Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25
Chapter VIII.

Chapter VIII.
Frederick Sutherland was a man of finer
mental balance than he himself, perhaps,
had ever realized. After the first few mo-
ments of stupefaction following the as
| founding alternative which had been given
him, he broke out with the last sentence
she probably expected to hear:
What do you hope from a marriage with
me, that to attain your wishes you thus
sacrifice every womanIy instinct?"
She met him on his own ground.
what do 1 hope?" She actually glowed
with the force of her secret desire. Can
you ask poor girl like me, born in tene-
ment house, but with tastes and ambitions
such as are usually only given to those
who can crafty them? l wait to be the
rich Mr.. Sutherland's daughter; ackrowl-
edged or unacknowledgad, the wife of one
who can enter any house in Boston as an
equal. With position like that l can rise
to anything. L feel that L have the natural
power and aptitude. L have felt it since l
was small child.
And for that he began.
And for that" she broke in. Il am quite
| willing to overlook any dark spot on your
| record. Confident that you VIII never re-
peat the risk of last night, L am ready to
snare the burden of your secret through
| life If you treat me well l am sure L can
| make it light for you"
| With a quick flush and an increase of
| self assertion, she had probably not antici-
| pated, he faced her with desperate reso-
| luton that showed how handsome he could
be II his soul once got control of his body
| woman, he cried, they were right:
| you are little less than devil"
| DID She regard it as a compliment? Her
| smile would seem to say so.
| IA devil that understands men," she an
| sWered, with that slow dip Of her dimples
| that made her smile so dangerous. You
| will not hesitate long over this matter.
| week, perhaps
i shall not hesitate at ALL Seeing YOU
as you are, makes my course easy You
| wife,
| Still she was not abashed
| IL Is a pity, she whispered cit would
| nave saved you such unnecessary strnp-
gle. But a week is not long to wait 1 am
| certain of you then. This day week at IL
| O'Clock, Frederick
| He seized her by the arm, and, lost to
| everything but his rage, shook her with
| a desperate hand
| DO you mean it?'' he cried, a sudden
horror showing itself in his face, notwith-
standing his efforts to conceal it.
| - mean 1t SO much" She assured him,
| that before l came home just now 1 paid
| visit to the copse over the way. A GER
| tain hollow tree where you and have held
| more than one tryst conceals within its
| depths a package containing over ST 900
| Frederick, hold your life in my hands"
The grasp with which he held her re-
| Taxed; mortal despair settled upon his
features, and recognizing the impossibility
| words Hpon him. he sank int chair and
covered his face with his hands. She view
ed him with an air of triumph, which
| brought back some of her beauty. When
| she spoke it was to say:
| IF you wish to join me In Springfield be-
| fore the time I have set, well and good. I
| am willing that the time of our separation
| should be shortened, but 1t must not be
| heightened by so much as a day. Now.
If you will excuse me, 1 will go and pack
| my trunks
| He shuddered; her voice seemed to cut
| through him like knife.
Drawing herself up. she looked down on
| him with strange mixture of passion and
| elation.
| "You need fear no indiscretion on my
| part so long as our armistice lasts" said
| she. mo one drag the truth from me
| while any hope remains of your doing your
| duty by in the way have suggested"
/ And still he did not move.
| Frederick"
Was it her voice that was thus muir
muring his name? Can the tiger Snarl one
| moment and coo the neNt?'
| Frederick, have a final word to say, a
| last farewell. Up to this hour I have en-
cepted them, for 1 always found you hand
| some and agreeable, II not the master Of
my heart. But now, now it is love that I
feel, love: and love with me is no fancy.
| but a passion. do you hear?-a passion
| which will make life heaven or hell for
| the man who has inspired it. You should
have thought Of this when you opposed
| me-"
And with a look in which was blended
| something of the light and darkness of the
two alternatives she had promised him. she
| bent and imprinted a kiss upon his fore
| head. Next moment she was gone
| Or SO he thought. But when, after an in
| terval of nameless recoil, he rose and at
| tempted to stagger from the place, he dis
| covered that she had been detained in the
hall by two or three men who had just
| come in by the front door.
1 Alt. Oarrn fhnyr ytrer
! Yes, 1 am Miss Page-Amabel Page"
she replied with suave politeness IF you
have any business with me state it quickly,
| for 1 am about to leave town.
| THAT is what We wish to prevent" de-
| clared a tall, thin young man who seemed
| to take the lead. Till the inquest has been
| held over the remains of Mrs Webb, Cor
oner Talbot wishes you to regard yourself
| "Me?'' she cried. with an admirable ges-
| ture of surprise and wide opening of her
| brown eyes that made her look like an as
tonished child. What have L got to do
| with it?''
| on the grass and-well, the coroners orders
| have to be obeyed, miss You cannot leave
/ the town without running the risk of ar
| rest.
''Then will stay in it," she smiled, 81
| have no liking for arrests and the CLINT
| of her eye rested for a moment on Fred
| erick. Mr.. Sutherland" she continued as
/ that gentleman appeared at the dining room
| door, II shall have to impose upon your
hospitality for few days longer. These
/ men here inform me that my innocent in
terest in pointing out to you that spot of
blood on Mrs. Webb's lawn has awakened
some curiosity. and that am wanted as
/ witness by the coroner
| Mr.. Sutherland. with a quick stride. les
sened the distance between himself and
these unwelcome intruders. "The coroner's
| wishes are paramount just now" said he
but the look he gave his son was not soon
4 forgotten by the spectators.
/ (To be continued)
"It's a shame cried the young wife.
| mot thing in the house fit to eat, I'm
going straight home to papar