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About The Columbia register. (Houlton, Columbia County, Or.) 1904-1906 | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1905)
to otind by 5 CIIAPTER XXIV.ContlnoetU lit turned aside, and sined tileat for kmsi seconds. Whea nert ke spokt It vat la altered tones. "Tell ua watt yoa want? la it money?" "Money r aha cried. "Money from yon! I-ook here," and aba tort open a lady's reticule that ley upoa tht tahlt; 1hcr art tht two hundred dollars you sent me enclosed la your farewell letter; look what I do with them!" And sht tort them Into shreds, "litre art tht pretest you gavt me; tea what 1 da with them! And ht took out tomt trinkets, tod crushed them beneath her feet "Now will yoa ak mt If it ia money 1 want of you?" Her fact waa something awful tt look apon in ita deathly pallor, and convul sive quivering, and those glaring ere. That man, -with all hit iron will, quailed before her. "What do yoa want then? "Respect and I will hart it. Let mt refresh jour memory. Yoa foaud me In traveling ahow. I waa a mert child then, possessed of strange power over certain minda a power that to an am bitioaa, unscrupulous schemer like your elf, might one day prove Invtlushlt. Too aaw no way to use me at tht time, but yoa were loth to lost sUht of ad mirable an Instrument. Yoa wortned yourself into my confidence, and rot from mt that 1 waa discontented with .mode of lift which gsva me but a bare living, and filled tht pockets of my employer. I waa Tain of tht attention of a fine gentleman I who had been brought up in a back alley. Yoa told my father that If ht liked to go to Bnry 8t Edmnnd'a yoa would help to set him up in bnaineaa that yoa would rec ommend him custom, aa yoa possessed tome Influence in tht neighborhood. . "Hart yoa erer had reason to repent taking my counsel?" "My father hit upon a more easy and profitable trade than ahoetnakicg." she went on, not heeding tht interruption. "Had wt depended upon your promise, we might hare starred. Yoa thought no mora of them, and yean elapsed after ur parting at Spalding before I erer beard anything of you again. One day wt met in tht streets of Bury. Although years had elapaed. we recognlxed each other Instantly. Yoa expressed great delight at tht meeting, which certainly waa not feigned, aa it gate into jour bands the exact tool yoa require.!, to fashion one of tht most diabolical schemes that waa erer hatched in hu mnn brains. But before you dared to propose it to mt It was necessary to make me your slate. When yoa last aw me I waa an ungainly looking, iigly girl; now I waa a well-grown woman, with good looks enough to hare secured several offers of advantageous marriage. But I waa proud, ambitious; tht life I led. and all ita associations, were bate t ul to me I louged to be free of them all and I waited and waited. You. with your fiendish cunning, divined my secret; professed loTt for me. Blinded by am bition and vanity. I believed .you be lieved that yoa, tht fine gentleman, would marry me. But at that time yoa imply lied, to serve yoar own purpose. You were Tery cautious, too you bound me down to breathe no word of your secrets to my father. You said, once la his power, yoa would never be free from his extortions," "Silence" thundered Rodwell, spring ing to his feet "Well, enough of that for tie pres ent After the girls flight you left Bury, and I did not see you again for a long, long time. At last you returned. Bo you have got ber into your clutch again. What is it to be this time mur der or marriage?" How my heart leaped! Could it be Clara of whom she was speaking? The portrait I bad seen in his namesake'a cottage the likenesa to ber, forgotten until that moment Cashed upon me with the force of conviction. Oh, how eager ly, how breathlessly, 1 listened now! "How dare you speak aucb words to me in the presence of a stranger?" be cried. "You are venomous enough to en deavor to establish such a charge agaiuat me!" "I believe yoa to be capable of any crime, John Rodwell," she answered, dis dainfully; "although yoa would give the preference to that which compromised yoa least" suppose i aarau uiai i intend to mar ry ber. what then?" he demanded, bold ly. "You will seek to thwart me?" "I keep my intentions to myself. But I had forgotten; perhaps you are not aware you have a rival .' she said, mock ingly. "Yon would not