Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-05-23
CHAPTER XIII.

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had betrayed. 1T cannot be just as yor
say! Or. even so, cannot prove false
to my word!"
My child, I have already told you
Beatrice is not responsible for her own
acts. We who love her so we'll cannot
guard her too closely. Do you trust me
so little, Cora. that you think 1 would
intercept any message she would cars
to send. did not know how hurtful il
would prove to her? Take back the let
ter. then! Go your way with it! Only
remember that you must accept the re.
sponsibility of your own act!'
He ha!f-turned away an expression OF
pain upon his handsome face.
The child wavered, but his subtle in:
fluence 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. Il wish to leave some Or
ders there. Then we will go on to the
village together for our promised shop
ping"
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stood open; the lodge door was closed.
He knocked imperatively.
After some delay a shutting step was
heard within. bolt was Withdrawn and
the door flung open.
Instinctively Cora shrank back.
A man, evidently scarcely recovered
from a nights debauch, stood on the
threshold.
4 Tr,1aa1 n ho ha1 i,1cr no
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. wait for me outside, Miss
Cora. If you will walk up and down
before the gates I will rejoin you in a
very few moments
so 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, but they were neither
excuse nor explanation.
Chester's eyes lighted on the steaming
jug and, walking rapidly toward it, he
held over it the letter which had just
fallen into his hands.
From under his red, bleared eyelids
Tyrrell watched him.
The steam soon did it's work. The en-
velope. moistened, but otherwise unin-
jured, was readily unsealed. Beatrice's
eager cry to Talbot was spread before
his gaze.
An instant sufficed for him to gain it's
meaning. A cruel, triumphant light
shot into his eyes.
This letter must not fail to reach its
destination. 1t 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 dam
ger of him sleeping on his post The fly
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 find 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, NUT
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, Its doing me better sar-
vice, this same jug, this minute, than
the dirty, name task you set it your
self! All, it's no good y're up to, and
nobody knows it better than 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 took instant flight.
what will 1 say to Beatrice?" she
asked.
'Humor her, my child. Tell her that
you have mailed the letter."
you think it would not be wrong to
so deceive her?"
would I so advise you were it
wrong?" he tenderly asked.
And oEce more, poor, little fluttering
bird, fascinated and beguiled, she 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 been
accomplished, and the letter calling
Bertram Talbot to Grey Oaks was on
it's way toward it's destination.
Beatrice's former rooms had been as
signed Miss Lorrimer, and in them,
some few mornings later, she sat in
deep thought.
Things were not working to her sat-
isfaction. She was learning to hate Be
atrice Markham with bitter hatred; to
hate the beauty which beguiled her low
ers glance; to hate the sweet, low
voice which yet held such note OF
sadness: to hate the very misfortunes
which served to 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 his
cousin, had taken her, like Beatrice, by
surprise, and had but endowed her to
Allen with fresh interest.
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