Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-02-10


"But surely you viii let me tell Dun
ton that | have seen you"
Surely you will do nothing CT the
kind. Promise me, Edna, that you
will not"
every well, then. But, Rodney, it
will not be long before you acknowledge
yourself?"
'sToo soon, perhaps, my dear"
And, with light kiss upon her cheek,
and her check safely slowed away in his
pocket, he left her.
She sank, stunned and bewildered,
into the chair, from which she had
risen to admit him. But for that newly
torn space in her open check-book, she
might fancy that she had been dream
ing.
What is the matter, Edna?" asked
Dare, twenty-four hours later. 'What
is troubling you, darling? Do you
think cannot read in your face that
something has gone wrong2"
A hurt look crept into his eyes as
she evaded his question. 1t was the
first shadow of deceit which had fallen
between them.
A week wsre On. Each day dull
presentiment grew upon her-each day
her lovers gaze rested more keenly on
her face. Thus had he once before
discovered falsehood, where he fancied
all fair,
At the end Of a fortnight the blow
fell Dunton had bid her good night,
as before, when some one tapped upon
the window with cane. She felt that
it was Rodney, and hastened to admit
him. He was well-dressed now, but
his face was deathly pale, and his eyes
burned bright with excitement.
81 have lost my money!" he hurried
ly began. Il staked it at play, think
ing to double it. / boasted of having
come into fortune, and SO, when i
lost, they trusted me. am In debt two
thousand dollar You must raise it for
me, Edna. If don't give it to them
within twenty-four hours, theg will
murder me-"
al can't, Rodney" she cried, ringing
her hands; mot if gave up all l have
in the world. You know the principal
of our little fortune is fixed so that we
cannot touch it. Ask them for time,
Rodney / will work for you-with you
to pay this debt, if they will but give
us time"
"You reason like woman" he said,
bitterly. 81 tell you / must have it,
and at once. Go TO your lover. Ask
him for it for yourself. He will give it
to you"
II would rather die first" she replied,
holly
Il thought So" he sneered. "Do you
think that mother would rather have
died frst?"
mo, noW she answered again. "You
are right; am wrong. / will think it
over. | will try to see my way clear
for the right"
You'll have to-" he said. ~ took
the law into my own hands. | lied
just now when l said they trusted me.
Oh, I've not been idle. / found out
who your lover was. | got piece Of
his writing. / wrote it on the back of
4 check. There-don't faint! AS God
is my judge, | thought / was sure to
win! The check will be presented be-
fore them tomorrow. Edna, save mel
You, lie will forgive. You are not,
you cannot, be sure but that he will
give me up. He does not dream that
/ am in existence. You can save me
if you will. Decide. VIII you send
me to prison, or will you confess your
guilt to your future husband?'
MY future husbandI"
Her white lips gasped the words.
No! That dream was over. She must
make him believe her the falsest, the
vilest of women.
Edna, forgive mel" the boy pleaded,
with some softening, as he saw the
white look of agony upon her face. 81
was SO sure, or | would not have done
it. Help me this time, and swear to
you to be better man."
II will do it," she said, but in voice
so changed he started. "You must go
now. In a month you may return"
She was conscious that he kissed and
then left her; then for hours she knew
nothing.
Before noon next day, Dunton Dare,
with an expression in his eyes she had
never seen there before, entered her
little sitting-room.
Edna, he began, "last night / had
forgotten something, and was about re-
turning, when | saw man rap on this
window with his cane. Instantly you
admitted him. Two hours passed be
fore he again came out. As your fI-
ture husband, | have some right to ask
YOU who it is who thus visits you"
Il cannot answer you" she replied
'Dunton-Mr. Dare-I-"
But the trembling sentence had not
passed her lips, ere a messenger de-
manding to see Mr.. Dare was an
nounced. He handed him a slip OF
paper from the bank.
pardon my following you here, sir
but your clerk thought | might find
YOU here, and the bank is most anxious
to know if this is your signature"
Before he could frame his denial
Edna caught the paper in her trem-
bling hand and hastily scanned it.
YES" she replied. 1T is the check
you drew for me. You may not re
member, but it is all right. / will re
call it to your memory"
His quick glance saw that she wished
it SO.
"Tell the bank to hold it for al
hour. he said. Il will let them know
positively before closing time"
The man withdrew. Once more they
! were Alone
EDNA !"
His voice rang out her name with
startling sternness.
Yes" she said, but all unconscious
" there was the look ola martyr, no
of n criminal, on the pale face. 81 die
it. Duntou. | needed the money more
than you can dream. | thought yor
would not know until after we were
married. OF course now that car
never be. You will hate and despist
me as | deserve; but oh, say once thai
you forgive me"
You did this thing? False. treach
erous woman! For what could yoU
have asked me, even to my hearts
blood, that would not have granted
YOU? You, too, loved me but for my
wealth. Am | cursed among men
And this money you needed il? Yor
mean that your lover needed il. Fol
yourself you would have asked me; fol
him you dared not Forgive you'll l
YOU mean that [ should not prosecut,
the woman who in six short weeks wa.
to have been my wife-yes; if you NEAR
other forgiveness-neverr'
He left her there, covering on the
floor like some guilty thing.
; | n-as thara ,,y,SpA,, appai honHins