Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-18

4
Deming could not answer, and Clarics
kept her eyes fastened on him. She stag.
| gered to her feet after awhile, and, leaning
against the table, she began speaking delib-
erately and haughtily.
Monsieur Deming, you have treated me
as basely as man ever treated woman, and
now you shall feel what revenge I can have
| on you. You are to be married to young
| lady who thinks you are an honest gentle
| man. Not only she, but the whole world,
shall know that Monsieur Jerome Deming
has been unjust to Clarice Rinauld because
Clarice refused Monsieur Deming's proffers
of love-"
Denning sprang to her side, and grasped
her by the wrist.
''You will never do that" he said, look
ing menacingly at her. She shrugged her
| shoulders, and returned his threatening
look without fear.
"But will, she replied, sneeringly.
you have no proof of such a charge"
II have 90 of your letters. can select
enough to prove what want"
"You are a friend" he said, throwing
her from him.
"And you are a coward. Monsieur" she
replied, folding her arms.
He took up his hat and started for the
door. While his back was turned Clarice's
him with her arms outstretched. But when
he faced her she had recovered herself and
was as unapproaehabie as before.
"Clarice," he said, in a softer voice than
he had previously used, when you are
quieter and have thought this over 1 think
you will act like woman about it. We
have had a dream, beautiful dream
together, but you and both knew it had to
end, and it looks as though it had ended
now. shall rely upon you not to take the
course you threatened. III you will permit
it we will still be friends, and shall do all
can to help you and make you happy
while you are here. But you know my po-
sition, and knew it when we began our
friendship. have been unjust and untrue
to the girl who trusts in all do, and you
believe Clarlce, you will not find it possi-
bic to break her heart. Can I come here
again-as a friend?
mo, Monsleurl'' gasped Alice, her
breast heaving and her eyes filling.
will you say Goodbye"
"No. You will hear from me again-you
and your trusting sweetheart"
He bowed and went away, leaving her
standing there. with wrath blazing from her
moist ewes and her face as white and fearful
as death. When his footsteps died away
down the hall she fell prone on the floor,
and cried as only strong woman with q
broken heart can cry.
CHAPTER v.
In his heart Jerome Deming forgaye
Clarice at once for her insane outburst of
passion, and he felt that if she should
carry out the revenge which she threatened
it would be no more than he deserved. He
considered generously enough the pitiful-
ness of her position as a dramatic failure,
and of her humiliation in being attacked so
harshly by himself, when he had pretended
to love her so that her faults were beauties
in his eyes. He was filled with sadness and
sympathy as he thought of her sorrow, but
that fierce scene with her had brought him
to his senses so far as love was concerned,
and he at last understood what an insult
it was to the girl he was about to marry to
yield so weakly to an infatuation that
could end only in decentralization and
shame. Clarice continued her season at
the Murray Hill Theatre on the strength of
the fame that her beauty achieved,
and played the usual repertoire of
the French star actress. Deming was COM
PEELED to attend several of her performances.
dS
he to detect a change in her observed that
her appearance and her methods underwent
a decided Transformation after the con-
demnation by the newspapers. In her ac-
tion there was no longer anything irritat-
ing. She was subdued, modest, seemingly
broken in spirit. The radiance OF her face
gave place to a deep sadness, pensiveness
which was immensely pathetic, and which
did not detract in the least from the intrinsic
lpveliness of her features. As they watched
her in "Ffou-Frou," one night Madge
said to Deming that it did not seem possible
that he could care for her when such
splendid creatures as Clarice were living in
the world. The remark chilled him, it
struck SO squarely against his conscience.
But he did not doubt, In fact he never had
doubted, his love for Madge. Through all
his wild experience of the past month he
was sure that she was the one girl for him
to marry. She was his ideal of gentle, re-
fined and faithful womanhood. And as the
day for their marriage drew near Deming was
satisfied and happy.
these two were to start on their ife's journey
together. The few friends who were to be
present had not yet arrived, when the servant
brought in card to DemIng, az he sat smoking
with Mr.. Maynard out in the conservatory. AS
he read the name on the card he crushed it in
his hand, and muttered an imprecation on the
"rn be there in one moment" he said to the
servant, after moment of deliberation.
Throwing away his cigar. and excusing himself
from Mr.. Maynard, he passed through the
house to the drawing room. Near the window
was the figure of a heavily-veiled woman in an
attitude of detection.
''Clarice." said Deming, roughly, "what have
you come here fort You don't mean to sayyou
intend TO do what you threatened me with?
She did not answer. She had risen from her
chair. and was standing before him with her
hands clasped in front of her. Finally she
spoke, in very low and trembling voice.
"You are to be married, Monsieur, to-dayf"
"Yes"
''Most certainly"
"As well as you once loved me?"
Deming only shifted nervously about, at last
breaking out with:
"Clarics, why have you come here: Answer
me-"
.To ask YOU" she replied in a voice whose
tones were full of immeasurable despair, Ito
ask you to marry me instead of this girl"
He looked at her as though he thought she
had lost her mind.
.Clarice," he said, "are you crazyf In an
other hour 1 shall be the husband of Madge
Maynard. Now, beg of you, by all that we
have been to each other, by the deep, sincere
friendship that have for you at this moment,
to go away. and SO let my wife be kept in igno-
rance of our mistakes and our regrets"
The fire d q terrible rage sprang into her
eyes for one instant. but it died as suddenly.
Drawing from her pocket small package she
held 1t out to Deming.
"Your letters" she said, and her voice broke
pathetically. He took them from her. Then
She stood there. hesitating in an embarrassed
of him, but hadn't the courage. He took her
hand tenderly in his.
"What is it, Clarice?" he asked.
She was twisting hoop OF rubies and dia-
monds about her finger. 1t was one that DEM
ing had given her the day after their supper
together. She raised her fearful eyes to his.