The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-23

fCrget that l am Sir Oscars plighted wife
You are henceforth stranger to me-"
Less than stranger" he huskily as
scented. Il can be dead to you.
What did he mean?
Her heart seemed to rise in her throa
with throb of dread
Il am sorry, Giles she painted; Indeed
am"
She was visibly agitated. and more thar
vaguely alarmed by his odd manner.
There was desperate look in his eyes, a
slght OF which she quaied and shivered.
He seemed crushed-stunned by her cru
city. But his evident suffering did not turf
her from her resolve
Her greed fol- power was greater than hel
love.
Il must go, Giles" she said retreating from
him, her face rigidly pale. 1T will be darl
Before l get back to the Priory, and Sir Os
car is coming to see ne this evening Oh
Giles! if only you could have changed places
with him!"
II do not envy him." he muttered. "Yo1
will be miserable woman, Clorinda pinins
in your loveless splendor; and L"
You will forget me!'' she broke in, speak
ing wildly, with burning eyes.
He turned to her, clenching his hands.
"Go!" he commanded, "or 1 may kill you
You have ruined my life! Now leave mel"
He was searnly facing her, with a look tina
ever after haunted her; and, with asmotheret
wall, she rushed away from him.
moment later, the dusky glade in which
Giles Wynter stood alone echoed with
sharp report. and, staggering, he dropped
like log on to the soft turf.
1t CHANGED that Elva was returning, will
Bruno, through the wood from little fish
ing village, called Hazel Cross, and she hat
seen Clorinda talking to a stranger.
In her awe of the 'Vansdyt spirit" sh
had not intruded upon the meeting, which
had ended so fatally, but had slipped pas
at the other side Of the arching trees, keep
ing the dog with her.
The noise of the deadly weapon will
which Giles Wynter had destroyed himsel
arrested her steps, filling her with perplexity
and, as a dim suspicion of the truth flashed
into her mind, she turned, running back t.
the SPOT she had just avoided.
On the grass lay Clorindas victim, dread
full stain creeping over his pallid face
Elva uttered shuddering cry appalled,
white with horror, and, kneeling down, sh
searched, it'll shrinking tremulousness, TO
some sign of consciousness.
But instinct told her that she was in tn
| solemn presence Of death.
She was about tc RISE when a cold hant
flung her violently aside, and Clorinda cas-
she had driven to despair.
"Giles!" she hoarsely articulated and, a.
she dizzily stumbled up from the greer
eward, Elva felt her blood turn to ice a
sight of such savage grief. "Giles! speak t,
me, and will give up all-all, but your.
Alas! it was too late to offer to sacrific
ambition for love.
AS she realized that the livid lips wer
srrang erect.
"Clori! dear Clori!" Elva said, soothingly
trying to take her cousins hand in her littl
shaking clasp. "Oh, hush!"
Hush! yes; keep my secret!" Miss Vans
dlyt Kissed, to the young girls infinite ter
ror, and her eyes glittered threateningly il
her blanched face. Nobody must know tina
was in the wood when this happened. tina
you saw me here; you are to be dumb OF
the subject. Do you hear? Come away
come at once, and never speak of this to {
living being.''
She seized Elva by the arm, compelling
her to leave the dell in which that silen
proof Clorindas evil power lay stretched
in the shadow Of the trees.
They swiftly quilted the woodland, Elvs
in mortal dread Of her companion.
CHAPTER ~.
The following morning Clorinda appeared
at breakfast with brooding, sullen dark
ness on her handsome face.
During the long night she had lain sleep
less, the thought Of the dead form of Gle.
filling her brain, until, wrought to an intoI
cradle pitch Of fear and misery she hai
risen and paced her room In fever O.
guilty unrest.
though she herself had held that dangerou,
little weapon with which he had taken hi
own life.
Sir Oscar and Ashcroft had lost their value
all at once
She realized that she had DESTROYED he,
one chance Of happiness in having forsaker
the man who had loved her in spite of hel
faults. 49,
Run and get your hat" she said to Elva
who had sat silent during the meal "In
going for row and you can come with me
Elva looked up with a half-frightene6
start, which did net escape Osmonde Rom.
er's notice.
Her pretty dimples and sunny smiles