The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-17

ed near HIM and he heard Maud say
"Ellice, 1 shall conquer. If you ha
not interrupted US 1 should have wo
his confession tonight. But l kno,
that he loves me. l told him hat l wa
going away tomorrow, but 1 shal
stay a few days longer now"
SIS it worth the while, MaudP'
asked her companion, half reproach
fully. ''You do not love him, an,
think how much sorrow you ma,
cause"
mo, l do not love him." returned
the syren. her voice as silvery as ever
"But l have sworn that Lillias Gates
husband shall bow at my feet. Whel
1 haye disgraced him and wounded
her my work is done, and not til
them"
81 had hoped you would change
your mind, Maud. 1t is a wicked
thing. You will not prosper"
Maud Armitage laughed one o.
those light silvery laughs which had
been so captivating heretofore tc
Carleton Leigh, but which sounded
like a mockery to him now.
"Wicked! What of itP 1t will only
serve him right for being false to so
fair a wife!"
He heard no more, and for a mo-
ment he was like one striker dead.
Could she be so t~reacherous and had
he been so vile! Thank Heaven that
he was warned in time. The syren
should not triumph yer him; and his
wife, his deeply-injured, dearly-be-
loved wife, should yet be proud of a
husbands devoted love. How would
he not atone for his late infatuation-
the sin of the last few weeks. He felt
as though he could crawl in the dust
to that injured wife's feet and crave
her forgiveness. What had he been
thinking OFF He must have been in
sane.
There was a sudden noise and out
cry at the mansion, the flashing of
lights and the hurrying of feet. Won
dering what the matter could be,
Carleton Leigh arose and walked
slowly up the path. On the piazza he
came face to face with Janet, the
chambermaid.
"Oh, Master Leigh, poor mistress
is dead entirely. She is lying on the
carpet white as a corpse, and there is
not a breath in her body"
Carl did not stop to ask any cues
tions. The blanched lace and wild
eyes of the girl told that she spoke
what she thought the truth; and with
a strange look on his marble face he
sped up stairs to his wife's room.
''Lillias! Lillias!' he cried, bending
the stricken figure that lay so
white and helpless on the floor. ssOh,
speak to me-"
But the wife answered not, and
he chafed the chilled hands
and addressed her by a hundred en-
dearing names there was no motion,
no response, till the old family doctor
arrived and tried the potency of his
''She had a shock. Something has
been wearing on her brain and nerves."
'aid the grave, gray-haired physician.
She IS very ill, but by the grace of
Tod she may recover"
Save her life, and my fortune is
ours. Only save her."
Il cannot promise. 1t rests with
1od, but l shall do my BEST"
After the doctor had gone Ellicc ard
Maud cam TO the door of the dim
and knocked. Carl looked
tut.
81 shall not go tomorrow, Mr..
said Miss Armitage. 81 will
tay with Ellice and nurse poor Lillias
Jack to health"
He made a fierce, passionate ges- {
ure, which, with the black s~ternness |
f his face, made his visitors recoil.
''Traitress and VIPER" he Kissed,
you are the cause of this. This house '
o longer needs you. Depart with the i
lorning, and never let me sec thy q
reacherous face again" s
He closed the door in their faces. q
1either had words with which to an t
wer him. With the morning they lett U
10 mansion.
Lillias Leigh lived, lived and that G
as all, for she never went out from v
house again. She was a helpless b
valid all her life. But no woman e
yer had a mor devoted attendant a v
Iore careful watcher than she had in c
er husband. He gave her all his a
me, and never murmered MOI re- il
med at her weak complaints and petty f,
factions.
He is a white-haired old man now, :.
Id his wife is still alive. She has no :,
her nurse and needs none. Carleton :.
has atoned with the service of a .,
e time for the folly of an hour =,
Maria George, in Chicago Ledger. ~