Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-09

Louy GVCcuoiiiy Nhap yOu ttll III
shocks me terribly! Are you sure
Gam sure? I am logged at every
hour of the day. I am questioned about
my movements, then doubted to my
face. 1t is most shameful!'
1T is most cruel" said Leighton
slowly. Pardon the question, but have
you given him any cause
"Mr. Leighton, how dare your
flashed from her through the cobalt
summer night.
He bowed humbly before he spoke
again.
"Then to what do you attribute this
change? Has any other woman
She shook her head.
Suddenly through the shadows Rupert
Leighton's hand stole to Beatrix Eve
sham S arm, and he drew her so close to
him that his breath famed her hot
cheeks.
Lady Evesham, I have an idea.
What il your husband is carrying Oh an
intrigue with woman? What if he
fears discovery and subsequent proceed.
ings and is even now making every ef-
fort to trump up counter charge
against your
"Ah! Mr.. Leighton, how horrible,
how cruel to ruin one woman, and that
his wife, at the expense of another
Whom he loves" whispered Leigh
ton. "Do you not see, can you not be-
lieve that this is the truth-that he is
tired Of you; that your youth and inno-
cence and beauty are not for him? All
Lady MISUNDERSTANDING me con-
vince you-let me find proof that what
say is true"
"Mr. Leighton, I cannot, dare not.
ask you to interfere in this most terrible
difficulty. You'v been my friend, and I
believe you have my happiness and wei.
fare at heart, butt
"Beatrixv' he murmured hoarsely,
Il have no friendship for you. Love
and admiration fill me. If can con-
vince you Of the truth of my suspicious,
give me yourself"
She slipped from his grasp and fled
down the dim pathway.
"Where have you been all this timer
said her husbands voice through the
dusk. 'The horses have been waiting
for half an hour"
II am ready to Co." said Lady Eve
sham, and looking neither to the right
nor to the left she swept before him to
her carriage.
Lady Evesham slept little that night
Her shattered faith in her husband 8
loyalty and trust, Leighton's love, her
own unhappiness, jostled in her brain
the weary hours through, and it was a
very ghost of Lady Evesham who slipped
her chocolate next morning and broke
the seals of half dozen letters.
Suddenly the blood rushed to her pale
face. A common envelope, bearing o
typewriter address, quivered in one
hand; slip Of paper was in the other.
eff you would have proof, be in
room at the Imperial cafe today at 4
O'Clock.
''No signature, no address," cried
Beatrix Evesham. "But the envelope is
enough. The Els are broken like those
OIL that other letter which came five
weeks ago. All! who can be so base, SO
wicked, as to wish to wantonly destroy
the happiness of two lives?"
The big clock over the Imperial cafe
had barely struck four when a woman,
whose perfect toilet was marred by the
singular thickness Of her veil, glided
into the doorway, and scarcely had the
lady disappeared when Lord Evesham
passed into the building and followed
in tho fair ones footsteps.
His lordship moved quickly, but in
spite of his efforts only arrived in the
corridor in time to hear the sharp click
Of a closing door, followed by an ex.
clamation in voice he knew too we'll
Tho sound came from room No. 8.
Lord Evesham looked around. Lunch.
cons were over, dinner not yet begun.
He was alone, and in another second
was pressing his eye to the keyhole.
'tYou here, Mr.. Leightonl'
1t was the voice of Lady Evesham,
and before her question could be an.
swered she displayed her surprise and
disfavor in bitter tones. She continued:
II understand all now. A light breaks
in upon me. 1t is you-you-a gentle.
man, friend, who sent the letter ia
my husband which has nearly broken
his heart and wrecked my life-you
who have woven tissue Of lies about
me and have spread net for me today
into which my feet have almost strayed.
The reason I came here today was to
discover the identity Of the person, man
or woman, who sent those two letters
to my husbands house. / find you,
whom believed to be friend, whom
now know to be foe' She flung out
her hands "Ah, that I were man to
punish you as you deserved"
Her prayer for righteous revenge
was answered. The door opened little
space, and the tall, spare form OF Lord
Evesham slipped into the room.
John! You here?' cried Lady Eve.
sham, laying her fingers across her mouth
to stif1e the little scream of joy that rose
in her throat.
''Stand asidep' said his lordship.
Then, with appraised arm, he advanced
on the culprit
Twice the writing victim cried for
mercy, and twice Lord Evesham NUT.
tered. Coward"
When at last the heavy walking stick
snapped in two, Lord Evesham, with
out casting one look at what lay at his
feet, turned to his wife and led her
from the room.
Once outside in the dim silence Of the
corridor Lady Evesham raised her hus-
band hands to her lips and kissed them.
"Thank you-thank you thousand
times! But, oh, my dear, why did you
not trust me?"
Lord Evesham bowed low before her.
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