The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1902-08-01
Veronica, IS sweet face would Siie Yer
Shine. Time would pass hen once he

Shine. Time would pass w hen once he
was oyer the seas Sle would live on ex-
element Anything VOL ID be better
than staying IN England, Yet by
nightand by day despite all his stern
lesolys e 19 erge6 she W
burned theWill- what her motive was
---wnaJ shc lad gained Ivy itIg W'as it
possible that the will took from her
some legacy or gift?
81 never thought that she even cared
formoney," he said to himself over and
over again. "She seemed so free from
all mercenary taint. Why did she
destroy the will?" The more he
thought aboutit the more he was plz-
zled ,,the greater grew the mystery. He
drove himself almost mad with con-
occurring; and he never even family
guessed the truth, it never dawned
across him.
SO the time wore away; he bore pa
ticntly allicOmmcntS and remarks. 1t
was supposed by the world in general
that he had been dismissed by Miss di
|Cyntha;n no one had even anlnkling OF
the truth, lie grew pale and thin dur
| ing those few months; but they passed
at last. Two days before Christmas
day al. his arrangements were made
and he was ready to sail. lie bethQught
himself then that it would only be
right to destroy the charrcd fragments
Of the will Tor If they fell into othcr
hands there would be danger and one
wild day ~ Dccombcr, ,when tho wind
was wailing and roaring round the
from it the little parcel, Tho snow
was beating furiously against the win
dow, great masses Of cloud darkcned
the heavy skies; then camo q lull in the
storm. Never until tho day ho dios
will Sir Marc forget the hour and the
scene. With some curiosity ho went
to the window to examine the cfarrcd
fragments. quite distinctly he saw the
words "Thc last will and testament
OF, StrJasper i3randon.n
self. nWhat could have prompted @ her
| to do this most evil deed2"
| q little rObin-rcdbrcast fell With hut
te.ing wings on tho wind0wsill, bpatcn
down by the snow and wind; it lay
there fillttcring, gaSpinB with It's little
life almost gone. He waS tender OF
heart, this man SO stern in morals; he
could not endure the sight Of the little
birds agony. Hc dr0ped the parch-
ment and opened the window. lie took
the little helpless creature, lie warmed
it and fed 1t, and than bcthought him
| SCll vi UiIkS Will ~ lluSpEtlSbt w f{lOh
1t up; it had opened as it fell, and ais he
raised it he saw words that he had not
seen before. lie took it to the window,
apd as he examined ii his face grew
white, great dark shadows Gamp into
his eyes, and he cried
"Grcat Heaven! How is 1t that [
have never even thought OF this be-
| forc?"
CHAPTER XI.
| Great had been the CONSERVATION at
! Queens Chacc when Lady Brandon, in
few curt words, said that Miss di
/ Cyntha's wedding was postponed in
| definitely. The worst Of it was there
came no solution to the mystery
whether there had been u quarrel o.
not no one could say. All that was
known was that Sir Marc had left
quite suddenly one day, and that two
or three days aftcrward those inter
cstcd had been told to cease all prcpa
ratiOns for the wedding,
No one was more aStOniShcd thar
) Katherine when her mother told hcl
the news; and at first she refused tC
believe it.
There is some mistake, mama, she
cried; 81 would more readily believe
that Alton did dot care for me-"
Unfortunately there is no mistake ,
said Lady Brandon sadly.
"Whosc fault is it?" inquired Kath
crime. Not Vcronica's? am quito
sure that Veronica loved Sir Marc
moro dearly than can tell. Italways
seemed to me that her love was hcl
life. 1t cannot be Sir Mares for ht
loved The very ground She stood OH.
cannot mdcrstand 1t, mama. What
does Veronica say?"
Nothing. She only looks unuttcr
ably sad and miserable, and bcgs OF me
not to talk about i'll"
81 will go to her myself" }" said Kathc
rinc impulSivcly.
"It is useless, Katherine" returned
Lady Brandon. "She will only be moro
miserable than cyer.'
But Katherine would not be contrOll
eel. She FASTENED up to VcrOnca's
room and found her fayorite standing
by the window.
My darling, you have been I'LL" she
cried. Mama says that you tainted ?
Then she started, for Veronica haG
turned round to greet her, and tic
change that had come over her was sc
terrible that the young heiress was
shocked. Veronica'S face was pale anG
worn, the dark eyes were fearless, but
there was in them look Of fathOmless
woe! M A
Veronica" cried the girl, "it is
true then! can see from your face
that il is true; there is no need to ask a
question. You and Sir Marc have
parted" ''
"Yes," she said drcarily, 1--WE have
| parted, Katllerine-nOt for an hour, {,
day, or u year, but forever.
II will not believe it! What has
| come between you who loved each