The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-02-25
LOVES
STRATAGEM
By Martha
Neutrality-suspicious.
Copyright. 1902. by tie S. S. HeClarc Company



unfatering eyes She was much too
angry to be the least bit afraid. De
Eberately, in cold blood. Miss De Haux
had opened letter addressed TO te.
nella and stood reading it rs Though it
were her own. The reading made her
eyes snap. When she came to the sig
nature, she stamped hard and made 10
| Hing the offending sheet into the fire.
Fenc!a was too quick for her. SEe
caught the letter. crumplCd it between
locked hands, then confronted Miss De
EuuX with Il face rs set as her own.
Il have wanted not TO hate you. Aunt
Pam" shC said. There are just the
two OF us lett. But-hut you make me
do it, did not think Icy fathers sis
ter could be so dishonorablc.
Miss De NauX gaSpeL. Ii one Of the
roses blooming on the terrace outside
the windows had spoken rcproof OF
her, she would haze been scarcely more
amazed. Fentlla in ail the five years
since she came to Eauylour had shown
herself i pattern Of silent, shy ObCdi"
cncc. She must be Instantly disci-
plined.
Go 10 your room 1T once. she said
ci!y. Stay there until John Jermain
comes. shall tell him the whole truth.
After that. If he still wishes to marry
YOU, you will leave Ely house rs his
wife or else rs pcnniicss as you are
ungrateful.'
Il Shall 90 now Fenela said, turn
| ing toward the outer door. Miss De
EauX barred her way. saying with
bitter smile: Wait. Read your letter.
Between the lines you will find out
that your true love, Mr.. Allen Lee, does
not want you unless You bring him the
hope Of my money.
Fcnella'S luminous pallOr turned sud
denly ashen. but her head was high as
she answered, You would hardly have
tried to burn Il letter which said that"
But instead Of pressing to the hall
door she turned and went up the stair
way.
In an hour she cane down. Il slim,
black wrath. clothed in the faded
mourning she had worn when she came
to Vauxlour. 4 small bag. pitifully
rusty. more pitifully tlabby. danSed
from her hand Il am taking away
nothing but what belongs to me. Bear
witness to that. Aunt PAM She said
dully. pausing 4 few steps in front or
Miss De VauX. You were right. l was
ungrateful. l understand now, YOU
you--wanted to save me the hurt, the
shame of it," she went on, but must
90 away. just the same. | cannot-can-
not marry
Stop. foolish child. There need be
no talk Of maria ge-until you choose,
Miss De Faux said huskily. Under
her crust of imperiouS pride she loved
Fenclla dearly. Listen! Be wise and
little pitiful. John Jcrmain ought to
be my son. l never loved anybody but
his father. Ny pride and temper part
ed US. Now you know why | want
him to have the money, yet not to leave
it away from my own blood.
LET him have -unincunlbered,'
Fencl; said proudly.
Miss Dc VauX wrung her hands.
'You--you must not so away she
said. Fenclla smiled wanly, but shook
her head, saying. Il must
You are mod-Quite mad! Miss De
VauX said, the distress in her voice ap-
parent. \ tall, wholesome looking fell
low came gustily through the door. Two
strides took him up to Fcnclla. What
does it Ecall-this masqueradc!' nc
asked Miss De EuuX began tc speak.
but Fenelll stopped her by an i'm.
peratiye gesture.
TT means you are 10 lie rich and
happy in your own way, she said
clearly. Il have not been SO blind as
you thought. Mr.. Jermaln does not
really care for me. He loves SuSar
Weir. though he bas never let himself
acknowledge it,;
Jcrmuin laughed heartily. I'm that
case you muSr needs console me-" he
said. Haven't you heard the news:
Susan eloped last night with Allen
Lee, and have hacn ready to murder
him this last six weeks. was so sure
he had bpwitclcd our fairy here
He touched Fenclla's arm reverently
rs he spoke She shrank from hin:
and made rs if 10 speak. Miss De
Vaux put Il hand over her lips. saying:
Let INC tell him. Fenela. He ough:
10 know the truth. Our girl was be-
witched. John That is the tr,le wore
for il. But she had the strength, the
sense to save hel self--would not hear
of Z secret marriage. She had found
him out She is going away because
have been cruel. Tell her she must
stay
Il have no right to tell her any
thing" Jcrmain said. paling through
all his healthy tan. Then to Fenella
he said: "But you need not 60. dear.
tn-~rSclpe me. shall never force N.Y.
self on you. l love you too welf'--
1T is not that" FencllA interrupted
Il will stay. and gladly. OF one comli.
tion''