Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-07-27
CHAPTER xxx.

fort led his young Wife back to her
room. and persuaded her to throw her
self upon her lounge. carefully draw
ing down the shades that the sunligll,
might be excluded.
She shut her eyes. YEARLY, and he
left her. to return to the work which
her summons had interrupted.
But as soon as the door had closed
behind him. she started up and threw
back her hair with Il passionate gest-
ure from the low. white brow.
The terrible hideouSneSS of Louis
Gervases face shaped itself, a living
picture, before her mental vision. let
her gaze rest where it would. If She
We're now so mad as to acknowledge
the truth. it would be to give him, in
deed. his browning triumph-to drag
infamy and shame upon herself: to
give up home, protection and the love
which might yet be hers And to
whom did she do wrong: 10 none liv-
Ing, for she made both Lord Montfort
and his mother happier. Only, then.
to the dead and Dorothy would
She paused shuddering. She conll
not yet plead to Dorothy for pardon
But from GervaSe she would hay" no
more to fear. Let him threaten as he
would; his threats were idle. To-
morrow would see her Lady Montfort;
even though the duel We're fought to-
might. Arkwright. she knew, would
fire in the air And Lord Montfort?o
She would not permit that question to
tntrude itself.
And Yet, was it not this very query
which threatened madness? Yet to
Speak-had not GervaSe shown her al
the consequences which would accrue
from speech? Ii Arkwright died. why
should she feel that his death lay at
her door? No-let fate, which had
been so cruel and so merciless. accept
the responsibility Of the act, as we'll as
the act itself. Death to him We're less
than the worse than death her confess
sion would entail upon herself.
At last. she had conquered fate. and
she would accept her victory. She
threw herself back upon her pillows,
with long sigh of ineffable content
The contest was finished. and she was
victor
MY dear" spoke the Lady Mont
forts voice. at the door, as she softly
opened it, may l come in? Are you
asleep. l fancied l heard you sigh"
81 am not asleep. Come in. mother"
For the second time she spoke the
name. whose very utterance was sacri-
lege: but as she did so, she grew pale
to the lips. The name was. in itself. Il
seal upon the living lie. and vauntea
dts unholy triumph as though she
might take courage for her future in
fanny. But on the older womnn's heart
1T fell like plying music. each note of
which wiped away an old stain, and
took the soreness from an old sting
She came swiftly toward Florence,
and. bending, kissed her brow.
You are resting, dear!" she said,
tenderly.
Where is Herbert?'
''In the library"
'"rell me. mother-am I like what he
used to tell you Of me. and have you
really learned to love meg"
Il came in just now my daughter
to give you a little proof of my love"
Then, for the first time. Florence OBJ
served that she carried in her hand a
morocco box. She touched a spring
and it flew open. AT the same NO
ment. one ray of sunlight streamed
through the darlened windows al f..
athWart the white. priceless gems ~
1ng upon their velvet bed.
They are the Montfort diamonds,
my child. and l wish you to Wear them
as Herbert's bride. They are yours,
my dear. and no Lady Mon5fort ever
has or ever will mere regally grace
them Nor Go l give them only to my
sons wife, hut to my daughter
"Ah. madame you are too good. too
generous.'
madame. Dorothy? I hoped anoth-
er title might have grown familiar to
you. Put them on, my child. l want
to see them CLEAN on your throat and
in your ears. Nay, l will fasten them
myself"
IEvoluntarily, Florence shranl, then
smiled at her own wickedness.
"Ah, my child.' said Lady Montfort,
when the stones rested on the fairer
velvet of the dazzling skin than that
which had so long served them as a
resting place-'ah. my child. if God
had sent me daughter. | could have
wished none fairer, none of higher
pride. and of more womanly sweetness
than yourself: and vet. once-once l
shut you out from my heart. Will al!
future years atone for the misery l
brought vOu-the years | losto"
And. choking with the bitter memo
ries thus recalled. Lady Margaret
pressed an almost passionate kiss on
Florence's lips and hurried from the
room.
Involuntarily. Florence started to
fer feet. With both hands she. tossed
back the golden hair from her hot fore
head. AS she did so. the CLEAN CT the
diamonds on her arm flashed in her
view. They crowned the summit she
had attained. They marked the victo-
.ry; but in her ear rang that mothers
blessing, like a curse: IF God had
sent me a daughter, I could have
wished none fairer. none of higher
pride, and Of more womanly sweetness
than yourself
She had said this to her-to her
Florence Vane! And the diamonds
sealed her words. No one could row
assail her position.
Let Louis Gervase do his worst. in
this house. no proof would be received.
no witnesses gain admittance. She
was safe-safe for all her future