Pittston Gazette

              Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, SEPTEHBER 24, 1897. Kulablhhetl 1 \ OL. XIAIIlNo. I. 1 A Weekly Local and Family Journal. t #l.UO per Year i in Aflvan^e* "JgSWgiw RDY i J AUTHOR OF ««»«» «» "3'' 1 \ J "rvscr* HOADLtra 3tcR£" AWmKCHMONTBA i / wSSTSS^Vr' V|/W TZT'STr. COPrreAUTHOU  grimly, "I'd have had him found by those who'd have made sure he wan under the weight of his tali, powerful lived near Walcote. to play that girl false. Go to her. She will make you happier than I ever can. It is not love that makes happiness. That comes far more readily from the easy content of even flowing, placid framt Mrs. De Witt had spoken much about him, describing him always as one of her chief intimates and suggesting more in her manner than in her words that there was an understanding between them of the closest and most confidential kind. "i'es, i have er." The two had one from the mothspoke of Lady Beryl being Mt Ukarkst Mothku—It will be bitter to me to disappoint you und more thin bitter if you cannot receive with love the only woman in the world I can possibly many—Lola Craw ' aliay• Were she sis black as, you point her I would choose no other woman for my wife. It is too late to alter my choice. 1 am coming home tomorrow to see you about it. Your loving son, Jakfuav. sat alone, waiting foT Sir Jaffray, Lola having joined them at the table. "No, d' ar; hIjo has a headache," answered Lola. dead." Lola Crawshay, who was sitting alone at the end of the veranda, looked up from her book ami first greeted him with a glance and a smile, which made his pulses beat faster, and then changed and said in a tone which implied rebuke:Walcote as "the motherless. — • ~ • b motner always "He is dead, father, never fear. I tell you I went back and staid at the hotel close to the place for ten days, making cautious inquiries everywhere. If he had escaped, I must have heard of it." "Is anything asked, noticing up at t her conc ho manor?" he "Wants to avoid being questioned about her change of plan and sudden departure, 1 suppose," was the reply. "Very likely," said Lola calmly. "I never knew any one who shrank from a certain kind of curiosity more than she does.'' "No. Everything is just an it was when we left a week ago. The mother has uot been very well; worried, she Hays. She asks me to give you this letter." The tint on her cheeks deepened somewhat as she held out to him a letter and met his eyes, looking at her with direct and rather searching inquiry.:ern The old man was silent a moment, muttering and mumbling aud shaking his head. 'You said you would go with the The moment that the baronet's eyes fell on Lola, however, he seemed to yield to the influence which she exer cised over men, and he never had either strength or inclination to attempt to resist it. I "It is better she should know right off," he muttered as bo folded the letter and addressed and stamped the envelope "She knows I don't alter easily, und it pave the way for our talk." others. /r¥j \ j'4) W§f "But you don't know it, Lola. You haven't found his carcass. " ''I kuow, and I meant it right enough. I always do when—when you pack lue off. I got nearly as far as the town, aud upon my word I meant to go right on and find the little woman and my cousin and stop with them, just as I said, but—well, I thought of this cozy veranda, aud that—that you" —lie glanced at her, checked himself and changed the finish of the sentence, adding—"that on such an evening one gets such fine views of the scenery, you kuow, and all that, and so here 1 am. That's all." And he turned his smiling, handsome face to her. "Yes, she's a sweet tempered woman. She's so—what's that word you use sometimes, Beryl?—so altruistic. That means helping others out of a ditch and keeping your lips closed, doesn't it?" "Well, he is dead to me at any rate. Our paths shall never lie side by side again. He never held me at all, as you kuow, save for my fear for you. I am not afraid of such a thing as that." He strolled out of the hotel to smoke and think. Perceiving this and knowing intuitively that any encouragement on her part would tend to estrange Mrs. Dn Witt from her and being quite unwilling to have so agreeable a house closed against her, Lola held herself in the strongest reserve against him and when W hile he opened the envelope, Beryl turned to Mrs. De Witt. It was the crisis of bis life, but ho faced it, like all things, resolutely and boldly, looking the difficulties full in the face, making his decision firmly and holding to it with the tenacity of his race. The wife made no reply in words, but her eyes lighted with anger. "Do you know the news? Mrs. Villyera is going home—tonight, I think, or tirst thing tomorrow." "Not quite, ' returned Beryl. PROLOGUE I. ON THE DEVIL'S BOCK. She tossed her head with a gesture of "We'll, it's very convenient now at any rate," said Mrs. De Witt. "I'm really sorry she can't come, for I'm positively curious about the reasons for your scamp*ting off in this way, Lola, and just at the time Magog's off as well.. „.you might be following the other. I hope Mrs. Villyers has not been setting that very stiff and proper cap of hers at him and is running away from defeat." "Ho loug as you don't go too far with any of them, I never say a word, and the fact that while they are making love to you 1 am making money out of them ought to give a zest to the business which you should appreciate. Don't be a fool. Of course you want your hysterics in so ire form or another—all women do—but don't let 'em lead you over the Rubicon. This German pig that we're stalking now may bo the last we need trouble about. He's rich enough to yield any amount of gold, and if I know love in a fat fool's face when I see it he's mad on you and he'll give half his wealth if only you give me the chance to handle"— contempt. "So you're in earnest, are you, and really mean it this time?" "Mark my words, we shall never hear of him again," she added. "No, I hadn't heard it," answered Mrs. De Witt, looking with a keen, quick glance at the baronet and surprised to see him start and fltibl/ and then, with an effort, recover fiis sfclf "Every syllable of every word." "I shall not, child," said the old man. "That's why I sent for you." other things failed made an excuse and returned to Mosscombe. Two tlnjigfl he regretted deeply—his mother's groundless prejudice iigainst Lola and the complication about Buryl— but neither of them turned him by so much its a hair's breadth from his purpose and resolve. The reply was uttered with the crisp, clear ring of determination, and Lola Turrian as she spoke looked her husband in the face with set decision in every line of her young, beautiful face. The girl rose impulsively at this, and taking her father's hand kissed it and then kissed his faoe and smoothed some of the white locks which had strayed down from under his skullcap over his forehead. The baronet soon followed her, however, and, going to Walcote manor, much to the delight of his mother, who quite misunderstood the