Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-23

shrank back. you need not fear" he
added, scornfully. Give me your
proofs, name your price, and then
never let your shadow fall across my
path again"
Dealing with man was different
from frightened a delicate, refined
girl, Clara Morton found. She began
a whole string of excuses.
Not one word,'' he said Simply
repeat the story. Let me hear all the
details, and then give me your proofs
and name your price
She told him the story, and then
| added:
My proofs are the charred remains
Of the parchment that I took from the
fire, on which you will see plainly
these words: Last will and testament
of Sir Jasper Brandon
What do you want for it," he
asked, contemptuously.
1T is not for myself, Sir Marc; it
is not indeed. l want five hundred
pounds"
you are modest in your demands,
certainly, and you have ruined But
why should I waste words upon such
as you? If give you the sum you
name, you must not only surrender
what you are pleased to call your
proofs, but you must take an oath to
keep the secret and leave England. If
you return-listen to my threat-if
you dare to return or address by let
ter that hapless lady, will have you
indicted for conspiracy, and your SEN
tence will probably be hard labor for
life. AS to your conduct, it is so ut
terly, horrible base, I have not the
patience to speak of it.
The woman murmured some words.
He did not even listen to them.
81 have no wish to hear more" he
said. Il will give you check for five
hundred pounds on condition that you
give me your proofs and take the re-
quired oath. Tremble if you dare to
break it; tremble if your false, wicked
face is seen here again.
He took out his check book, and 60
out check for the sum named. On
returning, he placed it quietly in her
hands, and she gave him the packet
containing the charred fragments of
the will, and took the oath upon which
he bad insisted. Silently he pointed
to the great open gates, and she passed
out of them. They never met again.
-
don. What to do with himself he
could not tell. He felt that it was i'm
possible for him to take up the broken
thread of his life. In the first hot.
angry flush Of his disappointment he
had not realized what life without Yer
onica would be. Now that it stretched
out before him in all it's chill terrible
reality, he was at a loss how to endure
it. There were times even when he al
most wished that he had forgiven her.
Then he recoiled from the thought.
How could he love a woman to whom
the word honor was an empty
sound?
Sir Marc was most unhappy. He
read with stony face all the para
foundation for the rumor of the ap-
preaching marriage of Sir Marc Caryll;
that he was going abroad. He made
made no complaint-no moan; but he
owned to himself that his life was
ended. He would close Weryehurst
Manor, and spend the remainder of his
days where nothing could remind him
of the love he had lost. There was to
be no angel in the house for him. He
knew that he must love Veronica I'M
til he died; that no one else could ever
take her place; that no one else could |
ever be to him what she had been.
He had freed Veronica from her
bondage; of that he was pleased to
think. No one could brighten her
now. She was quite safe, and the ter
rible secret was dead and buried. He
locked away the charred fragments; he
did not destroy them; he could never
tell why; and that one simple pro-
ceeding altered the whole destiny of
his life. Had there been a fire in his
room when he reached home, he would
have tossed the little packet into the
flames; as it was, the door of his iron
safe was open, and he flung the packet
into it.
Then he set about making arrange
ments for going abroad; but he found
that it would be impossible; that he
could not leave England until after
Christmas without neglecting duties
that his conscience would not allow
him to neglect.
He said to himself that he must be
content. There was no help for it. He
must shut himself up in the old
Manor-house, where Veronica's sweet
face would never shine.
To be Continued