imagine Mr. Carston in the character of a gay de ceiver; yet, 1 can assure you that dor Ing a short absence from his loving wife, he was making violent lore to Mix Clara as a single gentleman, and not unsuccessfully, I believe. "This is no subject to Jest upon," he said, haughtily. "Do you mean to say that this fellow nas dared " He advanced menacingly towards me; but, weak as I was, I rose up, and con fronted him. I felt no fear of him, al though I was too agitated to speak too overwhelmed by tht thoughts of my worse than powerless position. lie paused; then, with a look of su preme scorn, he turned upon his heel and addressed Judith. "Such an object is too contemptible to excite anger. However, t presume that for the future you will restrain iu him such roving propensi ties, more especially after the confidence you have chosen to repose in him this evening. Now let me understand. Do we part friends or foes?" "1 pledge myself to nothing either way. For years you used me as a tool, Now we have the reverse of the medal you are utterly within my power, and will use that power to miulster solely to my own interest, or caprice, as the case may be, without one thought of you. You should have remembered that those who love intensely, hate intensely." He regnrded her for a moment with a disconcerted look, which she met by one of deterniinntion. . He tried to laugh off the effect of her words, hut the luugh was a woful failure. "What a fool I must be to stand listening to the words vt a mad woman!" he cried. a Spell lit was leaviut tht room when aht called tt him. "Where are yoa going? If yoa are going to her mom. 1 hare tht key. I will accompany yoa." lit locked more aghast than ever; thea ht broke out into strong anathemas against Montgomery, against whom ht rowed tht most deadly vengeance. "Montgomery hat served rot well, and I dart you to harm him In any way." she said. Iu tht same tone of calm supe riority. "Do so, John Rodwell. and be fore two hours your uucle shall know all that I can tell hint. IV not fall into a passion. Yon hart fallen intt tht trap, and yoa will never get out of it by beating yourself arint tht ham!" lit muttered and laughed scornfully, but ht was conquered co wetL. Her triumph waa compkfte. Presently thty left tht room together. Judith double locking tht door behind her. I aaw no more c-f Judith or Mr. Rod well. As soon as they were gout 1 crawled back to bed, utterly prostrated both mentally and bodily. Soon after wards tht nurse returned, and after giv ing mt my medicine, and some beef tea, wrapped herself up In a blanket and putting the key of tht door under her head, aa was her custom, lay down upon tht sofa to takt her night's repot CHAPTER XXV. Ilonr after hour 1 lay tossing about ia a sleepless, mental agony, Clara was undoubtedly in the same house with me, exposed to heaven knowt what sufferings and persecutions; and yet for any hope of. seeing or succoring her, I might as well have been hundreds of miles away. At last unable to lie there any longer. I rose and dressed myself. A fire was still smoldering in the huge grate, and a night light wis burning upon tht table. Tht nurse, by her bard, regular breath ing, seemed to be in a deep sleep, and I moved about cautiously. Her face was turned to the opeo side of the sofa. I crept behind ft and Inserted my trem bling hand beneath the pillow, feeling further and further nntil my fingers touched a hard substance it was tht ward key. Little by little I drew it away she still sleeping profound U fitted it noiselessly In the lock, turned It. and tht next moment found myself In a large, dark hall, at the foot of an Im mensely wide staircase. I closed the door softly behind me. A long window, that stretched upwards from the first landing, admitted suffi cient tight to guide me. and. with a noiseless step. I crept up the stairs. At the top of the first flight was a long corridor, on each side of which, as far as I could see, for the further end wss lost in obscurity, was a line of doors. Now came my difficulty; the slightest error would not only defeat my present object but consign me to a stricter sur veillance than ever, and perhaps bring about Clara's removal to some spot to which I could obtain no cine. Suppose, by chance, that I should go to Judith's chamber door? I shuddered at the thought I stood for some moments at the bead of the