reason of his return, began to stalk L«Ti with as much persevering patience as he had been wont to show with some rare game. . "You had no right to come back," said Lola gfhrely aud almost coldly, aud she closed her book aud gathered up the fancy work which she had been doing, 'l lieu she row; from her chair and stood just where the sun shoue upon h'-r, bathing her in golden light and making her magnificent beauty seem almost supernatural in its dazzling ra- possession. "J love you. Loin, anrl I want you for my wife." "The dear mother!" he exclaimed, folding up the letter with a care and precision which to the keen eyes watching him were overdone. "She is the very best soul in the world. What is that about Mrs. Villyers? Going home? That is a coincidence. I am going heme tonight. We must travel together if that can he arranged." The husband, a slim, fair, good looking man, sneered provokiugly as he returned her gaze. He shrugged his shoulders as he answered readily and rapidly, though with a slight foreign accent: friendship. Yon and I are best apart. Yon think yon love rue now. Yon will -j come to love her in time. You will be happier with her. Yon and I are two | tempest clouds, better apart. With us life can only bo a full heaven or a raging hell. I am afraid of von.'' And she seemed to cower before him. "Youf words scorch me. Go away, or let mo go. Let us never meet again. If you have any pity in yon, think of what it is to burn as I burn with this love which yon have kindled and to know that I can never—wait! I am mad. Oh, why, why did I ever see yon?" She ; stopped suddenly and stood pressing her hands to her face. Sir .7.iffray stood by her, immovable, bnt infinitely moved, conscious of nothing save the wild thumping of his heart against his ribs and of the mad, bewili dering thought that she loved him. "Let me go in, Sir Jaffray, please," said Lola, her whole manner changed, save for the'light in her eyes. As she parsed she touched him .again, iVpd he drew back an if afraid of losing all self control. He had drifted into the present relations with his cousin. It had been the wish of others that be should marry her, and he had acquiesced in the plan because no one else had ever touched his heart He had liked her in the calm, unruffled way in which her nature hud appealed to him and had always admired her. "I hope not, indeed," returned Lola, with earnest innocence quite equal to Mrs. De Witt's. "She is the bestof good creatures, and a love disappointment of the kind is the last thing she deserves. She has said nothing to me abont it, but there, of course, she couldn't, could she?" And Lola turned her large, lustrous eyes ppon Mrs. De Witt with an expression of real concern in them. He suffered rather than enjoyed the caress and shook his bead with a half petulant movement of impatience. At that time she was on very friendly terms with Bervl Leycester, aud her quick woman's wit had shown her bow strongly Beryl, who hid her feelings behind a mask of reserve, loved the man whom, by the common desire of both their families, she was to marry. Nor at the time had Lola the least intention or desire to come between them. "You ought to be glad I'm going to die at last, Lola," he continued. "I've been an unconscionable time over it, but that fool of a Dr. Lubin says I can't last now more than a week or a fortnight more, and if I do I can't get out of bed. What the deuce is the good of living, I should like to know, caged up in a hole like this, aud in bed, aud not able to have a scrap of decent food or a drop of wine, nothing but a cup of nasty stuff that might be pig swill for all I know? If that's the case, the sooner I go after Pierre the better. I only wish I could let you know that he's there safe bound. We shan't be far apart, over there, I expect, " he added, with a smile that made his wrinkled features inexpressibly ugly. "Upon my word, you really are very beautiful, Lola. I'm not a bit surprised that other men fall in love with you. On my soul, I should—if you weren't my wife already, of course." He ended with a laugh that might have marked anv phase of feeling, but there was a threat veiled in the light tone of the question which followed, "And what then?" rtiance. "Good," exclaimed Mrs. De Witt; "very good and very natural. Magog, you have inherited all your mother's goodness of heart and have developed with it all your own powers of acting. This little surprise visit of yours will give her such delight. She loves to have you with her, talking over all your plans with the frank innocence of childhood, and it will be so pleasant to travel with—dear Mrs. Villyers." "Stop!" cried the woman hotly. "May I rot if ever I move a finger to help you again. If yon want to rob men, go and do it like other thieves. Be at least a man and don't skulk behind my petticoats. I'll never speak to that German agaiifc I swear." Iier companion gazed almost like one bewitched by the glorious picture she But he felt now as if there had iiever been a thought of love toward her in all his heart. made. "Will you Jet me pass, Sir Jaffray?" she asked, purposely avoiding bis eyes. He jumped to bis feet aud reddened. "Do you mean you are going in? Have I offended yon? Don't go." "No, I dou't think either of you'd exchange confidences on such a subject," said Mrs. De Witt dryly, bat 8miling very sweetly. Now his feelings were a mixture of fear and hope—fear lest his mother wus right and lest Beryl might feel something of that desolation and misery which the thought of losing Lola suggested to him and hope that his mother was wrong. Beryl was so true and genuine a soul, had been such a stanch friend and dear companion in the past and had taken such a strong interest in all that concerned him that he was profoundly grieved at the thought of bringing sorrow to her. How that design was first formed she never quite clearly knew. The baronet 's persistency was one great cause, while ber determination had been greatly helped by an incident in which his mother, who had never liked her, had slighted her and insulted the memory of lier father and stirred the fires of that temper which she knew so well how to control. But when once the purpose was formed nothing could stay it, and she set herself to weave sqeh a web of witchery over the mm as lie could not hope to break. Beryl was amused despite the undercurrent of interest there was in the dialogue for her, and she smiled. "I care not what then," was the answer, spoken with angry emphasis. "I know what you mean, and 1 can) nothing. Yon mean that yon will add informer to your other characters and try to send my father to the galleys. The same chivalry which let you live on me urges you to whip mo with a fear for my father's safety. Would to heaven I had dared yon at the first and never pot this cursed fetter on my life." She was playing nervously with her wedding ring as she spoke. The man tnrned a shade pale now and bit his lip. Then he swore under his fair mustache, and his voice was no longer steady when he spoke. He began to fear that she was