Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-05-16

will plead to you-to you-eVen to you
who so cruelty have wronged me. Let
me go away tonight. You shall see or
hear of me never again. Though there
are those who, coming to me tO-mor-
row, would say: L will restore to you
your birthright. I would not hearken.
will never claim my own. Only do
not say this hideous thing. For the
| sake of the pastor Gods sake. for
humanity's sake, let me go forth from
Grey Oaks tonight, and let the shades
of darkness forever make my hiding
place."
MY poor child, this is but a phase Of
your delirium,' he answered.
But the old, hooking smile had new
err left his lips. His voice rose no whit
higher than it's usual tone. She was
| indeed, huntetd, trapped, Gagged. He
| might torture her as he would, until,
in very truth. he had driven her to
| madness. What mercy might she hope
from him? None-none, and full well
she knew it.
II will demand protection from your
guests, them" said she striving to re-
| gain some of her lost courage. "They
| will not allow this outrage to be per-
| petrated!"
lie SClll SnnlleQ on.
Twill you tell them that a voice from
| the dead has counseled you to seek
| their help?"
His words We're more cruel than
| blows. Closer and closer he drew the
| withes around the tender flesh, until
she fairly writhel in agony.
| Beatrice" he continued, do you
not see the uselessness of this strug-
| ole IN
that in one month hence you will be-
come my wife, and all shall yet be we'll.
Refuse, and the consequences are Of
your own making. Spite of all you
have done. spite of your undisguised
hatred and aversion, I still offer you
| my love. Why will you not accept it?
| Because it is a worse fate than
even this horrible alternative you lay
| before me. You can but torture. until
you KILL Randolph Chester. But why
why should 1 submit? Is there no
| law-no justice. that can protect me?"
| WHY, dear, spite of your illegitimacy
| of birth, i am, in the laws eyes, your
nearest relative, and. as such, your
guardian. 1t rests with you whether
the authority thus given me proves
irksome. How gladly would I renouncs.
it, Beatrice. for the chains forged alone
by love! Are you still relentless?"
Eyes, and will be to the end! To the
end, Randolph Chester, though you
may drive me with knotted cords along
the long, slow road that leads there, al
though the end may be only the grave.
| will never plead to you again.
| Wreak your worst!"
From the ashes of her misery her
courage rose to this last challenge.
Never had she looked more beautiful
than when she thus dared and defed
him.
''Poor child" he answered, II trust
violence may not be necessary. You
understand that only in the hours of
daylight you may go into the grounds,
and never beyond them. quite alone.
If, from time to time, plying glances
are thrown toward you, you will under
stand Them
Thus he tortured her, until her reel
| ing brain seemed TO burn as if fire rest
ed upon it.
''Go to your room. Beatrice" he said,
and though his voice was low, it rang
for the first time as an absolute COM
mand.
1t told her obedience was expected.
and would be compelled. And she was
powerless-powerless to refuse.
'My God! Thou, too, hast deserted
me-" she inwardly cried, as, staggering
like drunkard, she tried to cross the
floor.
He placed his arm about her for sup
port but the hated touch gave her
back some of her sorely-tried strength.
She shook herself free from him.
''Not that! Anything but that!" she
said and in her voice rang the old,
dauntless scorn. "Your touch, at least,
I may be spared"
Alone she gained the threshold of the
room Suddenly she paused.
Who had spoken?
"The will! The papers! The secret
the secret!''
Distinctly the words fell on her ear.
She turned.
Randolph Chester was standing on
the self-same spot. the same smile
wreathing his thin lips, but he had not
spoken 1t was not his voice that she
had heard:
She peered into the dim recesses. No
one was in hiding.
! THE secret-the secret!"
Again the whisper was borne to her
| ears.
''God in Heaven" she thought. des-
pairingly. "Was it true that madness,
indeed, had overtaken herr"
CHAPTER XX.
How she reached her room. how the