The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29
ss.... 1919

and frost once more giiAten on the leafiess
| trees, and Meg IS still at Rokeby
| Her husband has never been heard of since
that fatal March night, on which an unseen
tragedy occurred.
! She is almost reconciled to her loss, and it
| is sweet to be the petted daughter of the old
home restored to favor, and made much of
again.
| In looking back to the brief period of her
married life, she now realizes that it was not
happy unon-that there had been ex-
acting selfishness in the love she had thought
so perfect.
She had disappointed Gervais, and he had,
she knew, felt bitter contempt because her
&C urage had not been equal to the task i'm
lpCsed upon it,
4 But, for Carmen st. Glare he had had lavish
praise, causing the young wife's heart to sink.
4 on inous foreboding
The only person at Avonlee who has any
resentment against Meg FOR returning to her
native village is Rotha Give.
"A widow indeed,' she sneers, whenever
Mrs. Golding is discussed ''She has yet to
prove that her husband is dead"
ct is a pity that she does not know what
has become of him. Kothas friend, the vi
cars daughter remarks, they sit together,
on the last morning of the old year. Doctor
Ellington cares Cor her much ever, and
| it does seem hard that he should have to give
UP all hope of ever being able to marry her"
Rotha draws in her breath, turning per-
fect1y livid; a CLEAN of anger sparkes in her
wild eyes.
He can never think of such marriage!'
she exclams not for an instant! / don't
believe he cares for her half much you
ina CINE, Ida
Her light laugh is full of malice; and there
is a wild hatred in her heart-hatred that is
dangerous in it's bitter envy.
He loves her. persisted Ida; land always
will"
"Nonsensei" mocks Rotha, and she laughs
again. 'You ought to know better than
that Anyhow, she is somebody's wife until
she has full assurance of the death of Mr..
Golding. She cannot pose 5 widow while
his fate is still unknown
"Of course not!'' agrees Ida, cheerfuy
Detectives being sent to various parts
of the world in search of Mr.. Goding, and,
if living, he must eventually give some sign
of his existence
He will, you may be quite sure of that"
is Rotha's vehement response 81 shall see
you at Rokeby this evening? pas she rises to
leave her friend. What will happen to-
night, 1 wonder?" she adds satirically. Not
another elopement let hope. The ghost of
the missing husband might appear, just to
make a. little diversion
THAT would be a. misfortunei'' exclaims
Ida, all her sympathy with Meg and Bruce.
Nothing more dreadful could happen!'
Rotha hurries from the vicarage in a tu-
multi of fury.
Is Margaret Goldirg, tied though she is by
the marriage bonds tic a man who may still be
living, to again stano il her way?
The red sun in the wintry sky throws a
rudy CLINT trees, fields and downs and
Rotha's burning eyes are attracted by the
glowing thatch of tiny cottage towards
which she is advancing.
sudden flash, daring and cruel, blaZes in
those same eyes.
There is nothing that Sam will not do-for
money" she mutters. TT is worth trial.
midnight spectre, when the bells are ring
ing. will be quite the thing. An innocent
JEST he will thoroughly understand. I'll
call at Myrtle Cottage.''
She goes rapidly down the path and, before
she. has reached the gate of the small dwell
ing, meets the very person of whom she is in
quest.
He is a good-looking. stalwart young fell
low, who at sight of Miss Give respectfully
lifts his cap.
Srnilingly she unfolds her amusing scheme,
and Sam listens, with a twinkle on his face
ready for any trick, fully capable of initiating
a particular person, with his deep voice and
clever knack of snimicry.
He does not sc-uple to accept the shining
coins, with which Miss Give buys his SER
vices neither does he pause to think of the
harm he may do.
1t is a. great joke-a secret highly gratifying
to his nlischievous mind; and he does not
reck the consequence.
He feels that it is an honor to serve Miss
Give in any capacity.
Her face is evil in its vindictive tri11mp nh
when she leaves the precincts of Myrtle Cot
tage.
Margaret Golding shall be compelled to
i recognize that barrier does stand between
nef ana Bruce lOn-tndL TO think of her
husband one dead is folly and a sin
Rotha is not far from her own home when
she meets the doctor coming from one of his
patients.
She stops to speak to him, with unusual
gravity in her manner.
4 Il am glad to nave met YOU she saws
soemnly. Such a strange thing has
happened, and l feel that l cannot tell Mrs
Ciolding. She ought to be prepared for the
shock"
"As you prepared her once before Bruce
interposes, when Rotha significantly pauses
with a forced expression of distress on her