Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-25
MARK STILES SECRET.
Continued from PsKe ..

thought Of you here-the thought Of Ferdi
nand At Southam and myself at the ent
Of the world.-I said to myself: harm
House. How could / ever tell this awful
shemsfui treachery would ever come I,
iishti And Fsdors, my dearest and best
have spent walkin. up and down outsld'
this house. content II only ! could sec tn
,isnt I II your room and the shadow on you
He folded her again and again in hi
arms. and their lips met In their nrst Ions
Julian! All. how little I thought thi
shy ,oy. when you brought me thos'
hateful flowers Of yesterday. you little know
the persecution endured because Of them
Mother wished !. me to be engaged to you
through her frame. she little knows hov
I ioathe him-how I have always done no
Though I could never bring It home TO hin
10 this matter. But although I have sui
fered bitterly, what about you? No pun
ishment can be too severe for him-n'
retribution too bitter"
Hush, my darling :"
And he laid q gentle hand upon her sof
"Ah. let us not begin our happiness. II
tricked me. cruelty used and served me
But. dearest. he has left me you--you an,
your faithful heart. He could not toucl
that. And Il you are mine; my Tedore
will be sure. But / viii not hasten It. Alb
my love. my love! To know you deem m,
M innocent tori, To know that ha before tn
AZ an honest. innocent man. why
there Is no Joy that can compare with Il
! except 1t is the JOY OF sharing 1t all will
Mrs. Molyneux had returned from hel
drive. and asking no questions. gathered
her rich furs about her and sailed across
She noticed MI. Ferdinand Horley's Goa
and hat. she heard voices in the drawing
room. and she FASTENED to assure hersel
that her fondest wishes had been realized.
A few words she caught Of the impas
stoned speech in which Fedore was i'm
plored to share all her lover could offer.
my dearest child" she exclaimed. throw
ing open the door. you know that 20,
The light was so dim. and the two 81
close together. she was not aware of the
error she had made.
Ferdinand. my dear boy, 1 have alway'
looked upon you AZ a SON.
d y It is not Ferdinand. neither" s:it
am going to be his wife!
Mrs. Molyneux. did not faint or lose hel
presence OF mind. She came forward ant
took Fedore by the arm.
Are you mad?" she asked. In a low
stern voice. you would marry Julian Hor.
ley. the man who all but murdered bis
stay! Let me speak :"
Never had Mrs. Moiyneux heard 20 sterr
Ian IIorley.
Il said Just now that | should seek ne
vengeance for the act OF my cousin. which
bread a. best i could and / keep to m;
word. But Justice | will have! And tina,
Justice demands that he shall stand face Il
face with me. and In your presence ant
that of Fedore also. shall confess the trick
cry shamelessly practiced. Give me but
few inoments-h half an hour at the most
I will 20 straight to southam and insis
upon his appearance here"
He was no stern and eager. Mrs. Molly
| neuX was silent but Fedore, az II to shOy
her consent. placed her hand In his. an,
looked him In the face.
tice II all | ask. too We will leave ven
piness."
SO the young man started of, full o
his cousins account. He sped light Of foo
over the half frozen ground. The wind wa
pierclngly cold. the ground under foot wa
pluShy and damp. He chose the short Gu,
skirting the high road by the side OF III
Wilton House plantation.
There was a ~gurgling brook to cross. b.
the late heavy falls Of snow, was rushIn
and roaring. where In the summertime
whispered and rippled. Julian Horley wa
In frantic haste. and he took the bridge al
the damp moraRs leading to the other sid.
when something dark doomed In his path
something stretched out prone and motion
he saw the white face Of Ferdinand H0r
ley. CHASTITY he laid there, the scar upo
his temple had re-opcned, and blood wa
pouring freely from 1t. There was no "act
Ing" now this was grim business. Par
alyzed with horror, Julian raised the heat
placed his hand upon the heart.