in earnest and this made him angry. The last was a whispered appeal, aud he looked down at her and seemed to search for her eyes with his. After a long pause she lifted ber face and turned upou him a gaze which thrilled him till he almost trembled with the passion which raged in faint. A dry little smile passed over Sir Jaffray's face. "I don't think it's very probable," she said. "Well, if any one ought to know yon or I should, Beryl. You've had all the confidences of his first boyhood and I most of those of his manhood." "You are a keen thought reader," he "I will make you do what I wish," he said, and he laid his hand on her said. Then she made as if to speak, but said nothing, and her eyes fell again, as though beaten down by the ardent look he bent on her, and instead of speaking she sighed deeply and tremulously. "What plot are you two hatching now?" said Beryl, looking from one to the other. "I hoped you were going to sfhy," she began to Sir J affray, but then checked herself. She shook it off with a toRs of con- wrist. Lola said nothing. "The shortest plan is to ask him himself," replied Lola. "Here he is. Sir Jaffray," she said to the baronet as soon as he had taken his seat at the table, ' 'we are puzzh~d. The dear little woman can't understand why you are leaving Torquay suddenly. I did not know you were leaving till she told me, you know, and she wants badly to know whv you are going. Will you tell us?" tempt "I hope you don't think I'm going to make a fool of myself about dying," he said querulously, noticing her manner. "You wouldn't have me turn white livered and send for a pack of priusts and pretend to wipe out all the record of a full life well lived and well enjoyed with the cant of half an hour! Psh! But there! That'll do about myself. I'm thinking more about you. What will He wished, indeed, that he could have laid the whole thing before her as he had often done with other and lesser puzzles and just have talked it out quietly like friends. "Bah! Do you think I am afraid of you?" she cried. "Do you think I have ever clone what yon wished because I fean-d anything yon could do to roe? You poor, conceited fool. I'm no more afraid of you than of a rati" And she laughed derisively. She knew that the climax was fast approaching, when, bwiring that Mrs. De Witt uud Beryl Lcycester were going to stay at Torquay and that Sir J affray was to be there at the same time, she persuaded Mrs. Villyers to go there before them and thus made it appear that the baronet had foilowcd her. She moved on as it to pass him without speaking, bnt he barred her path, and as though unwittingly she brushed against him, then stopped, drew hack and started and sank down again into her chair, leaning her arm on the veranda and her fare on her hand and sitting quite still, like the statue of embarrassed and emotional loveliness. "One moment," he said, keeping his voice as steady :ts he could. "I understand now. You are right. I will do what jou wisb, and till then I will not say a word more." "I had intended to stop, Beryl," he said, looking at her steadily, "but I am compiled to go home to see the mother after this letter," holding it up. "If you wish it, of course I'll come back. You know I always like to do what yon wish if possible. The mother knows that too." Her husband eyed her curiously without letting any sign of annoyance at her words appear and replied with the air of one who is merely balancing the pros and cons of a given course: He missed the help which the girl bad often been to him, and he was thinking of this as he sauntered on to the veranda at the end of bis stroll and saw her sitting there alone, just in the corner and in the chair where Lola bad sat in the afternoon. "I wonder if I did make a mistake with you when I stopped you going on the boards. A speech like that to the gods ought to draw many pounds a week to any house. You want a triflo more gesture. If you're going to say it again, either hold up the 'fetter' and flaunt it in my face or dash it on the ground. Tho gallery likes gesture. Don't forget But you'd tetter not rehearse here because the rock is not very wide, and if you chuck much of your jewelry about some of it's pretty sure to roll down into the gorge, aud what goes over there won't come up again. But there! What's tho need for me to doubt your powers of acting? Haven't I seen you lead a dozen mm on—aye, and to the very verge—only for us to use 'em up in the end? You're a born actress, Lola, with limitations and in a certain line." At this all the color left his face with rage. He gripped her wrist firmly and held it while, with a threatening brow, he said in a voice harsh with anger, "Unsay that at oneo or your father shall rot in jail." i He stood back and let her pass without another word, watching heir with burning eyes till the last hem of her dress disappeared and the soft froa frou , of the silk was lost in the room. There was not a gesture or expression in her face or manner to suggest that she could know anything about it. Her attitude toward him was precisely what it had always been, and ber perfect self command and composure pleased bim. He took his cue from her readily. He smiled as he answered: you do? When he found Lola was staying in the place, he did not attempt to conceal his pleasnm, and he would have been with her from morning till night if she would have allowed it; but, knowing the strength of her hold over him, she sent him away continually to be with the others, while she herself would avoid him ostentatiously. eryl so rarely showed her feelings that the deep scarlet blush which now rushed over her face, coloring it a vivid red from the roots of her rich brown hair downward as she rose and made an excuse and went indoors hastily, surprised both her companions, and especially Mrs. De Witt, who did not se» anything in the baronet's words to cause it and did not understand the reference in them. "I have made no plans yet, father. I have only thought so far that you aud I would be much happier together now." Sir Jalfray leaned against the rail of the veranda and made no effort to speak for awhile, content to feast his eyes upon her lustrous beauty and to yield himself up to the full enjoyment of the emotions she had roused. He went to her and sat down in one of the creaky basket chairs near her. "Then it's time you did think, that's all. Your face and form are good enough to win you half a kingdom if you only use them properly, aud your pluck—well, it's as stanch as mine. You'll go far if you choose. Only mind don't try to go too fast." Then be turned his face to the light, and a ernile of proud triumph lighted it as ho stood and gazed at the sea, and the woods, and the landscape, thongh seeing nothing, lost in the thought that he bad won her, a queon among women. "Well, walking about to think, Jaffray," she said pleasantly, "after the old habits?" "You coward!" she cried, and, stung by the words and the gesture into a paroxysm of rage, she raised the light umbrella she was carrying and struck him with all her force across