Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-09-13
cHApTMR VIII-(Continuedl

turn to her aunt, and try to cheer the
poor woman up. Roderick was back at
her home, and proved a courteous and
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 adj
vised her not to confde in his mother
and, bearing In mind Franks wishes, she
did all the young man advised.
Sc the days went by. Four months
were spent; the time was drawing near
Tor 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 to her cheeks and the thrill to her
heart, the second of which plunged the
GirTs soul into the deepest, darkest mis-
cry q woman can ever know.
Just as the letter In which she had
written, IN dmid, gentle words, the ma
ternal hopes she might assure herself of,
q blow fell upon her which all but
crushed cut her life, as it successfully
broke her heart. One day a woman pre-
scented herSsIf at Lady Anstruther's house
and asked to see Miss Gascoigne. Mar
shall, who guarded and shielded her
young mistress by every means in her
power, Weuld have refused this woman
ndmittance, 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
race ashen white, her eyes staring and
expressionless, like the eyes Of the dead.
Marshall" she said, with tones that
were husky with emotion, Marshall, T.
have been deceived. am not Franks
wife I"
mot Mr.. Franks wife Oh, come,
Miss Constance, you are altogether
wrong! Why, didn't see you a-stand-
IN before the altar with my own eyes,
and didn't hear you swear to belong
70 each other"
Constance put out an icy-cold hand.
Dear, truo friend" she whispered,
between her pallid lips, and then she
tok up piees Of paper and gave 1t to
Marshall.
Read that, and you will see am not
wrong" she said, with a wintry smile.
The wedding you assisted at was only
farce. Here Is the certificate Of Frank
Anstruthers first marriage, az, first and
only one, for chat woman who has Just
left me Is his lawful, legal wife"
u Will not believe 1t / will not be-
lieve itw 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 wNs 10 become Of her.
"Mr. Roderick viii put this straight"
was Marshall'S verdict, and for a brief
time fame Of hope sprung up In the
wFetched creatures breast but alas 1t
soon died down and was crushed out for
OysE,
I Roderick took the matter up lmmedi.
htely. He sought out every clew, follow
I'd the truth up to the bitter end, and,
lastly and sOrrOwfully, had to own his
brother q liar and a villain.
Constance seemed turned to stone. She
shed no tears, she made no moan; she
bore heTsSlf with pride that was some
thjng marvellous.
What was to become Of her1 What
Of her childr' The question haunted her
day and night
Fortunately, her lunt's health became
20 bad she was permitted to stay buried
In the country house without further mo
leAtatiOn from her father, who went Oh to
Monte Carlo and enjoyed himself, doubly
frea from ais daughters presence. Letters
arrived from Frank By every mail, but
they were tossed into the Gre unread,
{ II leave you to communicate with
your brother" the GIRL had said In her
one and oaly interview with Roderick.
and the bot blood Of triumph had surTed
Into his veins.
How we'll his evil, Jealous plan had
worked Better than he could have
hoped or dreamed. Frank was miles
Always be could not stand forth and re-.
flute the horrible lies. Constance, bound
mp IN pride and misery, refused to do
IS she should have done, write TO him d.
rect, and 20 learn the real truth, His
two puppets worked at his win and haat-
Oned his revenge.
Revenge ON the brother he had alwavs
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. wickAd |
uRmaniy act-the act rather Of a demon !
than that Of a man.
As day after day went by, the time |
approached for the birth of Constance |
nRmelesS child. She had made no nlans
arranged nothing. Roderick did everv.
thing. he 1t was who guarded the rIrI |
In her mothers house, where, with no one
about her but Marshall, not even a wbis-
per Of her condition caught the wind
be surrounded her with every comfort
svery care, but he never saw her. and
Ghe cent him no thanks.
The day her child was born, Marabau
came to him; abe had no liking for Rod |
eriek-in fact, 90 great was her anRer
ana hatred toward poor Frank abe oonld
scarcely bring herself to address any one
connected with him; but there was notha
ing else to do, and even the old woman.
In eommp justice, admitted that Rod
erick was acting with more than a broth
sr's love to the unfortunate Rirl.
She refuses to Sc the child Mar
shall said, and when I urge her, an abe
Eays Ia, Let It die Let It der We
can't DO that you know, sir. What are
We to DOR
ROderick had already foreseen this con-
dngsncy and was prepared.
The child must Nbe removed. I know
q woman who will take II and h thanh