Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-09

A Wicked Wopar.
CHAPTER XI.
A Wicked Woman

faced her own CTeary IGtuTe. MIS-.
Greyson could offer no consolation, and
her motherly heart ached for the lone
ly girl whose life was desoIated and ru-
iued
AS soon as the sad news was made
public, Maude Bradburn drove over to
Chadwicke Hall
You must come home with me,
Lesley" she cried. winding her arms
about her friend. Come at once, papa
and mamma will be delighted; they
sent me over TO bring you, thinking l
might succeed, where, perhaps, they
would fail. But know you will come,
darling. You will have peace and quiz
ct at the Cedars, and there you can
watch the maneuvers of that wretche ed
Mrs. ChadwIcke. One thing is certain,
no lady Is going 10 visit her. She is
socially ostracised here and might as
Lesley" Maude added, with a loving
kiss, "and Mrs. Greyson shall come,
too"
So II was finally decided that Lesley
should 60 to the Cedars until some
thing definite could be decided for her
future, and Mrs. Greyson accompanied
her, while Lawyer Greyson and the
doctor took up their quarters for & few
days. at the village hotel.
At the Cedars, Lesley found quiet,
and all that her kind friends could do
to alleviate her sorrow was done, deli
falx nd nGl q
heart was wrung with bitter anguish,
which no trouble could assuage.
Where was John Ardsley in all her
trouble? Where was he in her hour of
darkness. who should have been at her
side TO comfort and cherish? Her
heart sank In shame and suffering, and
bitter humiliation, and from the bot
tom of her heart the poor girl longed
most earnestly 20 die. To be done for
ever with this life's sorrow. and dis
appointment; and lie down somewhere
out Of sight, away from the pitiless
ayes Of cold, unsympathetic world,
and pass away to the life beyond. But
she was young and strong, and with
the young life is tenacious.
One evening, in her boudoir at Chad
wicke Hall, which she had had fitted up
for herself all in blue and silver, Lurline
lounged idly in a satin chair, attired
in a delicate lavender silk, With black
lace trimmings; for already she was
tightening her mourning and wearing
colors which served to enhance her
delicate beauty. Her long golden hair
was all over her shoulders, in shin
ing cloud; one slippered foot. dainty as
fairy's, was resting on the silver fen
der, for 1t was autumn now. and the
evenings were beginning to get chilly.
Her head rested upon one rosy palm,
and a smile strayed over her rosy lips.
Evidently she was quite satisfied with
her surroundings.
"Ahi" she exclaimed, glancing
around the luxurious apartment, this
is happiness once more. To be able to
control all this wealth and grandeur
now, when, only a few months ago
was turned from the door. to starye or
beg, as best suited my convenience.
What a change from my life a few
weeks since, when I lived IN those
stuffy rooms at that execTable hotel,
and dined on tough beef and venerable
fowls every day. All, what a grand
inspiration was that little move of
mine, by which cry, 'Checkmate,' In
the great game Of life," she went on,
meditatively, "a woman, clever, de-
signing woman-above all else, a beau
tifUl woman-always wins. There is
no question of failure; and men with
all their vaunted wisdom and strength,
the 'sterner SEX ha! ha! are as blind
in the game, they are sure to lay the
blame upon some woman, if possible.
Heaven help the woman who may be
responsible in such a case: and if not
responsible, Heaven help her just the
same, for she is sure to get the oppro-
blum. However, there is no failure
for me. All, what a glorious thing is
money!"
She did not hear the faint tap which
sounded upon the door of her boudoir.
One light alone burned in the center
of the room; she arose to brighten it.
AS she did so the door swung slowly
open: she turned to confront the in
truder. A man stood on the threshold;
a man with pallid, indignant face,
and eyes fairly blazing with desperate,
angry light 1t was Morris Dudley.
For an instant they stood there, fac
ipp aach nfhor paIlid uyiId ayad
she looked like some wild creature sud-
denly brought to bay. He sprang for
ward and caught her white wrist, gilt
tering with bracelets of diamonds set
in jet, by which she compromised her
inordinate love of jewels and an out
ward semblance OF mourning; he
clutched her wrist firmly and turned
his burning eyes upon her own.
Answer me-" he hissed, in wrathful,
vengeful tones. "Lurline st. Cyr,
where is my wife? What have you
done with Viva Dudley2"
She laughed a low, sneering laugh;
but underneath 1t all you could see
how she trembled. Woman, where is
my wife," repeated Norris Dudley,
sternly. Il have suspected your iden-
tity from the first: but l know you
now, Mrs. Barton Chadwicke, formerly
Lurline St Cyr, the cafe singer, the
trapeze performer, outcast from pure
and refined society. Oh, inscrutable
Providence! through what vile necro-
NANCY came you to this elevated posi-
ton? You, who in years gone by
lured that unsuspecting, innocent girl
to her own ruin, You, who tempted
her with glittering promises until she
turned her back upon her humble
home, which at least was pure, and
went to join you in your foolish antics
on the stage. My poor. simple-hearted
Viva, who saw not the poison in your
honeyed words, and the falsehood OF
the bright pictures which you painted
OF her future, and the wealth and fame
| Que day 10 be hers. Once more l de-
mand of you, madam-what have you
done with Viva Dudley-my lost wife?
| Answer me, and truthfully, or as there
is God Of Justice. l will take your
miserable life
She covered before his burning
gaze; and all the time her breath was
coming In fitfuI gocrs