The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-18

late. and Mrs. Bellairs would be alarmed at
her absence. She turned to retrace her
steps. when suddenly In the gloom a dark
figure rose up before her. a hand clutched
her arm with an iron grip. and a voice
cried angrily: STOP
Lettuce Bell was no coward. but as she
realized her position-alone on those de-
serted cliffs at the mercy Of n stranger. who
seemed to bear her some strange animosity
her heart quailed.
please let me pass she said quietly:
II want to get home"
You will wait and listen to me- cried
the imperious voice. What 90 you mean
by presumlng to rob my children. by com
ing between my daughter and her birth
right? Do you know that We are alone
here. and you are in my power? l could
push you over these cliffs. and the serpent
In my path would be removed. l could
crush you into nothingness; IL"
A wild cry for help rose on the November
air. Ii reached Sir Lionel Bellairs. who.
alarmed at finding Lettuce still out when
he came home. had started to meet her.
Guided by the sound he FASTENED on: an
other moment. and he had dragged her
from the strangers Infatuated grasp.
"Lettice. what is II? Has she dared to
hurt you? She must be a mad woman"
The mad woman had sped away steaIthily;
she knew her crime had been prevented.
Was she sorry she had not been prompter
and sent poor Lettice to her doom before
help came. or did she thank God she had
been saved from a terrible crime? Who
can say?
Sir Lionel felt the slender form he held
sway? He caught Lettuce I'm his arms. and
laid her gently on the ground; he knew
she had tainted. He was so engrossed
with her that he let her enemy escape
him. He always said afterwards il must
have been a lunatic who had escaped from
her keepers. He saw nothing at the time
but a long, black-robed figure. closely yelled,
who stood with arms outstretched threat
ening Lettuce.
He chafed the girls hands ;enderIy in his:
he called on her again and again. and at
last she opened her eyes. and looked won
d~eringly around her in the darkness.
you are quite safe now he said gent
ly: and as soon as you feel better 1 will
take you nome"
But that dreadful woman-I thought she
meant to kill me-"
she has gone.'' said Sir Lionel. TT
must have teen a wandering lunatic. Let
tice. I shall never cease to be thankful I
came in time"
Mrs. Bellairs welcomed the wanderer
very kindly; but. when she saw how white
and terrified Lettuce still looked. she in
sisted on her going to bed at once. and
staying there in the morning till she felt
more like herself.
1t was in the November freight that
Lettice and Sir Lionel met again. His
mother had gone to afternoon service: and
when he went into the pretty drawing-room
Lettuce was lying on the sofa, her beautiful
eyes bright with tears.
You saved my life. Sir Lionel" she
whispered; "and. indeed. I am not migrate
full. only I don't know how to thank you"
Shall I tell you. Lettice? BY giving me
the right to protect and guard you always.
Lettuce. I love you as I never thought to
love. Will you be my wife?''
Il cannot-oh. l cannot. Sir Lionel. do
not tempt me-
IF you care for me. Lettuce. nothing In
the world shall part us. II your heart Is
not mine. child. nothing could tempt you;
I know that full we'll"
you don't understand she said hoarse-
1y. Have you forgotten Bertram.'
"Betram? What In the world ha, he to
do with it,
"You must have known. He said he told
You all about our engagement. and how his
going to America would put of your we'd
ding"
Sir Lionel started.
You can't mean that you are engaged
! to Bertram Payneg'
yes"
you are the girl he means to marry on
something less than three pounds a week.
"Yes.j
Don't answer me in monosyIlablesr' he
cried ansrily. Don't deal out your words
one by one. as il they were drops Of poison.
Tell me this; which do you love. Bertram
or meg'
She did not answer: she simply could not.
But Lionel understood her silence. He came
a little nearer. and would have taken her
in his arms. only she prevented him.
"Don't!' she said hoarsely, don't urge
me to be false to him, Remember, but for
this voyage ! should be his wife,'
Il ask you to be true to yourseIfr' said
Bellairs hoarsely. IF you love me-and you
can't deny that IL Is so-what happiness can
you expect with Betram Payne-a mere
boy-who IL not worthy of your'
He loves me with all his heart," she
answered. "and I will never betray his
trustl Sir Lionel. won't you see-can't You
understand? For my sake he gave IN his
ambition-his love Of art. I can't forsake
him! i must keep my wordr'
You never loved him.
"T was fond Of him. she answered. "And
I was so lonely, I liked TO think I should
belong to someone-be first with someone.
I knew I did mot feel as he did; but I
thought. perhaps. 7 was one OF those
women Love passes by"
What folly, Lettice. listen to me. You
shall not wreck your life and mine for a
scruplei I will send Betram to Rome. I
will provide him with the means to pursue
his artistic career. I will smooth his path
to fame"
You would bride him to give 10 me,
And you think he would consentr'
81 can't think II IL injuring him really to
give up a wife who does not love him"
IF I could do this thing. n I could come
to you across the road made by the ruin
of Bertie's life. there would be no happiness
Tor us. You would remember always 7 had
forsaken him.. and It would kill your trust
In me-"
In his heart he knew she was rsrht. hut
he made one last effort to move her.
will you let me speak to Payne, and
abide by his decision?"
NO. because he would prefer my happi-