THREE WOMEN

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 156, 2 July 1892, Page 9

THREE WOMEN

f*-AND A DEAD MAN.

A NOVEL.

' #, PHILLIP WOOLF, M.D. t ftubbbr of Who ia Guilty,' 'In the Dark.' CHAPTER V.—(Continued). j^ATJi/ -stared at his friend, too surprised to utter a word. •Ib is a bold criminal, my friend, who will deliberately attract attention to himself, especially when the facts,tell so clearly against him as your theory implies. ■' But i£ he is innocent, who has committed the crime ?' 11 would not stake the smallest sum that he is innocent; I am speaking aolely for your good, that you may noc end by running your head against a stone wall.' 'At least you must have formed some Opinion. i; 'I am only the scientisb.Paul. Of course as an honest man I am anxious to see guilt punished, and if it were in my power and '■-■■ required of mo I would devote my energies on the side of justice. But we have regular officers of justice for thi3 business, professional detectives and what not. I have no « anxiety to unnecessarily turn myself into a - -bloodhound. What society and law claim ■ pf me Ido ; beyond this I stop.' •You do not love Felix as I do!' said Paul. '■,-■■ 11 saw him only two or three times and have not exchanged a dozen words with him in my life ; but this is not to the point. '■■■■' 'Jtfy interest is in you, and I speak to Bave you from trouble, perhaps regret.' 'You show me that I may be wrong, Bhow me now how I may avoid mistakes.' ' By leaving this business in the hands of the law where it belongs.' 'Impossible.' 'As you like,' said the doctor gravely. •I would nob for a moment interfere with what you consider your duty ; but I fear you will bring agony where you mean to fcring pity, and that you will bring ruin jvhere you mean to bring protection.' ' Yon have then your theory.' • If I have, my dear Paul, I do my utmost : to banish it from my mind. It lam right, I pray that tho law may never discover the '■ truth ; as to expressing ib in words I would ■ father cut my tongue out!' • •I can make no promises,' said Paul, feebly. 1 My dear fellow, I have nob demanded any of you, and I honour your disinterestedness and devotion. If you wish to revenge your friend, do so; but be cautious. Do nob jump ab conclusions through prejudice. Suppose through wise hesitation the guilty party lives a few days longer, ore you so blood-thirsty as to regret thab delay? Heaven is patient, imitate it. Hunt down the wretch ; but be pure you bring the guilty and not the innocent to bay. I have my sense of duty, you have yours, but I will not say that you are 'Wrong. It goes without saying that my advice is always at your service, day or night. I may warn you if I dare not guide you.' •And I shall surely take advantage of your kindness. Just now lean only say :thab you have puzzled without convincing ■me; the good result is that I will endeavour i to maintain the caution you advise. As i JI gain my facts you shall estimate their value for me and set me right.' ! . •There, apeaks the ,diffide,tLfc .old Paul,' ; Baid tie doctor, cordially, laying a friendly jiand oh the other's shoulder. 'Bub let us ■< 'dismiss this painful subject for the motnenb. Ib is lunch time. Stay and lunch with me.' 'Isit) bo late? My duty calls me slsewhere. to promise I must go to the stricken house.' • I would like to go a part of the way with .you; but I generally try to keep the lunch jhour for my parents' edification. lam their pride and hope; their genius, and ftheir boy of perfection. When important icases keep me away from luncheon or vld'nner, I.telegraph to them. It is their 4'hobby, aud I owe them too much nob to 'humour this sweet weakness of their old , ?oge.' . 'I am alone in the world,' said Paul, with Weigh, 'and lam weary of ib.' 'This wretched business ha 3 drawn you away from your loved art. If you will take *-a bib of professional advice you will nob (allow duty to run you into sickness. Why not Btay and lunch wibh us, and let Mil- , ,■ ' dred cheer you up. When you come to know her you will discover that she is unusually bright. The trouble is, she is . itoo fond of books and too indifferent to the "' itrifles that generally please her sex.' •Surely that is not a crime. I like wisdom allied to beauty ; it pleases me as the ;man and artist;' ' She is shy or rather contemptuous to those she does not like, and perhaps oversold with those who win her good opinion, ■nnconsciously overbold ; you would call it frankness. And she is eccentric, as you Mnusb have discovered.' ' Excuse me ; I have discovered nobbing ■tub meribs and graces in her and should I know her for infinity it-would be tb6 same.' • You are the best of fellow?, Paul,' said the doctor warmly,' and if this great sorrow renews our friendship of obher days and brings us closer together, some good will be born of it. We drifted apart through no fault of either of us; but'that is the penalty ' of civilisation. Must you go?' Thea remember my last words and look before you leap. '. , . i';£ •I promise to do nothing important without) first consulting you; for you- have made ma doubt nob others, but myself. " ' Here is Mildred to thank'-you for me and thua save my blushes. Mildred,'he ■ said, turning to her when she entered the room,; 'I have asked our friend to lunch ; with us. He has refused me; see if you can conquer where I fail. I am trying to tempt him from what he calls his duty, with a malicious desire to test his strength of mind.' Paul smiled absently, gazing contentedly /; at Mildred. Her mood had evidently changed in her short absence and she now ■'. looked as when he first saw her one brief day ago. The rich colour was in her cheeks and in her lips, her eyes flashed with irrepressible vitality. He saw her glance pityingly down at his bandaged hand and I did nob regret the blow that had aroused her sweeb pity. His fealty to duty was demonstrated by the facb that he still gently I . refused to share his friend's lunch with . him ; but he dismissed his inclination with^ a deep sigb, and solaced his disappoint- ■ ment by yielding to the doctor's requesb bo ; call on the morrow. 4 Come and dine with us,' said the hospitable doctor,',l have more time in the -evening, and then we can calmly discuss matters thab inberesb you. When we are weary of hunting down criminals, Mildred will play and sing to us; and you, the homeless man, shall have a taste of home. ■ Mildred did nob second her brother's requesb in words; bub he read his welcome , in her eamesb eyes and he left) the house

