Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER yIII.-(Continued.)

~ she got her fathers permission TO re-
turn to her aunt, and try to cheer the
poor woman up. Roderick was back at
her home, and proved Il courteous ano
kind friend to his brothers wife. He be
sought her not to speak to her father
about the marriage, urging all sorts OF
reasons for the delay. Roderick also ad'
vised her not TO confde in his mother
and, bearing in mind Franks wishes, she
did all the young man advised.
SO the days went by. -Four months
were spent; the time was drawing near
for her fathers annual winter visit to
the Riviera, and Constance felt she ought
to accompany him, when suddenly the
current OF her life was changed by two
events, the first of which brought the
color 10 her cheeks and the thrill to her
heart, the second of which plunged the
girls soul into the deepest, darkest mis-
cry a woman can ever know.
Just as the letter in which she had
written. in timd, gentle words, the ma
tcrnal hopes she might assure herself or
blow fell upon her which all but
crushed out her life, as it successfully
broke her heart. One day a woman pre-
scented herself at Lady Anstruther's house
and asked to see Miss Gascoigne. Mar
shall, who guarded and shielded her
ycung mistress by every means in her
power, would have refused this woman
admittance, but Constance took the mat
ter into her own hands, and a meeting
followed.
When Marshall went in to look after
the girl, thinking she had given the
Stranger enough of her time, she found
Constance standing before the fire, her
face ashen white, her eyes staring and
expressionless. like the eyes of the dead
Marshall" she said, with tones that
v ere husky with emotion, Marshall, /
l have been deceived. l am not Frank $
wife. ~
Not Mr.. Franks wife,! Oh, come,
Miss Constance. you are altogether
wrong! Why, didn't l see you a-stand-
in before the altar with my own eyes,
and didn't l hear you swear to belong
10 each other"
Constance put out an cy-cold hand
Dear, true friend" she whispered,
between her pallid lips, and then she
tok up piece Of paper and gave it to
Marshall.
Read that. and you will see l am not
wong" she said. with wintry smile.
The wedding you assisted at was only
farce. Here is the certificate of Frank
Anstruther's first marriage. ay, first and
o1;y one, for that woman who has just
left ME is his lawful legal wife"
II will not believe it l will not be-
lieve it," So cried Marshall over and
over again. while the poor girl crouched
down by the fire and rocked herself to
and fro. asking herself in a wild, mad
way. what was to become of her.
Mr.. Roderlck will put this straight"
was MarShal's verdict. and for a brief
time fame of hope sprung up in the
wretched creatures breast: but alas it
soon died down and was crushed out for
ever.
Rouerck took the matter up immedi-
stcly. He sought out every clew, follow
ed the truth up to the bitter end, and,
lastly and sorrowfully. had to own his
brother a liar and villain.
Constance seemed turned to stone. She
shed no tears. she made no moan; she
bore herself with a pride that was some
I'll NJ marvellous.
What was to become of her? What
of her child?" The question haunted her
day and night.
Fortunately, her aunt's health became
so bad, she was permitted to stay buried
in the country house without further mo-
Jestation from her father who went off to
Monte Carlo and enjoyed himself, doubly
free from his daughters presence. Letters
arrived from Frank by every mail, but
they were tossed into the fire unread.
II leave you to communicate with
your brother" the girl had said in her
one and only interview with Roderick,
and the hot blood of triumph had surged
into his veins.
How we'll his evil, jealous plan had
worked Better than he could have
hored or dreamed. Frank was miles
awav: he could not stand forth and re-
fpte the horrible lies. Constance. bound
up in pride and misery, refused to do
q : she should have done, write to him di-
rect, and so learn the real truth. His
two puppets worked at his will and hast
ened his revenge.
Revenge on the brother he had always
hated: revenge on the woman he had
loved in a wild. unreasoning, passionate
way. and who had shrunk from his very
friendship in a manner that had chilled
him to the heart. 1t was a cruel. wicked,
unmanly act-the act rather of demon
than that of man.
As day after day went by, the time
anproached for the birth of Constance's
nameless child. She had made no plans,
arranged nothing. Roderick did every
thing. He it was who guarded the girl
in her mothers house. where with no one
about her but Marshall, not even a whis-
nor of her condition caught the wind !;
he surrounded her with every comfort.
every care, but he never saw her, and
she sent him no thanks.
The day her child was born, Marshall
came TO him she had no liking for Rod
erick-in fact, so great was her anger
ana hatred toward poor Frank she could
scarcely bring herself to address any one
connected with him; but there was moth
ing else to do, and even the old woman,
in common justice, admitted that Rod
erick was acting with more than broth
er's love to the unfortunate girl.
"She refuses to see the child" Mar
shall said, and when | urge her, all she
SAYS is, Let it die Let it die" We
can't do that, you know. sir. What are
we to doT
Roderick had already foreseen this con-
tineency and was prepared.
THE child must be removed. | know
. ,,-o,,,n uho will take IL and be thank