RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 10 April 1907, Page 2

RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL.

By Julia Edwards, Author vf "The I.itlir U itlof," "Xatiiit, \hv />:,/•(/,'','' "I'rctticut of Alt: "Stella SlrrUim," "l.vtirn llnn.'i<>.■.'' rtr.

A IXOMANCSE OP THE SAN FRANCISCO DISASTEU

CHAPTER XXXl.—Continued. Tonita v:u;;:c ; y un;;;i:-y, yawed on I into the rear room, vh.b i;eryl lias- j tuned up t'rv.' oul -lairs after the shuffling Mg<'-"-.- <'•' i-k; :;i Xu.::i'7. "In tkav. ; ' ;'.:-i ; .'.i riiirin kianty, halting in itr kn• ' c.iio-akr of the second fioor and i:.i.:lai-iiifi* a door. "Walk right is, my girl." Eery I'a heart wpk i,eaikg in her throat as she kid kma.-, on ihc doorknob, opened the door, and passed into the room kyc:;-:. "Neil!" she cried: "Neil!" Hurried foots Up;; a truck on her ears, and she turned to t:jo a form rush from a closet, shut the door by which she had entered, and turn a key in the lock. "So!" cried the man, his face filled with a horrid, gloating triumph, "my plot has succeeded ! My loved one has come all the way from the doomed city to find me! Did you think, my ravishing beauty, that you could escape Nicholas Berdyne?" Not a word, not a sound came from Beryl's lips. Her face turned white and froze with horror. A mocking laugh smote on her ears from beyond the door; from somewhere below she \ heard a stifled scream, and a sound of quick movements. Then, overcome by the awful realization that broke over her, she tottered and fell uncon scious into the hateful arms of Berdyne.

CHAPTER XXXII. ',' YOUR HUSBAND IS DEAD." " 'Tis done!—l saw it in my dreams; No more with hope the future beams; My days of happiness are few; Chilled, by misfortune's wintry blast, My dawn of life is overcast Love, hope and joy, alike adieu — Would I could add remembrance, too!" Beryl revived from her swoon as from some sense-destroying trance. When her thoughts became active, even before she opened her eyes, a moan of anguish burst from her lips. Neil was not there—had riever been there! Berdyne had wrought' this wicked treachery. She would have, longod to die, but that her great love for Neil strove in her breaat and inspired her to live—to live, not for h' rself alone, but for him. And then Tonita, dear, unselfish, Tonita!. She, also, had been caught in that net of deceit. Beryl must struggle to live for her sake, as well. Then, under the spell of these thoughts, the great violet eyes opened and gazed fearfully around. Beryl was lying on a couch, and the old crone, feasting her eyes on the girl's perfect beauty—apparently intensified by her pallor and distress — was crouching near. Berdyne was not to be seen. "Where—where is that monster?" cried Beryl, starting up. "There, now, my little queen o' hearts!" croaked the old woman, "don't talk that way about your rich an' handsome lover " "He is not my lover!" Beryl almost screamed. "I hate and loathe him!" She ran to he door, and wrenched at the knob with trembling hands. The door was still locked. Distraught with a feeling of abject helplessness, she turned to the old crone. "You are a woman" she implored. "Surely you have a heart to pity me in my distress? Oh, let me go, and Heaven will reward you!" "I couldn't let ye go if I wanted to, my pretty blossom," the hag returned. "I was jest outside the door, an' the minute ye went into that faint, Mr Preston called me right in. I rubbed yer temples and yer teeny hands, an' brought ye to. Calm yerself now, do! Any girl ought to be proud o' makin' a conquest o' Mr Preston." "He is not Mr Preston!" cried Beryl, stamping her little foot. "He is a wicked scoundrel, and his name is Berdyne! If you do not let me leave this house at once," she added, "you will rue the aid you are giving that villain! I shall appeal to the officers of the law " "Ha! ha! ha!" came a low, taunting laugh. Another moment, and Nicholas Berdyne, his handsome, malignant face still flushed with triumph, stepped from behind a curtain draping an arch that led to another room. "So you would appeal to officers of the law, my girl? You would have your trouble for your pains, if you did. ' See those bars at the window? Note them well; observe their massive strength. Marm Kinney, who owns this house, allows people to come here and smoke opium; and the windows are secured, so that if frenzy comes upon the opium-smokers, they cannot fling themselves to the ground. This is a safe nest for you, my darling, until such time as I can remove you to the yacht which I have waiting for us off Sausalito." The term of endearment which he made use of in his mocking way brought a gasp of impotent anger to Beryl's lips. "You will be sorely punished for this!" cried Beryl, her eyes flashing as they sought the sloe-black orbs of the master scoundrel. "My husband will find me, and you cannot escape his vengeance!" Berdyne stepped to the entrance and pushed the key into the lock. With a wild cry, Beryl dashed for the door. Before she had gone far, the hag caught her and threw her with cruel foi'ce into a chair.

