Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-23

ceased to deny even to himself. Her beauty
had never had an attraction for him, hel
youth and innocence bored him. Her for.
tune for the most part he had squandered
she is therefore literally of no possible use
| to him; and besides, she stands in his way
"We shall be late," says Rhoda, taking
no notice of his jibe. She rises leisurely,
and moves across the room to where her fan
is lying on table. His shifting, rowing
eyes follow her.
"Shall we? dare say Lady Barring will
manage to exist without us, until we get
there.
Here his glance falls on the flowers Simp-
son had brought in some time ago
"Wyvis, again!" said he, with a little
| light wave Of the hand toward her, and a
lighter laugh. To Rhoda's ears, with that
new terrible doubt just freshly walked with
satisfaction in it. Every attentive, 'pon
nv soul.
'If we are going out tonight it had better
be at once" says Rhoda, still very calm.
''There is no such mad haste, and no
reason, if it comes to that, why we should
SO at all.
There is every reason. 1promised Lady
Barring, for one thing, and"
Lord Wyvis for another!'
"No."
"Besides which, it is advisable to be seen
in public with your husband occasionally,
especially at this time. All you saints can
be wise in your generation, see. Do you
really think it will save appearances if I
enter room with you? That it will make
you more respectable? By Jove, If so, it
will be the first time was ever used for
that purpose"
II am quite willing to believe you do
not know what you are saying" says she
in a low tone. She has grown very white,
and has laid her hand upon the table near
gloves, but in reality to steady herself.
Pm not drunk" ;" says Werner coolly.
"I'm afraid can't let you comfort yourself
with that thought. I know right we'll what
am saving"
Then say no more" says she. "Come,
making an effort to move, '1et US CO."
I'm minute or two. Surely, Wyyis can
spare you to me for five minutes: and
want to admire his flowers. White! Like
your gown! Like yourself! A suggestive
bouquet"
He takes it up, and examines it with de-
liberation.
He is growing brutal now. 1t is plain he
has been drinking, but he is quite sober
enough still to know what he is doing, and
to follow out the set purpose that has been
growing in his mind of late
Here, take them, he says, fiuging them
on to the table near where she is standing.
II do not want them"
''No?> You will tell me next, perhaps,
that it was not Lord Wyvls who sent
them"
II believe it was he" The faintness is
diving away from her now, and with long,
deep breath she regains mastery over her
self She pushes the flowers from her.
You believe? Not sure, eh?" His
smile is odious.
Quite sure," replies she, with decision.
"Well, he has taste," first with glance
at the flowers and then with glance at her
full Of abomlnable meaning Gle evil
IDENTIFY knew" looking her over, "what to
send to match your gown
You are wrong for once" saws she, her
voice full of disgust. ''He could not pos
sibly have known the color Of my gown"
'Couldn't he? Not seen him TODAY,
then?"
eyes; saw him, certainly" Sir CASTOR
laughs loudly.
''You are genius itself!'' cries he. 'eYou
know the value of truth. Open, honest,
unblushing truth. You never blush, do
you? Your face at this moment is as white
as death. Why so white, wonder? Afraid
OF anything? You have nothing to be dis
covered, have you?"
"You must be mad, saws she in low
tone, still controlling herself
Il am afraid you won't be able to 90
upon that either. have many who can
swear to my sanity. And so didn't tell
him what flowers you would like to wear to-
night? What flowers would match your
white gown and your whittier soul? Eh?"
"Nop' Suddenly all her control deserts
eyes blazing. "You say you know saw
him to-day. How do you know? Was it
you who sent him here? Was it you who
told him that 1 should be at home this after
noon?"
ZIP"
"Be silent!' cries she, with sudden fierce
ness "Let me learn the worst You met
him at your club, and told him to come
here! You betrayed the fact that I should
surely be alone. You told yourself it would
be damnatory evidence against me if people
heard that, when I had told all my friends
was going into the country to see an old
cousin, I had stayed behind to receive Lord
Wyvis! You did tell him!'
Something in the feverish passion of her
eyes compels him to the truth.
"Well, and if so," says he with q glance
at her full of hatred. Ibid not show N.Y.
self kind? Was not considerate to him?"
"a word, CASTOR" says she. "Itmay be
q last word between us two"
"Oh. don't hurry yourself on nv ac.
count" says he. Take your timel I'd
finish the season if were you before trying
If lite is worth living-with him.,
"You must be jesting" says she slowly.
ut is some horrible jest; yet think you
mean something" She moves closer to |
him. 'What is it you mean?" asks she,
her dark eyes, frightened now, fastened
upon him. "You-you believe nothing |
bad Of me in your soul, whatever you may
say. You know ME as-as-" sGn,ly, II |
1ot say; you speak words that spell ruin to
my woman. What is it you mean?"
''Hah! you have cone to the meaning
;hen?"
"Your meaning? Yours? CASTOR! do
vou know what you are doing?" She is
lose to him now, her long velvet train
weeping the ground behind her, her small
md shapely head thrown back, haughtily
lpheld in this hour when he would will
ngiy have trampled her in the dust be-
leath his feet
II know what you are doing; which is
more to the purpose" returns he, infamous
o the last, though his eyes fell before her
lear and scornful gaze.
"Think!" says she. ''Think, before it is
90 late" She puts out her hand and lays
on his arm, but he shakes it off vehe-
nently and makes step backwards. This
loes not seem to hurt her; she is too accus-
omed to discourteousness from him to no.
ice so small an action; but once again fear
vertakes her. What is he going to do?
"Would you poison my name?" cries she.