Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-21
cHApTER XXI-CoN1lNu.p.l

her bosom, and proceeded with eviden
difficulty.
well, I fed with Paul Linmere. Fol
Q time was very happy. He was kint
to me, and l loved him SO! We lived
in little vine -wreathed cottage. on th'
banks of the Seine. and had my TIN!
nower-garden, my books, my birds, my
faithful dog Leo-and Paul! Ever,
pleasant night he used to take me ou'
on the river In the little boat which
bore my name on Its side. l lived IN
sort of blissful waking trance. that iei'
me nothing to desire. nothing 10 ash
for. Fool that l was! thought II
was to last always. After while
Paul wearIed OF me. Perhaps was toe
lavish of my caresses and words OF love
| 1t might tire him to be loved 80 IN
| tensely, But such was my nature. he
grew cold and distant; at times posi-
lively ill-natured. Once he struck me-
but I forgave him the blow, because he
had taken too much wine. He laughed
me to scorn, and called me by 1oui
name that / cannot repeat. That nignt
he asked me to go out boating WIN
him. / prepared myself with aiacfi.s,
for / thought he was getting pieaseu
with me and perhaps would comply
with my request. Are you weary Vi
my story. Louis?"
mo, no. Go on. am listening 10
you. Arahel."
"It was lovely night. the stars
cleaning like drops of molten gold. and
the moon looked down. pure and serene
and holy. Paul was unusually SILENT
and was quiet. waiting for him 10
speak. Suddenly, when we reached the
middle Of the river. he dropped the oars
and we drifted with the current. he
srang up, his motion nearly capsizing
the frail boat. and taking a step toward
me, fastened a rough hand upon my
shoulders. 'Arabel,' he said, hoarseiy.
your power over me is among the
things Of the past. Once l thought
loved you. but 1t was merely passion
which soon burned itself out. AFTER
that, grew to hate you; but, because
had taken you away from home and
friends, tried to treat you civilly.
Your caresses disgusted me. would
gladly have cast you off long ago, II !
had had but the shadow of pretext.
am to be married to beautiful wom-
an in America before many months
shall elapse-a woman with q name and
a fortune which will help me to pay
those cursed debts that are dragging
me down like a milestone. For you l
have no further use. There is no dis
grace in the grave-and consign you
to its dreamless sleep!' The next mo-
ment the boat was capsized. and l was
floating in the water. cried aloud In
his name, beseeching him to save me,
and got only his mocking laugh in re-
turn, as he struck out for the shore.
I could not swim, and l felt myself
sinking downtown to unfathomable
depths. felt cold as Ice; there was a
deafening roar in my ears, and knew
no more"
my poor Arabel, could curse the
villain who did this cowardly thing,
but he is dead. and in the hands of
God"
when I woke to consciousness. l
was lying in rude cottage, and two
persons, unknown to me-a man and a
woman-were bending over me. apply
ing hot fannels to my numbed limbs
and restoratives to my lips. had
some articles of jewelry on my person,
of some considerable value. and with
these 1 bribed the persons who had
taken me from the river to cause Mr..
Linmere to believe that L had died.
They were rough people, but they were
kind-hearted, and l owe them a large
debt OF gratitude for their thoughtful
care of me. But for 1t should have
died in reality. AS soon as was able
to bear the journey l left France. Lin
mere had already closed the cottage
and gone away-none knew whittier,
but was satisfied he had departed for
the United States. left France with
no feeling of regret, save for Leo, my
faithful hound have shed many bit
ter tears when pondering over the
probable fate Of my poor dog"
BE easy on that subject, Arabel.
saw the hound but few weeks ago
He is the property of lady who loyes
him-the woman Paul Linmere was to
have married, if he had lived.''
81 am glad. You may laugh at me
Louis, but the uncertain fate of Lee
has given me great unhappiness. But
to continue-I engaged myself as nurse.
maid with an English family, who hat
been travelling on the continent ant
were about returning home. l re-
NAMED with them until had accumu
lated sufficient funds to defray my ex
penses across the Atlantic, and then
set out on my journey. l came to New
York, for that had been Mr. Linmere
home before we went to France. soo1
got upon the track of him, and Learned
that he was about to be married to
Miss Margaret Harrison, a young lad,
Of great beauty, and with large for
tune. l wanted to see her; for yol
must know that had registered fear
full VOW of vengeance on Mr. Paul Lin
mere, and desired to judge for mysel
If 1t would fall heavily on the woman
he was going to marry. For even vic
lently as had loved him / now hate,
him.
Il saw Miss Harrison. accoste,
her in the street one day, as any com
mon beggar would have done, tellin,
her pitiful story of my poverty. Sh
smiled on me, spoke few words O
comfort, and laid piece of gold IL
my hand. Her sweet face charmed me