Show BY WHOSE HAND by EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER author of by hairs breadth the black diamond etc coper 1884 by W hard fracker co 1900 by street sm th CHAPTER V continued what in the devils name did it mean this spanish governess was evidently on intimate terms with my cobra shining glittering one my beauty I 1 would love to fon die you had she been in the habit of toying with the serpent 7 ble yet there had been no lack of opportunity A sudden idea suggested itself could the senorita nonsense what motive what motive T my wits must have gone woolgathering I 1 looked at my watch it was near tha dinner hour I 1 hastened to dress and then descended to the dining room catane was there before me and angele soon came in before the dinner was halt over I 1 was convinced that in some occult fashion catane was torturing angele it was to be seen in the frightened shrinking glances the latter cast at her sister it was moreover in the atmosphere which emanated from sa tane s presence I 1 could feel it I 1 have always been susceptible to these hidden influences especially ahen they bode no good by the picking of my thumbs as it were I 1 was quite confident there was some things wicked about this conviction strengthened as the days went by and angele grew paler and thinner she started like a guilty thing at every sound and her eyes seemed always questioning catane at last it grew unbearable and I 1 resolved that someone beside angele should be made uncomfortable I 1 had admired catane from the first day I 1 bad met her in the dalrym pie house her superb and luscious physical beauty had attracted me and certain qualities of temperament had fascinated me but I 1 had no affect alon tor her I 1 preferred my cobra angele had differently appealed to me her extreme sensitiveness her amiability her unhappiness had pro touched me I 1 had soon discovered that her handsome rake ot a husband neglect ed and humiliated her in every ble way moreover I 1 was often at sea view and had caught the gossip 0 the hotels I 1 pitied angele as one might pity a sweet forsaken child she was so ipoung so beautiful so wretched and now when I 1 saw that catane was tor some reason dominating and ing this poor girl who had already endured so much a certain fierceness was born within me and I 1 resolved to do battle in her behalf I 1 believed there was some secret between them that catane had some hold over angele I 1 could not recon die their respective attitudes with any other theory each day catane grew more arbitrary and angele more patient and obedient and my self well I 1 grew more thoughtful babu was at length released from custody as there was no positive proof against him he returned to my service and was soon devotedly attached to angele she was kind ness itself to the poor fellow seem ing to try by her gentle words and amiable treatment to atone to him for his sufferings catane on the contrary he seemed to hate and dread he would cast dark looks at her when she passed with careless contempt and once be confidentially informed me that she had the eye of all evil more and more offensive grows this young woman s treatment of her sis ter she needs a check I 1 will give her one she shall feel the curb and rein a bit let me see my cousin you shall explain the armac root episode to me I 1 am quite sure you have been try ing experiments with my cobra dur ing my absence I 1 have carefully questioned babu and he denys that be fed the reptile any of the root after I 1 started tor california anc there really was no reason why he should not have done so had he cared to I 1 had given him no commands in the matter you my lady disdain are the only one beside the hindmo who knew of my pets partiality for this food why did you feed it to her to tempt her from the caged these questions in substance I 1 have embodied la a note which I 1 shall slip in catane s hand at dinner to night and I 1 shall enjoy watching her as she reads it what will be the result I 1 wonder CHAPTER VI the story of catane capel my very earliest recollection is of hearing some one say of me what a little devil I 1 fancy I 1 must have been a way ward child a diabolical sort of imp for it was owing to my violent gusts of temper that I 1 received the omin ous name I 1 bear little satan my father was wont to call me and this appellation trans formed by the smooth musical accent of my french mother into catane has always clung to me I 1 was a child of stormy moods of revengeful disposition I 1 never forgot or forgave a wrong I 1 was not how ever swift to avenge woes I 1 liked better to wait unell the injury lone me had been quite forgotten by the person who inflicted it and then in some totally unexpected and inal fashion take vengeance absolutely reveled in the conster nation and dismay which such action would create it was a positive de light to listen to the expostulations and reproaches of those whom I 1 had punished and then with a few sharp bitter words set before them my re wrongs and note with glee the confusion of my victims I 1 rathel gloried both in my satanic reputation and name they were at least uncommon now there was an felique who was such a tiny saint that she soon acquired the pet of angele no one ever accused her of doing a wicked act she was sweetness and light itself it one wronged her she forgave myself I 1 waited I 1 when we were playing with dolls that quite by mistake angele brol e my most beautiful one I 1 was beside myself with fury but I 1 only smiled and bided my