The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-03-31


stone pavement below before Dssssie
stirred from the statute-like immO-
bility OF her attitude before Sac fairly
realized that he was gone and why
he went
When she turned to Beverly darcy,
there was something in the white face
and strained eyes which warned him
| that he need be cautious in his beha-
vior in the immediate present.
And, besides, he had no reason for
feeling injured.
Bessie had told him frankly in the
beginning that she did not love him
that she should wed him only to pro-
vide comforts for her dear ones and to
save their home. 1t was his own con-
ditiOn, and she had agreed to it.
She had promised to be his wife;
but he did not dare urge his ..laims
too imperatively lest the beautiful crsA-
ture should break her bonds and he
! should lose her altogether.
He was an accomplished tactician;
and he perceived it would be best
to ignore the little incident altogether.
He even pretended not to notice her
| agitation.
He paused at one of the windows
| and appeared to have no interest for
any thing further than a row Of hya-
| cinth glasses which held Odorous
| spikes of the growing bloom.
| You have wonderful fine specimens
here, Bessie, and the hyacinth is rather
| favOrite with me. / am sorry l have
so little time to admire them at pres
ent," he remarked, without glance in
her direction.
He meant to allow her plenty of
time to gain her wonted composure.
No one could have seemed more
gentle and considerate.
! He bent over the flowers for few
minutes, inhaling their Perfume and
now and then brushing an atom Of
dust from their glossy. lance-like leaves.
Then suddenly he glanced at his watch.
Il must be going, Bessie" said he.
1t was an errand that brought me at
| this early hOur-I should like you to
select the material and color for the
hangings Of our drawing room. The
samples have been sent for your in
spection. Can you come over tt, the
house-say about luncheon timer"
Certainly. if you wish it, BESSIE
| replied coldly.
"Of course wish it. 1 wish to please
| my bride in everything. And if there
are any alterations you would like in
! the new furnishing Of the house, I beg
you to mention the natter said
Darcy.
He advanced as if about to en-
brace her, then stepped back as if
fearing repulse, and then, with visit
full expression, turned toward the door.
1t was all exquisite acting, and the
girl knew it. She could picture the
sheer of the sinister lips, the evil gilt
ter of his black eyes. when he had
withdrawn from her sight
The Darcy mansion, which it's owner
was newly furnishing for his unloving
and unwilling bride, was scarcely more
than a block distant from Bessie:s
home.
The two families had been on init
| mate terms for many years, and Bessie
did not mind going over to the house
alone, especially as D'Arcy's house
keeper was dear old lady who had
always been fond Of her.
1t happened through some misunder-
standing in the appointed time, that
Bessie reached the house before her
coming was anticipated. 1t happened.
too, that some sudden business affair
had summoned DARCY away, and that
he had locked the drawing-room and
had taken the key with him.
Bessie was ushered into the library
by the busy, busting housekeeper, and
there left to herself.
You sit right down in Bev's big
chair. There's a lot. of new maya
| zines on the desk to help you pass
| away the time. And Bev won't be
gone mOre'n half an hour anyway"
the excellent old lady admonished her,
| and then hurried away.
The girl seated herself as directed,
and reached for a society journal
| which topped the pile Of the months
just issued periodicals.
But the extended hand was abruptly
| drawn back without touching it.
At that instant she caught sudden
| glimpse of her deceased fathers sig
nature, affixed to a paper on the desk.
With an impetuOus, and yet involun-
| tary movement, she snatched the pa
per and glanced over it.
1t was bond for five thousand dol
lars.
But it was Cancelled!
1t was among quantity of old, vel
lowed, documents, which Darcy had
evidently been on the point Of destroy
| ing when he was summoned away.
| A strange, prophetic feeling beset
the girl Her cheeks flushed, and her
! eyes glCwed like stars; her heart
beat with almost s,lffocating throbs.
One by one she examined the papers,
some old memoranda and bills of sale.
But the remaining few were all notes
OF bonds for varying sums, and with
her fathers signature affixed.
Every one was marked paid-was
| Cancelled long ago, and was now abso-
lutely worthless!
And how did these papers happen
to be in the possession Of Beverley
Darcy?
The girl recollected that he had been
| alone many nights with her father in
| the latter's fatal illness.
Instiictively she knew the truth.
She was as certain that he had no
genuine claim against their property
as she was that she was living.
He had used these worthless papers
to frighten two simple women-to
force an untaught child of seventeen
into an Odious marriage.
He had cunningly arranged these
Cancelled notes into legallooking par
Gel, and with brazen audacity he had
| actually exhibited the sham as proof
of his claim.
| Now he had attained his object, he
intended to destroy the papers lest
his deceived bride should discover his
trickery.
And for years she had believed her
| Self to be in the power of Sl1ch q