The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-03-29
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not see where she was going, but that
did not matter The rain was falling,
but she was not conscious of it. With
her arms folded tightly across her breast,
her fingers clinched in her flesh, her jaw
set hard, and her wide eyes fixed upon
vacancy she moved slowly, mechanical
ly, trying to think.
So that woman was his wifel What,
then, was she? A wreck. Love had
come into her life with the suddenness
of storm and stranded her hopelessly.
His blue ewes had been false beacons for
her. ALL how cruel hAd been his treach-
eryl He swore that he loved her, would
love her always, and she-poor, weak.
credulous, ignorant fool that she was
had believed him. Oh, how she had
trusted hint how she had loved himl
And all the while he was simply amusing
himself with her BETRAYAL. laughing in
his sleeve at her foolish faith and fond
ness. And when the time had come for
him to go and receive his wife he had
gone, lightly leaving her to her bllghted
life of loneliness, sorrow and shame!
How was it possible chat one who looked
SO noble could be so base? How could
his lying lips promise lifelong love to
her when in his heart he knew that his
wife, the woman he really loved, was
coming across the sea to him2 And what
hooking fate it was that it must needs
be she, herself, and no other, who should
drag that woman out of the waves, back
to life-for himI On, had she but
known-no, mol Not that. She would do
it over again. But, 0 Godl how hard
it was to think of and to bear
She did not take any heed to where
she was going until she walked into an
arm that the rising tide had flung across
the beach, and was almost carried off
her feet by strong and stealthy wave.
Then she turned and went home, tread
ing more firmly, as if her agonized and
turbulent thoughts had settled them
selves in formulated purpose of action.
Outside the door, standing in the dark
with his tarpaulins on, she encountered
her father.
~ got sort of anxious about you and
started out to look for you" he said
Where have you been?'
Taking walk. My head was hot
and wanted to cool it,"
Woman and her baby all right, I
suppose?
.sYes.a
HAS she told you yet who she isz"
yes"
What's her nameY'
Mrs. Selden Rangely."
"Whatl not
Eyes, his wife; from England
She spoke III a hoarse whisper, and
passing him entered the house without
another word. Mr.. David King re-
manned outside long time, freeing his
mind in phrases that doubtless made the
recording angel sigh.
The next day Mrs. Rangely and her
child started in beach wagon for Toms
river, where they would be enabled to
take the regular stage for Philadelphia.
Not only did Janet suppress the hid
eous discovery she had made and nerve
herself to reply snilinglyt to the woman's
untiring iterations of ELUSIVE gratitude,
and bid her ''good-by and godspeed"
when she took her leave, but the poor
girl even found arguments to restrain
her father from executing design that
he had formed the night before. He
wished to accompany the woman ON her
journey that she might unconsciously
lead him to his vengeance upon the be-
trayer of his child. But Janet said to
him:
"You shall not do so. Leave him to
his conscience and to Sod. / have the
right to demand this. TO say what shall
be done to him. l am the one most
deeply wronged, and forbid your seek
ing to avenge me upon him."
do You mean to tell me you forgive
him?" hotly demanded the old man, with
the fierce fire Of his Scotch blood blazing
in his eyes.
"No, ! cannot say that" she replied
huskily; that is too much, but | bide
my time. viii not have your deed
bruit my shame abroad to the world"
There's something in that" assented
her father grimly, $50 we'll bide bit.
Waiting is not forgetting. He'll be
main glad to greet his wife, no doubt"
1t was keen thrust, and she felt it as
he meant she should, but she answered
with stony calm:
"She is innocent. She has harmed me
not. For why should break her heart
with the knowledge that he is as false
to her as to me2'