Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-09-24
CHAprER XYIII.-lContinued.l

"When you believed that, you were
right. Not a soul in the world does know
of the fact but your lawyer and Lone
Marsden. See Lawrence Richmond d.
you recognize that document and from
her bosom she drew a scroll; 1T is The
paper that takes from you Richmond Ter
race, the home Of your ancestors. | an
the one whom it has pleased to call her
self Lionel Marsden."
He stood there mute his eyes glued up
on the precious document. All, if it were
but destroyed. Richmond Terrace NIGH
yet be his, and yet little good it woulC
be for him to do the deed, for beyond q
doubt her lawyer had made it secure.
mysterious woman, who are YOU
What cause for enmity have you against
me that you hunt me down? Heaven has
seen fit to punish me for my great sin
but even she if she lived, could not look
save with pity upon the wreck Of the
once proud Lawrence Richmond. ] keep
up a show of pride still. but it is a hol-
low mockery, for my heart is crushed
within, and / am fit only for the grim
reaper, Death. The past haunts me, and
yet / DO not regret it, for ! was right
loved her, oh how dearly, but she was
false to me, and | sent her from me"
The old man seemed overcome with
these recollections. and apparently forgot
that there was any one present His
head had fallen upon his chest, and his
whole attitude was one Of despair.
Fancy the feelings of his lost wife,
standing there in front of him and hear
ing such TRADE from his lips. 1t was
very evident that Time, healer of many
wounds both of body and heart, had fail
ed to entirely alleviate the pain that had
lain in the breast OF this man.
One little lingering hope had remained
and by this slender thread he was saved
from utter darkness He loved the mem
DRY of what his wife had once been to
him, even while he hated and cursed that
fatal day when they had separated 10
meet no more. Thus it was the recollec-
ton rushing upon him seemed to bewilder
his brain.
There that woman stood, with folded
hands and eyes full of unshed tears, wait
ing in an agony of suspense. Something
of the truth must have entered her mind,
for she Ndid not betray herself. The
wrongs Of the past. endured at the hands
of this man, arose before her mental
vision, and the sight must have given her
both courage and strength, for she grad
ually drew her form back until, frCal a
wistful. pleading position, she had as
sumed the attitude of a queen.
Madam, you are more than you seem;
you hold a power over my head, and can
send Lawrence Richmond out into the
world almost a beggar, but he never ask
ed a favor of man or woman in his LIE,
and it is too late to begin now, see YOU
are allied with my enemies, but defy
you; do your worst"
There was something really heroic in
the old mans manner as he folded his
arms over his chest and threw back his
head. The breeze blew his long white
hair itfully, and added new strength to
the picture.
Heaven forbid that 1 should wish to
harm you. No, no; | have forgiven ali.
Do you see this document? 1t is worth
a kings ransom. There, it is lost, lost
foreyerr'
As she spoke she turned into the house
and hurled the mortgage into the flames
of small fire burning upon the hearth,
an operation Lawrence Richmond wit
messed with amazement
Woman. are you mad? There is a for
tlne in that paper. 1t shall never be said
Richmond accepted such sacrifice
from a stranger" and he woulG have
leaped forward to save the document but
that she barred the way.
mo, thousand times no! See it
shrivel up. There, Richmond Terrace is
yours again"
Woman. who are you" he gasped,
hoarsely.
Seek not to know she replied; but
he caught her wrist and turned her to
the light.
Proudly she met the blaze + his mad
eyes.
''It is my wife! This is retributinn. My
sin has found me out!' and he fell back,
dazed.