The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-11-30

had Rugged to his breast. I had hoped |
against hope. But if they were true
copies, / could no longer doubt that
Sir Mortimer had stopped to the TAX
| ing of brides.
"And these documents are word for
word copies of those in the, safe?"
demanded gloomily. -.
81 swear it by every oath l hold sa-
cred." she replied without hesitation.
and kissed the jeweled cross that hung
about her neck.
| She stretched out her hand for the
papers. / tore them to atoms before
her eyes.
For a moment she struggled to res
cue them from my grasp. When she
saw that it was too late, she laughed
boisterously-a laughter that showed
at once contempt, defiance and tri-
umph.
"Bravo!" She clapped her hands
dersively. you take your precau-
tons. You are desperate. Protest as
you will, you are convinced of Sir Nor
timers guilt"
you are mistaken" replied cool
ly. But even IL these papers are true
copies of genuine documents, 1t Is as
well that even the copies be destroyed.
If they are forgeries. and you have yet
to prove to me they are not, they are
dangerous toys, and SO better de-
stroyed."
Another copy is easily made. so
long as 1 have the combination of my
safe, M. Coward"
You are never weary OF insulting
me-" said indifferently. But be sure
/, of this, you will find l am not coward
enough to yield weakly to your scheme
, of blackmail."
, mo; you are so brave that you
|, leave a helpless girl to bear the dis
. grace of her dead brother, when by a
word you might save her the suffer
: ing. Your pretended honor is so pre-
cious to you that you scorn to aid the
, woman whom you love-"
SILENCE, womanl" I cried passion
ately. do you think / am convinced
. of Sir Mortimer's guilt because OF
these fiimsy typewriter copies? You
!. must let me see the papers in the
: SAFE
IF you are desperate enough to de
. stroy a copy, should scarcely trust
you with the original. For the last
time, must the woman you love know
of her brothers disgrace? / am in
your power; perhaps you hope that
shall be coaxed into opening the safe
Or are you about to compel me-"
81 should have resorted to thai
measure long ago had l thought I
would prove effectual. 1t seems tina
there is again a deadlock between us
l refuse absolutely, not only to hell
you, but to believe that Sir Mortime
| is guilty"
'Tf / show the papers in the safe t
Helena Brett, even she must believ
the evidence of her eyes. Shall cal
her and ask her II she recognizes ne
tbrother's handwriting? If you believ
| so strongly as you profess that 81
| Mortimer was innocent of wrong-dt
| ing. you Will not refuse that"
| 81 would spare her even the though
! of its possibility" said sternly.
| THAT is impossible. She shall Sc
/ those papers-if not to-day, tomorrow
the next day; it makes little differenc
| to me-"
| "'Sufficient unto the day is the ev
thereof" quoted fiippantly: but
| began to think 1t inevitable ths
Helena Brett be summoned.
again we must compromise 1t al
pears. 1 will call Sir Mortimers siste
here. She shall see the papers-d
| eide for herself and for you whethe
| they are genuine. You see. al
| strong enough to prevent woma
from destroying the originals as yo
have destroyed the copies"
And when she has seen those p
pers?" / asked thoughtfully. "Sa
even that she herself believes the
genuine? What then?"
'Tt will be for her p decide. Pc
haps she will refuse to ask you to
what / wish. Perhaps she will OH
| to you happiness If you consent. 81
shall be the one to decide. You pr
fess to believe that Sir Mortimer
innocent. More than that, you thir
her soul so white that she will refus
even If she believes her brother guilt
ant to rescue his memory from dishon
the with dishonor."
ny. She had put into words my ov
to thought.
md 1--WE will let her decide" | sa
ouietly.