The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-10


.Icave the house," she repeated, in
white hot scorn by this time, Il will
not leave the house. How dare you
speak Of such thing to me-
Anything was fit to be justification
for his passion now. He flung the door
open and Numbered to her:
Leave the house"
She stood erect, with pale face and
heaving bosom, and he seized her by
the arm. and hauled her toward the
door. Even then n word might save
him. but she looked at him like a de
fiant queen, and her words had no sub
mission.
Il will save you that" she said, and
he releasing her, she walked. with a
false compoSure, down the stairs. Even
yet, if he played out his part, it might
save them both; and passing her, he
laid a hand upon the door.
Promise" he gasped, cor lave the
house"
She waved him on one side, and he
threw the door open. The drifting
snow fluttered halfway up the hall, and
the street was white, but no whittier
than his face or hers.
as this chamber for your only
child?" she asked him, stretching out
her hand toward the gusty street, and
the black waste of the opeE square.
Was she yielding, Mr. Montgomery
Bassett asked himself. He could only
gasp at her once more, for all the terror
of his own. wickedness-
Promise, or leave the house,
She walked straight into the binding
snow without Il look or word. He
whispered Come back but only wills
percd it; and when he turned distract
eddy, he faced the man and woman of
the house, who looked on, white with
wonder and dismay.
What have YOU done?" cried the
woman. Mr.. Bassett. for the love OF
God, what have You done?"
Done" he cried, his face working
horribly. Done! an awful duty! !
have cleared my Louise of shame
Run" cried the woman to her hus-
band, and the man shuified past the
tragedan into the street Il wouldn' t
have served a dog like that on such a
night" cried the landladv. IF she 5
done wrong, and | won't believe it of
her, ii makes no difference TO your vii
lainv."
Al the miserable emotions on which
he had relied failed him, now that his
tragic farce had reached to the last
act.
81 have gone too far" he said, with
a professional tragedy sob or two; for
he was acting still, and could not help
it. Il meant the warning for her good,
but ! have gone too far. Bring her in
again. but let NE see her no more to-
night"
Perturbed as he was. he went up
stairs with the professional tragedy
stagger OF the father whose heart is
folly; and even when he was alone he
dashed his remorse As he had dashed his
anger. 1t was half an hour later when
the landlord returned, with the snow
thick upon his garments.
Il haven seen sign of her, Mr..
BaSSett, " he said. standing at the ira
yedian's DOORWAY I've warned the
police to look out for her and take care
of her; but if she makes hole in the
water you've got yourself to blame
this night
Man" cried Mr.. Bassett. stagger-
ing at him. leave me to my misery!'
The landlord had admired his ten
ants Othello on the stage. but to have
Othello in the house, with that throb-
bing organ voice and those wild eyes,
was too much for him, and he fed. He
and his wife sat the night ont by the
kitchen fire, but the police brought no
news, and the ,tKagedian's heavy tread
paced about the house, ROW upstairs
and now downstairs. until the morning
dawned.