The Grit-advocate., 1903-12-04


tering. After the first few words, die
tated by common courtesy. Mr. bud.
| ley seemed scarcely aware of her pres.
| ence.
So accustomed was Isabel to homage
and adulation that she inwardly re
| sented this as n 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 10
them; they We're times when he even
sought her society. causing her heart
to acknowledge the wondrous fasci-
nation, not only in his conversation,
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
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, strange, inscrutable look in
them, which made her heart flutter
with the vague and delightful hopes
to which it gave rise.
| Mr.. Dudley's moods were very vari-
able, to say the least. Sometimes he
saw her almost daily, and then absent
ed himself for days at 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 a state of alternate hope
and fear, thus experiencing the tor
ments she had herself inflicted so often
and SO remorselessly.
Il thought that you did not believe
in love?"
+. were alone together, which seldom oc
Cured.
Isabel's 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 a crisis.
| "That was before''-the eyes lifted
to those that We're regarding her so
intent!y. We're wondrously bright-"be-
fore | 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
soulw
The silence that followed fell coldly
OH 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 goue 200 FAR to retreat
now.
Even as l believe-as l must believe
you love me-
Did l ever say that I loved you?"
| Isabel was silent for some moments.
He never had, as she vas humbled
and sick at heart TO remember.
Not in words, perhaps. but there
are ways. there are looks, far more
eloquent"
True. But did you never look a
love that you did not feel!-filling 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 well knew. But she had no
thought for this now.
''YOu do love me, Maurice:
Not many men could have resisted
that appealing look.
Taking n locket from his breast, Maui
rice Dudley touched the spring. re.
vealing a fair young face, almost in
fantine in its innocence and beauty.
This is all that remains to me of
the only woman l 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 a sense of relief at the con-
Guiding 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 llolll b'i ihhS SdSt.
"HOw-how terrible" she faltered
"Ay, it was terrible. as you will
find. Woman, it was you that MUIR
dered herr
Il"
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, l 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