The Globe-republican., 1891-12-31

i
wife's sudden STAT and pallor? Alas
for Engelonde, that lowering doubt came
| closer then.
On he came, tall, naughty, with hi!
noble air, his impassive countenance;
nearer, nearer. his measured step trot
upon my heartfelt of brass!
He looked up beheld me, came to &
dead stop-the hue Of death passed upon
his bronzed check.
@You of all the teeming world!" he
groaned.
felt the shock that thrilled through
my husband as chung, half sinking, to
| his arm; he scanned each conscious face
with pitiless inquisition, but not word.
Eyes. It Is !, Col Accrington." re-
| torted, stung into defiance by pain;
sand why not 1? Am I the first wife
who has found her happiness In wander
ing the world over by her husbands
side?'
~Perhaps not" replied he. demon
prompted; NOR are you the last poor
mortal who will wander the world over
in vain
My lords brow darkened as the odious
picture rose before him of two sad hearts
balm that might heal the wounds Of q
hopeless, an unlawful love.
could not defend myself against the
and retired. From my windows 1
watched the two brother ENJOYS pacing
to and fro; need not have feared that
Lord Inchcape would forget his duty to
his country to demand private satfsfac-
INT,
cussed business, coldly, cQurteously,
tween them.
How changed was my wicked lovers
naughty beauty, how blurred by mental
evil! Yet may judge him harshly; he
since he lounged among US in silken
ship bravely for EngIand's sake; who
shall say that he had not been suffering
whitening remorse and shame because
say, when suffering had not taught him
mercy and he Willingly sowed misery
betwixt my lord and me:
Alone. pondered how I might save
our happiness We two. so united by
truest love, surely we could never be
sundered by mere mistake? Should
l now confide that long withheld secret,
which had been the only disturber Of
our peace, leaving my husband to deal
with the matter as he judged best? All!
how long led to do that! How weary l
was of standing in my own poor
strength!
But dared not. What madness, to
set two fierce men at enmity, on the eve
of q mission which they must undertake
together! A revelation now would too
likely rupture the whole scheme; my
lord would be less than human If he
could postpone the punishment of his
wife's insulter.
Silence, at any cost!
But, thought I, surely l may appeal
to my husbands love, to trust me de-
spite appearanceS,-or to await expla-
nation until his return? And with this
hope l supported myself till he should
come to bid me farewell.
watched them part for the time, the
colonel strobe to the gates, where his
cOrtege waited, my lord entered the
house. Slowly he assembled the marble
stairs,-was he coming straight to his
unhappy Engelonie, to take her in loving
arms, and to win from ner the truth with
generous forbearance?
Slowly, heavily he paced onward
passed my chamber door-oh, love! was
it well? and entering his private apart.
ment, locked it upon all the world, and
ne.
Shut out. Judged. CONDEMNED, bereft
of even one chance of vindication. Was
it well, my Lord Inchcape?
In stupid misery l remained where
was, and the precious moments fed
away forever. The sound of the horses
hoofs, as Kenmore brought them to the |
door, reused me at last In sudden |
panic l hurried to my husbands door,
and knocked till, against his will, he |
opened. He started back when he saw
that it was his wife who would not be |
denied, then led me in with cruel pune |
l threw myself at his feet.
%You have 70 cause in me for anger |
or sorrow. Oh, Raleigh, lift me to your |
heart again." pleaded
Il have not accused you," said my |
lord. "Rise; that is not the attitude of a |
guilt'ess wife," How austere; each |
word q morsel of ice. 1 wondered at its |
cruelty. had yet to learn that jealousy |
is cruel as the grave.
II kneel for justice, not for mercy"
answered proudly; "look in my true eyes |
and say that you can doubt my loyal |
love for you." He gazed into my eyes
he was moved; what blight was on him |
that he could foster doubt even yet?
"Fain would believe in your love for |
me as much as you believe in it," said
be, @but have seen you sinking under |
the weary strife Of your heart aga INST |
honor am too old for you; you wish to |
be true to me, you are true to me, as
believe, in act and thought, but you are |
dying of the struggle"
~And you suspect my heart Of stray |
ing from you to that man?' cried de- |
risively.
Just then came q hurried knock, my |
maid Mary was seeking her mistress to
deiiveS letter which she had been or
dered to place in my own hand; too |
simple to divine the intended secrecy Of |
the transaction, she had brought 1t to |
me thus.
My lord handed me the letter with . |
bitter sneer: 1t was from Colonel Ac- |
crington, knew the hand at once.