the facn "Is she asking again? Just now on the balcony out there she wanted to suggest that it was something about you, Miss Crawshay." "Yes. I was thinking about my going off tomorrow. I'm going to see the mother, you know." Ho was mad for the love of her, aud she knew it well enough and meant to be his wife. This treatment only fed the fever of his passion, however, and, absorbed in his love for her and desire to have her for his wife, he was perplexed by the thousand lover's fears and uncertainties which the coquetry of her manner toward him created. while wrenching her wrist from b grasp. CHAPTER II "I thought so from what you said today," replied Beryl quito calmly. "What train do you go by? Shall you come back?" He was standing close to the edge c "I don't want to talk of mvself." But she kuow also that there wore difficulties to be mirmouuted first and that she must act warily cautiously if she was to succeed. I.AD7 WALCOTE 1NTEKVEXE3. "Where are we all this afternoon, Magog?" she asked in perplexity. Lola laughed a soft, low, sweet laugh that made the men who were at the tables within earshot look up and tnm round and feel suddenly interested in the doings of the group which contained three such pretty women and the distinguished looking man. he steep rock, with his back to it, and "I don't care what you want," was the testy reply. "I do, and I mean to. Listen. Drop the name of that infernal scoundrel and act as though that part of your life had never been lived. Play the beautiful ingenue. Be my daughter, Lola Urawshav, once more, and as soon as I'm dead do what those cursed relatives of mine would never let me do— go back to England. They'd have stopped my allowance if I'd gone back, but when they see you in the garb of the mourning orphan—probably dressed for the part, mind—they'll take you in as surely as you will them. I've written a let- Sir Jaffray was still on the veranda, smoking and day dreaming, after his interview with Lola, when Mrs. De Witt and her cousin Beryl returned to the hotel from the walk on which he ought to have, accompanied them, and the former surprised him on the balcony and before he could escape. Her shrewd instincts scented mischief. "Where we were not last week and shall not be tomorrow," be answered sententionsly and with a smile. This commonplace way of meeting what he had meant as an advance rather disconcerted him, and he answered tamely: It was more than 18 months since that scene on the Devil's rock, and she had already made exoellent use of her time in England. She had found Mrs. Villyers, the widow to whom her father had sent her, ready at first to give her only a very cold and formal welcome, willing to do for a relative what the demands of duty, sympathetically interpreted, might require, bui unwilling, on account of the ill odor of Lola's father with his family, to take her into the house on the footing of an intimate and loving friend. A hundred times in the first few days of this visit he had resolved to ask her to marry him, and he sought to make an occasion, but always they seemed to be interrupted just when he had begun to frame the question, and his wits were too dazzled by his love to see that Lola herself contrived many of the interruptions."Are you turning sphinx?" she asked, a little irritably. "No, I'm only the soothsayer, waiting to see what I ought to say and acting on instructions." Anciwith that he went into the house. "I haven't fixed the time yet," adding after a short, uncomfortable pause, "I'll come back if you wish, you know." Mrs. De Witt and Beryl were both perplexed by the conduct of the other two, and the former glanced quickly np to the faces of them both as if to find there an explanation, but she found nothing. "I'll* act no longer, then," returned tho girl, for she was little more. "You go your way. I'll go mine." "By yourself, Magog?" she said. She generally had a pet name for her male intimates as a sort of compromise between the Christian and surnames. This was chosen in reference to the baronet's great size and strength. "I thought some one was with you—Mrs. Villvers, of course"—this dryly—"and bad perhaps stopped your coming with us." But at that he blamed himself lest she should misunderstand him. "If I don't read that very clever Miss Lola's hand in this, may I never flirt again 1" exclaimed Mrs. De Witt to herself as soon fts she was left alone. "But I'll find out from her what passed this afternoon, if I have to ask the question poiut blank." "And your father can go his, eh? Poor old chap. You're very hard on him Lola, very hard indeed. To send him to the galleys in that way, and at bis age too." The girl laughed softly, but quite without sign of restraint. She was an excellent actress too. "In here she hinted, as I think very unkindly, that there was some lovemaking at the bottom of it, and that yon were running away either with or from Mrs. Villyers—I didn't make out which. I suppose that's not so?" But on the day when he found her alone on the veranda he had returned determined tbat he would wait no longer. He was hungering for the knowledge tbat she loved him. When she was near, he could think of nothing else. His mother's objection to the marriage, his more than half engagement to marry Beryl—every hindrance and caution was burned like dead grass in the fierce, hot flame of his passion. ter for you to the only one among 'em who ever showed she had a heart, old Mra Villyers, and if you play your cards as my child ought to you'll make her home yours and her introductions be the means of starting your campaign. She's so deadly dull and religious that the world will cash her introductions at sight to any amount just as banks will Rothschild's checks. I've thought all this out, expecting that you'd probably run away from that brute as soon as I was in my coffin, and I've written down here a list of all your eligible relatives," with such hints as occurred to me of the best means of get- "Yon don't seem to know your own mind very clearly; not like you." His cold, sneering indifference goaded her almost beyond the point of endurance, but she fought down her rage. But Lola had amply justified her shrewd old father's judgment, aud the winning tact, the clever usefulness, the supple adaptability and the patient temper which the girl never failed to show won the old lady's heart, until she was almost loath to let her out of her sight. Meanwhile Sir Jaffrey had gone to read over again and answer the letter front his mother, and he ensconced himself in a corner of the smoking room. "Some people seem to tbink I know it too clearly," he answered, thinking of his mother's letter. Mrs. Do Witt looked np quickly, expecting to intercept a glance of understanding between Lola and Sir Jaffray, but she was disappointed. "No; I think she's in her rooms somewhere, " he ouswered, looking at her. "I have come out here to tell you that this kind Of life must end. I"— "She's a sweet old lady, I think, for an innocent, and I certainly do think she's the most innocent growth I ever met—for u woman. She's