San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-03
B6dtrlX Randolph.
By JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
Copyright, 1900, by American Press Association
CHAPTER l.

window, and in few minutes Mile.
Mariana appeared. She greeted him
with such evidently spontaneous pleas
ure that any slight lnisgiving he may
have felt was Immediately dissipated.
Il began to think yon were never go
ing to come" she said.
I'm so much ont of the way of max
ing calls that I'm surprised to find my
self here. You have great many call
ers:''
"Wel, Il good many come, but | see
very few--only old friends. And of
course" she added, las never was in
New York before, that is the same as
saying | see hardly any one"
Il met II man lately who knows you,
think-Mr. Randolph"
Mr. Randolph She pronounced the
name in Il changed tone and blushed.
Alexander Randolph" he repeated,
looking at her.
She dropped her eyes. "I-belieye-l
have heard his NAME" she said.
Bellingham said no more: he felt dis
mayed and bewildered. Undoubtedly
there was some unpleasant mystery about
this fellow Randolph. Heard his name"
indeed! Had not the man been in her
company five minutes ago?
II saw you at the opera last night, re-
marked the priIna donna, recovering her
self. Bellingham merely nodded. "Were
You disappointed" she asked falteringly.
NO, was like the rest of the audi
ence," he replied in dry tone.
You are not like the rest of the au-
dience to me" she said, "ever since the
first night Ihave sung to you. | wouldn't
tell you, only thought you knew it!'
II know nothing about you" returned
Bellingham roughly.
"You speak as if you didn't care to
know anything" she said, holding up
her head
Bellingham controlled his rising tenn
per. A weaker man would have pro-
tected himself by irony OF sarcasm, but
he said exactly what he thought. II
care more about what concerns you" he
said, than about anything else. But /
viii not look away when am being de-
ceived. You and this Randolph are both
pretending to be strangers to each other.
saw him come ont of this room just be-
fore came into it. Do you deny that
he was heref'
HE was here" answered she, turning
pale.
There is only one other question. Are
You going to marry him:"
This was SO unexpected that she
laughed. 1t was a nervous, almost hys-
terical laugh, it is true, but Bellingham
naturally did not understand it. 81 am
not going to marry Mr.. Randolph said
the prima donna, with heartbroken
sense of humor.
"And You will not tell me what your
relations are with himy'
mo; they are very peculiar relations"
she replied lightly, for she was getting
desperate. you must think what you
please-think the worst you can, it
makes no difference. will tell you
nothing
Belingham gazed at her fiXedly. 81
cannot believe that you are wicked
woman" he exclaimed at length. 81
don't know how to believe it! Why did
you deceive me? was ready to take it
for granted that You were-like other
women on the stage. But you made me
believe You were pure and innocent. No
woman ever acted innocence before as
you have done it. You look like inno-
cence incarnate at this moment-at the
actual moment you are admitting. What
is it You want? would have asked you
to marry meas soon as had persuaded
myself you loved me. loved you with
all my heart and soul. Did you merely
intend to lead me on, and then refuse
me, like common flirt? Or would you
have married me and still kept up your
relations with-well, can't talk about
It'll There is always some motive even
in the highest wickedness, but can see
none in yours-and yours is not lightP'
Mile. Mariana was standing erect
twisting her lace handkerchief between
her hands, her face pale, her eyes wide
open, fearless, full OF restless light. She
never looked at him. 1t seemed physi-
cally impossible for her TO do so.
Il have never been spoken to like
this" she said, in a faint, painting voice.
"Will you leave me, please? Will you
leave me-"
Bellingham moved to depart. but he
stopped and turned back.
Il have always meant never 10 be I'M
just to any human being" said he. at
is possible that the very love / felt for
you may have made me unjust to you.
II you can tell me that there Is nothing
disgraceful in this secret of yours-tell
me, for Gods sake! Are yo9 what you
seem or something elsey'