The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-20

| nef- with his lett hand he mOtlOneu
| Carroll back 'in the abstract. |
drink to women in general. 1t is in
that way that the sex should be regard
ed by philosophers. OF course we are
obliged to deal with individuals, when
it's question of putting our principles
into practice The game is fought sin
gle-handed. 1t is 4 beautiful thing to
see woman play 1t, when she knows
that she herself is the stake"
And what. may | ask, is your stake
when you play"
Chase.
You don't ask very much in the way
of odds" said Carroll. Hold on!
| don't care to hear you eXpound your
philosophy further. have met plenty
of rascals before and the worst of them
We're members of your peculiar sect.
But | confess that you have surprised
me. | came here believing you to be a
gentleman misled by impulse. Now
| know the contrary to be the fact and
might as well face ii. You have con-
fessed to me that you are trying to win
Mrs. Lyndes love, knowing that her
|
needs her presence and her affection
every hour. Now, while in one sense,
| she is as safe from you, ecause of her
own purity Of heart, as if she were al
ready in heaven and you on the other
side of the great gulf, l am willing to
admit that there is an element of peril
in the situation. She likes you; most
women do. She can be betrayed into
many innocent indiscretiOns. You are
| shrewd, and infamously experienced.
| Now what can | do about it? l can
break my promise and repeat to her
what you have said. But l won't do
that, and you know it,"
| II was in hopes you would my dear
fellow" said Chase, quickly. 'It would
show her that you love her, and that
would give me a rival, which is always
an advantage. Besides she wouldn't
believe you"
I've given you my word, and there s
an end of it," replied Carroll, gloomily
There's nothing | can do but keep an
eye on you. l know the world too
wsll already to open my mouth and
start a scandal. You must go your
own up to a certain point. But, David
Chase, II you pass the line which
shall mark out for you> there'll be q
stake in the game on your side that
you haven't counted yet, and you'!
lose it,"
You refer to my life" said Chase
filling his glass again "rve played
for it before and shall be delighted tC
do it again. Don't fancy that | under
rate the risk. a man in your position
is worse than forty husbands. But
why not play fairly against me and lei
the woman be the stake? OF course
have considerable advantage. Foi
instance I've been over there this even.
ing, and / don't mind telling you"
He sprang up a little unsteadily
Carroll checked himself and let his
hands slowly open, while he took note
OF the others condition. Then he
seized his hat from the table and hur.
ried out of the room. Chase sank back
into his chair and laughed
Turn the hands of the clock back ar
hour and you may see Amy Lyndt
standing at the foot of the stairs whcl
led up to her husbands apartments
Since the early days of his Illness h,
|
by night, that his sleep might be undls
turbed. He had slept little and hat
often read till dawn.
She thought, as she stood there, tha
he would be reading on his couch will
the gigantic negro. who was his body
servant, as his sole companion. Sh,
had made up her mind to do a yer!
foolish thing-to keep her promise
There was a conflict in her mind as sh
stood at the foot of the stairs. with he
white hands clasped about the banls
ter rail. She had taken the freedom
he had offered her. without In the leas
meaning to do 50. He had SCENE,
quite contented and, for her own part
she could not deny that active life an,
the renewal of associations broken
year before had been delightful
Then she had begun to feel Chase
black eyes upon her. She had know,
him for several years. but he had neve
had any part in her life. 1t seeme
strange to her that she could hav
overlooked so remarkable a man. HI
tremendous energy appealed to her ad
miration. Profoundly respectful. am
serving her as a student Of women cal
learn to do, he made himself desirable
And at last he made himself desired.
She did not love him: Of that sh
was perfectly certain. Yet he cam
within her husbands definition whe
he had that promise. She thought O
him much oftener than she dared t
confess to her own heart. He was
strong man. and she had nursed wea
,one and had felt that dangerous sent
mant of nitX Thnt evening she ha