Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-10-06

him; but how foolish he was did not her
namo prove that she was unmarried9
"But l hate SO to h2rrow up her memo
ries," said Philip, in al unsteady voicc; ''to
make her confess her shame before =. /
should think that would bc .er's
duty
Scan it be, my dear Philip" remarked Mr.
Ellingsworth, with his own brilliant smile,
''that you know me so little as to expect me
to perform an unpleasant dutyi There are
people that love them-that never seem so
much in their element as when engaged in
some act of self sacrifice. You must really
excuse me-"
When Philip went down into the parlor
Bertha was sitting there alone, and his fate
seemed thrust upon him. Before he had time
to dread breaking the subject to her he stood
at the back of her chair, looking down on her
thin, white fingers moving over her embroid
cry work. He laid his hand very gently on
her shoulder. All, it was less round than it
used to be. She was good enough to keep her
eyes fixed on her work There was no shade of
heightened color on her cheeks, nor did she
quicken her breathing.
Bertha" he began, in a low, sweet voice,
81 am going to ask you something" Still she
did not look up
,
whom yea liked came and asked you to
marry him." he spoke very slowly, sis there
any reason why you must say nof'
Not one flush or nervous treElor. She
threaded her needle again with the red
worsted. "What 90 yol mean by reasonf'
'I mean," he said, in forced calm, sis ihers
any barrier which the laws make to prevent
you from marrying himf' Since he had be-
gun to dream of marriage, he had thought
only of the barrier of her shame; he had not
thought that there might be a barrier more
impregnable But it came over him all the
more terribly now. That would explain her
lack of shame, her unbroken pride, that
would be more consistent with his lifelong
idea of her, if she had preserved her honor,
and, alas, was already married and cut for
ever away from him. That would save her
purity which he had thought sullied. No
fingers of scorn could ever be pointed at her.
No; but she would be lost to him forever.
God forgive him, then. if he would rather
have her dishonored, insulted, degraded, than
lose her. Would she never answera She laid
down her needle and turned her face up to-
ward him He trembled like a child as he
watched her lips part; iii moment his fate
would be decided 1t was terrible that his
shame, and her honor meant a life Of despair
and loneliness for him, but SO it seemed to
him now.
"Thore is no barrier" she replied.
"Thank God," he whispered. The strain
WIS removed. She had established her own
disgrace with her own lips, without a droop-
ing of her eyes, without quiver Of her lips
All, but he suffered in his very hope. 1t
wounded him that he must rejoice in her
shame, it was almost as il he had caused it.
He bent low over her shoulder, i'll another
moment he would have told her of the un-
changing passion-of his love. All the
bounds of his nature were broken down now.
His whole soul seemed dissolving in ineffable
tenderness for this cold woman, into whose
calm, beautiful eyes he looked SO hungrily.
"Like embroidery, don't you, Mr.. Bretonr
Mrs. Ellingsworth flashed her small black
eyes in delight Philip started back in I'll
concealed dismay, but Bertha's face changed
not one shade of expression as she rose mag
nifcently to her feet and swept from the
room.
The lady Of the house looked unpleasantly
after hcr.
isn't it funny, she don't seem to like me:
Do you suppose it is that CurTan scrape that
has Put her SO much aboa, ue4"
Philip glanced savagejy at her; he could
almost have struck her, without thinking of
her womanhood, there was such snake like
look in the glistening black eyes. One might
as well reproach wild creature of the forest
for following out its instincts; but after a
moment he said
Mrs. Eilinssworth forgets she is lady"
But she was beautiful, if not lady, her
hot blood lighting up her round olive cheeks
as if it were liquid fire and her curled lips
glowing like perfect rose just bursting into
bloom. No man could look at her now and
not feel mad soulless fascination for her,
fascination the greater because mixed with
revulsion. She was a perfect type OF the
womanhood that can madden q man with
passion, without tenderness, that can wreck
his life, Danish every noble hope or ideal
from his soul and feed him nothing but
dead sea fruit.
ats strange what makes a LADY," she
answered him in growing excitement
"Your Bertha is one no matter what vile
ness she sinks to, but I can't whisper one
rude word"
She came close to him and put her burn
ing fingers on his hand "Your horse loves
you better than that woman. She will tor
ture you to DEATH let her alone" Then she
sprang away from him, and walked back
ward and forward clasping and unclasping
her clinging fingers in her old habit. "Oh, !
hate her, hate her; but what good Is itl l
would dash myself to pieces to break her, but
could not She steals my lover and then
leaves him. She comes back disgraced In the
eyes of her own father; but she does not feel
it. And now comes her lover with his riches,
and offers everything to her. She deserves
nothing. but gets everything She would