Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-09-07
CHAPTER WHY.

unusually sympat thetic, and not the small
est catspaw OF difference rippled tn
smooth surface of tn, ir confidential inter
course.
Standish parted with Dorothy ut Tn
hnolfs gate, and she entered the hous
with profound sense OF depression
weighing her down. Tomorrow How
lonely and empty tomorrow would be
What months must come and go befor
She should enjoy another uninterrupte,
talk! But she was too silly and weak
She must learn to be sufficient to herself
In an absent mood she went to her owl
room and laid aside her hat and mantle
and hearing from Collins that Mrs. Cal
lander was out, she descended to tn,
drawing room determined to occupy he
mind by an hours diligent practice.
AS she approached the piano, whicl
into the veranda, the sound of voices
speaking low. met her ear.
She thought she distinguished Eyer
tons, and paused to make sure, Intending
to retreat II convinced that 1t was. Thcr
some words caught her ear which seemed
To turn her TO stone and for q moment tt
deprive her of volition.
You know 1 love you," he was saying
In low. deep tones. full of passion. ''Bu,
how intensely, how wildly, your nature
perhaps, forbids you to comprehend"
Then MabePs voice murmured some
thing, and Egerton replied: mo, Mabel
l will not be fooled! You have let me
see that l am of Importance to you. You
have given me hope"
Il fear you, do not think love you. ~
said Mabel more distinctly, "and / can.
not, dare not cut myself off from every.
one. everything that makes life worth liy.
ing. No, no. l cannot" her voice broke
OIL into sobs. suppressed sobs.
ou will drive me mad! Existence Is
torture! The thought of your husband
makes me capable of any crime, to think
Of your belonging to another sets my blood
on fire! You are miserable, too! He Ia
cold and Indifferent. Leave him! Listen.
Rather than suffer disappointment
er than see you his. ! would crush out
your life, beloved as you are!' The tone
OF his voice was deadly.
Dorcthys senses came back to her with
q wild thrill Of horror, of rage against the
man who dared to insult and threaten her
sister. And Mabel listened to him-had
listened to him! How strange it seemed
that she now felt what the formless shad-
ow was which had lain upon her.
d-iivs that fierce. bad man to desperation.
her-save her. She stole softly away, and
stood for moment By the stairhead win
dow.
The sound of the outer gate closing
loudly reused her, and, starting to the
window, she saw Egerton walk rapidly
away towards the town.
ii.
ming down stairs, she tried to enter her
sisters room. The door was locked.
Let me in, Mabel. l want you. am
ill-oh, very nl!'
In another moment Mabel opened II.
Dorothy closed and re-locked 1t, then
stood an instant, gazing at her sister,
whose eyes had terrified. strained look.
Her face was deadly white.
Then, clasping her closely, she exclaim-
ei, brokenly, with heavins breast, MA
bel, what are you going to do7 Could you
let that devil draw you to destruction? :?
have heard him just now-l wish could
have struck him dead"
eard-what-wherer stammered
Mabel, her eyes growing vacant, as II too
oyerdOne to understand anything.
There In the drawing room, when you
were in the balcony"
"He said there was no one there"
gasped Mabel, and she trembled SO viO-
lentIy that Dorothy hastily led her to Q
chair lest she should foil.
Il came In and heard enough, Mabel
What are you going to doT"
Il wish l were dead. I do not want
to yield-I-oh, Dorothy! can you bear
to look at me-to touch me?'
Il love you with all my heart and souly'
cried Dorothy, kneeling down and clasp
Ing her waist, while she laid her head
against her bosom, "and before that vile
wretch succeeds in his sorcery, l would
Kill him. You are not yourself, Mabel:
you are under a spell. Throw 1t off; defy
him! What can he do? Would you for
sake your own true husband for traitor
like this? Where are your senses1 For
bid him to come near you. Let me be
with you every moment Of the day. and
will exercise this unholy spirit"
Il am unfit to stay with my husband
my children" sobbed Mabel. Il ought
not to have listened"
"You are ft-quite fit; tell you so.
You are not acting by your own Will;
you are under the will Of another"
"I do not want to go. oh. Dorothy.
help me. Randall Egerton always inter-
sstcd me, and I can scarcely tell how l
came TO like him. I fear him now.
wish had never let him mesmerize me.
But if / refuse him, what-what will ne
do? anything for revenge-even some
thing desperate to Herbert"
NO, Mabel; he dare not. Never rear
10 do right. Tell him to leave you; tnat
you have come to your senses. Wall give
him the letter."
Il have written TO him, yesterday. and
he came. you see, all the same. d. you
do not know himv
IF you are true to yourself. Mabel, you
can shake him Off, cried Dorothy. rising
and stamping her foot. How dare ne
Prosecute you? How dare he practice his
vllainy on you? Write again, Mabei.
will give the letter Into his hand.
Let me collect myself a little and you
shall help mo to write 1t. Now, III you
stand by me, shall have strength 10 d"
right. But the idea of having 30 haf i'''
IL. scif will poison all my life.
Mabel dear. put your hand to the piow
end never look back" Il
Tiff only Herbert never suspects, ,,
vii! devote myself to him. On. can ever
stnne?"
Some more energetic persuasion Oh 10
'thy's part, a few words here ana tnerG
Indicative of reviving hope and courns
on her sisters, and they started TO hi"
!"w late it was. IL
We must try to look as usual, saio
Dorothy. IF you would like to keep qu,e'
q nj not see any one, I will darken the
room and say you have headache.
can face them all for you, sweetest. dear {
est Mabel"
"Ah, yes; do, Dorothy"
With the strength apd drmnees Enlcn