lees discouraged than he expected to be. 'Poor child !' he muaed. 'There is a , sadness even in her joy. Madonna? Yes, I Madonna dolorosa. What is the trouble that she-so bravely attempts to keep out of ■ Bight? She has brought: me. unexpected joy; can I bring her peace i Dolorosa, and a world of tsars, and, as a lesser Hamlet, I am born to set It right!' ~ Absorbed in his ■ thoughts Paul walked on wards,, trust jng to instinct for gtudanqo,

The weight) of his responsibility was heavy, so heavy that hia nature no longer responded to the bright sunlight that showered its gold unheeded upon him. Whab had she said? 'Oat of gloom, through sunshine into gloom!' And whither was he drifting ? If his impetuosity had misled him on whose head was he to bring desolation ? Bub he was in the current and he must, drift) with it. A pity that he who loved to dream should be goaded into action; he who had not the heart to kill a fly compelled to hunb a human being to his grave ! He regretted the necessity, he was oppressed by vague fears, vague longings, vague regrets, bub he did not hesitate. His life to avenge his dead friend! The determination was as strong now as when he determined on the sacrifice

Ib was with a suppressed groan thai he ascended the steps of the house under the shadow of death; the time was so short, the contrast so great! Paul was ushered into the large parlour wherein Miss Iriarte was sitting in solitary state. At his appearance she rose and warmly greeted him. 'We were expecting you, Mr Kemington. My niece is much better ; she has a strong constitution, and then she is young. And then though she may regret'a lost lover, she cannot regret a lost love ! That is one of the advantages of having no heart. It tuns in our family,' said the old woman, with a cold smile. ' A foolish business, Mr Remington, from beginning to end ; but she deserves the praise of nob acting the hypocrite longer than necessary. Sib down. I was jusb reading an account of one of your so-called marriages in high life- I knew the beautiful bride when she was a cook and worse ! Now she marries a nobleman ! That is Hie.' 'I .

