Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-27
CHAPTER XXIII.

the pOSluOn-and, without waiting 1Of
an invitation, only vouchsafing
grim How dye do?" sat down beside
the fire.
1T is bitterly cojd,' she said, look
lng round leisurely.
1T is indeed. This winter has been
a very severe one" answered Elaine,
| gently.
Colonel Severn stood erect, disdain-
| III. even an appearance Of friendlineSs,
ready at a moments notice to do bat
tie on his lady-love's behalf.
There was a short silence; then Mrs.
Priolo spoke again
81 have come to look after my own
| interests
81 don't think there is any one
anxious to defraud you" calculated
Severn. sharply.
She turned with a jerk and faced
him.
II am not so sure of that. A lawyer
| has been here and fresh will made,
! [ hear; but l am not at all put out by
| that
No one answered, and she went on,
vehemently-
Last time we discussed matters
you had the advantage, colonel. You
made me sign a confession Of what L
had done in the matter of that arsenic.
Have you that paper safer
1T is at my lawyers"
"And is not worth the ink it was
written with. There is not soul in
| England for whose opinion [ care now
! that Mr.. Bowyer is dead. You can
make what use you please of it, Col
onel Severn; and | shall observe the
same freedom Of action as regards the
knowledge that l possess"
"You will do as you please. of
course" said Severn, quietly.
"You think" she went on, mali
ciously, that because a Will has been
executed in your favor you are mis-
tress of the situation; but we shall
see"
81 am quite sure" said Elaine, her
sweet clear tones sounding in pleasant
! contrast to the others angry shrillness,
| chat Mr. Bowyer will not have for
! gotten the faithful service of so many
years.
/ "You may call it service if you
choose answered the woman imperti-
nentIy; "but you can't get rid of the
fact that | am his sister-in-law, the
only connection he had in the world"
Elaine did not reply; and Colonel
Severn also maintained silence, tug
ging at his long mustache with an air
Of being bored that the h0usekeeper
found infinitely CALLING.
+ you take the matter with d high
hand" she cried; but you may find
yourself in the wrong box after all
Perhaps you are not aware that Grim
inals forfeit all right of property?
When [ tell all I can, I'd like to know
what good Mr.. Bowyer's money will
do either of you then"
Colonel Severn stepped forward
hastily and placed a protecting arm
round Elaine's waist.
"To whom do you refer under that
insulting name?" he asked haughtily.
ITO Elaine Warrington, who muir
dered her sister nearly three years
ago at Sydney"
"Pshaw! You know as we'll as | do
the utter absurdity Of that accusation"
eff she is innocent, she will have 70
prove it''-doggedly.
THAT she can easily do. The real
murderer has confessed; she holds the
confession in her hand"
The housekeeper stared at the paper
blankly. the conviction coming slowly
to her that the value of her secret
knowledge was indeed gone.
'Then I am at liberty to tell the law
yers all I know?' she observed pleas
antly, rising from her seat as she
spoke.
''Oh, no, no, nor bust from Elaine's
white lips; and the colonel FASTENED to
explain.
Miss Warrington is not speaking
for her own sake, but another's. If
she is accused, she will be forced in
self-defense to give up the name Of the
real murderer"
and that she does not wish to do?"
-shrewdly.
and that she does not wish to do"
Il would give anything not to do itr'
cried Elaine, impulsively.
'Anything in reason" supplemented
Colonel Severn, with a warning pres
sure on her arm.
But Mrs. Priolo saw that she might
still make capital of her knowledge.
You wish to buy my silence| she
said, quietly.
IF you are willing to sell it,
THAT would depend on the terms
offered
what would you consider a fair
price?" asked Colonel Severn, unable
to keep an accent of scorn from his
voice, though anxious to conciliate her, |
if possible on EIaine's account, and
because of the man whom he had once
called friend.
All Mr.. Bowers fortune would not
be too much to ask, considering all
things"
What things?' /
why, that Miss Warrington-or /
Miss Warde, if you prefer twill
have as much money as she will want |
as Mrs. Severn, and you would rather |
that your wife brought you a name !
unsullied by suspicion and with no
faint of publicity attached than any
fortune, however large"
IF that be so, I should sacrifice my
own inclination for the sake of what 1 |
thought right"
You mean that you decline to give
up all Mr.. BOwyer's money!