Middletown transcript., 1892-01-14

toned her SO severely now. He had
done wrong to torture her so, and beg
ged to be forgiven. There was some
cologne on the dressing-table, and he
bathed her face softly, soothing her
meanwhile with tender words, while
lie stroked her beautiful hair caress-
ingly.
"My poor darling" be murmured,
brokenly, how you have been in
jured ! what pain you must have
suffered !"
She had grown more composed now;
her sobs were fainter.
Forget it, dear. as / shall try to
do" reaching out her hand toward
him.
3 Forget it !" he echoed, looking at
her in q way that frightened her. ]
will settle accounts with him to-
morrow"
What do you intend to do 7"
. st will kill him, or he shall kill
mer
A duell 1t is impossible You
are not in France /; the survivor would
be called a murderer"
can arrange it 90 that no sus-
picion need be excited !; SO that it can
be proved that the one who fall COM
mitted suicide"
"But, Arthur, " taintly."
Well ?"
"To fight with him would be going
to your death. He is an unrivalled
shot. Have you thought of me ?-of
leaving me alone in the world +? What
is this mans life worth to yours?
Better endure a thousand insults than
to lose you )" and her arms were
again about his throat, and tears fill
ed her beautiful eyes.
am determined" he said /; "and
something assures me-" as he brought
his teeth tightly together, "that !
shall not be the one to fall" There
was short cry. She shuddered in
his arms. Be calm, my love the
right will conquer wrong" he added,
softly.
Her eyes opened slowly as he put
her gently from him, and began walk.
ing slowly up and down the room.
Her glances followed him with pain
tul persistence as she leaned back
against the cushions, breathing
heavily.
81 will leave you now" he said,
finally, pausing in front of her :
there is much tLat l must do before
the morning"
Then a sudden strength seemed 10
seize her. She rose and moved to-
ward him with resolute steps. stand-
ing between him and the door.
/" You shall not leave this room until
you have promised to give up this
mad scheme, she said, firmly.
81 have made up my mind"
You shall not risk your lite: no,
nor tale another's."
He made step toward her, his eyes
bent iutently on hers, as if he read
some new revelation in the strange
light that filled them.
Marian" n"-he paused and looked
at her again; her figure seemed to
fatten out against the door, as if that
glance were crushing her" if you do
not let me go, I shall think that you
are afraid Of the consequences to hina!'
She clutched at the portiere as he
passed out at the door. Then she
turned, with set eyes looking into
space: If he should die p came the
husky whisper :" if he should die!"
CHAPTER II.
ALONE.
1t was late in the morning when
Marian awoke. She had taken some
sedative to make her sleep. The
clock chimed the hour of ten, and
through her drowsy brain flashed the
scene of the night before. She shiver.
ed as she hurried through her toilet.
Perhaps there was still time to stop
this dreadful affair.
/" He will be killed! know i'll
feel it" she murmured, brushing out
her lustrous hair with a trembling
hand. The mirror was before her, |
and she could not help seeing how
wan and gray her face looked in the
dim light that filtered through the |
Madras curtains.
Z" l have aged ten years since last
night" she murmured, half-petulant-
ly, as she turned away.
The door of her husbands room, |
was standing open when
she reached it. There was no one
within. Everything was in order.
On the secretary by the window lay
large package addressed to her. She
stood looking at it for some moments
as if fascinated.
ITO be opened tomorrow, if l do
not return" she read on the edge of
the envelope.
If l do not return" she murmur-
ed blaakly, with d shudder. "If I
do not RETURN" she repeated.
The sight of that white envelope
seemed to irritate her. She picked it
up, and threw it hastily into the
drawer Of the secretary, locking it and
placing the key in her bosom. Then
she sat down on the sofa again. Her
eyes roamed here and there about the
room. She saw on the walls the por-
traits of her husband and herself in a
rocco frame. The picture had been
painted during their honeymoon,
three years before. A handsome
couple. people had said, and now
She turned her face away and closed
her eyes.
She saw that face 10 a changed I
light, II was pallid and contracted !