The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-08

naming again into indignation ana
catching her friend by the wrist.
There was more in your game than
you pretend. you sly and silken hypo-
critic, II he is killed, how will you
feel them
"Oh." exclaimed Lady Standish.
"cruel woman. Is this your help?
Sir Jasper killed.
''Sir Jasper? Sir Fiddle" cried Mis-
tress Kitty, with Il fine scorn. who
cares for Sir Jasper? IT'S my Harry
l think of. Oh OH cried the widow.
and burst into tears. Lady Standish
stood COMPOUNDED.
What cried she you love Lord
Verney?'
..'Tis the only man of them sob
bed Kitty. who does not poster me
with his devotion-the only one who
does not come to my call like lap
dogi If l look at him he bushes for
bashfulness and not for love; if his
hand shakes it is because he is so
sweetly timid. not because my touch
thrills him. / had set my heart" said
Mistress Kitty through her clinched
teeth-"I had set my heart upon Lord
Verney, and now you must needs have
him ki-ki-killed before 1 have even had
time to make him see the color of my
eyes,
There was silence, broken only by
the sobs of the widow and the signs of
the wife
let us seek Sir Jasper" said his
wife. land tell the whole truth
Kitty, through wet eyelashes, shot
glance of whitening scorn upon her
friend.
aye" she said sarcastically, that
would be useful truly. Why. child, let
you and 1 but go and swear your inno-
cence to Sir Jasper and twill be
enough to establish you stepped in
guilt in the eyes of every sensible per-
son for the rest of your life. No."
said she. better must be thought of
than that. We must act midwife to
the lie and start the little family as
soon as possible"
Lady Standish began to tremble.
She had wept much. She had not eat
en- Her heart was full of terror.
Faintness she felt creep upon her.
what will you do?'' she said, grasp
ing after the vanishing powers of re-
Election with all her failing strength.
Dor said Mistress Bellairs. First
of all, prevent the duel. Will that
serve you?"
.'Oh, yesr' cried Julia, and grew livid
behind her rouge.
Leave it all to me-" Kitty murmur-
ed. II will save you"
Lady Standish CROPPED for her friends
hand with her own that was cold and
shaking. The ladies exchanged a clasp
of confidence, and Mistress Bellairs
tripped down to the drawing room.
"Now," said she to herself, "let us
see.'' Sudden inspiration sparkled in
her eye. She plunged her hand into
the depth of the brocade pocket dan
Cling at her side. drew forth sundry
letters and began to select with pursed
lips. There was Sir Jasper's own. 4
Here was q large folded sheet, unad-
dressed, filled inside with bold, black
writing. A crisp auburn curl was faS-
tened across the sheet by an emerald
headed pin.
Most cruel, most beautiful, most kind
were its ardent words-most desired most
beloved! Was it last night or hundred
years ago that we met? This is the lock
of hair the loveliest hand in all the world /
deigned to caress 1t became upon that |
moment far too precious thing for its !
poor owner. He ventures. therefore, to |
offer It at the shrine of the goddess who
consecrated it. VIII she cast 1t from her, |
will she keep it and let it speak to |
her, every hair a tongue, of the burning |
flame of love that she has kindIed in this |
mortal breast? Did ] dream. or can it be |
true? There was patch above the dim |
pie at the corner of your lip l kissed it. |
oh, it must have been a dream! One
word. fairest: When may I dream again?
Your own and ever your own.
p. S-The lock was white before you |
touched it, but you you have turned it |
to fire.
The letter was folded up. att must |
seem as if dropped from my lady's |
bosom-here at the foot of the sofa, |
just peeping from behind the foot |
stool, a jealous eye cannot miss it,
The deed was done. Mistress Kitty |
departed.