Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-05-21
CHAPTER XVIII.

Somehow, as those words passed her
mothers lips, Marvcl's soul died within
her. She drew herself away from Wri'
othesley's protecting arm. and low moan
broke from her.
"You have heard enough for to-day.
Wait-hear the rest another time." said
he, anxiously.
mo, nov-fevcrishly. "Do you think I
could wait? Let the hear II oil at once.
Il suspense light burdenf"
"There was woman" went on Mrs.
Scarlet In her low monotone, which now
had no emotion In it-"an elderly woman
my own nurse she had been-and In her
conRded. Together we left home and
sought a remote village on the Cornish
coast; and there you were born" She
raised her eyes to Marvel's with a reluc-
tant dislike. even them" she said. "as
you lay helpless, pOwcrlcss within my
arms, I hated your She pushed back
the hair from her forehead and drew a
long breath, then laughed little. 1T Is
true" she said. 1.-THE very brute beast
will love It's offspring, butt loathed
mine! As soon rs dared stir forsook
you, and left you with my nurse. An
aunt of mine with whom had kept up a
desultory sort Of correspondence, and who
was we'll married and mixing In the world,
wrote asking me to 20 and live with her.
I gladly consented. even graspcd at the
chance II opened out to me Of retrieving
my folly and making myself such place
In the world a. had ever hoped for. But
you-you"-lOoking ut Marvcl-"you dc.
Stroyed all-you, and this!'
Again she laid her hand upon the locket
wherein lay the dead mans facc-the man
who alone had ever touched her worldly
heart, for whose sake she had been deaf
and blind evermore to the attractions OF
oil others. II was the one saving trait
n her cold, calculating, ambitious nature,
that one wild, absorbing passion Of her
youth.
II feared the discovery Of you. You
hung like q milestone round my neck!'
she said, still with her reluctant gaze fixed
on Marvel, who shrank and shivercd be
fore her. "And the woman who kept you
grew greedy for her claims. She wrote
always for money, and had none to give.
Though living In afilucncc with that rich
woman, my aunt'-with sudden impre-
cation OF awful bittcrncss-"I had not ono
penny even that could call my own. !
had dresses, trinkcts, but no pocket money
to speak Of. Once she discovered me try.
Ing to pawn ring, and after that there
was no single moment that could call
my own. Perhaps she suspected some
thing. I never knew; but Mt oil events
the woman, the nurse, though importu.
nate, was faithful. She never betrayed
me. Still, when she found she could get
no money from me, she tired Of YOU
turning cold, cruel eyes on Marvcl-"tircd
% have oil the others"
"Oh; no! Oh, have pityw said the gir
In q slow, painful tone that went to VIII
Othcslcy's heart.
"You would have the truth. Now hear
III" said she, rclcntlcssly. "Ycs, even that
woman who nurscd you would fain bc rid
Of you when she discovered that could
not supply her with the money ncedful for
your wants and her cxtortlonatc demands
Your birth was horror to mc'-slOwly
-''the thought Of you constant, never
dying fear. When, ut the end Of four
years, the woman wrote to me to shy you
were dead, I rejoiced!'
She spoke with such deliberate malig
nancy that the blood rose to WriOthcslcy'i
face. He glanced compassionatcly III
Marvel. She was pale; an Icy chill seem
ed to have passed over her. She shud
dercd.
'Then at last felt FREQ; the hateful
chain that bound me was lOosed. bless
ed death from my very heart. An old
man, rich, pliablc-a hideOus oil man
had been my sutton for some time. Just
then he offered himself to me for the third
time, and accepted him. married Mr.
Scarlet, and for the first time for five
nj toll
lasted for seven years. Then had let
ter from the nurse to say that she wal
dying-that she was indeed at the very
point Of death-that must 20 TO her, and
quickly, II would see her alive and hear
from her own lips that which would In
6uence my entire life." She was silen
for moment, az II thinking. II arrived
at her house day after tho summon
reached mel found her ut the very pOr
tails Of that city We all so fear to enter
She had barely sufficient strength left 4
tell me that the child whom she had takcl
from me, and who she had sworn wa
dead, was still iving!'
"Perhaps she lied" said Wriothcsley
hOarsely.
mo; the dying seldom lie. and ther,
was that on her face which forbade tn,
thought Of It. She said she had found ]
impossible to support herself and the chill,
on the small and uncertain sums ! wa
able to send her from tune % time; 30 tina
at last she determined to rid herself O
her nursllng by leaving her secretly a
some wOrk-hOuse where she was I'm
known. One evening, with this purpOs,
In her mind, abe set Out with the child
and for many aAys wandered vaguely In
land, not knowing how or fearing to &C
cOmplish 1t. Her heart, she said, faile,
her as each occasion presented itself; but
for myself. ! don't bvi!tTe In hearts-ha,
abe said her courage failed, should hav
understood" She shrugged her shOul
ders slightly, and faint sneer curled he
lips. "At last there came night when
as they trudged YEARLY, aimlessly alonl
the highway, q storm burst above thei
heads. 1t drove them to the gate Of
long dark avenue. On the instant
thought came to the woman. She pushe,
open the gate and sped quickly with tn
child between the rows OF stately lines
until the white lights Of the house CLEAN
ing on the awful darkness told her tina
the fulfllment Of her desire was at hand
In the pitchy darkness who could see he
lowering the baby to the ground? Sh
fought her way through the roaring wind
and binding rain to the steps Of ston
staircase that evidently led to room
above which shone out the yellow glar
of lamps. There she abandoned the child
and, with last parting command to he
to climb the steps, deserted her forever.
"a worthy accomplish indeed Of VOL