'I am glad to see that the sad tragedy has not unduly depressed you,'said Paul, hovering babween disgust and anger.

'Rather he or she than you. He for a fool, she for something worse. His lovepassion was greater than his sense. Trust me he is better where he is. As for her you might take her pretty little neck over your knee and break it with my compliments !'

Miss Iriarta spoke calmly and with assurance as to a dear friend, and nodded her head as if she enjoyed the conversation. Paul turned from her sbrong wrinkled face to her strong wrinkled hands, with their long bony fingers and prominent knuckles, and finding nothing attractive in either, stared at the wall.

'The funeral is to-morrow,' continued bhe old woman, smacking her lips as if over a luxury. 'Of course you will come.' ' Of course I shall come !'

'I don't know, Mr Remington, if y»u have the same mania for attending funerals that I have, but it has been so since childhood. I attend them all.'

•It is curious,' said Paul, mastering his disgust. 'And everybody seems to be so afraid of a dead body. I combed the hair of your dead friend upstairs! He had fine hair, bub he wanted more brains ! I suppose the Coroner has discovered that by this time. He^did not like me,' she said comfortably. '.In his anger he called me a "crazy hag." Crazy? He has said ib. There are times' when ib is good nob to be held responsible. And all, Mr Remington, because I spoke my mind of his lady-love. If he could see her now ! She eats and sleeps with enjoyment, and it's my belief thab she only fain bed through etiquette !'

•Could I see her?' asked Paul, anxious to escape Irom this prosing, heartless, old woman.

'She expects you ; it is a part of her game.' The lady has visions and ideal loves. Your friend was not romantic enough to come up to her standard; she loved his money, nob him. She dreams of art,'- poetry, and philosophy, and while waiting does^hob scorn a good dinner! Her hypocritical throat is tempting, Mr Remington ; Squeeze the life out of it and'save me the trouble.'

Paul rose, his disgust merged in fear. An insane old woman, Surely; cold-hearted, relentless, and vindictive. ' If you would kindly announce to her.' 'She expects you, and I am nob her servant. Ascend one flighb of stairs, turn to your right, and the door of her room is before you. While waiting your return I will finish this marriage in high life.' Paul was glad! to escape from her hideous presence. ,| He left the room, and obeying her directions found himself before ( a partly-opened 'door, upon which he, tapped. Hearing nothing he tapped again and again. No sound issued from the room. Was it another tragedy? The old woman seemed capable of anything in her hatred, and in his troubles he was easily unnerved. He pushed open the doir, then started and rubbed his eyes. Where had he seen this, picture before ? The Woman was lying on the lounge dressed in k blue gown of some soft clinging stuff; herihands wero crossed on her breast; the while lids drooping over her eyes and concealing! them; a smile on her lips ; the gloriouslcean of unloosened yellow hair rippling all about her face and shoulders and streaming to the ground. For the first time his vision of the night before returned to him. \He stared trembling at her. Thank heaven the red stream was absent; thank beavin thab her hands were softly lifted upland down in her peaceful natural breathing. Pkul drew a deep breath of relief, and the perspiration from his forehead. Under his glance tho eyes opened and turned tb him, while the smile of dreaming wds turned bo the smile of welcome. \ \ • Why do you nob come in?' A soft musical voice very pleasant to the ears. I . • \ ■ 'Pardon me.' > \ • Pardon is unnecessary. I was waiting for you.' Sbill under the influence of his dream, Paul noticed with silent pleasure that there was a warm, rosy glow on her cheeks.- He entered the room, and she role to a sibting position and held out her hadd inflriondly greeting. It was soft and wairm satisfaction to the nervous Pail. $k' ' I have an awkward bib oe business to perform, senorita,' he began, 'lnd*lshould like to eeb it off my mind as loon as possible. Among obher papers, pota Felix entrusted me with five of your labters, with the request thab I should deliver them to you.' \ With bhe words he handed thaletters to her. i 'A roundabout way of delivery? she said with a smile. 'I know that youlwere his dearest friend, in whom he bliidly confided. Confess then thab these letters were to serve another purpose ■ before ,< they reached my hands.' 1 •My irierid had a presentimenl of the violence thab destroyed him, and under this presentimenb he sent me a nranber of papers, among which were your letters. Fearing that I was prejudiced aKaiisbyou he gave me permission to readi these letters if I so desired, but expressed the wieh.shafc 1 would rafcher return 6lem to you unread. To continue frankly \o the end, I had the audacity—l hardly tank ib merits the name of cariosity—to real, one paragraph in one letter. My motive or so doing I cannot explain even to myselt ■ If I were superstitious! Alas! I cffinob even make that my excuse.' \ He was nervous under the sear<jnng glance of the violet eyes; irritated; bi the ■ mocking smile on the lips. -■■.■' ) 'I could write better love letters man these,'ehe said lightly, 'bubl openacimy heart to your friend, and I have nobhinV to reproach myself with. He was wiilins to aocept what' I had to offer. Believi so much, on my account.' I ' You tell me what I already knew I'VV •Truly then .you were the good man's confessor, and I was righb to fear you I Bit to dispose of thedo wretched lebtera whch Bs9 now ownerless, will you please tea

