The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-15

have not told your 49,.
"You have told me very little"
'.fhere IL only little to tell" she re
piled, surprised at his words, for b,
had never pressed her a. TO any inciden
Of her life with her father, land Ger
tainly nothing not to tell" Her quick
ness to read in his words suggestion
Of doubt reused her into an attitude Of
defense.
| He noticed the change. and he stopped
and kissed her.
when I doubt you, child. I will tell
you go openly. am with you and fol
you against the world"
! She answered his cares impulsively
and threw her arms round him and,
kissing him passionately, exclaimed:
"Ah, Jaffray, I think sometimes ]
should be happier woman il I did not
love you as do"
Happier If you did not love me?" he
questioned and smiled. "That is pug.
zle can't read. Would you rather that
/ did not love you, then2''
"Ah, no, moi I would rather you
killed me by the cruelest Of Deaths :"
And she chung to him.
"Then you are a problem I can't
solve," be answered, laughing, shut a
problem that is very dear to me, solved
or unsolved.
While they were thus lovemaking the
first of the dinner gongs sounded, and
they had to hasten away to dress.
Then at dinner an incident happened
which disturbed Lola profoundly and
marked the beginning Of the end.
They had only three guests-Mrs DE-
Witt, Beryl LEICESTER and Pierre Tur-
rian-and at dinner Lola saw that the
freedman was taking good deal Of
wine. The conversation turned on what
each Of those present had been doing
during the past few weeks, and present.
ly Lola saw him set down his glass with
an expression which she knew we'll
BODIED mischief to some one and look
in her direction furtiyely out Of the cor
ner Of his eyes. Then he broke into the
conversation in tone which drew the
attention Of all to him:
my faith, but I have had an ex-
perience, or rather have heard of one,
which is, if you like, uncommonl"
"About fiddle stringsr" asked Mrs.
De Witt mischievously. .
"No, madame; about human lives
and about something which / am sure
you could not OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
faithlessness.
II have heard of it," said the little
woman innocently, "but if it is any
thing too dreadful don It spoil it by tell
ing us too hurriedly-keep itfo by and
by, in the drawing room."
"Out with it, man." exclaimed the
baronet.
ut is the story Of friend Of mine,"
said the Frenchman, pausing moment
to emphasize his next remark. "Do you
know the DEVILS rock in the Swiss
mountains? Do you, Lady Walcote?" be
asked when the others said nothing.
Something in the tone made Beryl
Leycester look up, and she saw that Sir
Jatfrays wife was on the defensive.
"The DEVILS rock, the DEVILS rock"
replied Lola, repeating the words as if
waiting for the name to strike some
chord Of recollection and speaking very
naturally. II seem to have heard of it,
and yet-you know how ones memory
will play tricks-I really can't say"
And she smiled very sweetly.
sit is we'll named at any rate" said
M. Tuwian. Imagine semicircular
background of rough, steep crags, with
here and there thick, dark frs and pines
on them, and in the middle sharp pin
nacle rock standing sheer and grim and
solitary, joined to the background by
narrow path, each side of which is
precipice stretching down hundreds of
feet to the bottom of the gorge. That is
the DEVILS rock, and the precipice
might be called in truth the mouth of
hell"
''But what has the devil to do with
woman's faithlessness?" asked Mrs. De
Witt, with smile.
more than usual" returned the
Frenchman, laughing dryly. "There
was murder done OIL that very spot
murder, SO far as intent was concerned,
and my friend was the victim. | went
to the place last month with him.
'Im getting bit mixed, professor"
said the baronet.
"My friend was married to a woman
who seems to have got the idea of free
ing herself from him. She took him to
that place one day, told him she had
ceased to love him and that she meant
to leave him. "
"What very conventional creature!'
exclaimed Mrs. De Witt. "She was, of
course, woman Of the middle classes"
scarcely conventional, madame"
said N. Turrian. "she goaded him with
some hot. bitter words-that was COIL
of course-and when he
caught hold Of her to take her away
from the place she struck him in the
face with the parasol she was carrying,
and he stumbled back and fell over"
ooh, that's not murder! Much more
like suicide" said Mrs De Witt "If
40 knew what sort of woman she was,
he might have known what to expect if
be tried force OH such spot"
"Wait," resumed the Frenchman.
In falling he caught hold of point of
he rock with one hand and would have
aved himself, but she, seeing what had
stamped Oh his fingers with
Ill her strength, bruising and crushing
hem and causing him to lose his hold.
That was murder"
But you say he didn't die, " said the
,aronet.
II say it was murder in intent. What
hink you, Lady Walcote?" And he
topped and looked boldly into Lolas
yes.
II should think your friend was ro-
aancing, NJ. Turrian, though l can