THE TRAGEDY OF REDMOUNT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 279, 24 November 1896, Page 6

THE TRAGEDY OF REDMOUNT.

BY MRS E. M. HOLMES.

Author of *A Woman's Love,' 'Herffatal

Sin,' Etc.,'Eto.'

CHAPTER XXIX,

Kaoul wenb with struggling atepa over the smooth path of tha garden and of the ground?, and away from Redmounb. He did nob sea the weary, fainting figure that followed ia hia wake ; be did nob eea Ela; bub she moved with him, keeping a libtle space between them, for ehe waa; afraid of him, though ehe could not bear to Bee him go out alone, beaten and forsaken, a wretched wreck, with only one deßire lefb In life—to escape the hardships of a felon's doom. . 'My guilt waa as great as his ; 1 snarea hia secret: and I have betrayed him !' she kepb whispering bo the empty air. * Oh. why did I cod perish, long, long ago, in the careless daya when I waa a happy little child.' ' . , . She scarcely understood this strange deathless aentimenb of devotion thab had grown up in her hearb and lived bhero still. She had thought to gain a sweet satisfaction through tho medium ot revenge, and ib was all bitterness and empty aching discomfort. . •If he dies, I will die with him, she mnrwured, as she trampled down the soft sward bhab bordered the pathway leading up to one of bhe hills. She could hear the sea daahing aboub in the distance, though she could not yet geb view of it. She Bhivered aa she clambered up bhe rugged aide of the cliff. Raoul had purposely taken thia direction. It was the safeab. They would never think 9f looking for him up in bheae wild deserted heights, stretched far above the valley. Alone and uninterrupted he would have leisure to think oub hia besb way ef escape from bhe vengeful punishmenb they would deal out bo him if bhey ence got him within bhe graep of che law. Hia euul shuddered from bbc thought of life-long impriaonmenb ; to bo held helplessly chained within the auffocating limits of four cramped atone walls. A cold agony ateod on hia brow aa he went over all bhe borbureß that would follow a possible capture, and he paused in his ascent, and looked down into bhe diatance, measuring the gap that lay bebween hina aad eternity, * Sooaer bhan thoy should take me alive, I would do ib I' he mused. 'Much as I nhouid hate the disagreeable sensation, it would be bobber bban bhe other thing. Stifling in a damp cell year aftor year, with bread-and-water faro, would scarcely euib me afber what 1 have bean used to ! if the worst comas I cun pub an end to myself!' Ho did nob move for some time, but turned to look back ab the house he had lefb forever. Ela could nob *cc the dark truth in hia expression, bub ehe hurried noiselessly toward him, though hor limba were Weak and trembling with the exertion of walking up the steep pathway at hia rapid pace. She was anxious not bo let him sea her ; ehe crept close—near enough bo touch him with an easy stretch of her arm. _ She seemed be know whab was passiag in his mind ; her own despair taught her to measure tho greut depth of hi?. Sho shook with a fearful dread when ehe heard him tuutter : ' Carae the whole lob of them 1 As for the girl—l hope I shall meet her again.' The word* thrilled her with an uaconquerable desire to stand before him and bear the brunt of hia fury. All her body thrilled withe defiance with which Bho had always met hia threats. She was now another being, shrinking no longer, bub ready to meeb her fate. f The crimson sunset bathed the hills in glowing tints ; tho day waa waning ; She ahadow of the legend tell above Redmounb —the shadow of an evil thab waa passing away wibh bhe banishmenb of Raoul. He turned slowly from the dazzle thab angered him—from the sight of tho grand old homestead with its waving, glittering treea, and winding lake of sunny depths ; the bright view made him almost mad with envy. He kicked some large stones from bis path and wont on, Ela still followod him—the passionate impulse calmed, bhe desire bo apeak overwhelmed wibh a sudden wistful deeire nob to anger him now that he waa co dosperate.

They pursued the hill path for more than a mile, and now below them the sea dashed in shining circles, beating against the sides of the cliff with perpetual motion.

The sua Bank oub of sight ; the luminous light in the sky dwindled away ; it was dusk when they reached where the sea washed tbe shore.

Once or twice Ela nearly sunk exhausted 0* the way.

She dragged herself wearily after Raoul, when her foot; struck against some sharp objecb, and then she gave a low moan of pain, and nearly stumbled. Instantly ho turned, and when ho saw her his face changed with a change too horrible to be described.

