Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-04-11
CHAPTDR VII.

1,.,l4
CHAPTDR VIII.
For moment, as q whip-cord whis-
ties its way through the air in its
swift. relentless, downward flight,
welded by some merciless hand, so
did the cruel words, more pitiless than
the knotted thong. fall upon the
quivering nerves Of Beatrice Mark
hams hearing.
But for moment only True, in
that second, time had been given to
,blanch the lovely cheek, and let the
great eyes dilate with anguish; then
she rallied from the blows cruel force,
and throwing back her little head with
an old gesture of naughty grace, her
proud lips curled in scorn.
''And you would stoop even to such
lie as this?" she said, and in her tone
was a contempt which fairly seemed
to burn the air. "You, who knew my
father, would dare impute to him this
me Of my mother by the hour. She
her shrine! She was pure as snow,
white as the lily, in her freedom from
all faint Of wrong; and you-you would
dig down into her grave to throw
there your hideous slime! >Oh! leave
me! lest, looking at you, I should hate
myself that in my veins flow with
yours one~drop of kindred blood!"
She shivered as she spoke, and i'm
petuously pressed her hands to her
face, as though to shut out some hor-
rid vision.
But the moment for Randolph Ches-
ter's lack of self-control had passed.
Henceforth he was himself.
In his own hands he held the reins Of
victory. Let her impotence expend it
self in what shape it would; it was but
Ats death struggle; and, knowing this,
he could watch 1t with a cruel smile,
and let her words fall on ears deaf to
all but their future vengeance.
He struck little sooner than he
had meant to strike. She had betrayed
him into this; but now he could be
Quiet-now he could wait.
Beatrice" he said, gently, you must
remember that words such as I have
uttered are not lightly spoken, and that
proof must substantiate them. That
proof, my child, am ready to offer
you. Nor must you let your fancy run
riot, and read in this story no dishonor
of the parents who were so dear to
you, further than they loved not wisely
but too we'll. When they first met.
your mother was already married.
Your father would gladly would have
made her, indeed, his honored wife, as
she ever was in all but legal FORM
Eladly, my child, would have entrust-
I'D to other lips the telling of this pain
tul secret, but that the knowledge is
only shared by one other, and would,
II possible, keep it from the world"
He spoke SO calmly, so convincingly,
tvih all malice banished alike from look
hnd tone, that she who listened grew
cold with an icy fear.
Instinctively she clasped her hands
Above her heart, which beat in such
blow, difficult throbs.
"You say that you can give me
proof of this?" she gasped. ooh, my
Hod! what am saying? I speak as
though the horrid thing were possible.
For the moment you frightened me.
Now I am brave again. My mother
hot my fathers wife! Do you forget
his name on her tombstone, and that,
together they sleep in one grave?"
II forget nothing, Beatrice. Would
to heaven that might! My child. list
Yen. Let me tell you the story. Never
have I set myself so bitter a task; but
In no other way can I convince you
that am not speaking from some
motive Of revenge. Revenge, dear
Child All! how little am capable Of
such a feeling toward yourself! But
may I go on? Will you listen?'
II am listening" she replied.
But her lips were parched and dry,
Ind with the utmost difficulty she man
aged to articulate the short reply.
She made no interruption, as, begin
ming the tale, he repeated it, as he had
already repeated it to Mr.. Arnold.
How many of us have fingered in
good might over an exquisite bud, too
Beautiful to pluck only to find, in the
morning, the frost had been less mer-
ciful and, taking it in its cold embrace,
had robbed it alike of bloom and beat
ty?
Not often may we watch how each
petal droops under its blighting breath,
how color fades and perfume dies.
But as Beatrice listened, with
strained hearing, to the measured
words one could have seen the flower
fade, and droop, and die!
A few moments before and she had
defied him, in her young pride and
naughty disbelief. Now the rock on
(which she stood was torn from be-
meath her, and, tossed on the mad.
&empest-lashed waves. his hand alone
$was outstretched toward her in safety.
No! Better sink beneath the waters
than grasp it!
Once, as he spoke of her mother, and
The moment that her voice had failed
her. tears had sprung. to the beautiful
'eyes, but they did not fall; and. as he
went on to the end, they seemed to
freeze there.
Beatrice" he added, when. at last,
he paused for her to speak, only to
lind the silence unbrcken, and words as
likely to fall from the petrifed lips of
u marble statue which confronted
them at the other side of the room
H'Beatrice, will you not believe I would
have spared you if I could. Will you
mot believe yet would spare you it
you will let me! Take the property. I
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