The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-21
~ CHARLES E.. PEARCE.


was tremulous with passion-"I-I think /
could commit murder If it would make you
mine I want you for my wife, Eleanor.
swear to you all that has happened shall
be forgotten. 1 will only live for your hap
piness. You have misjudged me hitherto.
You always have misjudged me. IT al
lowed myself to be persuaded into an en-
gagement with Linda Clare it was entirely
ON your account"
"On my account?" repeated Eleanor.
Yes. Three months ago I was entirely
dependent for my income upon what my
mother chose to give me. She didn't like
you-I daresay you've discovered this
and had married you then. she wouldn't
have planked down a single penny. But
when said Id make up to Linda she went
mad with joy, and there wasn't the slight
est difficulty In turning her round my
me absolutely. The things all fixed mp,
and I can do as I like and laugh at the
old lady. Clever, wasn't it?"
"Despicable,'' cried Eleanor, Indignantly
And what about your lies to Linda Clare?
presume you made believe you loved
her?"
Don't make any mistake about that
There's no love on either side that know
of. The thing was arranged between the
mothers
IF it be so, you are none the less to be
despised, and
I'VE need not discuss me- he broke in
| sullenly. AT least. you can't say I have
deceived you. But I'm not going to waste
any more time, I want to know your an
swer. Will you be my wife? If not-you
know the alternative
His voice became almost sibilant; she
could see the lines in his face hardening
and his eyes cleaning vengefully. The
girl was beginning to understand the real
nature Of the man cruel fate had thrown
| In her path-ungovernable passion, intense
selnshness, pttileSs pertinacity, and not a
slight dash of meanness and cunning. But
the very baseness of her enemy nerved
her and stimulated her brain. In an in
slant she made up her mind what to do;
craft should be met with craft.
ooh, you have been sufficiently explicit
I understand the conditions perfectly, but
it is only fair I should have time to con-
slider the position
He was satisfied with her reply a
| satisfaction tempered, however by sur
prise. He expected much more feminine
emotion. She evidently had far greater
nerve power and control than he sus-
| pected. -
You shall have as much time as you
want-within reason. I shant let you
hold the rope" he added, with a coarse
laugh. That's my affair." and warn you
I'm going t,o keep tight grip Of 1t. A
mot enough" said she, promptly.
1.-TWO months.
Eyes"
She wheeled round quickly eager to rid
! herself of his presence, and walked away
outWardly quite calm, but inwardly con-
! scious Of the most terrible misgivings-
misgivings which were not lessened by
his parting threat.
! Remember" he whispered, this day
two months I shall call at Picadilly for
your answer. do not need your promise
/ this time to receive me-"
! He STROBE away, and she returned to the
| ballroom to find the waltz half over and
her disappointed partner looking about
disconsolately for her. ~
ooh! here you are" he exclaimed, his
face frightening when he saw her enter
the room. II was beginning to think you
had forgotten me- =-- So. ST.. 1880.
! NO. indeed. I don't feel very we'll. Do
you mind excusing me?"
The young man looked terribly dis
appointed, but it was clear Eleanor
spoke the truth. She seemed both un-
we'll and worried. He was full Of regrets.
Could he be of any service?
Yes. If you would be so good as to
see me to the hotel. am sorry to leave
so much enjoyment, but of what use is
enjoyment If you are not in the mood for
it?" .'.,
In few minutes she had on her wra ps
and they were out of the Casino grounds.
Her companion would have called a car
riage, but she insisted upon walking. The
exercise, the fresh air, she declared, would
do her good
Her father had gone to bed, and she was
thankful, for she was afraid he Nigh,
notice she was disturbed and ply her with
questions which she would find difficult tt
answer. .... ..-,
She sat for some little time at the oper
window of her bedroom. The quietude
broken every now and again by the distant
strains of the band as the wind waited
the sounds in her direction, was soothing
The silvery sea was dazzling in its white
ness. The shadows of the trees and thick
cts, OF the trinity kept garden, were BLACK
as ink. .E
The surroundings the solitude, were al
favorable for thinking out the scheme
which had flashed into her mind when sh.
; determined to meet Hargrave Denton or
his own ground. She resolved to do al h,
had done, go down to Bodmin and search
/. the records for the past history Of hel
father. It was a terrible thing for
daughter to do. She almost despised her
self, but painful as the task was, it wa
better to know once for all the extent o
EIargraVe Denton's power. To be Ger
tain how far he could go was everything
Besides, was she not fighting her father!
battles as we'll as her own
Il have two months before me- sh
thought. II must go back to England a
soon as possible. shall not rest unit
have solved this horrible mystery" S
Then she wondered If it would be SAT
for her father to return to London woul
/ he offer any objection If she suggested
they had been sufficiently long on tn
, continent? She thought mot, for as
matter Of fact, he had stayed for tn
: opening Of the Monte Carlo season NOR
on her account than on his own.
Rising from her chair, she was abou
, to close the window when she saw som
one creeping in the shadows of tn
thickets. Evidently the man did not wis
to be seen, or why did he not come GU
in the open? Again, why should he stan,
! still for some seconds looking up at tn
hotel? It seemed to her he was In
crouching position, but she could not b
+ sure, for his figure was in shadow
. Suddenly he rose, his face emerge
from the line Of blackness into the light
and then she recognized the man she ha
, seen in Piccadilly on the day Of the Dia
, mond jubilee.
. IT. 11ro g rot ,ocoenitfon ,r, d,,o IL,