' Is ib yoa ?' he hissed

She did not say anything, but stood gazing ab him, with her eyes painfully dilated in her death-white face.

• What are you dogging me about for now ?' he broke out again, with the light of a murderous desire in tho glance he fixed on her. ' Are you playing the spy upon my movements, that you may bo ablo to tell them where to hunt me down ?'

She crept out of tho reach of his uplifted hand. She knew that if she told him why she had followed him he would laugh in mockery and acofl at her.

' i Game out of curiosity, to see what yon meant to do,' she Eaid in a low voice. ' I sart' you come out of the house, and I followed you ; bub nob with the motive you Accuse me of having,'

He gave a sharp, short laugh

' Your motive is a friendly ono, no rjoulife; but there is so much of the Jraitresa in you that I am inclined to floubc your intentions. You have followed me for something ; now whab do you expect from me?' She looked into his eye 3 and paw there death. She saw the savage calm of a dreadful resolve settle on his face. Suddenly ahe broke from the spell that held her eilent, and her voice reached him with passionate strength. • You drove me to it,' ehe cried, reproachfully. ' You have yourself to blame. I told you whab to expect if you over deceived me. It goaded mo to madness

to find thab you eeb thab vile dwarf the task of taking my life. From that, moment j I resolved to see you ruined, and I had' ib in my power to harm you more than you ever dreamed. You did nob know thab he was always beside me, a living reproach. Our secret was a bitter shame to me. Whenever I looked into his face and listened tn his wild -words I felb that I niuab take him by the hand and lead him to Sir Richard For your sake 1 hid the truth and lef) you think him dead. When I lout-nod that you had given Woolh the right be slay'me—that you had a cruel, wicked grudge against my life, my hearb cried oub for reiease from tho burden I. had borne and for revenge.' Her worda did nofc strike home to him with any sens© of rebuko. He had long considered her something to ba avoided, a wild creature; on whom the conscience that was deadened in him could not bo ao easily extinguished. She had grown thin and weird-looking with constant brooding over tho guilty load of care tbat had weighed too heavily upon her soul, bub he only glanced ab her with a aorb of atony pitilessness. 'I wish you joy of your revenge,' ho said, in a hard, harsh tone. ' I hope you feel satisfied. You have done your beßb to destroy me. Her head sunk to her breasb and her heart grew like lead within her.

The gratification she had thought to geb from whab she had done—the setsse of peace, had nob come to her. She was sorry for Raoul; she almost pitied while she dreaded him.

'What are you going to do now?' she ventured to ask him, in a fainb voice. ' Will you go right away, and leave England ?'

There waa a quiver in her voice. Final aeparation from him was whab abe now looked forward to wibh keeneab sensitiveness.

She knew tbat after to-day thoy would be as strangers to each other. Sho would never see him again.

His rage had calmed down bub was jusb as dangerous in its collected ferocity. He answered her question in a hissing undertone that seemed to fill the silence with menacing echoes:

• What I intend doing matters very libtle to you. Do you see the waves below there angrily lashing the face of tho cliiFV' he sdded, abruptly, changing tho subject and drawing near to her. ' I should like to push you down. I should fosl pleasure in watching you fall, in hearing your cry for help, in seeing you struggle. Yes, I could get rid of you thab way. I could teach you what it means to play the traitor.'

He was deliberately contemplating all he said. His eyes burned evilly in his livid face.

Sho saw his hands tremble as if with an eagerness to thrust hor forth into tho destructive abyss. She moved giddily from the edge of the ravine. * After what I know of you I can understand your wish,' she managed to say, with a strange lighb on her face—n rush of indignant colour that burned hectically an instano and then crept slowly out of sight. ' Bub for your hated interference, I should never have fallen into this trap !' he broke out, with sudden vehemence. ' I could tear you to pieces ! Geb out of my path and lot me go on ! Stand in my way and I may do somo mischief I I am in an 6vil mood, and the sight of you infuriates me ! You had better go !'

' I will,' ehe responded—' I will say goodbye, and leavo you. There ie nothing else to do.'

Sho turned slowly, her face white aßa dead face ; hor eyes dull nnd large, and plaintive with a misery that was unexplainablo. SIIO did not oven touch liitn ; she did not linger nor glinco back, but,, as one dreaming, turned persistently away.

( To he- Continued. )