Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-06-17
CIIAPTER Nv.

CHAPTER XIV.
Upon inquiry, Frank found that thS
news which Lady Seafeld had given hirl
was correct He was indeed believed ia
De dead. His presence in London was
looked upon as a strange resurrection.
1t was poor position Mt best to be In q
large and splendid homs with nothing but
the memory of his dead father for COM
pany. 1t would have been better, he some
times thought, IL he had died upon the
field of battle.
At last, however, an invitation came
TO him from the Countess of Seafield, ana
In fit Of desperation, tired to death OF
his monotonous existence. he accepted.
When the countess sent that invitation
ehe knew perfectly well what she was
doing. She had arranged this party as a
means OF allowing tho cousins to meet.
They will be sure to do so sooner OF
hfer, she said to herself, "and it is bet
ter that they should meet at my house
than that OF Il stranger. I can take care
~ the duke while dear Constance puts
things right with her cousin"
Meanwhile the Duke d'Azzeglio was by
no means as cOntented as this strange
change of circumstances should have
made him. He was angry when he beliey.
ed his rival to be dead; he was still more
angry when he found that he WAS living.
The duchess threw off her mourning, dried
her tears. and seemed willing to accom-.
pany her husband anywhere and every.
where, but the duke noticed that even
while she stood In the most crowded Of
rooms, with an admirins group about her,
her eyes were wandering restlessly around
Is II searching for a face she could noe
md He knew for whom she sought, and
his soul grew btfter with Jealousy AID IN,
ger, and he watched her keenly.
At length came the invitation from
Lady Seafield. A few days after it had
been accepted the countess called upon
her friend. She found Constance taking
tea In her boudoir.
30 glad you are coming to my little
gathering. DEAR" she said ''Do You know
= fees very proud that have induced our
young hero TO emerge from his obscurity.
and show himself to his friendsY'
Whom do you meanY' asked Con-
stance. already feeling a vague fear gath.
ering about her heart
"Whom should 1 meanY' returned the
couD;ess gayly, but our hero of heroes,
your handsome cousin? We must not
allow him TO lead the life Of hermit, for
the young Earl of Harrington is a very
important member of society; he doesn't
know how many young ladies are waiting
Tor the chance of becoming his countess"
The little lady spoke according to her
own light, wisely. 1t would be quite
necessary. she thought. for Constance to
accustom herself to the thought of her
cousins marriage. and Constance listened
in a wild dream. feeling her heart Lacerat-
ed by every cruel word. When Lady Sea-
field was gone and she found herself alone,
she clasped her hands and, falling upon
b T knees cried out in pain:
:'oh. kind heaven, Lead me not into
temptation.
Probably she had never In her life look
ed 50 lovely as upon the evening of the
reception; when che entered the countess
drawing room. hooking like beautiful
statue, there was a genuine murmur of
admiration. The duke heard 1t and smil-
ed. He was proud OF his duchess. But
Constance was as cold as ice; and her
heart seemed to have ceased its beating. ,
Suddenly she started, and every drop OF
blood seemed to flow back upon her heart,
as her eyes. which had been wandering
restl"ssly about the room, became fixed
upon her cousins face Yes, there stood
Frank, looking like young AdOnis In his
elegant evening dress. His face was very
pale a broad black ribbon still supported
his arm. At the first sight of him she
started, and eagerly gripped her hus-
band arm, and then-but was she dream
ing. or was it real? Was this indeed
Frank, her lover, in whose arms she had
lain contentedly while his kisses had
rained upon her lips Whose image filled
her heart. whose whole being was dearer
to her than her very life: was this indeed
q. a., l.
her hand and cNllsd her duchess" as the
veriest stranger would have done?
What happened after that she did not
know-her senses must have become
clouded for moment, for when her brain
cleared again she was away from all the
confusiod Of the crowd. sitting In the con-
servatory by the open window, her hus-
band by her side. The dukes face was
very grim.
Are you betterY" he asked csldly. She
could not answer him; at length, unable
to conquer her emotion, she burst into
hystericsll tears
The duke fetched her some wine, she
drank it, and gradually grew more COM
posed; to return to the crowded room,
however, was impossible, her face bora
too evident traces Of tears, SO the duke
proposed that she should return home.
During the drive not n word was spok-
en- but when they reached the house Con,
stance gained her room, locked the door.
and threw herself upon couch, sObbing
like a heart broken child. She was an
lmpulsive woman now, not a statue, her
very blood was on fire.
II will not endure it." she cried pas
sionatcly. "They both deceived me-my
grandmother first, then he-whOm the
world calls my husband. I have been
cheated, betrayed, trapped into life OF
misery, and he, my darling, thinks, as all
the world thinks, that did it of my own.
free will. When he looked mt me tonight
1 Thought should have died at his feet.'
/ must see him again-I must tell him the
truth, then perhaps my Dtserable ine VIII
A~ little less hard = kesr."
sne went 10 her writing table ana wrores
Il must see you at once: intended to
epeak to you tonight, but could not
eannot ask You here; l dare not, neither
can with safety come to your house. l
want to sec you alOne-quite alone. wan
kOu therefore meet me tomorrow night
1t the south gate of the park at 10 oclockE
CONSTANCE
She then addressed an envelope to the
Earl of Harrington. and blotted D'th
with a clean sheet of blottins paper w lien