The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-03


She closed he door behind her. and Stood there
lookins ct him. with the width Of the room b.
tween them.
The hrst emotion her presence excited was
quick sense OF the strange fset that. after oil
those years OF loneliness. such q magnificent
person should be his wife. For she was mag
nincent. IN the maturity Of her beauty. her
head erect. her complexion splendid. her au-
burn trssses undimmsd. certain pienitude In
her very glance. He saw In moment that she
wished to seem TO him beautiful, she had en-.
deavored to drsss herself to the best effect.
Perhaps. after all. It was only for this she had
delayed; she wished TO give herself cvery pos
sibls touch. For some moments they said
nothing they had not stood face to face for
nearly ten years. and they met now a. adver-
saries. No two persons could possibly be more
Interested In taking each others measure. II
scarcely belonged to 0sor9ina. however. to
have too much the air Of timldity. and after .
moment satisfied. apparently. that she was
not TO receive Q broadsids she advanced.
slowly rubbing her jswelisd hands and smiling.
He wondered why she should smile. what
thought was In her mind. His impress
sions followed each other with ex-
traordinary auicknsss Of pulse. and now
he saw In addition to what he had already per.
ceived. that she was waiting to take her QUE
she had determined on NO definite line. There
was nothing definite about her but her cour-
age; the rest would depend upon him. Az for
her courage. It seemed TO glow In the beauty
which grew greater ~ she came nearer. with
her Dyes on his and her nxed smile to b ex-
pressed In the very perfume that accompanied
her steps. By this time he had got still fur
Their impression. and It was the strangest Of ell.
She was ready for anything. she Was capable OF
ANYTHING. she wished to surprise him with her
beauty. to remind him that It belonged after
all. At the bottom Of evsrythinR. 10 him. She
was rsady To bribe him. II bribing should bs
necessary. She had carried on an intrigue b.
fore she was twenty: It would be moro. rather
than less. easy for her, now that she was thirty.
All this and moro was In her cold. living eyes.
~ in the prolonged silence they engaged them-
solves with his; but must not dwell upon It.
for reasons extraneous to the remarkable fact.
She w0s truly amazing creature.
Raymond" she said. In . low voice. voica
which might represent either vague greeting
or an appeal.
He took no heed Of the exclamation. but
asked her why she had deliberately kept him
waiting-as II she had not made fool enough
Of him already. She couldn't suppose It was
for his pleasure he had como into the house.
She hesitated moment-still with her emile.
Il must tell you have . son-the dearest lit
tie boy. HIS nurse happened to be engaged for
the moment. and had to watch him. am
more devoted to him than You might suppose"
He foil back from her few steps. Il wonder
II you are insane" he murmursd.
ITO allude to my child1 Why do you ask me
such questions then7 I tell you the simple
truth. take every care Of this one. I am
oldensand wiser. The other one was COM
plsts mistake; he had no right TO exist"
why didn't you kill him then with your own
hands. instead Of that torture1"
why didn't kill myself1 That question
would be more to the point. You are looking
wonderfully WE'LL" she broke OF in another
tone; hadn't We better sit down ?"
Il didn't come hero for the advantage OF con-
versation." Benyon answered. And no was 60
ing on. but she interrupted him.
You came to say something dreadful very
likely; though hoped you would see It was
better not. But just tell mo this before you b.
gin. Are you successful. are you happy7 It
has been so PROVOKING. not knowing moro
about YOU"
There was something in the manner in which
this was said that caused him to break Into .
loud laugh; whereupon she added:
Your laugh Is just what It used to be. How
1t comes back to mel You have improved in
appearance" she went on.
She had seated herself though he remained
standing: and she leansd back In low. deep
chair. looking up at him. with her arms folded.
dropping his bafaed Dyes on her. with his hand
resting ON the corner Of the chimnsypiece
Has II mover occurred to you that may deem
myself absoved from the promise made you
before married your"
Very often. Of course. But have instantly
dismissed the idea How can you be 'absolv-
cdr One promises. or one doesn't. attach
no meaning TO that. and neither do you" And
she glanced down to the front Of her dress.
Bsnyon listened. but he went on a. II he had
not heard her. What came to say to you 10
this: that should like your consent to my
bringing suit for divorce against you"
Il suit for divorcs7 I never thought Of that Z"
80 that I may marry another woman. I
can easily obtain divorce on the ground Of
your dssertion."
She stared smoment Then her smile solidi-
fed. a. 1t were. and she looked grave: but he
could see that her gravity. with her lifted eye
brows. was partly assumed. All. you want to
marry another womanl" she exclaimed. slow.
~ thoughtfully. He said nothing. and she
went on: Why don't you do as have done p
Because don't want my children to be-"
Before he could say the words she sprang up.
checking him with . cry. Don't say II; II
| isn't necessary! OF course know what you
| mean; but they won't be II no one knows IT,"
u should object to knowing It myself; It's
enough for me to know It Of yours"
OF course have been prepared for your
saying that"
Il should hope sol' Benyon exclaimed.
You may be blgamist II It suits you. but to
me the idea is not attractive. Iwish to marry
and. hesitating . moment. with his slight
stsmmer. he repsated-"I wish to marry"
Marry then and have done with I'll" cried
Mrs. Roy.
| He could already see that no should be able
to extract no consent from her; he felt rather
sick It's extraordinary to mo that you
shouldn't be more afraid Of being found out, -
he said after o moments reflection. There
| are two or three possible accidents"
How do you know how much afraid am 7
l have thought OF every accident. In dreadful
| nights. How do you know what my life IL, OF
what It has been all these miserable years p
"ASu d iI0E wasted and worn serrtsinly"
claimed. II had never known you'll I had