The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-07-09
CHAPTER VIII.

.
unusually sympathetic, and not the small
est catspaw of difference rippled the
! smooth surface Of their confidential inter
I course.
/ Standsh parted with Dorothy at The
/ Knolrs gate, and she entered the house
with a profound sense OF depression
weighing her down. Tomorrow! How
| lonely and empty tomorrow would be.
! What months must come and SO before
/ she should enjoy another uninterrupted
/ talk. But she was too silly and weak.
/ She must learn to be sufficient to herself!
/ In an absent mood she went to her own
room and laid aside her hat and mantle,
and herring from Collins that Mrs. Cal
/ hinder was out, she descended to the
drawing room determined to occupy her
mind by an hours diligent practice.
As she approa ched the piano, which
stood near one of the windows leading
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 if convinced that it was. Then
some words caught her ear which seemed
to turn her to stone and for a moment to
deprive her of volition.
L =,
| in low, deep tones, full of passion. But
how intensely, how wildly, your nature,
perhaps, forbds you to comprehend
Then Mabels voice murmured some
thing, and Egerton replied: NO, Mabel,
| will not be fooled, You have let me
see that | am of Importance to you. You
have given me hope"
Il fear you, do not think love you,"
Il l.,t 4.
not, dare not cut myself off from every
one, everything that makes life worth liv-
ing. No, no, | cannot" her voice broke
Oft into sobs, suppressed sobs.
You will drive me mad. Existence is
torture. Tie thought of your husband
makes me capable Of any crime, to think
of your belonging TO another sets my blood
on hre. Aou are miserable, too. He is
/ cold and Indifferent. Leave him, Listen.
Rather than suffer disappointment-rath
er than see you his, | would crush out
your llfe beloved as You arc. The tone
of his voice was deadly
DorothYS senses came back to her with
wild thrill Of horror, of rage gainst the
man who dared 10 insult and threaten her
sister And Mabel listened to him-had
listened TO him. How strange it seemed
that she now felt what the formlcss shad-
ow was which had lain upon her.
What should she do? She must not
drive that fierce, bad man to desperation.
She must appeal to Mabel, and strengthen
her-save her. She stole softly away. and
stood for moment by the stairhcad win
dow
The sound of the outer gate closing
loudly reused her, and, starting to the
window, she saw EgGrton walk rapidly
away towards the town.
Dorothy did not delay moment. Run
! ming down stairs, she tried to enter her
sisters room. The door was locked.
Let me in. Mabel. | want you. | am
iIl-oh, very ill.,
In another moment Mabel opened il.
Dorothy closed and re-locked it. then
stood an instant, gazing at her sister,
whose eyes had a terrified, strained look.
Her face was deadly white.
Then, claSping her closely, she cxclaim-
cd. hrokenly, with hcaving breast. Ma
bel, what are YOU going to do? Could you
let that devil draw You to destruction
| have heard him just now-i wish | could
have struck him dead"
III card vhat--whcrc:' stammcrod
Mabel, her eyes growing vacant. as if too
J
There in the drawing room, when Won
were in the balcony"
"He said there was no one there"
gasped Mabel, and she trcmblcd so VIC
lcntly that Dorothy hastily led her to Il
chair lest she should fall
II came in and heard enough, Mabel,
What are you going to do?'
Il wish | were dead. | do not want
II
10 look nj mc-t0 touch mci'
81 love YOU with all my heart ana souIr'
cried Dorothy, kneeling down and clasp
Ing her waist, while She laid her head
against her bosom, land before that vile
wretch succeeds in his sorccry, | would
Kill him. lou are not yourself, Mabel.
YOU are under Il spell. Throw it off: defy
him. What can he do? Would Won for
sake your own true husband for a traitor
like this: Where are your senses? For
bid him to come near you. Let me he
with You every moment of the day. and |
will exercise this unholy spirit"
Il am unfit to stay with my husband
my children" sohbed Mabel Il ought
not to have listened"
You are ft-quite fit; tell you so.
GU are not acting by your own will.
Il do not want to g. Oh. Dorothy.
help me. Randall Egcrton always inter
estcd me, and | can scarcely tell how |
came t" like him. l fear him now.
wish | had never let him mcsmerize me.
But if | refuse him. what-what will he
do: anything for revenge-cycn some
thing desperate to Herbert
NO Mabel; he dare not. Never fear
10 do right. Tell him to leave you: that
You have come to your senses. l will give
him the letter"
Il have written TO him, yesterday, and
he came, yon see. all the same. Oh, you
do not know him."
IF you are true to Yourself. Mabel. Won
can shake him off, cried Dorothy. rising
and stamping her foot. How dare he
prosecute You? How dare hn practice his
/ VlliH3ny on You? Write again. Mabel. |
! will give the letter into his hand"
Let me collect myself a little and you
shall help me TO write it Now. if You
stand 10y me. | shall have strength to do
right But the idea Of having 50 far lost
mySoIf will poison all my life"
Mabel, dear. put your hand to the pillow
and never look back"
Tiff only Herbert never suspects.
viii devote myself to HIM. Oh. can | ever
atoue:"
some mora energetic porsua sion on Dor
",hy'S part, Il few words here and there
indicative" Of rcyivinE hope and Coura 20
an her sisters, and they started 10 find
how late il VAS
w" must try To- look aS usual" said
dorothy. IF Won would ike u keep quiet
and not seq any one. | will darken the
room ana say You have 4 headache. /
ran face them all for you, sweetest, dear
/ est Mabel"
! AL. YES; do. Dorothy
/ With the strength and firmness which
/ true affection gives, Dorothy prepared
herself In play the part OF hostess At din
/ ne7. She was infinitely helped by q mes
( sage from Egerton 10 the effect that he
/ could not join them.
Colonel Callander said he would not
. disturb his wife rs she was trying 70
= >laGn Do-o-lIy wished he war,'f. \ few