Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-10-11

Mrs. WaIsingham was still in town
She had no rustic retreat OF her own
and she was not in that charmed cir
Gle. patrician or millionaire, which re
ioices in country houses. Further
more, she abhorred the beauties o
Nature, and regarded winter residence
In the country rs an exile bIeaEer thar
Ovids Punishment to chill and savage
Tomis. If she had been rich enough
TO have indulged her caprices, sic
would have gene ally begun the yeal
In laris, but she had an income VIII Oh
,ust enabled her to live elegant with
out any Indulgence Of caprices, This
winter, too, she had peculiar reasons
for staying in town, over and above all
other motives. She stayed in the snug
little house in Half-Moon street, there
fore, and was "at home on Saturday
evenings Just as if the season had been
ut its Hood. The society with which
she filled her miniature drawing-room
was literary, musical artistic, dra-
matic-iust the most delightful society
imaginable, with tho fainte,t soupcon
of Bohemianism. She had chosen
Saturday evening because journalists
who were free on no other night could
drop in, and Mrs. Walsingham adored
journalists.
On this particular Saturday, three
days after the scene in the summer
house, James Wyatt had made his APP
pearanco in tho llalf-Moon street draw
inl-room just when most people were
going away. He contrived to Outstay
them all, though Mrs. Walsingham $
manner was Lot 50 cordial as to invite
him to linger She yawned audibly
behind the edge of her larle black fan
when Mr.. Wyatt took up his stand in
front of the chimney-piece with the
air OF u man who is going to be fix
ture for tho next hour.
Have you heard the news?" he
asked after brief silence.
"From Davenant? Yes, | am kept
pretty well au courant
"A sharp little thing, that Duport, "
Very"
Silence again, during which Mrs.
Walsingham surveys her violet velvet
gown and admires tire Venice point
nounce which relieves it. somber hue
Clara, said James Wyatt, with u
suddenness that startled the lady into
locking up at him, g. think have pr.
formed my part OF the bargain. When
are you going TO perform yours?'
Il don't quite under tand you.
"Oh, yes, you do. Mrs Walsingham.
There are some things that will hardly
bear to be discussed, even between con
spirator5, | am not going to enter into
d tails When found you in this
room three years ago on GilLert Sim
ciairs wedding-day, you had but one
thought, ono desire your whole being
was athir5t for revenge, You arc re-
venGed, and have b5en the chief in
strument in the realization Of your
wish. A wicked wish on your part;
doUbly cked on mine, with less pas
sion and weaker hatred, to be your
alder and abetto,. Soft. | am content
TO bear the burden of my guilt, but
not to be cheated Of my reward. What
1 have done have done for your sake
to win your love.
To buy me-" she said "as slaves are
bought with price That's what
you mean. You don suppose | shall
love you for working Gilbert Sinclair's
RUM"
You wanted to sec him ruined"
''Yes, when / was mad with rage and
grief Did you think you were talking
so a sane woman that evening after
Gilberts marriage? You were talking
TO a woman whose brain had reen on
fire with despair and jealou Y through
the long hours of that agdnzing day.
What should [ long for but revenge
them"
well, you have had your hearts de-
sire, and it Seems to me that your con-
duct since that day has been pretty
consistent with the sentiments you
gave expression to then DO you mean
to tell me that you are going to throw
me over now-that you are going to re-
pudiate the promise you made me u
promise on which | have counted with
untlinching faith in your honor"
In my honor~ cried Mrs. Walsing.
ham, with bitter sheer, all the more
litter tecause it was pointed against
herself, "In the honor of woman
who could act as have acted"
81 forgive anything to passion; but
to betray me would be deliberate cruel
"Would it," she added, smiling at
him, Il think it would be more cruel
to keep my word, and make your life
miserable"
You shall make me as miserable as
you please, if you will only have me,
urged Wyatt. Come, Clara, have
been your slave for the last three years.
have sacrificed interests Itch most
men hold sacred to serve or to please
yo,. 1t would be unparalleled basene IS
to break your promise"
"My promise was wrung from me in
a moment of blind passion, cried Mrs.
Walsingham. IF the Prince of Dark
ness bad asked me to seal a covenent
with him that day, l sh uld have con-
scented as freely as l consented to your
bargain"
The comparison is flattering to me,
replied Mr.. Wyatt, looking at her
darkly from under be 1t brows There
rs stage at which outra ed love turns
TO keenest ha c, and James Wyalt's
feelings are fast approaching that
stage an one word, do you mean
to keep faith with me? Yes, or no?"
No." answered Mrs. Walsingham,
with a steady look that meant dei-
ance. "No, and again, no. Tel the