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

comingly adjusted on her pretty head,
came tripping down the grand old stair
case, and boldly opened the great hall
door; but ere she had time to close 1t,
a preventing hand was laid upon it, and
Randolph Chester's face smiled into
hers.
"Are you going to venture for a walk.
Miss Cora?" he asked, bending his gaze
upon her, and noting that her eyes fell
beneath his glance, while the color
flushed her cheek.
Yes she answered. The sunshine
tempted me. Besides, Mr.. Chester, I
am going shopping in your village, so
you must not detain me-"
"%Shopping?" he repeated after her.
Why, then, should I not be initiated in
to its mysteries? Permit me to ccom
pany you"
mo, I would rather go alone. Please,
let me go alone" h urged, forgetting
her p%oliteness and caution in her eager
ness.
The mans dark eyes flashed: but he
dropped their lids, and.she noted moth
ing.
He had watched her go to Beatrice's
room. He now guessed that her errand
and this visit were closely allied.
He had been fully conscious, too, of
the influence he might exert over this
child.
Heretofore he had been too much en-
crossed by weightier matters to give it
due attention. It behooved him now to
exercise it.
"You will not deprive me Of a quiet
walk with you, Miss Cora?" he said, in
gentle reproach, while his eyes met hers
with a look which seemed to burn into
her soul, and thrilled her with strange,
new happiness. How have I sinned
against you, hat you should be so cru
ell, and what may I do to win forgive
ness?"
swell, the letter could not be posted
to-day" thought Cora. ut must wait
derstand that the delay was through no
fault of hers"
"Come with me If you will. MI. Ches-
ter" she said, aloud. Il only feared
that it might bore you"
Bore me to be with you, Miss Cora?"
he questioned, in accents Of surprise.
You do not know how it rests me-" he
continued, walking on by her side, Ito
come near you. I have had so much
sorrow of late hat to be near one who
does not even guess the meaning of the
word brings comfort of itself. Then,
too, some subtle sympathy has told me-
that you, too, love my cousin, and can
guess what l must suffer in having her
restored to me with her once brilliant
mind clouded, If not forever shattered"
He paused, as though he could say no
more.
Cora's own eyes were filled with tears.
III think you are wrong" she ven-
tured, timidly. We have been so much
together, and I have seer no sign Of q
d%isordered mind"
He smiled indulgently.
She has c%unningly concealed it. But
you heard her last night say that a
voice from the dead had commanded
her to return to her home; and this
morning she detailed a long conversa-
ton as taking place between us last
night, all of which exists only in her
imagination. But I have a greater fear
for her. Will you pardon me, Miss
Cora, If I burden you with my burdens
and my alarms? I do lot know how it
is, but something in your nature tells
me that I may dare claim your sympa-
thy. Beatrice, as I have told you, was
aff1anced wife. Since the fatal
shock Of her fathers death, the most
singular phase of her madness is to look
upon me as her enemy, and to regard
the man who robbed her father-and
who, indeed, proved his assassin, since
the consequent excitement upon the
robbery proved his death-as her friend
and lover. He vas confined in prison,
but escaped; and should Beatrice meet
him, she would unhesitatingly do what
ever he babe her. He is utterly unscru-
pulous, and has already attempted to
force his way into her presence. You
can understand now the terrible and in
creasing anxiety under which I abor.
Think what her awakening would be,
should reason return to her, to find her
self in this mans power, and lost to me
%forever!"
Again his voice broke; but his keen
eyes, under their dark lashes, watched
her covertly, saw the blood recede from
her cheeks until they were Of a CHASTITY
whiteness. and her lips %quivered, while
an awful sense Of responsibility seemed
to crush her with its unwonted weight.
The letter burned like a red-hot coal
in her bosom. e
She doubted not that 1t was to him Of
whom Chester had spoken.
His honor, his truth, she had no rea-
son to doubt. Besides, had he not
pleaded his love for Beatrice? And
what else could be his motive?
Chester saw that the time to strike.
and strike boldly. had come.
He stopped abruptly in the middle OF
the road. and quickly caught her one
little gloved hand, forcing her, likewise.
to pause.
Then he bent his eyes full upon her
face, compelling her to slowlyiraise he,
lids and let her eyes meet his.
Through their clear depths he read
down into her transparent soul.
Cora he said, you are the bearer
of some message to the man Of whom I,
have just told you, though half his
~wickedness I could not tell you. Your
heart is too pure to comprehend. II
you would save Beatrice from herself,
give me this message"
His eyes were. more imperative than
his words. She felt under the potent in-3
fluence of some subtle spell.
His glance never wandered from her
face. His hand frightened its pressure.
UPON hers.
! Instinctively her disengaged fingers
sought the letter. Another moment, and
81 Law before Randolph Chester's hunl--