corridor, irresolute whst to do, listening eagerly for the slightest sound that might guide me. But the silence wss deathlike. Down the corridor I moved noiselessly. Through the crev ices of the third door came faint streaks of light and faint muffled sounds, either moans or a low, monotonous singing the walls and doors were so thick, that it was difficult to distinguish which. I listened more eagerly, until I fan cied I could distinguish Clara's voice. paused for a moment, and then, with my heart beating in my throat tapped gently. Breathlessly I waited for sev eral seconds. No answer. Then I tap ped a second time a little louder. A sound of moving, aud then a soft, trem ulous voice, that thrilled my very soul, asked faintly, "Who is there?" 1 could doubt no longer. Tht key was in the lock outside. 1 tried it turn ed it opened the door met her whom I sought beard a low cry of astonish ment and my darling was in my arraa At that moment I fancied that I heard sound like the click of a lock in the corridor. I suddenly turned, disengsged myself from ber arms, and looked out All seemed precisely as I bad left It no light no-object no sound; it must have been fancy. I gently drew the key from the outside, and, reversing it locked the door from within. We were alone nione could surprise us now. To her eager questions, how bad I dis covered her, I scarcely knew what to arswer; for, the first excitement of ouf meeting over, I repented that 1 had eref sought it Could I have freed her from her enemies then, and then only, would it have been justifiable? As it was. was feeding my own hopeless paxiiion. and engngine more and more closely the affections of a simple-hearted girl, neath the very roof that sheltered the implacable woman who claimed as her busbaud. Oh, all this was weak, crim inally weak; and I felt it so, and yet I had not the courage to end It honestly. After a while I asked her what hap pened upon the fatal night that we lost her how she came to be separated from us. She told me that a rush of people bad suddenly impelled her forward, and that by the time she could turn her bead to look round, she found that she had been coined out of sight of Mrs. Wilson. At that moment a yonng mau, evident ly the tame who had delivered Montcom ery's message to me, touched her upon the shoulder, and said that I was wait Ing for her in a cab a little way down tne street. "He was hurrying me along all th time he was speaking," she went on "and 1 was too bewildered by my situa tion to offi the slightest resistance, There was a long line of cabs aud car ringes; the one he pointed out as ours was the last of all, and stood up an un frequented side street He opened th door and puRlied me in; at the sum1 moment a strange man jumped in past me, the door was slammed, the window raised, and the horses were off nt full speed, before I could recover my breath. From her description, I discovered that this mau who accompanied her waa Montgomery. t aa tuck a poor, nerveless crea ture utterly destitute of all pre, tact of mind that 1 could only crouch ta a corner snd sob with terror. After a drive, whk-a seemed to Iter excited fancy to endure for hours, they stopped before a tall Iroa gate, which, after a time, waa opened from within. They drovt over a long, winding walk, at tht tnd of which waa a large, gloomy looklug house, before which the . Melt stopped. Then, assisted by Montgomery, sht was suffered to alight A feraslt servant conducted her to tht apartmeut ia which I found her. "Sht was very kind to roe. Clara went on, "and assured mt over and over gala that ao harm ould be done to me tnat I was among friends, and whatever I liked to ak for I should avt, but that she could not penult to- to have that room. Rut no entreaty could wring from her who her employer w. aav9 been here now nearly a fortulght erything I havt ttpreed a wish fr has been given me, and 1 waa growing quite reconciled to my position, for I can be content Iu any place where I am treated kindly; but this evening, just at was watching tht great red sua sink behind tht trees, I heard my door open. nd upon looklug round 1 saw Me buried her face In her hands. eemingly uusble to procevd. I knew perfectly well whom she had seen, al though 1 asked tht question. "Thost terrible eyes!" sht answered, sinking her volet to a hiper. By tht aid of words I had heard spok en a few hours before, 