The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-03-04

denly brought to bay. He sprang Tor
ward and caught her white wrist, gilt
tering with bracelets of diamonds set
In jet, by which she compromised her
inordinate lows of iawels and an out
ward semblance of mourning; he
tlutched her wrist firmly and turned
his burning eyes upon her own.
Answer me-" he Kissed, in wrathful,
vengefu tones. "Lurline St. Cyr.
where is my wife? What have You
done with Viva Dudley?"
She laughed low, sneering laugh;
but underneath it all you could see
how she trembled. woman, where is
my wife?' repeated Morris Dudley,
sternly. 81 have suspected your idefi7
tity from the first; but | know you
now, Mrs. Barton Chadwicke, formerly
fmrline st. Cyr. the cafe singer, the
trapeze performer, outeast from pure
and refined society. Oh, inscrutable
Providence! through what vile tlecro-
nancy came you to this elevated posi-
ton? You, who in years gone by
lured that unsuspecting, innocent girl
to her own ruin! You, who tempted
her with glittering promises until she
/ turned her back upon her humble
home. which at least was pure, and
went to join you in your foolish antics
on the stage. My poor, simple-hearted
Viva; who saw not the poison in your
hoheyod words, and the falsehood of
the bright pictures which you painted
of her future, and the wealth and fame
one day to be hers. Once more l de-
mand Of you, madam-what have you
done with Viva Dudley-my lost wife?
Answer me, and truthfully, or as there
is a God of Justice. l will take your
miserable life"
She covered before his burning
gaze; and all the time her breath was
coming in fitful gasps.
IL know nothing of her, your
Viva" she returned. sullenly. "She
willingly-with her eyes open. II you
| think woman can be led against her
own will or desire into evil, you are
greatly mistaken, monsieur"
The tone and the accent which in
that moment of excitement came back
to her from the vanished past, revealed
that this woman was Of French origin.
And yet. she claimed descent from the
Chadwickes, through both parents, and
not one drop of French blood had ever
coursed through a Chadwicke's veins.
Morris Dudley released his hold up
on the woman's wrist and stood like
a statue before her; in his dark, pa
thetic eyes the shadow of the great
sorrow which had darkened and laid
waste his whole existence.
ITO have life killed in one, for a
woman's sake!" he muttered, savagely,
ignoring the presence of Lurline.
She spoke at last.
Listen, Morris Dudley" she cried
coldly. "Your Viva is dead. I saw
some one who told me that he came
across her in Paris. at the morgue-"
Maddened, desperate, not knowing
what he did. the man sprang forward
and griaped her white throat in his
strong fingers. He forgot that she was
a woman, and that the act was brutal;
he only remembered that it was she
who had wrought the ruin Of the one
that he had loved-his little tender, in
! nocent f1ower-his wife. That she had
fastened herself upon Viva Dud-
nCtn q
upon its quivering victim and
drains its life blood, drop by
drop; that to Lurline Chadwicke he
was indebted for all the agony and
desolation Of his life; his dishonored
hearth, his deserted home; all the mis-
cry which for years he had endured
unsuspected by the world.
And he could have killed her as she
stood there before him, and felt that
he did no murder in removing from
the world this pretty, painted snake
who lay in wait to sting unsuspecting
innocence.
She reeled unsteadily in the grasp OF
HlS SliOuS anu tHCu hO lcSoi-
lected her sex, and that she was weak
and he released his hold upon her.
"One cannot kill such as you,' he
cried, because you are women
Though you slay innocence and murder
purity in the hearts of others of your
sex, because you are women, men can
not strange the lives from your bod
les! 1t is better to leave you in the
hands of God. The day of retribution
will surely come, and you cannot es.
cape it."
He turned away and left the room
and the house.
Mrs. Chadwicke sank into seat
pallid and gasping. After a time the
old light came back to her beautiful
eyes, and the color to her delicate
cheeks She poured out wineglassful
of brandy, and drank it every drop.
"Ha, hal" she laughed, derisively
you think to intimidate me, Morris
Dudley. I'll be even with you yet, if II
costs me my life!"