Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-04

somblance of the guilt he sought md the fear he dreaded. He looked at her in silence for . moment.
 ''Is this thing true?"
 The words were fow and stern, but they pierced to her heart with 8 terror she could not conceal. Her head dropped on her breast; she stretched out her hands to him In piteous appeal
 'pierre. what have you heard3 What do you mean2"
 sharp caustic laugh left his lips.
 "You can ask that--you own words con- demn you."
 She looked at him with wide appealing eyes; her lips quivered like the lips of griev.d child.
 "Indeed. indeed, you wrong me. she cried. "I have done nothing very faulty; I-" Tho attempt at extenuation fired his who le soul with fury.
 Answer me-" he cried, seizing her ir his arms and gazing down at the pale, fright. ened, quivering face, with eyes whose pae- sion and wrath struck fresh terror to her heart. Answer me-you whom loved, and deemed fairest. purest, truest among women whom do you seek when you steal from my sight ut dead of night, like thing of guilt and shame2 Who is 1t you love so well that you risk reputation, honor, peace, for his sake2 Oh, Heaven, that should have to ask itl Oh. lovel Oh, wifel say 1t is false i; look in my facc as you looked but few short hours ago. and I will curse myself that my lips have wronged you by even the utterance of doubt"
 The wild impetuous words poured outth prayer unchecked. unstayed but with all the agony she suffered. with all the yearning for his trust-his falth-that thrilled her to her hearts core. she could not yield to his prayer or answer the entreaty.
 "Who hns told you thisa"
 The pale lips, the shrinking form. were not those of innocence. A tempest of fury shook him once more.
 "Is this all you sayf" he cried in his tor ture. ''Are you then what that woman called you-beautiful, seductive, tempting-a trait ress to honor and to womanhood~
 "I am none of these. she flashed out scorn- fully, stung by reproach so great. by calumny so vile.
 "None! Then why not refute the chargeq Why not answer what ask? A word-but one worlds all I Recd. Have you stolen out at night and sailed down the river to meet some man-some lover, as heard Yes, or nor Nay, do not shrink; will have the truth now If track your paramour to bis hidden lair and force 1t from him with my knife at his throat" A change passed over her face and stole all | its warmth and bloom till 1t looked hke the grayness of death. He saw it, and his voice rang out imploringly: "Oh. my love, I frighter you; forgive me. you know love you. Yor know the upraised voice of all the world would never make me believe i'll of you. Why | do you torture me SOP A word, one little word, Is all need; a word you can utter SC easily.
 | Heaven help me. l cannot"
 The faint imploring cry broke from he white lips involuntarlly. She hid her face fl ugonized weeping. He who loved her so who would have cast the very shadow of grie or suffering from her path could he hav willed it, looked down on her now with th mute despair of a brokon heart, with th fearless agony of a shaken faith.
 "You cannot. Arc you then guilty2'
 "Of deceiving you-yes. Of aught else am innocent"
 His laughter rang out fierce and wild ol the stiffness.
 "Of deceiving mel Oh, mol That is no sin No wrong! Your lover has taught you t reason we'll"
 "I have no lover," she moaned. Ut Is ue."
 "Whom do you go to meet then, like thin of infamy. as they have called you7"
 She was silent while the glow of the fire flames flickered over her white changed fac, and showed him the pathetic misery of he imploring eyes.
 "You will not say. We'll, then, believe th worst The woman who withholds a secr' from her husband would count it @ sma thing to dishonor his name, his love, h rights. Your looks. your words, condem you. You have had my love you have smile n my eyes; you have talked of lifetin spent In tho joy that has made this past wee week a very paradise; and now you have d. ceivcd and betrayed mer
 eff you think that" she cried, with u sudden anger and indignat on of her Outrage
 womanhood, "your love is little worth.
 you eau listen to the tongues of islander ar
 believe such vileness you have impute
 you are less worthy of my love than yours."
 The fiery indignant words touched hi , with remorse.
 "What secret is 1t, then. you withhold fro mel" he pleaded. "Oh thin!, ls not my To
 wide enough to forgive, my trust de'
 enough to shelter you from all cons
 quences2 Is 1t some youthful folly, sor
 giriish imprudence that has woven this my
 tery and secrecy about you2 Only tell ID
 Ninette; you do not know what suffer l"
 The agony of his voice. the passion in
 eyes, touchcd her hore deeply than any I ! proach. She threw herself at his feet, t r great salt tears binding her gaze as it souG . his face, and sought in vain for the lovo a' :. trust of old. r "I don't know." she moaned, "for I sufl too."
 l "Then tell me; trust me-" 2 sI cannot"