1 began to un derstand It all now, but only dimly. I asked ber what sht meant. Ah. 1 have never told you!" shet mid. with a shudder. "I will tell you now, that yon may understand my fearful po- ition. auJ thst you may take me ay from it- She knelt down at my feet, and nest'ed class to me at she told ber story, speak ing in a subdued voice. "I was brought up by a dear, kind grandfather, the uuly friend I ever knew; for my father, who was an otlu-er. died Id India, when I was very young, aud my mother followed him witMu less than year. She was my grandfather's young est and favorite daughter; and, after er death, he seemed to have trans ferred all his affection to me. for be lit erally doted upon me. I hsd a cou.tin who was much much older thsn my self, but, like myself, an orphan. I never liked him or, I should rather say. waa always frightened of him; yet ev- rybody called him handsome, especially 11 tht women. Until my mother brought mt home, a little girl, from India, be wss tht favorite nephew, aud was supposed to be the heir to all hit grandfather's wealth. John Rodwell hated me, and showed It too, and that turned tht old gentleman agsinst him. When 1 wss bout thirteen, grandfsther madt a fresh will; and as ht wss never content to sre me a moment from his side, it was ictated to the lawyer in my presruee. n it I w.is named heiress to all ht pos sessed, with the exception of an annu ity to John, and tht former will, by which John would bare inherited all his - - wesitn. wss uestroyeu. I wss very mu. n troubled when I beard this; and I tolj i grandfather how much happier 1 should be if be- would let thine remain as they were, as I was certain Cousin John would know better what to do with tht money than I should. "Well, In some wsy or other Co;isln jonn ioudu om urw w... been made and that I was present at ' the time. Once or twice he put soma ! quesuons 10 me in nu oa-usnu ...u w , manner as to its contents; nut miinjtui of the strict Injunctions I iiad received, I was very cautious, snd finding that be could elicit nothing from me, ht gave up tht attempt But ht became a more freauent visitor to us. He also took great pains to Ingratiate himself into grandfather's good graces, and Hot un successfully. Tt be eoottnoed-l COW LIKED THE 6M0KE. Bat She Refused to Give Usual Bnpply of Milk. Alfred James, of the University of Vlnginla, waa a disturbing lenient in farm life one duy last week, ssya tiie Baltimore Hun. He w ent out to Relsterittown to vlalt a friend. He fouud the young man la the barn about to begin the day's ml.k lng. HU friend U a civil en.ne r, but l( spending the summer at bis coun try borne. In I'.altlmore county, and de- lii'hr In the slmnle nccurmtlons of the farm. One of LI bt-bblca la milking " - ----- the cows, and be was about to begin on a very ladylike old brindle wbe i Mr. James climbed the fence and call ed ont to blm. Mr. R., the gentleman of bucolic tastes, came to meet liim, and the two shook hands and chatted for a few minutes. "Excuse me, old man." be said to Mr. James, "while I milk the cow." "Go alimd," the latter replied. "I'd like to watch you do It," Thereupon Mr. R. put hU stool In . pUt DU StOOl in cgs ns loii"-Ilnibe(l lo and proceeded. J...... ,n.t place, arranged bis 1 milkmen have to do Mr. James walked to the cow's head ana gently stroked ner iipck, yntS'.nA ten.!un to Doc's bosses fur im," as appropriate and endearing things tho while. He had bis pipe In Ins hand and held It under the cow's nose. She sniffed, looked about, . sniffed again and loked about, and then sniff ed. She seemed to like It Mr. Jain.es began to taugh, but In a few minute Mr. R. got tip in dlxgust He said a a few things about the cow and com plained that the "blooming old thin;: ' won't let down a drop of milk." He then kicked her In the ribs, drove her Into ber stall and turned the Job of milking over to ono of the funn hands as he went oft with his guest ( The cow was so delighted with the odor of the smoke that fthe forgot all about giving milk as UHtial. loke on a suitable occasion But the jowe on a Ruitanie wo. sion. i?tit tne lumiicHi pun ui me jokc uinn i seem to appeal to him so much the tncro- Ir.g following the Incident, v.