The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-12-20

! from a door and hesitated there. A
man approached at once. 1t was Mar
aucnd.
Your husband has gone away" he
said.
Yes; how did YOU knowp"
Il heard him tell friend. Yo,
are alone? Come, let us walk
sYour-wife?"
''She has gone over to the fireworks
with friends"
He slipped her hand through hi:
| arm, and they went down from the
porcn, under the redness of the lamps
| and hearing the soft sea-wash.
|
Half an hour later they had returned
to the hotel, and were entering the
porch.
What is it?" he asked, for she hat
dropped from his arm.
Your wife," she answered and fled
She did not look behind her; hel
long dress tripped her as she ran. Sh,
was conscious of some one following
through the halls and up the stair
ways. She heard the nearing steps o,
her pursuer, but she did not looA
around until she had unlocked anG
flung ajar her door.
''Come inside" she said then, calm.
ly.
1t was Marquand's wife.
This latter was regal creature, tall
and dark, with flashing eyes and pur.
| pOseful features. She painted with ex-
| element.
Yes, will come inside, and I de-
mand you leave this place."
Sybil closed the door; they stood to.
! gether in the dusky chamber.
Now" said Sybil-and her quietude
was wonderful by contrast-''now
will listen. Do you suppose was
running away from you. If there
must be scene let it be in private.
And" she added wearily, 81 suppose
you intend scene"
'Insolent-brazen-I demand you
leave at once. If find you again in
my husbands company"
Bah! You think to frighten me?
Why woman, l 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"
''Hussyr' cried the other, then hurled
a 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. / have broken no law; ]
| have meant to break none.
| When you married Gordon Marquand
you knew he loved me; you knew that
had ! still been free, he would have
! waited years for me. You knew that
had been sold for a price, despite my
bitter tears and entreaties to man |
had never dreamed of loving. And you
| had money; and you schemed and
| labored and succeeded in capturing
my lover foryou husband. You knew
he did not love you, handsome as you
were Well? You see | 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; | may not see
| him ever again, but here, in my heart
Il love him; do you understand? And
his love is mine, do what you will
her voice was thrilled with passion; 81
| loved him first Do you want
to know what we said to each other?"
Marquand's wife sprang forward.
you faunt your shame in my facen
she cried hoarselv, even as Hamilton
Denning had cried.
There is no shame, "cried Sybil, enc
shame. Only love"
The other fell upon her like tiger.
81 will choke you, if you dare to say
sol"
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 futtered for an in.
stant. There was stitled cry, and
| them
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 Sybi
! Deuning had fallen from her window
| She had not fallen to the ground, but
! thirty feet or more, to the level roof oi
| the yeranda.
They carried her in off the roof,
senseless; carried her back to the
| silence of her own chamber, and,
looking in her face, found gray
shadow.
''She cannot ive," the physicians
said, who were hastily. summoned!
Marquand's wife stood at the door
when it opened after the consultation.
.'Will she die?" she asked in a husky
whisper, and. shuddering, passed in,
Sybil Denning lay motionless, and
| the gray look dccpened on her face.
| Friends and strangers tiptoed past the
door, and whispered in the corridors
No one knew where a telegram
would reach Hamilton Denning
The moments creps by. Some one
| else crcpt up along the hall but dared
not enter. 1t was Gordon Marquand;
| He had in his eyes the look of death,
and on his chest deadly weight.
Something barred him from the
| chamber of the woman he loved. He
| fingered in the hall, stunned and dead
| IL pale.
He saw his wife come out with her
hands pressed upon her forehead, as if
| she were half distracted; then he saw
her re-enter. He crept closer to the
| open door.
Sybii's eyes unclosed. The physi-
clans bent over her. but she looked
| away from them. She seemed to see
only Marquand's wife, tall, ghastly,
| old.
Size tried to speak. her eyes still
fixed on Marquand's wife.
NO iaw-I never-lied-"
! She breathed irregularly, and heI
| lips move again:
| What we said-to each-other-
never 10 meet again" Her voice
| grew stronger. "I-fe!l-I leaned toe
far-God forgive-it was my fault
n n L.