Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-10-12
CHATTER ENII.

great nervous dread from which she seem
ed to suffer, but she bailled him by speak
ing more cheerily than usual ON abstract
subjects, the only personal matter OF
which she dwelt was Egerton's intention
OF going to Spain, which seemed to give
her certain satisfaction. On the third
afternoon 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 brisk walk
with the children in Kensington Gardens
On her return Collins told her that Miss
Oakeley was not at 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 neaI
neighborhood.
With a comfortable sense 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 hea I'd
Collins say:
IF you'll sit down a moment, sir. will
tell Miss Oakeley."
Dorothy was lost to sight In the depths
of 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 Egel
ton.
Both stood quite still, their eyes fixed
on each other-a determined, sullen look
gradually hardening Egerton's face while
Dorothy's large, thoughtful eyes famed
out with such fire none had ever seen
in them before
Egerton was the first to speak
Had l known you were here, Hiss
Wynn. / should not have intruded, as you
seem, from some unaccounta bic reason.
to dislike meeting me-"
No." said Dorothy. advancing very
slowly step or two nearer, her whole
soul burning with the fiercest hatred
against the foe before her, her veins
throhbing with a tempest of anger. NO.
/ am .lad to meet you, glad to speak TO
you, SO long as there is no one else to
hear me-" She spoke deliberately. her
eyes holding his.
Egerton's untenance changed.
Il am most ready to listen"
Yes" she returned, grasping the top
of high-backed chair near her, as if TO
steady herself; you must and shall listen.
Do you remember" she continued, zone
day, not week before -sne was-plurder-
ed, you- We're talking with Mabel in the
veranda. when you urged her to leave her
husband, and swore you would rather
crush out her life than see her live happily
with him? 1 was near the open window.
and heard YOU"
She paused.
''Then," exclaimed Egerton, min a
strange, stifled voice, ''if you have hu-
man heart, you must have some pity for
the most miserable of men. Nothing but
the dread of the worlds references, the
worlds talk, the reverence | have for her
memory, has kept me from ending an OK
istence THAT Is n curse to mer'
BETTER you did than pay the forfeit
due to Justice" returned Dorothy. with
indescribable menace. knowing all |
do, what has kept me from denouncnc
you, save my love for Reconsideration
for my darlinG's famef Here, face to
face. | accuse you of destroying her hap
piness for the qualification of the poison
Gus venom You called Love and her life,
either by"
For heavens sake, be merciful! You
do not know what tortures my own con-
science inficts. l know how guilty am
I know how base; but" with a despair
ing gesture, .'you cannot dream what the
madness of n love like mine wasi" He
began to pace the room in profound aGita-
tIon. "If she would have listened to me,
and left that inscnsible tyrant, her hus-
band. II would have been but n nine days
wonder. and think of the bliss that await.
ed us bothI / could have made her life
one long, bright dream of joy, palace Of
encha antment"
Founded on q brave true mans brOk-
en- heart, and the contempt of her own
children" added Dorothy. How dare
you speak such words TO me? Has wick
edness so darkened your understanding
that you cannot see the vile selfishness,
the unholy degradation Of such a scheme
IistcnI She would never have gone from
him TO you, She did not love you-she
feared you; you had, by your base, I'M
manly tricks obtained terrible mastery
over her gentle. innocent heart. have II
letter from her, imploring you to set her
free. to leave her to her true affection and
duty-but l found no opportunity to give
it TO you.
Give it to me now! 1t was written at
your suggestion" cried Egerton, turning
oil her iiercely-
..'Ihen, seeing she was about TO escape
from vour tolls" continued Dorothy, with
deadly compOsure, ''you carry out your
throat and murder her-if not by your
OWN liIu, ~
.Great heaven" exclaimed Egerton,
with n croan. do you believe this?"
He sank into a chair, and covered his
face with his hands.
Il do. as firmly as II | saw the knife
in your hands, or saw you put 1t into the
hands of another
what do you mean! Not that would
touch A creature dearer TO me than my
avn life a thousand times. TO destroy itT'
He grew ghastly white as he spoke;
his dark eyes, dilated with horror, were
fxed upon the slight figure of his daunt-
less accuser.
.I moan" she said with pitlless delib-
Grafton. that either by your own hand or
tb,t of another, you-murdered-her!
There was silence for moment
.Do not fear" resumed Dorothy, with
hitter contempt; Il shall not publsh my
conviction; the forfeit of your misera PIE
life would but poorly pay Tor any us
credit thrown upon the memory the cilar-
acter. of the beloved dead
..Do YOU not see yourself the inJustice
=, vour accusation? Such an act IS i'm
nossible to me! Don't let your indisna-
ton and hatred carry you to such insane
lengths. Don't you see my HANDS are
ted? l cannot take any steps TO prove
my innocence
.That 1 quite believe, as believe .he
,r.b vou have undertaken for the sup
,,os.d murderer will not be successful
..yV,tb so bitter a prejudice, so extraor-
49, an accusation, it is impossible