Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-04-14
CHAPTER xxIv.-Continued.,


it was in altered tones. "Tell me what
you want? Is it money!"
Money!" she cried. Money from
you! Look here" and she tore open
iady's reticule that lay upon the table;
''there are the two hundred dollars you
sent me enclosed in your farewell letter;
look what 1 do with themv' And she
tore them into shreds Here are the
presents you gave me; see what do
with themw And she took out some
trinkets, and crushed them beneath her
feet Nov will you ask me if it is
money I want Of you?"
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 I will have it. Let me
refresh your memory. You found me in
a travelling show. I was a mere child
then, possessed Of a strange power over
certain minds-a power that to an am
bilious, unscrupulous 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 ad-
mirable an instrument. You worIned
yourself into my confidence, and got
from me that l was discontented with
a mode Of life which gave me but
bare living, and filed the pockets of my
employer. l was vain Of the attention Of
a fine gentleman 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 counsel?"
my father hit upon 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 I 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 hatched in hu-
man brains. But before you dared to
propose it to me it was necessary to
make me your slave. When you last
saw me / 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.
But 1 was proud, ambitious; the life
led, and all it's associations, were hate
full to- mel longed to be free of them
all, and l waited and waited. You, with
your iendish cunning, OWNED my secret;
professed love for me. Blinded by am
bition and vanity, believed you-be-
ieved 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."
ing to his feet.
ent After the girls fight, you left
Bury, and I did not see you again for a
long, long time. At last you returned
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 1 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. I listened now!
"How dare you speak such words tt
me in the presence of stranger?" h
cried. "You are venomous enough to en-
deavor to establish such a charge agains
mev'
"I believe you to be capable of any
crime, John Rodwell," she answered, dis
dainfully; although you would give tn,
preference to that which compromises
you least"
Suppose 1 admit that intend to mar
~ her. what then?' he demanded, bold
Iy. "You will seek to thwart me?'
tI keep my intentions to myself Bu
I had forgotten; perhaps you are no
aware you have rival?" she said, mock
ingly. ''You would not imagine MI
.Carston in the character of gay de
ceiver; yet l can assure you that, dur
ing short absence from his loving wife
he was making violent love to Mis-
Clara as single gentleman, and no
unsuccessfully, believe"
'"This is no subject to jest upon," h
said, haughtily. do you mean to sa
that this fellow has dared"
He advanced menacingly towards me
but, weak as 1 was. l rose up, and cor
fronted him. I felt no fear of him, a
though 1 was too agitated to speak-to
overwhelmed by the thoughts of m
worse than powerless position.
He paused; then, with a look of ST
preme scorn, he turned upon his heel an
addressed Judith. "Such an object is to
contemplate to excite anger. Howeye
presume that for the future you wi
restrain i'll him such rowing propens
ties, more especially after the confidene
you have chosen to repose in him TIL
evening. Now let me understand. D
we part friends or foes?"
81 pledge myself to nothing eiths
way. For years you used me as a too
Now we have the reverse of the media
you are utterly within my power, and
will use that power to\ minister sole