The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-29
CHAPTER xxIv.-Con,iuued.l

Tor some kcconcs. men next ne spokc
u was In alte-cd ones. Tell me what
you wantf Is Il money!
Money" she cried. Money from
you'll Look here" aud she tore open q
lady's reiicule that lay upon the table:
'thcre arc the two hundred dollars you
sent me enclosed In your farewell letter:
look what I do with tkemI" And she
tore them into shreda. "Here are the
presents you gave me: see what l do
with them" And she took out some
trinkets. and crushed them beneath her
feet. snow will you ask 90 IL IL 10
money / want Of your
Her face was something awful 10 look
upon in tn deathly pallor. and convul-
sive quivering, and those glaring eyes-
That man. with all his iron viii, auailed
before her.
what do you want. thenr'
Respect. and I will have u. Let me
refresh your memory. You found me In
q travelling show. was q mere child
then. possessed OF q strange power over
certain minds-a power that TO an am
bitious. INSCRIPTIONS schemer like your
self. might one day prove invaluable.
You saw na way TO use me at the time,
but ron were 10th to lose sight Of so ad-
mirabie an Instrument. You worned
yourself into my confidence. and got
from mo that = was discontinued with
q mode OF iifo which rave me but n
bare living. and filed the pockets OF my
employer. I was vain OF the attention Of
q tine gentleman--I who had been
brought MP In a back alley. You told
my father that IL he liked to go to Bury
O.. Edmund's you would help 20 set
him M In business--that you would rec
ommend him custom. as you possessed
some influence In the neighborhood."
"Have you ever had reason 90 repent
taking my counselT"
My father hit upon a more easy and
profitable trade than shoemaking." she
went on. not needing the interruption.
"Hsd we depended upon your promises.
we might have starved. You thought no
more OF them. and years elapsed after
our parting at Spalding before | ever
heard anything Of you again. One day
we met In the streets OF Bury. Although
years had elapsed. we recognized each
other instantly. You expressed great
delight at the meeting. which certainly
was not fslgned. ns IL gave into your
hands the exact tool you required. "a
fashion one OF the most dlabolical
schemes that was ever Matched in hu.
man brains. But before you dared 70
propose IL 20 me Il was necessary 10
make me your slave. When you last
saw me l was an ungainly looking. ugly
girl; now I was a well-grown woman.
with good looks enough 10 have secured
several Offers OF advantageous marriage.
But I was proud. ambitious; the life
I led. and all its associations. were hate
full 60 mel longed TO be free OF them
all. and I waited and waited. You. with
your iendish cunning. OWNED my secret:
profcssed lore for me. Blinded by am.
billion and vanity. I believed you-be-
teved that you. the fine gentleman.
would marry me. But nc that time you
simply lied. Go serve your own purpose.
You were very cautious. too-you bound
me down TO breathe no word OF your
secrets to my father. You said. once
In his power. you would never be free
from his extortions."
silence Numbered Rodwell. spring
INC TO his feet
"Wcll. enough OF that for the pres.
fnt. After the girls fight. you left
Bury. and I did not see you again for a
long. Ions time. AT last. you returned.
So you have got her into your clutch
again. What Is Il TO be this time-mur-
DER or marriager'
How my heart lcaped. Could Il be
Clara OF whom she was speaking? The
portrait had seen In his namesake's
eottage-the likeness TO her. forgotten
untif that moment. dashed upon me with
the force OF conviction. Oh. how eager
ly. how breathlesSiy. I listened now!
"How dare you speak such words 90
me In the presence OF a s~trangeri" he
cried. "You are venomous enough 20 en-
deavor 20 establish such a charge against
nie!'
II believe you 20 he capable OF any
.rime. John Rodwell." she answered, dis
iainfully: although you would give the
preference to that which compromised
you least"
Suppose ! admit that I intend TO mar
~ her. what thenr' he demanded, bold.
~. "You viii seek to thwnrt mcI'
IL keep my Intentions 10 myself. hut
had forgotten. perhaps you are not
aware you have n rivaiI" she said. mock
lngly. you would not imagine Mr..
Carston In the character OF a gay de-
%eeivcr: yet, can assure you that. dur.
lng n short absence from his loving wife,
he was making violent love 10 Miss
Clara as n single gentleman. aud not
snsucceSsfully. ! believe"
This Is no subject 10 Jest upon" he
said. hAughuiy. ID you mean To say
that this fellow has dared"
He advanced mcnacingly towards me:
hut, weak as | was. ! rose up. and con.
frontci him. felt no fear OF him. nj.
though ] was too agiiated to speak-too
overwhelmed by the thoughts OF my
worse than poweriess position.
Tie paused: then, with n look OF Su.
prrIuc scorn. he turned upon his heel and
addressed Judith. "Such an object ia too
rcutemp,ihle 10 excite anger. However.
! prcSum. that for the future you will
restrain IN him surh rowing propcnsi-
tics. more especially after the confidence
you have chosen 90 rcpoSe in him this
evening. Now let me understand. do
W. part friends or focsi'
Il pledge myself 90 nothing either
way. For years you used me ~ a tool.
Now We have the reverse OF the medal:
you an utterly within my power. and |
viii use that power to minister solely
90 my own interest. or caprice. as the
case may be. without one thought OF You.
You should have remembered that those
~ho love intensely. hate intensely"
IA .N-1 -. e. IL -