Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-02

4 Wicked Womar.
CHAPTER VII.
"An for Ngug III

AL IJI NGu1At.
/ Foi a moment the woman confronted
( Ardsley, her eyes blazing, her beautiful
face stern and naughty, she looked
( like a queen, standing there in her
royal beauty. Then the pansy blue
/ eyes dropped, as though she could not
meet her accuser and all the color
fed from her cheeks; she tremo-ed
vis'oly, and, bUryiEg her face IN her
white, Jeweled hands, she exclaimed,
terrified, horror stricken:
( Can the dead come back TO lie
/ again?"
An, her past was rising before her,
! in judgment and she could not, dared
! not confront it. John Ardsiey's face
was a study, as he stood before her;
scorn. contempt and utter loathing
were in his eyes.
An, LurlIne S. Cyr!" he cried,
| scOrlfuliy, why did you not remain
in your native element. in the"
She sprang forward with a mad ges-
tuTe, and caught his arm wildly, ex-
citedly.
DON'T" she painted. breathlessly,
don't dare to breathe that word
now"
lie gazed upon her in utter contempt.
The day of reckoning is drawing
night" he said, slowly and bitterly. Il
wili spare you, madam; but do not
thiz to escape retribution,"
Then. turning abruptly 10 Lesley
he added:
Miss Dinsmore. are you able 70
walk home? / fear something is wrong
with Brownie. 1 have made 2 discovery
Of which I viii speak TO you later"
Lesley had arisen. and stood leaning
against the tree. her face pallid, her
slender form trembling visibIy with
the excitement which she could no-
control Max Ruthvea's face paled
suddenly. as Ardsley said these words.
then, controlling himself, he pressed
forward, and paused before Lesley.
Miss Dinsmore. il YOU viii allow
me" he began. hulriedly, my phae-
ton is at the crCsS roads; was on my
way to town when hearing the sound
Of hcrses feet tearing along the river
bank. alighted and came to see what
vas the matter l found you icst in
time" ne added.
= look OF unconscious C.sdDpoiut-
ment stole over JEe girls face.
so YOU saved my lie, II Ruth
ven" she said carelessiy. y ana un-
DER obligations. But thanks very
much, I think I viii walk home The
exercise will be beneficial. Are you
coming, Mr. Ardsley? she added turn
ing to the steward. VINO was examin-
ing Brownies BRIDE with apparent IN
terest
He bowed composedly. ana then,
leading the horse. be moved away at
Lesley's side and they were soon out
OF sight \
When they had disappeared in the
belt Of green forest which slsirted the
river, Lurline approached Ruthven,
and laid her hand upon his arm.
Max she said softly.
He drew away impatiently from her
OBTAINING clasp.
Her face flushed hotly, then grew
pale as marble.
you are changed 70 me, she sigh
o.
The man wheeled about and con-
?ronted her insolently.
"Changed?" he repeated, in a harsh
tone Yes, l admit it! | thought 7
loved you, Lurline; ! swear ] believed
that [ did! but-but-"
you have transferred your love TO
Lesley Dinsmore." the woman return
ed, slowly.
He bowed
you ere, as usual, about correct"
he responded Il never really cared
for you, Lurline. can see it all now;
and when ! found you so deuced will
ing toto do the unpleasant deed that
you acknowledge to have committed, |
confess l felt my admiration going
down TO zero. No maps love would
ever stand the test which you applied.
No man would ever continue to love a
woman who commits crime-for his
sake! In fact. the more you do for
us the less we care, l believe"
Her face was as white as the face
of a corpse, and it was full of despair.
She caught his arm frantically In both
her snowy hands; her pansy- blue eyes
blazed into his; her breath came in
gasps
u-mean-this-Max she fall
tered. slowly; after all that l have
done? Think OF it. Maxi have lost
my own soul for your sake."
He shrugged his shoulders with a
contemptuous little laugh
That's your own affair."" he return
cd, carelessly. Its the way with all
you women. If it were not for you.
Lurline, l would not be the villain that
/ feel myself at times, when my DOR
mant conscience wakes up and gives
me reminder that it is not dead but
only sleeping You alone were to
blame in this instance, Lurline as
usual. 1t was the woman who tempt
ed me. "
This was more than she could en-
dure. She turned savagely, and con-
fronted him with pallid face and blaz-
ing, wrathful eyes.
1Ou ohC AlSStu DtlWten
her little white teeth. you periured
coNardi To share in crime, and
then-oh, noble, brave, manlyl-lay
all the blame and responsibility upon
the slender shoulders of weak wo-
uan! Max Ruthyen, for whose sake
did / commit this sin, which has lain
waste my whole life. and made me in
the sight of my own soul thing uH
worthy even Of contempt2 Never tx
my long sinful existence can a wrong
act or a committed crime be assigned
to me. but the man whom I loved was
the cause ana instigatcr OF Il eu-thiz
love which has lain Ike vile worm
at the root Of my life. and destroyed
all-all!"
She paused, and the wrath and engor
vanished, as her eyes met his own fOI
an instant. She laid hor hand softly
on his arm again.
Max" she whispered, family, take
back those cruel words-tell me that
you DO care little for me; look! / am
content with a little loye!"
But his eyes drOoped from her gaze,