The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-05-25

MY cnlld, 1 nave already told
Beatrice is not responsible for her own
acts. We who love her SO well cannot
guard her too closely. Do you trust me
so little, Cora, that you hin I would
intercept n message she would care
to send, did I not know how hurtful it
would prove to her? Take back the let
ter, then! Go your way with 1t! Only
remember that you must accept the re-
sponsibility of your own act!"
He half-turned away, an expression of
pain upon his handsome face.
The child wavered, but his subtle in
nuence was upon her. SHE gently thrust
aside his extended arm.
do as you will with it." she said.
He caught her little hands again, and
gently pressed them.
Walk back with me to the LODGE" he
said, gently. 81 wish to leave some or
ders there. Then we will go on to the
village together for our promised shop
ping"
They turned back. The lodge gates
stood open; the lodge door was closed.
He knocked i~mperatively.
After some delay a shutting step was
heard within, a bolt was withdrawn and
the door flung open. +
I~nstinctively Cora shrank back.
A man, evidently scarcely recovered
from a nights debauch, stood on the
threshold. 81
Indeed, in his hand he held a jug, the
hot fumes of whose contents mingling
with the fresh air testified that it was
not yet ended. But in his masters pres
ence he seemed in no wise embarrassed
or confused.
"You drunken fool" cried Chester,
angrily. ''Nait for me outside, Miss
Cora. If you will walk up and down
before the gates I will rejoin you in a
very few moments" ,
$50 this is how you attend to your
duties?" he added to Tyrrell, as Cora
fastened, gladly, to obey him.
The man muttered a few words be-
meath his breath, wi they were neither
excuse nor explanation.
Chester's eyes lighted on the steamine
jug and, walking rapidly toward 1t, he
held over it the letter which had just
fallen into his hands:
From under his red, bieared eyelids
Tyrrell watched him.
The steam soon did its work. The en-
velope, moistened, but otherwise unin-
jured, was readily unsealed. Beatrice's
eager cry to Talbot was spread before
his gaze. r
An instant suf1ced for him to gain its
meaning. A cruel, triumphant light
shot into his eyes,.
This letter must not fail to reach its
destination. It would bring Talbot here
and in disguise. Ha, ha! Once warned
what disguise would conceal the truth
from him?
The trap was set, and by Beatrice's
own fair hands. He had but to wait
and watch-wait and watch! No dan
ger Of him sleeping on his post. The ny
already in his web had brought another
victim. Well, the spider would have in
readiness the withes, from which, this
time. there should be no release.
LET me ind you in this condition
again. and I'll turn you out of doors,
neck and heels!" he flung to Tyrrell, as
a parting admonition, as. with the pre-
cious missive resealed, he advanced,
smilingly, towards Cora.
I'm not thinking that you WILL" u
tered the man after him, "for I might
be turning you out, neck and heels OF
yer fine house on the hill. I'm thinking!
And. after ALL closing the door and
taking a copious draught from the still
steaming jug, "it's doing me better sar-
vice, this same jug, this minute, than
the dirty, name task you set 1t your
self! All, it's no good y're up to. and
nobody knows 1t better h Tyrrell
O'Byrne!"
But no trace Of the "dirty, name task
was visible in the radiant smile on
Randolph Chester's handsome features,
as. meeting Cora, he drew her hand
within his ARM.
In his presence, the scruples which
tortured her tool instant flight. !. g
"what will I say to Beatrice?" h
asked.
"Humor her, my child. Tell her that
YOU have mailed h letter!"
.sYou think it would not be wrong to
so deceive her?"
"would I so advise you were It
wrong?" he tenderly asked.
And orce more, poor, little f1uttering
bird, fascinated and beguiled, h felt
a very ecstacy of happiness at the low
whispered question.
Nevertheless, all unknown to her,
when from the village they turned their
faces homeward her mission had Deen'
accomplished, and the letter, calling
Bertram Talbot to Grey Oaks wassHon'
its way toward its destination
Beatrice's former rooms hadabeen as
signed Miss Lorrimer, and In them.
some few mornings later, b sat n
deep thought.
Things were not working to her sat-
isfaction. She was learning to nat Be
atrice Markham with a bitter hatred; TO
hate the beauty which begutled her low!
er's glance; to hate the sweet, low
voice which yet held suchaa note OF
sadness; to hate the very misfortunes.
which served t lend her. by their very
atmosphere, a greater charm.
bitterly, too, she regretted having
given her consent to this visit. Ches,
ter,s course In boldly acknowledging HE
cousin. had taken her, like Beatrice. ~
surprise, and had but endowed her 20
Alien with fresh interest.
What should she do? How should n
act? IN what waysmake her appear ",
his eyes unworthy? Only thus might
she regain control of his heart. sRe-
gain! An, he had never loved her, md
he would look upon hisfm
riaras sto Z with aversion. sasss Esssk I
She felt KNEW it--and her passion
for MIN but named the iercer forth
5bitter.and huamiilfating knowiedge.
such thoughts made the hsated9 arc
the room intolerable. She threwsopen
window, ana leaned ont her he's
that the light and wtnd8might fAnns her
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