The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-08-04

very DdlC, anu ACA 4ARo 49, @A%AAAtS
compressed.
All her life came before her as she
sat there perfectly still-all her life of
Ave -and-twenty years, with its con-
slant vicissitudes, it's Kaleidoscope
changes from palace to a garrett, from
the cheap lodgings OF fourth-rate
singing-troupe to luxurious hotels and
brightly-lighted gaming-tables, back
to penury again, and then this last
great chance of fortune, which she had
played for and had lost.
From childhood, Francesca had crav-
ed for power and splendor-power es-
pecially-and the knowledge that shd
possessed the means of secretly taking
life had been source of JOY to her.
Her passions were strong. but her will
was stronger, and of all VICES the one
that chiefly dominated her Was cruelty
The light would flash into her eyes and
the warm blood would flush her cheeks
at sight of a creature in mortal agony
and. as in the days Of old her Roman
ancestresses had revelled in the fierce
sports of the Forum, so Francesca set
no value upon human life, and, herself
in perfect physical health, rejoiced at
the sight of pain.
And this man before her, this man
whom she loved after her fashion,
knew her and understood her and hated
herr She could not break his will, sha
could not dominate him, she could not
sven deceive him. So she sat and
thought. and a sense of impotent fail
IRE took possession of hsr.
She. beautiful splendid Francesca,
Who had thought to control a million
of money and have this man at her feet
until she tired of him-she would not
crawl like a convict thief from this
house in the cold dawn leaving those
two. Dudley and Betty, to triumph
over her discontinue. She would not
20 back to life of shifts and discom-
fort. lacking even the slavish service
of the creature who had reared her
from her cradle Dudley Revelsworth
should at least have cause to remember
her so long as he himself should live!
Il will go, she said at last, and her
voice had hollow far-away sound.
"You shall never be troubled with me
any more"
With her right hand she lifted the
head of the enamelled snake which
chung to her wrist.
VIII you say 0Oou-pJS ~ -
she asked gently.
@Good-bye!" Dudley said, and stood
by the door, holding it open for her to
pass out.
She did not move however, but look
ed at him with pleading eyes, which
slowly filled with tears.
'sGood-bye?" she murmured. No
more than that! And it is for the last
timel And have loved you! Dudley,
look at me! If go now and you never
see me again on earth just to show you
forgive me, will you not KISS me once!
Francesca had risen and came step
nearer to him, her right hand clasped
over her left wrist. She inclined her
head little towards him, her eyes
cleaning, her lips slightly parted; but
he drew back coldly.
81 do not forgive you, he said, ana,
as she made no movement, he turned 10
leave the room.
AS he did so, sound like sob
reached his ears. Francesca had sunk
back in her old seat amid the cushions
and was staring ffxedly at him. Some
thing strange and unnatural in her ap-
pearance arrested his attention. AT
first he thought she had tainted, and
he was about to call for Bettys assist
ance. when, as he spoke to her and re-
ceived no answer, filed with sudden
misgiving, he approached her, and
touched her on the shoulder
Francesca's head dropped forward
heavily, and Dudley saw that her lips
were compressed and her features
drawn as though in a spasm of intense
agony. There was no need to repulse
her now. He laid her gently among
the cushions, and endeavored to un-
clasp the rigid fingers which still clasp
ed the head of the enamelled snake.
Just beneath them two small dark
punctures on the white skin told their
own tale.
Dudley laid his handkerchief over
aer distorted face and agonized blue
eyes, and smoothed her long bright
hair Then, with a heart full OF pity
and pain, he locked the door and left
the dead woman alone.
At midsummer of the following year
the settlement of the Reyelswortn
property took place, and the fortune, IN
pursuit of which two lives had been
sacrificed, became the sole property Of
Dudley Revelsworth.
He, for his part. did not trouble to
come forward and claim it, leaving the
business to his lawyers. Ever since the
distressing suicide of his cousin, to
whom it was reported that he had been
engaged to be married, Dudley hao
avoided England and had spent his
time travelling in the North of Europe.
After Francesca's funeral, Betty Man
nington accepted pressing invitation
to stay with Madame Giles, the serv-
ants were paid off, and Revelsworth
House, with its ugly memories, was
deserted, until tenant was at length
found for it in the person OF an old
gentleman with whom economy was
stronger factor than superstition.
Of that sinister figure which had
masqueraded under the name of Mrs.
Harold Revelsworth no trace was ever
seen in the neighborhood again. With
In few hours of F'rancesca's death she
was found to have disappeared, having
freed herself from her bonds and with
cat-like agility escaped from the win
dow of her room as was proved by the