The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-03-21


GOOD Gracious, Pierce, what on
earth has made you select such a
spot as this in such weather for a
r~ende2vous2 Why did you not come
no to the house? You have become
very odd and whimsical in your
ways"
"Gruesome, isn't it9" answered
who even liked the storm
and his present surroundings less
than did Clement Dunraven, who
was accustomed to be out in all sorts
of weather.
ayes, isn't ii gruesome," he re-
peated, "but perhaps the subject l
want to discuss with you is somewhat
of the same type. Anyhow it won't
bear witnesses. | wonder if there
are any aboul7'
And Notwithstanding the heavy
rain he went to the entrance of this
secluded spot, from whence he could
see tor some distance, and discovered
that Brown and the w~oodcutters had
all disappeared. Having satisfied
himself That their conversation could
not be overheard he returned to the
grotto whore he had left his cousin,
who was halt inclined to think that
Pierce had gone off his head, so Y
traordinary did he consider his be-
havior.
In no way did he associate it with
his own false marriage although he
was fullS aware that the warning to
Lady Gertrude had been sen by
Pierce Vaughan and he hated him on
that account with an intense and ST
lent hatred, meaning to have his re.
vengc some day; hut now that they
had settled down into their respect
i've positions, he did not expect any
more home thruSts from that quar-
ter.
He knew nothing of Pierce
Naughau's persistent persecution of
Lisaeth, she always concealed from
him as mHeh as possible anything
that she thought would annoy him.
Overwhelming then was his astonish-
ment when Vaughan produced the
copy of the certificate of his marriage
with -Lisbeth Glendinning. He turned
white as death and looked for an in
slant at the ruhled waters of the
lake, illuminated as they titfully
Were, by the lightning. Was it for
this that Vaughan had brought him
to this spot that he might drown
himself aud so end his misery2
No. The desire of lie was strong.
Why should he leave all the good
things of this world to please a cur
like Pierce Vaughan?
THAT paper IS a vile imposture, it
is a iorgery-a lje;n he said, speak
ing very thickly, the wor.s appar-
entity coming from his parched throat
with much difficulty.
Come, come, Clement that will
not do. How can a copy from the
church book be a forgery, You had
better own to your crime like a man
and make the best OF it,"
lyon devil" cried Clement, be-
side himself with desperation and
fury, you devil. You have never
had but one pleasure in life, to IN
dermiue and ruin me. You would
have cut me out Of uncle Louis will
it you could have done it,
"Would to Goal had; his disgrace
would not have fallen on you now"
Disgrace of your making. Why
can not you let people alone. You
are always ferrettiug and worrying
over other mems ahiirs. You sent
a letter which yQu picked up in the
wood to Lady Gertrudey do you
think did not know your writing"
"From the same woman-yes-
your wife, but Lady Gertrude would
not listen. She vas blinded by her
%infatuation for you and rushed fool
ishly on her fate. Poor Lady Ger
trude!n
This plying alIusion to the woman
he had so deeply wronged and whom
he had of late been learning to love
very dearly, rendered Sir Clement
ten times more furious, if possible
than before.
''By the foul fiend, Pierce, ! have
a mind to kill you,n he said, so
tiercely that Vaughan blanched some
what and regretted that he had
chosen so isolated a spot for the in
terview.
He had expected Clement Dunra-
ven to cover abjectly, he was in no
way prepared for this fierce resist
auce.
He must make terms he thought
whatever he might do hereafte,
when he was further away from thi
savage, furious Clement.
"Hold hard, my boy" be said
''don't talk nonsense, Killing doe,
not come into the programme. Lee
US e if we cannot get out of the
difficulty by some less destructive
means. You say | am your foe, il
realty | am your friend. I'll helI
you, Clement, be assured. l never
return evil for evil, though you have
done me a nasty trick in doing me
out of the property.