Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-04-16

| eyerythinR-tO ignore all the past, and
take him into her life as though the
fearful story she had Just listened to
had been untold Marry a murderer!
"Oh. God" she cried In horror, as the
| whole extent OF the truth burst upon
her: "Oh. my God. pity and aid me"
She sank down on her knees, and
| though her lips uttered no sound. her
heart prayed ms only hearts can prav
when wrung with mortal suffering.
Archer Trevlyn must be given up: from
that there. could be no appeal. Hence
| forth he must be to her as though he
had never been. She must put him en-
tirely out OF her lIfe-out OF her
thoughts-out of her sleeping and wax
| Ing dreams.
But she could give him no eSplana-
tlon OF her change of mind. She had
| passed. her word-nay, she had sworn
never to reveal aught that Miss Lee
had told her. and a promise was bind
ing. But he would not need any eI-
PLANTATION. His own guilty conscience
would tell him why he was renounced.
Then she opened her writing iesk.
and took out all the little notes he had
written to her. read them all over. and
holding them one by one to the blaze
OF the lamp. watched them with a sort
OF stony calmness until they shriyelled
and fell In ashes. black as her hopes.
to the floor Then his gifts: few SIM
pie things. Those she did not look at:
she put them hastily In box. sealed
them up. and wrote his address on the
| cover.
The last task was the hardest. She
must write him note. telling him that
| all was over between them. The gray
light OF a clouded morning found her
making the effort. But for long time
her pen refused to move; her hand
| seemed powerless. She felt weak and
helpless as very infant. But 1t was
done at last, and she read 1t over. won
| dering that she was alive to read IT.:
MIR. Archer Trevlyn. Sir: Yesterday
afternoon. when | last saw you. l did
not think that before twenty-four hours
had elapsed | should be under the
necessity Of inditing TO you this letter.
Henceforth. you and must be as
strangers Not all the wealth and in
duence OF the universe could tempt me
to become your wife, now that my eyes
are opened. ! renounce you utterly
and entirely. and no word or argument
OF yours can change me. Therefore, DO
not attempt to see me, for with my own
consent | will never look upon your
face again. deem no explanation
necessary; your own conscience will tell
you why ] have been forced to make
this decision. return to you with this
note everything that can serve to re-
mind me OF you. and ask you to do me
the favor to burn all that you may
have in your possession which once
was mine. Farewell. now and forever
MARGARET HARRISON"
There remained still something more
to be done. Margie knew that Archer
| Trevlyn would seek her out. and de-
mand an explanation from her own
| lips. and this must never be. She could
not see him now: she was not certain
that she could ever see him again. She
dared not risk the influence his per-
sonal presence might have upon Ner
She must leave New York. But where
should she go? She had scarcely asked
the question before thought answered
! her.
Far away In the northern part of New
Hampshire. resided old Nellie Day. the
woman who had nursed her. and whom
she had not seen for twelve years
Nellie was very quiet. discreet person,
and had been very warmly attached to
the Harrison family. She had married
late in life worthy farmer and giving
up her situation in New York, had goue
with him to the little out-of-the-w way
village OF Lightheld. Margie had kept
up sort of desultory correspondence
| with her, and in every letter that the
old lady wrote she had urged Margle
to visit her In her country home. 1t
had never been convenient to do so, but
now this place was suggested to her at
once. and to Lightfield she decided to
go.
She consulted her watch. It was 5
O'Clock; the train for the north, the first
express, left at half past six. There
would be time. She would leave I'LL
her business affairs in the hands OF Mr..
Farley. her legal adviser and general
manager; and as to the house, the
maiden aunt who resided with her
could keep up the establishment until
her return II she ever did return.
She pacEed a few of her plainest
dresses and some other indispensables.
in trunk. arrayed herself in a dark
travelling suit, and rang for Florine.
The girl looked at her in silent amaze
ment. Margie steadied her voice, and
spoke carelessly enough.
"Florine, have been obliged to leave
home very suddenly. My preparations
are all complete. | thought l would
not wake yOu as | had so little to do.
Tell Peter to have the carriage at the
door at six precisely, and bring up Leo's
| breakfast. and cup of hot coffee for
me-"
At six o'clock-having written a note
to Mr. Farley, and one to her aunt, CIV
ing no explanations but merely saying
she had been called away-she put on
her bonnet, entered the carriage and
was driven to the depot. And before
nine-tenths Of New York had thought
of leaving their beds, she was being
whl"led rapidly northward, her only
companion Leo, who. w"tchful and
alert, lay curled up on ths seat beside
her.
CHAPTER XVI.