-hen nt breakfast coffee nnd to be drunk witU - out cream, an It did the afternoon bo fore. The greatest happiness comes from I the greatest activity. Bovee. WiCECLY'S WOOD By It W. o CHAPTER VIII. (Continue,!.) Billy Rller looked very much relieved ' something. Probahly at tht prospect f trouble. Or perhs.pt that there was public charge that any of Squire " w'kly money had gue Into his pocket. At tht same moment Llasy Wlckly was I"?'"'1 1 u mind It, father. And yuu muntn t We i-aut nmkt It any better p) worrying so over it. And so far as tht laud is concerned" but sht could not go on without a sort of spasm of the throat that strangled her for ton tec oiuls "why. It isu't such a beautiful tract as all that Next time I'll buy a quarter section la tht evcoud bottom prairit. That will be sensible pur chase, wou't It?" Mr. Wlckly looked at her with his brows knitted Into tht tort of lowering ftown that had until to-day beta un known upon his kludly face. "You dou't srvtu to uuderstand," he, said, harshly and slowly, and with that' strange flushing ,of tht whole face that had madt Dr. May shakt his head, when he had been called In to set tht sick man that morning "that I already know that tht mere Ions of those ugly wooded hills and hollo u nothlug! Rut la It nothing that I imit lose my fortune of iurt than a million three hundred thou snud. simply Ixv.ttue I csu have noth ing upon which to raise a few hundred dollars when It U nseded to push my esse? 1 In-lieve that you actually want me to fait, or uVlny It until I die, to tliat ynu can have It. Yes, thst's It 1 hat's the plot that you are capable of eoucoctlng and carrying forward! You nd tout scimmlr.'l. Mason! IU put you op to It! That's what yoa were la the woods that day fur!" He came toward ber with his hands clcuched and his lips drawn In a sort of horrible smile that changed and vi brated between the appearance of ghastly mirth aud fierce auger. She had never dreamt of such a ni'd In him. For he hid been the best and kindest of fath er never very helpful at bread-winning, to be sure! Hut so uniformly g hI and kind, and sensible! And now iu this awful mood be aursly meant to do her harm! At that instant Mrs. Wlckly coming li. fortunstrly announced In her ordinary cheerful manner that "dinner was ready, and go on in John; don't keep me wait ing r As If Instinctively, or by force of long habit, John Wickly turned slowly away, and with the meuncing look failing into .s Ru.iru ami urix a sullen aud broodlug frowu. be went b!ow!t out cf rtM1u m, ,llt0 t, raiteheri. where they heard him moving a chair as be always did iu sitting dowu t diuuer, CHAI'TRU IX. "Now. Liny, my child," snld the moth er in a hurried undertone, "put on your ,unbonliet ,n,i ru1 aui(.k fta c, t(J ,,r MflT. hi(u UlBt , , blm ,0 eonyt a0(, Mnt some help, lf thnkl b(.t Uu n,)Wj. "But hadn't you letter go with me? I It safe for you alone?" Tht girl clasped her arms convulsive i ly about ber mother's ueck. "It will be perfectly safe for mt, LUxy. Run, now." Tht girl started, and her mother rsn after her to tht door. "When you come back, don't come In where ba is, Llszy. You know what strange antipathies art often shown by by by people under great mental excite ment" Kite had hesitated at tht very word that was ringing louder snd louder through all the resounding labyrinths of the brain. She had mndt a gVneraliza tion where the specific object was most glaringly before them, Lizzy thought, as the ran through tht dry, light, yield ing sand of the street. If she had said plainly what sho so plainly meant she would have said: "Don't venture nesr him! lie Is furl ously limine, and is possessed of the hallucination that you and Mr. Mason are plotting to injure and thwart and de- . i . tut , , "y J biml Don't go near him!" Unheeding the knots and larger bunches of men that now literally dot ted all the conjoined thoroughfares of Bandtown, scarcely stepping a foot out of the way of the wagon loads of people ' l. a . 