The diamond drill., 1894-07-07
CHAPTER XVI.

NInrsden's arraignmcnt had occurred
and he had been rcmandcd to jail TO
await trinl, which, fortunately for him,
would begin two days nitcrwarl. The
rnvaees OF TINT awful suspense were rap.
idly telling upon his vigorous frame. II
the worst must come, II were better that
IL come quickly.
Nnn had gnincd the consent of herphy-
sician TO leave her room on the day To-
lowing aud was breathing grateful
prayer for the thought that Hhc might
soon tighten the heavy load 81 sorrow uf
her unfortunate Jack by declaring in
person her belief IN lis innocence. The
untimely death 81 her uncle was poig.
nant grief but such had been the pleas
urc of the Supreme Hand above nnd
now the dead must bury It's dead; To the
rescue of the living. servant entered,
aud, bowing colrteouSy, handed Nun
the card oi Lawrence Layton
81 do not wish To see him" shc re-
turned, quickly, the blood sling Ia
her cheeks for the first time since it had
retreated before the awful shock 81 that
terrible night. "You may tell Mr.. Lay.
ton his presence in this house is not"
She hesitutcd What mission brought
him thcrc2 Could il he that he had re.
Tented aud now would aid instead uI
glut his vindictivc nature uponanuthcr'S
ftieiul plight? Did II spark uf manhood
still linccr in his ugly breast? She could
not afford TO take the risk.
"Show him in, she said at length, ms
the servant marvelcd at her sudden r..
vcrsil.
Layton soon stood before the great,
pillowed chair in which N,,n reclined
"Nnn, lac said, in the kindcst tone he
could command, II come To offer condo
cncc in your deep nilliction. The loss Of
one so dear IL sad enough, but the NUN
ncr Of his tnking of is even worse"
"Yonr coincidence, Mr. Layton, Il in.
deed the last thing have expected and ]
ain rot prepared to nssure you that it il
acceptable" she returned culdly, with n
troubled lccr. you, who have gluttcd
your iicudish wishes for revenge upon my
sorrow, should he the last 10 mock me
with the hypocricy Of sympathy"
Not so unk.nd, Nan. Believe me. j
come 10 aid you--to atone for the un
kind words have spoken"
Nan started To her feet, forgetting her
weakness IN her excitement.
"You do not mean that you will re.
tract the accusation you hnve made
against Jack AIarsdrn?"
"'rhe very snme-on one condition"
"And that?n
"You will now he my wife"
She sank back into her chair, and
clnsping her disheyelcl head, seemed
powcrless To control her emotion At
length, she raised her eyes To Layton.
with look so full oi sorrow, pun and
despair, that n thrill Of pity threatened
10 creep into his heartless breast This
wns but momentary, however The first
words that followed, added quick fuel To-
the snolerine embcrs oi revenge.
"And now, you seek ns the ransom Tor
the liberty you have stolen from an in
nocent man, my liIel"
"Innocentln he rcpcntcd, with withcr.
ing scorn ave shall scc how innocent
he i. Woman, fool, saw him kin your
uncle"
"a more infamous lie was never de-
yise,l IN licndiSh brain. We're you n
saint, instcnd of the dcwl believe you
60 bc, Lawrence Layton, ! would still
shy, you licl"
"Bc cnrciul, Nan Wcscott Have a
care for whnt you sayl The gallows are
yawning Tor that river hog oi yours"
"Oh, Lnwrcnccl Don't sny that" she
pleaded. "lIave pity. Lawrence! II /
must suffer all the tormcnts ~ living
hell, do not mock ne while | suffer.
Have mercym mud she bnrlcd her face in
her hands and sobbcd bitterly.
"Mcrcy? have NO mercy"
"Think ot the abicct slavery of love
your coquetry has subjected me to, only
10 be rewarded by insult, henpcd upon
injury. Consider the pnin you have
caused me by allowing that damnablc
river hog to rob YOU 81 your woman
hood. How much preferable To me
would have bceu death In a thousand