Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-08-12
CHAPTER XVII.

great nervous dread from which she SEEM
ed to suffer, but she butflcd him by speak
ing more chcrrily than usual on abstract
subjects. the only personal matter on
which she dwclt was Egerton's intention
of going to Spain. which seemed to give
her II certain satisfaction. On the third
afternoon Il few lines from Standish told
her that his engagements would not al
low of his seeing her till late the follow
ing day. so Dorothy went for a brisk walk
with the children in Kensington Gardens.
On her return Collins told her that Miss
Oakeley WAS not mt home, so Dorothy
went to take off her outdoor garments
before entering the drawing room. On
her way she met Miss Oakeley's maid,
who said her mistress had gone out again
on foot to take some books to the Miss
Blackburns. some young ladies in the near
ncighhorhood.
With Il comfortable seslse of fatigue
Dorothy settled herself to read, but found
her own thoughts more interesting than
the pages before her.
Presently the door opened and she heard
Collins say:
III you'll sit down n moment, sir, I will
tell Miss Oakeley."
Dorothy was lost to sight in the depths
of IL large armchair, and did not perceive
who had come in: but, starting up, with
her usual dread OF meeting any stranger,
she found herself face to face with Eyer
ton.
Both stool quite still, their eyes liked
on each other-a determined, sullcn look
gradually hardening Egerton's face, while
Dorothy's large, thoughtful eyes famed
out with such fire as zone had ever seen
in them before.
Egerlon was the first to speak.
Had known You were here, Miss
Wynn, l should not have intrudel, as You
seem. from some unnccOuntublc reason.
to dislike meeting me-"
NO." said Dorothy, advancing very
slowly a step or two nearer, her whole
soul burning with the ~fierccst hatred
against the foe before her, her veins
%throbbins with II tempest of anger. mo.
am glad to meet YOU, glad to speak to
you. so long as there is no one else tn
hear me-" She spoke deliberately. her
eyes holding his.
Egerton's c%ountenancc changed.
II am most ready to listen"
Yes she returned. grasping the tor
of u h%igh-backed chair near her, as il to
steady herself; you must and shall listen.
dc you remember" she continued, zone
day, not Il week before she was-murder.
ed. you were talking with Mabel in the
vernnda, when you urged her to leave hel
husband. and swore you would rather
crush out her life han see her live happil.
with him? was near the open window
and heard YOU"
She paused.
"Tlien," exclaimed Egerton, ain {
strange. stitled voice, eff you have a hu
man heart, you must have some pity fol
the most miserable of men. Nothing bu
the dread of the worlds references. tn,
worlds talk. the reverence l nave for he,
memory, has kept me from ending an ex
istence that is Il curse to me!'
Better you did than pay the forfeit
due to justice" returned Dorothy. Will
indescribable menace. 'Knowing all
do. what has kept me from %denouncin,
you, save my love for her-consideratio1
for my darling's fame: Here. face t,
face. l accuse you of destroying her hap
piness for the qualification of the poison
Gus venom you called Love- and her life
either by"
"l'or heavens sake. I've merciful! Yor
do not know what fortunes my own con
science i%nli:cts. know how guilty l M
j know how base: hut" with Il despair
ing gesture. ".you cannot dream what tn
madness of II love like mine vast" III
began to pace the room in profound agit;
lion. .If she would have listened to III,
and left that inscnsiblc tyrant. her hu.
band, it would have been but a nine day.
wonder. and think of the bliss that await
ed lis both! could have made her lif
one long. bright dream of joy, Il palace q
cnchantmrnt."
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o"r, n,1 ,i,, e,n,.,nnt nf I.,r av.
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"m .,.",. ,,,.h ,,,r,,s IN MOO H,s v.;ri
M" Wv ,I.rLn,nl ynrr ,rdnrst., i;n
,h., ~, .,Mnn, Snn ,hn via sn,fshnn.,
,i" ,,,,",, 'Inrr,1,tion of s,,.h :. sn,,nnnn
to-, 81, would n,yn.. ,,,y ~. VOW, f,.,
him 10 Won, She did not love yor,-sl
feared YOU: you had, by your base. IL,
manly tricks. obtained a terrible master
over hc,. gentle. innocent heart hnvn