The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-04
BY MUTUAL CONSENT.
By j. MARSDEN SUTCLEFFE,
"THE BELLE
A-- F1CE," FIRE." Ere,
IALL RIGHTS RESERVED

sively. do you understand Everything!
But though l acknowledge that degraded
you and tn 1t if you had not broken away
from me might have dragged you down
70 my own level. you mus remember that
l was not free agent-thAt / was the vic
tim Of CT rcumstances l abandoned you TOO
lightly-selhsh fool as was / thought only
of gaining nv freedom. And now | have
broken my pledge to you. Why's You
may scorn my confession, but it is love
that has compelled me to break our COM
pact"
Winifred listened to him patiently thus
him with gesture.
"Loves Dom speak to me of love-" she
cried, impatiently. Docs love tempt men
to meanness and perjury? You know not
what love is. You never can"
"Pe haps not as-as you understand it."
said Sir Reginald, humbly. "We cannot
all feel alike. You will allow that9 Never
theless, am not stranger to love, "a men
know it. When l saw your picture failed
at first to recognize that it was meant for
you"
mo; that is very probable" said Wini-
fred, coldly. II am changed since you
knew me-"
Yes; that is true, but you are not so
changed that my thoughts did not fly to
you when I saw the picture. 1
was interested enough in what
saw to resolve to seek out the
model, who had sat to the artist, when
fortune directed my steps hither. have
come here now to sue, where | might claim
the right to command, because l have long
since regretted complying with your wish.
have missed you, more than words can
say; for l have learned your value since we
parted. was poor man in those days,
living from hand to mouth-you know
how. But to>day / have wealth at COM
mand and am no longer driven to doubtful
shifts to make g living, and l come to lay
everything | have at you feet. At least,
you will acknowledge that my errand justi-
des this breach in the compact. Let by
cones be bYgones. l know you do not
love me, but give me chance of repairing
the past.n
For a moment shade of trouble passed
over Winifred's face. The adroitness with
which Sir Reginald pleaded his cause, ac-
cepting the whole blame for the unhappy
past and ackno wIedging his desire to make
atonement, disturbed her judgment Was
he sincere3 She confessed to herself that if
she could believe i'll his sincerity it might
be her duty to reconsider her attitude to-
ward him, though she loved him not But
in an instant the memory rushed over her
of the knocking tones of his voice and the
tauuts with which he announced his pres
ence, aud the light of malignant triumph
In his eyes as she met his gaze on becoming
aware of his entrance into the room, and
her brow that had become clouded over
cleared again.
"Y u have inflicted on me the most ter
rible wrongs she said, with bitter
emphasis. seldom has woman suffered
at the hands of man what have suffered
from you. You speak to me now Of repara-
ton. The only reparation that you can
make is to cave me free from molestation."
TRY me again, and you will see how diff
ferent your life will be from what 1t was
formerly said Sir Reginald, who was not
di,mayed by the refusal of his prayer.
Winifred's hesitatio had not escaped his
attention. He interpreted it as a sign of
yielding, and he considered that if he re-
fused to accept a rebuff aud continued to
plead he must prevail He ad vanced nearer
to her, and made as though he would take
her and.
But Winifred drew back, quickly gather
ing up her dress lest he should touch her.
The gesture of repulsion was not lost upon
Sir Reginald, whoss face took a sickly hue.
He was chatting sorely within, but tried to
control his rising anger. He had another
another shaft in his culver, and be thought
that the time had come to produce it.
For the child's sake, Winitred," he
urged, confident that in this one point his
wite's armor was weak. ''Le5 his memory
be t he common bond to unite us again"
But the expression of mingled horror
and disgust that swept over Wintfreds
face convinced him that he had overshot
his mark De felt something as near to a
sense of conjunction as it was possible for
him to know, remembering that he had
borne no love for tie child, who had, in
deed, been thorn in his side over whose
removal he secretly rejoiced; ard he felt
angry over his faulty in striking cord in
Winifrsd's bosom SO inimical to his pro-
ject. He saw by his wife's face that she
had forgotten nothing, and that he stood
before her unmasked, his fragrant hypocrisy
revealed.
"How dare you make that appeal to meT
cried, her fingers tightening as she
clenched her hands in pain. Now, leave
me-" she added, pointing with her finger to
the door.
But Sir Reginald, who saw his mistake
when it was too late stood his ground, de-
termined upon making an effort to retrieve
his error.
81 am sorry if I have touched an old
wound" he said, Geprecatingly. 81 own
that l was in fault there, too, but if you
will return to me there may be other chill
dren-"
Never" cried Winifred, passionately,
lnUerrupGlng MIN, as @ TIDE OF ner emOulQn
that she had exerted herself to keep ack,
swept past her defenses. "LOve is impossible
between US. l do not believe word of this
feigned peniteuce. In the basis of your
character you are thoroughly bad, and past
any power mine to mend. II this had not
bee my feeling my life would not have been
so wietched when with you, and l would
have chung to you to the end, hoping, pray
ing, striking in Gll TIE ways IN which a
woman can strive for your amendment.
But my faith was wrecked in you long ago,
and cannot be restored"
eff may not win you by fair means
can carry you away by toul,n cried Sir
Reginald angrily, springing forward and
Selling her roughly by the shoulders.
"You are Lady Denison-my wife. 1t is
time that this masquerading as Winifred
West was put an end TO-" he added, all the
worst passions of his nature aroused as
he realized that he had humbled himself in
vain.
Release me-you are hurting me" cried
Winifred, turning failt with pain.
Take care you do not provoke me too
far" answered, as he withdrew his hands.
Il will not be played with. You will come
with me or I shall remain here.n
Winifred looked straight before her in
needless irfesolution. sick at heart and dis
mayed by this attack. 1t flashed upon her
thai it was no idle threat that Sir Reginald
Denison held over her. He had the law on
his side as matters stood. All he had to
do was TO Law claim to his own and this he