New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-05
THE TWO SALOMES.
XIX.
.,s FOR ME. I LOVE HIM NOT"


h'" sove that her hand tremblcd slightly as she
,ook the spoon from fhe liauld'
'ooN csIome said Mrs. Gerry from the bed.
cho turned quickly. 1t was the first time her
49,. had spoken since she had SAID that she
MD ,"a.d ~ respect her daughter Mrs Gerry's
W. noze WAS on the girl. She beckOned feebly.
~ an instant Salome was bending over her.
auosn,t that Mr.. Moore?" she whispered.
.Yes."
.was that true that you told me?'
at was true
.W.m are sure / didn't dream it, with an an
,sa usefulness that was hard for the girl to
=, told you," she answered. bearing up bravely.
amos Mr. Moore know"
sOh, no, no"
ELAINE knew what was coming now.
you must, tell him.
e.,om. held up her head as she answered:
avay WELL
-hu, il will not be fair to let him marry YOU
=. lt him think you are very different from what
con really are
4. they talked the young mans voice could be
..s,d outside He was speaking with Mr. Maine
81 understand said Salome, still with her
md flung up. but what am l, realy?'
AIRS Gerry could not answer. She moved her
,..d YEARLY from side to side on the pillow.
is the broth ready ?" she asked.
co,ome brought tine broth and gave it with the
Utmost tenderness, as she did everything for her
charge.
Still there was some bitterness in her eyes. and
hsr ,ips were pressed together. That fire of re-
continent that she should be considered so wicked
was still smoulderng in her consciousness
Yes. certainly, Moore ought to know what
,vrotch he wished TO marry. 1t had all the tlme
boon in the bottom of her mind that she would tell
him. Still. with closer compression of the lips,
Miss Nunaly was probably right when she ad-
v;sej silence OF course it was great folly that
one after committing n crime. should wish 10
uroclaim it, Such thing should lie kept securely
locked. Somehow it seemed to SalOme that she
o,,bt n be able to find some one who would not
h. shocked: some one who on being informed OF
This deed should smile and remark that it was not
worth being troubled about. For that was the
wav the girl regarded what she had done.
The hot drink stimulated Mrs. Gerry. When
,be had drunk it she held out her arms to the
,rl, smiling hope fully at her The mother couid
not bear TO see her child suffering.
"Wc have each other. you KNOW" said the
,lder with something of her old courage. land
[ am sure am better"
Salome kept her head down beside her mother
@You don't respect me" she said, her voice
mufied by the pillow.
Mrs. Gerry WINGED. She did not reply.
Moore now appeared in the open doorway. The
SIGHT of him had always been something like a
tonic TO Mrs Gerry, but she could not look at him
now His voice was CHEEKY and hopeful as he
made his usual inquiries But by the time he had
finished speaking his mood had changed lie
,teppcd quickly to the bedside. lie raised Salome
until she rested on his arm. but he looked only
at Mrs Gerry as he asked:
HAS anything happened? Are you worse?'
81 am better" was the reply.
Then Mrs Gerry acted upon sudden impulse
She did not quite trust Salome's resolution; and
sh was not even sure that the girl had made
resolution.
"Salomr has something to tell you. she said.
The girl withdrew herself from Moore and stood
apart.
The young man was acutely alarmed
1T is something about that big, black-looking
fellow who came dowr with Mrs. Gerry. was what
he thought
He had known, by intuition rather than by per-
ception. that Redd loved Salomc. Was she en-
tangled with that man. Moore braced himself as
if against an onslaught of physical pain He
thrust his hands into his pockets and shut them
there
Salome went to the foot Of the bed and grasped
the crosspiece.
She was thinking that if her mother heard her,
shr would believe And already Salome had en-
perenced a little of that emotion which comes
when ones word is not fully taken. 1t is proba-
bic that even hardened liar wishes to be be-
ieved when speaking the truth.
Moore looked at her. The sight of her face was
like the cut of a knife to him. His whole nature
rose up n protect her.
He took a step toward her. slight gesture
from her kept him from advancing.
"Never mind" he said hurriedly. Don't tell
me anything
Salome hesitated SHE glanced at her mother
But her mothers eyes did not release-they up
held and stimulated her.
II tell you it is not Of the least consequence
cried Moore, unable to prevent himself from reit-
Grating his assurance. Let US wait. ANY other
time will do. Why should you suffer so. Salome ?"
His voice had a demonstrating tenderness that
was very narrowing for the girl TO hear.
A rush of feeling came over her. Why reveal
anything? Was not the idea absurd? Why try
to he SO ridieulously honorable?
And yet
She turned more fully toward Moore. No. she
would not retreat. There was something in her
that would now have made her 90 forward. even
without her mothers influence.
She kept her eyes on Moore's face. 1t seemed
an impossible thing TO do. but it was still moro
impossible not 70 watch for every expression that
,hodld come to that countenance. IL he tried u
deceive her by his words, she knew that he could
not deceive her with his face. lie would want tc
DC kind She was sure of that.
She chung to the crosspiecc at the foot of the
oed
"You know always told you didn't care abou
right and wrong" she began.
Moore nodded lie was too bewildered. There
must be something really the matter. however
lie could feel something dreadful in the ar
Salome's voice went on now quickly. Ana sh'
ever once took her eyes from his face
She told her story in the fewest possible WORKS
She saw everything that came into the mani
counterance When she had said the last wore