Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-16
CHAPTER XVI.
Y VIII Stand Aside and Wait.

hon his dark, stern and angry face.
Max Ruthven stepped forward and
EXTENDED his hand, With an air OF ge-
lief
"hh. 81. Cyr." be cried. Il am giad
tc see you. We al believed you dead
Bur imagine yonT presence win assist
in clearing up complications here.
Tie other smiled: /; wee al Ugly
smile to see.
Yes" he returned, sardonically. my
lady here has had her own way long
enough It's about time for the cur
tain TO ring down upon the last act in
the farce which she is playing. un-
derstand her role, and am prepared
10 check her in every game"
You are nothing 20 mel" stormed
Lurlire True. you ware she manager
wher was silly enough 10 appear 10
your vaudeville, and afterward you
married ne; but-bah' what OF tha;f
Men were deceivers ever. and when
found you playing me faise-I left you.
and then your death was reported"
"Ah. yes" returned the Frenchman.
coolly; 'it was said that blew out my
brains because you took French leave.
but. Gh. my dear. you should have
! known me better than that"
"Brutei" she calculated. spiterullv.
| But even as she spoke defiantly.
showing her hatred in the murdorous
J expression OF her heaut.fu! face. she
| looked like the mouse. upon which the
! closed bars OF a wire trap have shut
| down, and rushing frantically to and
| fro. Wild with L hope OF escape. still
| knows that its fate is sealed and It 8
| only beating It's life out against the
! strong bara OF the prison trap.
| She stood like Wild thing at bay.
| her blue eyes flashing fire. her breath
! coming IN fthIl gasps. her small
| hands clinching and unclinching con-
| vulsiveiy Suddenly she turned 10 a
| tiny cabinet near. and caught up q
| dainty glIttering stiletto-its handiein-
| crusted with cleaning enerelds-and.
! ere the two men could suspect her In
tention. she had sprung upon ST. Cyr.
Demon" she hissed, between her
SCI teeth.
But Max Ruthyen had been watching
her intently. and was half prepared
for this. He daTted forward and
catching her arm. tore the weapon
from her erasp, and threw 1t across
! the room.
She drew back, painting and bafled
ST Cyr was tho first 10 speak.
! "Iet her alone" he said. grimfyt
| 'let her 60 her own wey have a
| fancy 20 see just where she will bring
up. Don't trouble her, Ruthven-thank
| you, all the same. fer saving my life.
| Il doesn't amount 20 much. bct go1ne-
! how IL Is the one thing with which a
| man generally dlsl!kes TO part. J DO
| not intend 10 Interfere with hrs. Bar
| ton Chaawicke's business; only"
| He stopped, ana picked up the emer-
! ald-hiltcd dagger. hid II II his breast.
"It might come useful come day" ne
suggested. glancing into Lurline's face
with a wicked laugh. "And now, my
dear Mrs. Cnadwicke." with a sneerins
SMILE, go on with your planning and
| plotting. and performing. I'll stand In
the background and wait. But what Ia
this bit OF gossip which reached my
cars down In the village gsrden-that
| the lady OF Chpcvicke Hall is going
20 give TO her dear friends
and neighbors. who have never called
| upon her or taken notice Of her. 4
| grand reception Something On the
plan, suppose, thet Mahomet will not
go TO the mountain. 50 the mountain
must come to Mahomet. Lurline. my
dear. explain"
She flashed him an angry glance
from the depths OF her blazing eyed.
Max looked at her in questioning sur
prise.
"A reception. Lurline?" he ventured,
inquiringly.
Yes. have decided TO give q recep-
ton" she returned, u8grac!ously. and
| / shall do 1t. | am worn out with liv-
ing the life Of a recluse here. Without
society | shall die. People will come,
and il they come once. they will re-
turn, and l think they will accept be
cause have intimated something unu-
sual 70 be expected-a disclosure In re-
gard to that wretohed Ardsley. about
| whom they are making such an excite
ment Anything to get them here once
and l am sure they will come again.
and why do you smile, Monsieur CT
Cyr?"
Il was thinking" he answered. how
made your disclosure Though
Heaven only knows what you
are about 70 disclose) for me
to supplement II with the announce
ment of our marriage. exhibit the eef-
tificate, you know. my dear, and add
few fitting remarks to the memory OF
the lato Mr.. Chadwtcke, who was--"
| She sprang forward as though she
would rend him In pieces. but. with a
mockiug bow and a satanic laugh. her
tormentor disappeared. the door OF the
boudoIr closed behind him and Lurline
faced Max Ruthven alone.
She fell upon her knees before him
and held up her Jewelled hands impior-
ingly. All her former resentment and
anger were forgotten.
Max. oh. Max" che walled. II bog
you to help me. TO have pity on me,
and save ue from this mani l hate
him and fear him, and yet he is telling
you truly. he is my husband, though
| believed hia dead Yes, Heaven
ksowB. | believed him dead paty nt.
sIsx. ! know You have ceased 70 ters
] me. and am all alone IN my snfsey
| But lEnr. viii gAne un thn Ghaf-
wiche estate wfiI DO snythfpss "a
! you Will be with me. for"
"Hush!"
He turned aside coldly.
"Do not stain your soul with any
further dishonor," he sai1, slowly
You are nothing to me, tnr,ibe and
never can be Good-oy."
And he left ber kneeling there. h=s
white face bowed upon the azurs
| velvet couch. her slender form tFemb-
| Ling With the suorm ot sobs which burst
from her paio lips. She would have
| forgiven him any crime end would
have followed him TO the ends Of the
earth. no matter how sin-stained he
might have boon; but, you 500, 1t WAS
| only the difference between O. mans
| love and q woInon'e.
After time she ASose 90 l1se fcst,
on awful look settled over naT pslliS
| face
Curse her, Curse tLcsley p.2s-
moye'" che mattered., ;, aaeaee,y. "sae
shall nsvor marry Ma-fRuthvgDf ! VIII
| bring John Ardsley back to the worS
| again before she shaI1 be free TO wiz