The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-07-23
\ GILDED SIN.
5Y CHARLOTTE N. BRBAMB.
CHAPTER IN.

GIlc SdlUSuS NEiS g. p4SLS VI WV 90
barley and the corn were ready fcrr the
reapers. Sir Marc had come down
again to the Chace.
Those who had seen Veronica when
she first reached England would harc-
ly have recognized her hao they seen
her now. The beautiful face had
changed so completely: the pale, pas
sionate lovelineSS had deepened into
something more lovely still: there was
more color. more brightness: the dark
loye-lt eyes had in them the radiance
Of full and perfect content. Love had
beautifed her, even as it had beauti-
fed her life.
On this August morning she was IN
her pretty boudoir alone-alone, for
Sir Marc had gone in search OF some
thing to please her. He lived only to
make her happy. She stood IN the
midst Of hundred beautiful things.
Lady Brandon had determined to pre-
sent her with her trousseau, and
large chest had arrived that morning
from Paris. Veronica looked at her
magnificent gift. 1t did not strike
her as it would have done at another
time. She could think only OF her
happiness and her love. She was smll-
ing to herself, wondering whether a
girl was ever so blessed, so happy,
when some one raped gently at her
door. She looked up in surprise when
her maid, Clara Morton, entered the
room. -.
I want to speak to you, Miss di
Cynthia, if you can spare the time,
she said.
Veronica made some courteous an
swer, and felt even more surprised
when the girl closed the door and
fastened the lock. The large long
window that led to the terrace was
open-neither Of them thought OF it..
"Why do you do that, Morton:
asked Veronica.
Because l have that to say to you
which must be said without INTERRUPT
tion.''
Veronica looked up with naughty
displeaSure.
you behave very strangely" she
said: 81 do not like it," She looked
fxedly at the girl, whose face was not
pleasant to See-there was a hvlo llgnt
in her eyes, an air OF crlnglng, yet OF
defiance, in her whole manner.
"You must listen to me, Miss q!
CYNTHIA, she said. Il hold secret OF
yours, and I must be paid for it.
'You can have no secret OF mine,
returned Veronica.
"But have" said the girl. Listen
to me I am engaged to marry yohn
Padding, who once lived here as head
groom. We have been engaged to be
married for eight years, and fortune
has never once smiled on US. He say
ed three hundred pounds and put it
into bank. The bank broke, and he
was left penniless. saved sixty
pounds, and invested it in building
Society, which became bankrupt. For
tune has never once smiled on US un-
til now. Now John Padding has an
offer from a farmer in Australia: II
he can go out there, and take five hun
dred pounds with him, We shall make
our fortune"
II do not see what this has to do
with me-" interposed Veronica.
II do, Miss di Cynthia. | hold a
secret of yours, and l want five hun
dred pounds as the price of my silence"
''You are talking nonsense, Morton.
l can only imagine that you have lost
your senses"
you will find, on the contrary,
Miss di Cynthia, that was never more
sensible in my life. Let me tell you
what I have to say
Veronica looked at her. In the eX-
citement of the interview she had risen
and confronted her.
"Come to the point at once, please"
said Veronica. What have you to
say?"
The girl looked uneasily at her mis-
tress; the color came and went IN her
face: her eyes dropped. Raising her
head, SheSaid suddenly
1T is for Johns sake-I would do
anything for John"
Veronica gave a sigh Of resignation.
What this strange scene meant she
could not tell, but it would end at
some time no doubt. Morton heard
the sigh.
you are impatient, miss" said she.
II am coming to the matter. DO not
like to speak Of it to you, you have
been a kind mistress to me. But 1t IS
for Johns sake-I would do anything
for him."
''Will you be kind enough just to
come to the point?" said Veronica.
Il WILL" answered Clara Morton:
Yet Veronica saw that she had to
summon all her courage, to make a
most desperate effort. She looked up
at her. ,,,o,.,. so..,
Miss di Cynthia? You remember the
day after it. Though it was warn!
June day, you would have a hre IN
your room"
Veronica started: her face grew
white, low cry came from her lips:
go on she said to the girl, who
had paused abruptly when she saw the
change in her mistress face.
THAT very Gay, miss, | thought
there was something wrong" she said.
"Why should you want a tire when the
June sun was shining so warmly? l
said to myself that you had something
to burn
Another low cry came from Eeron-
lea. Norton continued
'sI-you will be very angry with me.
Miss di Cyntha-I watched YOU, l
knelt down and looked through the
keyhole The key was in the lock,
so that could not see much, but saw
distinctly a roll Of parchment in your
hands, and l saw you put it in the ire:
7 saw it begin to burn, and was wild
toknoW what it was. All at once | had
an idea that you were destroying some
thing that belonged to Sir Jasper, and
was determined to know"
She paused, while the beautiful face
gazing into hers grew deadly white.
II invented an excuse TO get you
from the room, Miss di Cynthia" she
continued. Il told you that Lady
Brandon had not answered Knock at
her door-it was simplyaneXcuse TO get
YOU from the room. Then l TOOK from
- tho 1.ln rra6 rarf1I ms OF the