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

had nothing more 20 fear from him; but a
jealous woman has no price, and if he did not
humor her it might, he felt, be at n risk
which he could not estimate. Also, he was
nervoualy anxious to give no further cause
for gossip A sudden outward and visible
cessation of his intimacy with the Quests in a
little country town like Boisingham, where
all his movements were known, might, he
thought, give rise to surmises and suspicion.
So, albeit with faint heart, he determined
to go.
Accordingly, at o'clock precisely, he was
shown into the drawing room at The Oaks.
Mrs. Quest was not there; indeed he waited
for ten minutes before she came in. She was
very pale, so pale that tho blue veins on her
forehead showed distinctly through her ivory
skin, and there was n curious intensity about
her manner which frightened him. She was
very gu ct also, unnatprally so, indeed; but
her quiet was of the ominous nature of the
silence before the storm, and when she spoke
her words were keen, and quick, and vivid.
She did not shake hands with him, but sat
down and locked at him, slowly tanning ner-
self with painted ivory fan which she took
up from the table.
you sent for me, Belle, AMI here ! am"
he said, breaking the silence.
Then she spoke. "You told me the other
day. she said, THAT you were not engaged
to be married to Ida de la Mole. 1t was not
true. You are engaged to be married 10
her.
"Who said so?' he asked de6antly Quest,
l suppose"
- have it on n better authority" she an
swered; II have it from Miss de la Mole her.
self Now listen, Edward Cossey. When l
let you so l made condition, and that con-
dition was that You should not marry Ida dc
la Mole. Do you still intend to marry herp
you had it from lda.' he said, disregard
ing her question; 'then you must have
spoken to lda--you must have told her every
thing. l suspected as much from her man
nor The other night. YOU
"lhen it is true" she broke in, colby. at
is true, and in addition to your other fail
ings, Edward, you are coward ana a
liar.n
"What is it to you.whnt I am or what 1
am not.n he answered, savagely. "What
business. is it of yoursl You have no Eold
over me, and no claim upon me. As it is, 1
have suffered enough at your hands and at
those of your accused husband. have had
to pay him thirty thousand pounds, do you
know thatl But of course you know it. No
doubt the whole thing is plant, and you
will share the spoil"
"Ah!" she said, drawing long breath.
'And now look here, he went on. "Once
and for all, will not be interfered with by
you. l am engaged to marry Ida de la
Mole, and whether you wish it or no l shall
marry her. And one more thing-I will not
allow you to associate with Ida Do you I'M
derstand mel will not allow it,"
She had been holding the fan before her
face while he spoke. Now she lowered it and
looked at him. Her face was paler than ever,
paler than DEATH if that be possible, but in
her eyes there shonc light like the light of
fame
"Why mott" she said quietly.
"Why notf' he answered savagely II
wonder that you think it necessary to aSk
such question; but as you do VIII tell you
why. Because Ida is the lady whom l am
going to marry, and / do not choose tnat
she should associate with woman who is
what you are"
"Ahl" she said again; 81 understand now"
At that moment diversion occurred. Tho
drawing room looked on to the garden, and
at the end of the garden was a door which
opened on to another street.
Through this door had come Col. Quaritch,
accompanied by Mr.. Quest, the former with
his gun under his arm. They had walked up
the garden, and were almost at the French
window when Edward Cossey saw them.
Control yourself" he said in a low voice,
"here is your husband"
Mr.. Guest advanced, and knocked at the
window, which his wife opened When he
saw Edward Cossey he hesitated little, and
then nodded to him, while the colonel came
forward, and placing his gun by the wall
entered the room, shook hands with Mrs.
Quest, and bowed coldly to Edward Cossey.
81 mot the colonial Ralln y said Mr. OnnSt