Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-12

v
 "I am tired of my own. I shall doubtless have to thank my foes soon for shortening it."
 You are as quick with your tongue e ever. Have you any complaints to maker" "None. know how useless 1t would be-" The dark fierce countenance before him turned livid with rage. "Ii you are not less insolent, will have you thrashed within an inch of your life." "You are not moro anxious to have that life than am to yield 1t up. monsieur" "6ay you so2 We'll. perhaps have some- thing to tell you that may sweeten it. You remember the woman told you was inter. ested in your welfare9" "I remember monsieur, thinking to deluds me with such a belief" "Oh. you do1 We'll, I have sent for you to- night to learn her whereabouts. That you know 1t am sure. lam resolved to tear tho secret from you at any cost, even of your life. This is no idle threat. mean 1t to the very letter. Tell me where she isp The man laughed hoarsely and scornfully. 'You ask mo of your mistresss where abouts7 Are you mad, monsieur, or am I r
 "When told you that, I lied," said his ad- | versary, flercely. ''She is nothing to me. learnt only lately that she was your wife. We'll, where Is she now7" Pierre looked at him in iucredulous amaze ment.
 "This is a poor jest," he said. calmly. 'I know nothing of any woman whom mon- sieur is pleased to honor with his attentions. Even if did"
 "Well2"
 "I should not.tell."
 
 You liel You do know where she Is. Out with 1t, or will wiring the truth from your throat as would wiring birds neckw
 'You are welcome to do so. It Is your prerogative doubtless to-murder. We'll, 1t will be the one benefit have derived from my foes p
 Won Brandstein rose to his feet, literally trembling with rage and passion. His eyes swept over his antagonist. meeting nothing but the patient, calm disdain that no threat could change to fear, no bribe could win to deference. For m instant they faced each other thus, both silent. Won Branstein spoke at last.
 "To kill you would be too great a boon to bestow on you. No, you shall live. But listen first. I have that to tell which will make you curse your folly till the last day of your life. In the first place. this woman your wife of.a week-whom you like @ mad man forsook in a moment of frenzy, has never wronged you even by 8 thought, all the while that you have believed so i'll of her. She has been basely deceived, cruelty wronged; but for all that, she is a heroine in her bravery and endurance, a saint in her purity, a woman in her fidelity. Does it hurt you to hear this7 To think of all you have lost by your rash action! An, you are silent nowl What incredulous still, and she has loved your Oh. fool. fooll Why. to stand in your place and hear these words, and know an enemy's lips reluctantly confessed the truth. I would die dogs death the next hourp
 Over the soldiers weary, suffering face 0 great wave of feeling swept. "Why do you torture me thus2" he cried. "It Is not true. I cannot be-"
 Ut is true. I will prove It."
 "Do so."
 "You believed your wife fled from you with lover, did you not" "Her own words confirmed that belief"
 "The man whom she sheltered at risk of her own reputation, the man for whose sake she has become an outcast, for whom she has borne your desertion. and your base in- depreciation of her motives. Is her fatherp There was utter silence.
 One gasping breath the man drew, one shiver as of some terrible and intense emotion shook his limbs, then over the dark ness and haggard misery of his face light as of glad and glorious hope flashed. For- getful of all around, of tho presence in which he stood, of the doubts that had racksd and n lon hn% AI l1~ on the bench beside him, and burytng his face in his hands he wept like q child. "God forgive mol Oh, God forgive me" he cried, with the cry of heart breaking with its own glad rapture of re lief.
 "How l have wronged herp | His enemy looked on him as he lay crouohed there in the abandonment and forgetfulness of that moment. "You believe me now" he said.
 There was no answer. The man did not even hear him. He came nearer. and laid his hand on his shoulder and shook him with savage force. 'Do you hear2" he asked, "Ii you believe in her, confess where she is hid den. Have you held communication with l her2 Say7"
 { Pierre looked up. His face still radiant ] with that wonderful knowledge. his eyes
 glowing with tho intensity of 8 love that had
 never died, and now seemed but to have
 gathered fresh fo rec from its many suffer.
 ngs, its long denial. "I will say nothing, '
 he answered, calmly. "Her very nane is
 polluted by It's passage through your lipsw Won Brandstein threw himself on tho fot
 who thus dared to brave him, and with hif
 hand at his throat he shook him to and fire
 till the breath came in spasmodic gasps from
 his lungs, and his weakened frame lay like 6 log where he had thrown it. In the struggle
 a paper fell from the mans bosom. The
 eagle eyes of his adversary caught sight of it. he sprung forward. raised it from the
 ground, and began to peruse its contents. "so," he shouted, triumphantly. "I have
 caught you at last, my fine soldieri My , saintly martyrl A plot. indeed-and as live heavens, it is her writing" 7 "Hers" ! These words brought back life and strength