Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-08-19

heart was not certain.
He was frank with her after fashion
and wrote an account Of the projected
Fourth of July excursion. He added
that he was going, but that jealous lit
tie Constance need not worry, for he
would not in any wound her.
The same mail that brought this let
ter to Constance brought her another in
strange hand-an anonymous letter
-postmarked from the city in which
Will liyed. 1t ran as follows:
miss Constance Rollins
The man in whom you be-
lieve so implicitly IS not as immaculate as
you think. He will never give up his New
York sweethcart-not even for your smiles
She will be one of the Fourth of July party
going to Paradise Point. If you would
Prove your lovers falseness, 90 to Paradise
Point on the Fourth and see Will Dering and
his old love, Mag1elene. Come to the point
on the east side, at the little cove, at six
o'clock. A FRIEND"
At first Constance could not feel the
cruel words; her brain was too numb
and stunned; but at last they began to
sting and stab through the dull, dead
apathy which had settled upon her,
and cut her to the heart.
Come to the point, on the east side.
at the little cove, at six o'clock
Why, it was fully "a hours travel
from her home to his. Was it feasible2
That very day letter came from a
northern publisher lnclosing check
for contributions and asking her to
come at once to New York, if possible;
that if all could be arranged between
them he wished to offer her the editor.
ship of his magazine. Constance's
heart leaped. This had long been her
ambition; and New York was not far
from Will. She would 60 and meet the
publisher; and-and--perhaps run oyer
to Paradise Pointl
How strangely it had all come about!
Fate seemed leading and controlling
her. Fate pointed to this sure way of
making the tangle straight. She wrote
no word to Will. lie should never know
of her suspicious, if they were false or
mistake,
She carried out her hastily formed
plan, and on the afternoon OF July 4
she was driven in a hired conveyance
to Paradise Point. There she alighted,
and, directing the driver to return for
her in an hour, she made her way
straight to the cove. 1t was easy
enough to find, and soon she was in
sheltered nook which jutted out in a
sharp point overhangiug the sea. 1t
was perfectly lonely; no human pres.
ence: no sound of a human voice. A
few sea gulls wheeling about overhead,
uttering shrill cries, were the only signs
of life. She paused irresolutely, then
seated herself upon rock. A rustling
in the bushes near, and a woman stood
before her. A woman with dark skin.
dark eyes and hair; q foreign looking
woman.
"Ah-you are come she said with
little theatrical start which betrayed
her profession. AS the odor of the salt
sea clings to the fisherman, and the roll
Of the ship betrays the sailor in his
gait, so the third rate play actor can
never quite hide or mask her person
atty.
Constance arose and faced her.
eyes, am here" she said, quietly.
81 infer that you are the writer Of that
letter.
II am. And you must be mighty
hard hit to travel all this distance Just
to prove mans perfdy. You little
fooll why not let we'll enough alone,
and 60 on trusting if you do trust?'
81 came here to be convinced" said
Constance, stitlly. II had business in
New York. and that is not far from
here. Tell me what you have to say,
and be done with it. Ny time is lin
ited,'
Il will tell you-ycs. My letter to
you was lure. You are here in my
power Constance Rollins, and you shall
never leave this place aliye. Will Der
ing loyes you. Once upon time he
loved me, but that is dead, he says.
And loved him, too-fercely as wom-
en- of my nature always love. And l
mean to win him back when you are
out Of the way. You need not glance
about you've are alone; the picnic
party are gone; they left half hour
ago, Constance Rollins, you will never
see Will Dering again; you will never
leave this point alive! I have come to
take your life
With low cry Constance drew back.
Magdalene stood gazing into her face