them in the fire. So, they are burned up, and we will forget them.' " ' ' She watched the destruction of the letbers with a strange smile on her lips, bub Paul bad passed beyond the stage of surprise. He had expected to meet a weak sorrowing woman, haggard, hysterical, bathed in tears. This radiant smiling creature, whose toileb wa3 faultless in every detail save for the flowing hair, which itself was a stroke of high art, revealed no evidence of sorrow. Whether this were due to heartlessness or strong will Paul did not attempt to decide; he only knew that he was exhilarated by the beauty and the strong vitality, and by the tonic atmosphere with which she seemed surrounded. He had expected helplessness, he felt that he was weak compared with her, thab the strength was hers, the feebleness his. What was more humiliating was that he was convinced that the facb was as "evident to her as to him, and that in her toleration there was a grain of contempb. He divined thab she was conscious of her beauby and of i its power; that it raised her to a height and endowed her with power to rule. He endeavoured to avoid drawing conclusions even in secret, for it also added to his awkwardness in believing that the luminous velvetty eyes read his thoughts as soon as formed. Ib was a punishment to his artistic nature, but he forced himself _ to look away from her to the less fascinating and irritating fire-light. 'I am at your service, friend of my friend.' • Pardon me—l do not understand !' • And you the avenger ! lam in the witness chair, good judge ; if you wish to know, question me. Ask what you will in the cause of justice and regardless of me. What I know—it is nob much—is at your service. Will you administer the usual oath, or is my word sufficient ?' There was an amiable smile on her lips ; he felt thab she was stooping to him. ' Every moment; senorita, only adds to my conviction that I am unfitted for the task I have set) myself. A life-long student, the world is a problem thab I have never attempted to solve. My one excuse is thab I loved my friend, and love, for him compels me to match myself against wiser and better people. If you will remember this love you may not understand, but in your graciousness you will excuse me.' . 'You are over - sensitive,' she said, gently and gravely, * self-doubting ( and self-suspicious. Knowing you, I am no longer surprised thab you have not taken advantage of your talents. Hush ! lam not complimenting you ; you are nob of the race of men that need flattery. Tell me, then, how I may help you in the task you have seb yourself Be frankly outspoken.' 'May I ask then when you last saw Felix?' • I did nob see him even for a moment on the fatal wedding-day; we were to.meet for the firsb time on thab day at the altar.' ' 1 have nothing eke to ask the witness,'. he said, with' a smile. 'You fear to arouse painful, feelings. Over - considerate. for others. Another hopeless fault of yours. Bub listen, I have made inquiries of the people of this house. Servants are curious, wibh an instinctive mania for prying into business thab does nob concern them. Will you please strike that gong on the table ?' Paul obeyed, and a moment after a young woman entered the room. *'* • This is my maid. Francesca, ten Mr Remington what you told me this morning.' . . • Yesterday,' began the obedient maid, ' I was coming down the stairs when the man who was killed was coming up. He was always amiable and he spoke a few pleasant words to me, and then entered the room thab was reserved for him for the day. Ib was a busy time for me, naturally, and many times I went up and Came down. In one or these journeys I saw the man called Ruperb Minton enter the room of Senor Felix and the door close behind him. I should nob .have noticed this, bub I immediately heard the voices of the men as if they were quarrelling. I stood still and listened,' continued the unabashed maid, • bub I could not understand, both voices mixing together as if one was anxious to stop the obher from speaking. By-and-by there was less confusion, and I heard the Senor Felix call tho obher a "foul liar." Immediately the other said, "Don'b strike me, Felix, or I will nob be responsible for the result." Then later, "Rather than this should happen, Felix, you shall know all." Then the Senor Felix again called him "liar,".and refused to listen to him, and there was angry confusion again. People were coming up the stairs and I did not wish to be caught listening, and so I retired. This is all I know.' . ' You did nob see either of the men leave the room V < No.' ' You saw no one else enber ib? 'No, senor.' • Did you know any of the people coming ud the stairs ?' , '•I did nobwaib to look; bub I glanco'd over bhe bannisbers when I was farther up, and recognised my lady's cousin for one, Inez Velasquez or Mildred Thomas.' • How long was this before the murder was discovered ?' •Perhaps half-an-houjf.' • Who was the firsb to discover it V 'Miss Iriarte !' ' You were wibh her ?' • No, I was told so !' 'Thank you. I have nothing else to ask.' ' You may go, Francesca.' With a bow the maid retired. •You have been helped, senor.' • A conviction of mine has been made a' certainty.' • Shall I ascend the witness stand again V •I hardly dare ' v ' There is something in your heart againsb me; and you refu3e to allow me to vindicate myself. Yqu must be my friend ; how can you be so when there is no frankness between us ? Tell me,'she said;' s'ofbly, 'am I nob a trust to you as well as the foolish letters-? At least Ac told me so. He often said that if anything happened to him he would leave me in your care.'

