The Portland daily press., 1897-12-06
(Chapter " continued. J

ms dark passionate eyes. Nnen Catneflne
looked at the former, her expression was
merry, kind, and almost maternal; when
she turned her eyes on Langford the ex-
preston grew grave and dreamy,
Ilangford was the first to leave. When
he had gone, Blake, who had taken rather
too much wine, snarled savagely:
81 hate that fellow! He's as sly as a
fox. and as cold blooded as d stoati'
''He is my very good FRIEND" said
Catherine, ''and L must ask you not to
abuse him.
e.You mean your sweetheart" cried
Blake, forgetting himself in his fury of
jealousy.
if it were so. it would be no concern of
Wouldn't it by --l'' exclaimed the
young man, utterly losing his self-con-
troll. Remember what 1 told your
Pale with indignation Catherine pre-
pared to leave the room, but be ore she
could do so Blake sprang up and closed
the door.
"Once more l ask you, will you marry
meY'' he cried, facing her.
She looked him from head to foot with
a gaze so cool, so contemptuous, that the
hot blood mounted to his face. Then,
without replying, she quietly touched the
He came close to her. and seized her
two hands in his.
'tKate!"
She tried to release herself, but he held
her firmly looking into her face
"Don' t wake up the devil in me! Don t
make me do what I might be sorry for !
You've robbed ME of my birthright-
don't go furth r, and make me mad. AS
sure as you stand there, l mean to have
you, and if can't win you by fair means
I'll try foul.
you are not sober, she replied,
haughtily, land you talk to me as if L
were the girl of some low inn.
Then releasing herself, as the servant
entered the room, she said quietly
stTelI the groom 10 bring round Mr.,
BIal1es horse, at once!
The servant disappeared, while Blake
stood like AMMAN dazed, as indeed he was
Without looking towards him, Catherine
sat down at the piano and began to play
lightly, carelessly, letting. her fingers
wander idly across the keys.
When she looked round, Blake had dis
appeared H. u,--
of him: a second week, and still no sign.
She began to feel sorry, for though her
heart was quite untouched, she couldn't
help admitting to herself that she was
partly to blame.
Then came the mysterious assault in
the woods, which we have already de-
scribed and Catherine g visit to Cladich
Castle. under escort of the police.
The moment she looked at her cousin,
Catherine had no doubt that she had dis
covered her assailant. Up to that moment
she had scarcely thought it possible that
even Patrick Blake should have been
guilty of such 'betise. "
Recovering herself in a moment, and
forcing q smile, she said
why haven't you been to see me?
have been expecting you every day. -
The young mans face was study.
,oT-I Il
were all mingled there. He saw in a
moment that his secret was discovered,
but ne did not seem to care. Answering
the smile with one of ugly significance,
and glancing at Langford, he replied
- thought, maybe, you might have
pleasanUer company, and then with
forced laugh and a shrug of the shoulders,
he strolled away into the ballroom.
The moment he had gone Catherine
self-possession left her. She trembled
and seemed about to fall, when Langford
stepped forward with an exclamation and
supported her
Nothing, nothing" she nurmured.
f'That rufiian -bas insulted youi'i
Indeed, no" she said, gently. For
whatever has occurred, am myself most
to blame But am miserable, misera-
BILE! | wished to be friends with all the
world. and l awaken only hatred in all l.
meet"
Catherine" said Langford, "there is
but one way out of all your perplexity. l
have told it before-let me repeat it now.
love you! l have loved you from the
moment we first nett Become my wife.
His arm encircled her waist, and he
drew her tenderly towards him. AT first
she seemed to yield but it was only for a
moment. Disengaging herself. she said
quietly
81 shall never marry. 1 love my liber-
ty too well, and indeed, all that l have
seen of men makes me more and more
afraid. You say you love me. Others
have said the same thing. It is friend
ship, true friendship that [ need, not
love-
In moment her high spirits came
back to her, and she added with
laugh
woman, especially in Ireland, where men
are only half civilized Pray, take me
back to the ballroom.
For several hours after she had gone to
bed that night, Catherine lay awake
thinking of Patrick Blake; when at length
she fell asleep she dreamed OF him, and
in the morning when she awoke her
brain was ringing with the echo of his
threat; IF you won't have me, you shall
never have any other man =
The singularity Of his manner puzzled
her, so did the strange coincidence of the
marx upon MS CQ6Sks lIAb BIG uGIs6ll
had been the means of placing 1T there
she did not for moment doubt, and yet
it certainly seemed very strange.
After all, - she said to herself, Il am
glad l have made no one but Captain
Kennedy acquainted with the fact OF my
having struck the man. That part of the
story I win continue to keep to myself. "
She walked over to the window, and
looked out The country, for miles
around, lay buried deep in snowdrift.
The little hamlets with closed doors and
windows, and snow laden roofs, lay like
black spots on the vast waste Of white.
Scarcely soul was to be seen abroad,
for already walking was dangerous, and
still theesnow was falling fast.
Il shall not be able to leave the house
today, said Catherine to herself. and at
the Thought she did not feel altogether
sorry. The idea of walking abroad in
daylight, escorted by armed police, was
by no means pleasant to her.
For q whole week, therefore, she re-
manned a prisoner. AT the end OF that
time rapid thaw set in. The snow dis