The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-27
CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)


" she got her fathers permission to re-
turn to her aunt, and try to cheer the
Door woman up. Roderick was back at
her home, and proved courteous ana
kind friend to his brothers wife. He De-
sought her not to speak to her fatner
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 Vlslt 10
the Riviera, and Constance felt she ought
to accompany him, when suddenly tue
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 a woman can ever know.
Just as the letter in which she mad
written, in timid, gentle words, the ma
ternal hopes she might assure herself OF,
blow fell upon her which all but
crushed out her life, as it successfully
broke her heart. One day woman pre-
scented 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
admittance, but Constance took the mat
ter into her own hands, and 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
expressioniess, like the eyes of the dead.
Marshall" she said, with tones that
were husky with emotion, Marshall, L
I have been deceived. l am not Franks
wife,"
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 l hear you swear to belong
to each other"
Constance put out an icy-cold hand.
Dear, true friend" she whispered,
between her pallid lips, and then she
tok up piece OF paper and gave 1t to
Marshall
Read that, and you will see l am not
wrong" 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 I will not be-
lieve tt" So cried Marshall over and
ever 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 MarshalPs verdict. and for a brief
time flame of hope sprung up in the
wretched creatures breast; but alas! it
soon died down and was crushed out for
ever.
Rooerick took the matter up immedi-
htely. 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 pride that was some
thing marvellous.
What was to become Of her? What
OF her child? The question haunted her
day and night.
Fortunately, her aunt's health became
30 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.
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
workedl 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 she 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.
Revenge on the brother he had alw,vs
hated; revenge on the woman he had
AVSSo Az :" "AANs Jill CoSoAluS, 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 Constanco,s
nameless child. She had made NO mans
arranged nothing. Roderick did everv.
thing. He it was who guarded the o;r,
In her mothers house, where, with no ono
about her but Marshall, not even a wb;s-
per Of her condition caught the wind
he surrounded her with every comfor+
every care, but he never saw her. .nS
she sent him no thanks.
The day her child was born. Mar.b.u
came to him; she had no liking for Rod
srick-in fact 30 great was her anea-
and hatred toward poor Frank she conld
scarcely bring herself to address anv ona
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.
E's love to the unfortunate girl.
She refuses to see the child" Mar.
shall said, and when I urge her. all she