The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-23

k IN clearing up complications here"
The other smiled; Il was IN uSiy
smile to see.
IN YES" he returned, sardonicaliy, my
n lady here has had her own way long
ID enough. It's about time for the cur
. tain to ring down upon the last act in
- the farce which she 10 playing. I'M
IT derstand her role. and l am prepared
d to check her in every game"
IF you are nothing to mel" stormed
&c Lurline. True. you were the manager
v when l was silly enough to appear in
your vaudeville, and afterward you
T. married me; but-bah! what of that?
" Men were deceivers ever and when
$. found you playing me false-I left you;
d and then your death was reported"
= "Ah, yes" returned the Frenchman,
:, = coolly; ut was said that blew out my
!, brains because you took French leave,
: but, ah, my dear. you should have
c known me better than that"
}. "Brute!" she calculated, spitefully.
But even as she spoke, defiantly,
!. showing her hatred in the murderous
: expression of her beautiful face, she
looked like tie mouse. upon which the
: closed bars of wire trap have shut
, down, and rushing frantically to and
fro, wild with hope of escape, still
= knows that its fate is sealed, and 1t is
, only beating its life out against the
strong bars of the prison trap.
She stood like wild thing at bay,
: her blue eyes flashing fire, her breath
coming in fltful gasps, her small
hands clinching and unclinching con-
vulsively. Suddenly she turned to
tiny cabinet near, and caught up a
dainty glittering stiletto-its handlein-
crusted with cleaning emeralds-and,
ere the two men could suspect her in
tention, she had sprung upon st. Cyr.
"Demon!" she Kissed, between her
set teeth.
But Max Ruthven had been watching
her intently, and was half prepared
for this. He darted forward and
catching her arm, tore the weapon
from her grasp, and threw 1t across
the room.
She drew back, painting and baf1ied.
st. Cyr was the first to speak.
LET her Alone" he said, grimly;
"let her go her own way. l have q
fancy to see just where she will bring
up. Don't trouble her, Ruthven-thank
you, all the same, for saving my life.
1t doesn't amount to much, but some
how it is the one thing with which a
man generally dislikes to part. I do
not intend to interfere with Mrs. Bar
ton Chadwicke's business; only"
He stopped, AMI picked up the emer-
|ald-hilted dagger, hid it in his breast,
ut might come useful some day." he
suggested, glancing into Lurline's face
with wicked laugh. "And now, my
dear Mrs Chadwicke," with sneering
smile, "go on with your planning and
plotting, and performing. I'll stand in
the background and wait. But what is
this bit of gossip which reached my
ears down in the village garden-that
the lady Of Chadwicke Hall is going
to give to her dear friends
and neighbors. who have never called
upon her or taken notice of her, a
grand reception! Something on the
plan, I suppose, that Mahomet will not
go to the mountain, SO the mountain
must come to Mahomet, Lurline, my
dear, explain"
She flashed him an angry glance
from the depths Of her blazing eyes.
Max looked at her In questioning sur
prise.
"A reception, Lunine?" he ventured.
Eyes, have decided to give recep-
tion," she returned, ungraciously, land
I shall do 1t. am worn out with liv-
ing the life of recluse here. Without
society shall die. People will come,
and if they come once, they will re-
turn, and think they will accept be-
cause I have intimated something unu-
sual to be expected-a disclosure In re-
gard to that wretched Ardsley, about
whom they are making such an excite
nent. Anything to get them here once
Ind I am sure they will come again,
Ind why do you smile, Monsieur Ct,
Jyr?"
II was thinking" he answered, "how
when you shall have
made your disclosure Though
Heaven only knows what you
re about to disclose) for me
o supplement 1t with the announce
nent of our marriage, exhibit the GER
if1cate, you know, my dear, and add
few fitting remarks to the memory of
he late Mr.. Chadwick, who was"
She sprang forward as though she
you'd rend him in pieces, but, with a
locking bow and satanic laugh, her
ormentor disappeared, the door of the
oudoir closed behind him and Lurline
acei Max Ruthven alone.
She fell upon her knees before him
nd held up her jewelled hands implor-
Ugly. All her former resentment and
niger were forgotten. :
MAX, oh, Maxi" she walled. II beg
nd save me from this man! l hate
i'm and fear him, and yet he Is telling
ou truly, he is my husband, though
believed him dead. Yes, Heaven
nows, believed him dead. Pity me-
ak. know you have ceased to love
e, and l am all alone in my misery.
ut listen I will give up the Chad
icke estate--I will do anything, if
~ will be with me, for"
"Hush!"
He turned aside coldly.
"Do not stain your soul with any
rther dishonor," he said, slowly.
lou are nothing to me- Lurline, and
'ver can be. Good-by."
And he left her hneeling there, her
bite face bowed upon the azure
lvet couch, her slender form tremb-
g with the storm Of snas which burg.