Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-05-26
CHAPTER xxIv.-tContinuedO

it was in altered tones. "Tel me what
you want? Is it money!
Money! she cried. m Nney from
you! Look here" and she tore open
lady's reticule that lay upon the table;
'there are the two hundred dollars you
sent me enclosed in your farewell letter;
look what | do with them! And sne
tore them into shreds. Here are the
presents you gave me; see what l do
with themw And she took out some
trinkets, and crushed them beneath her
feet. "Now will you ask me If 1t is
money / want of your
Her face was something awful to look
upon in its deathly pallor, and convul-
sive quivering, and those glaring eyes.
That man, with all his iron will, quailed
before her.
what do you want, then?"
"Respect, and will have it. Let me
refresh your memory. You found me in
a travelling show. / was a mere child
then, possessed Of strange power over
certain minds-a power that to an am
bilious, INSCRIPTIONS schemer like your
self, might one day prove invaluable.
You saw no way to use me at the time,
but you were 10th to lose sight of so Hd-
mirable an instrument. You wOrIned
yourself into my confidence, and got
| from me that l was discontinued with
a mode of life which gave me but
bare living, and filled the pockets of my
employer was vain of the attention of
fine gentleman-I who had been
brought up in a back alley. You told
my father that If he liked to go to Bury
St., Edmund's you would help to set
him up in business-that you would rec
ommend him custom, as you possessed
some influence in the neighborhood."
Have you ever had reason to repent
taking my counselY
"My father hit upon a more easy and
profitable trade than shOemaking," she
went on, not needing the interruption.
Had we depended upon your promises,
we might have starved. You thought no
more of them, and years elapsed after
our parting at Spalding before l 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 feigned, as it gave into your
hands the exact tool you required, to
fashion one of the most diabolical
schemes that was ever Matched in hui
man brains. But before you dared to
propose 1t to me it was necessary to
make me your slave. When you last
saw me l was an ungainly looking, ugly
girl; now 1 was a well-grown woman,
with good looks enough to have secured
several offers of advantageous marriage.
Rnf I
led, and all its associations. were hate
full to me- longed to be free of them
all, and l waited and waited. You. with
your dendish cunning, OWNED my secret;
professed love for me. Blinded by am
bition and vanity, l believed you-be-
lieyed that you, the fine gentleman,
would marry me. But at that time YOU
simply lied to 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."
"Silencew Numbered Rodwell. spring-
ing to his feet
"Well enough of that for the pres
ent. After the girls flight, YOU left
Bury, and l did not see you again for
long, long time. At last, you returned.
So you have got her into your clntcb
again. What is it to be this time-mur-
der or marriage?"
How my heart leaped! Could it be
Clara of whom she was speaking? The
portrait l had seen in his namesake's
cottage-the likeness to her, forgotten
until that moment, flashed upon me with
the force of conviction. Oh, how eager
ly, how breathlessly, listened now
How dare you speak such words to
me In the presence Of a strangely" he
cried. "You are venomous enough to ON.
deavor to establish such charge against
mew
Il believe you to be capable of anv
crime, John Rodwell," she answered dis
dainfully; although you would give the
preference to that which Compromised |
you least"
suppose admit that intend to mar
~ her, what then?" he demanded boId. |
~. You will seek to thwart me?"
keep my intentions to MYSELF Ru+
had forgotten; perhaps you are NOT
aware you have a rivalY' she said. mocIy.
ingly. "You would not imagine NJ |
Carston in the character of 0sv A.
ceiver; yet, can assure Won MAT dTs
ing a short absence from his loving Wiz
he was making violent love to Miss
Clara as a single gentleman. and not
unsuccessfully, believe"
This is no subject to jest uponn he
said, haughtily. do you mean to So
that this fellow has dared"
He advanced menacingly towards mo.
but, weak as l was, 1 rose up. ana co,
fronted him. felt no fear 81 him -
though | was too agitated to speak|too
overwhelmed by the thoughts Of nv
worse than powerless position.
He paused; then, with a look Of or.
preme seorn, he turned upon his heel ana
addressed Judith. "Such an object is too
Sontemptinle to excite anger. However,
restrain In him such rowing nron."a,
ties more especially aftar A. ~ ~, SAeA7