bo fond of dear Lola too. I wonder where she is. They're the sweetest pair I know." "Oh, people often make blunders trying to guess one's wishes, I think." "And a devilish uncomfortable place you've chosen," lie said, interrupting ber and laughing. "Here we are on a lonely crag, with these villainous fir trees on one side and a sheer dip right down to the bottom of the ravine on the other aud a sky that looks as though nothing short of a miracle could stop it Bending down buckets of rain inside five minutes. I wish you'd be a bit thoughtful. If you want to do an uncomfortable thing, yoa might ut least choose a comfortable place to do it in. Look heie! Let us go tn some hotel aud have it all out there quietly over a bottle of wine." "I wish she hadn't gone so soon," he said—he wafn't thinking of his mother then, however. "It makes it look as if I was following her; but, by Jove, it can't be that—it can't be that; she's in earnest and means to part altogether. " The bare thought of this filled him with a feverish fear. "Wish I'd knocked this business about Beryl on the head before I spoke. Poor little girl"—this was Beryl—"I wish I'd never—but what's the good of wishing? I never had a ghost of an idea that I'd got snch passion in me till I met Lola. Beryl's a good BOTt, but it's no ree to think of that now. I couldn't marry her feeling as I do. I wish—oh, what an infernal nuisance it is when your people set to work matchmaking! And one's so help less—worse than if there was a regular understanding. I could go to her theu and not with the truth, but I can't as it is without posturing as conceited ass enough to assume that she's in love with me. I hope it hasn't gone so far as that. I wish I'd never—gad, I hope she won't feel as I should feel if things went wrong now with Lola. Wonder why the mother is so down on her. She oughtn't to have written such a letter as this. She wouldn't if she'd known. She'll be all right when she does know. Let me read it again quietly and without that sharp little devil's eyes boring holes in my skull. She's a little demon." He thought lie could detect a little nervous ring in her voice, suggesting an undercurrent meaning, but before he could say anything she added: "No, indeed not," returned Sir Jaffray."Lola, I think you're one of the most daring girls I ever knew," said Mrs. De Witt suddenly. "You've a Bulaklava pluck. You dash right in under the hottest fire and try to spike the gunswJ are shelling you right and left." * "Not left, dear," returned Lola, whu was sitting at one side of the small table alone with Mrs. De Witt on her right hand at the bottom and Mrs. Villyers' empty place between her and Sir Jaffray, who was at the head. She pointed to the vacant place with a sweep of the hand, which included also the baronet, and laughed. Thus he looked at her with the hot eyes of desperate longing as she sat with her face resting against her hand and her eyes bent down, and it was like a sweet delirium to believe, as he did, that the emotion which had brought the blood to her cheeks and made her bosom rise and fall in loveliest confusion was dne to the feelings which he had roused in her. As the old man bad predicted, moreover, Mrs. Villyers' introduction opened the doors of every desirable bouse in the county, and Lola's beauty and shrewdness did the rest. She was the beautiful Miss Crawshay, aud nobody ever tried to remember that her father bad enjoyed and deserved a reputation for such ill conduct as bad made bis friends pension bim oft on condition that he never set foot in bis native country. "I think no end of Mrs. Villyers," said Sir J affray. "Of course you'll just do as you like about coming back." "Of course; we all do. She's snch an obliging soul, too—coming all this way from her comfortable home, and just to please Lola. I hope I shall be as good to my young people when I'm her age." "Do you mean you want to release me from my promise to stay a fortnight here?" "I don't remember auy direct promise, Jaffray," she answered with the same slight unsteadiness of tone. "But even if thero had been a direct promise I shouldn't want to hold yon to it— never." This word she spoke with emphasis, but added directly in a lighter tone, "Nor would Mrs. De Witt, I'm "Ono can't think of you as ever being her age," he answered, smiling. After a long pause he moved slowly nearer to her and nerved himself to speak. The girl stamped upon the man't white, "You don't seem to think of me even as I am, judging by this afternoon," was the retort, prompted by jealousy and helped with a flash of her brown eyes. tpralned fingers. Ah he sat down close to her she tnrned her head and flashed a rapid glance right into his eyes and theu as quickly tnrned away, the hot- blood surging over her face in a deep blush. "I know what yon mean by all this, yon think to sneer me ont of my present mood. I mean to speak here and now. I came here on purpose." in hin surprise and dismay at the blow he stumbled hastily back, and, losing his footing, slipped over the edge. As he fell he managed to catch with one hand at the ledge of the rock and remained hanging by oue hand over the dark, deadly abyss. Lola was not long idle, moreover, in making her plans. She meant to marry. She had heard nothing of the man who had forced her to marry him, and she believed him dead. If he was still living, it was almost impossible for him to find her, she thought. Anyway she would take the risk. Mrs. De Witt understood her, and, a fresh course coming at that moment, Beryl took advantage of the interruption to change the conversation and lead it away to matters which were not charged with personal references. But Sir Jaffray wasn't looking at her and missed this, and his answer was lamentably commonplace. sure." "Do I understand you, Beryl"— "What! Here up on this infernally bleak Devil's rock, stuck right in the middle of the Sc.hwarzwald? What rubbish, Lola) Do be consistent. Why, when the train started this morning we had not an inkling that we should be brought to a standstill at this roadside station, with three hours to wait for the next train, so you couldn't have como on purpose, as any fool can see." "Who's that taking my name in vain? Beryl, I thought you knew me better than to believe it possible for any soul on earth to say what I would or would not do five miiiules before I did it. I hope I'm not fo commonplace as that yet." Mrs. De Witt laughed, not quite pleasantly, as she joined the two. "I want to end this suspense," he said in a tone little louder .than u whisper. "I can't bear it any longer. It's not fair to either of ns. I came back on purpose." There was a pause of embarrassment between each sentence. "That's all you know." For an instant be hung thus, looking up at her, bis face salt whir* and wet with fear and rage, while he made frantic efforts to get a hold with his other hand. "Why didn't you come this afternoon, then, as yon said you would? Yon know very well that under the circumstances Beryl at any rate had a right to expect you." When they rose from the