The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-02

There WAS. no reply. Only the sub
dued sobs broke the waiting silence.
You know where Edna isl" persisted
Marshall.
Yes, know!" cried Bratrice, lifting
her face, flashing with jealousy and
emotion; "but do you think I will tell
you-send you to beg at the feet OF
woman unworthy Of you? Leave me!
If you are suffering, I am tortured.
Oh! cruel! cruel! cruel!"
Her frantic hands swept the open
portfolio across the desk as she shrank
from him, hiding her humiliation, her
jealousy, her love in hot, burning tears.
About to speak reassuriagly to her, to
plead with her anew for the. knowledge
he so craved, Raymond Marshall started
as if dealt sudden blow.
His eyes happened to fall to the open
portfolio. He recoiled, stared closer.
and then sprang to his feet with wild,
intelligent, hopeful cry.
For upon sheet OF paper, written
there indubitably by the woman who
had Just so shamefacedly confessed her
love, was the record Of hatred and
treachery that had so near!y blighted
his life.
There were the first experiments Of
the clever forger to simulate Edna
Deanes handwriting. There was
copy of the missive he had received that
morning. There, too, was the draft OF
the more masculine epistle that had &C.
conpanied it.
Beatrice Mercer had looked up at his
strange cry. Her eyes met his, follow
ing their glance to the portfolio, and
then, shrinking back, her guilty face
told the truth.
you wrote that-you wrote those let.
ters!" fairly shouted Marshall. "Oh,
blind, wicked that 1 was, to doubt my
true-hearted darling! 1t was a cruel
forgery-a plot. Speak, Beatrice Mer-
Ger! All you have told me, all those
letters told, was falsehood."
Beatrice had snatched up the port
folio. Defiance in her face, she painted
like tigress at tay.
If l did," she cried wildly, 1T was
only to save you a fruitless chase. l
alone know where Edna Deane has
gone. 1 know that she will never dare
write to you or see you again. 1ou
hate me, YOU spurn me-you, for whom
l would have given lifetime OF devo-
ton. Then find the pale-faced child
YOU dote over, but never with my help.
A great, joyful glow sprang to the
face Of Marshall.
so be it," he cried. Knowing her to
be true, knowing all this forgery to be
a lie, love will lind way. Revealed In
your true colors at last, know what to
expect Of you; but, as I live, l VOW
never to rest till l find the woman l
love, the victim Of some dark plot, If l
pursue her half the world over!"
He strobe from the room and the
presence of the woman Of whom he had
made a relentless enemy as he spoke,
strong in the consciousness OF loves
mighty power.
Yes, he would find the woman he
loved, though peril, privation, death
barred his way, and cruel schemers
wrought dangerous pitfalls for his eager
feet at every step he took!
All these might be evaded. Pestl.
lence might pass him by, perils Craze
him unscathed, death itself be warded
back by the love that knew no obstacles,
but. more weird, more tortuous than he
ever dreamed was the path that was
leading him to that far day when, once
again, standing face to face with Edna,
he should shrink before a mystery and
a plot that would daunt, appall, and
battle even his bold courage and try his
loyal soul "a by an ordeal OF fire!
!go BE Continued