Modern Novelette.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 June 1910, Page 4

Modern Novelette.

WRIT SARKASIUK

•GiumJiki stood facing -the wind'ow, and did not see him when lie entered the door, ilmt she felt the proximity «'f the man, whoso gaze was .fairly burning holes in 'her gown. Prompted by an unaccOun'taible uneasiness and a desire to save that jrown, she wheeled suddenly, and her eyes Ml upon -htini. They wore liL2*lit, anil did not hurt the .stranger afc all. "Merciful heavens!" she exclaimed, her eyes dilating wildly. "Do the dead rise?" She leaned heavily upon -a chair, and trembled so violently that tho entire castle shook'. The stranger thought it was an •earthquflke, and, looked ahou't uneasily. "Considering your (|iiestion from a theological .standpoint," lie said, calmly, "I think it can bo answoro? in the aHi r illative." Camilla struggled for oomposuro like a person wrestling with an epileptic lit. "L read your naniti in the list ol the lost," she stammered, "and 1 thought you dead." He laughed in a low, rasping voice which removed the varnish from sonne of the furniture. "Alter you had scuttled the ship,'' he said. "1 was rescued and. taken ashore. J began at once to search for you. I have looked among the bust families of Europe and the American- heiresses, for T did nnlb know in what guise I might find you. 1 liud you comfortably settled' here.' "What do you want of mo?" gasped Gain ilia. MYhy," ho replied, "J had thought something of going in foi housekeeping again, and " "N'ever!" shrieked Camilla, her proud lips curling in scorn, and. without the use of curling irons. "J will never go back to you!" The stranger remained perfectly calm, but the sarcastic smile on his lace deepened. When he again spoke his voice could have been used for a nutmeg grater. His eyes were again -burning holes ill everything they rested upon. "You forget. mv dear Camilla," he said, "tliait* T am your husgaiiid.' There was a momentary silence', so still that the firing of a cannon three rods away could have been beard distinct! v.

"[ wish thai newspaper had told tho truth," sobbed Camilla, "and th ait vour iranie bad, been McGinty. 1 "Why, (if course. von do," tho .str;i nm'r replied. "Tlien yon wmld pursue your plans Aviblifoufc hindrance." "Then yon mean to betray me?" said Camilla, changing her position and her tactics at tho same time without losing her balance. •''That depends on you," lie said, wiitli a shrug of the shoulders be had learned in Paris and was using th.at season with great success. It had brought down the bouse on several occasions, Tn their excitement the two had not heard tho grating () |f carriage wheels on the drive in Itlie courtyard ol the castle. Camilla wa«s staring at the man in inde.scriiha;ble rage, mingled with fear and anxiiety. Hi- w.as .Km 11 <>■ scoTiifiU-lly, when the door opened and Count von HalI;iki■(| entered. '"Alia! ' he exclaimed, striking ail attitude and speaking in a Mine of hMiigled sarcasm and police enquiry. "What have we hear?" "All is lost!" exclaimed Camila, throwing her hands to her head with such virden-e that she lV!le:l herself t.' !!' 'r. The stranger explained tin' she was bis wife, and that h: 1 111:1 e-'iue t:> gv't her. The Count thought he heard a tone in the man's v:::ici' that had a si Ivory r.iiiig in it. He I'elt in bis p: ok; Is and their addressed the stmnger. "Mow much do you want?" he asked. "What sum is necessary to liny your silence and ensure your alienee Irom tin l castle for ever?" "Well, I ha nil v know," replied the stranger meditatively. "How would onc-and-sixpeivce stroke you?"