The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-08-13
CHAPTER XVII.

! succeeding her attack of faintneSs. lie
| had intended making an attempt to draw
| from her the secret rea son, if any, of the
| great nervous dread from which she seem
! ed to suffer, but she baffied him by speak
ing more cheerily than usual on abstract
subjects, the only personal matter on
which she dwelt was Egerton's intention
! of going to Spain. which seemed to give
| her certain satisfaction. On the third
afternoon a few lines from Standlsh told
her that his enga gements would not al
| low of his seeing her till late the follow
ing day, SO Dorothy went for brisk walk
with the children in kensington Gardens.
On her return Collins told her that Miss
Oakeley was not at home, so Dorothy
went to take off her outdoor garments
before entering the drawing room. On
| her way she met Miss Oakeleys maid.
who said her mistress had gone out again
on foot TO take some books TO the Miss
! Blackburns, some young ladies in the near
neighborhood
With comfortable sense Of fatigue
Dorothy settled herself to read but found
| her own thoughts more interesting than
| the pages before her.
| Presently the door opened and she heard
| Collins say:
IF you'll sit down a moment, sir, l will
tell Miss Oakeey.'
! Dorothy was lost to sight in the depths
| of a large armchair and did not perceive
who had come in; but, starting up. with
| her usual dread of meeting any stranger
| she found herself face to face with Eyer
/ ton.
! Both stood quite still, their eyes fixed
on each other-a determined, sullen look
! gradually hardening Egcrton's face, while
! Dorothy's large, thoughtful eyes famed
| out with such fire as none had ever seen
! in them before.
! Egerton was the first to speak
| Had | known you We're here Miss
! Wynn, | should not have intruded as you
seem, from some unaccountable reason,
! 10 dislike meeting me-"
| No. said Dorothy, advancing very
! slowly step or two nearer, her whole
/ soul burning with the fiercest hatred
! against the foe before her. her veins
! throhblng with tempest of anger mo.
| | ain glad to meet you, glad to speak to
! You. 50 long rs there is no one else to
! hear me- She spoke deliberately, her
! eyes holding his
| EGcrtons countenance changed.
Il am most ready to listen"
| les. she returned. graSplHg the Top
Of high backed chair near her. as if to
! steady herself; You must and shall listen
| DO you remember" she continued. '.one
day, not week before she was-murder-
/ Ell. You were talking with Mabel in the
verauda, when you urged her to leave her
husband, and swore You would rather
crush out her life than see her live happily
with him? | was near the open window,
and heard YOU
She paused.
Then" exclaimed Egerton ain
strange. stifed voice IF you have a hu-
man heart, YOU must have some pity for
the most misera bic of men. Nothing but
the dread of the worlds references. the
worlds talk. the reverence have for her
memory. has kept me from ending an ex-
istcnce that is a curse to me!'
BETTER You did than pay the forfeit
due to justice returned Dorothy. with
| understandable menace. 'knowing all |
| do. what has kept me from denounciny
I YOU, save my love for her consideration
for my darling's fame? Here, face to
face. | accuse YOU Of destroying her hap
| piness for the gratitica ton of the poison
Gus venom YOU called Love and her life,
either by
For heavens sake. be mnrcful. You
do not know what fortunes my own CON
science inhicts. | know how guilty | am
! know how base: but" with despair
| ing gesture, You cannot dream what the
madness Of n love like mine was" He
began to pace the room in profound agita-
! ton. IF she would have listened to me
and left that insenSibe tyrant, her hus-
/ band. ii would have been but nine days'
wonder, and think Of the bliss that await
ed us both | could have made her life
! one long bright dream of joF, palace of
enchantment"
Founded on brave, true mans brok-
on heart, and the contempt of her own
children" added Dorothy. How dare
YOU speak such words to me? Has wick
edneSs so 1arkened your understanding
that you cannot see the vile seltishncss
the unholy degradation of such a scheme?
Listen, She would never have gone from
him to YOU. She did not love vou-she
feared YOU; you had. by your base. IN
manly tricks, obtained a terrible mastery
over her gentle, innocent heart. | have n
letter from her, imploring you to set her
free. to leave her to her true affection and
duty-but | found no opportunity to give
it to YOU
Give It 70 mr. now. 1t was written at
your suggestion" cried Egerton. turning
on her ticrcely.
Then, seeing she was about to esCare
from your tolls continued Dorothy. with
deadly composure, you carry out your
threat and murder her-if not by your
own hand, by
Great heaven" exclaimed Egerton. |
with a groan. DO you believe this 2"
He sank into a chair, and covered his |
face with his hands.
Il do. as firmly as if l saw the knife |
in your hands, or saw You put it into the /
hands of another"
What do you mean? MOI that would /
touch a creature dearer to IH.. than my
own life Il thousand times 10 destroy it?'' /
He grew CHASTITY white rs he spoke: /
his dark eyes. iilated with horror. were
fixed upon the slight figure of his daunt- /
less accu>er.
Il mean" she said. with pitiIess DELHI |
Grafton, that either by your own hand or
that If another. YOU murdered her
There was silence for moment.
"no not fear" resumed Dorothy. with /
bitter contempt: 4 shall not publish my
conviction: the forfeit of your miserable /
life would but poorly pay for any dis
credit thrown upon the memory, the char /
actrr. Of the beloved dead"
DO you not see Yourself the injustice /.
4 your accusation? Such an act is i'm
POSSIBLE u me. Don't let your indigna- /
ton and hatred carry you TO such insane
.cugthS. Don't You see my hands are
tied: | cannot take any steps 10 prove
my innocence"
That quite believe. as believe the
search you have undertaken for the sup
ros,l murderer will not be successful"
With 50 bitter prejudice. 81 extraor-
binary an accusation. il is impossible -
Ica1." said Egerton, resumiug his troubled
walk Il deserve almost all yon say. but
not this. You always hated NE. and |
coufoS~ you had reason. If you knew
.rore Of lift-of mems lives, you would not