Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-09-01

was to attempt my life? Oh! you cannot
cannot have the heart to take my boy
from me?' she cries, turning to her broth
er-in-law.
''If you could persuade your friend"
says William Moray to Mrs. Horton.
Don't speak to me!'' she answers alb
ruptly. Il think the whole transaction
infamous, and worthy Of your brother and
yourself from beginning to end. And If
the poor girl had never been such fool
as to marry him he couldn't have made
her suffer like this to crafty his own
petty reyenge!
The woman on the floor seems to have
been listening to Mrs. Hephzibah's words,
for as the last sentence leaves her lips she
raises her head, and a look of fierce de-
termination succeeds the despair in her
face
What is it she gropes for in her bosom?
Does she mean to murder the man who
threatens to rob her Of her child; and is
it concealed knife for which she seeks?
1t might be. judging from the look upon
her face. But whatever it is, as she gets
hold of it she rises to her feet suddenly,
and stands upon the hearthrug with her
back to the fire.
truth? Were my boy illegitimate, could
they take him from me!'
"A strange question, my dear madam;
but certainly not-certainly not
Not by wil-or otherwise?'
mot by any means whatever. 1t is
only over his legitimate child that a man
has any power
Something held in the hands behind her
back drops into the blazing fire, and is
shriveled into nothing.
AS Della gives a rapid glance around,
and sees it has entirely disappeared, a
beautiful coura ge-the courage of despair
CLEANS from her eyes like that which
must have inspired the martyrs of old
when they placed their naked feet upon
the burning ploughshares.
She catches up the child upon the
hearthrug, and holding him tightly to her
breast, advances to the table.
Then l defy William Moray, or any
| other man, to take my boy from me- she
says. He is mine, and / am his. We
belong to one another only. l was never
married to his father!"
At this announcement every one in the
room is visibly startled
Are you in earnest, MADAME demands
the solicitor, incredulously.
Della Moray! for heavens sake, think
what you are sacrificing, whispers Mrs.
Horton.
But the animal instinct is reused in the
woman's breast, and she shakes off her
best friend with fierce impotence.
Leave nae alone!' she answers loudly.
II tell you tits the TRUTH
ut is not" says William Moray; cit is
a trumpedup lie to serve your own pur-
pose. l had the assurance from my broth
er's lips that you were his wife!'
"Where are the proofs, then? Bring
them forward
you must have copy of&he marriage
certificate surelyY' says the lawyer.
Mrs. Hephzibah Horton remembers
and says nothing.
Il have no certificate replies Della.
"That is; of little consequence" says
William Moray, angrily. "a copy is cas-
lily procurable from the registrars books
Of the church where they were married.
! am not going to be fooled in this way.'
But if we were never married in any
church-what then?" says Della defiant
ly.
But I say you were! You were mar
ried at Chiffon, in Berwick. Now! are
you convinced that it is useless to try and
deceive meT
She laughs scornfully.
go to Chiffon then, and get the GER
tiicate There is no church there 1t
was burned to the ground the very time l
stayed there in the place with your broth
err"
Mr.. Moray starts. He has heard some
thing of the occurrence before, and re-
members it is true. He begins to fear she
may outwit him.
This is childs playw he exclaims pas
sionately There must be copy of the
certificate somewhere among my late
brothers papers. / shall go and search
for it,
He leaves the room as he speaks, and
Mrs. Horton approaches Della.
The mothers face Is very pale, and her
lips are tightly compressed together, and
as her friend grasps her hand she shrinks
away from her.
Don't touch me, or speak to me! Re-
member what l am!''
II do remember it, Della Moray. and
admire your courage. But you cannot de-
ceive me!'
The girls eyes turn toward her with a
look of infinite gratitude.
Don't mention it now. For the next
few minutes l must act, or fail"
William Moray re-enters the apartment.
Have you been successful, sir?' asks
Mr.. Bond
No" is the reply. But 1 will prove
the truth of the marriage yet, if trouble
or expense will do it,
Meanwhile" interposes Mrs. Horton
blandly, you will have no objection. L
suppose to this lady returning home with
me?'
So Della passes from the home where
she has been so miserable, with blight
upon her fair fame and brand forever
on her outcast child, believing that the joy
she has so rashly purchased must out
weigh the sufferings that accompany it.
| And this is Della Moray's lie.
CHAPTER Y.
| There are some places in this world of
change-a very few-which look as if they
had stood still since the day on which