Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-16

And have come to take you away, my love-" he was saying
 "Oh, yes; take me away" she sobbed.
 She stopped, her eyes on the window seat, where the other lay, and the color died out of her cheeks again.
 He, at least, has paid the penalty" ]" said Royce.
 She was sobbing helplessly upon his shoulder, but as the moments passed she grew more calm and at last stood upright from him. The younger wom- an had come back into the room and was watching her curlously.
 Come, let us go," said the girl.
 But Royce held back.
 There has been crime committed, ' he said slowly We must see that it is punished"
 "A crime? Oh, yes; but I forgive { them, dear"
 "The crime against yourself you may forgive, but there was another crime murder
 There was no murderT' burst In Cecile Alix. q swear it to you, mon sieur. Do you understandy' az
 saw Miss Holladay vince at the others voice, and Royce saw 1t too.
 T must get her to the inn he said. 'Stay and get the story, Lester. Then we'll decide what it is best to do."
 He led her away, out of the house aud down the path. not once looking back. watched them till the trees hid them, and then turned to the women.
 ''Now," I said, T shall be happy to hear the story"
 Tt was that man wonder who was the cause of it all," began the mother, clasping her hands tightly in her lap to keep them still. -Four years ago he came from Paris here to spend the summer-he was yer ill-his heart. We had been living happily, my daugh- ter and I, but for the one anxiety of her not marrying. He met her and proposed marriage. He was yer good he asked no dowry, and, besides, my daughter was twenty-five years old past hCI uISb ' buI shC otbd dSICu him, and they were married. He took her back to Paris, where he had little theater, hall of the dance, but he grew worse again and came back here. It was then that he found out that I had another daughter, whom had giv en to a rich American. I was yer poor, monsieur" she added piteously. s "Yes, madame. I know" said, touched by her emotion.
 ''So he wrote to friends in Amerique and made questions about M Holla- day. He learned-oh, he learned that he was yer rich; what you call man of millions-and that his daughter-my daughter. monsieur - was living still. From that moment he was like man possessed. At once he formed his plan, building know not what hopes upon 1t. He drilled us for two years in speaking the English; he took us for six months to Londres that we might bet ter learn. Day after day we took our lessons there, always and always Eng fish. Cecile learned yer well, mon- sieur. but not so well. as you can see I was too old. Then at last we reached New York, and my daughter-this one was sent to see NJ. Holladay, while I was directed that I write to Celeste to Mile. Holladay. She came that yer afternoon" she continued. "and I told her that 1t was I who was her mother He was with me and displayed to her the papers of adoption. She could not but be convinced. He talked to her as an angel oh, he could seem one when he chose: he told her that was in poverty; he made her to weep. which was what he desired. She promised to bring us money. She was yer good. My heart went out to her. Then, just as she had arisen to start homeward, in Cecile came. crying. sobbing, stain ed with blood"
 She shuddered and clasped her hands before her eyes.
 But you have said 1t was not mur- der. madame" I said to the younger woman. ~
 Nor was itr' she cried. Let me tell you, monsieur. reached the great building. which my husband had al- ready pointed out to me. I went up in the lift; entered the office. but saw no one. I went on through an open door and saw an old man sitting at a desk. inquired if Mir Holladay was there. The old man glanced at me and bowed toward another door. I saw it was a private office and entered 1t. The door swung shut behind me. There was another old man sitting at Ask, sharpening a pencil"
 "'Is it you. FrancesT he asked.
 "'No.' I said. stepping before him. It is her sistcs-. NJ. Holladay"
 ''He stared up at me with such look of dismay and anger on his face that I was fairly frightened: then. in the same instant. before I could draw breath. before I could say another H| S