Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-08
By Marion v Hollis'STGSY
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How do you dareY' she answered
how do you dare, Mrs. Rivers, to treat
me 50! l will call Lord Selwyn. You
are mac! You must be driven away from
here; you are madw
Il am sane enough, Beatrice Leigh
Sane enough to know why you have stolen
that bottle. Heaven watched over Rupert
Selwyn, or you would have slain him. You
had murder in your heart when you took
1t away-cruel murder! You hate him
because he stands between your child and
Selwyn Castle. You hate him because ha
is the son Of the woman you taunted, and
prosecuted, and drove forth to death. You
hate him because the husband you have
won by false means loves him. You hate
him; and you have said to yourself that
he shall der
ut is false-an falser' said Lady Bea.
trice. IL thought that medicine toe
strong for him. and did not care 10 dis.
turb him BY going into the room. II you
think am wrong, take it back and give
1t to HIM"
81 win take it back" said Mrs. Rivers;
''but none the less did you mean to murder
my only son"
ITO murder whom?" cried my Lady; and
then the two women stood, tall, erect, and
stately, looking-with scorching eyes-at
each other.
MY sonw repeated the clear voice,
"You want to kill him. II he were left
in your power you would kill him. Tc
save his life do that which 1 would not
have done for any other human object. /
claim him."
"You do what?' asked my lady, with Q
sneer.
II claim him." was the calm reply, "for
he is mine."
"Yoursv she cried. I'm the name of
heaven, who are you?"
. "Can you not guess, Beatrice? Whom
did you torture?-whom did you perse-
cute?-whom did you taunt day and
night? From whom did you steal the love
| of husband, the esteem of friends? From
whom did you take every earthly joy, ev-
cry earthly pleasure-even the light OF
heaven itself? Answer me that"
She could not; she had grown whittier
and whiter-she had crouched lower and
lower until she knelt now-her scared
face buried in her hands.
did not the life of the mother content
your continued the clear voice; must
you take the life Of the child? You-a
woman-to dream of murderEto let hot
hate, hot anger, cruel jealousy, drive you
to this! Ask pardon from heaven, Bea-
trice Leigh; for most assuredly. had Prov
, idence not watched over my son, ycu
would have slain him"
"Your sonv' cried Lady Beatrice. rising
suddenly and standing before her. IN
- AYV
81 am his mother-Violante Selwynr
A low. mocking, scornful laugh was the
only answer.
II repeat itr' eachoed the clear voice;
| ct am his mother-violante Selwyn."
You are speaking falselyT' cried Lady
Beatrice. "what does this play-acting,
this absurd ranting mean? You are most
surely mad. Lady violante Selwyn-the
low-born woman who inveigled my noble
husband into marrying hers dead.
saw her dead; I saw her buried; she lies
far away in Florence"
NAY" interrupted the clear voice. "she
is here! Look well at me; do you not
know my face? Do you not know my
voice? Do you want further proof? Seer
Then. with calm, quiet hands that had
ceased to tremble, she removed the Wild
ow's cap, the false hair that had 30 e6ec-
tually disguised her, and then, when Bea-
trice saw the soft golden curis clustering,
short. and wavy, she uttered low cry,
as though she stood face to face with
specter.
Have you risen from the dsadT' she
asked.
1.-The dead never return" was he grave
reply. do you believe now that I am
Violante Selwyn%
"You did it all for this one hour Of
vengeance and Of triumph, said Bea-
trice.
son. and my heart Is full Of indignation,
of sorrow, and Of anger; but believe me.
for the disgrace have unthinhngly and
nnconsciously brought down upon your
head. I am sorry-sorry with my whole
soul I would kneel to beg your forgive
ness for Il; would do anything to atone
for It"
"Disgracey' cried Beatrice. "Oh, heav.
on, that any living woman should use
that word to me!'
Her tall figure was drawn 30 its utmost
height. her dark eyes flashed fire.
II have to thank the plotting, low-born
DAUGHTER of a country attorney that l,
Beatrice Leigh, am disgracedr' she cried;
.sthat I have lived for six yearB with the
man I love. yet am not his wife; that
have borne a child who has no right to it1
fathers name! 1t is to you l owe it!'
The fair head drooped before her un.
utterable sorrow.
aft I. all NV fault" said Violante meek
" "Would that could bear the punish
ment alone"
at is your fault" said Beatrice. She
drew herself I'D with the hauteur OF Q
oueen. She raised her bare white arms
as though appealing to the HIGHEST tn
bunal. "Listenw she cried. You have
outwitted me. You have triumphed over
me. curse you'll curse the fair beauty
Of your face; 1 would fain trample 1t out
SIeepine. waking, eating, weeping nugn'
ing. I curse you, violante Selwyn, ana !
hate you! &h.
nassionate torrent Of words
.sJ n,ust return to my child, she saio.
~Reatrice. Rupert's life trembles IN .e
balance. the least excitement Will XII niu'
,et ms keep this secret yet httie ons
rnt;I Tomorrow evening. The cnanee.
GRO ~ NV hoy dies I shall die Win nln' :
tben n win not matter. II he hves' t
morrow evening, cost what 1t may, W.. ~
tall INV husband myself, then 60 OUT OF ~.
nresence for evermore. VIII you Aeep ~
secret until thenT ,,r
"As you will," was the sulen repH ~ for
And Restrdce. have something 70 ron lI
~;xe You have tried to kill my son; . st
pardon you," pleaded Vioiante sent% n ss-.;ve
w;n na ardon and forget, II you VIII A0,
me- the vrong have done you. T., .. an.
The proud. implacable faee; 10. S..
rry resentment, was turned 70 nS'' aS ~ould