Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-09-24


shutting OF door lie had arisen hur-
ricdly put on his dressing jacket
and opened the door of the morn
ing room. On the very threshold he
stopped, seeing man standing by the
table-a man whose dark, handsome face
impressed itself upon him in that one in
slant.
He could recall those dark flashing
eyes the hectic flush upon hollow cheeks,
the naughty carriage of the head; but he
could remember no more. He could not
have told the mans age or the clothes he
wore. The figure stood before him for n
moment only, dark, TALL defiant; then
there was a flash and all was dark
The face had haunted him in his delir-
ium-the figure, with pistol pointed at
him, had pursued him through the dark
mazes Of fever-and now, as he lay weak
as child helpless, hopeless, broken
hearted, the dark, evil face was with him
still, "a haunting presence.
And he believed that his wife was false
to him, an arch decciver from the very be-
ginning of their acquaintance. lie be-
lieved that she had put aside some dearer
love for the sake Of the position he could
offer, and that all her subsequent life
with him had been one elaborate comedy,
so perfect in its Discrimination that he had
lINt'l III IDJI I)tll dtuSt, iIttllllIR nlIIlSelI
the happiest Of men. Then came the prep
Grafton for the Italian tour. The lover
had heard Of this intended journey, had
grown desperate, perhaps at the idea of
prolonged separation, and had insisted on
an interview. Urged by an angry man.
irrevocably lost by her conduct in the
past, Glare Darnel had not stopped short
at this last infamy She had admitted
her lover by midnight, beneath her hus-
bands roof. And she came to him to-day
in her calm, pale beauty, looking at him
with eyes softened by unshed tears: she
kissed lin with her false lips, she acted
her part Of shameless hypocrisy to the
lips, and did not shrink from the man
whose heart she had broken. whose life
might have been sacrificed to her infamv.
"lf had died from that wound She
would have married her old lover-mar-
red him with his hand red with my blood
married. as Mary married Boutwell," he
thought, land the settlement which my
dotng folly secured to her would have
made her future days easy. And this is
the woman | have trusted-this is the
woman whom gave as a mother to my
innocent child"
The doctor came in the evening, and was
not altogether satisfied with his patients
appearance
you look Worried" he said. 81 thought
Lady Darnels visit would have cheered
you. respected To see marked improve
ment. How has he taken his nourish-
ment, nurse
, Nv. wv. ".''' "IieN d Pilin n.tle
po.aoit ~ -Aii,'ii en' away tne
,,. ii','' anu i'e OiliS
IN ~" ,,.o ,r,,', us - o .h
daintios.o said the doctor. facetiouslv
ave shall have oput Won back ON Brand's
essence. if Won don't take care SIR Allan
must take plate of invalid turtle for his
SUPPER. nurse. and YOU must give him A
glass of dry sherry after it,"
Sir Allan looked supremely Indifferent
to the supper question.
"If Lady Darnel has an idea Of coming
to see me this evening, you might tell
her that she had better not do NOT
think | am strong enough to see neonle
vet - he said. presently. while the doctor
was feeling his pulse. watch in hand
Il don't think YOU are. You have quite
disappointed me, replied Mr.. Danvers.
Glare was waiting in the corridor when
the doctor went ont
MAY | see him again to-nirhts" she
asked EAGERLY.
Not might. He is very low-out of
spirits altogether depressed. natural re-
| action after that violent fever. He must
be left 10 himself for A few DAYS more.
and am | not e. see him again for n
few DAYS" exclaimed Glare. deiectpdlv
Come. dear Lady Darnel. Ihavr l.t Won
have an hour wiz. aim. have ie.n very
indulgrnt. too in .r.ernt. fear. for the
result has not ur,i. favorable In Sir Al.
Iau's extreme we ;ne,s any excitement
isbod 1ho +hn.,., i.- ....,...,..
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NO co., s'' 81 u 't,'i was Wv nj,
=, va, ms ull"u Is cIe"r enough mat Is
az ~
uie.h, ~, Nte YOU sure 'I"' nc = III HIS
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