The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-07

man approached at once. 1t was Marquand.
 "Your husband has gone away" he said.
 "Yes; how did you know?"
 "I heard him tell a friend. You are alone5 Come, let us walk" "Your-wife?"
 "She has gone over to the fireworks, with friends"
 He slipped her hand through his arm, and they went down from the porch, under the redness of the lamps, and hearing the soft sea-swash.
 Half an hour later they had re- turned to the hotel, and were enter ing the porch.
 "What is it2" he asked, for she had dropped from his arm.
 "Your wife," she answered and fed. She did not look behind her; her long dress tripped her as she ran. She was conscious of some one following through the halls and up the stair ways. She heard the nearing steps of her pursuer, but she did not look around until she had unlocked and flung ajar her door.
 "Come inside," she said then, calmly.
 It was Marquand's wife.
 This latter was regal creature, tall and dark, with flashing eyes and pur- poseful features. She panted with excitement.
 "Yes, will come inside, and I de- mand you leave this place."
 Sybil closed the door; they stood together in the dusky chamber.
 "Now," said Sybil-and her qui- etude was wonderful by contrast "now I will listen. Do not suppose I was running away from you. If there must be scene let it be in pri- vate. And," she added wearily, "I suppose you intend a scene"
 'InsOlent-brazen-I demand you leave at once. If find you again in my husbands company -"
 "Bahl You think to frighten me? Why woman, am no coward"
 The slight form came nearer and stood before her in its white clinging draperies, from which arose faint, sub- tie perfume. In the dim light the women could not read each others faces, but Marquand's wife must have felt the calmness of her foe.
 "Go on," said Sybil, in her smooth, low voice. "Go on, and say what words you will"
 "Hussyl" cried the other, then hurled still more shameful name.
 "Listen," said Sybil. She moved slowly backwards until she stood just before the open window. Her arms hung loosely at her sides; there seemed no passion in the soft, sweet body. "Listen. I have broken no law; I have meant to break none. When you married Gordon Marquand you knew he loved me; you knew that had I still been free, he would have waited years for me. You knew that l had been sold, for a price, de- spite my bitter tears and entreaties, to 8 man had never dreamed of loving. And you had money and you schemed and labored and succeeded in captur- ing my lover for your husband. You knew he did not love you, handsome as you were We'll? You see I do not lie. walked with your husband tonight. Do you know what we said to each other? Put down your hands, you do not frighten me; l may not see him ever again, but here, in my heart, love him do you understand? And his love is mine, do what you will" her voice was thrilled with passion; "I loved him first Do you want to know what we said to each other?
 Marquand's wife sprang forward.
 "You fiaunt your shame in my face!" she cried hoarsely, even as Hamilton Denning had cried.
 "There is no shame," cried Sybil, "no shame. Only love"
 The other fell upon her like tiger.
 "I will choke you, if you dare to say sop
 Her hands were on the white throat of her enemy. In her fury she must have lost all reason.
 They struggled so in the open win- dow then, forced outward, past the sill, white form fiuttered for an in- stant. There was stifled cry, and then
 Marquand's wife was stunned for a moment, then she ran shrieking through the hall, shrieking and beat ing the air with her hands. The other guests made out, presently, what she would have them know-that Sybil Denning had fallen from her window. She had not fallen to the ground, but thirty feet or more, to the level roof of the veranda.
 They carried in of the roof, sense- less; carried her back to the silence of her own chamber, and, looking in her face, found gray shadow.
 "She cannot Mye,D the physicians said Whn ware haafilx rrlmmonod