The Globe-republican., 1893-02-24

her hand upon his arm, heart ana soul
breathed forth the secret that had made
her life one great void of misery since
she had first seen his handsome, earnest
face.
With a shock he looked up. Wonder
ment, intelligence in his glance, it drove
her back abashed.
Her face betrayed her secret, she
loved him! His face told Enthusiastically
that he read that secret Alright.
"Oh! how could 1. But l pity you so!
Think me unwOmanly, but il your heart
is breaking SO is nine. Go, Mr.. Mar
shall-Raymond-go. and leave me to
the wretchedness of the secret your
suffering has wrung from my lips.
She was sobbing, shriaking, now. In
her. She loved him! This had been
the secret of her wayward moods
Despite himself a great wave of pity
swept his chivalrous heart.
Il am sorry, he said broaenly a
true woman's regard is better than a
false friends treach, ry. Miss Mercer,
when leave you, it is never to know
happiness again. but l may know the
peace OF having done my tull duty If
trace this affair down to The last. I
must see Edna-she shall tell me from
her own lips what l already know!
Then l am content to cherish my misery
in silence. Speak! Win my gratitude,
at least, by telling me whittier she has
gone"
There was no reply. Only the sub
dued sobs broke the waiting silence.
You know where Edna is?" persisted
Marshall.
"Yes, know cried Beatrice, lifting
her face, flashing with jealousy and
emotion; "but do you think I will tell
you-send you to beg at the feet Of a
woman unworthy OF you? Leave me!
If you are suffering, l am tortured.
Oh! cruel! cruel! cruel"
Her frantic hands swept the open
portfolio across the desk as she shrank
from him, hiding her humiliation, her
jealousy, her love in hot, burning tears.
About to speak reassuriagly to her, to
plead with her anew for the knowledge
he so craved, Raymond Marshall started
as if dealt a sudden blow.
His eyes happened to fall to the open
portfolio. He recOiled, stared closer.
and then sprang to his feet with wild,
intelligent, hopeful cry.
For upon q sheet of paper, written
there indubitably by the woman who
had Just 50 shame-facedly confessed her
love, was the record of hatred and
treachery that had SO nearly blighted
his life.
There were the first experiments Of
the clever forger to simulate Edna
Deane's handwriting. There was a
copy of the missive he had received that
morning. There, too. was the draft of
the more masculine epistle that had ac-
companied it.
Beatrice Mercer had looked up at his
strange cry. Her eyes met his, follow
ing their glance to the portfolio, and
then, shrinking back, her guilty face
told the truth.
you wrote that-you wrote those let
ters!" fairly shouted Marshall. "Oh,
blind, wicked that 1 was, to doubt my
true-hearted darling! 1t was a cruel
forgery-a plot. Speak, Beatrice Mer-
Ger! All you have told me, all those
letters told, was falsehOOd."
Beatrice had snatched up the port
folio. Defiance in her face, she painted
like tigress at lay.
If l did, she cried wildly, 1T was
only to save you fruitless chase.
gone. l know that she will never dare
write to you or see you again. You
hate me, you spurn me-yOu, for whom |
l would have given lifetime of devo-
tion. Then find the pale-faced child !
you dote over, but never with my help"
A great, joyful glow sprang to the
face OF Marshall.
So be it," he cried. knowing her to |
be true, knowing all this forgery to be |
a lie, love will find a way. Revealed in |
your true colors at last, know what to |
expect Of you; but, as l live, l vow |
never to rest till l find the woman 1 |
love, the victim of some dark plot, if 1 |
pursue her half the world Overt"
He strobe from the room and the |
presence of the woman of whom he had |
made a relentless enemy as he spoke,
strong in the consciousness of loves |
mighty power.
Yes, he would find the woman he
loved, though peril, privation, death
barred his way. and cruel schemers
wrought dangerous pitfalls for his eager (
feet at every step he took!
All these might be evaded. Pesti-
lence might pass him by, perils Craze
him unscathed, death itself be warded
back by the love that knew no obstacles,
but. more weird, more tortuous than he
ever dreamed was the path that was
leading him to that far day when, once
again, standing face to face with Edna,
he should shrink before mystery and
a plot that would daunt, appall, and
battle even his bold courage and try his
loyal soul a. by an ordeal of fire!
ITO BE CONTINUED.
Condensed DeIicacies.