Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1899-08-04 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

CHAPTER XXXXI. "z WILL TAKE HIS LIFE!"  Jack Darrell crosses the threshold of the pretty parlour, and comes to a halt. Ile has called this l,ing, urged by some irresistible impulse, determined to see his brother, and force from his lips the truth—the truth. That he himself has been duped, deceived, misled, he is fully convinced ; but why Caryl should have changed her mind so suddenly, so wonderfully, is more than he can understand. When he bad left her in the clergyman's house, she had detested Bertram Darrell with lier whole heart and strength. She would ((((( die than beeome his wife, she said. lie crosses the threshold: the door closes behind him and the servant fails to see that white-robed figure lying prostrate upon the crimson carpet at the foot of the mantel. Jack glances around the room, advances a pace or two and then—then his eyes fall upon t leap of white cashtuere and yellow lace upon the fluor. Caryl !" With a single bound he is at her side: he has lifted her up, and pillows the poor head upon his InVaSt, while, with a mad cry of anguish and dispair, lie stoops and kisses the pale lips, the cold brow, the satiny cheek—white and **Lead ! dead "lie pants, madly; "ant it. Is to blame for it all! Now. by the 'leaver above me, Bertiam Darrell shall answer fo this! I will take his life with my own hand: ..-the cowardly murderer !" it. carafe of water stands upon a side table he pillows her liuuup head upon a sofa-eushito. and bathes her face and lwow gently and tete deny as a woman could have elone. The eye. lids quiver a little, and the great gohl-lwown eyes &reopen and ineet his gaze. A swift flood of crimson suffuses the wi ihe faiue. hi); Caryl does ied e.ooprel,end as yet —she' be. lieves herself dreaming. "Jack! " she murmurs, dreamily, "eli.daek !,  lack ! are IV, : Liley t.Ui nevei part us !" A Hush dyes hi fl grave, stern face; he stifle t ivy of .b.spair that tights for utterance, and stooping, presses his lips to the cold little hand. "Listen!" he says, trying hard to be calm. "I eame here just now—to—to see Bertram Darrell. I have falsities's to settle with him. (!aryl, answer me • did he he do this ? " She puts up both her bonds to hide her face, and a shudder convulseshit frame for a moment: She does not speak, hut lack Darrell is answered, and higis satisfied. A groan of horror escap•s his lips. " So help me !leaven! he shall pay dearly for this!" he pants. "Caryl—Caryl, tell me— for Cod's sake tell me all ! When olid you many Bertram Darrell? Ile to my brother, but he is a !feud im•arngte !" _  Tle g.ofil-lirown eyes flash. " Inen did I marry him." she cries "Two days after your marriage at St„ Paul's I in,one Bertram Barrell's wife." For a time Jack stands staring into her face with blank, bewildered eyes. " marriage, Caryl ! You are made What do you mean? " " Why, your marriage to Isabel Varian, of I...Utre, at St. Paul's Chureh. I—l tried to go. became I wanted to see it with may own eyes and prove without a doubt that you were false to me. But I lost my way, and so arrived too late. But. Bertram overtook me mid told me that you were married and were about to start upon your wedding-tour. I went home, and in two days afterward I became Bertram Darrelrs wife." . . . .  " 3ly marriage! Caryl, it is a lie! It is false —all false ! I have not married Isabel Varian. Nothing remans to me now but vengeance— vengeanee ! Caryl, my heart is broken—my wreeked ! I have no hope left now—no object in life but this—vengeance ! I sun going to take Bertram Darrell's life! " " Jack! Jack !" wringing her hands in madlost pain, " for the love of pity do not say such 1100 words! Do noi think of Bertram Darrell. Think only of the one fact; that we love ••itch other! We do love each other, Jack, though we are parted forever !" Ile has her in his arms in an instant. And lust then, unobserved by the two, the door of lime room opens slowly, softly, and Bertram I /arrell stands glaring down with wild, blood, ;hot eyes full of impotent fury upon the