Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
XIV.
Linley advanced few steps-and stopped

Lu1ey duNdllC6u q lew SUoI)S-auu StOppeu.
His wife, hurrying eagerly to meet him,
checked herself. 1t might have been distrust,
or it might have been unreasonng fear-she
hesitated on the point of approaching him.
81 have something to say, Catherine which
l am afraid will distress you"
His voice faltered, his eyes rested on her
then looked away again. He said no more.
He had spoken few commonplace words,
and yet he had said enough. She saw the
truth in his eyes, heard the truth in his voice.
A fit Of trembling seized her. Linley step
ped forward, in the fear that she might fall.
She instantly controlled herself, and signed
to him to keep back. Don't touch me!'
she said. 'IOu come from Miss WeSter-
fieldP'
That reproach reused him.
II own that l come from Miss Wester-
field" he answered. ''She addresses re-
quest to you through me-"
81 refuse to grant it."
Hear it first"
mop
"Hear tin your own interest. VIII you
permit her to leave the house, never to re-
turn again? While she is still innocent"
His wife eyed him with look of unutter-
able contempt. He submitted to it, but not
in silence.
"a man doesn't lie, Catherine, who makes
such a confession as am making now. Miss
WeSterfield offers the one atonement in her
power while she is still innocent Of having
wronged you-except in thought"
els that all?' Mrs. Linley asked.
cit rests with you," he replied, go say if
there is any other sacrifice of herself which
may be more acceptable to you"
'Let me understand first what the sacrifice
ClA 10 ,1cO,5
''She has positively forbidden me to make
| conditions"
'tAnd goes out into the world helpless and
| friendleSS"
Eyes"
Even under the terrible trial that wrung
| her, the nobility of the woman's nature spoke
| in her next words.
"Give me time to think of what yon have
said" she replied. II have led happy life:
| am not used to suffer as I am suffering
now" In the minute that followed her
changing color revealed a struggle with her
self.
miss Westerfield is innocent of having
wronged me, except in thought" Mrs. Lin
ley resumed. "She might have deceived me
she has not deceived me. own it to her
to remember that. She shall go, but not
helpless and not friendless."
Her husband forgot the restraints he had
| imposed On himself.
us there another woman in the world like
| youp' he exclaimed.
'sMany other women" she answered firm
| ". ga vulgar teTmagant, feeling a sense of
| injury, finds relief in an outburst Of jealousy
and furious quarrel. A woman in my posi-
| ton, who respects herself, restraints herself.
T - III
| well as what they owe to me-"
She approached the writing table and took
| up a pen.
| Feeling his position acutely, LinIey had
abstained from again declaring admiration
of her generosity. Until he had deserved to
| be forgiven, he had forfeited the right to ex-
press an opinion on her conduct. She misin-
| terpreted his silence. AS she understood it,
| he appreciated an act Of sef-sacrifce on Miss
| Westerield's side-but he had no word of
| encouragement for an act Of Self-sacrifice on
| his wife's side. She threw down the pen,
| with the first outbreak of anger that had es-
| capped her yet.
| You have spoken for the governeSS," she
| said to him. Il haven't heard yet, sir, what
| you have to say for yourself. Is it you who
tempted her? You know how gratefully she
feels toward you-have y"u perverted her
| gratitude and led her blindfold to love?
| Cruel, cruel, cruel! Defend yourself, if you
| can"
He made no reply.
rs it not worth your while to defend your
self?' she burst out, passionately. your 81
| lence is an inSultr'
MY silence is confession" he answered,
sadly. II have as much need Of your mercy
u as She haS-aOd more ,,
Something in the tone of his voice remind
| ed her of past days-the days of perfect love
and perfect confidence, when she had been
| the one woman in the world to him. Dearly
| treasured remembrances of her married life
| filled her heart with tenderness, and dimmed
with tears the angry light that had risen in
| her eyes. There was no pride, no anger, in
his wife when she spoke to him now.
''OhI my husband, has she taken your love
from me?"
Judge for yourself, Catherine, if there is
no proof of my love for you in what have
resisted-and no remembrance of all that /
owe to you in what have confessed"
She ventured little nearer to him. ''Can
l believe you?'
s'Put me to the test"
She instantly took him at his word. "When
Miss Westerield has left us, promise not to
see her again."
II promise"
'And not even to write to her."
| 81 promise"
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