Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08

ny ner Sllo.
81 expected it, she said, in low voice.
"You mean that you dreaded it," answered
Mr.. Quest, quietly. He rose and locked tho
door, and then came and stood close to her
and spoke.
Listen, Belle. l know all about your
affair with Edward Cossey. have proofs Of
it, but have forbornc to use them, because
i saw that in the end he would weary of you
and desert you for some other woman, and
that would be my bet revenge upon you.
You have all along been nothing but his toy,
tho light woman with whom he amused his
leisure hours"
She put her hands back over her heart but
said mover a word, and he went on.
Belle, did wrong to marry you when
you did not want to marry me, but, being
/ married, you have done wrong to be unfaith-
fu! t. your VOWS. have been rewarded by
your infdelity and your in(idelity has been
rewarded by deserton Now l have pro-
posal to make to you, and if you are wise
you will accept it. Let us set the one wrong
against the other; let both be forgotten.
Forgive me, and l will forgive you, and let
us make peace-if not now, then in a little
while, when your heart is not so sore-and
! go right away from Edward CSssey and Ida
de la Mollo and Honham and Boisingham,
]
can begin life again, and try to forget the
past"
She looked up at him, and shook her head
mournfully, and twice she tried to speak and
twice she failed. The third time her words
came.
"You do not understand men she said.
"You are very kind, and am very grateful
, to you, but you do not understand me. l
cannot get over things SO easily as l know
most women can; what l have done never
can undo. ! do not blame him altogether,
| and it was rs much or moro my fault than
his, but having once loved him canrot 60
back to you or any other man. If you like
will go on living with you as we live, and
will try to make you comfortable, but can
say no more"
"Thnk again, Belle, he said almost plead
ingly;" 81 dare say that you have never given
me credit for much tenderness Of heart, and
l know that you have as much against me as
| have against you. But have always loved
you, and | love you now, really and truly
love you, and l will make you good hus-
band if you will let me.
"You are very good" she said, "but it can
not be. Get rid of me if you like and marry
somebody else. am ready to take the PEN
atty of what have done.n
Do you know what kind of man this is
for whom you are giving up your lifoi Not
only has he deserted you, but do you know
how he has got hold of Ida de la Molles He
has, as know well, bought her. L tell you
he has bought her as much as though he had
gone into the open market and paid down q
price for her. The other day Cossey & Son
were going to foreclose upon the Honham
estates, which would have ruined the old gen.
tleman. Well, what did your young man dol
He went to the girl-vho hates him, by the
way, and is in love with Col. Quaritch-and
said to her, If you will promise to marry me
when ask you l will find the thirty thousand
pounds and take up the mortgages Ana Oh
thosc terms she agreed to marry him. And
now he has got rid of you and he claims hel
promise That is the history. l wonder that
your pride will hear such a thing. BY
heaven, | would kill the man"
She looked up at him curiously. "Would
you" she said; sit is not bad idea. dare
say it is all true. He is worthless. Why doe:
one fall in love with worthless peoplei Well
there is an end to it, or a beginning of the
end As have sown, SO must reap" anC
she got up, and, unlocking tho door, left tbs
room.
yes" no said, aloud, when she had gone
"thero is beginning Of THE end. Upon my
word, what between one thing and another
unlucky devil as l am, had rather stand il
my own shoes than in Edward Cossey'S."
Belle went to her room and sat thinking
or rather brooding, sullenly. Then she pu
on her bonnet and cloak and started out
taking tho road that ran past Honham castle
She had not gono hundred yards befor,
she found herself face to face with Edward