The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-09-06

been given CASUAL observer Oh Inc
tragical emotions that were contending
In the hearts Of these two women. II
was Mrs. Maynard that spoke next, In
q cold, hard, relentless tone;
"We both have great cause to con-
gratulate ourselves, my dear Myra, on
having discovered Mr.. North's true
character before It was within his pow
er to wreck the lifelong happiness Of
either. hesitate to tell you the truth
that has recently forced itself upon my
belief"
The color died quickly from Miss
Hilary's face again; there was vague
alarm expressed In her trembling tones
as she responded hurriedly;
"Oh, let me know the worst, Mrs.
Maynard What Is he2 What has he
done?"
at would be nothing" continued
Mrs. Maynard. bitterly, ''for him to
vacillate between two fancies-to alter
nate and Assitats y his choice between
yourself mdtmo-"
"Oh, dear Mrs. Maynardl" came in
tones of whispered protest from the
white-faced listener.
'It would be nothing" repeated'Mrs.
Maynard In the same hard, bitter tone,
''that his conscience would reproach
him for, or that society would seriously
condemn; therefore, this phase of his
conduct does not materially surprise
me. But am surprised to find that
this man, who is habitually so watchful
of his own interests, SO careful Of his
own safety, so jealous of his own COM
fort and happiness, should allow his In
terest in any matter to carry him to the
length Of becoming Q criminal in the
eyes OF the law"
"A criminalp
Miss Hilary's white lips repeated the
words breathlessly; then for a brief
space refused to speak again. At last
she asked tremulously:
"What crime has he committed"
"Oh, very gentlemanly one, In
deed" returned Mrs. Maynard with
quiet sarcasm. "It Is nothing worse,
my dear Myra, than forgery. | have
already told you briefly of tho recent
will contest in which had 50 great an
interest at stake; I did not tell you, as
feel in duty bound 10 do now, that 1
suspected uhs n Wa that forged that
will ~ - Seees W. aAnssisa I
know hss n was Gr. Northt"
The calmness was all gone from voice
and manner before these last words
were fairly uttered. A woman with
less pride would have broken down
completely; Mrs. Maynard sat with
compressed lips and tightly interlaced
fingers, holding herself under rigid
control. She did not look at the girl
who was sitting so silently on the has
sock ut her side; but she was vitality
conscious Of all the grief and amaze
ment that Myra Hilary's face so plainly
revealed.
The fairy castle In the CRATE suddenly
fell into sparkling ruins, sending out u
fash Of brilliant fame that illuminated
the twilighted drawing-room for mo-
ment with the glow of strong, red
light. Then by degrees the illumina-
tion subsidized into fitful CLEANS, play
ing with weird effect of light and
shadow over the dim room, and giving
q transient glow Of color to the two
white faces that were turned silently
tOsard the fire. II seemed hours to
Myra Hilary, in the blank wretchedness
that kept her own lips dumb, before
Mrs Maynard spoke AGAIN. but 1t was
In reality only moments, a space easily
filed by the slow striking OF the great
clock in the hall and the tardy response
OF the drawing-room clock, whose
silvery chime fell dnlkling upon the 81
lence.' As II waiting only for this In
terruption TO cease, Mrs. Maynard re-
sumed as soon as the last stroke died
away:
"lou can imagine with what shock
this revelation fell upon me--this dread
full suspicion which his own words and
manner first suggested 10 my mind, and
then tacitly, but unmistalfably, con-
frmed. II was difficult for. me TO real
lie what was nevertheless forced to
believe. And then ! blamed myself far
more than him, for feared that II was
my eagerness TO secure that fortune
that had led him on TO take this fatal
and desperate step. You know what
reason have TO wish for an indepen-
dent fortune, you have seen with your
own eyes the unhappiness Of my life
here, under the same roof with the man
who has hated me with causeless, in
sane hatred from the day of my mar
riage to his brother, and who, during
the four years OF my widowhood, when
the conditions of my husbands will
made my Inheritance of the, pittance
that he allowed me dependent upon my
continued residence here, has abused TO
the utmost his invalid's privilege TO
make existence burden to me. Can
You wonder that saw awelcomc re-
lease in the chance Of possessing that
childlcss old woman's wealth, which
she had conditionally promised me over
and over again should be mine? And IL
was for this, thought. TO secure to me
the prize that | coveted SO eagerly, that