Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-11

thetlc SeatOn, he embraced me and LEI
me to the sofa. My heart was beatin:
wildly, but I had a strange, confused
feeling in my head. as though if spok,
/ should swoon. l said nothing, mad
no resistance, but lay on the sofa as b,
placed me and closed my eyes.
He uttered thousand endearine
words, to which l made no sort of re
spone; and vet my heart thrilled il
answer to them; shame smote me that
loved him.
'.What made you i'll. my darling?'' h,
asked; and then, with a sudden instinct
I Enclosed nv eyes and looked fixedly a
him. 1t was his turn to vince and red
den; he had to avert his face Then my
heart hardened.
'.Some news had upset me- l sale
in a measured voice; and he did not dare
to ask me any further questions.
"Will you be well enough to drive
this afternoon:?' he inquired. presently
The air would do you good" And
assented.
After this he seemed to have lost his
tongue. Every now and then he looked
at me in an humble, half-frlghtened sort
of way, and as he grew weak | grew
strong. and desire to be cruel to him
came over me.
He drove me in his phaeton through,
lovely hedge-bound lanes. under ave-
nues of trees, across breezy hills. Very
few words were exchanged between US;
now and then 1 cast a sidelong glance at
his handsome face. which looked so
careworn and miserable. My heart
melted toward him; but then I would
recall my wrongs. and it grew cold and
bitter again. How careful he was OF
my comfort! There was such love and
tenderness in every line of his face when
he looked at me. could not but believe,
in spite of what had happened, that his
heart was mine.
All through dinner I scarcely spoke,
and remarked that he. who had usual
~ such fine healthy appetite, ate
scarcely anything. Afterward. he light
ed a cigar and went out, and l could
hear his footsteps crunching the gravel
as he paced up and down. The influ-
ence of the narcotic was still upon me,
and l dozed off. When l awoke he was
sitting beside me.
"What time is it?'' I asked, affecting
to yawn.
''Half-past nine. he answered. '.You
are tired. are you not, my love?"
yes" said. rising. Il will 90 to
bed. Good night
"Not good night!'' he uttered, in low
voice.
Good nightr' repeated resolutely.
Then, looking up at him. and speaking
with GOODNESS that astonished me, |
added: "HVill you make arrangements
to take me home tomorrow"
"Take you homer he echoed. his face
growing deathIy white. What do you
mean?'
81 mean that l wish to 90 home,' 1
''And-and what is to become of mc?'
he said.
Il dare say your sick friend still
needs your care l replied, and with
that left him like one stunned
Iawoke perfectly well next morning
What would happen to-day? wonder
ed. Iloved him. did not mean to
leave him, but still had desire to pun
ish him-a cruel eagerness to exercise
my new-found power. When went in
to breakfast / saw that he looked hag-
gard and pale. l greeted him cheerful
ly. ate an excellent breakfast, and made
a remark now and then.
''Have you found out about the
trains?' l inquired when had finished.
How cruel you are"' he cried. rising
and coming toward me. Il can not
stand this any longer. What in Gods
name do you mean?''
l rose. too. evading his touch, and
raising myself to my full height.
Il mean that do not choose to share
you with Minna Vane or any other
answered. after the out
rage you have put upon me, / intend to
return to my people"
'.Minna Vaner' he stammered, look
ing at me with Mortified eyes.
went to my desk. unlocked it. took
out the telegram and handed it to him.
"My God!' he uttered, then walked
to the window.
My heart beat furiously. What an
swer would he have to make me. Pres
emily he turned.
''Come and let me tell you the truth"
and he took my hand. led me to the
sofa and sat down beside me.
Five years ago was in love with
this woman. She got a good deal of
influence over me. was for the time
almost slave to her. In a moment of
she made me swear that if l
ever married l would spend the first
evening of my marriage with her. Boy
and fool that was, feeling certain then
that l should never marry any other
woman, swore it. You may wonder,
perhaps, that l thought such an oath
binding. had forgotten it, as l had
long and completely forgotten her.
when. Il week before our marriage, l
had IL letter from her reminding me of
my oath and the terms of it. 1t was Il
!.c:r:ble one. / am ashamed when
think of it. am not usually supersti-
tiouS. but I had vowed that if / broke
my word hoped my wife would die be-
fore the week was out. Oh. darling"'
and his voice trembled and there were
even tears in his eyes-''if YOU knew
now love You: if you knew how awful
the thought of anything happening to
YOU is to me. YOU would understand and