Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-01-24
CHAPTER x.

Long since the moon has mounted the
heavens; now it is at its full. A myriad
stars keep company with it. the hush of
sleeping nature pays homage to it. Sol
EMMY. slowly, from the old belfry tower
tbe twelve strokes OK midnight have
sounded on the air.
Vera. rising cautiously from beside Gri-
se!da who i, usual. sleeping the sleep
Of the just. slips gently on to the bare
white across which the moonbeams are
travelling delicately.
Sleep has deserted her. Weary at last
Of her efforts 10 lose herself and her hate
ful thoughts in Inconsistencies, she de-
terrniueS to rise and try what study may
do for her. She steps lightly across the
room. opens the door and speeds with all
haste over the corridor, gaunt and ghost
ly in the dim light, down the grand old
staircase. and enters a room on the left
of the library, where one day she made
the discovery that comfort was to be
found.
Striking a match. she lights a lamp
upon side table and proceeds to exam
Inc the book shelves. Taking down one
that she thinks will please her, Vera
kneels upon one of the deep window
seats, looks outward, trying to pierce the
soft and scented gloom.
At opening VI lllt uOOi louScs hVi- ~
is quite an hour later-an hour forgotten
by her as she read. With a sudden start
she looks up, turning her face over her
shoulder TO the door. TO see who can be
coming in at this unholy hour. Her
heart grows cold within her as she sees
-Seaton Dysart!
In silence they stare at each other.
Vera. indeed, so great is her astonish-
meut forgets to rise. but sits there curl
ed up among her furs, with little frozen
look Of fear and detestation on her per
feet face.
Il have disturbed you," says Seaton
AT last breaking the spell, and speaking
in Il distinctly unnatural tone.
Il did hope | should have found pri-
yacy somewhere. at some hour says
she. coldiy.
Il came for a book" says he, contrite-
Iy Now that | am here, will you per
NIT me TO say a few words in my own
defense?'
"Oh, defense"' says she, with undis-
guised scorn.
Certainly. / would prove to you how
entirely you have wronged me-" says-hA-
firmly. Il acknowledge that once my
father expressed wish that l should
marry you," coloring darkly, always
provided you were willing to accept me;
and T'-slowly-'acceded to that wish.
But why, why?' demands she. flash
ing round at him. -
Il do not wonder at your question. 1t
seems impossible there should be rea-
SON." replies he. coldly; for ever since
the first hour we met you have treated
me with uniform unfriendliness, l had
almost said discourtesy.'
There is reason. nevertheless" says
-, H. haC on
nearer to him, and her large, lustrous
eyes, uplifted. seem to look defiance into
his Your reason l can fathom-but
your father's-that, l confess, puzzles
me- Why should he. whose god Is money.
choose the penniless daughter of the
brother he defrauded to be"
"Defrauded?' interrupts Seaton, with
frown.
Call it what you WILL" with an ex-
pressiye gesture of her hand-'undertake
his defense, too; but the fact remains
that the iniquitous deed that gave to
your father what should have been ours
was undoubtedly drawn up by my uncle.
have heard all about it hundred times.
Your father hardly denied it to mine
when last writing TO him. His taking
US home to live with him was. l sup
pose, a sort of reparation. To marry me
to you, and thus give me back the prop
erty he stole-is that reparation, too!"
She is as pale as death, and the hands
that cling to the back Of the chair near
her are trembling. But her lips are firm
and her eyes flashing. 1t occurs to Sea
ton, gazing at her in breathless silence,
that if she could have exterminated him
then and there by look she would have
done it.
You degrade yourself and me when
you talk like that" says Seaton, who is
NOW as pale as she is. For heavens
sake, try to remember how abomlnably
you misrepresent the whole thing. II my
father had a freak of this kind in his
head-a desire to see you married to his
only son-surely there WAS no discourtesy
to you contained in such desire. 1t was
rather-you must see that-a well-meant
arrangement on his part. 1t was more,
boldly. He loves me; IN wishing to see
you my wife he paid you the highest
compliment he could. l defy you TO re-
gard it in any other light.
You plead his cause well-it is your
own" says she, tapping the back of the
chair with taper, angry fingers. w ny
take the trouble? Do you think you can
bring me to view the case in lenient
light? Am | likely to forget that you
You aided and abetted your father in try
in. to force me into this detested mar
riage2"
Pray put that marriage out of your
head" says he. slowly. You have taken
it too seriously. l assure you L would
not marry you now if you were as Will
ing as you are unwilling. ] can hardly
put il stronger"
When my grandfather left this prop
erty to your father" she says. slowly
'he left it purposely unentailed. Your
father, then, were you to cross his
wishes. could leave you, as l have been
left. penniless. To avoid that. you woulC
fall in with any of his views. You would
even so far sacrifice yourself as to-msr
ry me-" Oh, the contempt in her tone.
There is a long pause. Then Seaton
striding forward. seizes her by both arms
and turns her more directly to the hgh'
The grasp of his hands is as wise. and
-afterward-it seemed to her that he
had, involuntarily, as it were. shaken
her slightly.
How dare your" he says. in low
'ohccntrated tone. She can see that his
tac" Is very white, and that it is with
difficulty he restrains himself she is con
'cIuuS, too, perhaps, of feeling a little
frightened.
Then he puts her quickly from him and
.urnS away
ishaw, you are not worth 1t. ne
says, his manner full Of the most intense
'elf-contempt.