Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-02-04
CHAPTER XVII.
JUDITH LEARNS THE. TRUTH.

On the following Sunday went again
10 WOking, rather because inactivity
at West Hackney was uncomfortable than
from expectation of learning Judith's
decision that day II was net likely
tina, she would go up into the wood 10
give her answer 10 the offer made there
the week before, or that accident would
again favor me az it had then. 10 this
l was not undeceived. A drilling rain
fell all the afternoon, and from the
opening In the wood where sat SILVER
ing hour after hour / saw no one in the
grounds below.
I staid the night at the wheat
sheaf," aud from my little room in the
front Of the house l watched the road
the next morning until shortly after Q,
when the carriage passed on its way 10
the station with KaVanagh and Colonel
Bell. Kavanagh had cigar in his
lips ard a magazine In his hand, in
different TO his companion, who sat
with MS thin hands on the pommel Of
his stick and a careworn, wistiul look
on his poor old face.
I started off al once for the Grange.
Neither TaraS sor Judith We in the
garden when l looked down from the
wood, but when reached the entrance
gates and looked through l perceived
Judith in the long walk strolliDg list
lessly toward me, her hands at her
back and her eyes on the ground, as II
IN meditation.
had made up my mind as TO what
should do on finding her alone, and so,
hastily whipping off my veil and false
hair, pushed open the gate and en-
tered.
At the sound Of my step she raised
her head, but she continued to advance
So the same pace, for she had seen me
but once before, and then very differ
emily dressed, and so did not al once
recognize VINO l was.
Suddenly, however, as we drew near
TO each other, she stopped, and, draw
ing herself up proudly, regarded me
with such scorn and losthing in her
white face as l have never seen in an
other.
paused also, smitten with pity for
her, my heart aching In sympathy for
the humiliation and SORROWS she had
suffered. Then ! hurried on TO make
sure that we were alone before | spoke.
As l passed her she drew her skirt
aside, as II she feared pollution By the
mere contact Of our dresses, and all the
time she kept her eyes fixed upon me,
terrible with hatred and contempt.
went as far as the top Of the walk,
and seeing neither Taras nor Mere
Lucas l returned 10 where Judith still
stood as II, reversing the fable Of Gal
atea, hate chad transformed her 10
marble.
II must speak TO you" said in a
low voice as approached her Where.
are Taras and Mere Lucas?"
They are 10 the house" she an
swered hoarsely. II will hear nothing
that you have to say. If you are 10
need, / will not help you; IL you were
dying, I would not move q step 10 save
you. You have crushed out all the
goodness from my heart. You have
made me what l am."
The tone OF self abandonment and
misery in which these last three words
were uttered belied her asserted heart
lessness.
The goodness is not crushed from
your heart thank heaveiz" said /.
Love is stronger than hate. I know,
for / have suffered too"
81 will not listen to you," she said
vehemently, turning to leave me.
"Waitr' 1 stepped before her, bar
ring the way. "You must listen to me, -
and seeing she was determined TO pass
by me I added, II have q message 10
49,, E0rTon -
She hesitated for an instant; then,
with a gesture Of refusal, she said indig-
nantly:
he is nothing TO me. 1t is an In
suit TO speak TO me OF MIN. Let me
pass"
"He is al the world to you and you
are all world to him. See" l said, Of
fering the little packet poor George had
given me on the eve OF my departure,
"he has sent you this from Siberia"
She would not take it from my hand,
but, looking al me as If she would pierce
my very soul 10 read the truth, she re-
peated nv words, From Siberia" in q
low tone OF incredibly.
tore open the paper and revealed his
signet ring, upon which be had tied 40
end of pale blue r!bboc-some treas
ured trifle from her dress, which had
its pretty story. doubtless
From SiberIal" she repeated, with
an accent Of tender alarm, the color
rising TO her pale cheek as she recog-
nized the objects that lay in my hand.
The carriage is coming back"
said. catching the sounds Of wheels. Il
mpst not be seen here. Take ms where
l can tell yon ali unseen and unhezrd. F"
of your intentions are honest. what
need is there Of secxecy2
.sThe need OF cheaSing one who Isnot