Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-10-26

md
go bod thrown out, or TO explain it
mora fnllv. She made her understand
tbot she would inform Mr.. Cleveland of
the affair in case of need, and that he
,rnnld make it unpleasant Tor her.
Terrified in her tuD, Miss Phebe judged
tbo bo # method was to destroy Eugene
Cleveland in the estimation OF MIS- Le-
land, 49,, Lox
bv Slyme. She Informed her OF the
Dycsoncn Of Eugene at the Senator 8
ponSe the night of his death She
limited at certain reports that were cireu-
lated, and mingling calumny with truth
redoubling at the same time her ahectlon,
her caresses and her tears, she succeeded
in giving Mrs. Lelanl such an estimate
Of Eugene's character that there were
no suspicious or appreh' nSion5 when
the poor woman from that moment ala
not consider legitimate as connected win
him.
Miss Craven fnallS offored to send
Slyme to her, that she might herself IN
tel1ogate him. Mrs. Leland, affecting
an incrsdulity and tranquility that she
did not feel, refused, and shortly after the
mischief making old maid returned TO the
! city.
On reioining her daughter, Mrs Le-
land exerted herself 10 deceive her as TO
the impressions she had received, bat she
did not succeed; for her anxious face be-
! lied her reassurlng words.
Accustomed so long to think, feel, ana
suffer toge her, these two women now
met. so to speak, in the same re1ectiohs'
the same reason ngs, AMI IN inc same
terrors. They went over III their memo
ries all the incidents Of ClcyeIlnds lie
all his faults; and under the shade" Oh
the mOnstrous action imputed to him. MS
faults took criminal ch racter which
they were surprised they had not scen
lie e'ore.
They discovered a series and sequence
in his designs. all OF which were imputed
ia him as crimes even his good actions.
Thus his conduct of late, his strange
ways, his fancy for his child and for his
wife. his assiduous tenderness toward
her. was nothing more thfn the hyro-
critical meditation Of new crlme-a
mask which he WIS preparing in advance
What was 10 he done? What KIND OIL a
life was it poss bic to live IN common
under the weight of such thoughts "hat
present-what futGre2
These thoughts bewildered them
Next day Eugene could not fan remarK-
ing the singular change in their counten-
ances in his presence; but he tbcugh;
they had suspected lie had been - call
on Cora and so were offended.
He smiled at this, for as result Oh DIS
reflections durin the night he had deter
mined to break off forever his intrigue
with Cora Elliston.
Fer this rupture, which be had made it
a point Of honor not 10 provoke, Cora hao
helself furnished him sufficient pre-
text. The criminal thought she ba con-
fidel 10 him was, he knew, only telnt 20
test him, but it was enough to Justify h's
abandonment of her AS 10 the vloleA'
and menacing words she had used, be
held them of little value, though at times
the remembrance of them trout lea MN
New rtheless, for long time he had not
felt his heart so light.
This wicked tic broken, ii seemed af
though he had res umed, with his liberty
his youth AMI virtue.
He walked and played part OF the day
with his child. Just as night fell, clear
and pure. he proposed TO Flora an OK
cnrsjon in the woods. lie spoke 10 hel
of view which had struck bim shortly
u
plelse, he said her romantic taste
lie would not permit himself to be
surDrised at the dim, lnation she mani
fested, the diSquietude which her facf
indicated, or at the rapid glance she OK
changed with her mother.
The same thought, and that most
fearful one, entered tho minds of botl
these unfortunate women at the same
moment of time.
They were still under the impression
of the shock which had so weakened
their nerves, and Eugene's sudden prop
osition, so contrary to bis usual habits
the hour-the night and tho solitary
wulk-had suddenly awakened in then
brains the sinister images which PhebC
Craven had laid there.
Flora, however, with an air of resolu-
ton the circumstances did not seem ell
titled to demand, prepared Immediately
to 90 out, then followed her HUSBAND
from the house, leaving her child II
charge of her mother.
They had only to GLOSS the garden tc
find themselves on the edge OF the woods
which almost touched the dwelling, ant
which stretched to some distance beyond
Furcne's iutention in seeking this in
]
cisve determination be had taken OF
delivering up to her, absolutely anC
without reserve, his heart and life, anc
to enjoy with her his first taste Of true
happiness.
Surprised at the cool dis raction with
which Flo replied to the afiectionatt
gayety of his language, he redoubied
efforts 10 bring their conversation to a
tone of more intimacy aad confidence
While stopping at intervals to point ou
to her some effects of light and shadow IL
their walk, he asked what visitor ste 'C
seen yesterday. She named two OF three
then lowering her voice against her VII
mentioned Phebe Craven.
That one" said Eugene, you had bet
ter not have seen. l no longer recognize
her"
"Why?" asked she, timidly.
Because she is bad woman. WheI
we are little more intimate with eacf
other. YOU and l. l shall edify you on he
character. l shall tell you all-Nll, IN
derstand.
There was so much of goodness in thi
accent with which he pronounced the
words that Flo felt her heart half com
fort, d.
The phantom disappeared, little by 1T
tie from her mind, aud she commence
to say to herself that she had been tn'
sport of a bad dream an OF true mad
ness. when a singular change IN her hus
bands face renewed ell her terrors.
Eugene, in his turn, had become ab
sent and visibly preoccupied with som
grave care. He spoke with an effort
made haf replies, medtated, tbel
stopre quickly to look around hun, iik
frightened child. ,. ,:.