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Was very old, and really growing childish, I thought.
going off without a will was the worst part of it.
’ it hurt you terribly for Templeton to have the money!”
sacrificed for it.
_ her aunt. ——
OA DREADFUL TEMPTATION. 19
talking of your ill looks, and ‘they say you take Mr. St.
John’s death so hard, you must-have cared for him more
than anyone believed. I let them talk, for, of course, it is
very much to your credit to have them think so, but as I
_-know better myself, I cannot-help wondering at your pale-
-hessand trouble”, 5 ;
‘“‘Tt was all so sudden and terrible,” murmured the young
widow, as-she lay back in her easy-chair, looking very
~ fragile and beautiful in her deep mourning dress. |
‘- “Yes it was very bad. his going off in a fit that way,”
said: her aunt. ‘‘ Still, it was to be expected, Xenie. He
His
£ course
The sudden flash in Mrs. St. John’s dark eyes told plainer
~than words how much it had hurt her.
.** However, Xenie, I would give over worrying about it,”
~~ continued her aunt, soothingly.
-“ But my revenge, Aunt Egerton... Think how much I
1 married that foolish. old man, and en-
dured his caprices so long without a murmur, allowed my-
self. to be shut up in solitude like a bird in a cage, and
never murmured at his tiresome exactions. And all for
what? Because I expected to get his whole fortune, and be
revenged on the coward who broke my heart for the sake
of it. And to be despoiled of my revenge like this is too
hard for endurance,” she exclaimed, walking up and down
the room, and wringin
sion of despair and regret. | ee .
“Oh! let the wretch go,” said Mrs. Egerton, complacently
rustling in her silks and laces. ‘* You have secured a large
ortion of the estate, anyhow. And you are so young and
eautiful still, Xenie, you may even marry a greater fort-
une than that, when your year of mourning is expired.”
Xenie stopped ‘still in her excited walk, and looked at
“T shall never marry again—never,” she said earnestly.
**T have as much money as I want, .only—only I want to
tale that from Howard Templeton because I want to hum-
ble him and wriug his heart. And there is but one way to
do it,-and that is to reduce him to poverty. Money is the
only god he worships!” she added bitterly. .
‘*He treated you villainously and deserves to be pun-
ished,” said’ Mrs. Egerton, ‘‘but still I would try to forget
it, Xenie. You will lose your youth and prettiness brood-
ing over this idea of revenge.” _ . _
‘I will never forget it,” cried Mrs. St. John, wrathfully.
YT will wait and watch, and if ever J see a chance to
Ny TLS ge
~~
g her white hands in a perfect pas-