The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

Olive Minchin leant forward and peered
into Nelly's face. world Of determine
ton and resolution expressed IN her own
A stihed cry escaped Nelly.
who said did know him!' she asked,
furriedly "I-"
Never mind who told nor who did not.
No subterfuges What do you know
about Mark Boyd"
The heart that beat under Miss
Minchins tightly laced in little body
bumped furiously as she waited. She
had scarcely dared expect to attain so
easy a confirmation of her fears.
IL would rather not-speak about
him. I-I-'
Once more. Miss Henstock, I ask you
what you know about Mark Boydl Don't
keep me in suspense! Your communica-
ton shall not go unrewarded. l will in
return conide my past share in his life.
Therer
Olive Minchin was on her knees now,
her arms wound around Nelly. coaXingly.
Her face squeezed against Nelly's face.
She even pressed warm kisses on Nelly's
cheeks. Oh it was nice to be loved
caressed. III unlocked the tiood-gates of
poor Nellv's long starved affection. She,
so accustomed TO be made much of and
petted.
1t was a breath of air to her stiAed
lungs. A glimpse of sunshine after long
continued fors and rain.
Il did so desire to blot out all remem-
brance of that past horrid page of my
existence" she murmured Il wanted
my lips to remain sealed on d period of
my life that reflects nothing but shame
remorse Oh. Olive''-with a burst of
pleading-"don'ta ask me to tell you what
know of Mark Boyd When you hear
you will never love, never kiss me again.
This is so sweet-sO comforting. After /
enhghten you you will never enfOld me in
your arms again. You viii perhaps get
me turned away, and shall starYe.n
More likely get you crowned with lau-
rels as a deeply-wrouged, innocent vic
TIM replied Olive, dryly. Il promise to
take no mean advantage of your conf
dence, and 1 am prepared for something
very-very dreadful because Mark Boyd
was in it. There now!n
Il have lived with Mark Boyd as-as
his wife" commenced Nelly fiurriedly.
Il actually believed / was so. He took
me to a church, and"
r'Ah imposed on you all round. just
so and If he took you TO church and mar
ried you, you are his wife,
No, no! l am not at least l believe
there is not a chance of it. ! have a pa
per here"-tapping her breast-'that
says Olga, his first wife, was alive,
and"
If there is only Olga between you and
legality cried Olive, in a sharp, shrill
voice, you are indeed his wife. ''Olga
had previously gone through a ceremony
OF marriage with young Irish soldier,
whom she thought was dead when she
yielded to the persGasions of her sister,
but he turned up after, so Olga could
never lawfully be Marks wifel'
DO you know OlgaN' asked Nelly,
quickly.
Rather nice little body she is I'll
tell you about her presently Now re
press your excitement DO you want to
be Mark EOyds lawful wife,"
Nelly's pretty face fell.
Il want people to think well of me, and
they meyer can after my past dreadful
wickedness, when they know. Other
wise
"Ah2 otherwise broke in Olive with
little laugh, you would rather be freed
from his clutches. Rest easy; you are
lawfully his wife and he won't trouble
you long. He will be hanged l daresay,
before one can say Jack Robinson!"
II know know, said Nelly, bursting
into tears. He behaved shamefully |
mean badly to me; still would rather
rather not do anything tO-his hurt He
nearly succeeded in burying me alive
= but Dagmar Votoski saved me- Poor
Dagmar! Oh, but if you know Olga you
will help to bring them together again. :"
Olive made strange grimace that
might imply anything
'pagmar loves Olga so and grieves
after her dreadfully. She kept me merely
as sword over Marks head TO make
him divulge Olga's fate"
Mark Boyd could not inform her. She
only pretended that. Dagmar herself
tried TO poison Olga!"
Nelly was on her feet in Indignation
Indeed, you don't know Dagmar and
. her love for Olga or you would never
speak that way" she cried, angrily. She
does not seem TO have any affection for
others-it is asifit had been dried up in
her breast ! can tell you how she mourn
ed for her sister when she believed her
dead. how"
And why could you not have told me
all this months ago." exclaimed Olive,
eqeitedly; why. Whyl NV dear Nelly.
let me call YOU so, we are sisters in ad-
versity, both dupes of Mark Boyd. II
am Olga. Take me to Dagmar at once.
Now you see why / would not go with
You nor let you 60 to Dagmar for your
boxes that day. You comprehend. too,
NV unaccOuntable temper to you at times.
/ hated YOU because you had come from
her, and after all she loves me STILL and
never sought to harm me 1 see it all; il
was Mark work l lived at Hen
don, and Mark used to go away
good deal Once he left and
never returned. Then news came of his
death. He had been killed in a railway
accident 1t was all in the paper-his
name-everything. never doubted it,
] did not grieye much. He hadnot turned
out the angel he had made me believe he
was. But / had to live. so I wrote to Dag
mar TO come. She never answered it, but
communicated with Mrs. Smith l saw
the letter, mind, and never doubted it.
She inclosed packet which on being an.
alyzed was found to contain deadly
poison!N
MARK would write that letter.
declared Nelly, recovering some.
what from the surprise Of Olga's news
% am sure he forged part of one from his
sister. Dagmar loid me he was an adept
the art. 80
That will be the explanation. Mrs
Smiths sudden kindness was always a
mystery 10 me. I knew if l discovered
that my dear sister was seeking to kill
me that / should keep out of her way
On, he is a deep villain. But we shall
nave our revenge. 1 only hope he wont
De clever enough to elude justice He is
enough of an eel to still slip through all
The lawyers and barristers born"