The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-05-03
CHAPTER x1x-{co.ti..eda
CHAPTER xx.
The snares oh Guild,

Seated in one of the superbly-fur-
Aished rooms of viscount Dareleigh's
mansion, eagerly and trembling, was
Mrs. Chesterton awaiting the coming
ing an indignant exclamation.
completely within her power; but on
the success Of whom, in that attempt
which he had promised that he would
make, depended now her own life.
Should she perish, what would be-
come of her poor. innocent daughter!
And Mrs. Chesterton shuddered as
thus she thought On that one point
Ter heart was still vulnerable; that she
was a mother was, perhaps, the sole
.ause that some remnant OF human
feeling yet chung about her.
When, after whole age, as 1t had
appeared to her, Viscount Dareleigh
at last presented himself before her,
Mrs. Chesterton hurried toward him.
and in her impatient terror showered
upon him question after question.
When she had fairly run herself out
and had paused, partly for want of
breath to continue and partly because
she had asked all and more that all
that 1t had been necessary to demand,
Viscount Dareleigh said, laughing
gaily:
"Rest easy, Eugy, and bless your
guardian ANGEL"
A strange look did Mrs. Chesterton
fix on the viscount as he said that;
md singular expression was on her
features as she repeated:
"Angel? All, indeed! l had not
thought that you would ever be that"
The viscount laughed more merrily
even than before.
Eve never can foresee that which ts
to happen" he said.
And presently continued:
"All Is comfortably arranged, Eugy
that in the future we may have moth.
Ing to fear from each other"
"How is that!" was asked In tone
full of suspicion.
II have obtained Theodore's con
sent, and your daughter will shortly
become his WIFE,"
"Indeed" exclaimed Mrs. Chester
ton, and still doubtingly.
"Yes," replied the viscount, readily;
II should never be able to consider
myself secure so long as you had rea.
son to be my enemy"
1A0S A10y PGAACStAy OA0CAcl0AO
you," said Mrs. Chesterton, II must
believe"
She paused and fixed her eyes with
keen inquiry on those of her accom-
plice.
What must you believe" was care.
lessly demanded.
THAT Nicholas Sherman is dead?''
whispered Eugenia.
The viscount merely nodded and
smiled.
''Then, in that case, those letters
Again she paused and again the Wis.
count nodded and smiled.
why will you not speak? Why will
you thus torture me?" the woman
cried angrily and impatiently.
ION that night when, awhile since,
we, at your house, renewed our &C.
quaintance, you had, IL remember
rightly, but scant pity for the un.
fortunate wretch who was then 30
helpless within your CLUTCH"
And the viscount appeared delighted
that it was now his turn to torture.
Morton, l entreat that you will
have pity on me and say where are
those letters?"
"They are nowhere" responded the
viscount. and laughed again, "for l
have destroyed them,"
"Ah! you obtained possession of
those letters! Eugenia cried, her face
lighted up with joy.
"Of course obtained possession of
them, or how could have DESTROYED
them!' the riscount said, lightly and
jestingly.
"Gone! those letters are goner' Eu.
yenia cried breathing freely, once
again believing herself entirely safe.
and that no danger could ever in the
future menace her.
Yes. Eugy," said the viscount, ex.
ultipgly. I'VE may now boldly DEFY
our enemies, do what they may"
Yes, yes" cried Mrs. Chesterton
and she. too, was in high glee.
"Those letters" pursued the Wis.
count, can never rise up in judgment
against us. since even their ashes are
totally annihilated; the fire has con.
sumed them both"
"Both?" exclaimed Mrs Chesterton
With shrek of terror; "but there
were three Of those letters"
Three of them?" faltered the via
count, Keeling backward as though q
knife had suddenly pierced his heart.
Yes. yes, three Of them-three OF
Chem" Mrs. Chesterton frantically
cried, and wrung her hands despair
ingly.
And then, Supplied with fear, with
out the power to stir limb, these two
guilty wretches stood, each lookine
| into the face of the other md a,,u6
dering Mt the CHASTITY palor, the horri
BILE distortion they there beheld.
And they groaned and muttered al
most unconsciously to themselves ant
to each other:
"Three Of them! We IRE lost! w
are lost"