Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-04

honest. Wn2t nave you 20 rear IRON
me? Is 1t likely that / should come
10 insult yon or do you injury? Come
this way" I added eagerly, stepping
toward IN alley that turned from the
drive as the sound Of the returning car
rage suddenly became more distinct
She hesitated TO comply.
what If / refuse?" she said half
aloud, IS If putting the question to her
self
Then God forgive you, for the ruin
Of the man who loves you may be your
doing"
She followed me down the Valley as
the carriage came in sight. A dozen
PAGES brought me to "a srbor cut in the
thick yew hedge. l stepped quickly
into the recess, AVID Judith followed
me. I rested myself on one OF the rus
tic stools, but Judith stood before the
little table that separated Us.
When the carriage had passed the end
of the walk, laid the ring on the table
before her, saying:
Let it lie there till your heart bids
you take it. 1t should NOS lie there
long. Isit not a proof Of his constsnt
love and fidelity that he sends this
token and that bring it?"
You brought IL from Siberia"
"I brought IL from Siberia He was
taken By treachery-my treachery. Oh,
I am not guilIless. IdeserVe all the re-
proaches that you can heap upon me.
l aided his enemy, knowing that was
blighting your happiness. but L myself
was taken in the trap I had laid for
him. We were carried Otto ST. Peters
burg and sent away into Siberia. An
accident enabled US TO escape from a
prison on the road. We reached the
forest, George Gordon ard l. There
was no path in the endless forest-no
track In the field Of snow TO guide Us.
We had no food. We were lost.
must have persisted but for him. BE
never left me, though By himself he
might have reached some village. Day
after day We crept along. be helping
me. never falling to find kind and
cheering word, though his strength
gave out so that his hand was weaker
than a child's."
1 stopped, for poor Judith's spirit al
this point suddenly broke down. Sink
ing with a faint cry upon the stool be-
side her, she snatched up her lovers
ring, and laying her arms on the table,
buried her face in her hands and burst
into tears OF joy and grief.
Presently looking up-her face wet,
her eyes blinded with tears-she asked
fercely:
ibid be know that It was through
you be had come to that?"
Yes"
"And still he forgavs yOu9"
YES"
u cannot" she exclaimed passion
ately. 81 shall never forgive you;"
then brushing her tears away, she
gazed at his ring for a moment. and
covering her face again moaned iondly,
my George my George"
AS her motion subsidized, she raised
her head aud said imperiously:
Tell me more-fnish this history OF
your crime"
I'VE found friend and the means by
which one of US three could escape.
George Gordon decided that l should
CO."
Auu lUu COlSELAGG W I0lAo
and leave him there?" she asked, her
brows bent in contempt aud anger.
Would you have had him come and
leave me there?" l asked.
"No, no, no-my George could not do
so. forgive you that"
Sat the last moment he gave me that
ring. Tell my sweetheart he said,
that l am coming"
"He is coming" she gasped, looking
wildly around her as II expecting 10 see
him. "Where Is be now? Oh, my God ="
she exclaimed, starting 10 her feet in
CONSERVATION; then, turning upon me
in fury, she said, This you have TO
answer for-I have given my hand to
another"
was glad TO hear this, knowing who
that other was. She must have seen
the signs of satisfaction in my face, for
she added passionately:
"Have you no heart? Does this fail
to sting your conscience with remorse?"
81 expected it. l was al the open
ing in the wood when KaTanagh made
you the offer. came here expressly TO
find out il you had accepted him."
"And you rejoice TO think that the
man who gave you freedom shall return
20 find me married. What devilish
malice possesses your"
"Yon have said many bitter things TO
me without reflection. condemning me
unheard. Am I rot to have my re-
venge?"
Enjoy 1t while you may. Your
vengeance will be short. Mr.. Kavan-
sgh will release me when he knows the
truth"
HE must not know the truth. You
must not breathe word that would
lead him to wsver in his determination
10 make YOU his wife"
She regarded me in silent perpiexity,
probably divining, as she regained her
power to reason, that / was merely
playing with words. and indeed she
must have seen by the expression Of my
face and the telltale tears that had
risen to my eyes that had no malice
in my heart.
when have You promised to marry?"
1 asked.
"Soon-in q week or & fortnight"
she answered readily, with the growing
assurance that my question was not
due to an idle or vindictive purpose.
THAT Is too soon. You must be ill
and postpone 1t little while. You
must not marry before George Gordon
returns, and he may not be here for
three weeks.
II do not understand you," she fall
tered. IL think my passion has
made me unjust. You cannot be in
earnest. Why am I not to tell Mr.. Ka-
vanagh?"
Because IL you do" replied, with
unmiStakable earnestness, elf you suf-
fer him even 10 guess that you have
seen me or heard one word about your