Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-02-19
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THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANOO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
EY MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER V.
THE WRATH OF LOVE.


To be wroth with those we love
Doth work like madness in the brain.
-Coleridge.
SHE sat in the old tiled kitchen, her
g hands crossed listlessly on her lap,
her face pale, her eyes heavy.
The table was prepared for the even
ing meal, and flowers decorated the
snowy cloth and gave color and frag-
rance to the simple homely arrange
ments.
His eyes took in the whole quiet
pretty scene-the clean blue and white
tiled floor, the glitter of the brass pots
and pans, the dusky walnut-wood
presses, the old oak chairs and trest-
les, and above all, the quiet little
figure leaning so listlessly back in her
seat, with the spotless headgear and
blue kirtle Of the picturesque Norman
dress.
He stayed an instant on the thresh-
old. AS his step paused and his
shadow fell she started from her list
less attitude. She went to meet him
swiftly, her eyes shining welcome, her
lips smiling, her face appraised for the
kiss that never failed to greet her.
But she met look that drove the
blood back to her heart with a deadly
sickening fear. She covered back,
her arms fell to her side, her slight
frame trembled, her bright
girlish beauty changed in
to shamed and shrinking
sembance OF the guilt he sought and
the fear he dreaded. He looked at
her in silence for moment.
lis this thing true?"
The words were few and stern, but
they pierced to her heart with ter
ror she could not conceal. Her heed
dropped on her breast, she stretched
out her hands to him in piteous ap-
peal.
'Pierre, what have you heard?
What do you mean?"
A sharp caustic laugh left his lips.
''You can ask that--yOur own words
condemn YOU"
! She looked at him with wide appeal
ing eyes; her lips quivered like the
lips of a grieved child.
'Indced, indeed, you wrong me-
she cried. 81 have done nothing very
faulty; I"
The attemp at extenuation fred his
whole soul with fury.
ANSWER me-" he cried, selling her
in his arms and gazing down ut the
pale, frightened, quivering face, with
eyes whose passion and wrath struck
fresh terror to her heart. "Answer
me-you whom loved, and deemed
fairest, purest, truest among women
whom d, you seek when you steal
from M sight at dead OF night.
like Il thing OF guilt and
shame? Who is it you love so well
thai you risk reputation, honor, peace,
for his sake? Oh, Heaven, that
should have to ask it! Oh, love! Oh
wife! say it is false; look in my face
as you looked but few short hours
ago, and l will curse myself that my
lips have wronged you by even the
utterance of a doubt"
The wild impetuous words poured
out their prayer unchecked, unstayed
but with all the agony she suffered
with all the yearning for his trust
his faith-that thrilled her to he1
hearts core, she could not yield to hi
prayer or answer the entreaty.
WHO has told you this?'
The pale lips, the shrinking form
were not those OF innocence. A tenn
pest of fury shook him once more.
.'is this all you say?" ne cried il
his torture: care you then what tina
woman called you-beautiful. seduc
,, tive, tempting-a traitress to honO
and to wOmanhoOd?"
III am none OF these" she fashe
I out scornfully, stung by reproach s
great. by calumny so vile.
"None! Then why not re
? flute the charge? Why not ar
swer what I ask? A word-bu
one words all ] peed. Have yo
stolen out at night ard sailed down tn
river to meet some man-sOme lover
as / heard? Yes. Or no? Nay. d
not shrink; l will have tho truth no
II track your paramour to his hidde
lair and force it from him with m
. knife ct his throat"
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