Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-04-24
CHAPTER VI.-CONTINUED.

"'The person before me is threatened
with a sad calamity, were her first
words. Then, although she could not
possibly have known that knew of her,
or had the slightest intention of con-
sulting her, she gave me a clear, true
outline of my past life"
Every strange, indeed" said Blanche.
''It was, to be sure" went on Mrs.
Goddard. "And what she told me Of
the past made me dread more than ever
her first statement. I presently found
courage to ask her what she meant by
that allusion.
"'You are about to take a voyage,
said she, after a moments reflection,
and, while you may come back safely,
I am afraid you will die away from your
native land
"'Would you advise me to stay at
home?' asked her.
"'No, you need not try to escape
your fate she answered. In fact, your
impulse to go away from America is
a step in the right direction, and if you
have to die it would be better to die
while trying to atone for that which
you regret SO sincerely %
Glow very awful!' exclaimed
Blanche. The recital had really ex.
cited her beyond description.
''Her warning has brought all the
good there is in me to the surface" de-
clared Mrs. Goddard. ST want to stop
right now and try to beat retreat
and disentangle myself from the tolls
my sin has wound around me-" The
speakers voice dwindled away into ST
lence. Then she seemed TO make re-
solve to be more candid than ever.
Blanche" she sighed, 81 have not
told you the worst yet. have wronged
you more than [ did him-more than ]
ever did anybody in my life, because
you were so young at the time, and /
struck you from the dark"
"Wronged me?" The girl drew her
self up with a sudden intuition of what
was coming.
Yes, you, my poor. innocent child.
When the jor first began to come to
see me it was simply that he might
pour his love for you into a sympa thetic
ear. He was madly in love with you.
He could talk of nothing but his beauti-
ful ward. | lad heard of his riches,
and l at once set about to dethrone
you. laid tae most adroit plans to Sc
cure his attentions. I used all the wiles
in my power. It was an awful strug-
gle, but the prize was big one in my
sight. I was heartily tired of the sor-
did life [ was leading and was fired
with the ambition to be a social leader
to use the arts felt was born with.
When he fell it was very sudden Then
pretended that [ was trying to re-
treat because he was rich and I was
poor, but that only infamed him al
the more, as I knew it would You
know the rest. Now, you may hate me.
for If it had not been for me he would
have gone on loving you, and-and you
would have made him happier than I
can, for-oh, Blanche. I know your Sc
cret, and that has been part of my pun
1shment! [ have ruined both your life
and his"
why do you tell me all this?" asked
Blanche, bitterly, and, unwilling to dis
claim the accusation just uttered, she
put her hands to her face and began to
tremble from head to foot.
why do I tell you about it?" said
Mrs. Goddard, cold, snaky CLEAN in
her eyes, because if anything were
to happen to me want you to remem-
Der that [ now say that God selected
you for his bride and Satan and I
thWarted the plan. Therefore, remem-
Der that-if I should die abroad (you
see, cannot forget that woman's un-
canny prediction)-I want you to con-
sole him at once by marrying him as
soon as he asks you
Oh, thlsis simply dreadful" Blanche
uncovered her white face and stared
fNedly al the woman.
L know it, was the answer. "but see
that you keep what I have told YOU to
yourself. Blanche, you cannot DENY
that you have loved him long time.''
Il don't intend to- said the con-
quered girl. 'He is the best man that
ever liyed-the noblest. the truest. the
most abused. Ifyou had only made him
happy-but you have not; he is beside
himself with grief over your depar-
ture.'
THAT is true, but it can't be helped.
Now leave me. feel very unhappy to-
night-unhappy because I have made
you so. | am not all bad"
Blanche rose. She was like a boat
buffeted by conflicting currents. She
believed Jeanne to be remorseful be-
cause her confessed deeds appeared so
horrible to her unsullied mind.
I am so sorry for you," she was
enabled to say sincerely.
vii you kiss me, Blanche?
Yes, for am sorry for you, in spite
of"
Il know" broke in Mrs. Goddard, and
she kissed the girl on the lips. 1t was