The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-03-22

! the empty glass, and, at a sign from her.
lay down az in upon the couch. She
turned the shaded lamp upon the table,
stirred the fire, then moved toward the
door. / must 60 now and say YOU have
come in. will return" she said, in an
swer to the unspoken question of my
eyes. / know not the length of time that
INTERVIEWED. When she came again, |
ext nded my hand to her, mutely implor-
ing sympathy.
She understood. She sat down and
slid her hand in nina. At first it trem-
bled just Ii tie, like the futtering of a
frightened bird, then it lay still. / strove
: to conceal the rapture with which this
voluntary act of hers inspired me, and
closed my eyes lest she should read in
them the truth. My heart was beating so
that my one fear WAS that she should
hear it. / could have lain thus for hours.
for years, for all eternity, it seemed TO
me. | had no intention of dec Giving
her, but | know that she believed | slept.
Poor Jack, she murmured. Aud the
very sound of the words was in itself a
caress.
When thought could sufficiently con-
troll my feelings TO look calmly at her, 1
opened my eyes.
Are YOU rested9 Can you listen to
something have to say" she asked with
the same tender information with which
she had sail Poor jack
| pressed her hand; | still would not
trust myself to speak. She continued:
Il want You to be very quiet, very calm,
and answer me some questions. For
more than four hours you have been wan
dering about outside. With Mrs. bud
leys knowledge l waited for you here.
Tell me, why did you not come in on your
return from the station"
Surely, what l heard in Leicester
shire was sufficient to account for that!
l wished to delay as long as possible the
moment when l should have to face-mv
wife"
But you knew that sooner or later that
time must come. What did You gain by
the delay?"
What did gain?" | 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. 1 will never
look on b. false face again"
You have discovered something -
something since You came home; she
asked, III 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. l, 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 ended-she had turned her
face away till then-she looked at me, as
though weight were taken Off her mind.
Thank you, she said; i know now that
1t can be explained"
Explain it, then" said ], increduously.
Il will, to- morrow"
l glanced toward the window. She also
looked in the same direction. Daylight
was peeping through the half closed
sha les.
To-day. A few hours hence" she
began.
home forever"
But what do you mean to do? Where
would you go?"
Il can tell you nothing-for / know
moth ng except that shall leave Eng
land and everything for which l sold
myself. | shall 60 away free, renniless,
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
tom"
But broke off suddenly. The look in
her eyes as they met mine positively
frightened me.
will you not st py-at least till noon?"
she faltered.
| 81 ook my head.
Not for my-for my sake-Jacks" Her
voice SANK to piteous en:reaty as she
spoke the last words
There is a limit to self-restraint. l
went step nearer to her, and the next
moment she vas in my arms
She hid her Suddenly flushed face
against my shoulder. l d d lot speak,
hut caressed Eer hot check She moved
a little c,oser 10 me, kissing the hand
that was caressing her.
took her sweet face between nv hands
an | raising it whispered: Look at me-"
Her eyes, with the lovelisht in them,
met mine. 1t was enough. | knew then
with what love she loved me. God keep
her and bless her and help her to lear
the burden Of it, l prayed. Our lips
met. 1t was moment when silence was
more exqnsitely eloquent than words.
BY a sup! enc effort relaxed my hold,
and slow Y and gently she withdrew.
At noon in the library" she said, as
sh left the room
l bent my head in token OF assent.