Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-11-07


of events controlled by a higher power,
or you may be punished as am.
But I don't want to speak with YOU
No doubt you come to enter into a COM
pact with me to separate your daughter
from her lover and share the spells with
you. But it is too late. Clarice will
marry Shirley Austin and the fortune I
have striven so hard fer will be mine
without further effort-as it would have
been, anyway, had I been patient, in
stead of s.oiling my soul With lies ana
deceit and the thought of worse crimes.
Wien it comes it will be too late, and
hang like milestone about my neck, for
it has taken from ne all I most priced
on earth. Your daughter has behaved
nobly. She will be happy and blessed
for her goodness. have hated her, and
even yet my hear: envies her happiness;
but tell her to forgive me if she cam
She had spoken rapidly, wildly, but
distinctly, and she had remained stand,
ing all the time. Now, as she conclud-
co, she waved MoHbr:ty away toward
the door With a sweeping gesture of the
arm, and then she left the room.
Silercea and ain ost s.wed-eor in Mrs.
Martins words and manner there had
been the tragic int .nsity of great suf-
ferng-Rryan Mowbray found himself
cut in the street again.
There seems something like fate in
it, he thought. when even this keen
and unsrrurulous woman is overcome
and lays down ner arms
But he had no intention of yielding
yet; and as he turned his steps home
ward, it was With the fixed intention Of
watching Clarice and al VINO sided with
her, i'll order that he might, if possible,
circumvent their plans.
AS he neared home lis attention was
caueht by the slender figure of w.
man walking rapidly ahead of him, and
it seemed strangely familiar. He looked
even more observantly, and felt certain
that the woman was known to him;
and all doubt on the subject was at an
end when he saw her pause in front of
the mansion he was nearing and disap-
rear down the area steps.
He bounded forward with a pace ;n-
creased almost to a 1rn, and vehement
~ pulled the front door-bell.
"Who is that woman who has just
come in down stairs?" he asked the SER
want who admitted him.
II don't know, Sir" was the answer.
And even in these wo: DIS, though the
manner of the spe aker was perfectly
respectful, Mowhray felt that he was
no longer master in that house.
A subtle change had taken place
among the servants, who mad realized.
as they never he until within the past
twenty-four hou-s, that the beautiful
young widow Of thei1 dead master was
kencefortk the governing power in III At
house.
$50 and find out, instantly COM
manded Mowbray: land, remember no
che is to see Mrs. Grayson until the
rsme is first brought to me-"
Before the older could be obeyad.
Susan came quickly from below stairs,
and fastened along the hall, then ran
quickly up stairs.
Mowbray followed her so rapidly that
he overlook her rs she reached the
landing.
Susan" he said, in a tone between
command and entreaty, whats the
meaning of this? Tell me your message
to Mrs. Grayscn. Who wishes to see
herr"
BEG pardon, sir. but I cannot snswe,
that qllest;cn-it is more than my place
is WORTH" the girl answered. as she
pushed past him and knocked at the
door Of Clarices room.
Mowt-%y followed close at her heels.
and when his; daughter called, il her
GEAR, sweet voice. Come in!'' he was
near enough to hear TIE servants mes
Sc ge, though spoken in low tone:
"If YOU please, a'am" said Susan,
"the Frerch maid, Ma'mz.lle Lconce,
has returned, and 'begs to be allowed to
come UP ard speak with YOU
Bring her at once!' commanded
Mrs. Gravson, in a tone that caused
Mr. Mowbray to fall back out of sight
at sound of it.