table, Mrs. De Witt purposely Jinked her arm in Lola's, and, walking with her into the drawing room, returned to the attack. The homage which the men all round the neighborhood were eager to pay her Wherever she went soon convinced her that she could marry almost whom she pleas«*i, and, as she had long convinced herself that she had no love to give and no reason to fear any yielding to a weakness of the kind, she carried a very cool head indeed behind her very glowing and lire raising beauty. Lola made no reply, but she was thinking fast what was the best course for her to take. "What passed between you and Sir Jaffray this afternoon, Lola, on the veranda?" she asked. Before he could do this, however, the girl, mad with the rage he had stirred in her, raised her foot and stamped her heel with all her force upon the man's white, strained fingers. "Yes, perhaps she had. I'm afraid so. I'm sorry." His companion's words had reminded him of what Lola had said, and he felt uneasy. The interruption irritated Sir Jaffray greatly. It had come just at a point when the interview seemed working right round to an understanding. "When I knew we had to stop so loDg, I resolved to bring you here to say what I had to say." Sir Jaffray gathered himself for an effort and a resolute look came into his face, knitting his brows and setting his lips for a moment before he spoke again. Then, forcing himself to be calui, he went right to the point. "My dear, there was nothing passed between us. There was nothing to pass. We were alone." -V.*, "Afraid so! You are not generally more afraid to do what you ought to do than what you ought not." This was said rather sharply. " Why didn't you come?" "I was ouly telling Jaffray tiiat t was sure you would not hold him to any pledge to come and finish the time of hie promised stay here." "All right," was the answer, and the husband glanced round as if resigning himself to an uncomfortable experience. "Devilish dramatic surroundings and devilish dangerous, too," be mattered, glancing over the side of the rock into the abyss that yawned below, some 200 or 800 feet down. "Might be devilish convenient, too, if yon wanted to get rid of an uncomfortable friend. Well, wife, wife, go on," be said, sitting down on a point of the rock and looking round to shrug his shoulders again and smile. " You've brought me to the dismal depth of a Swiss wood in order to thrill me with a terrible tale of defiance. Very well; thrill away. " He uttered a loud, sharp cry of pain, and, unable to retain his hold, disappeared over the face of the rock. The girl icatchcd him till he dropped asleep. "Your repartee is conveniently active tonight, dear. You know what I mean. What did he say? What lxappened? What was the result of the interview?" Her final decision as to the man she would marry came as much by accident as design on her part- It happened so suddenly that the young wife stood gazing at the place where he had fallen like one dazed with horror. ting round them. I've no money to give you except a few bank notes, but I can give you a family, child, as good as any in England, and if you don't make your way with them you're not my child." "I love you, Lola, and I want yon for my wife." And with this complimentary shaft at Mrs. De Witt he took his mother's letter out of the envelope and read it "Indeed, but I would, and I will and do. And if he doesn't come it'll bo tl e worse for him and everybody,"' she said, with significant emphasis. "In the first place I want seme explanation of his going away at all." Among her distant connections was a bright, shrewd, gossiping little woman, Mrs De Witt, whose married life was in Lola's views a curiosity. The husband and wife had no tastes in common, except that they were both intensely fond of the comforts which money can give. They went nowhere together. If they met in public, it was generally accidental, and if tbey staid at the same place it was owing to quite independent causes. Each had a separate circle of friends, male and female, for unconventional purposes, though both moved in the same social set for conventional purposes. "Beryl had you, and yon had Beryl," he answered with provoking slowness. "And you had?" "The dead ashes of a burned out fire and—a good deal of cigar smoke," she answered with mock seriousness and laughing eyes. There was no mistaking the ring of intense sincerity or of concentrated feeling in the calm, strong tone, and the girl felt a flush of triumph as she recognized it. It promised her a certain victory. But she knew that it was not to be won yet, and she played her part with consummate skill. again My Deakesit Jaffhat—Yon are a good son and will not, 1 know, have forgotten the subject uf our last conversation. I write to refer to it because 1 hear, very much to my sorrownot that I am surprised, though— that Miss t'rawshay has so timed her visit to Torquay as to lie there with you all. You may and probably will sen nothing in this hut a coincidence unless you unfortunately find it a pleasure, hut 1 can look at it with very different eyes. You think you know women in general and Miss Crawahay In particular. Men are always making that silly mistake, but it takes a woman to know a woman, and I ltave not lived tiu years in the world for nothing, and I have not so blunted my instincts as not to be able to rem! my own sex. 1 have warned yon lu beware of Lola Crawshay. She is not at all what she appears. She comes of a rank, bad stock, and she promises to do credit to her training. Her father, as you know, was one of the worst and most unscrupulous of men, and, as for her moiher, she was some woman from southern Europe whom tlie man picked up in some of his disreputable wanderings. The girl herself has completely befooled her stupid old aunt by flattering her ridiculous vanities and playing on her silly fads, just as she hits fooled nearly every one who has come near her. Kile is, of course, a lieautiful creature." 8o is a rattlesnake, and both are about equally harmless. She can fool every man on whom she pleases to use her eyes, liecause slie is beautiful, and no man could ever yet understand a beautiful woman without marrying her. If you want to know the value of beauty, ask men who have lovely wives, C«■ girls who have lovely mothers. I urge you, then, Jaffray, not to take this beautiful, ilangerous creature on trust. I do not know how far you have gone with her. I am sad at heart when I think that you are in love with her, but 1 sicken with fear at the thought of your ever making her your wife. But it was only for an instant. Then she drew herself up and raised her head as if with an instinct of defiance. "I'd rather you'd not speak," began Lola, when the old man cut her short: "Myself, of course," getting up. he returned, She got up, too, and stood in his way. "I don't see why you should want to hide what yon've been doing." "Urgent private affairs is the usual plea in the service." Mrs. De Witt bit her lip. "You mean you won't tell me, Lola?" she said irritably. She waited some time and listened. Then