Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-05-27
II dare saw she Will be better dlrectl,

udEe say Stlc Will w UeCCCI uLICStly,
observed Miss Fitz- Murray. Indeed, now
that they had recovered from their first
scare, the company We're inclined to rally
themselves and one another on the even
ings sensation, and there was perhaps a
tendency to make Sallie the scapegoat of
the affair. If she had not interfered all
would have gone well. Some of the
ladies, who had been not far from faint
ing themselves, whispered to one an
other that nothing else was to be expect
ed Of woman like that; she had taken
advantage of having formerly been the
owner of the house to force herself upon
the count (who was too polite to deny
anybody anything), and of course she
had made an exhibition of herself.
Meanwhile, General Bristowe, Mr.. Roy
lance, Mr.. Montague Gossett and other
gentlemen were discussing the jugglery
performance, and had formulated at
least two theories to explain the whole
mystery. But all agreed that it was the
most astonishing thing ever witnessed
in New York, and when DR.. Venables
appeared with Sallie on his arm, looking
pale, but smiling and entreating the
general pardon for having SO misbe-
haved, the complexion of affairs re-
sumed its former geniality. The tables
had been removed, the music stormed
and palpitated, and tho people who
danced began to look at one another and
beat time with their feet, us if appari-
lions, wizards and bloody daggers were
but diverting preliminary to real en-
joymont. Society uniformly deprecates
serious views, and, if its spirits have
been dashed for a moment, laughs so
much the moro lightly the moment
after.
But while tho ball was at its height
Sallie took an opportunity to withdraw
unobserved, making a private signal to
the count as she did so. He followed
her to the east room, where for mo-
ment they were alone.
"I have to thank you for delightful
evening"" she said. II can never forget
It,"
"The pleasure has been mutual" re-
turned the count, bowling.
II feel that know you SO much bet
ter than did before came here" Sallie
continued. "Before you had seemed
Mysterious and enigmatical; you wore
something like prince in fairy tale;
you might undergo transformation ut any
moment into a hobgoblin, or wisp Of
straw! But now--well--now think
there can never again be any doubt be-
tween US as to our true relations to each
other"
II am glad to hear you say so" re-
sponded the count courteously.
,Sallie eyed him for moment, and
then stepped close in front of him,
changing her tone Of polished sarcasm
to one of intense earnestness. ~ can be
a good friend and good enemy" sho
said "You have nearly everything that
O man can wish for, Count de Lisle, but
if you had twice as much it would still
be worth your while to make woman
like me your friend. And am ready to
join hands with you on any terms you
propose. What motive can you possibly
have to antagonize me? l have done you
no harm. If I have harmed any friend
Of yours it was unknowingly, and am
willing to make reparation. Come!
shall we be allies? Am so repulsiveT'
Sallie certainly did not look so at that
moment. There was something, not an
gelically, but superhumanly attractive
in her eyes and aspect. To see her now
was to understand how some women rise
to the highest points of social or politi-
cal eminence with nothing but them
selves to help them-themsnlves or the
devil. Beauty, brains and utter I'M
scrupulousness in combination make
dangerous power, before which the
strongest men have weakened.
The count looked at Sallie, and as he
did SO he removed his gold trimmed eye
glasses. This altered his appearance not
little His eyes were powerful, and it
seemed to Sallie that she had met their
glance before somewhere-but when or
where she could not determine. The
count looked at her keen, handsome
face, at her white neck and arms, at her
graceful figure in its golden hued dress;
and he saw that she was fair. But, in
stead of softening, his countenance grew
stern.
"You say you are willing to mako
reparation for any harm that you have
done" said he.
She nodded her head slightly.
"Will you come back to the ballroom
with me-" he continued, land tell the
people there who you are-and who you
are not"
"Why should l tell them what they
already know"
do they know that you were never
married, either in France or elsewhere,
to Harry Trent; that he refused, in spite
of all your threats and entreaties, to
make you his wife; that after his death
you caused a bundle of papers, among
which was a will purporting to be his,
to be discovered in drawer of piece
of furniture in Philadelphia hotel?
And will you tell them that this will was
u forgery, copied from genuine will
written by Trent himself, but deciding
his fortune, not to you, but to another
woman, whom he designed to marry?
For that woman's name you substituted
your own; and you yourself hid it in the
room at the hotel which, as you hap
pened to know, Trent had once occupied.
BY means of that will, and of the
certificate Of marriage, also a forgery,
but written on a printed form which you
had procured while travelling in France,
you made good your claim to the estate.
Will You tell them this:'
twill repeat no such foolish tale" re-
piled Salie steadily GLOW could have
forged copy Of the genuine will unless
had had the genuine will to copy from?
And how could have become possessed
of that?'
II will tell you, since you have forgot
ten," said the count. "You found the
genuine will among Harry Trents papers