[CHAPTER XV.]
"A DYING MOTHER."
Even Roma's cruel heart was somewhat shocked at granny's malevolence toward her beautiful young granddaughter, but she did not rebuke the old hag; she only resolved to make capital of it. So she said:
"I don't want you to kill her, but I wish you could take her away from here, where Jesse Devereaux can never find her again. She is in my way, and I want her removed!"
"It would be worth money to you to get her out of your way," leered granny cunningly:
Roma hesitated a moment, then answered frankly:
"Yes, but I could not promise to pay you much. Papa makes me a very small allowance."
The old woman crept nearer to the beautiful, cruel creature, and gazed up into her face with an expression of humble adoration, while she murmured wheedlingly: