Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-11

ring in his voice that had once been so sweet in her ears. With the memory she shuddered through all her frame. ! 'Do you hate me as much as that?" facing her and looking down on her with half-amused eyes. "Well, was a 1 brute, but we had been such fools."
 He paused, as if waiting for her to speak.
 "Let me look at you-you haven't grown younger. And you really thought me deadP We'll, I had a mar row chance for 1t. Look" He turned his face and showed the track of bull let across the temple and side of his face. "The officers knew better, but they let 1t go at that-they didn't care to report a successful escape.'
 Still she stood mute.
 Cant you speak? A man might think you were not glad to see him."
 ''It is such a surprise" she half whis- pered, with rigid lips.
 "No doubt. Is that fellow going to marry you? I happened to be in the neighborhood last night and got the benefit of that scene-nice thing for a man to be looking at-his own wife, too. I'd great mind to send a bullet through his head"
 'He did not know. He was as inno- cent as I was"
 "Oh, no doubt-quitel No, Helen, that's not fair. I always did do you justice in my heart, in spite of your internal temper. You've kept straight, know. But what came here for to-day was to ask what he meant"
 "He did mean that I should be his wife"
 "Well," doubtfully, ''the law frees you. If he's going to marry you, sup pose it's all right"
 70, Payne, can't you see2-it's all over. How can l marry with you liv- all these years," piteously. 'I have been so hopeless, so despairing, and it seemed as if might live on forever"
 "Where's the baby?"
 Dead" with little moan.
 faint culver crossed his face. ''It's good thing, may be. And so you won't marry because I happen to be alive? And you don't love me, either. Women are queer things. If I'd been sure that he meant honest, I'd have kept out of the way. A man can't see his own wife imposed on, even if he has
 
 What are you going to do?" wildly. "Must go with you?"
 "Go with me? No, thank you. shall get away from here shortly. had business here, and I give you my word that I did not know you were here when I came. But we shall finish up shortly now, and then I'll be off And look here, you shan't be fooled again. I'll make certain that you are told when do go."
 She had been standing all the while. He came close to her now.
 Cant you give me a kiss?" stepping his still handsome face toward her.
 70, no-no," she shrank back shiver- ing.
 And your husband, tool You took 1t much more coolly the other night, " with careless laugh. 'Well, good bye. I shan't see you again, most likely. Keep straight, Helen. know men better than you do. He's hand some fellow-not much better than was before I got this beauty-marlz, though-and just as likely to be no bet ter sort"
 She sank down on the floor as he went out. By and by she pulled down the pillow from the couch near by, and lay there sobbing and shivcring. Sam Lee coming in for directions for the evening meal found her with closed eyes, and fancying her asleep spread a shawl over ] her and left her, following the devices , of his own heart over the cook stove. She heard the men coming at last, Bronson and her brother, and met them at the door, so white, so desperate } looking, that both drew rein and sat staring at her speechlessly.
 Bronson sprang to the ground at last , and took her in his arms. She put him away with trembling hand, not look ing at him.
 "Harry, Payne Morse is alive" "How do you know?" "I've seen him-he has been here." "To-day?"
 "Only Q little while ago-it was nc mistake; I talked with him. What shall do? What shall do?'' . Bronson was leaning back against his horse, bewildered look of agony or his face. But as she turned toward him he answered her appeal. He came 3 forward and put his arm about her. 3 "You see, love your sister," he sait n to Harry. ''She would have been my f4!&!; g |