Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-12
CHAPTER XXV-Continued-

CHAPTER XXV-Continued-
"I am about" he began, sinking Into
q chair opposite the general, ito prove
that Miss Rale has a right to the re-
semblance we have thought so odd.
The general jerked straight up In MS
seat. unmindful of the gouty foot un-
der which Hilda had stopped to ar
range the cushions. Il mean to say
said Trent, that it's small wonder your
beautiful ward, the betrothed wire ol
your heir, bears the stamp Of the Guilte
blood In her face, since she Is the oase-
born daughter of your son Ernest, and
his Jewish love, Adah Arnault!"
One awful, breathless moment then
one wild cry broke from the lips OF that
girl in the window. and another from
the old graybeard, who all unmindful
of his gouty foot, leaped up In his chalr'
"Polly!" he thundered; my darling!
The spawn of that cursed woman
what do you mean?" He looked ready
to fly at the lawyers throat
81 mean," answered the latter, that
eighteen years ago, when the pair were
on their way to the old mansion once
owned by you in that ea-side town.
Adah Arnault gave birth, in a wayside
house, to a female infant, which she
left there in charge Of Hannah Duff'
a fisherman's wife, to go in pursuit OF
the lover who had abandoned her. The
Duff woman, drunk with bad gin, left
the child to drown on the shore, where
she was picked up very opportunely by
old Rale and, repeat, your so-called
ward Is no other than the daughter OF
Captain Guilte and the Jewess, Adah
Arnault"
Paulette turned from the window and
glided toward the speaker. Would she
ever forget, so long as she might iVe'
the room at that moment-the light
falling through the window vines-Hdl-
da Burrs bilious face, the generals
livid and fierce, and Trent the suitor
she had scorned, her insidious foe,
lounging there so easy and nonchalant'
while he spoke Of her this terrible
thing?
"Guardy!" she screamed, running UP
to the general; but he did not so much
as look at her-he was fixedly staring
at Trent.
Words go for little at any time! ne
cried; "and, by the the living Cod
yours are worth less than nothing!"
81 have long known" said Mr.. Trent
smoothly, that 1 was no favorite OF
yours. A man always hates another
whom he fears, and you have feared
me for many day, my dear general.
Far be 1t from me to beg credence for
story unsupported by proofs. First OF
all, do YOU remember the letter Ernest
Guilte wrote from his foreign deathbed,
and which you, in your fury, COM
manded me to burn unopened?"
Il remember"
Trent thrust a hand into his pocket
and drew out the document In question
-discolored, crumpled, torn. He open
ed it with a careless hand.
T am a cautious man." he said, II
never destroy anything that may be
made available"
Listen to this:
There is a child-a daughter-born
at the house of a woman who called
herself Hannah Duff, on the Salem
road. She is branded on the throat
with nv brothers blood-stamped with
birthmark by which you would know
her the world over-the mark OF a
knife running from chin to throat. The
thought of this child makes my last
hour wretched. l commend her to your
care. AS for poor Adah'-
And the rest is a scrawl,' said Mr.
Trent, for, Ernest Guilte died before
he could make up his mind regarding
the exact thing he ought to write about
his forsaken love. You see that mis-
story and mine, thus far, are as one
With bloodless lips and dilated eyes
stood Paulette. Only, when the birth
marked was mentioned, she raised hel
hands. with a quick, involuntary emo
ton, to her throat.
But this has nothing to do with
Polly" cried the general, hoarsely, ano
snatched the letter from Trent, ano
looked with his own eyes on the word
Ernest Guilte had written, with dying
hand, so many years before. Where Is
the brand he speaks of? What plo,
have you laid against her? Look at hel
throat. 1t is as spotless as snow"
The sheet dropped from his hold ano
r,1St1iner tn his feet
Trent gazed steadily at Paulette. She
stood like a statue. facing her enemy
For her life she could not have spoken
ITO be sure" said Mr.. Trent, no such
mark is visible to the naked eye; but
put the question frankly to Miss Rale-
does it not exist, or has it not existed
in time past?"
Her lips moved spasmodically.
What right have you to ask" She
stammered. Il will not answer youn
Then" interposed Hilda Burr, step
ping briskly forward, If she will not
l must, The birth-mark is Thereon
her throat-under the paint with which
she covers it, for have seen it will
my own eyes,"
Did not tell you she was deceit
a false, cheating actress?" she cried
"Oh, now l know why l have Away
hated her-the child Of that Jew Great
ure who wrecked my whole life.
Tall, rerrible, the general started VI
in his chair.
rs this true?" he demanded, in
frightful voice. "Paulette, Paulette, TO
Gods sake say no."
With a heart breaking cry she cas-
herself at his feet.
'Oh. guardy," she moaned, Eyes, yes
it is true," and she tore at the dis
guising paint with her frantic fingers
Look! see for yourself and hate mt
forever"
A deep groan burst from his livit
lins He fell hack in his chair. Sht