Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-09-11
vIII.-(Continued.)

When Frank was gone, at first she felt
- IL she must rush madly after him,
but she restrained herself and fortunate
" she got her fathers permission to re-
aurn to her aunt, and try to cheer the
Dcor woman up. Roderick was back at
her home, and proved a courteous and
1fnd friend to his brothers wife. He be-
ocuEht her not to speak to her father
about the marriage, urging all sorts OF
ssasons fer the delay. Roderick alss ad-
~ised her not to confide in his mother
end, bearing In mind Franks wishes, she
did al the young man advised.
So the days went by. -Four months
Gere spent: the time was drawing near
tor her fathers annual winter visit to
Hehe Riviera, and Constance felt she ought
to accompany him, when suddenly the
current Of her life was changed by tive
4eyeats, the first of which brought the
color to her cheeks and the thrill to her
heart, the second Of which plunged tho
Siri's soul into the deepest, darkest mis-
~(y q woman can ever know.
Just as the letter In which she had
written, In timid, gentle words, the ma
4exnal hopes she might assure herself OF.
q blow fell upon her which all but
crushed out her life, as it successfully
3roke her heart. One day a woman pre-
~ented herself at Lady Anstruther's house
sand 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
admittance, but Constance took the mat
ter into her own hands, and q 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
&xpressionless, like the eyes of the dead.
Marshall" she said, with tones that
&ere husky with emotion, Marshall, L
I have been deceived. am not Franks
wife !"
mot Mr.. Franks wife! Oh, come,
Miss Constance, you are altogether
SVronx! Why, didn't see you a-stand-
IN before the altar with my own eyes,
and didn't I hear you swear to belong
60 each ether"
Constance put out an icy-cold hand.
Dear, truo friend" she whispered,
6etween her pallid lips, and then she
oak up a piecs 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 a
Harce. Here is the certificate Of Frank
Anstruther's first marriage, ay, first and
SD7!y one, for that woman who has just
tSaft me Is his lawful, legal wife,"
II will not believe 1t! I will not be-
a3eve I'll" So cried Marshall over and
aver again. while the poor girl crouched
down by the fire and rocked herself to
and fro, asking herself in wild. mad
Nay. what was to become of her.
"Ar. Frederick will put this straight"
>Ras Marshall's verdict. and for brief
cline fame Of hope sprung up in the
Wretched creatures breast; but alas! 1t
s0oon died down and was crushed out for
ever.
Rooerick took the matter up immedi-
afcly. He sought out every clew, follow.
ed tile truth up to the bitter end, and,
lastly and sorrowfully, had to own his
'krother a liar and a villain.
Constance seemed turned to stone. She
-shed no tears, she made NO moan; she
4ese shrrself with a pride that was some
thing marvellous.
"What was to become Of her1 What
IT her childT' The question haunted her
Gay and night.
Fortunately, her aunt's health became
20 bad, she was permitted to stay buried
In the country house without further mo-
lestation from her father, who went of to
Monte Carlo and enjoyed himself, doubly
.1fea from his daughters presence. Letters
arrived from Frank by every mail, but
1Asy were tossed into the fire unread.
II leave You to communicate with
,yuur brother" the girl had said In her
s1e and only interview with Roderick,
and the hot blood Of triumph had surged
.auto 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-
fute the horrible lies. Constance, bound
Up In pride and misery, refused to do
- che should have done, write to him d.
.xect, and 10 learn the real truth. His
two puppets worked at his will and hast
.sned his revenge.
Revenge on the brother he had always
Aated; revenge ON the woman he had
Yoved In . wild, unreasoning, passionate
cay, and who had shrunk from his very
Hfiendship In a manner that had chilled
1kim to the heart. 1t was a cruel, wicked.
unmaniy act-the act rather of q demon
xhan that Of a man.
A day after day went BY, the time
approached for the birth of Constance's
aAmeless child. She had made no plans.
asraueed nothing. Roderick did every
thing. He II was who guarded the sirl
in ,her mothers house, where, with no one
uhuut her but Marshall, not even Q whis.
Per OF her condition caught the wind :
h surrounded her with every comfort.
WY care, but he never saw her, and
Dc cent him 10 thanks.
The day hG child was born, Marshail
nams 10 him; she had no liking for Rod.
Srick-in tact, - great was her anse.
end hatred toward poor Frank ahe could
>carcely bring herself to address any one
connected with him; but there was moth.
ing else 70 %, and even The old woman,
u common justice, admitted that Red.
Srick was acting with mere than broth.
sr's love to the unfortunate girl.
~ShA refunaa u go IT, child . Man