Dodge City times., 1890-11-28

the empty glass, and, at . sign from her,
lay down ogain upon the couch. She
. turned tho shaded lamp uqon the table,
stirred tho FIRE, then moved toward the
door. Il must go now and say You have
como in. will return she said, in an
swer to the unspoken question OF my
eyes. know not the length Of time that
intervened. When she came again, 1
extended my hand to her. mutely implor-
ing sympathy.
She understood. She sat down and
slid her hand in mine. At first it trem-
bled just little, like the huttering of .
frightened bird, then it lay still. l strove
to conceal the rapture with which this
voluntary act Of hers inspired me, and
closed nv ewes lest she should read in
them the truth Ny heart was beating SO
that nv one fear was that she should
hear it. could have lain thus for hours,
for years, for ell eternity, it seemed to
me. had no intention OF deceiying
her, but I know that she believed l slept.
Poor Jack, she murmured. And the
very sound of the words was In itself q
caress.
When thought could sufficiently con-
troll my feelings to look calmly at her, l
opened my eyes.
Are you rested? Can you listen to
something have to say?" she asked with
the same tender intondion with which
she had said Poor Jack!"
l pressed her hand; l still would not
trust myself to speak. She continued:
Il want you to be very quiet, very calm,
and answer me some questions. For
moro than four hours you have been wan
dering about outside. With Mrs. Dud-
l., I foI fnr hnro
Tell me, why did you not come in on your
return from the station"
Surely, what 1 heard in Leicester
shire was sufficient to account for that!
l wished to delay as long as possible the
moment when should have to face-my
wife"
But you knew that sooner or later that
time must come. What did you gain by
the delay?"
What did gain?" 1 repeated with a
bitter laugh that it was impossible to dis
guise. The certain knowledge that the
woman who is called my wife is no longer
worthy to bear my name. l will never
look on her false face again"
You have discovered something -
something since you came homer" she
asked, in a nervous, startled manner.
strove my very utmost to be calm, for
she trembled and was pale as death.
by accident l overheard their talk
hers and Gascoigne's. She, the guilty
wife; he, the false friend"
NO, no. no! 1t is not so. She is not
guilty, nor he false. l am sure, am GER
tain, this can be proved. But first tell
me all that you saw and heard.
Edna was standing now. 1, too, had
risen. Her hands were clasped in sup
plication. Her eyes brimful of tears.
She was trembling in every fiber of her
body. As simply as ] could ! related all
that had occurred, making no further
comment.
When had endod-she had turned her
face away till then-she looked at me, as
though weight were taken off her mind
Thank you, she said; Il know now that
it can be explained.
Explain it, then" said I, increduously
Il will, tomorrow.
l glanced toward the window. She also
looked in the same direction. Daylight
was peeping through the half closed
shades.
To-day. A few hours hence" she
began.
within this hour shall have left my
home forever"
But what do you mean to do? Where
would you go?"
Il can tell you nothing-for I know
| nothing-except that l shall leave Eng
land and everything for which l sold
myself. shall go away free, penniless,
and-I think-alone."
Not without first seeing your wife?
Not without giving her chance to clear
herself from this terrible"
1t is as useless as it is painful to say
more. Nothing can shake my determine
| ton"
But / broke off suddenly. The look in
her eyes as they met mine positively
frightened ne.
will you not stay-at least till noon2"
she faltered.
l shook my head.
Not for my-for my sake-Jack?" Her
| voice sank to piteous entreaty as she
| spoke the last words.
There is limit to self-restraint. !
went step nearer to her, and the next
| moment she was in my arms.
She hid her suddenly flushed face
| against my shoulder. 1 did not speak,
| but caressed her hot cheek. She moved
little closer to me, kissing the hand
that was caressing her.
I took her sweet face between my hands
and raising it whispered: Look at me.
| Her eyes, with the lovelight in them,
met mine. It was enough. knew then
with what love she loved me- God keep
her and bless her and help her to bear
the burden of it, l prayed. Our lips
met. 1t was moment when silence was
more exquisitely eloquent than words.
BY supreme effort relaxel my hold,
and slowly and gently she withdrew.
AT noon-in the library" she said, as
| she left the room.
bent my head in token of assent.