Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-14

'Good-OY,' ana She fCent on. What coward!" said Belle to herself | ''He does not even dare to tell me the truth ' | Nearly an hour later she arrived at the l castle, and, asking for Ida, was shown into | the drawing room, where she found her sit ting reading.
 | Ida rose to greet her, not without warmth for the two women, although they were at | the opposite poles of character, had friendly | feeling for each other.
 In Q way they were both strong, and 1 strength always recognizes and respects strength.
 "Have you walked up?" asked Ida. "Yes, came on the chance of finding you I wanted to speak to you" "Yes," said Ida, "what is it?' ''This. Forgive me, but are you engaged | to be married to Edward CosseyY' Ida looked at her in slow, stately kind of way, which seemed to ask by what right she came to question her. At least SO Belle | read it.
 "I know that have no right to ask such a | question" she said, with humility, "and, of course, you need not answer it, but have a | reason for asking"
 "Well," said Ida, 1T was requested by Mir. | Cossey to keep the matter secret, but he ap. pears to have divulged it. Yes, am engaged to be married to him."
 Belles beautiful face turned shade paler, ! if that was possible, and her eyes hardened. Do you wonder why ask you this?" she said. "I will tell you, though probably when | l have done so you will never speak to me again. 1 am Edward Cossey,s discarded mis- | tress," and she laughed bitterly enough. Ida shrunk little and colored, as a pure and high maded woman naturally does when she is for the first time suddenly brought into actual contact with impurity and passion. "I know," went on Belle, ''that I must seem shameful thing to you; but, Ida, good and cold and stately as you are, pray God that you may never be thrown into tempta. tion; pray God that you may never be mar ried almost by force to a man whom you hate, and then suddenly know what thing it is to fall in love, and for the first time feel your life awake"
 "Hush," said Ida, gently; "what right have to judge you2"
 "I loved him." went on Belle, 1T loved him passionately, and for little while it was as though heaven had opened its gates for he used to care for me little, and I think he l would have taken me away and married me afterward, but would not hear of it, because l knew it would ruin him. He offered to once and refused, and within three hours of that believe that he was bargaining for you. We'll, and then it was the old story, he | Tell more ana more 1n love with you, and, o1 course, had no hold upon him."
 "Yes," said Ida, moving impatiently; ''but
 why do you tell me all this2 It is very pain. full, and had rather not hear it.''
 "Why do tell you7 tell you because do not wish you to marry Edward Cossey. tell you because I wish him to feel 0 little of
 what have to feel, and because have said
 he should not marry you"
 "l wish that you could prevent it," said Ida, with sudden outburst "I am sure you are quite welcome to MT. Cossey, so far as l am concerned, for detest him, and I cannot imagine how any woman could ever have done otherwise" | "Thank you," said Belle, but have done
 with Mr. Cossey, and l think I hate him
 too. know that did hate him when I met
 him in the street just now, and he told me
 that he was not engaged to you. You say
 that you detest him; why then do you marry
 hima You are free woman" | "Do you want to know ?' said Ida, wheel