The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-04-26
The
VOLUME II.
cHAPrBR xI.

VOLUME II.
cHAPrBR xI.
shs .shudu1srsd from hssd 20 foot a.
the prisst uttered these bold words II
was not hsr sosi. then. that he wished
to secure within shs folds q hts church
but--hervsk: ths woman whom ne. per
sudden unexpsetsA revelation sent ths
blood boiling 70 hsr head. to receds again
as quioh1y. and leave her trembling with
cold and horror; and yet. a. IL sometimes
the ease with terrible wrong doing. the
very intsnssty 81 the mans passion. the
eioouencs OF the words which laid bare
the suftevtng and sorrow and inward
struggle OF hts seui while II rspuhsd her
and made her turn from him In sicken-
ing horror. ~ the same thns half mag
nstissd her. for mover before had she
heard such deep. passeonate language
from . mans lips.
D1d ne read IN she expression Of the
sweet, ashy pale face the yoong wife
turned toward him tlnis mixture of aver
sion and uomsutary han-unconscsous az
miratfoG. 9iN"
Suddenly, With an isupasssoned move
ment OF his hsAd. the cha lain stretched
out his arms and stepped toward her.
bending low a. n 70 clasp her knees In
supptcation. TIE svesn light from the
shaded lamp fen fully on me pals oval
OF his face and over the lifeless gray spos
In the center Of the dark curly mass Of
hair and appeared to her to point with
a stern. invisible finger to this spot ss n
Il had been the mark Of Cain. With a
gesture Of shrinking horror she flung her
hands toward the kneeiing form Of the
man At her feet. and cried out IN voice
almost inarticulate from emotion and
agony:
"Forger. I would rather drown myseK
In the lake rhaS let you touch with .
finger 90 much a. the hsm q my dress!''
Thsu. drawing N hsr hands she prsssed
them close 10 her bosom and seemed 20
hug herself together like a child who
fears scne terrible misfortune. yet dares
not move from the spot. 90 long ar that
document remained IN his hands she
would not. dared not 60.
The priest slowly rose on his knees
and in the sudden. brea thiess pause which
followed the ysung wks's indignant cry.
the rolling Of carriage wheels wac heard
approachin and almost immediat teiy the
hoofs o. the dappSe- gray horses resounded
on the gravel. II Raoul was already
hack. he must have driven the anins In
at their topuncst speed. When the priest
recognized the SOUND outside he stamped
hts foot and sround his teeth with rage.
and turned his head toward the closed
window, with an expression on his face
that showed plainly that II II had been
in his power ne would have. seissd the
nrrt heavy implement az hand snd
crushed the carriage and its occupants
to atoms.
Lame heaved a deep sigh she knew
there was not a moment 10 be lost.
II entrest you. Sir Priest TO put that
document back m its place" she said.
trying In VAIN 60 give her voice ring
OF nrmne~s az she spoke.
DO ron imagine that I shall really be
guilty of such a stupid act OF good M :
turer" he cried. with q hoarse laugh
You think that yotr victim 10 wounded
to death. and has no more strength 70
defend himself: but I can sttii wovk my
brain. and I Will tell ron what you
counted upon.
You came here set possession Of this
important secret. and then. With micro
scope IN hand. you would have gone 10
your husband and the ofmarschar. and
proved 70 them that a terrible deception
had been enacted with reference TO the in
heritance, Naturally you would not have
been allowed TO return 10 Rudte6crf Will
such secret In your possession and YOU
would be entreeted 10 remain here r3ut n
so, what good would II DO you. what
would you gain by it7 Baron Mainau does
not love you and never will. by beautiful
iany; his heart belongs forever ana ever
10 the duchess: he loves her not you Nov
you are simply Indifferent to him: but ~.
ter your avowal OF this deception, he viii
nate you. And look here. by love IN sc
uhselnsh, that-see. I wfI prevent that
And before she had time 70 krasp thu
meaning on Is words. ne sna tched tho
Countess Trachenberg's deiioats pink
move rom the drawer, and threw both
papers into the Are
she darted forward with an axonizee
cry, and cfung with both bands to tn,
arm OF tho man who was not to touch
20 much a. the hem 81 her dress but 4,
was too iate-letter and document bott
euried ana biackened In the sparkling
names OF the FIRE. and were very soon ;
mere thimbleful OF ashes
fou may denounce me now AZ sopr
ss you Nike, my dear nsaAa me. Ne w,h<
! seeks the paper will d4acovsr that IN,
! precious scented note n rome likewise
and that ] burned mat dainty ey,istie n,
one VIII bsiieve.' he ssid. calmly holdinS
I h's lett hane close to rhe brass door N
/ the nve. sfhouge, there wss not A. ehrAy
of charred paper 10 be seen.
Tho young wife let her hands fan loose
" ey her side, AZ her face assumed a saf
and pained expression The pure. inno
cent. sfrfsh mind had hardly been able "a
/ fathorn the depth of the rrieet's avfu
cunning; and as she stood Close 70 him
In the bloom Of her grace ana tsnde,
beauty, with her frightened eyes starfrt
into the glow OF IRE fre. and her white
broad forehead alrncst touching tn.
mans shoulder n seems as n wouis
only require one OF his quick sneresti,
movements 20 ovsrpovsr her comp,etAly
30 helpicss and paralysed was her whoi,
appearance; end - Q trembling ei9h es
caped her nps, and just famed the chez,
Of the chaplain. he cried out. hia FACE pal,
~ death his whole frame u,nv sf1ng will
4 paselon and excitemenf:
There h still t1na. nohas lady cm,
be mernful and tender to me- ana I'll
Immediately 90 10 the master of schou
werth and inform MIN OF my fault"
Starting back ana measuring hfm will
naughty look from head 60 foot, sh,
replied. cuttinsiy:
That - entirely your own AFFAIR: vo,
oan act ss you please." Then. after