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_A DREADFUL TEMPTATION. — 4
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“‘T did not need you, dear. I did everything for Lora —
my own self,” said Mrs. Carroll, with a sort of tender prids
in her voice. . .
‘‘And she is doing well? I may see her—and the haby~
my little son!” exclaimed Xenie, with a sudder ring of tri- —
umph in her voice.
“Yes, she is doing well; a little flighty now and then,
and very weak; she could not bear the least excitement.
_ But youshall go to herinaminute. She wished it.”
They went into the dimly-lighted, quiet room, and Xenie
kissed her sister and cried over her very softly. Then she
took the bundle of warm flannel out of Lora’s arms and un-
covered a red and wrinkled little face. :
“Why, mamma, you said it was Leautiful,” she said, dis- |
appointedly; ‘‘and Iam bound to confess that, to me, it:
looks like a very old and wrinkied little man.”
Mrs. Carroll laughed very softly.
““T don’t believe you. ever met. with a very young baby —
before, my dear,” sheseid. *‘ I assure you heis quite hand-
some for his age, ap% he will improve marvelously in a—
week’s time.” . ,
Xenie stood still, holding the babe very close and tight in
her arms, while dazzling smile of triumph parted her beau-
Aifnl searletJips, She hated to lay it down, for while she
held it warm ant living against her breast she seemed to
taste the fuli sweetness of the wild revenge she had planned
against her enemy. a
‘‘Oh, mamma, Lora,” she cried, ‘‘ how impatiently Ihave |
waited for this hour! And now1 am 0 glad, soglad!. We
will go home soon, now—as soon as our darling is well
enough to travel—and then I shall triumph to the uttermost,
over Howard Templeton.”
She kissed the little pink face tenderly and exultantly two .
or three times, then laid him back half-reluctantly on his
‘mother’s impatient arm.
‘He is my little son,” she whispered, gently; ‘for you.
are going to give him to me, aren’t you, Lora?”
, A weary sigh drifted over the white lips of the beautiful
young mother. | |
‘¢T will lend him to you, Xenie, for I have promised,” she
murmured; ‘‘ but, oh, my sister, does it not seem cruel and
wrong to take such an innocent little angel as that for the |
instrument of revenge?”
Xenie drew back, silent and offended.
‘‘Xenie, darling, don’t be angry,” pleaded Lora’s weak |
and faltering tones; ‘‘I will keep my promise. You shall
‘call him yours, and the world shall believe it. He shall .
even call you mother, but you must let. me be near him al-