Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-11-05
CHAPTER MI.
TEMPTED TO DiSIiONOH.

TEMPTED TO DiSIONoH.
hate looking back and re-reading words
which have written while the impulse Was
upon me; but fancy l have somewhere
called this tale confession; il not, should
have done SO. 1t claims no more to be rank
ed as a work of art than as work OF imagl-
nation. How could it? 1t holds only two
charac.ers-a man and woman. 1t treats
but of their love and of a few months OF
their lives. Nevertheless in telling it have
endeavored to conceal nothing. have tried
to describe my thoughts, my hopes, my fears,
my sorrows and my joys, as they really
were. have, believe. suppressed MOTH
ing which could lead any one to condemn
my actions more strongly than, it may be,
they now condemn them. My wish has been
to show myself as was then-nO doubt am
nova weak. selfish man; yet, for the love
which he bore a woman, one willing to risk
fortune, life, even honor. IT l have failed
in my attempt to represent myself as such
q one, believe 1t Is not from intention, but
from sheer inability.
But whether l have so far succeeded or
failed in my purpose ! know not; but
know that in this chapter must, perforce,
fail. The language rich and powerful
enough to serve my needs has yet to be in
vented. The writer who could in any fitting
way reproduce my thoughts has yet to DO
born.
And vet the clapter will be short one.
1t will be but the record of few hours; but
such hours! Hours during which l strug-
gled against a temptation to commit, not
only crime, but base, cowardly crime; .
temptation stronger, dare to think, than
poor human nature has as yet been subject
ed to. My words sound bold; but listen.
Oh, that one morning! How well can
remember It.! Our breakfast was just over.
The quaint-shaped little table, with its
snowy cloth throwing into relief the deep
colors of the luscious fruit upon 1t still stood
in the awning-roofed patio. ! was alone,
my mother and Philippe having retired In
doors to see about some domestic economy.
lounged lazily and at my ease. l rolled
and lighted cigarette. blaming myself IS
did SO for my barbarity in profaning the
blossom-sccnted air with tobacco-smoke.
Then took from my pocket the London
Times, which had arrived by the last post
and listlessly set to work to skim its lengthy
columns.
had no fear as to what the paper might
contain. 1t was not from newspaper reports
that apprehcnded danger. l had, how
ever, noticed that Philippe, when she saw
me with newspaper in my hand, eyed me
anxiously and inquiringly, so that generally
contrived to glance through It when she
was absent. never permitted her to touch
1t until had read 1t; but my only reason
for this prohibition was, that feared lest
some chance allusion to the mysterious and
undiscovered crime might distress her. Her
own far-fetched fancy that another might
be accused of It gave me not moments I'M
easiness.
So l turned and doubled back the broad
sheets. ran down the topics of the day.
skinned the leading articles. glanced Of
the foreign news; paid scant attention to
law reports, and disregarded altogether the
money.markst intelligence. At last turn
ed my attention to the provincial news col.
umn. A name caught my eye; . cold shiver
Of dread ran through me. Ny cigarette fell
on the marble pavement, and lay there un.
needed, Is, with agitation which no words
can dsscribA> read short paragraph placed
under the heading Of the principal town OF
the county In which RodinG was situated.
Read!
William Evans. the man accused Of the
murder of Sir Aervyn Fetrand. Bart, in
January last will Be tried at these Assizes,
which epsn on The twVntisth. The case,
which excites considerable interest," will b
taken on the Arst day. 4 b reported that
althouSh Gssh evidsncs against the prisonel
will Be fottAeoming, u WIN be Of . purely
1 Hinoa,msfa nNtal natuvAu