4ll1 Mini ni In fpnm t f i f h 1 M t i . lUftl nil, nvi.a .". .,. ..,. ,uw r..... west by the River road and from the north en st by the Overcoat road, Lizzy ran on to the doctor's ofTlce, only to dis cover that be was not there, "He's done gone down town some'rs, long go. Reckon you II fine im mehny isomers wimr ine;- r- iix.mmi hi imiib ' meetun on the bank bustiin. I'll go do "ff 1 kn ,'lm f,,r (".' ' w-awflt n to," said young Billy Dili soine'rs wbnr they're agouti to hole the I'll go down you kes, who was known to be "rending medicine father, little Bill Dikes, had said Jo- rosely In explanation of the process by which young Billy had already achieved the title of "the young Doc" upon the snontaneous motion of the humorous liooslers of his acquaintance. Tho young Doc had clearly volunteered to "ketch 'im," as an afterthought found td upon the signs of great anxiety and distress in the young woman's face slans of need of help that bad appealed successfully to the chiralrlc hearts of these rough people of Bnndtown ever, heretofore, and will continue so to appeal successfully, so long as one of their characteristics shall remain nnplaned way by the smoothing and polishing pro cesses of advancing civilization. "You Jlst set right down right h-yur, In this h-yur chur," continued the kindly vonnor Hoosler. exhibiting all the bos- oitable instincts of all the hospltablt lueses, ' bacl yboaJ can re" bef ..Ig your pap mUch worst, Ti-.-y An Hooslerdom has a fashion despls I .,j of the nollshed East as It Is of call , ing everybody by his or her enrwtenta nsmcl A fashion that it Is to be hoped will not be planod away In the polishing processes of westward-advancing civilisa tion. 1 "I'm afraid he's very much worse In deed," Llszy said, taking tht offtrtd TAYtO chair, and feeling that even this rude sympathy UghteneJ the burden of her great grief. Sht had dreaded to reveal It to tht world. Hut sht found that ths world of Sand town kntw it already, and took actlvt aud partisan Interest la do ing what It Could to help her. I h-yam am ur at this b-rur feller. Mason is Jtst about tht whole cause uv ur pan s uhuh sickness?" "the young IW said, as he put on bit bat aud bu rred a little. I dou't kuow. I can't think to, I don't know what Mr. Mason list really dout in all this tvrrlblt business. Will you please hurry, Mr. Dikes? I left mother al.mt with hlut. Aud I'm uneasy, so uneasy." Sht tat down again at tht young Poc sprang out of ths open omVt dr and ran down tht at rest throwing up little arcs of dry, sandy loam after each broad, scraping shoe-tots until ht disappeared in tht crowds that still closer and closer drew to each other aud grew and blocked up all tht thoroughfare of Paudtown till not tvtn a re-enforciug tram from the very uttermost tnd of tht Overcoat road hired attempt a passage, but stopped and hitched farther aud farther out. Kht sat and listened to the low buss of voice In tht street and In tht court house, and heard here aud there louder ones, and occasionally wild yell and then a shout of laughter thst Indicated some ludicrous accUeut to somebody by somebody else. Then all at once there wat a complete diminuendo aa If all tht voices had sud denly and steadily slipped away to tht westward, aud out of hearing. And then he saw a two-horst wagon drive away from ber father's door, with a number of people in it. Sht had not seen tht wagou drive up. She bad not been look ing that way. But there was something ominous In tht driving away of that par ticular wagon, that was now far out on tht Orercoat road, toward tht littlt rail road station. 8ht watched It with parted lips and widening eyes until It had hid den Itself In tht cloud of drifting, light, sandy loam that perpetually rose up and settled down upon tht grtyed turf set of tl tht jimsnn lea vet snd the osk and tho maple and walnut foliage, that bore their burdens of earth Iu patient assur ance of tht rain that must coins and wash them clean snd bright again. And then out of the huh. tht finished diminuendo of this general assembly of the tuskers of public opinion for this sec tion of tht Wihnsh country, there drove- strange aud unknown two horse car riage, with a driver, whoso figure coin ing within the field of her abstracted snd unfiled vision Instantly caught snd con centrated her gaze. Beyond a doubt It wns Mr. Mason, this time in broad day Unlit, driving toward her ttiruitch ths crowd, aud going eastward a to tin rail way station. IU would stop v. hen he should see her! And there were others Iu tho crrlitge one a fine, dignified hik ing gentleman. Wat bo Mr. Huntley? She stood In the door and even stepped down Into tht ssnd outside In order to makt sure that Mr. Mason would see her. Hn had doubtless repented of bis determination to keep Prof. Huntley away from her; nnd now be would make all necessary ami possible amends for all his ungraciousnoss. If so sht could very, very freely, nay even Joyously forgive