The Washington times., 1894-08-26
CHAPTER II.

As the clock struck on the following even
ing the bell rang, and Harrington was ush-
cred into my study. ] had turned the lights
low, and was loahng in my arm chair l
know how much external things influence
people. 1t would be more easy for my patient
70 speak very frankly in The dim light, with
lazy friend smoking and listening, than if he
had to face a sharp-eyed doctor reading every
feature by the help Of three gas jets.
He took the other arm chair pulled up for
him, ami he did not speak for minute or
two. My arrangements for facilitating conf
dental talk had put me at a disadvantage,
for ] could not study his expression as /
should have liked. As / remarked "You
wanted 70 consult me?" I glanced at him, but
could not read his face, and his voice was as
cool and clear as possible when he replied:
Yes. want TO consult you. You know how
happy 1 have been with Mabel? Did it ever
occur 20 you, Edwin. that She nv wife. is a
hypocrite, beautiful fiend-false to me, and
worse than false?'
"Heavensl Cecil. what horrible words"
was all L could say. Ny affected Incidence
was gone in moment. | dropped my pipe,
sat bolt upright, and stared il his face. Then
| saw that he was very pale and his brows
were knit together like one who is putting
restraint upon his temper. The working OF
his features was In strong contrast to his
voice. which was calm and measured.
You are surprised. OF course, he said
Anybody would be; but ! must repeat that
she is the yeriest sham that walks this earth
And my cousin. Amory Rhodes. is the black
guard who has walked the devil in that beau
tiful witch"
knew then what rock he had split upcn.
and I exclaimed, "Oh! Cecil, for Gods sake
don't let the demon Of jealousy get aboard of
you. Because, perhaps you have seen your
cousins undisguised admiration for your
wiie-we all admire her, you know-and her
natural liking for such admiration, you have
jumped to a conclusion which is most un-
worthy Of you, and does your wife $50 lately
your devoted nurse) great, shameful in
Justice"
spoke hotly, because I believed he was
wrong, but he did not resent my words. He
merely smiled in a melancholy way, and said:
Il quite expected you 10 look at it So You
could not know as 1 do. You have not had
TO mark, as l have. a thousand and one trifles
which so to prove to man that a wall of di-
vision has grown up between himself and his
wife. You have not seen those two together
before last night. l asked you on purpose,
and know-for watched you-that you no.
ticed more than one incident which confirms
my statement Is that not so Edwin?'
For the life OF me l could not deny that I
had thought there WAS something unusual in
the action OF those two to each other, but |
was emphatic in declaring my conviction
that their secret-if secret there was-was not
that which Harrington affirmed il to be.
You did not know, of course. - he resumed,
that Rhodes was very fond of Mabel Hynde
years ago. 1t was that which sent him back
TO America in such hurry. aDd never sup
posed he would come here again. But he has
Gomez and he has allured her from me. al
though he told me he had got over his old
fancy. Damn him!' The last two words
were spoken as coldly as every other word;
and as had never, during even the expert
ence of doctor, heard that imprecation
spoken without heat it made ne shudder and
think, lit is feeling like that which breeds
murder"
| said no word, and Harrington went on.
The wife who can be so lured away is not
worth much-not worth troubling ones heart
about; and yet l loved Mabel, and love her
IN spite OF it. Moreover, no man or woman
shall wrong me, and get of scot Free Then
he leaned near me and whispered, Edwin,
you puzzled over ny illness; you could not