The Dickinson press., 1893-09-09
CHAPTER H.-Uontinued.)

iiiS ct ist - INV fNN Ais'N
made YOU safe at the same time. 4
lead man can't commit higamy."
WAS rather relieved for Coia'S sake
that | WAS dead. but | didn't like the
dra of that unknown suicide lying in
my family grave among my people,
and using my namr on the tombstone.
iiut how WAS | 10 get him out. lie
WIS there. anil there he would have to
stop till the day of Judgment.
Satisfied III least that | WAS now safe
and that my Wife could never interfere
with me again. | hogan To breathe
more freely. | had no fear now of
anybody. Su | walked about London
holding my head high. and | lost the
terror which had once or twice come
upon me when ! met women in the
street who looked at the first .lancc
something like my Wife.
Relieved in my feelings. l determined
tn stay IN through the London season
instead of going abroad and returning
from Venice To Australia.
one night III the opera we mot IN old
friend of Corn'S. Il rich Australian lady
who had been in England some two
Years. She insisted that we should
como and Src her. and We went to din
n"r !; few days atterward. Then came
an invitation In Il ball, and for Cora'S
sake | accepted ii.
Ii WAS Il grand ball. and Il great
many ,ip-,"p people were there. for
our Australian friends husband was
an important public parsonage.
We arrived carlN-loo rai'ly. not he
ing used 1" society ways. and SO we
SAW nearly all the people arrive. AMI
M.rr able t" learn VIII" they We're.
Cora WAS delighted. She danced sew
clll times and everybody admired her.
| didn't ,,ancr hut 81, quietly in Il
| curlcr and looked on.
An hour later. when | was watching
the dancers. l heard some II say.
That's Sir Henry l.ascellcs."
And is that dark oma his wife,"
I.aScrllrs. Poor old chap. I'm afraid
he has anything hut Il good time"
My cheeks Ven deadly white and
then flushed crimson.
Lady l.~asrcllcS.
| turned and found myself face to
face with my first Wife.
Our eyes mot.
bit Tor ali Outward and viSlSie Signs
l might have been Il total stranger
whose face her yes had accidentally
rested upon in the street.
| had not such complete command of
myself.
! felt the hot blood rush to my checks
and fade away again. My heart almost
stood still, and Il faint sick feeling
crrpt over mr.
Sir Henry I.ascrlles, her husband. Il
tall military-looking man. IL faded
dandy vainiy rMleavoring to appear {:
young buck. WAS standing near her.
While my eyes We're still fixed upon
her =! could not lock away. though |
ti'irtli. sil" turned In Sir Henry, and
said in Il voice loud enough for me Ia
hear:
My dear, will you fetch me my fan:
| have left ii on the seat yOndrr by
the Australian lady-MrS. = intro
durrd To lis just now-Mrs. Smith,"
She had been introduced to my wife
and she intended me to know it.
1t whs Il marvellous performance OIL
her part-thiS sudden and totally unrX
pcctrd meeting With !; husband she ha(
comfortably buried in Ilighgate cem
etpry utterly failed to disconcprt her
Sii" had evidently torrsrrn that il
might happen some day. and carefully
whcar:;ed the business of the scene 81
81 u.s. >ilt WIS Noilttllltil.
She had been introduced to Mrs
Smith. Directly she saw mo sh,
jumped To the conclusion that | WA!
the Air. Smith who WAS Mrs. Smith!
husband.
She fired the shot in the hope of hit
ting the mark, and in Il moment sh,
saw that her aim had been IL goot
one.
dropped my eyes and turned ava.
to hide my confusion. | felt that m.
guilty face would attract attention.
talked with the people about me a
random. Heaven only knows what
said. | fancy some of them must lav
thought that | had had too niue
drink.
Al last ! went on the landing and wal
drrrd into Il conservatory and sat dow
in Il quiet corner to try and recover III
scattered senses.
A few moments thought rcassurc
mo Lady llascelles could do nothin.
She had buried me and married ;lgail
Feeling IL little Drawer, l went bac
into the ballroom.
Our hostess came toward me.
"Al. Mr.. Smith. | have been lookin
for you everywhere. | want to intr'
duce you to Il lady who is charmt
with your wife and wishes to mai
your acquaintance"
".Mr. Smilh-this is Lady LaScellcS
said our hostess. and then. with 4; f.
words, left me alone With my tM
wives.
by Il desperate effort l rose to ii
situation. and joined i'll the convelS
ton; but ! felt supremacy uncomfort
bic. and | had the greatest difficulty
c~Onrcaling Ely unrlsinaSS.
Lady LaSrsllpS WAS charming. 81
asked me about Australia, and inquire
if l was Il native or if | had gone o.
there from England.
Then she turned to my wife AZ
asked her what she thought of L0ndt
and how long we were going to sta
aud said that she hoped to see more
us, and was SO nice and agreeable til;
Cora was quite. charmed With her, ar
told me afterwards that she though
her quite the incest person she la
ever met.
Presently Sir Henry Iascelles can
up. and Lady Lasrrllcs introduced
to him. and he sat down and joined
the conversation.
1t was all sheer dcviltry on the W.
mans part, but / could no help al
miring it.
1t was an extraordinary situation
Lady Lasecllcs and myself We're hu
band and Wife. and she was introducir
her husband to me, and my wife S;
beside her.
Soon after I asked Cora if she W:
not tired. l wanted to go. The con
rdy TO mo was growing hateful. l In
begun 10 realize what it meant. Ever
. word we two exchanged was really Il
insult to nj two victims.
| began also to resent the look
triumph Which l detected i'll Lady La
/. cclles eye He look plainly said.
have played my cards we'll. you da,
not Interfere with me or bctray III
You cannot take Il single step witho
running your3rlf.'
= wanted TO let her know that t
- secret of the cemetery WAS mine.
wanted TO say that l had seen my o
- grave. and dat ! thoroughly appre
a1cd the daring scheme which size Il
carried out with such daring cffro
cry.
~ De- l