New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-23
bosom rose and fell Then she slowly pointed b
what happened here" she said, last nightr
CHAPTER XVII.

rbere was no answer. Nina covered her face
,,,b ber hands. She had not expected the ac.
cusat,on to txke this form. and for the moment
ITO d,rectness and comprehensiveness were over.
whelming.
II was obviously no telltae tongue which had
tattled into Penelopes ear: there were no mere
surmises and suspicious on her cousins part
which could BY dexterous care be smoothed away;
but II was a plain, unvarnshed fact with which
the accused now had to deal-one which could not
be CLOSED over softened. or denied She shook
u,ute,y. ready for submission or rebellion, q
occasion might offer
Speak, said Penelope at last. She was not
deceived by the others attitude Speak! You
have been silent long enough. The time for d.
lence has gone by Nina. II there be any honor
left in YOU any honesty. any TRUTH speak OUT
now and tell me the meaning OF what saw-0
what I saw-take place here--on this spot-s
few hours ago.
No response no movement.
"rt was a scene to blind my eyes" Penelope
went on. her lips curling, and her head up
reared; "treachery. deceit, degradation; on you
proud Carnousties you fond parents you poor
trustful coniding master and mistress-tnis
how YOUR own child and your base-born menial
serve you. This Is how they repay you! SPEAK
girl. can't your" and she clutched and snook the
othsr,s arm. mo need for 80 much confusion
now: there can be but little shame LEFT. SPEAK
the truth. Was 1t for the first time you we're
che ground her teeth. loathing the words she
could not speak.
Sill no audible reply: only faint whimper
Penelope paused. rs this real. or Is II only
blind?" she was saying to herself Nina, take
down your hands; take them down, say; don't
stand whining there. but strike one honest dow
In YOUR own defence. You must have something
10 saw No woman could do as you have cone
without making some excuse to herself. s"p
that muttering," stamping her foot with frova'
speak out-good heavens-speak out; and let
have the whole truth at last
What have TO speak out about? SAID Nina
thus forced TO find voice with sulien reluctance
You have said all there is 10 say. suppose
Since YOU saw what you did should not nave
thought you required to be told anything more"
II require 10 be told how long this has been
going on"
Long before you came to the place; does tna'
satisfy you?"
Before Gamer" Penelope was Thunderstorm
Yes. before you came"
You have been carrying on this clandes;ine'--
There lie no need to particuarize. Yes; say
yes to everything. There. that will do. LEI
me GO You will tell it all to papa and mamma
OF course. and you will think you have done
very Christian act and Torquil Macalister VIII DC
driven with ignominy from the place; and - -
her voice faltered, her arms fell by her SIDE the
last words died away In FAINT, aesps'''Hs
whisper-"and What will become OF me
Penelope, who had opened her mouth 10 spes~
closed II again.
At the same moment a loud joyous note rang
through the woods. and both started az 'ne
sound a.,
1t was Torquil, the shepherd, calling 70 nus
dogs. and in another moment a collie pouhoeu
into view. heralding the approach OF his master
1t was now Nina Cainoustie'S turn 10 seise
her companion by the wrist. Don't let MIN ses
anything amiss; don't In Heavens name, sne ea
claimed In vehement undertone. feneiop,
you don't know. you can't think; II wound DC ".
dreadful: he has such naughty spirit, ~
were spoken TO he might-dear feheIopeI'"
once-for once
Penelope shook off the touch as though It we !:
deilement. do you think would SPEAK u 1Hs'
reptlea" she said. .,.s
When Torquil passed. swinging along as no 'Ssr'
he trod on air. and performed his usual asr
entail obeisance to the young ladies, graceIs;
as ever. she made the proper acknowledgmsn.sS
with even a shade more deliberation than usuaI
In order to mark the fulness Of her contemp.
Was It likely she would handy WORDS OF CIV"
looks with q creature so unwortnyl - ~
The break. however. was so far saiutar's
that It enabled Penelope 70 overcome ner NH
outbreak Of passionate contempt ana 10 rSose
.,,siu
echoes she had d.mly caught In her co"''"
What will become OF me-"
heavy sigh burst from her lips ,.-,sa
Nina was still looking excited ana aa t the
Yet II seemed as though with IL all some " ,av
blithe eXuitation OF her lover had found ~ his
into her bosom also and as she lookeu sonine
OF her kindiing eye When all was sa Ma,, S"S
done. she was still proud OF her choice. ~ must
one or the other Of the treacherouS pan
be driven 10 extremities .,, sum
With q strong effort she mastered herse"
ciently TO adopt Z calmer tone. ...,, MAI
II have to clear myself" she said. TOT J. n .s
appear to you that have been playing the p"''
Of a spy ,,.,b,ne
yes, you have" eagerly It was some'n"'
to have such a counter-charge to prefer. ..,,x
Il have not supposed that you would . snn~
that ali these months in which have been wis
you. all day and any hour OF the day ma .ss,
months during which you yourself CONFESS AVA
this miserable affair has been gong On. II!
There were many things about you that pu1I.w
me- and did not always IKE what saw 80
that you were deceitful and artfu. You were cS %a
tinuallv asking me not to mention what you Va. .
md where YOU went. You were disturbed apo ,s
trifes and altogether peculiar and strange. 20.
as for my ever dreaming you could DE SO i@ nrs.
SO base"-- She stopped. struggling 10 -.
vent the reproaches with which her lips "e''
trembling
II thought when I noticed how anxious AIs s
was about you that she was AFRAID LOT "a
health: and after something OF the kind hs
passed between us, II seemed to me that l na
found out the cause Of everything. ana l va
quite happy that day-Sorry for you put napp;;S
because you were no: to blame. II you were '.'
and unaccount table, and not like other people
That is what Aisle thinks. Is IT. u
1T was what she wished me to thing sal"
Penelope. with some hesitation. perhaps
was not altogether what she thought herss snr
You know best about that She queted me 49,, ~
the time Then there was your loss Oh u
brooch. Why do you never wear that BROOCH ..
why have never seen nor heard Of 1t since
hafora that day3"