The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-06-06

instinctively he braced his nerves for
q possible encounter with Celestine.
"You know l hadn't much conf
dence in your plan, Clarence, she
said, indicating seat close beside
her on tete-a-tete sofa; "and, though
you have told me but little about
your power over this hynotized slave
of yours, think I am right in gress-
ing that you hoped to rid yourself of
her by means of your power over
him." 49,.
eyes, did; and the attempt has
been failure" he answered, mood
ily. my only hope now is in you,
Olive. I will not disguise from you
that am in bad plight. Two peo-
pie live who are very dangerous to
me; Celestine, who suspects a great
deal and may yet learn the truth"
"Don't be troubled about Celes-
tine," interrupted Olive, in manner
of encouraging confidence. 'As you
don't yet know, 1 sent little note to
the baron after we parted yesterday,
and the contents, combined with the
attempt of last night, have driven him
quite mad with jealousy. Of course,
I called on the fair baroness, when 1
read this mornings news, and, in the
character of her most intimate friend,
was at once admitted to her pres
ence; and Notwithstanding the vigi-
lance of the Jealous and furious hus-
band, I contri7ed to have few min
utes of private conversation with her.
It appears that the baron suspects the
crazy Van Tassel to have been either
her first husband or an emissary from
him who had intended to murder him,
and not Celestine; and 80 great has
his rage and jealousy against his wife
become that she is half insane with
terror. She is q shallow creature,
and if you were now to appear before
her as Carlos Mendoza and claim
her as your wife, she would flee from
you instead of casting herself into
your arms, madly IS she loved you
and still loves you. I was amazed to
see how abiect mere physical fear
could make anyone. Of course, my
advice to her was to leave New York
forever-even to leave this country,
and to do it at once and with such a
show of repugnance for the possible
re-appearancs of her first husband
that the baron's jealousy would be at
once appeased."
"But what reason has he to suppose
that I am-that is, that Carlos Men
doza is not dead? She has not been
mad enough to tell him of her mistake
in regard to my fancied resemblance
to her first husband?"
"No, my dear Clarence; I don't
think that she has been silly enough
to tell him about that; but the anony-
nous letter received by the baron
stated, on the positive authority OF
the writer's knowledge, that you were
that is to say, that Carlos Mendoza
was alive, and that the baroness was
in the habit Of giving him private in
terviews. But don't be alarmed, my
dear. She is wholly under the infu-
ence of terror. and she will leave this
country forever within few days"
Her listener, who had been rather
paler than usual, slowly recovered his
customary healthy coloring, and drew
sigh of relief when the girl ceased
speaking.
"You are an amazing girl, Olive
Gaye," said Stanley, "and I place my
self in your hands without reserve. I
am ready-or shall be presently-to
follow you blindly. But another and
moro serious danger threatens us now,
and I am willing and anxious to take
your advice in regard to it."
And in the briefest words he related
the unexpected appearance of Dolores
and the fact that Van Tassel had dis
appeared in her company.
Olive looked gravo for some mo-
ments, and was at loss for any sug-
gestion or advice to offer on this mat
ter.
no DE roNrTNTEn