The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-08-04
CHAPTER xxx.


Dlease. They will not alter the course
of conduct I am resolved to follow"
"You mean she said. with touch
of scorn. "that, having decided with
your confederate Betty that I am guilty
of all manner of unheard-ofcrimes, you
don't intend to listen to anything may
have to say"
I am listening"
Where are your proofs, then?' she
burst out passionate,y, coming close to
him. "By what right do you dare to
~2nnect me with the death from heart
disease of aunt Margaret, or with the
death by drowning of your brother
Victor?"
Your foster mother, as you know
perfectly we'll, murdered them both.
Creeping into my aunt's room in the
ghost disguise, she killed her; then
secreting herself in the haunted room,
by means OF a removable panel, she
dropped her internal deeoetion into the
cooling drink you prepared for my
brother. Tonight she made an attempt
to poison me; but, luckily, was on my
guard and expected her.
"And do you mean to say she asked
coming closer still to him, SO that she
almost touched him, that, knowing as
you do that was locked into my room
you imagined that l was privy to the
attempt-if there was such an attempt
Ito poison your
Dudley drew back, distressed against
his will by her sudden pallor, the quiv-
ering of her lips, and the tears that had
started to her eyes.
81 have not accused you of that" he
answered.
"Then what do you accuse me of?'
why go through it again?" he asked
wearily "a fortune was left between
us three Revelsworths. Presumably
your idea in bringing this wretched
creature with you was to employ her te
murder your co-heirs, and claim the
entire property as your own next year;
or to kill one of us and marry the 9TH
er, though you were rather averse from
such an arrangement being already
married"
Married."
"Yes. No more lies on that subject
are necessary. At this hour yesterday
L was in Paris with your husband, and
heard from him the entire story of your
married life"
"He told you?"
1T would be more accurate to say he
sold me tie information.
"And you believed the word of such
creature as that against mine?"
81 believe neither him nor you But
his story is the more credible, and ]
have not tested his powers of lying as
have yours"
Dudley" Francesca cried, and sud-
denly elasped her hands, how can yoG
be so hard? You love me-you were
going to marry me-
THAT was trick to throw you off
.your guard. and to make that creature
of yours show her hand." he interrupt
ed.
Francesca stared at him with dilated
ewes for moment. and then suddenly
cast herself upon his breast. twining
her arms about him. laying her beauti-
full head upon his shoulder, and muir
muring softly to him with warm lips
that touched his neck.
Dudley, Dudley, say it is not true
say YOU are doing this to try mel | an
innocent of everything have no con
troll over that woman! She is my fos.
ter-mother. and she adores me; SHE
cannot live out of my sight; she has
been with me all my life. l have moth.
and, if she did indeed try to murde:
you or your brother, it was her crazy
jealousy that prompted her, because
she feared lest / might marry one oi
YOU. She has been the only person ir
the world that cared for me. dear;
could not turn her away to starve
And she knew-what you cannot un.
derstand-that love you-love yor
yIor1 orc
hard and unkind to me- / love you and
when you speak cruelty to me, l long
to kiss the words away upon your lips
Night after night dream of you, and
lie awake thinking of you. l keep you
portrait under my pillow like a love
sick girl, and almost wear it away witt
kirses. Dudley, you don't know what
love like mine Isl You | love, you
yourself, with your broad shoulders
and cold blue eyes and soft curly hair.
If you had not farthing in the world.
il you were beggar in the street, I
should love you just the same way, and
long for your love in return, and quiyer
at your touch, and feel my heart leap
at the sound of your voice as it is leap
ing nowi"
She gripped his hand convulsively
anu pISSS6u II dSdluSl ASl neal I, cO III al
he could feel its rapid beating.
Her passionate tenderness, the gentl
accent of her voice, her beautiful blue
eyes shining up at him through tears
almost unnamed him, and it was only
by supreme effort of will that he re-
mained cold and impressive under hel
caresses.
From what I have learned of your
career" he said, you are liable tc
these sudden freaks of passion-ol
what you call love. But have no de-
sire to be married, and then poisoned
by you or your fostermother when you
tire of me as you tired of your two
former husbands"
Francesca cprang from him her
cheeks glowing with anger
Is that what you were toid?7 she ex
claimed. Were you told also that
y child of sixteen, fatherless and moth
erlcss was lured from my home by {
man so base and vile that, once havini
made me his wife, he not only forced
mo Fro Tencea RpvpiSwarth h with blows