Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-20


sat as if turned to stone, while his friend
helped the young lady, who seemed rather
nervous and crest-fallen over her misad-
venture, to take her place in the boat
Jimmy laughed and chartered away to keep
up her spirits, and then, rousing Moxon
with rough shake from the state Of stupe-
faction into which he had fallen, whispered
in bis ear:
''Come, pull yourself together, Ted. There
are as good fish in the sea as ever come out
of it."
I'm all right; answered Moxon huskily.
He turned the boat round and began pull
ing down the stream with a strong stroke,
without one look at his companion.
''I'll steer; know the river" was all he
said.
As for the lady, she seemed thoroughly
frightened by the predicamentin which she
found herself, and sat- huddled up in her
wraps, without uttering word until, when
they had passed through Moulsey Lock, a
fash of lightning caused her TO scream.
There is no danger" said he shortly in
hard, dry voice.
A few moments later the rain came down
in torrents, breaking the surface of the
water into little waves, kissing among the
leaves of the trees on the banks, darkening
the air like a shower of swords. Moxon I'M
shipped his oars, and leaning over his com
panion's seat with curt apology, produced
from the stern macintosh, which he I'M
folded and put around his companion. Al
though he did this in the most mechanical
manner possible, she apparently took this
attention for an advance toward amity, for
she murmured THANK you" in very soft,
seductive whisper, and even seized his hand
and pressed it warmly between hers. But
his fingers might have been wood; he did
not seem to feel her touch. With little
coquetish, impatient shrug, therefore, she
pushed him away as he was trying to but
ton the macintosh round her.
II should not have hurt you madam" he
said, coldly.
And, withdrawing at once, he resumed
his seat, and began to row again with all
his might.
The storm was now at its height. Every
few minutes the thunder roared in their
ears, and through the binding sheet of rain
the glare of the lightning flashed into their
eyes, lighting up the earth and sky and
water in CHASTITY illumination. They shot
under Kingston Bridge in black darkness,
with a sound like the painting breath of a
huge beast in their ears and the next flash
showed them that they were almost under
the bows of steam tug which, travelling up
stream with its long train of black, broad
barges, looked like monster water serpent
showing its back here and there above the
water.
At sight of the danger they had escaped
the lady's courage gave way altogether.
20. we might have been killedr she
sobbed.
Moxon rested for moment upon his oars
something in the sound of her voice had
struck him; but then the roar of the thunder
was still in his ears. After the shortest OF
pauses he went on again, and pulled steadily
until they went out of the wash of the tug,
and the dark hull of the last of the barges
had disappeared behind them. Then he bent
forward and said hoarsely:
"Who are your
There was no answer. MoXon stretched
out strong hand and shook his companion s
arm roughly, repeating his question more
savagely than before. Then the woman's
voice sounded out quite clear and cold:
81 suppose you know. l am your wife"
The boat trembled under the man as he
drew back into his seat breathing hard He
had to clear his voice again and again be-
fore he asked:
as it true-what Constable said!''
"What was that!''
''That you were going of with some
man!'
Ida laughed coldly.
at is true, but it is not all the truth"
what do you mean|
"You can guess, suppose. You are not
child"
And you have gone out of your way to
meet me-to tell-me-that!"
1T is my revenge, my perfectly just re-
venge You left me like a coward, taking
advantage of my youth and inexperience to
throw off your own responsibility, and let
me take my chance"
Ida is it you, really you. You can talk
to me like that! Have you lost all heart!
Are you-can you"
He stopped abruptly, unable to force into
coherent utterance the strong emotions
which were battling within him. When he
spoke again it was in a low, thick voice.
Ida, child l, knew l did wrong. But
was the blame all on my side! Tell me that
you didn't mean what you said just now.
Say it ism true
''It is true, it is true, it is true" broke out
Ida in passionate answer. "You were cold
to me; if had been wicked woman you
could not have left me more coldly. Now
it's my turn"
"But have suffered for it, child; / have
been miserable. / know l ought to have
been more PATIENT ought to have remem-
bered how young you were. Are you not
satisfied! Ida, you are wronging yourself
and me. Are you not! Tell me-"
The roar of Teddington Weir behind him
began to sound family in their ears, but
neither would have needed it even if the
storm had not been raging. With face
convulsed with passion, Edward Moxon,
neglectingh his oars, was bending forward to
peer into his wife's face with passionate
eyes, the gaze of which she would not meet.
''No," she said doggedly, Il do not con-
slider that wrong you. Surely since you
cared so little for me, / had right to try to
find some one who cared more'
She tore aside the macintosh which
covered her, and drawing forth locket
which he had never seen before, opened it
and showered passionate kisses upon por-
trait inside.
There, now do you believe mel" she
cried, defiantly.
He made no answer. He was indeed so
utterly shocked by the change in her, the
new hardness and bitterness in her voice,
that pity and self-reproach were the feeling
uppermost in his heart, even while the
misery and shame of her confession over
whelmed him. Like a man under the in
fiuence of a Supplying drug, he bent his
head heavily upon his hands. Ida's voice,
in altered tones of shrill alarm, suddenly
aroused him.
Ted! Tedr' she cried THE oars are
gone. And where, where are we going."
He lifted his head The right-hand bank
seemed to be flying past; the roar of the
weir was deafening. The skin was being
hurried along like a leaf. He laughed
harshlV