The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-11-05
lavishly endowed her, never doubling
that they would prove irresistible.

tated by common courtesy, Mr.. Dud.
ley seemed scarcely aware of her pres
ence.
So accustomed was Isabel to homage
and adulation that she inwardly re
sented this as 4 personal wrong. and
she redoubled the arts and allure
| ments that had never been exercised
vainly until now. Not that their OBJ
| ject seemed altogether insensible to
them; they were times when he even
| sought her society, causing her heart
to acknowledge the wondrous fasci-
nation, not only in his converse ton,
but in every look and tone. But she
noticed-with a fierce jealousy at her
heart Of which she had not supposed
herself capable-how easily he could
turn from her to any other, forget
ting. apparently. her very existence.
She could not but know that he took
a strong interest in her, but of what
nature this interest was she tortured
herself vainly to determine. She often
caught his eyes fixed intently upon
her, a strange, inscrutable look in
them, which made her heart futter
with the vague and delightful hopes
to which it gave rise.
Mr.. Dudley's moods were very yari-
able, to say the least. Sometimes he
saw her almost daily, and then absent
ed himself for days at a time; some.
times he came into the room where she
was without speaking to or even look
ing at her, and then he was almost
lover-like in his looks and manner.
In this way Isabel was kept for
some weeks in state of alternate hope
and fear, thus experiencing the tor
ments she mad herself inflicted so often
and so remorselessly.
II thought that you did not believe
in love?
The two-Isabel and Mr.. Dudley
were alone together which seldom oc-
Cured.
Isabers heart beat fast; there was
something in the look and tone Of the
speaker that strengthened her hopes
almost to certainty. She determined
to bring matters to crisis.
THAT was before"-the eyes lifted
to those that were regarding her 80
intently, were wondrously bright-"be-
fore 1 met you, Maurice"
"And so you do love me, Isabel?"
A swift, burning flush swept up over
neck and bosom, even to the temples.
More than life-better than my own
soulr'
The silence that followed fell coldly
on the heart that gave utterance to
this passionate outburst, and the look
which met the questioning glance that
Isabel lifted to that dark, stern face,
struck more colder still. =,
But she had goze 90 far to retreat
now.
! Even as believe-as must believe
you love me-"
did I ever say that I loved you?'
Isabel was silent for some moments.
He never had, as she vas humbled
and sick at heart 20 remember.
mot in words, perhaps, but there
are ways. there are looks, far more
eloquent
"True. But did you never look
love that you did not feel?-flling the
cup of hope and JOY to the very brim,
and dashing it to earth as it was raised
to the eager lip?"
She had done this many, many times,
as she we'll knew. But she had no
thought for this now.
"You do love me, Maurice:'
Not many men could have resisted
that appealing look.
Taking a locket from his breast, Maui
rice Dudley touched the spring, re.
vealing a fair young face, almost in
fantine in it's innocence and beauty.
This is all that remains to me of
the only woman have ever loved
that ever shall love. If there are such
things as angels, SIZE is one now
The fierce jealousy that had taken
possession Of Isabers heart was fol-
lowed by q sense of relief at the con-
cluding sentence. She made no effort
to disguise the joy that flashed from
the suddenly lifted eyes,
Dead"
"Murdered! And by hands as soft,
and white, and beautiful as yours,
lady"
Isabel shrank, she scarcely knew
why, from that burning gaze.
"How-how terriblev' she faltered.
Gay, it was terrible, as you will
find. Woman, it was you that muir
dered herr
"I?'
"You! Do you remember Oscar How
ard, he whom your vile arts drove to
despair, to madness, to death? He was
her brother, her only brother. and
when the terrible tidings reached her,
her gentle heart broke. Now, farewell.
Tomorrow, at this time, I shall be
many miles from here"
The despair, the agony in Isabel
Lorne's face was something terrible
to look upon.
But you will return? Oh, Maurice.
I repent-I repent! Do not utterly