Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-02-20

stars keep company with It, the hush OF
sleeping nature pays homage to it. Sol
EMMY, slowly, from the old belfry tower
the twelve strokes of midnight have
sounded on the air.
Vera. rising cautiously from beside Girl
selda. who is. as usual. sleeping the slecl
of the just. slips gently on to the bare
white across which the moonbeams are
travelling delcately.
Sleep has deserted her. Weary at last
of her efforts to lose herself and her hate
full thoughts i'll unconSciousneSs. she de-
termine> to rise and try what study may
do for her. She steps lightly across the
room, opens the door and speeds with al
haste over the corridor. gaunt and ghost
~ in the dim light. down the grand old
staircase. and enters a room on the left
of the library, where one day she made
the discovery that comfort was to be
found.
Striking match, she lights a lamp
upon side table and proceeds to exam
inc the book shelves. Taking down one
that she thinks will please her, Vera
kneels upon one of the deep window
seats. looks outward, trying to pierce the
soft and scented gloom.
The opening of the door rouses her. 1t
is quite an hour later-an hour forgotten
by her as she read. With a sudden start
she looks up. turning her face over her
shoulder to the door, to see who can be
coming in at this unholy hour. Her
heart grows cold within her as she sees
-Seaton Dysart.
In silence they stare at each other.
Vera, indeed, so great is her astonish-
IN, ri lint s.it j.
ed up among her furs with little frozen
look of fear and detestation on her per-
feet face.
II have disturbed YOU" says Seaton
at last, breaking the spell. and speaking
in distinctly unnatural tone.
Il did hope l should have found pri-
vacy somewhere, at some hour says
she co!dly.
II came for a book" says he, contrite-
ly. "Now that am here. will you per-
nit me to say few words in my own
defensc?"
guised scorn.
''CertainIy. would prove to you how
entirely you have wronged me-" says he,
firmly. Il acknowledge that once my
father expressed wish that ! should
marry YOU" coloring darkly, always
provided you were willing to accept me;
and acknowledgements to that WISH"
But why, why?" demands she, flash
ing round at him.
Il do not wonder at your question. 1t
seems impossible there should be Il rea
son." replies he, coldly; for ever since
the first hour we met you have treated
me with uniform unfriendliness, l had
almost said discourtcsy."
''There is a reason. nevertheless" says
she, hotly. She has come a step or two
nearer to him, and her large, lustrous
eyes nplifted, seem to look defiance into
his. Your reason can fathom-but
your fathers-that confess. puzzles
me. Why should he, whose god is money
choose the penniless daughter of the
brother he defrauded to be-
'Defrauded?" interrupts Seaton, with
a frown.
Call it what you will with an OK
prcssive gesture of her hand-'undertakc
his defense, too: but the fact remains
that the niquitous deed that gave to
your father what should have been ours
was undoubtedly drawn up by my uncle.
l have heard all about it a hundred times.
Your father hardly denied it to mine
when last writing to him. His taking
us home to live with him was, | sup
pose. II sort of PREPARATION. To marry me
to you. and thus give me back the prop
erty he stolc-i> that PREPARATION. too:"
She is as pale as death. and the hands
that cling to the back of the chair near
her are trembling. But her lips are firm
and her eyes flashing. 1t occurs to Sea
ton, gazing at her in breathless silence,
that if She could have eXterminatcd him
then and there by look she would have
done it.
You degrade yourself and me when
You talk like that" says Seaton who is
now II, pale ns she is. For heavens
sake. try to remember how abominably
You misrcpresent the whole thing. If NV
father had Il freak of this kind in his
head-a desire to see You married to his
only son surely there was no discourtesy
to you contained in such n desire 1t was
rathcr-you must see that--a well-mcant
arrangement on his part. 1t was more"
boldly. He loves me; in wishing to see
you my wife he paid you the highest
compliment he could. | defy you to re-
gard it in any other light
You plead his cause wel--it is your
own says she. tapping the back of the
chair with taper, angry fingers. why
take the trouble? Do You think you can
bring III" to view the case in a lenient
light? Am | likely to forget that YOU
you aided and abctted your father in try
ing to force me into this detested mar
riage?"
Pray put that marriage out of your
head. says he. slowly. You have taken
1t too seriously. | assure you | would
not marry you now if you were as will
ing rs you are unwilling. can hardly
put it stronger"
When my grandfather left this prop
erty TO your father" she says, slowly,
she left it purposcly unentailed. Your
father, then. We're you to cross his
wishes could leave you. as | have been
left, pennileSs. To avoid that. you would
fail in with any of his views. You would
even so far sacrifice yourself as to--mar-
ry me- Oh the contempt in her tone.
There is II long pause. Then Seaton.
striding forward. seizes her by both arms
and turns her more directly to the light.
The grasp of his hands is as n wise. and
-afterward-it seemed to her that he
had. involnntarily. as it We're, shaken
her slightly.
How dare you?" he says, in a low.