she bent forward and called to him, "Pierre, Pierre 1" aud she was pleased when no answer came. Lying down at full length, she tried to look down into the gorge, but a slightly projecting breast of the cliff prevented her from seeing to the bottom. Finding that, she moved away and went to another spot and tried to get a glimpse of the place into which he had fallen. She thought she could see him lying far down below, but the light was thickening with the growing storm, and she was not certain. "Do hear nie to the end, girl. I've all but done, uud you know how it tires me to talk. You'll find everything in that black box addressed to you to save trouble. Don't waste your little money on any funeral fallals for me. I should not do it on you, and I don't want 'em. Get away as quickly as you can, but post the letter two days before you start, only two days, so as not to give any ono a chance of replying. It's just to say I've told you to go straight to our people in England, aud as they don't love me overmuch they may want to put off my child. Don't give 'em the chance, but you go, and when you're there I'll trust you to do the rest. That's the best I can do for you, Lola. You've had a rough time between an old scapegrace like me and a young villain like Pierre, and you've been a stanch, brave girl. Now let me lie down to sleep." "Covering anything from a racket in town to a secret love affair," said Mrs. De Witt, with a challenge in her eyes and manner. "And I'm sure that can't be your case, Magog." "My dear, I'll tell you everything you ask me. You know I've no secrets from you, even about our own smoke. What do yon want to know?" At first she turned toward him with a look of infinite sweetness on her face and with the light of love beaming in her eyes, but she checked herself as suddenly, drew back and then rose. "That would be difficult from your sharp eyes, wouldn't it?" .And he smiled down at her good humoredly. "Why don't you tell me all about it. then?" "There's so little in 'it, you Know. Only two letters—I and another." "I see. You would rather I learned it from the other, then. I can ask her." "I never said there was anything to "You're a very shrewd guesser," returned Sir Jaffray, with a look which the challenger understood. "Did Sir Jaffray propose to you this afternoon?" asked hereon) pamou pointedly.He seemed determined to make light of the interview and to mock his companion's indignation and emotion. But he watched her all the time, despite his assumed ■ indifference, with lynx eyed vigilance. "That is an insult, Sir Jaffray, and a wrong which you at least might have spared me," she cried. Iu a moment the girl changed. She drew her arm out of her friend's and with a manner which suggested - that she considered the question had overstepped the bounds of even the friendly footing on which they were she answered:"Do you mean I'm right? But there's no one here except Beryl, and there's no secret a tout her," she replied, stepping boldly on to the thinnest part of the ice, "except, of course, Lola Crawshay. " The "little woman," as most of her friends called her, heard of Lola's beauty and went down to Mosscombe, the village near Walcote where Mrs. Villyers lived, to see for herself what the girl was like and to judge whether she could do herself any credit and serve her own purpose by taking her up and bringing her out in London. She was more than satisfied by her scrutiny, and as Lola was careful to show a somewhat different side of her character to her from that known to Mrs. Villyers —though not at all more natural—Mrs. De Witt carried her off there and then to London, protesting that such a girl must not be shu* up in a country box, but must seek her fortune and her husband in London. The words struck him like a slap in the face. ask, please.' "I repeat, this life shall end,"she cried, after a moment's pause, bursting into quick, vehement, emotional utterance. "Shall end, do you bear? I will be your decoy no more—your slave— your tool. I will no longer lure men into the meshes of the net your cruel hands spread for their ruin, and I ehall part. Do you hear, part, now and for always. I will be no wife of yours for the future, and if I cau avoid it, so help me heaven, I'll never look on your hateful face again." "An insult? A wrong? To ask yon to be my wife?" His tone was still calm enough, but it rang with the note of angered pride. "Do yon know that Beryl has had letters from the manor?" asked Mrs. De Witt, changing her line suddenly, irritated at his fencing with her. But she made no effort to get help, and, when sl*. had waited until the time came for bC r to leave, in order to catch the train at the station she walked away quickly. Her two hearers winced at her boldness, and iu the midst of the momen- " Surely you forget. Sir Jaffray, as you have yourself told me often, is all but engaged to marry 'his cousin. Do you know him so little as to think he could fool witk me under those circumstances, or me so little as to think I would let him? You've been wool gathering, my dear, tonight. Now I understand what you meant at dinner. On Twice she turned to him impetuously, as if to speak, locking her fingers tightly together as if fighting with her feeliugs and unable to utter the words which rose to her lips. Then she clutched the rail of the veranda tightly with both hands, and, leaning back, us though at bay, she appeared to com pel herself to break the silence, which once broken was followed by a flood of words poured out with rapid, vehement rushes. She was like one wrung by the deepest "How can 1? 1 haven't seen her since they came." & CjS^5P& She was glad and her heart was beating with an infinite pleasure that the man who had gloomed and ruled and deadened her young life was dead. "Your mother has written to her." This was said as though with special significance. "The dear mother! She has the best heart i-i the world," he replied. He had been too hard a taskmaster for her not to be thrilled with a sense of pleasure at the thought of freedom. Lola kissed him again, and this time, softenttd by his own words, he kissed her hand in return. "But she doesn't like the second letter of that little 'it.' " And she sought his eyes with a challenge in her own. Cmtiuued on pase four. "You'ro a good girl when you like, Lola," he said. "I believe you'd do anything on earth for the mau you loved—and anything to the man you didn't," he added dryly. The man listened in silence, and when she ceased waited before answering, looking at her with his head a little on one side and his eyes half closed. "If she has a fault, I am afraid she's too fond of the first letter. I've had my own way all my life," he answered, returning her look and smiling. PROLOGUE II. FREE AT LAST. of U-e Globe for  | RHEUMATISM,! NEURALGIA and similar Complaints, J and prepared under the stringent MEDICAL UWS^J prescribed by eminent phvsiciansi^flHM ■At OR. RICHTER'S 0U W* " ANCHOR77 D9 fPAIN EXPELLERl I World renowned! Remarkably Bucrcssfn I I V ■Onlr pennlnc w!ih Trade Mark " Anchor.'