Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-16
| HER ONLY SIN
BERTHA NJ CLAY.


away with me; and now, Miss D
Cynthia, l accuse you Of having burned
Sir Jasper's will. You cannot deny
| it; 1 have the proofs"
Veronica stood like one turned tc
stone. She had lost all power OF
speech. The girl continued:
I can form no idea why you did il
that does not concern me; perhaps ii
was for your own interest. They said
in the servants hall that Sir Jasper
had left you money; perhaps the will
you destroyed took it from you"
There was flash as Of fire from the
dark eyes.
I do not wish to do you any harm,
miss. 1 have not mentioned what 1
saw to any one, and I never will; but
you must give me five hundred pounds
for keeping your secret. Give me that
and l will promise, l will swear, that
no allusiOn to what I have seen shall
ever pass my lips. Give me that and
| will bring the charred fragment to
you. l do not wish to harm you, but
Providence has given me this chance
and l must make the most of it.
From that one moment l said to my
self that l would keep your secret I'M
til I could use it. Give me five hun
dred pounds and I will be as faithful
as death to you
Then the power of speech came to
Veronica.
Even if I would condescend to bride
you" she said, q could not; [ have
not five hundred pounds of my own
money in the world
You have a rich lover" returned
the girl, with a significant smile. Sir
Mare would give you anything in the
world-his hearts blood if you needed
it,
'Hush!' said Veronica, sternly. q
will not allow you to say such words. !"
you may do what you like, miss,
shall keep to my word. If you give
me five hundred pounds I will never
reveal your secret; if not, I will be-
tray it,
What if refuse?" said Veronica.
Tell me the worst" In her heart she
new the worst must come; it was as
impossible for her to find five hun
dred pounds as it would have been to
find five thousand.
'The worst that is, if I fail to get
the money from you, must try to find
out who is the next most interested in
the matter. There is one thing you
cannot deny, Miss Di Cyntha-you
burned the will" She paused with a
sudden cry.
Unperceived by either, Sir Marc had
entered through the open window, and
stood with a horror-stricken face,
listening to the last few terrible
words
With an air of terrible bewilder-
ment he looked from one to the other
Veronica was white as death; the
servant-girl insolent in the full
triumph Of her accusation, in the
knowledge of her victory. Veronica
looked round when she saw the sud
den dawn Of fear in the girls eyes.
She uttered no cry when she saw her
lover, but a cold, terrible shudder
sliced hcr. lie came to her and took
her hand.
What is the matter, Veronica?
What does this insolent woman say?
Why do you allow her to insult )u?"
Truth is no insult, Sir Mare put
in Morton.
''Say the word, and I will send for a
policeman and will give her into
custody. I heard little of what has
passed, and see she is trying to ex-
tort money from you. Why not order
her from the house?"
"Ah! why not?" cried Morton, in
solently. LAS you say, Sir Marc, why
n0t?"
81 take the duty upon myself" he
said; Il order you not only to quit the
room, but to quit the house. Lady
Brandon will approve of what I have
done when she hears of your con-
duct"
q shall not leave the room, Sill
Marc" she replied quietly, until
have Miss Di Cynthas answer. She
knows what 1 want; let her say if she
will give it to me-"
Sir Marc looked at her in bewilder-
ment.
Surely you are not willing to COM
promise with this woman, Veronica
She must be punished; any attempt to
extort money is a crime that the law
Furnishes very severely. Do not speak
to her; leave her to me-"
Then he paused in bewildered
wonder; there was something he did
not underestimate shrinking fear in
Veronica's face and an insolent
triumph in the maids. Where was the
Indignation, the just anger, that she
should feel? What could it mean
With restless uneasy gaze, he looked
from one to the other. The dark eyes
of the woman he loved had never met
his own.
Il heard what passed. he said. 81
was bringing you these Gloire de
DIXON roses, Veronica, and l heard this
insolent woman say that you had
| burned will, that you could not deny
it. i know the meaning Of that. She
brings this false accusation against
you, meaning to extort money from
you, and you very properly refuse tc
give it to her. She ought to be SEM
to prison.
stop, Sir Mare" said the woman
angrily; you speak too fast. Ask my
mistress whether my charge against
| her is false or not"
Il will aot insult Miss Di Cynthia by
| any such question" he replied.
Then you are unjust she said
You accuse me of bringing a false
charge; ask Miss Di Cynthia whether