Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-15

curions 'oohii noticed with "a
aa', lou, interest cobweb IN one 90 Coz :
nor mhieh the careless housemaid "a
pet. h on the car
= am waiting. Tessa.n
Austen spoke at last. Eva,v ,,..o
~ sol'ness had died out OF his voico.
cola and chilling as an lev blast Y, ,ho
words ien upon Tessa's ears Sho
snlYered n little. looked up niteonsi',
sn.o .he lace which had suddenly
grown so cold and stern.
"Waliing3 For what, Austen ~ a. :
faltered. 'Aus'ehF she
"for the explanation which ovo,,
commissioned. abandoned, lost 10 ali
sense OF shame as you must be~wiii
acknowledge ! have a right 10 ia
thana' Austen returned coldly.
iessa's fingers twined and rntwinad
neryously. Oh. II only he could az
on u ne would but tell her how much
20 Knew the girl thought passionate.
" y would make her task 50 much
"Explanation Of what don't nm.
derstand. she stammered.
"fou must be remarka Div dense,,,
-and Austen sneered again. ..Well
VIII tell you then, as YOU ASH 7
missed you from the drawine.room
went In search OF you and found YOU
on you know we'll enough, there d no
need 10 assume that look Of virtuous
lndlgnasion--with your hand clasned
IN your lorer's--wltnessed your fare.
Wellin
My lOyer?" Tessa started and
looked up with sad little smile. ~
thought you were that. Austen, = Tossa
went ON softly.
~ wasi but ] resign the privilege:
! have no wish TO share Il in common
With other men, Austen said haught.
ily-''ei,her with Cleveland nor any
one else.
'Cleyeland?7 Austen could almost
have iAncied that Tessa looked re.
lieyed.
Yes. you need no, eeny lit was
Cleveland; | am sure OF that he re-
turned coldiy. III would have been
bad enough II Il had been any one else
hnl Cleveland IA married man! Oh,
i Is shAmiul. horrible. You must In.
deed ee lost TO all sense Of decency
when you can steal GU, OF the house.
where the woman who was so good 10
yon--ihe woman you protessed 10 love
70 Eell--lles dead and cold Ia her coi-
Oh. 20 hold eiandesiino meetings with
lover who il too a married mantn
Tessa's heart sank Ut the cold voice.
Anything. any anger. however great,
would been better 10 bear. easier 10
overcome, than his calm, passionless
contempt.
Surely, II he knew all he could not
bn moro angry she thought. and she
put out her hand and touched his
sleeve gently, Austen. will you please
listen momci?" she began; but
Austen moved he hand away quiet.
Is. bnt with little loathing gesture
from which TcsSa covered as from
blow.
why should Ilisien2 To be fooled
agAin?" he said, In his cold. bitter
voice. ''Il Is not the tirst time have
seen sou together. Scarcely fort.
night ago you we're with him In the
laurel walk at an hour when no decent
girl would be out Of her home even
with her promised husband. saw you
with him! oh. remember Il well
enough. and how few minutes after
wards tho lips which had just betrayed
mo smiled AZ mo and kissed me with
Judas's Kisses
A strange feeling OF uprealiiy and
numbncss was stealing over Tessa.
oh. well might Austen's enemies call
him hard and uniorgiying, she thought.
Was Il possible that those stern cold
eyes were the eyes which had so often
looked into hers full Of intense pas
piunais loyc--thAt those condemning
lips had ever whispered protestations
of endless undying love9 She felt
powcrlcss to struggle against such
evidcnce-against such
a stern Judge. She looked helplessly
round the room, noticed with linger-
ing tenderness each familiar object.
Il was a very shabby little room; but
Tcssa had spent many happy hour
there, and every picture, nay. every
chair and table. seemed 10 bring back |
with tantalizing distinctness those
happy memories. Austen's lathe stood |
IN one corner. his fretwork machine
by the window. Only q month ago |
Iossa had received sharp reprimand
for mcddling with aud breaking some
Al his fayorite saws. She remember
"a her saucy retort--the lovers quar-
rel--,he pretty little scene of recon
,Ilin,ion which followed. Was It only
, month agoP II seemed like year!
,he thought. She managed to speak
u last.
"Auston, you viii please listen 10
mo for momentw she pleaded. :"
rnow wha, you saw tonight and be-
ORC must have seemed very strange TO
,ou; but II you viii listen--if you VIII
et me explain"
..ExplainP Conduct such as yours
. incapable OF explanatlon--satisfac-
ory explanation, Mt all events" Aus
.s.,a,.,,a cotdiv. aNo, / will not