Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-29
CHAPTER XVII.
Al CONFESSION.

A CONEEGSlON.
The poor wretch, who had made such
wreck of his young life, was white
as death, and shaking like an aspen.
could see the beads of sweat oozing
out on his pale forehead For Gods
sake he implored, Hdont say that to
me; / can't bear it! Until you told me
just now l swear to you by all that l
hold sacred--by my sisters love, which
so little deserve-that never dreamt
of Harvey Farnham's being dead. You
may believe me or not, as you like,
but you're her friend, so | should be
glad that you should believe. And, at
least, you owe it to me in common JUS
tice to hear what I've got to say.
Collins always managed to keep his
eye On me, and knew my whereabouts
and my doings, making me feel that at
any moment he could come down on
me if he chose dalesay he had other
men in his power like that, men whom
he thought he might wish to make his
tools at one time or other | didn't
often hear from him, though l knew
myself Swallowed, and knew also, only
too well, whom l had 10 thank for it.
You can't guess the horror of the feel
ing, or how it got on my nerves. l
fancied it would drive me to madness
or suicide one day, always knowing I
was watched, that could never, try as
| would escape that Eye, which was
really Willis Collins, spying out across
the ocean.
well, a cablegram came from him
commanding me rather than asking me
to go to England, saying that it would
be much to my advantage to do So and
that my fare and all expenses would
at once be sent me in advance. There
was just hint that l had better not
' refuse, which understood as well as if
it had been definite threat; and, any
how there was certain attractiveness
In the idea of going home-I hadn't
seen Karine or England for so long.
Il didn't mean to let my sister know
of my presence would have spared
her that-but | fancied myself stand
ing among the crowd in the Park,
watching her drive by, or something
Of that sort. Even a glimpse Of her
face would have been sweet.
"But when / arrived one of the first
things Mildred did was to tell me that
he knew the Tressidys, with whom
Karine was living, that he had heard
my sister often speak of me, and that
pc would secretly arrange a meeting
etween us. | couldn't resist the temp
alton of having a few words with her
VheA it was offered for the asking, and
saw<hef,, at the House by the. Lock
IN excuse was made to bring her and
lady Tressidy there-something about
portrait of Karine that was in a queer
pom he called a studio'-and while
Tildred was shelving Lady Tressidy
er the house | saw my sister, and had
talk with her. She felt gratful to
ldred for bringing it about, and fool
was, l didn't suspect the deep
he meant to play with her, using
t1aAdeces~>L 1saght he had
been willing to take the trouble
might get the more work out
hN when he wanted it, though what
the work was for which he had brought
me to England | didn't yet know.
After the first meeting with Karine
p had given Wildred my word never to
try and see her again; now l under
Stand WHY. He wished to revive all
the old love she had felt by the sight
of me, awaken her sympathy for my
TROUBLES, when she should learn his
version of them from his lips, and then
keep me from her. [ should hear that
he hadNasked her to be his wife, threat
C1lluS W UGll dy lit IL Ollt ulQ nOI dC-
cept, and so, in spite of my cowardice
(for / am moral coward, setting me
against him, to be his slave and tool
no more.
when l had been in England about
three or four weeks keeping out of the
way of anyone who might possibly re-
member me- Wildred suggested the
scheme of my travelling back to Ameri-
INN i'm 10, h
finishing the plot as | did finish it to-
night. HeAdmitted that it was for
this he yelrr Tor me,> but swore
FaI16 Mas himself in the thing as
p 1he; that it meant a fortune to
9th, which they were to share,
ich could be had in no other
he explained that Farnham had
b luck in speculations, was bank
hadn't the pluck to begin over
ON the lowest rounds of the lad
pr to undertake carrying out this
imself. lie would funk the fire
SIS, Wildred said, and might in
pf escaping, actually be burnt to
The object to be gained, of
/ was made to believe, was
the life assurance. Farnham
opposed to have several policies,
he for an enormous sum; he had
erything Of which he should pos
life assurance and all the rest,
dred, who would actually go
with Farnham when the money
be secured.
ave nothing of my own, you
except what l can make by my
or my father disinherited me,
We had just little too much
Fever to take anything from Kar-
MILDRED offered me ten thousand
BIS to work his business for him;
to be paid down, half when the