• A noble friend !' said Paul warmly.

•A noble friend !' she repeated, with a nod of the head. ' Bub now, senor, lam in your care, a child, a sister, or what nob. You musb order and I mustf'obey !'

Ib was flattering to Paul to hear himself thus addressed by the beautiful woman; he whose hearb was so large, and whose experience of bhe sex so limited. Under this womanly gentleness and submission the feeling of his own strength was increased. With others needing his protection had he the right to waste his energies in self-sus-picions and doubts ? ' Shall I read your thoughts ?' she asked, leaning towards him. ' You are eager to learn what I know of this Ruperb Minton. Does he love me ? You must ask him. Do I love Mmi I hate him, senor, as I hate my deadliesb enemy on earth. He bhoughb to render me helples3, make me an isolated victim for hia persecution ; instead of which he haa unconsciously given me a friend who will protect me againsb his machinations. ! I hate him, senor, but I thank him at the same time.'

She spoke -earnestly and with delicate flattery in her words ; Paul was beginning to form a very high opinion of himself. IHe is a wretch !" The law shall soon place him out of the way of doing further harm, to you, to me, or to others.' • To you ?' she asked in surprise. 'Last night he entered my room and attacked me ; that; I am not another victim is not hia fault. He robbed me of several letters and belie vad he had murdered me. But I am alive as he shaUflnd 1'

1 And that accounts for your hand ?' *It was wounded in ' warding?: off the dagger aimed at my hear!;.' |f ♦That is poing too far t' she aaid with energy, and with a frowning faoa.

