“I was an old fool!” repeated the judge, in a lower key, and in dreadful self-abasement; and he continued, sadly: “Amber, I believe I have been half-mad the last few months, and it seems to me as if you have boldly aided and abetted me in my meanness. In fact, you went further in devising deviltry! Girl, girl, why did you do it? Why did you put that wicked thing in my head? Why didn’t you take your cousin’s part?--sweet Violet, who was so pretty and gentle and tender that we ought to have worshiped her instead of driving her to her death!” “Dead! Dead! Is Violet dead?” gasped Amber, her lips paling in genuine horror, though there was a throb of wicked joy at her heart. With a deep groan, Judge Camden answered: “I did not mean to distress you with the bad news yet, Amber, but my remorse is greater than I can bear alone. Yes, yes. I fear that pretty Violet is dead! We have hounded her to some dreadful fate--suicide, very likely!” She gazed at him in consternation and wonder. “Grandpapa, you must be raving! You look every day for a letter from Violet, and then forebode that she is dead. What can you mean? Is not Violet safe with her husband, the millionaire?” “No, no, Amber; she ran away from Harold Castello the same night she was married, and her subsequent fate is wrapped in blackest mystery!” CHAPTER XLII. AMBER HEARS STARTLING NEWS. A spasm of bitter rage tore Amber’s heart at the words of her remorseful grandfather. Violet had escaped from the loathed husband she had been tricked into marrying. At any moment she might return to Golden Willows, to denounce the traitors who had wronged her, and to convince Cecil of her love and fidelity! Amber saw in fancy the whole fabric of her dearly bought happiness tumbling in ruins at her feet. How Cecil would despise her when he learned all her wickedness, when he found that, under the guise of friendship, she had plotted to separate him from Violet and tried to steal into his darling’s place. As the humiliating thought came over her, the warm hue of her cheeks faded to awful pallor, her eyes grew dim and glazed, and with a panting sigh, she let her head fall against the back of her chair. Judge Camden thought she was fainting, and cried out, in alarm: “Amber! Amber!” The hazel eyes unclosed, and Amber feebly raised her head. “Ah, my girl, it is dreadful, is it not?” cried the old man. “She ran away from Castello within an hour almost after they reached the house, and all search has proved utterly vain. For almost a week I have been searching for her, and I have put personals into the prominent newspapers, begging her to write to me or come home, but you see how fruitless all my efforts have proved. I fear that she is dead--that in her horror and despair at finding herself Castello’s bride, she has committed suicide!” “I hope so,” thought Amber, vindictively; but, struggling for calmness, she said: “Perhaps she fled to her father’s people, the Meads!”