® Hi- Ad. Ri.hterKCo., il.» Pearl St., Jien York. ■ 3i HIGHEST AWARDS. B 13 Branch Houses. Own Glassworki, fl Wk -■' & 50e. Endorsed ftVocummendod h\ JH ■K r'urrer A- P»« k. ;*i Low-rue Avenue. y. C. Olick, fi»i North Mainbt. jayftkJ. I) Hoiu-k. 4 North Main St ■HBRv , Pittt«ton, Pa. RICK I 44 ANCHOR " STOMACHAL bmt for I A fortnight after the incident on the Devil's rock Lola Turrian and her father sat in dose consultation in the old man's bedroom in a hotel in Nenfchatel. passion. "All right. Goodby," he said length, turning away to whistle. The girl watched him till be dropped asleep, and then she sat thinking over all be had said. She was really sad at the thought of his death, for be was the only thing she had ever loved in her life. At that juncture, however, Lola proved her clever shrewdness. After staying with Mrs. De Witt for a few days she relinquished what was in fact inexpressibly delightful to her, the pleasures of the London season, in order to return to Mosscombe and Mrs. Villyers. By that one act she secured forever the affections of the widow, who would after that go anywhere to please her, while she did not leave London until Mrs. De Witt had seen how much use the girl could be in making the house attractive to men. "Why do you say this to me? Why do you torment me? Why tempt me in this cruel, heartless way? Yes, hearties*. Vou kuow this thing can never be. You know—who better?—that between us stands the bar of your unfilled promise to your oousin, Beryl Leycester. You know that all the world looks on that as settled. You have known this all through. You must have known, and yet you come to me and press me to be your wife. You, half pledged to another woman, can ask me to help you break that pledge by winning from me another, because you think you can do with me bm you will. She made a pretty gesture of irrita- Kenifiiuber also that you art- really bound in honor to another woman. Your father wished that you should marry your cousin Beryl- Her father desires it above all things, and you know that it is the dearest wish of my heart. More than this, you have aned up to now as if you meant to marry Beryl, and in that way you have won her heart. Beryl loves you with her whole hi nrt, JatTray, and you have led her "What, not gone yet?" he added after a pause in a tone of surprise. "Pray don't stop on my account. Any show of politeness between us would be such a superfluity of foolish pretense." And be resnmed his whistling. tkm "You're more than provoking today, Magog. At one time you didn't keep secrets from me." The old man was sitting up on his bed, propped by pillows, and his wrinkled, parchment colored skin looked yellow and dingy against the snow white bedclothes. His voice was quavering and thin, but his black, beady eyes shone with a light that seemed all the stronger and stranger by contrast with the weakness of his withered body. But he was right when he said he was dying. In less than a fortnight lie was in his grave, and she had started for the new life in England, and despite her regret for the old man's death she was filled with an intense gladness that the old disgraceful thraldom was over, as well as with eager anticipations of what the future held for her. "There are some secrets that are not worth keeping from nuy one, little woman, "he replied. Then ho changed his manner and tone completely, and laying a hand on her shoulder said earnestly and kindly: "Don't worry; wait. I'm only fencing." ' T Presently he stopped and, getting up, went elC*e to her and spoke in a different tone, seriously and directly: i "Look here, Lola! Don't make a foo'l of yourself. You can't leave me. You know that well enough. My silence ia as necessary to you as your beauty is to me. There was never i»sDy other band between us and never will be probably, but you can't break it And you must own that I've done well for you. You live on the best of the land; you've never staid at any but the best hotels; yon spend what yon like on dress; you've any amount of lovers. What fcwdfil could do mora than that?" to do so. I kuow this well euough, and she is tho true-! and purest of good women. I havo often talki.it with her about the time when she would l*i jour wife, and 1 have now written to her a letter telling her rnueh of what I have said here, anil that I look on you as already pledged to marry her, and I have asked her to give you this letter, knowing ita contents nud my wishes. lie sat four, or fire minutes In close thought. tarv pause which followed a smooth voice was heard. "It's good news, Lola—real good news. I hope the brute is really dead t" The hate with which be spoke of the dead man leut unwonted energy to his voice, while his lean, crooked fingers gripped the bedclothes with a gesture suggestive of bis feeling. She paid several visits to the lively little woman's house, and it was in one of these that she met Sir Jaffray Walcote for the first time. He had been abroad on a tour half round the world hunting and shooting at the time of Lola's arrival in England, and she had thus only heard of him by repute. She knew, moreover, that he was to marry his cousin, a distant relation of her own. Beryl Levcester, whose oeonle "I know that, you great—boy," she answered. " But I want to kuow more.'' "Dinner is served, if yon please." "All right; I understand. Well, Beryl, "hC! said, breaking off in a different tone, as his cousin came out and joined them, "I hear you have letters from home." "For which relief much thanks, eh, Magog?" laughed Mrs. De Witt. "But it's only a respite, understand, and I'm too hungry to go any further now." "Yon hold me for a child, a toy, n plaything, to be used for a season and tossed aside. You know your strength with me. Yon think because you have made me love you—what do I say? Made me hate yon, maybe, for, heaven help me, I know not what I think or feel, say or do, where you are. But this I will not do—I will not heln von I am acting in j our real interests, my uon, and in thai eauso i do not hesitate to take » very unusual step. Your loving mother. CHAPTER I. "It's no use. I've come back, you see. I guessed you'd be alone now." And Sir Jaffray Walcote laughed as he passed out. through the window of the hotel on to the veranda and sat down ■ on a low basket chair, which creaked MAD FOK THE IA)VE OF HER. Jaffray had broken out (several times with short, sharp exclamation* while reading the letter, hut when he hud finished he sat four or five minutes iu close thought Theu be wrote bis reply:Sir UtWKNDOLIN WALCOTB With this they all went into the hotel,the baronet hurrying away to change. "I wish I'd been with you, girl, to have made sure. Imps like those cau tumble over cliffs, and yet the devil finds a soft place somewhere for them to fall If I'd been there," he added The girl started slightly at this, and her usually calm and rather cold features flushed somewhat, as if tho words had some embarrassing reference known to herself. CHAPTER III. LOLA'S VICTORY. "Isn't Mrs. Villyers coming, Lola?" asked Mrs. De Witt, as the three ladies