New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-16

III, .h, did ,,r lcyond the love Of earlier
DAYS But he hardly understoo" SeC 'hat IL WIS
really love- and he tried 10 Iooh "P mo her iaoc,
almost fain.Ing with the terfi'~ s'raih ne III"
Lorre so bravcly and still Struggling 70 be- calm
Lam, darling he said III low voice, =" it
was all too natural. Unless yo" 'ei' me- wnat II
was that made YOU act as saw you Just now, how
can | understands
She. turned her deep eyes straight 70 his
M Won Joubt me still, llcrbert?' she asked.
And she saw that he could not help donbtlng.
"Bn, if | tell you that what l was thinking OF
would pain you very much-aho 'iat IL would ID
of no Use"
III c,uuo, 10 ike the pain | feel now he an
swcred simply
She realized that what he said was true. Then
she told him the whole story, as she knew it. And
so. in 4 few hours. the conversation Ghslcri had
held wifi, Gouachc began to bear fruit in a drec-
lion where neither of them had suspected 1t posi-.
bic that their words could penetrate.
Arden had allowed himself to sink into a chair
at Laura, side. and he listened with halfcloscd
eyes and folded hands while she spoke. Under
ordinary circumstances he would probably have
hctfaycd some emotion, and might have inter
ruptcd her with question or two. but the terri
bic excitement of the last few minutes was fol-
lowed by reaction, ana h" felt himself growing
colder and calmcr every moment, while his heart
which had been beating furou,y when lie had
first spoken 10 her, seemed now about to stand
it'll As she proceeded, however he was aware
of the most conflicting feelings Of happiness ana
angcr-tlc latter of the quiet and dan gcrous sort
lie saw at once that he had been utterly mistake.
IN doubling I.auras love, and from that direction
peace descended upon his heart but when he
heard what the world WAS saying of her. he felt
10 bal 1
to dare and do anything to avcngc the insult lie
was human enough, too, to resent bitterly the
story about himself, though that, after all, was
bat secondary affair IN comparison with the
gossip about Laura.
When she had finished no rose slowly and sat
upon the arm of her easy chair, drawing her head
% his shoulder He kissed her hair tcndcrly.
My hclovcd-can you forgive mc?' he asked
in very gentle voice. My darlins-that |
should have doubted YOU
Il am glad you did, d"ar--this once" she an
swcrcl "lou see how 1t is. You are all In"
world to mc-thc mere thought that any ore
can hurt you by word or d,cd-oh it drives me
mad"
And she. who usually 80 calm and collected.
again made that desperate gesture with her hands,
rs though she had them a womans throat ana
would strange out the life of her in the grip Of
her firm fingers.
AS for me- il matters little enough, said
Arden. taking her hands and s'roking them as
though to soothc her anger. "Of course II II an
absurd and disgusting story. and suppose som"
people believe it, But what they say of you j. i
very different matter
II do not think So" broke in Laura indc
nantly. "Of course every on" knows that VI
love each other ard that It is all lic-but when
al, il ala
drnks-oh. il i too utterly vil".'
Dear. shall We try a"d forget it ~ least
for tins evening Let H. do our h'st You have
made me 80 happy in another way suffered III
that moment very much
She looked mp into his face as h" sat ON The
arm Of the chair. and she saw that hr looked
very ill., The scene had been almost too much
for him. and she realized that when he srok" 81
FORGETTING it was because 10 could bear ro more.
"Ycs. love-" she said. W" will put it all away
for thi. evening and be happy together as W
always are"
Each was conscious no doubt. flat IN" oth"'
was making great effort bat neither of th'n
referred To- the matter again that night lh'3
talked 81 all manner Of subjects, rather n'rV"u-N
and ro.olnt.ly nj first, then naturally and easily
~ over. when the deep sympathy winch "\i-'"'
between them had asserted itself. During two
violently moved them both.
When Arden laid his head upon his pillow IN
anger had not subsidized hut he knew that hi
love had taken greater strength and depth thn1
ever before H." spent slr"plcss night indeed.
hut when he rose in the morning he did not feel
tired Something within him which was quit"
new seemed 10 sustain him and nouri-h him. He
couM not toll whether il low" FOR Laura or
anger against tho woman who slandcr"d her. or
10th acting at oncc and he did not waste much
time In Specializing upon hi- mental condition. IL"
had formed a resolution upon whlch he h'''St "
act without delay
II was rainy morning. chilly and raw agiln
~ the weather had been earlier in III" year.
"Giv. mo warm clothes. Donald" he said to his
man am going ont
"Going out, ms lord-n this w"1th"r" Don
AIDS face oppressed the greatest anxiety.
Never mind the weather. said Arden. GIVE
me- warm clothes and sGNd for IA closed carriage.
Donald obcycd shaking his head and muttcrins
detached expressions of di,aprroval lie was II
privileged person.
CHAPTER VIII.
Arden. for the first time In his life. paid no AZ
tcnton 10 Laura's rcmonStranccs when she tried
to prevent him from going out in the rain. and
hc would not hear of her accompanying him on
any condition. He assured her that with his fur
cont. and in Il closed carriage with foot-warmcr,
he was a. safe AZ at home in the drawing room,
and he gave her 20 understand that he had 4
small surprise in store for her. o which all the
effect would be- spoiled If she went with him.