Year: 1866

| ruptlOn involving the awful agony OF de
lection and shame, was not impossible
though unlikely; and she hastily put the
key into the lock. Even as she did 80 a
tremor shot through her whole frame for
i'll that moment, she knew no. how or why
the whispers of the two sailors, that mem.
orable stormy night on boa!d the South
Star, flashed into her mind. What if the
chest should contain, not jewels, but
AS she turned the key the lid shot back
with spring, startling her well nigh to
death. Surely 80 large lid had never 80
shot back before But Geraldine Clytton
was not one to yield needlessly to supersti-
ton, and she took u good look i'll at the
chest. 1t was about three parts filled, and
in order, since it's arrival at its present rest
ing place Numbers of small parcels, COW
cred respectively with paper, with cotton
wool, cardboard boxes, as the case might
be, completely lined the chest all round, to
the width of some inches they were, no
doubt the jewels but Mrs. Clytton's atten-
tion was caught by what was lying in their
midst Nearly all down the middle of the
chest was laid snow-white damask CLOTH
lightly covering what might be underneath
Parures of diamonds no doubt and she
picked off this cloth with SO impatient
Jerk that the current of air whitfield against
the candle, and put it out But not before
she had caught glimpse of what looked
like human face lying there, with wide
open flashing, black eyes. At first, she
could see nothing, the moonlight being so
faint as cOutrasted with the recent light of
the candle, and superstitious terror as
sailed her, and turned her heart to sick
ness.


What fool am Y she calculated, in
few minutes, 81 am thinking of what the
sailors said. Those two things that looked
like eyes must be cleaning jewels. And
the candle out !-and | not to have the
sense to bring matches with me |"


She put out her hand {; she meant to pull
them forth, those cleaning jewels, and
look at them but her fingers came in CON
tact ith-what? A face A dead face,
beyond doubt, for it was cold and stiff
A cry of awful terror broke from her, echo
ing in the silence of the dead room and
Geraldine Clytton flew away, she knew not
how or where. Instinct took her towards
her own chamber, and near it she ran
against Simms, the maid


"Maam whatever is the matter ?"


Selling the astonished servant by the
arm, she pulled her into the chamber, and
closed the door. She clung to her as though
she would never let her go again. She
crouched down in the warmth and light of
fire, her teeth chattering, and her breath
coming i'll gasps


But what is it 2" reiterated Simms more
and more amazed "has anything frighten-
ed you, ma'am 2"


"I-thought--l-saw something in the
CORRIDOR" came the evasivc answer, per
haps an owl had got in, Simms"


She caused herself to be dressed she
was alive to the Importance of diverting
all suspicion from herself when Mr. Valen-
cia should come to discover the raid on the
chest and she descended TO the drawing
room. Mrs. Gore, its only inmate, was
asleep by the fire the Major was sure to
be in the dinning-room, for he liked to sit
long and enjoy private cigar but where
were Auta and Mr.. Valencia? A soft sill
very; happy, laugh seemed to answer from
the conservatory, and Geraldine Clytton
turned to it; the mirrors, as she PASSED
them, rejecting her own scared face, into
which the warm blood had not come.


Auta was indeed there, with Mr. Valen-
cia. But how? Her hands were clasped
in his his face was all close to her bent
and blushng one For one blissful moment
Geraldine Clytton truly thought she saw
some deceptive vision that had no place in
reality-that could have none. The next,
she had awakened to the truth, and stood
there spell hound. She had never dreamed
OF this Auta his love when she had
surely thought-But whispered words were
stealing distinctly on her ear : words that
wel-nigh drove her mad, and turned the
current Of every pulse she possessed into
one living anger.


My heart went out to you from the first
Auta and think you could not have mis-
understood me- Geraldne? Nonsense
She sought me Il did not seek her new
er had a thought of love but for you. My
darling My darling! !"


Auta Gore started from his arm with a
cry That angry woman, with inttamed face
and naughty mien, was bearing down upon
them like one possessed of All evil spirit
Auta never distinctly remembered what
followed. There were raised voices, recrim-
mating words and some strange charge
that lifted her very hair from her head. Ma
iOr Gore stood holding his daughter back /;
and Mrs. Gore, only half awake, was star
ing with her cap hanging to one ear by "a
single string Mr.. Valencia alone remained
calm and cool The first consecutive words
came from him.


Il do not understand it any more than,
yon do, Major do know that this s
the happiest hour of my life, for your niece.
has promised to become my wife but what
it is Mrs ClyttOn would accuse me of | real
ly don't know"


"She can never be your wife, retorted
Mrs CIytton. You marry again Would
you lake second wife, to murder her as
you did your first ?"


Mr.. Valenca's sleepy eyes for once were
opened as wide as his antagonists.


Murder my first wife p he quietly re-
joined Thank you. was not aware that
had done anything of the sort"


You know you did," came the painting
answer. You know that you have got
her concealed in that ebony chest that
YOU had her in it on board while falsely
pretending it was filled with jewels. The
sailors knew what was in the chest, and
nearly broke out in mutiny they said ii
brought a curse on the ship. accuse you
George Valencia, though you have escaped
accusation from others have seen the