The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24
A STRANGE CRAVE
"Jilted-jilted!"

"Jilted-jilted!
The words came from the lips of sat-
urnine-faced man, and the bitterness OK
them. in spite of his self-possession and the
soft manner of utterance. showed that he
was cruelty wounded. There was no one
TO hear the words, which were neither
angry nor hasty, for he sat alone In the
reading room of his club. gazing from the
window at the ceaseless traffic or Piccadu-
iy without seeing IL. What was before his
eyes was the vision of womans face, Ia
all its radiant youth and beauty-of the
woman who would have been his wife II
she had never. met his friend Philip Dew
ereux.
For an hour, unheeding those who came
into or went from the room. Jarvis Mar
low sat thinking. holding a letter crushed
in his hand, which would change his whole
future life. and in his sinister eyes there
was look. eloquent OF the black, mais-
nant hatred burning in his heart.
Betrayed by the man who was my IN
innate friend-the man whom saved from
ruin only last settling day-who was my
guest a week ago." he muttered. and his
face grew lvid with suppressed passion.
Deceived by the woman who"
NARROW did not finish the sentence. but
getting up from his chair he walked to the
fireplace. unfastening a locket, set with
a large diamond in the center, from his
watch chain. For a moment he hesitated
as il to open it but refrained from the ac-
ton, and holding the locket over the crate
he dropped it amongst the fiercely burning
Goals. watching the gold melt and the pic
ture Of Stephanie Montrose shrivel and
Danish in the fervent heat. Then the sound
of a voice caused him to turn sharply.
The new conner was Philip Devereux.
You're the very man / wanted to see.
Marrow" he exclaimed. I'm hard hit.
Here's a letter / had this morning from
Abrahams. He refuses to renew, and I'll
have to find s40o for him by Monday"
"You mean to say will lend you f4oo?''
replied NARROW, quietly. To-day is Wednes-
day. You shall have the money by Satur-
day. I'm going down to Ravenscroft to-
night If you come there on Saturday you
shall have what you want"
by Jove. NARROW, you're too awfully
good. I'll let you have every penny back
that you've lent me-"
when you have control of your wife's
fortune. presume?" replied NARROW, glanc-
ing down into the fire, and Devereuxs face
suddenly flushed.
Don't understand" he retorted. clum-
silly. "who told you was going to be mar
ried?" and NARROW gave little laugh as he
moved away.
II shall see you at Ravenscroft, then"
he said. I'll meet you at the station.
There will be ample time for you to get
back to London on Sunday night. and so to
settle with Mr.. Lazarus Abrahams on Men
day morning. Get rid Of him. or he'll suck
every drop of blood out Of your body"
81 pledged my honor never to touch a
card again; my promise has been given.
And this will be my last transaction with a
money lender. trust me-" replied Devereux.
Isn't it little too old-fashioned to talk
of honor?" sneered NARROW. and at sight OF
the others serious face he burst into a
harsh laugh. But we won't argue about
| that. Don't forget Saturday"
Devereux walked slowly away from the
| club, bordering. He was honorable
enough in his commerce with his fellows
but a pair Of sweet gray eyes and the
touch of a woman's hand had made him
| forgetful Of himself and her. And she to
whom love came then for the first time re-
turned his passion for all her promises
to Jarvis NARROW. In whose clenched hand
had been her letter asking him to release
her from their engagement, and he under
stood. He and Stephanie were to be stran-
gers to each other henceforward, and his
pride revolted from upbraiding her. Still.
there was the man who had supplanted,
| deceived, and blasted his whole life, who
| might be reckoned with. and sitting there
| gazing vacantly from the club window
Jarvis NARROW planned his next interview
| with Devereux.
Ravenscroft was lonely old house, with
memories Of Cavalier days. and many a
| secret hidden beneath its hoary roof. A
useful house in by-gone times, for an an
| cestor of Jarvis NARROW had laid secreted
there for weeks though Cromwells men
had searched high and low for him through
the mansion without success. AS NARROW
sat thinking. he remembered the story.
And Ravenscroft would be useful again, a
thought which brought a peculiar smile to
| his dark face.
He went down to the place that evening,
unexpected by the servants, of whom there
were four, and the following morning dis
| missed them with three months wages in
| lieu of notice. Ravenscroft was to be shut
up, ne explained-he. was going to travel
| and would be away for a year probably
and by Saturday morning Jarvis NARROW
| was the sole occupant OF the house, hug
ging the misery gnawing at his heart in
| silence How he loved the woman who
| had Tilted him. mourning her as a loved
one dead. and then his thoughts were OF
| Philip Devereux again.
Must you really disappoint me, Philip
| 1t was Stephanie who half whispered the
| words. as he and she sat alone In her faith
| er's house. Devereux had promised, q
week ago. that he would accompany her
and her mother to the opera on the follow
| ing Saturday, but meantime Mr.. Lazarus
Abrahams had interviewed and altered Dew
| ereux's arrangements.
| II have business appointment which
must keep. my darling" he answered, look
| ing lovingly down into her gray eyes. ''You
may think how important 1t is when it will
take me away from you, though only for q
| few hours.
He would have told her of his promised
visit to Ravenscroft, but Jarvis NARROW.
| name was taboo between himself and
/ Stephanie.
$50 it is goodbye. my darling" he went
on. taking her hand in his
| 'T hate saying goodbye" she an.
swered. Let IL be only good day,