The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-26

him, that before / came home just now
l paid visit to tine copse over the way.
A certain hollow tree where YOU and L
have held more than one trySt, con-
ceals within its depths a package con-
tanning over $1,000. Frederick, L hold
your life in my hands,"
The grasp with which he held her re-
Taxed; a mortal despair settled upon his
features, and, recognizing the impossi-
bility of further concealing the effect of
her words upon him, he sank into a
chair and covered his face with his
hands. She viewed 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 Spring
field before the time 1 have set, well
and good. / am willing that the time
of our separation should be shortened,
but II must not be heightened by so
much as a day. Now, if you will eX
cuse me, l will go and pack my
trunks
He shuddered; her voice seemed to
cut through him like a knife.
Drawing herself up, she looked down
on him with a strange mixture of pas
sion and elation.
You need fear no indiscretion on my
part. so long as our armistice lasts"
said she. NO one can drag the truth
from me while any hope remains of
your doing your duty by me in the way
L 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 neXt?"
Frederick, l have a final word to
say, last farewell. Up to this hour 1
have endured your attentions, or. let
US say, accepted them, for l always
found you handsome and agreeable, if
not the master of my heart. But 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
a heaven or hell for the man who has
inspired it. You should have thought
of this when you opposed me"
And with look in which was blend
ed something of the light and dark
ness of the two alternatives she had
promised him, she bent and imprinted
kiss upon his forehead. Next mo-
ment she was gone.
Or so he thought. But when, after
an interval of nameless recoil, he rose
and attempted to stagger from the
place, he discovered that she had been
detained in the hall by two or three
men VINO had just come in by the front
door.
rs this Miss Page?'' they were ask
ing.
Yes. I am Miss Page-Amabel
Page" she replied with suave polite
ness. IF you have any businessNAyith
me state it quickly, for l am about to
leave town"
THAT is what we wish to prevent"
declared a tail, thin young man who
seemed to take the lead. Till the in
quest has been held over the remains
of Mrs. Webb. Coroner Talbot wishes
you to regard yourself as a possible
Witness
"Me?" she cried, with an admirable
gesture'of surprise and a wide opening
of her brown eyes that made her look
like an astonished child. What have
1 got to do with it?''
You pointed out a certain spot of
blood on the grass and-well, the coro-
ner'S orders have to be Obeyed, miss.
You cannot leave the town without
running the risk of arrest"
"Then 1 viii stay in it," she smiled.
Il have no liking for arrests. and the
CLINT of her eye rested for a moment on
Frederick. Mr.. Sutherland" she con-
tinued, as that gentleman appeared
at the dining room door, Il shall have
TO impose upon your hospitality for a
few days longer. These men here in
form me that my innocent interest in
pointing out to you that spot of blood
on Mrs. Webb's lawn, has awakened
some curiosity and that 1 am wanted
as a witness by the coroner"
Mr.. Sutherland. with a quick stride,
lessened 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 forgotten by the
spectators.
ITO he Confined