Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-10-14

Il Will go to her at once" cried Suth-
erland. 1T is right that she should
know. Perhaps she can advise us what
to do"
Breathless and wild. he arrived at the
Castle door. Directly he had sum-
moned the serving-woman, he discov-
cred that the news had arrived before
him. ".H
Shes like n wild creature" said the
servant. I'm in dread to face her, and
she's ordered DOT the carriage, and will
drive ava at once. II ye must see
her. gang in yersel': daurna announce
your comingw
sutherland stepped into the hall.
"Wheesht!" whispered the woman. 81
hear her coming doom the STAIR"
Scarcely had she spoken, when Miss
Hetherlngton. cloaked and bonneted,
appeared at the other end of the hall.
She approached feebly. leaning on her
stan: and as Sutherland hastened to
meet her, he saw that her face was like
that Of corpse, her hair disheveied
and wild, her whole frame trembling
with unusual excitement.
rs 1t true?" she cried. gripping
Sutherland's arm.
''Yes. Miss Hetherington."
Marjorie Amman has left the
manse?"
''Yes. last night"
And In that scoundrei's company"
Il believe so: but in her letter she
mentions no name"
Her letter? What letter?"
Sutherland thereupon told her OF the
lines Marjorie had left for Mr.. Men,
-teith. She listened trembling: then
SELLING the young mans arm again, she
drew him into the drawing-room and
closed the door.
Let me think. lie. me Think she
cried. sinking into chair. and cover
Ing her face with her hand.
When she looked up, her eyes were
full Of tears.
Shes lost lassie! And I might
have saved her had known! Oh. Mar
1orie. Marjorie! My brothers curse has
come home to us both at .last.
sutherland looked ut her in utter as
tonishment. He had expected to find
her angry and indignant. but her man
ner rs well rs her words were beyond
measure extraordinary. Before he
could speak again. she rose to her feet,
and said. between her firmly set lips:
Johnnie Sutherland. listen to me.
Have you the heart of MANI"
What do you mean?"
While you stand glowering there.
she's rushing ava to her ruin! VIII
you gang after her. and in that villains
very teeth bring her back?''
II don't even know where she has
gone" replied Sutherland: land, be-
sides. she has fed Of her own will, and
I have no right"
Miss Hetherington interrupted him
impatiently. almost hcrcely.
You have the right. that you loved
her yourself. Ay. ken all that! Find
her. save her from that man. and I
swear before God you shall marry her.
Johnnie Sutherland"
But the young man shook his head.
looking the picture OF despair.
ut is too late" he said; ''and. after
all. he is her choice
Hwhat right has she to choose?"
cried Miss Hetherington. "She cannot,
she dare not. against my wish and will.
l tell you he has beguiled her. and spir-
tied her ava. II you were half man,
you'd be after them ere this-you'd
hunt them down."
But what could do?" exclaimed
Sutherland. In utter CONSERVATION.
"Do!' cried the lady OF the Castle.
almost screaming. XIII the scoundrel
kill him! Oh. II had my fingers mt
hio throat. I'd strangle him, old as 1
am"
Overpowcrcd with her emotion. she
sonk into a chair. Full OF amazement
and sympathy. Sutherland bent over
and endeavored to calm her. As he
did so. she began moaning and Sob
bing as II heartbrokcn.
Then suddenly. with eyes streaming
and lips ouivering. she looked patheti-
cally up in his face.
1.-THE blame Is all mine." shc sobbed.
God has punished mo. Johnnie Suth-
crland. should have dcfied the scan
dal q the world. and taken her to my
heart lang sync. I'm n sinful woman.
and-Marjorlc AMMAN is my child"