him. Aud tlint much tht more readily because of the fact that since so ninny people. In fact, practically the whole community, bad joined as with one voice In denouncing nnd threatening Mr. Mason, nlie had turn ed about and engaged, passively at first, and then actively, in his defense. What had he done to any aud all of the peoplo of Ksudtown that wns half so unfnlr, unjust and cruel as what he had doun to her? Compared with ber wrongs, theirs were a lustter of nothing! If she could afford to become his com panion, could anybody iu nil Redden township afford to say aught against him? As they drove rnpldly nearer, she was conscious of something nltcrcd about his look, she could not tell precisely whnt Bnt it wns something that gave hint a totally different air, some way! Ilefore, he hsd been thoughtful, respectful, al most subservient iu all bis actions In ber presence. Always watchful, respectful, and con slderate, at all events, with a manifest anxiety to please her. An anxiety so mnnifnst Uit perhaps It bad tended to prevent her from being plensod with blm at all. Now be had something of the cold, hard, haughty look of the mnn who In directing n great many men who are under" him In every seime of the word. She snw this so plainly in tlmt brief time In which the powerful hows were walking through tlin hcuvy-pniling dry snnd of the Overcoat rond, tlmt she com pared this with his former hearing nnd fell that there was a loss almost un uu comfortable loss. And nil these Impression and reflec tions were redoubled and rcduplicuted, and intensified, when to her titter surprise and unending mortification the carriage did not stop, and the driver, Mr. Mason, pnssed with only a cold and formul In clination of his lieud toward her! She fairly sunk down upon the office door sill with a feeling of shame, sur prlHt, almost angry resentment I Bh looked after the carriage as tht new paint on its wheels glittered In tho sun. 8he saw them whirl the light sand up Into little nettling clouds, nnd she felt absolutely liko screaming st the very top of ber volco and starting In a wild chase after tht rapidly disappearing vehicle, So engrossed wat sho with these feel Ings and reflections that the was un aware of tht approach of Dr. May along with "Coonrod" Redden, and a constant ly Increasing posse of followers. "Lizzy, you un your mother better git Into my onlrge, on Lum will drive you down to my house, nits no una uh mekun a furte 'bout things 'at cnln't be hept Yur pap's jlst plum, slap dab crazy. Un wt'vt Jlst started Tra to the asslt-um. That asslt-mn Is Jlst tht plast far Mm. Ht'U git k yored right away ef they'a airy a k'yore fur 'lin. Tbty sOnt BIJly Beasoley over to that assle-um bout thee-four weeks ago, wasn't it Doe? Un by gum; ht's back at homa now with more salnct ua t ImJ before bt went. Yur psp nil git tuck k'yur uv. Uut. Mt un Jos Kllet un Bill Khlpler all go ever to-morry ur day uer. un tee to Mm. Thst wss that rnerry heshawun an wniuv whsnimun feller, Mason, st druv a past ti.t bow. borst 1 a-vuru 'st ht's h yur tn bid ! all ar nioggljls. I'vt Jlst tout Mat psr ler nodus st h U ts hotst tip rt bt pu s his aoat tusldt this tuwa the hit thst four wttka, by guuiT CHAPTER X. Tht rain had put off Its coming antlt every brosd blsck-greea gly Jimsoa leaf, and all tht delicately psluiattd foil- gt ef tht V.I1J hemp, and tht maple. nd tht whltt oak had long lain uudsr tht common veil of tuber gray, thrown everything over by tht rolling v. heels and ramping feet of tht Overcoat road la tht light sandy l.-sni csnisdowo at Isst In a stesdy. growing patter that awokt I.lsty Wlckly for tht twentieth tlmt throughout tht hot fsvcrlsh. restlssst night ' For tht twentieth tlmt tht lay ami listened to tht southwest wind, sweeping In gusty circles that dashed tht cool, hard rain against tht window psuet with shot llkt rattle at If It were th dlmln- utlvt pehhlet of that threatttiing, spec- ter-trodden, ominous Overcoat road, ris ing up and flying at ber In a conjoined onslaught of all possiblt evils. How tht tried to recall the almost perfect happiness that had been here snly a fsw weeks ago! And how did slit only succeed In fulty understanding that sht had then been rtatly happy and had not known It. Tht angl ef bliss bad tar ried with ber for nights aud days, and she, too, culpably unaware! Her brain pictures cams and went la ont