' He feared that I would bring him to the gallows, where he belongs.' '. .. 1 That is going too far ! To rob me of a husband and a friend afc fche same time !_lfc is beyond endurance, and I am weary of it.' ■' Tru3t in me to render him powerless.'

' 1 have trust in you, and in you alone. But though you are to order and I to obey, you must listen to me now, and then ponder my advice. I venture now, my master, to beg of you not to bo hasty.. Be certain of his guilt before you strike !' 1 Cold water again throvjn on his warm enthusiasm ! Was it possible that he could be wrong? •You are angry with me?' she asked, noting his silence. 'Doubtful of myself again. In turn I am vain and humble.' It has always been so. When some one praised a picture I was painting I was all enthusiasm ; when some one hinted a fault I was all depression. I have a score of pictures which are not finished because they could not win my friends' complete admiration. It is ridiculous. A moment ago I thought myself a giant, now lam a dwarf or worse. While I am in my sober senses let me warn you against trusting in my strength. A flattering word, and my frogship is converted into an ox." Let me beg of you never to depend on me againsti your better judgment ; you see what I am for having depended on myself. Of this I was certain, however, my friend was murdered and my life was attempted. Beyond this, all the facts that I have gathered point to one man as the murderer !' ■

' And what does my cousin think ?' 'She has not ventured an opinion.' ' You have seen her ?' ' Yes, this morning.' 'She is a charming girl, senor.' •An angel!' he exclaimed, with en thusiasm.

• She has talents !'

• And goodness !' he added. ' A noble woman.'

' And yet with curious tastes. What do you think of a young girl who studies chemistry and medicine for love of tliam ? I believe, had I not convinced her of the unwisdom of it, she would by Hub lime have been a doctor. A curious woman,' she said slowly. * When do you see her again ?'

•I dins with .her brother to-morrow evening.' ' The day of the funeral ! Alas ! I shall have no chance against that great magnet my cousin. I Bhall die of neglect like" a caged animal given to a careless child. That is if I submit,' ehe added ; her gloom vanishing before the warmth of a glorious smile. 'Of course you will be here in the morning to assist at the lasb duties to your dead friend.' ■ 1 You may depend upon me.' 'I do depend upon you. I have known you longer than you have known me; Tie always spoke of you.' ■ : ■ 'And you refused to see me.' • Because I knew you and feared you.' ' Feared ?' 'You will understand some day, or perhaps I may enlighten you, though I hope it may not be necessary.' ' You are hinting at additional troubles.' ' If you should consider them 30, I shall be sad indeed. What is it, Francesca ?' she asked, turning to the maid, who entered the room. ' My lady's luncheon is ready.' .' You have served it in my room ¥ 'Yes.' . , * ' I will bid you good-day,' said Paul, rising. ' You are to lunch with me.' <■ Eut 'Obstinate ! Francesca, was' he expected ?' • The table is set for two !' ' You are the master, senor, and of course you are to have your own way. If you insist on going——' • I will lunch with you.'. 'Tyrant! Follow me.' A dainty luncheon, during which the maid was dismissed, the bTife-'eyecl""t§&b'eT waiting on her guest and anticipating his wants. There was something pleasantly submissive and womanly in her manner ; a quaint shyness that he had not expected to find in her nature, a rare frankness and numerous other charming traits. In mentally drawing her character Paul had infinite trouble ; he was continually adding, rubbing out, and re-drawing. She dazzled him, like a facetted diamond in the sunlight. She mocked at and then soothed him; like a , bird ehe was now at his feet and in an instant had winged her way high iv the clouds whither he could not follow her. In all her moods, however, sho treated him as if he were an old and trusted friend, who knew her nature to its very heart, and ' accepted it without criticism. She did not give him time to indulge in the sadnesses of memory, his energies were. all absorbed hi the effort to follow and understand her. ~ If for a moment the shadow of pain came to his face, she confronted it with the light of her1 rare earthly beauty, and ifa vanished like a mist:streak before the sun. That resolution was also a part of her complex nature wae equally certain. Towards the end of the luncheon her maid entered the room with the information that a visitor wished to see her.

