The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-03-11
FRIDAY MORNING, MAR. II, 1898
Exclaimed. ooh, Max! why have you

Exclaimed. "oh, Max! why have you
deserted me so long?"
But he made her no answer. He en-
,ered the room, and seated himself on
he satin couch. She threw herself
Town at his side. gazing up into his
stern face with eyes full of love.
You have come back to mel" she
'aid, softly. "Oh, Max! felt sure that
Fou would love me again."
His eyes met hers with cold, hard
yleam..
"You love me, Lurline?" he quer-
ed.
"You are dearer to me than my own
SOUL" she painted eagerly,
His eyes wore hooking light in
heir depths.
well, listen to me-" he said "If l
we're to marry you, would you give up
FOUR claim upon the Chadwick for
:une?"
She stared at him, her eyes full of
indisguised wonder.
Would WHAT" she faltered.
"Give up your false position here"
ne cried, his dark eyes scintillating;
return to that poor girl the fortune
Of which you have deprived her; take
nothing but your wardrobe, and jewels,
and leave this place forever; be my
wife, and we will go to Europe, and
leave behind us all the falseness and
the folly of the position which you oc-
supy here-the stolen heritage. What
do you say, Lurline?"
Still she sazed at him, wild, incred-
ulous.
ooh, ecstacy," she painted, at last,
DO you really love me like that, Max?
If so. vile al l. have been. l am the
happiest woman In the round world"
He glanced at her with q contemptu-
aus smile.
Love your" he cried, harshly. mo!
thousand times no, you treacherous
thingl / love Lesley Dinsmore, and for
her sake l am willing to sacrifice my
self; for I never knew, until she
taught me by her holy example, what
pure, thselfsh love can exist in this
lreary world"
All the color died out of Lurline
Ghadwicke's face as she listened to his
reckless defiant words. She saw 1t all
now. She had had her chance in life,
and lost it. The new hope sprnging
! up In her heart died sudden and VIC
lent death, She turned upon him like
mad creature.
GLOW dare you Insult me thus?" she
Kissed, fiercely. How dare you offer
he your hand while your heart is Les
ley Dinsmers's? Max Ruthven, l hate
you! From this hour all of love-my
mad, unreasoning worship-turns to
lasting hatred, stung to death by your
cruel words. From this night Idedi
cate my life to your destruction. BE
ware, Max Ruthven! Hell hath no fury
like a woman scorned! Go back to
your Lesley; you may win her yet
when her tears for John Ardsley are
dried By the way" and her voice
changed suddenly to hooking tone,
"what would you give to know the fate
of that interesting young man? For
/ you ought to suspect the truth by this
time, that he is"
/ She paused abruptly, and raising her
/ eyes, an awful look flashed into the
lustrous depths.
The. door of her BOULDER had opened
softly, and there before her stood a
mana tall, dark, naughty looking
man, strange smile curling his mus
tached lip as h. watched her intent
| ly.
She put up both hands as though to
drive him back.
"Merciful Fatheri" she moaned, and
her voice sounded like the wall of a
lost soul. You! Come back from the
grave to haunt me! You, Ferdinand st.
Cyr."
He strobe forward, and the look upon
his face was fairly demoniac.
Yes, I, Mademoiselle Lurline! +
wronged, betrayed. deserted come
back from the grave, as it were, to
find you here, the widow of another
man, yet no one has ever had the
right to call you wife-no one but l,
Ferdinand St.Cyr!"