The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28

She hardly grasped the meaning of what
he said. An awful despair and horror lay
upon her heart, and she felt that her rea-
son was giving way
She still suffered him to hold her in his
arms; she was almost unconscious of the
Viola, Viola. why don't you speak to
me? Why don't you welcome me? Sure
Y, surely you have not forgotten Launce
Carsbrooke?"
At these words she started: SILVER
passed through her from head to foot.
Then Then; with With, low sobbing cry, she tore
ing and weeping, against tree-trunk
near.
"Oh. Launce, Launce, why did you come
here? In mercy to both of us You must
go at once!'
Viola, this is madness. Do you really
know what you are saying?" and he en-
deavored Intellectually to take her into his
longing arms again Have you forgotten
your promise, Viola-your solemn vow?
You ask me why have come here. Sure
" you know my errand as well | do!
l have come to claim the fuillment of
your promise, Viola-I have come to make
you my loving wife at last"
Before he had finished his eager breath
less words she had more than once en-
deavored to interrupt him. Now he had
said his say, and Niola'S bitterest hour
had come indeed.
Her hands dropped nervelessly to her
sides, She lifted her eyes to his, and,
when she spoke, her voice had that dread
full calmness in it's tones that tells of a
breaking heart beneath.
"Launce, | can only be a sister TO you
Tor evermore. The past Is over-it must he
forgotten In a moment of dire peril, the
circumstances of which / will tell you
fully now, / have been forced-forced
| through terror, through unspeakable men
tai torture-to be false to my vow and
and to pledge myself to wed another.
Launce, all is over, Hear the worst at
last: l was secretly married two months
! ago to Robin Dale"
Then, as he stood before her. too thun-
derstruck to reply, she told him the story
nf Irh %
confession in the Beech Hollow, and of
Robin Dale's unexpected appearance upon
| the scene.
Say nothing until have explained all,
! Launce," she said, her voice still calm
and steady. you will soon understand
/ my position. and the dreadful forces that
! We're brought to bear upon my decision.
! | will explain this in a few words more"
CHAPTER WIN ADAM DALES COT
Viola paused for a moment. as if to
steady herself for the task that lay before
| her When she spoke again, her eyes were
aVerted from Launce Carisbrookes miser
able face.
The moment I saw Robin Dale" she
! said, II knew that he had overheard my
| interview with Hubert; but / did not
! know all. He soon informed me that he
! had actually witnessed the fraeas between
! Hubert and Lord Carruthers. He had been
walking along path close to the Beech
| Hollow, and had suddenly heard the voices
| Of my brother and his enemy; and, peer
| ing through the branches of the trees, he
| had looked on at the terrible scene that
| followed. Then, when all was over he
had stolen away from the spot. and had
! returned 70 see IL the dead body still lay
in the Hollow.
81 told him that 1t had been removed to
the Hall; then ! plucked up my failing
! courage, and looked full into his face.
You know ALL ] said. You have
overheard my brothers words to me- DO
| you intend to betray us, Robin, and to de-
! liver him up to justice?'
As l spoke, Launce ] saw a strange
| Expression cross his pale face. His eyes
dilated, and for moment the glare Of in
sanity seemed to CLEAN from their dis
He stopped suddenly. and caught my
| hands in his, and then-then-hoW can /
tell it, Launce?-he whispered his extra
ordinary proposal into my ear.
Il need not repeat his words, his argu-
ments, his threats, bis almost frenzied APP
peal. 1t all came to this he promised Sc
| crecy as to his discovery on one condition
! only, namely, that l should become his
wife!
IT was staggered incredulous, too
stunned at first to grasp the true meaning
of the situation in which / stood. Then,
little by little, ] comprehended IT all The
| brother whom loved lay at the mercy of
| Robin Dale, and II was In my power
mine, his sister's-either to save him orsto
condemn him to a nameless fate.
| "Launce, / could not Oh could not
| hesitate. You do not knows-no one
| knows--how i love Hubert: and-and /
! had abandoned the hope of ever again see
ing you.
| IT consented; but one condition I iFnpos-
| ed, the marriage should be a secret one.
| and should continue to live at the court
until after Hubert's marriage TO Mabel
Adair; for l always felt convinced that
| Mabel loved Hubert, and only him and
| l was determined that Huberts happi-
| ness should be secured before / passed out
of his life forever. Once the acknowledged
wife of Robin Dale | decided TO leave
| England-and this decision has not since
| been altered.
I'VE were married in the registrars Of
| fee at G.. / returned to the court, and
1 nobody dreamed of what had happened.
and Mabel are to be married in April.
| and after the wedding, Launce, / mean
TO leave England forever. New, you know
| all. Do not, do not misjudge me. And,
| for Gods sake, Launce, leave me now.
| this moment. while / have strength and
courage to return home"
A long silence followed. Launce Carts
! brooke's dark eyes were fixed gloomily
upon the earth; his pale handsome face
was lined and haggard.
He understood 1t all. The pitiless truth
was but too plain for him, and the story
| of Viola's terrible sacrifice seemed TO be
| branded upon his heart IN letters Of fire
Viola, / will say nothing now-I will
think 1t over God help us bothp'
lie grasped her hands for a moment in
| her TO him, yet shrank from the fulhlment
of his wish
A moment later he turned away alb
ruptly, and was gone.
Not until L4aunce Carisbrooke stood once
more beneath his uncles roof, In the un-
interrupted silence and solitude OF his
rooms at the old hall, did his numbed
senses fully recover their vitality and
awake 10 the true bitterness OF the dire
discovery he had made
Niola-the only girl he had ever loved
| his pledged wife, the one glad hope OF
his future-Viola was lost to him forever
And harder than all else to endure was
the thought that the girl was at heart
still true to himself--stll loved him. as she
had ever loved him--although she had
condemned herself TO a lifelong separa-
ton from him: to future of remorse
and degradation.
The reflection was intolerable. Day by
day, Launce Carisbrookes life at the hail
became a burden and torture 10 him and
within a week after his fateful interview
with Viola he had decided on returning
10 the Cape and abandoning the thought
OF Teopening the old Manor house-fond
dream, though II had been, of so many
weary months Of exile.
lie said nothing as yet 10 Sir Godfrey
Of this apparently ungrateful decision
Time enough 70 speak when he had fixed
| on the day of his departure. He felt too
representation wretched In mind and body
to undergo the ordeal of the old mans
cross-examination because Of this sudden
change of plans.
But he decided TO see Viola at once and