Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-03-17

Il
can't be true.'N
She put her hand on his arm, but he
re Used her. speaking harshly in his
| + "Was this your secretT he said.
"H ere you helping my daughter to bring
] disgrace upon my nameT
Alan, don't sag such a cruel thing.
knew that Mr.. Harrington had met her
l was trying to put an end to it-I had
no idea that Molly ever thought of leav-
ing US in this way! Oh. cannot We stop
her! Cannot We bring her backY'
Too late" said Alan, grimly. Tf
could, l would not now. Molly Is no long
er child of mine. l have done with her
forever. And II Berthe has helped her
to disgrace herself In this wsy-I
=: will"
7 NO. Alan. don't aAJ anything just
no@," Stella pleaded. as she FASTENED
/ to Berties side, for the lads eyes un-
closed with bewildered cir.
What is it? What does it meanr"
| murmured BERTHE.
Don't talk yet" said Stella, gently
DO you feel any pain? We must have
/ you taken to your room when you are
/ able TO move. and the doctor will be here
| directly"
I'm not hurt" said Bert.J, In a strong
, er voice. Only little dazed, / think
What was my father saying about NE /!
did not understand"
You had better hold your tongue"
said kingscott, from the couch on which
| he was lying, in tones rendered harsh.
presumably by pain. You can do no
| good by talking"
Stella was sorry to see that the lad
covered when these words were spoken
as though they contained a threat She
| redoubled her attentions to him, and was
| rewarded presently by finding that, al
though still sick and faint. he was able
to move without difficulty; then, think
| ing that she could be of no use at pres
| ent to Kingscott, she went away from
| the tower to make inquiries about Molly,
! and to give any orders that might be re-
| quired.
After considerable search, Stella
| found letter addressed TO herself in
Molly's room. 1t was short, but clear
enough.
"As you are 70 determined to prevent
| my marriage with Jack wrote Molly,
I'VE have thought it better to take mat
ters into our own hands, Jack Is wait
ing for me with q carriage in the road.
We shall not go to Dunkeld or to Perth,
| SO you need not look for US there. We
shall be married tomorrow morning, and
then i will write again. l have written
! to my father, and l hope that he will not
be angry with US. Indeed, l would not
have taken this way If yoA had not driven
me into it by trying to cJie between me
| and Jack. / am sorry fsr my fathers
sake, but not for anything else. because
love Jack better than anybody In the
world"
She had signed her full name at the
end-"Mary Helen Moncrieif"
Stella was cut to the heart by one SEN
tence: 81 would not have taken this way
| If you had not driven me into It by trying
to come between me and Jack"
Must she show her husband this letter,
in which that accusing sentence seemed
, to stand out with such terrible distinct
ness? She WINGED at its latter words
| trying to come between me and Jack"
What would Alan think Of thrt? She
dared not consider; she thrust the letter
into her pocket, resolving to show 1t to
him at once, without regard to conse-
quences. But this she found impossible.
He had locked himself into his study. and
answered when she knocked with . re-
quest that he might be left alone. His
tones were mufaed and unnatural.
Stella thought, as she fingered wistful-
" outside his door, she was almost GER
tain that she heard the sound Of those
heart-rending sobs which are the last ex-
preston of Q strong mans agony. Then
she was summoned away by the an.
nouncement of the doctors arrival, and
found herself abliged to explain the state
of affairs to him, and to conduct him to
his patients.
She did not gain access to her hrs-
band until the afternoon.
Il wanted to tell you," Stella began,
but her husband hastily interrupted her.
"Not Just now. Tell me Dothing at
present. l have not heard Raph's story
Yet, or Bertie's."
But mine ought to come drst. said
Stella, quietly.
She began her story at Once-the story
of Lady ValeRcia's warning, Of her ex-
pedition to Tomgarrow, and her inter
view with Harrington and Molly. Hes
voice faitered a little as she told Of the
weeks respite that she had given the
loyers-never dreaming that they would
take advantage of her trust in them 10
cut the Gordian knot in this discreditable
way. There was Il moments pause when
she had finished.
This is all you know" said Alan, in
the dry, hard voice which sounded SO lit
tie like his own.
Yes"
"And it did not strike you that your
first duty in the matter was to me?-that
] ought to have been told at Once?"
Il am very sorry" murmured Stella.
You have NO more to say at present,
l supposeI There are other things to be
touched on later-just now Molly's affairs
must come first"
Stella went with him to Kingscott's
rooms in the tower. Ralph was in bed,
evidently suffering much pain, but quite
disposed to give his version of the story
at any length that might be required.
Bertie was also present He looked white
and distressed, and did not venture to sit
down until his father curtly tqld him to