The Columbus journal., 1888-03-21
CHAPTER XVIII.


,Yoati., ned from last trseh.j
CHAPTER XVIII.
WHY COULDN'T SHE HAVE wAIrEol
The new maid. who showed Philip Breton
into Mrs. Ellingsworth's parlor, was not near
Iy as pretty as her predecessor in Office, but
he wa too much absorbed with his delicate
errand to take any notice of her. Bertha
was alone somewhere. deserted, unprotected.
Something must he done for her. 1t was q
strange place TO seek pity for her, in the
woman's bosom which he had seen heaving
in hate Of her: hut a magnanimOus heart IL
wont to count Oh the generosity OF Others.
The maid had said Mr.. Ellingsworth was not
in, and SO he was left to appeal to the woman
ly tenderness of his wife.
he rose suddenly from the latin covered
sofa and looked wonderiEglv at q woman's
form in the doorway. Could thisb be the poor
little factory girl, this f~ashionably dressed
woman, with a train like q queen'sf He had
stupidity enough expected to find her in the
same old calico dress, perhaps with the
dingy, plaid shawl about her shoulders.
But the girl was not SO sensitive as to be an
noyed. Had not she kept him waiting while
she dressed on purpose to enjoy a triumph!
And now she was quite pleased at the plain
evidence of it. She smiled rather consciously
rs she extended her jeweled little hand to
him.
"Why haven't you called before!" Her
voice had lost the desperate or sullen tone he
remembered in it of old, but he was not sure
he liked il any better. He bowed, like any
gentleman, as he touched her hand, and
noticed the great gold bracelets Oh her slim
wrists. Philip was unpleasantly reminded Of
manacles, and then the massive chain around
her neck, with d huge locket shaped ike q
paddock, had suggestions, too, of a sort, he
fancied, the girl would hardly have liked il
she bad thought of them. He glanced at her
olive cheeks, and the slightly oblique eyes,
and the %voluptuous fullness of her form
How could an American village have pro-
duced so perfect an odalisque.
Il did not wish to interrupt your honey
moon" He seated himself again.
She was looking oddly at him, as if curious
whether he had forgotten her indiscreet visit,
when she had told him of her own broken
heart.
Philip suddenly met her eyes as she sat op-
posite him. The truth is, Mrs. Filings
worth, l have hardly been in the mood for
polite calls Of late. l suppose you under
stand"
How should II She elevated her lark
brows rather unpleasantly as if to dismiss,
once for all, any further condolences with
him. Philip smiled, in spite of himself, at
her tactics.
do you know where Bertha isgn he asked,
simply.
s,ddo, AoSb 81 oolo. lie mn h,, ol,,
81 hate the very name of her, " she exclaimed,
as she rose as if to cave him. She was not
yet wOnted to the customs of her new rank.
Don't go" he urged, - am so anxious to
now where she is. No doubt you nave
cause to be angry with her" Philip did not
notice the growing passion in the girls eyes,
''but You surely would not have her starve to
death. or suffer and die alone"
Perhaps not: = Jane meant to smile. but
she only produced the effect Of showing the
cruel white of her teeth. Hasn't she GOT
the word stuck in her throat, .hims'
"Why, didn't you KNOW" cried Philip
breatblessly, ''she has left him! She is alone
somewhere, for all we know, in want; hin
of it, and she too proud to-"
left her -husbandE'
IF he was her husband l didn't know, y he
hurried on, as if afraid of the answer that
would come; Il never heard, and l didn't
like to ask
She had seated herself on the pink satin
beside him and caught his hands as she bent
toward him to read his thoughts before he
spoke.
"Did you hear they were not marriedr' she
almost Missed at him.
why, yes, that is" he looked away in
his shame. 1T was told about the village,
but you know better, Of course" He tried to
laugh, then grew sober again. ''How vile of
them to whisper it, and it was vile of me to
let even the faint of a fear into my mind"
But she did not answer him Yes or no. Her
eyes had grown preternaturally large, and
there was n happiness in them as if she looked
right into the gates of heaven. All the COM
mon expressions were gone from her face.
One could read there now nothing but purity
and sweetness, such as make up the substance
of dreams of love.
And he is alone. Oh! where is hel I
must know. l must go to him. 1t cannot
be true" The angelic look fitted, the ex-
4uisite dropping at the corners of her mouth
was gone.
III you have dared to lie to me- Philip
was perfectly astonished at the sudden
change in her face and voice. Her black
eyes blazed ungovernable passion into his
The quick transition from the height Of
blissful hope to the depths of deep despair
seemed TO bear her over the line Of humanity.
'Tell me. have you lied to make a show Of
me-
She trembled for an instant, like a wild
creature before a spring, then she clutched
with her hot supple fingers at his throat,
magnificent as a tigress and in every motion
a perfect, terrible grace. Philip threw her
from him as he would some untamed animal:
il was hard to remember her w~omanhood
then.
She sat where he had left her, as il Just
awoke from a terrible nightmare, her fingers
parted and curved and moved spasmodically
as if she Yet held him by the throat. Then
abe buried her face in the cushion in a food
Of tears.
II didn't know what l was DOING she
sobbed. Don't remember it," was mad
She rose tremblingly to her feet and came
forward covering her face with her hands.
She might have been an abused child, 50
gentle and sweet she seemed now. She took
down her hands from her face; what man
could be so cold and hard as to stand against
such eyes as hers looking through their tears.
But she was alone.