'I am not at home. 5 • But ' ■ c I am not at home. . Go !' The maid departed, and speedily, though hesitatingly returned.

«The viaibor, my lady, insists on seeing you.' ♦ •

'Insists! she repeated, with a momentary flash of anger. 'Say, then, I am at home, but refuse to see anybody. Go !' she repeated, with an impatient stamp of the foot. Then, when the maid had retired, she turned smilingly to her guest. 'It wjould seem as if I had been placed in the charge of the entire world ; bub one tyrant is enough for me, and I will have no others.'

Time pasped rapidly, and Paul reached his own rooms in the twilight of a chill autumn day. His first care was to open the anatomical mannikin. The will was safe. Assured of this' important! fact be dropped into an arm-chair and, exhausted by the excitements of the day, fell into a dreamless sleep. In his absence Isabel lost a portion of her vivacity ; she retired to her bedroom, and the hours passed while she stared thoughtfully at the fire. Whatever emotion she felt was concentrated in her eyes, and they stared at one fixed point as if under the influence of a trance. She didjnot move when her aunt unceremoniously entered the room and greeted her with : — 11 hope you are satisfied, my dear.' * 'I am always satisfied,' she retorted auiefaly, without changing her attitude.

"' He went away without bidding me good-bye; surely a sign that you have infected him with the virulent poison of your beauty. If you had the vestige of a heart, I would pray that love for him might enter it and torture you into madness. For, take this truth, my dear, you may fascinate but) you will nob conquer him. The honest love of Ms nature is already given to another, and she the cousin you despise.1 ' You are wasting your time, aunt'

1 And disturbing your plotting 1 Bah ! Tho sight of you "turns my stomach and causes my hands to itch. Here, my pretty friend, this letter was lafb for you. I bring it to you hoping that it will cause you pain. For the rest you may fool an unworldly man, but I know you to the foul heart.' Tho old woman stared malignantly down at the motionless figure for a moment, then retired from the room with the words :

'I am going to enjoy the luxury of staring at your, victim as he lies in his coffin, regrettinefehat it is not you.' Alone Isabel picked «p the letter that had bean thrown- at her f cob, slowly opened itandreadt _' ; , • •It is not wise to Clay tha high lady wHh;»«i I-rftthw &>*«« to Mltevt-that

you had a good reason for refusing to Bee me. I hops you have blinded the eyes of the fool who is attempting to play the part of avenger. Blind him, . make him power; less, and'l will do the rest. He escaped me once, he will not be so lucky when Jl try again. if I thought you .were a woman and not a fiend, I woufd wavn you not to allow yourself to become interested in the victim. But I know your icenature. Having lived into womanhood : without feeling one warm emotion, you are in no danger now. I know this who love you to the verge of madness. Evod the burning fite-of my passion has brought forth no response. I have nob now your love ; I believe you hate me, knowing the power I hold over you. But remember you are mine just the same. You hold me at arm's distance, which only add 3 zest to my desire to conquer you. But I write this to inform you that) the will of the dead man is not yet made public. I have been to the lawyer, and he tells me he has orders not to make it public until a month ha 3 expired. But more than this, / have, reason to believe that- a later toill is in existence, and if so in whose possession should it be, if nob in the hands of the victim who'was the dead man's dearest friend? You must find this out. If there is another will, force him to tell you where he hides it, for if it is opposed to the will we already know of, ib musb be destroyed before there is an opportunity of making it public. I know your power over our sex, and so have no fear. Do nob lose your head, and what we have so long struggled for will be ours. If you loved me you would be perfect; that we are working together for one object is the only thing that assures me you belong to me '

Having read the unsigned letter she tossed itinto the fire, and resumed ber old thoughtful attitude. So she'sat open-eyed through a long night,'over the ashes of a burnt-oub fire, that were warmer than her icy hands. . (To be Continued.)