Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-09-14
cHAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)


as II she must rush madly after him,
but she restrained herself; and Fortunate
ly she got her fathers permission to re-
turn to her aunt, and try to cheer the
poor weman 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 ad-
vised her not to conhdo 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
Cor 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
girls soul into the deepest, darkest mis-
cry woman can ever know.
Just as the letter in which she had
written, in timld, gentle words, the ma
ternnl hopes she might assure herself of,
a blow fell upon her which all but
crushed out her life, as 1t successfully
broke her heart. One day a woman pre-
bented herself 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, would 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
face ashen white, her eyes staring and
expressicnless, like the eyes Of the dead.
N"Marshall," she said, with tones that
were husky with emotion, Marshall, I
/ have been deceived. am not Franks
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 / hear you swear to belong
no each other"
Constance put out an icy-cold hand.
Dear, trne friend" she whispered,
between her pallid lips, and then she
tok up a piecs OF paper and gaveit to
Marshall.
Read that, and you will see / am not
wrong" she said, with wintry smile.
"The wedding you assisted at was only a
farce. Here is the certificate of Frank
Anstruther's first marriage, ay, first and
only one. for that woman who has just
left me Is his lawful, legal wife"
II will not believe 1t l will not be-
tieve IT." SO cried Marshall over and
sver 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. Roderick will put this straight"
was Marshalls verdict. and for a brief
time a flame Of hope sprung up in the
wretched creatures breast; but alas it
soon died down and was crushed out for
ever.
! Ro6erick took the matter up immedi-
stely. 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 a villain,
Constance seemed turned to stone. She
shed no tears, she made no moan she
bore herself with q pride that was some
thing marvellous.
what was to become, Of herr What
Of her childT The question haunted her
day and night.
Fortunately, her aunt's health became
10 bad. she was permitted to stay buried
In the country house without further mo-
lestation 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.
at 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 well his evil, Jealous plan had
worked Better than he could have
hoped or dreamed. Frank was miles
away; he could not stand forth and re-
flute the horrible lies. Constance, bound
up In pride and misery, refused TO do
as abe should have done, write to him d.
rect, and so learn the real truth. His
two puppets worked at his will and hast
sned his revenge.
HevenEe ON inc Drotner ne 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 a demon
than that of man.
AS day after day went by, the time
approached for the birth Of Constance's
nsmeiess child. She had made no plans,
arranged nothing. Roderick did every
thing. He It was whe guarded the girl
In her mothers house, where, with no one
about her but Marshall not even whis.
per OF her condition caught the wind
be surrounded her with every comfort
every care, but he never saw her, and
xhe sent him no thanks.
The day her child was born, Marshall
came to him; she had no liking for Rod
srick-in fact, 80 great was her anger
and 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
srick was acting with more than broth.
-. Iowa RI fha upfort7rrafa Girl