Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-10-30

1eII1uSO IN nSr turn, MISS n6Do JuugSQ
the best method was to destroy Eugene
Cleveland in the estimation of Mrs. Le-
land.
She related all that had been told her
by Slyme. She informed her of the
presence of Eugene at the Senator's
limited at certain reports that were circu-
lated. and mingling calumny with truth.
redoubling at the same time her affection,
her caresses and her tears, she succeeded
in giving Mrs. Leland such an estimate
of Eugene's character that there were
no suspicious or apprehensions which
the poor woman from that moment did
not consider legitimate as connected with
him.
Miss Craven finally offered to send
Slyme to her, that she might herself in
terrogate him. Mrs. Leland, affecting
an incredulity and tranquility that she
did not feel, refused, and shortly after the
mischief making old maid returned to the
city.
On rejoining her daughter, Mrs Le-
land exerted herself to deceive her as to
the impressions she had received, but she
did not succeed; for her anxious face be-
lied her reass urlng words.
Accustomed so long to think, feel, and
suffer toge her, these two women now
met so to speak, in the same reflections,
the same reasonings, and in the same
terrors. They went over in their memo
all his faults; and under the shadow of
the monstrous action imputed to him, his
faults took a criminal ch .racter which
they were surprised they had not seen
before.
They discovered series and sequence
in his designs. all of which were imputed
to him as crimes-even his good actions.
Thug his conduct of late, his strange
ways, his fancy for his child and for his
wife, his assiduous tenderness toward
her. was nothing more than the hypo-
critical meditation of a new crime-a
mask which he was preparing in advance.
What was to be done? What kind of
life was it possible to live in common
under the weight of such thoughts? What
present-what future?
These thoughts bewildered them.
Next day Eugene could not fail remark
ing the singular change in their counten-
ances IN his presence; but he thought
they had suspected he had been to- call
on Cora, and SO we're offended.
He smiled at this, for as a result Of his
reflections during the night he had deter
mined to break off forever his intrigue
with Cora Elliston.
For this rupture, which he had m ade it
point of honor not to provoke, Cora had
herself furnished him a sufficient pre-
text. The criminal thought she had con-
fded 10 him was, he knew, only feint to
test him, but it was enough to justify his
abandonment of her. AS to the violent
and menacing words she had used he
held them of little value, though at times
the remembrance of them troubled him.
Nevertheless, for long time he had not
felt his heart SO light.
This wicked tie broken, it seemed as
though he had resumed, with his liberty,
his youth and virtue.
He walked and played part of the day
with his child. Just as night fell, clear
and pure, he proposed to Flora an ex-
cursion in the woods. He spoke to her
of view which had struck him shortly
before on such q night, and which would
please, he said, her romantic taste.
He would not permit himself to be
surprised at the disin" lination she mani
tested, the disquietude which her face
indicated, or at the rapid glance she ex-
changed with her mother.
The same thought, and that a most
fearful one. entered the minds of both
these unfortunate women at the same
moment of time.
They were still under the impression
of the shock which had so weakened
their nerves, and Eugene's sudden prop
osition, SO contrary to his usual habits,
the hour-the night and the solitary
walk-had suddenly awakened in their
brains the sinister images which Phebe
Craven had laid there.
Flora, however, with an air of resolu-
ton the circumstances did not seem en-
titled to demand, prepared immediately
to go out, then followed her husband
from the house, leaving her child in
charge of her mother.
They had only to Cross the garden to
find themselves on the edge of the woods
which almost touched the dwelling, and
which stretched to some distance beyond.
Eugene's Intention in seeking this in
terview was to con6de to his wife the de-
cisive determination he had taken of
delivering up to her, absolutely and
without reserve, his heart and life, and
to enjoy with her his first taste of true
happiness
which Flo replied to the affectionate
gayety of his language, he redoubled his
| efforts to bring their conversation to a
tone of more intimacy and confidence.
While stopping at intervals to point out
to her some effects of light and shadow in
their walk, he asked what visitor she b ID
seen yesterday. She named two or three;
then lowering her voice against her will
mentioned Phebe Craven.
That one, said Eugene, you had bet
ter not have seen. no longer recognize
her."
-Why?" asked she, timidly.
Because she is a bad woman. When
we are little more intimate with each
other, you and I, l shall edify you on her
character. I shall tell you alI-all, un-
| derstand."
There was so much of goodness in the
accent with which he pronounced these
words that Flo felt her heart half COM
| forted.
The phantom disappeared, little by lit
tie, from her mind, and she commenced
to say to herself that she had been the
| sport of bad dream and of true mad
ness, when a singular change in her hus-
bands face renewed all her terrors.
Eugene, in his turn, had become alb
sent and visiblE preoccupied with some
grave care. He spoke with an effort;
made half replies, meditated. then
stopped quickly to look around him, like
frightened child
There was an extraordinary similarity
| in the thoughts which occupied them