Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1905-05-26
CHAPTER xxIv.-fContinued.)


yeul Look here" and she tore open a
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 themp 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. Now will you ask me If it is
money / want of your
Her face was something awful to look
upon in its deathly pallor. and convul-
sive quiyering, and those glaring eyes.
That man, with all his iron will, quailed
before her.
What do you want, thenT
Respect, and / will have II. Let me
refresh your memory. You found me in
a travelling show. was a mere child
then, possessed OF a 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 ad-
mirable an instrument. You wormed
yourself into my confidence, and got
from me that | was discontinued with
mode Of life which gave me but
bare living, and filed the pockets OF my
employer. l was vain OF the attention OF
fine gentleman who had been
brought up in a back alley. You told
my father that II he liked to go to Bury
st. Edmunds you would help to set
him up In business-that you would rec
ommend him custom, as you possessed
some influence in the neighborhood."
To. 1.
taking my counsel?"
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 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 1t gave into your
hands the exact tool you required, to
fashion one OF the most diaboiical
schemes that was ever Matched in hui
man brains. But before you dared to
propose il to me ii was necessary to
saw me l was an ungainly looking, ugly !
girl; now l was a well-grown woman,
with good looks enough to have secured |
several offers of advantageous marriage |
But | was proud, ambitious; the life |
/ led, and all its associations were hate |
full to mel longed to be free of them |
all, and waited and waited. You, with |
your fendsh cunning, OWNED my secret;
nFOfpHgad or rnn IaI hxr
bition and vanity, believed you-be- |
heyed 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 Rodwel, spring |
ing to his feet.
well, enough OF that for the pres /
ent. After the girls fight, you left |
Bury, and did not see you again for a |
long, long time At last, you returned. |
So you have got her into your clutch |
again. What is II to be this time-mur-
der or marriageT
How my heart leapedl Could II be |
Clara of whom she was speaking? The |
portrait | had seen in his namesakes |
cottage-the likeness to her, forgotten |
until that moment. flashed upon me with |
the force Of conviction. Oh, how eager
ly, how breathlessly, / listened nowl
How dare you speak such words to
me in the presence of a stranger?" he
cried. "You are venomoas enough TO en-
deavor to establish such a charge against |
me!'
IL believe you to be capable of any
crime. John Rodwell," she answered. dis
painfully; although you would give the
preference to that which compromised
you least"
Suppose admit that intend to mar
ny her. what thenw he demanded. bold
y. "You will seek to thwart mel"
II keep my intentions to myself. But
l had forgotten; perhaps you are not
aware you have a rlval?" she said, mock
ingly. "You would not imagine Mr..
Carston In the character of a gay de-
ceiver; yet, | can assure you that, dur
Ing a short absence from his loving wife.
he was making violent love to Miss
Clara as a single gentleman, and not
unsuccessfully, l believe"
This is no subject to jest upon" he
said. haughtily. do you mean to say
that this fellow has dared"
He advanced menacingly towards me:
but, weak as | was. l rose up, and con-
fronted him. felt no fear Of him, al
though l was too agitated to speak-too
overwhelmed by the thoughts of my
worse than powerless position.
He paused; then. with look OF SUI
preme scorn, he turned upon his heel and
addressed Judith. such an object is too
contemplate to excite anger. However.
l presume that for the future you will
restrain in him such rowing propensi-
ties, more especially after the confidence
you have chosen to repose in him this
evening. Now let me understand. Do
~s part friends OF foesY"