Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-05-26
CHAPTER XXI.


riel walk back to their rooms In New
Cavendish street, and while each one Is
, speechless in deep and painful musing,
the fire of anger and grief burns fierce
and high In the hearts of each. She has
deeply offended his pride and wounded his
passionate love for her. He has aroused
a very tempest of jealous anguish and de-
spair in her girlish undisciplined heart.
Il know now why you married met"
exclaiIns Muriel as soon as they enter the
sitting room. Il know now! l could not
imagine why you decided on marrying me
soon as You saw me. why you insisted
on such hasty. hurried marriage. even
while Miles was dying"
'If you imagine beyond the truth, so
much the worse for you," Eric answers.
Il wanted to marry you because I loved
you"
mo. but because you wanted to be re-
venged on Edith Cameron, whose lover
you were," Muriel retorts.
You are speaking unkindly, discourte-
ously and untruthfully, Muriel. l repeat.
I married you because loved you enough
to hope you could fill my heart entirely.
and by your love entirely blot out the
memory of another woman's falsenes..
Recollect. l have a longer past than you.
who are only in your girlhoOd; and you
can hardly imagine that a mans life be-
fore his marriage is like a woman's."
81 want TO know nothing of your past"
poor Muriel says, Illogical as every wom-
an. when her hearts deepest feelings are
concerned, always is; Il only know that
you loved that other woman, and not ME,
and you married me hastily, and now she
, is free and you are not, and-fOr myself,
I can only wish was dead and buried
with my brother!'
"HushW Eric says, sternly. stamping
his foot in his agitation. "How dare you
say such a wicked thing! Please to re-
member before you hurl accusations of
falsehood, cruelty and treachery in the
unmeasured terms you have been using"
he says sternly. with a darkened brow,
| that have done you no wrong beyond
not informing you of a certain story of my
past life with which you have no concern
whatever You married me to serve your
own ends" he continues. and the Calling.
torturing belief be shrinks from, and yet
cannot get rid of, is like Hercules poi
soued tunic to him. You deceived me
with pretenses of the utmost maidenly
pride and unwillingness, to enhance the
value of your consent, when all the time
YOU meant and intended that l should be
forehand to bring things to the desired
;ssue. This is a discovery which a man
ike me finds it hard to forgive"
you say plotted? y" Muriel asks, and
here is an ominous quiet in her tones.
With whom did plot? There are usu-
| ally two in a plot.
"Not necessarily" answers Eric curtly.
"And I deceived you with 'pretense of
the utmost maidenly pride and unwilling
ness. to enhance the value of my con-
sent" Muriel says, repeating his words
exactly to order, when all the time
meant and intended that you should be
| my husband?"
.Yes. you did," Eric says 6ercely. 'and
| il was base and false of you"
| "Of me and my brother Miles?" she
,uestions. still as calmly as ever. "You
ire evidently been well informed by an
.nemy and an eavesdropper of confidential
| conversations between Miles and myself.
| 70 | know all you must have heard, and
! .now now when you heard tit Is all
| ,lain and clear to me now: and l krow.
| on that there was not even then so much
| king or loyalty to your dead friend who
| owed you as a brother, to make you be-
| ;eve the best, and not the worst of him
! md of me- And you may, and you shall.
| ;or apv word l shall ever utter" Muriel
avs. abandoning the control she has kept
yer herself for SO long. MY dariiD.
brother wronged you 80 rar mat II was
the wish of his life that you should marry
| his sister, and promised obedience to his
wishes. with the reserve Of disliking you
when met you. And he died happy be-
cause he thought we were both happy,
and did not dream how foul a wrong he
had done to your honor and pride. and