The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-15

Her heart and her woman's instinc.
told her what was coming as soon 40 hs
began to speak. and when, after much
hesitatioa and heating about the bush
he st last said that he WAS soon to be
married, she uttered not q word, bu,
still sat pale and silent as a statue
Had she wept or stormed he could have
borne it better than this unnatural
calm under blow which he we'll knew
must shatter her heart. She was ouly
his mistress, and he tai right to leave
her when be pleased 90 far - he wa,
responsible to human laws; but he
knew by the unwritten common lsw Of
Heaven she was his wife. In sicknes,
she had tended him; in health she had
ministered to his pleasures; in poverty
and despair she saved him from hims sell
by her counsel and encouragement
She had utterod before no earthly altar
. brittle promise TO loye. cherish and
obey, but in her heart she had regis
tered that VOW . ID had kept it.
These things he, Captain Chester
Mohun. the penniless gusrdsnan
thought Of with remorse and bitterness
~ he gazed at the pain stricken and
pallid face Of his mistress. And she
what was she thinking of! Did she
regret that Quixotic solicitude for his
honor. that blind faith in his love.
which had made her refuse to let him
sulIy his name by marrying her, when
in the whirlwind of his passionate in
fatnation he would have done soy All.
no! In that tender body WAS a heart OF
steel. that might break with grief but
could never be warped by seli.hue.s
when the welfare of her idol was at
stake.
"Spesk to me Eiith.' hc cried husk
lily. when 1t length the secret was out.
II feel guilty enough, Ged knows. but
your silence will kill NC. BY Heaven
if you do not speak aud say that you
forgive me. l will tell her this day that
cannot wed her because"
With gesture Of her hand she stop.
pod him. The white. dry lips quivered
and parted: "Do you love her. Ches.
ter ," she said in . low. distinct voice
He ssemrd strangely troubled at the
question. "Wby do you ask me,
Edith? he answered hcsita.ingly
"You know that I can love nobody but
you. But don't despise me. darling
l have debts Of honor which 1 cannot
pay. snd-shc is very rich. am ruin,
ed aud disgraced forever. unless ac-
ccpt this chance to save myself.
Debts OF honor! Money owed for
bets lost and unlucky play. and this
mus. 10 paid ut the expense Of two
women. o man, man! truly your code
OF honor 10 q strange one.
With an effort which she could not
conceal. sho rose to her feet. and hold
ing out hor hand, said trcmblingly:
"You have done right. Chester. /
observation-disclosures"
He was touched d-hesrtless butterfly
Of fashion as lie was-he was touched
by her devotion. That brief half hour
had left lines upon her face which
whole years Of lite's struggles with him
could not have craven there. He knew
what his selfisbness was costing her ,
but--h,s debts of honor these, like IL
solid wall of granite, stood up between
tho conscience of his soul and that Of
his social creed. His debt Of honor to
the woman before him. who was his
wife by every tie that nature binds; his
debt OF honor to that other woman
who was shortly to call him husband
by virtue Of the shadowy title which
rituals grant these were matters that
gave him no concern. il by their immo
lstion bis integrity could be preserved
spotless in the estimation of blacklegs.
Edith" said he. II know that
have hurt you; but shall be rich. and
you shall sbare"-
She laid her finger on her lips and
cut his speech short with look Of scorn
that made bis soul cri"ge. But tlsst-
cd only . second. and, AZ it faded from
her face. he took heart and drew her to
him. Blu. as he stopped his lips to hers
she wri,hsd quickly from his embrace.
"Your kisses do not belong to mel she
cried. pale and painting. 80. Chester.
you must bs true to her, you must be
good to her, you must love her"
When Captsin Mohun same again.
three days later, sick at heart, irrssolute.
ready to see Der face and be her slave
agxin. the little villa. where he had
known % many happy hours. was
empty, and Edith was gene-no one
knew where. In another month he
was married aud had paid bis debts Of
honor."