. "Areg'lar little spitfire,Mr Preston," said Marm Kinney. "Leave us!" scowled Berdyne. "Be quick." The door opened and closed; and when the scoundrel again faced his captive they two were alone together. ''Understand me, once for all, my

He passed to the door, gave her one swift, menacing look, then let himself into the hall. The door closed, the key turned in the lock, and she heard his retreating steps in the hall and on the stairs.

_ When the steps had died away into silence, a moaning cry came from her, and she threw herself upon the couch. (To be Continued).

kdy,' -.eid !-.e, hk tones palpitating wiLii pr.s.d'Hi. lam not to he trifled with. K. .■.■:■.!>•..' from this room is im:m'i ;,ou may as well content ye'.:i-:;i'lf u> v.iriuin in my power. Tonight ::■ cr.vn-ge will call here, and you .■■■lid • v. ':■■: tie taken to a launch; we v.. iil tk.-n proceed across the bay j t;> San-'.d : y,. bi'ard the Gkrkna, and | put c.■ a ','■ do to my desires, be-co'.-,i. .-.iv v ■>•, .-!i;d ail wiii be well, i ...ii: do, aii a inn can to make you happw You do not love mo now, kit in time " "Oh, cease this insulting language!" cried Beryl, "I am the bride of Neil Preston, who will come for me, and take me " "Your old lover will not come for you," interrupted Berdyne. "You were a bride, if all I hear is true—the bride of an hour. Do not delude yourself with false hopes." There was that about the man which filled Beryl with the conviction that he was insane. How could any one but a madman do the terrible things that he had clone, and * was doing? Her fears were in no wise calmed by the reflection, but rather increased. "What do you mean?" she asked, starting from her chair. "I mean that your husband is dead!" he brutally answered. ■,, "No! no! no!" she cried, clasping .hor hands. "It is not true; it cannot be true!" Her anguish, which seemed to be crushing her frail form down before him, brought a demoniacal smile to his lips. "I tdirdl prove it to you, my Beryl, before we leave this house," he answered. "You do not know how much I have at stake in this matter; and you do not know how resourceful I can be when not only my happiness, but my fortune hangs in the balance." "Your despicable plans will never succeed!" she rejoined, calming her tortured feelings with a fierce effort. "If necessary, I will foil them by taking my own life!" She said this with so much quiet determination —as though all her wrongs had centered m that one resolve—that Berdyne was startled. "What has happened to my friend who came to this house with me?" demanded Beryl. "Your evil plots can have nothing to do with her." "Nothing whatever," returned Berdyne, with an insolent smile, "but the fact that she accompanied you here makes it necessary for us to detain her. Perhaps, too, you would like a companion of your own sex on your yachting-trip? If so, although it will inconvenience me somewhat, we will take your friend along." In that hour of trial, in that supreme moment when all seemed lost, it was wonderful what a fund of desperate courage came to the aid of the poor, persecuted girl. As she stood before the man, more beautiful and more alluring than he had ever seen her, her very defiance awed him and held him at bay. "I shall take no yachting-trip with you," said Beryl, "nor shall 1 remain in this house for very long. When I leave, either you will set me free, and thereby save yourself, or another will fly to my relief, and you will pay for your wickedness to the uttermost. You tell me," she added, with fiery words, "that my husband is dead, and I answer that you speak falsely! Between you and me, Nicholas Berdyne, there is a gulf you cannot pass! lam safe, for the Power that protects the pure and the innocent is ranged on my side, and will protect me from you!" Like some prophetess of old, she raised one of her small white hands and levelled a finger at him. "Have a care, Nicholas Berdyne!" she said deliberately, "for your sinful soul is hovering on the brink of eternity! Go!" and she swerved her pointing finger imperiously toward the door; "if this wretched place is to be my prison, let it'be so. If you are content to wait and abide what the future has in store, so am I!" "There was a moment's silence, broken finally by a scornful, halfhearted laugh from the man. "You are disposed to be tragic, I see," he sneeringly returned, "but lam not to be frightened by your heroics. Here you are, and here you shall stay until nightfall. This is an obscure spot, and feel perfectly safe from outside interference; nevertheless, you will be constantly watched. If you atten.pt to scream, we may find it necessary to bind you and smother your voice with a bandage."