Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-07-16
CHAPTER xvlII.-(continued.)


Surprising I agreed to the idea of
restitution he explained, there IS
an important point to be raised at
once. Say that Tom Forde, my faith
sr's partner, did discover the means
Of making the cement; admit that for
The sake of argument, but it does not
at all follow that he would have made
the money out of it which my father
has done by his business ability. Do
you see the pCint?'
yes"
at is a difficulty, but it is not an
Insuperable one. | merely instance
1t to show you that the thing is not
so simple an affair as you seem to
imagine. But I wish you to know that
1t is owing to what you said that l am
considering the idea at all. | wish to
please you, Christabel. Is there no
chance for me? l asked you to marry
me the other day and you refused
me. Now l tell you frankly prom
tse you-that restitution shall be
made if you will be my wife"
"Mr. Sisterson,' said Christabel,
uuivering with Indignation, Il do not
understand how you dare to say that
you care for me and at the same time
offer a dishonorable suggestion. 1t is
unmanly of you to insult me as you
10. Why don't you do what is right
because it is right? Have you no
cOnscience?'
conscience? ROT" said Maxwell,
rudely.
81 shall certainly not make any
bargain with you, and [ do not wish
20 be spoken to again on this subject
by you
And with her head held high she
marched out Of the room.
''She was splendid, really splendid,
Maxwell said to himself, leaning back
In his chair and smiling. Il do be-
tieve l could marry her.
From which may be inferred what
manner of man was this whom Chris
label had to deal. When he had first
asked her to marry him he was sim
eere at the moment, but the moment
had passed. He had other schemes
in his head, and so far as restitution
was concerned he had not the remot-
est intention of making any.
He was sorry, however, that she
mad given him no opportunity of ask
ing her if she still was determined to
maintain silence regarding what she
had learned respecting his father, yet
here was something in her manner Of
speaking and of carrying herself that
Geassured him.
AS Christabel was crossing from
Maxwell's room to Sir Johns she met
The new secretary carrying letters in
ais hand. and a sudden impulse moved
her to ask him if there was anything
Tor her. whereupon he hesitated and
stammered out, 'Tll look and see.
After going over the letters he hand
ed to her the letter Norman had writ
len in the forenoon, after his talk with
her brother. UnsuspiciOus herself, 1t
did not occur to her that the mans
behavior was suspicious; she did not
dream that she might never have got
the letter at all if she had not hap
pened to meet him.
DR.. Flint was in Sir Johns room,
snd she put ,Norman's letter into the
pocket of her apron as he said to her,
"Sir Johns very low. Don't think he
can last more than day or two at
The most. l sha'n't leave the house
now till the end. 1t may come very
soon"
In the meantime Christabel opened
and read her lovers letter. 1t filled
her with mingled feelings, so that
happiness and misery struggled with
in her breast In the same breath she
said to herself, He will not give me
Nd" and HE cannot help me-" But
On the whole she felt better and
stronger for Norman's words, seeing
how his love for her ran warm
through them all.
When she went upstairs she was
accosted by Mary's maid, who said
her mistress had had sharp attack,
and lay now like one who was dying.
Christabel instantly set about reviv-
ing her
"Christabel," said Mary, on recov-
gring, Il felt as if / should not come
back to life again. 1t would be awful
If | were to die before l have done
what father wishes me to do. l must
write you an order on Coutts' for the
nacket I left therein case anything
should happen to me you can get it.
Promise me that you will, dear"
Christabel promised, and soon went
to her own room When her door
was closed, a figure glided out of the
darkness of an arch, from which was
hung a curtain. 1t was the new sec
retarv. who had been eayesdropping.