The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-12-03
By Marion v Hollis. &E@'

-['"N~~~~~N>~~>--o~
81 will take it back said Mrs. Rivers;
"but none the less did you mean to murder
my only son.
''To murder whom" cried my lady; and
then the two women stood. tall, erect, and
stately, looking-with scorching eyes-at
each other.
''My son. repeated the clear voice,
"You want to kill him. If he were eft
in your power you would kill him. To
save his life l do that which l would not
hay done for any other human object. |
claim him.
you do what?" asked my lady, with a
sneer.
Il claim him." was the calm reply, ''for
he is mine
Yours she cried. 'In the name of
heaven, who are you
Can you not guess. Beatrice? Whom
did YOU torture Whom did you perse-
cute?-whom did you taunt day and
night? From whom did you steal the love
OF husband the esteem of friends: From
whom did you take every earthly JOY, ev-
cry earthly pleasure-even the light OF
heaven itself? Answer me that
She could not: she had grown whittier
and whiter-she had crouched lower and
lower until she knelt now-her scared
face buried in hcr hands
Did not the lie of the mother content
vou?' continued the clear voice: must
you take the life Of the child? 1ou-a
woman-to dream of murder.-tO let hot
hate, hot anger, cruel jealousy, drive you
to this, Ask pardon from heaven, Bea-
trice Leigh; for most assuredly, had Prov
idence not watched owe" my son, You
would have slain him"
Your SON. cried Lady Beatrice. rising
suddenly and standing before her. In
the name of heaven, who are YOU
Il am his mothcr-Niolante Selwyn,"
A low. mock ing, scornful laugh was the
only answer.
II repeat itw eachoeG the clear voice;
Il am his m0thcr-Niolante Sclwyn.'
You are speaking falsely" cried Lady
Beatrice. What does this play-actng.
this absurd ranting mean: You are most
surely mad. Lady Niolante Selwyn-the
low-born woman who inyeigled my noble
husband into marrying hers dead.
saw her dead: saw her buried; she lies
far away in Florence
Nay" interrupted the clear voice. 'she
is hero. Look we'll at me; do you not
know my face? DO You not know my
voice? Do you want further proof? See,
Then, with calm, quiet hands that had
ceased to tremblc she removed the wild
ow's cap, the false hair that had so effcc-
tualIy disguised her, and then, when Bca-
trice saw the soft golden curls clustering.
short, and vavy, she uttered low cry.
as though she stood face to face with a
spectCr.
Have you risen from the deadE' she
asked
The dead never return" was the grave
reply. do you believe nov that l am
Nioante Sciwyn:"
"You did ii all for this one hour Of
vengeance and Of triumph" said Bes-
trice.
1t is not so. You have tried 20 Kill NV
son. and my heart is full of indignation
of sorrow, and Of anger; but believe mo
for the disgrace | have untninkIngly and
unconsciously brought down upon ya1Ir
head, | am sorry-Sorry with my whole
soul. | would kn'ei to beg your forgive
ness for it; | would do any thing TO stona
for it,
Disgrace" cried Beatrice. "Oh. heay-
en-! that any living woman should use
that word TO nc,'
Her tall figure was drawn to its ,,,,,a.4
height her dark eyes flashed frn
II have +, 1hanl, t,ha niottino
daughter of a country attorney 4l,at +
Beatrice Leigh. am disgraced," sbo cric.I.
that | have lived for six wears With 80
man love, vet am not his wife. mar
have borne child who has ma ,i,b+ 49, 80
fathers name II i IN vnu o,,7, 49,,
The fair head drooned hcf,rc ho,. -,
utterabIr sorrow.
1t j. all my fault" said VioIanta noo,--
". Would that I could bear tho nnniSI.
mcnt alone"
1t is your fault" said Beatrice She
drew herself up with the hauteur 80 =
queen. Sne raised har bare v.hitn or,,.
ms though apneaIiur 10 Tho birhn.t ~.
hunsl. .Iistnu-' she cried Won b.,r,.
oai-virted me. You have triumrbcd nro,.
me. curse you. curse tho fair hpartr
Of your face. | would fain tramnie if out
Sleeping walking, eating y;ec,ina Io1,.h.
ing. | curse Won. Vio,anfo Sc;v,-, and !.
hate YOU,
Niolante made no attemnt n stov 4bc
passionate torrent Of words
4 mus. return 10 NV child" sba said
Beatrice. R,ipert's life tremhies in The
balance: the least excitement will XII him
Let us keep this secret vet little longer
until tomorrow evening The chances
are if my hoy dies shall die with him.
then il will not matter. If he lives. TO-
morrow evening. cost what it may, will
tcII my husband nvs,l. -, 90 ar. NJ bfs
presence for evermo"r WI YOU keen M.
secret until them"
As Won will" was tn, sf,Ilor ran1-
And, Beatrice. have something to for