Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-06-20
CHAPTER XXI.

CRAPTEN XXI.
But Indebtedness rarely kills. When
it falls, crushing weight upon the I'M
prepared victim, it stuns at times; but
they live on to suffer and to bear.
So it was with Beatrice. Scarce had
they led Talbot from the room than
she opened wide her great gray eyes to
/ fullest consciousness of all the sad and
bitter truth.
Cora was bending by her side, Sob
bling loudly.
I'll did it ALI" she cried. Beatrice.
Beatrice, forgive met"
| Coral" exclaimed Mrs. Layton,
sternly, while Randolph Chester, stoop-
ing over her, whispered, Coral"
But, for the first time his voice failed
to influence her. The spell which had
bound her was broken.
| IL promised to mail her letter to
her lover. She intrusted 1t to me-" she
cried, in bitter, self-reproach springing
to her feet and standing facing them
all. "He-he asked me for it, and I
gave it UP to him; but, oh, I did not
believe he could be so cruel or so wick
ed! Beatrice, will you ever, ever for
give me?"
Unassisted, Beatrice had half-lifted
herself, and was lifting her head
against the cushioned seat of. the chair
from which, few moments before, she
| had risen.
| Randolph Chester held out his hand
| to assist her further. She YEARLY re-
jected it, but without scorn or spirit.
1t seemed to her that hope, indeed, was
dead. Even Cora had betrayed her. On
all sides she might be surrounded only
by enemies. Her glance wandered to-
ward Allen Layton. He stood, pale
and silent, and beside him his be-
trothed, smile of triumph on her face,
which matched that of her host.
| In that instant Beatrice knew that
! her cousin Randolph was no more Bit
ter a foe to her happiness than was this
girl.
| MAY ask you all to leave me alone
with Miss Markham" asked Chester.
IT have some words only her ears must
hear"
! One by one they obeyed his wish.
Layton fingered last.
''Shall we leave you, Miss Markham"
he questioned, with gentle courtesy.
"Yes-go. Nothing matters now!"
Beatrice said Chester, perhaps
you understand now how useless it is
to plot against me. Tonight your low
err sleeps in cell. Tomorrow he will
be carried back to the Tombs to await
/ his trial. OF his conviction there can
be no doubt, as there is no doubt OF his
guilt. You are in my power-the power
you have alike defied and trampled up
on. strove to show you mercy, but
you rejected it. Now, listen to me. I
give you three days for your decision.
Within that time you will be my wife,
or the doors of a private madhouse
shall open to receive you, and you shall
never come forth from its retreat.
am willing still to forget the past, pro-
vided that you will even yet be reason
able; but defy me yet, and 1 swear to
you that I will make my threat no idle
one. No; do not answer me tonight.
Tomorrow will take your answer as
my Christmas gift. Look to it that it
it q fitting one! May I assist you to
your room?"
$40 not touch met" she said, shud-
dering. 49,
And her bitter aversion helped her to
drag herself to her feet and away from
the hated presence to the shelter and
the solitude of her own room.
She could not think. In anticipation
she seemed only to hear mad laughter.
and, closing her eyes, to see mad faces
grinning at her from the darkness.
These were the sights and sounds
amid which all her future life must be
spent. A madhouse! For, as to the
other alternative-ah, a madhouse was
less terrible than that!
The morning broke and found her
notwithstanding the quiet, peaceful
sleep Of a little child. So criminals
have been known to sleep on the eve of
execution.
sit is indicate to stay here another
he entered the room. next morning,
where his mother and Miss Lorrimer
were holding an eager discussion
Edith agrees with me that we should
go at once"
edith agrees with you?" he said
sternly. "Then I do not. If Edith sees
fit to go, she must go; but this young
girl cannot be abandoned in her terri
BILE Distress"
Abandoned. Allen? What an idea?'
exclaimed his betrothed. "She is under
the care of her cousin and guardian. ]
am sure his patience has been some.
thing superhuman. Really, Allen, ]
shall begin to fear that you are as mad
as she Isl"
} IT am-fully as mad!" was his grave