time I 1 would wait until angele should have some pet to which she would be de voted then we would see my hour of vengeance came she had a halt dozen little chickens pre dented her by her pet hen I 1 hid in the grass one summer day and caught them one by one and delab irately bit off their heads I 1 enjoyed it I 1 enjoyed angele s grief when she found little lifeless bodies As we grew older my school friends and companions paid to the uttermost farthing for every fancied slight or injury the sisters at the convent used to offer special prayers tor me they firmly believed me to be pos S BS farewell my beauty hessed of the evil one perhaps they were right I 1 finished my education one year before angele and returned to my home in america my father george capel an americanized englishman was a widower my mother having died at angele a birth he was the possessor of a superb stone mansion and three hundred acres of ground on long island the house had been modeller modelled model led as far as possible after his old home in eng land and the grounds and gardens were quite like those of an english country seat fresh from the restricted convent life I 1 enjoyed to the utmost my un freedom my flowers my dogs my horses absorbed all my time and attention I 1 was the mis tress of a magnificent home my father was proud of my beauty and indulged my every whim my life was like a perfect dream As I 1 look back now upon those few months of pleasure it seems as it that lovely life belonged to some other than myself can it be that I 1 catane capel was that light hearted happy girla where once I 1 was content to pick my roses and violets I 1 would now pluck out the heart of the one who had spoiled my life where once my wildest excitement was a mad gallop on my favorite horse I 1 now play with destinies as with pawns upon a chess board two short months of happy un conscio is girlhood and then was born a woman s experience I 1 recall it all now the night I 1 saw him first the soft summer twilight the cuned yellow moon hanging low in the dappled sky even the heavy perfume of the roses steals to me once more I 1 stood on the broad terrace watch ing for my father to come from the city I 1 had just exchanged my habit for a soft white gown I 1 held a great cluster of jacque roses no redder they than the flush of youth and joy upon my face I 1 saw my batner coming there was some ona with him he often brought hl friends home to dine and spend the evening with us they were asua usua ly men of middle age and their society bored me but to night I 1 saw to my relief that it was a man much younger than my father 0 rex my lover can I 1 ever tor get your tul treacherous face the that smiled my heart away the lips that taught me how to kissa from the first I 1 loved him the mad unreasonable outpouring of a fiery heart I 1 gave him I 1 loved like cleopatra with jealousy intensity only as a woman with my name could love and he he had loved so many women he was an adept at the pretty game he knew all the graceful tricks of the trade the chivalrous manner the un spoken language of g sture and eye the seemingly delicate sympathy and appreciation so dear to woman s heart the strong masterful way she loves it was an uneven conlest from the beginning I 1 struggled against it a little at first but soon allowed myself to drift rapidly toward full sur render not a day passed from the nighal first saw him until he married my sister that he was not at our house his devotion was soon remarked by my father who was much pleased with his visits the Dalrym ples were an old and wealthy family their place was near ours and a brave old house and extensive grounds made it quite as attractive a home as our own rex and I 1 rode walked sang and talked together through the dell clous mazes of love he led me step by step I 1 was ae wax in his expert encee hands and he molded me at his will appreciating my fiery intense na ture he would often tease me to des per atlon and when he had wrought me to the white heat of passion would as suddenly subdue and con quer me I 1 loved him as a tigress might her tamer the summer days fled and there came one sultry afternoon in august I 1 had tried to sleep but finding it im possible unfurled my great white umbrella and went out into a dim cool recess of shrubbery 1 only to rex and me not a leaf stirred the vast gar den was still as death the flowers every e drooped their heads in exquisite languor I 1 flung myself in the long deep grass my arms above my head in lazy abandon I 1 was thinking of rex always thinking of rex and suddenly as it in answer to my thought I 1 felt two warm hands take mine in a firm hold I 1 tried to rise but was powerless don t move said the voice I 1 loved to obey don t stir catane have you the faintest idea what a picture you make as you lie there you beautiful witch bow you have posses d my thoughts today I 1 said I 1 would not come but even as said it I 1 knew I 1 was lying and here I 1 am I 1 could not stay away I 1 saw you crossing the grounds that big white parasol catane what an excellent guide it is now con ress dian didn t you think I 1 might be look ing for it eh catane but wrenching my hands from his and sitting up I 1 said haughtily how dare you come stealing on me in this fashions 9 I 1 detest being followed oh no you don t he lightly an throwing himself down beside me not by me at all events come catane we must not quarrel edday of all days why nota I 1 asked defiantly to 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