Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-09-30
CHAPTER XVIII.

Ing straight back to the cottage, l took
q turn across the moor; knew IL re-
turned to the cottage In my present state
Of agitation I should betray myself.
must think matters over and come to
some definite decision ~ to my move
ments 10 the future. There was no time
to be lost; In two days the wedding
would take place-therefore my course OF
action must be mapped out. walked
about pondering for hours, finally feeling
somewhat calmer, but, having arrived at
no definite conclusion a. to my future
plans, returned to the cottage. My
uncle. aunt and Annie were all there
moreover, there was honest John Rudd
partaking Of my aunt's tea and hot baked
scones.
tried to avoid being alone with Annie
that night, for dreaded to tell her what
had taken place; but she was over-an1-
ious, and would not let the night pass.
When the house was quiet, all of US hav-
Ing gone 10 our rooms, there came a gen
tie tap at my door, and Annie herself
appeared.
my poor Annlsw l said. tnvolun-
tarily.
She seemed to understand all that my
tone implied, for, with . pitifuI sob, she
sank down crying at my feet.
Don't cry, Annie; don't cryl' said.
He ID scoundrel. He Is not worth one
Of those tears You must forget him"
Forget him p she sobbed. "Ah, Hugh,
dear, 1t 10 not 30 easy to forget; for 1
love him so much-I never knew how
much till now! Hugh, dear. she will not
marry him, will she2"
He means to 20 ON with this mar
riage IL he can; but may find q means
to prevent 1t. There b time yet. must
think It over, and see what can be done.
But don't you worry yourself, little wom-
an. l tell you he Is not worthy to pos
sess one hair Of your head"
At breakfast the next morning my un-
Gle again spoke Of an approaching visit
OF the young master to the mine, and
seemed in high spirits about 1t; nay,
more. he seemed quite proud to think
that he should have been selected above
all others to take the part Of guide.
Soon after breakfast he set out for the
mine, where young Redruth was to Join
him. A couple Of hours later a figure
entered the kitchen where I sat rumina-
ting. and. looking up, was astonished to
see Madeline.
Her face was very pale and sad, but
there was q look Of determination about
her eyes and mouth which had never
seen there before. She walked In at the
open door and then stood hesitating, as
II uncertain what to do. She answered
my aunt's curtesy with a kindly nod and
emile, and then she looked at Annie. l
thought that the light In her eyes grew
softer as she gazed upon the pale weary
face Of my cousin.
"Mr. Trelawney." she said, II wish to
speak to you privately. Can IY
l replied In the Affirmative, and asked
my aunt and cousin to leave US, which
they accordingly did.
"Mr. Trelawney," Madeline said,
when you paid your visit to Redruth
House last night was listening. was
In q remote and shaded part Of the
drawing room. What l witnessed was
too stormy to be very lucid. want you
to make 1t clear to me now. I wish you
to tell me. II you will, the whole Of your
cousins unfortunate story"
l did as she requested; not dwelling
too much upon it, but making every
point clear. When had finished, Mad
cline said, quietly:
How long have you known this story
Mr.. Trslawney"
1.-TWO or three days. 1t seems that
Annie had given some promise not to
betray that man, and this promise she
religiously kept"
You mean to expose him! Since your
cousin cannot get justice, do you mean
to make her wrongs knownT
"No, l have done all that I can do
To humiliats him now would be to hu.
initiate you-moreover, 1t would lead to
his certain deathr
His deathl What do you meanf"
This: That II l pointed him out a
the betrayer Of Annie Pendragon, my
uncle would assuredly kill himr'
She started and trembled. There wal
q long pause. Madeline stood 1T the
window, gazing out with sad wistful eyes
Then she turned and came toward me.
"Mr. Trelawney." she said. "lst thii
matter rest, and perhaps In time all may
come well. You think that your cousin
still loves Mr.. Redruthr'
"God help her! Yes"
"Then let us pray that her love, and
all her patient suffering, will some day
be requited."
81 do not understandv I said.
"No2 Then you think more badly ol
me than deserve, though heaven know,
have not deserved that you shoult
think well Of me. told you once tina
was marrying my cousin because b,
was poor and was rich. What tolt
you I told him; knew I could neve,
love him, but I wished to help him, ant
I should have done so. 1 should hav,
married him; and once his wife, I think
nay. am sure-I should have been abl,
TO do my duty. But when I gave tina
promise to him 1 believed him to be
good and honorable man. Now all
changed. I believe every word Of you
story, Mr.. Trelawney. and, believing II
I know can never be united to himi"
She paused for q moment; but coul,