Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-11-02
BETRAYED
go Or --
a DARK RRIAGE
MORN.
I ROmnnce of LOUc, Intrigue ana
CrimC
DY IRIS. ALICE P. CARRISTO
CHAPTER xxXln~eConunued)

He did not imag no for moment that
Cora would charge erself personally With
the infection of her vengeance; but she
b d said, 10 then remembered, that the
hand would o found. She was rich
enou h TO find it, and this hand might
now lie hero.
Flo" he said, "let US w,lk little
faster, leg cf you am cold.
He quickened Lis steps, and resolved
to re, uIn to the house by the public road.
When he rea he'd the edge of the woods,
slthough he still thought he heard at in
teivals the ound which had a armed
him, he leassured himself and assumed
his flow of spirits as if q little ashamed
even of Lis pan c.
lie detail ed Flora to look at the pre-
text of Their walk J his was small wall
of 10 k over a high excavation. Two
trunks Of trees had Teen thrown across
the narrOwest p,Tt of the excavation,
forming species of bridge always CIV
ing those who vontured upon 1t the most
complete and ictuiesque view OF most
wonderlel and romantic spectacle.
Flo had never before seen this species
of bridgn. Which b, brother had recently
placed there. After some minutes OF
Contemplation, as ! Q was showing her
with his hands the two trunks OF the
trees.
Must we pass thcso:' she asked, in a
broken voice.
IF you are not afra d, - said Eugene;
and after J. shalt be with You.
He saw sho hesitate J. and her face,
under tho moonlight, seemed to him to
become so strangely rale that he could
not refrain from saying:
q thought you were brayor.
She hesit ted no longer, but put her
foot on the peli,Ous blidge against her
wish, always cautiously advancing.
She half turned lor head, and her
steps became unsteady.
All at once she staggered.
Eugene rushed to catch her, and IN the
trouble Of the moment his hand struck
her with some force.
The unfortunate woman uttered q
shrek, made gesture as If to push him
of, End, re- ulsing him, rushed wildly
over the brid e and ran into the woods.
Eugene, repu!sed aud frightened, not
knowing her thoughts, TO lowed her III
great haste.
He found her near the BRIDE, with hel
b ok against tree, Ler face turned
toward him, to rifed yet menaclrg.
I OWd1O. kQ6 GNCldlluCu'
He locked at her with real bewilder-
ment, when he hoard the sound of rapidly
approaching footsteps, and shadow
passed on, OF the depths of the woods.
He recognized Mrs. Leland.
She IAN tow3rl them, pa'pit atlng, ex'
cited. seized the hand of her child, an(
turned to him.
"POth htre!" she cried.
Now he understood all.
A strangled cry ratified in his throat
he pressed his forehead cOnyulsively be
tween his two hands, enl let fall hi
arms despsiringly; then no said IN
hoarse vo ce:
"You take me for murderer?' ant
stamped in the VII agony OF his rage
well, wba are you doing here? Saw
yourselves them
Terrified, they obcyel him they fed
the mother dragging her dau 3hter Will
long strides; and he saw them disappear
in the night.
He remained therr, in this wild p ace
The hours passed on without his number
ing them. Sometimes he went uD au(
down in the row space wh ch sepa
rated the blidge from the 9byss; some
times stopping III ldenly, his eyes lowerc
and fixed, he seemed as immOya6le an
senseless as the trunk Of the tree aga.ns
which he leaned.
If there is, as VIC hope, divine han
which weighs in Just balance our gllei
against our faults, these moments ough
to have been counted for this man.