removed the kettle ofdye
from the stove, took of her checked
apron, fastened up her hair and went up
stairs in 8 brown study to change her
dress, but a caller coming at that moment
prevented her from carrying out her de-
sign, and it was SO late after that she de-
cided to wear the same dress the remIin-
der Of the evening.
Doris came in from her walk about tea
time and went 10 her room pleading
sick headach- Cleo noticed how white
size was, and pitied her most sincerely.
Ought to have told her all p she
asked herself, unessily. Somehow she
looked 50 white and strange when l men
toned the old engagement 1 could not
bring myself to give her another shock.
OF course, Ifshe has really fallen in love
with that scoundrei, l must tell her soon
er or later. But not to-night-noi, not
tonight"
An hour later, as Cleo was seated at the
piano, allowing her fingers to wander
dreamily over the keys, the door opened
and gentleman stood before her, white
and grave.
"Marc p she cried, reading an undef-
nable something in his face that caused
her blood 70 turn to ice in her veins.
"0h, Mare, what has happened" ?"
The gaslight fell upon her frightened
upturned face and slender figure in the
dark blue merino dress
Marc Vancouver turned a shade paler
and starting forward, pointed to some
splashes Of scarlet upon her sleeves.
~Oh, Cleo. Cleo" he groaned dispar-
ingly. Child. child how could you
do itP
Cleo flushed uncomfortAbly.
So he was fAstidioas. as Doris had said,
and the knowledge that sIe had been
dyeing shocked this handsome lover of
hers
1T had to be done, Mare she said,
looking s. him de6antly, Il could not
endure It any longer"
Poor ClsoF'
He dropped his haggari lace in his
hands, while she stood there in astOnish-
ment.
Had Marc gone mad?
Presently he raised his head and look
ed at her.
81 never dreamed you loved him." he
said. holIowly. Il thought your heart as
well as your hand was mine. When you
fed from the grove an hour ago you
never noticed that you dropped your
jacket Ipicket it up and was about to
follow you, when groan from the grove
you had just left caused me to turn in
that direction instead, and there found
him"
"Whatw gAsped Cleo, staring at him.
@You-you-"
The words died upon her lips in long
moan Of intclersble agony IS q fearful
suspicion entered her mind.
"Yes, my poor child, 1 was the one to
find Halner Wylde. Life ceased just as |
reached him. believe that l was the
only witness, and you may trust me,
Cleo, to keep your secret Whatever
madness, whatever torture drove you to
it, am certain you knew not what you
did. Destroy that tell-tale dress at once,
as have destroyed that jacket, and God
pardon and pity you Ny lost. lost love,
goodbye forever"
Another moment and Cleo Dale was
alone with only one horrid fact branded
upon her soul rs with a red-hot iron.