unvarying trlanglt of great troubles. Her fathtr'a dreadful mental disease, with all tht divergent ami dependent misery of this mors than living death, blighting and destroying their happy lit- tlo home at out tcrril.ls blow. Her strong and growing psaon for a msn whom sht bad never seen fact to face, aud whom sht only knew through the partial word picture of his friend and assistant; together with tht attltndt ef that friend aud asaUtsut toward ber. And finally, as tht smallest sngls of this trlanglt of constantly pressing grief th loss of her property upon which she had built her hopet of future sue cesse to bt achieved In ths great rlty that waa ao fast spreading down and across tht prslrles, that Its subtle st- raction had long ago reached tht wooded hills of tht Wsbssh country, and wss drswlng to Itself alt of the ambition, tht Isrlng. tht discontent, ths spirit of ad venture of these wl.l valleys and shaded bills, and woist hedged prslrles. tutting Into tht second anglt of this rlanglt, and ervii into both the other wat a perplexing mixture of regret and Indignation centered upon Mr. Mason. Regret that she bad been left, so far ss ' he knew or could know, In tht attltndt of having t rested htm with Inexriissble rudeness and luck of feeling. Whst did he thluk of her; v. hat routd he think of ber lit tht light of that Inst evening when lis had appeared for a brief time endowed with god llkt attribute that enabled him to defy th very demon of the hurricane? Whnt a magnificent msn must hi prin cipal be, Indeed, to have developed such heroic qualities In this underling ths msn who labored with hint for a stipu lated price, as he had confessed to her! How had h slipped away like a tmef under cover of the night with all tht gossips of Hsmltnxvn wagging their beads nnd smiling ths knowing smile of absolute fulth In the certain villainy of the flee ing man! Why hnd he not taken time to come to ber openly and without fear, as ha hnd done often and often before? And could It 1 trim as more than In timated by Conrad Redden, tlmt ht wss now In the neighborhood for the base nnd henrtlesa purpose of purchasing all the heavily mortgsg.il property of tht Handtown people for one-tenth of Its real value, Just at tht tlmt wheu a scries of unfortunate speculations bad crushed tht r-nndtown Farmers' Bank, and thus put I out of the power of the people, to bor row money with which to snva their homes? (To bt continued.) WORLD'S RICHEST MEN. List Phow Where tht Million Ar IHatrlbutvd Mere and Aliroud. No two competitors have made sim ilar list of the millionaire of the world. China, England, France, Rus sia nnd the United States each claims to be tho home of tho richest man. Tho list compiled by James Burnley, Uio English author, Is as follows: Al fred Belt diamonds, London, f.V)0, OUOMK); J. R. Robinson, gold and dia monds, Iondon, $ i(X),(NA),000; J. I). Rockefeller, oil, New York, 2o0.000,- 000; W. W, Astor, land, London, S200, 0U0,(XX); Prlucit DeinldolT, land, 8t Petersburg, ?2D0,(KX),(HMj; Andrew Onrnegle, steel, New York, ?l,fKX),. (MX); W, K. Vanderbllt railroad, Now York, i),mim William Rockefel ler, oil, Now York, $t(K),NK,(KK); J. J. Astor, land, New York, 7.VXX),000; Lord RoUmchlld, money lending, Igni tion, $7.yxxj,0(X); Duko of WesUnln ster, land, London, JTo.txxyxxi; J. Plerpont Morgan, bunking, New York, $75,Wx),(XX; Ixird Iveagli, beer, Dub lin, 70,fXX,fXXl; Kenora Isldora Cou sine, mines and railroads, Chllo, $70, (XX),00(); M. Heine, silk, Paris, $70,. 000,000; Huron Alphonsa Rothschild, money lending, Paris, $70,000,000; Huron Natluinlel Rothschild, money lending, Vienna, $70,000,000; Arch duke Frederick of Austria, land, Vien na, $70,000,000; George J. Gould, rail roads, Now York, $70,000,000; Mrs. Hctfy Green, banking, New York, $55, 000,000; Jomes II. Smith, bunking,' New York, $50,QOO,000; Duke of Day onshlre, land, London, $150,000,000; Duke of Bedford, land, London, $50,. 000,000; Henry O. Havemcyor, sugar, New York, $50,000,000; John Smith, mlnos, Mexico. $45,000,000; Clans Spreckols, sugar, San Francisco, $40, 000,000; Archbishop Conn, UratL. Vlon na, $40,000,000; Russell Sage; money lending, Now York, $25,000,000; Sip Thomas Llpton, groceries, London, $23,000,000. Kansas City Journal. Our grand business is, not to tea what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what clearly ilea at hand. Carlyln,