The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-02-06
Barbara Brett,on 5
e~Ambitio -
CHAPTER XVIi-Continued.

SIu0E En- ~VI-~OSoSSDAGOs
He bent, in answer to press a pas
sionate kiss upon the head he had
again reclaimed, while a moments
triumphant smile swept over the beau
t;ful features to be again replaced by
that look of tired sadness, as his eyes
once more. lifted themselves to hers.
But what am l to do?" he asked
"WOmen's hearts are not always mar
ketable articles. Suppose fail in this
most herculean task?"
There is no such word as fail l
tell you this girl is a child, to whom
life is an unsolved problem-who does
not even understand herself. She
canot love this man to whom she is
betrotEed; but he-he loves her.
saw it when, on that memorable morn
ing, / saw him spring to her side, as
If to protect her from me; read it in
his eyes, his voice, his gesture. Let
him guard we'll his pretty bird, but
we will steal 1t. spite of his watcnful
care-then give it back to him when it
shall have lost all value in his eyes.
Win her, Richard, at any cost; and if
it so be that you cannot win her by
honeyed words, we will find other
means to answer our purpose
'And then. Barbara, you swear TO
grant me my rewarG?"
Il swear it,
'|That promise will lend passion to
MI vr0r6o oyA a tn ,rtt
even when spoken to another. Had
you but set me to war with men, to
hurl back in their teeth the insults
these men have dared to deal you, how
eager should be for the fray! But
warfare with women is far more diff
flcult task, only to be undertaken for
your dear sake and the reward have
SO madly coveted all these years"
"There!" glancing at the tiny, jew
e}ed watch which hung from her side,
you must now leave me. Remember
always, Richard, this girl is but the
instrument of my vengeance. l care
not that real wrong should come to
her further than that the fruit for
which his hand already is extended
should wither beneath his touch-that
more shame should come to the Mere
dith name through one who bears it
lineally, than had it been intrusted,
with due honor, into my keeping. Re-
member, also, that Travis Meredith
was but an instrument in Milton Len
nOx's hands-that it was he, and he
alone. who brought this shame upon
me; and let this thought send any
passing shade of pity from your
heart"
1T does, my own-it does! Let me
but strike at his heart-aye tear it
out and traraple it beneath my heel
and, though that moment were. my
last, should not have lived in vain!"
Then, with light kiss upon the fair,
white brow, he left her.
She listened to his steps as he
crossed the hall, until the door opened
and closed behind him, then she
wrung her hands together in a very
passion of despair, while a look of
misery swept across her beautiful
face.
"How easily he, too is duped! How
readily he undertakes this task for the
reward he will never gain! Yet he
loves me, and his reward is worthless
to me. I listen as a child to lesson
already conned and grown wearisome
Strange, strange, that these men lay
their all at my feet, and l cannot even
stoop to pick it up. Yet the one at
whose feet l would crouch for a single
crumb throws me instead his scorn.
But he, too, loved me once. Aye. and
by the memory of that love, and my
suffering, so shall he suffer! Milton!
Milton!" she walled, II may bury the
steel in your heart, but you have kept
mine an open wound all these years. -
Then, starting from her seat, she
paced up and down the room, en-.
crossed in thought. AS she had said
the goal was within her vision. AT
her true motive yelled from every eye
even from the man she made the in
strument of her retribution. Let him
believe it was ambition which moved
her. Let him believe her heart was
his-the rest for which she sighed
rest with him! At fitting time she
would show him the folly of his pre-
sumptous hopes. But the queen would
have come to her own again.
Touching the silver bell upon thu
table, she ordered Marie summoned tt
her presence.
"To-morrow," she said, when tn,
Frenchwoman appeared before her
you enter upon your new service
Once week you will report to me
You have just left the service of tn,
Countess Rene, whose sudden depart
ure for England prevented her person
ally vouching for your character, bu
whose most excellent written testimo
malls leave nothing to be desired. Yo,
will use your utmost skill in properl,
fulfilling the duties of your Office, and
of course, Marie, as you have not il
reality left my service, will continue
your wages as heretofore. You ma,
now co."
The maid c,,urtesied in recognition
Of her mistress generosity, but, a