The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-09-29

ouI into the passagewa,y, and closed the

Tout into the passageway, and closed the
door.
Mr.. Miles descended the stairs, and
wondering II he were awake or dream
ing. turned toward the outer door,
when from one OF the rooms, at the
front OF the house, there glided the
Slight figure of a young girl
Her brown hair fell down her shout
ders IN wild confusion, her great dark
eyes were wide open with some strange
alright and dread, and her dress was
no whittier that her cheeks.
Sne grasped the clergyman by the
arm and chung to him with frantic and
trembling hands.
For the love of God" said She stell
me what has been done in the chamber
abovev'
i have performed the marriage cere-
mOny between Bronson Beaumont and
Agnes Leslie" - - ''>1
Inc young girl fell back against the
wan and put her shaking hands to her
What can I do?' she cried wildly.
MY God! what shall do?''
courtney Miles took her cold hand in
his and said gently:
Calm yourself and tell me what YOU
mean. There is some mystery-I knew
1t from the first
! Can I-dare 1 trust your she asked,
and when she met the clear, steadfast
gaze of his eyes she doubted no longer
Il have never yet betrayed a trust"
he said, land though I know not who
or what you are, / am a friend to all
who need friend
/ Casting an affrighted glance over her
shoulder, the young girl hurried Mr..
Miles down the dim passage and
through an open door that led out of the
back of the house into the night and the
storm. EsaA ~
1 ''You will be drenched,'' said the
young man, holding her back; why not
speak to me here under shelter?"
/ II cannot-I dare not! Oh, you do not
know anything about it. Don't hesitate
an instant! Even now they may be
] missing you, for hear the sound of the
carriage that is to take you home.'' -,
Mr.. Miles snatched an Afghan from a
divan in the hall, and folding it around
the young girl, he allowed himself to be
led out into the rain and down a path
bo1t1ered by tall shrubs, and he could
not help wondering what Miss Arabella
Smith and Mrs. Marie Elson, two staid
young women of his church, who had
shown a marked interest in his welfare,
would think of such a strange proceed
| ing.
Beneath the spreading boughs of a
| great tree the young girl paused and
spoke beneath her breath.
Il am Rosalie Beaumont, Bronson
Beaumont's only daughter. Twelve
years ago my father married for the
second time. His wife was wicked
scheming woman, and she made his
life miserable and unhappy. She hated
me, for l stood in the way of her in
heriting the wealth for which, undoubt-
edly, she married my father. She had
a wonderful influence over him, and it
was because of that influence that l
have been kept at Montreal convent,
Ostensibly to complete my education,
but really to keep me from gaining any
influence over my father A year ago
she died suddenly, and her adopted
daughter, Agnes Leslie, who had always
shared her nome, remained with my
| father. In vain pleaded to be allowed
to return home; in vain l wrote letter
after letter to my poor, misguided faith
er-I received no answer. soon knew
that none of these letters ever reached
him, and that he was made to believe
that I had no affection for him and
that my only desire in life was to be-
come Il recluse in the institution where
I had been so long an inmate.
"My old nurse, Mary Gilbert, obtain
ed access to me, and told me the whole
story but one week ago. She had dis
covered that Agnes Leslie was deter
mined to marry my father, and thus Sc
cure for herself an elegant home and
the control Of wealth.
Through Mary's help I left the place
| where / had been kept so long. and
started for home, determined to see my
heart and home.
turned away from it's doors. My father
had met with an accident while driving
that was liable to prove fatal, and must
not be excited. And I, his only child,
was denied an entrance to the home
which was mine by right But my faith
full Mary opened the door to me, and
two hours ago I stood by my fathers
bedside and asked for his blessing. He
was beyond the power of speaking-he
was almost through with life, but he
put his hand on my head and his last
look was for me. Then she, Agnes.
came in and tore me away and declared
I was killing him. But I came back.
[ hid myself outside the chamber door
in the folds Of a portiere, and there [
witnessed the farce in which you. sir.
were an actor. But I know that you
We're ignorant Of the circumstances, for
I feel sure that if you had known YOU
would never have lent yourself to such
a vile proceeding. For when you mar
ried Bronson Beaumont to Agnes Leslie
the bridegroom had been a dead man
for more than an hour!''
Courtney Miles had listened to her
rapid recital with breathless interest,
and without interruption; but as the last
words died from her lips he cried ex-
citedly:
what is this you are telling ME?
Is this thing true? Can it be proved?"
cit is true, and it can be proved"
said Rosalie. MARY Gilbert will sus-
tain me in all that I have said; but
what will the testimony of two women
avail? and alas! owing to my strange
and cramped life, have no friends"
You have one, Miss Beaumont!'' said
the young clergyman warmly; land one
that will stand by you, never fear.
No doubt the would-be Mrs. Beaumont
fancies she has made fine dupe Of
me-" he added, little bitterly, "but