The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-31
VOL. XII.
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BY MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER YI.-Continued.

the wild words, by the blazing eyes.
"What has happened?" he f;tltcred. Sh,
rose and faced him in the gloom, with des-
pair and passion in her face that awed him
, into shnmed rcmorsoful silence.
"Whatp Only this-that for your sake
have lost love. home, honori Only this
that to keep my oath with you, have sacri
,, feed my husbands heart, perhaps his life
Oh Heaven! In my own sight, at least,
stand to-day his murderess."
"You arc mad!" he gasped in his bewiI
derment. She laughed wildly.
"Madl Well, perhaps 1 am. There Il
wrongs that turn youth to age, and reason
to madness. they say. Such wrongs are
mine. Do you know what ho has said to-
nightP That II, his wife, have betrayed
and deceived him-that steal from his side
in the midnight darkness to meet another
lover. Do you hear? A lover. And could
hear that and say nothing"
'You did not confess?" The frightened
voice, the terrified face recalled her to her.
self. She looked at him in mute scorn.
care you afraid Of that? No, confessed
nothing"
He drew long, deep breath Of relief
''Whank God p he muttered.
She turned flercely on him. ftThat is all
you say-all you think. 1t is not for his suf-
fering-for my shame-that you care; and
once believed you loved mel'
Il do love you" he said earnestly.
"Yes, with a wavering, selfish love that
recks not OF the i'll it brings, or endure. Oh,
hear me, she pleaded, passionately clasping
his hands in her own, "hear me for once and
have pity! Release me from my oath, and
let me tell him all. He will do you no harm
for my sake. l will buy his release; will
follow him to the battle field itself; will
seek him through the length and breadth Of
France, If you will only give me leave to
confess ALTO clear myself in his eyes for
ever"
He looked a. her, wrathful and desperate
in his sudden anger.
''What you ask is Madness" he said ;
sit would give one or the other of us to
certain death. and the guilt would be yours.
Did you say he had joined the army-this
rash hot-headed fool?"
"How daro you miscall him" she flashed
out wrathfully, "you-a coward and" A
"'tiAiiAo AOON otOPPOu hOl MOluos
sit is not for you to upbraid me-" he said.
Gas for what you ask, it is impossible
doubly impossible now-sincc, by his RASH
ness, your husband has placed himself in di-
rect antasonsm to me. 1 cannot afford to
ruin myself fora woman's caprice. AS said
before, the tie between us is too strong for
you to break-the oath that binds you to serve
me comes before your marriage VOWS" She
looked him full in the eyes. In her own
plowed the light oflospair; tho resolve of one
fixed and determined on some course of a,-
tion, who counts not the danger that lies In
the path and would perish in tho attempt.
'You think SOP" she questioned very
camly. "Well do not Nevertheless, have
no fear of me, will not betray you. came
at peril OF my life TO warn you now. I have
been tracked here by q woman, vile Of tongue
and cruel of heart. If she suspects you,
know not. In any case this place is no
longer snfe." He started.
"And you have delayed thus2"
Her face flushed with scorn, her eyes sur
veyed him mockingly.
"Do you hear the pursuer's stop already2"
she asked.
"Do not play with me, he said with sud-
den feroeness. "If there is danger, say So"
"There is danger" she answered him
camly, "but we seek it henceforth together"
He looked at her IN amazement
''What do you mean? Is this a time for
jest2"
'Heaven knows 1t is not, neither have
the will to attempt it. What say mean.
l have no home," her voice quivered, "no
shelter, no love to look for, save yours. You
offered it once, and refused it."
"But now, when shelter means danger, and
protection death, you accept9" he said, in
wonder.
"Even So"
81 thought I knew something OF women" ;"
the man muttered, looking at her with doubt
full and reluctant admiration. 81 see was
wrong"
For an instant silence reigned between
them.
Her faced looked bloodless as marble, reso-
lute rs despair. The words she had Just ut
tered had cost her moro than it was in him TO
| imagine.
''You mean it?" he asked her at length.
"Of certainty do she answered wearily.
'I have no home-I can never look In his
face, nor touch his hand till my oath is abb
solved. I may as we'll share your peril as
| live here in shame that will poison my whole
future. He will never believe in mo again."
The muta despair, the utter hopelessness in
her face and words, touched even his selfish
ness.
"It Is hard fate," he said slowly. "To
lose all through me. Can YOU bear it2"
"After what have borne to-day" she said
with an irony that touched him to the quick,
''you can ask thatl had to choose between
You both, and chose-you" He flushed from
chin to brow, and remained mute with a
shrinking hesitation that told of the struggle
within.
We go together thenp" he asked family at
last She lifted her bowed head and looked
at him-a shiver ran through her graceful
limbs, and on her face glowed the martyrdom
of despair.
Yes"
momontary Joy quivsrod over the hand
some womanlsh features OF the man who had
wronged and inspared her.
$50 best" he said gayly. "Onee We escape
out of this cursed country, it will go hard
! with me if do not win you such splendor
and such.happiness as you would never have
found in yonder dreary hamlet" She made