The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-18
CHAPTER VII.
"All for Naught."

face stern and naughty; she looked
like queen, standing there in her
royal beauty. Then the pansy blue
eyes dropped. as though she could not
meet her accuser. and all the color
fed from her cheeks; she trembled
visibly, and, burying her face in her
white, jeweled hands, she exclaimed,
terrified, horror-stricken:
"Can the dead come back to life
again."
All, her past was rising before her,
in judgment, and she could not, dared
not confront 1t. John Ardsley's face
was study. as he stood before her;
scorn. contempt and utter loathing
were in his eyes.
"Ah, Lurline st. Cyr!" he cried,
scornfully, why did you not remain
In your native element, in the"
She sprang forward with mad ges-
ture, and caught his arm wildly, ex-
citedly.
DON'T" she painted, breathlessly,
don't dare to breathe that word
| now"
He gazed upon her in utter contempt.
1.-THE day of reckoning is drawing
nigh" he said, slowly and bitterly. Il
will spare you, madam; but do not
thin to escape retribution!"
Then, turning abruptly to Lesley,
| he added:
Miss Dinsmore, are you able to
walk home? fear something is wrong
with Brownie; have made discovery
Of which I will speak to you later"
Lesley had arisen, and stood leaning
against the tree, her face pallid, her
slender form trembling visibly with
the excitement which she could not
control. Max Ruthven's face paled
suddenly, as Ardsley said these words,
then, controlling himself, he pressed
forward, and paused before Lesley.
Miss Dinsmore, If you will allow
me-" he began, hurriedly, my phae-
ton is at the cross roads; was on my
way to town when hearing the sound
of horses feet tearing along the river
bank, alighted and came to see what
was the matter. found you just in
time" he added.
A look Of unconscious dlsappoint-
ment stole over the GIRLS face.
$50 you saved my life, llr. Ruth
ven," she said carelessly. II am I'M
der obligations. But thanks very
much, think will walk home. The
exercise will be beneficial. Are you
coming, Mr.. Ardsley?" she added, turn
ing to the steward. who was examin-
ing Brownies bride with apparent in
terest
He bowed composedly, and then,
leading the horse, he moved away at
Lesley's side, and they were soon out
of sight.
When they had disappeared in the
belt of green forest which skirted the
river, Lurline approached Ruthven,
and laid her hand upon his arm.
Max" she said, softly.
He drew away impatiently from her
OBTAINING clasp.
Her face flushed holly, then grew
pale as marble.
"You are changed to me-" she sigh
ed.
The man wheeled about and con-
fronted her insolently.
"Changed?" he repeated, in harsh
tone. Eyes, admit it! l thought
loved you, Lurline; l swear believed
that l did! but-but-"
"You have transferred your love to
Lesley Dinsmore," the woman return
ed, slowly.
He bowed.
"You are. as usual, about correct"
he responded. II never really cared
for you, Lurline. l can see it all now;
and when found you SO deuced will
ing TOTO do the unpleasant deed that
YOU acknowledge to have committed,
confess I felt my admiration going
down to zero. No mans love would
ever stand the test which you applied.
No man would ever continue to love a
woman who commits a crime-for his
sake! In fact, the more you do for
us the less we care. I believe"
Her face was as white as the face
Of a corpse, and 1t was full of despair.
She caught his arm frantically In both
her snowy hands; her pansy blue eyes
blazed into his; her breath came in
gasps.
Observation-Disclosures she fall
tered, slowly; after all that I have
done? Think of it, Maxi have lost
my own soul for your sake!"
He shrugged his shoulders with a
contemptuous little laugh.
That's your own affair."" he return
ed, carelessly. ITS the way with all
you women. If IT were not for you,
Lurline, would not be the villain that
feel myself at times, when my DOR
mant conscience wakes up and gives
me a reminder that it is not dead but
only sleeping. You alone were to
blame in this instance, Lurline, as
usual. 1t was the woman who tempt
ed me-
This was more than she could en-
dure. She turned savagely, and con-
fronted him with pallid face and blaz-
ing, wrathful eyes.
"You coward" she Kissed between
her little white teeth. "You perjured
coward! To share in a crime. and
then-oh, noble, brave, manly!-lay
all the blame and responsibility upon
the slender shoulders Of weak wo-
man! Max Ruthven, for whose sake
did l commit this sin, which has lain
waste my whole life, and made me in
/ the sight of my own soul thing un-
worthy even Of contempt? Never in
my long sinful existence can wrong
net, or a committed crime be assigned
10 me, but the man whom l loved was
tfe cause and instit;ator Of 1t all-this
love which has lain like vile worm
at the root OF my life. and destroyed
all-all!"
She paused, and the wrath and anger
vanished, as her eyes met his own for
an instant. She laid her hand softly
| on his arm again.