Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-12-26
CHAPTER VIII.


with a tenacity that was marvellous As
child she had sulked; as woman she
brooded until her wrongs rose from
molehills to mountains.
Anger at Hugh's espousal of her
neighbor's cause had quite died ont,
leaving behind it q settled venom, an
ugly, bitter hate, incomprehensible to
any save just such pale, thin blooded,
vixenish women.
For three days she neither looked at
nor spoke to Hugh. His attempts at
Cancellation could not have met with
less response from a brick wall. She
polished her nails oftener and more as
siduously than was usual, sat with her
lips compressed and ate her food in ST.
lence. Hugh had prevented her from
carrying out her threat of exposing Mar
ian, but her obedience meant total es-
arrangement from himself.
On the third evening Mrs. Larremore
had disappeared. In her stead letter
in a small, pale blue envelope, heavily
scented with violet, awaited Hugh.
1t begged him to understand that ev-
erything was over between them; he
had insulted her in her own house; she
had endured his altered manner and
low intrigue with Miss Trent since
March, but the last blow had been too
much for any woman to bear quietly;
she had written q full account Of his
conduct to her dear mother, and at her
advice now went back to her, leaving
him to 60 his own way, as she would go
hers; it would be quite useless to fol-
low her; doubtless Miss Trent would
compensate for any regret he might feel
at his wife's departure, if such thing
as regret for her was possible to him;
she had taken her trunks, all four Of
them; she also wished him to under
stand that before leaving she had gone
to Miss Trent and told her just what
she thought of her, and she was, very
truly, his injured wife.
This was the substance of the letter
that trembled in Hugh's fingers.
Jenny gonel His vito left him! He
had never dreamed Of this. After the
first sense CT shock his eyes fell again
on the line:
II want you to understand that be-
fore leaving told Miss Trent just what
thought of her and Of you.
"You fool" ho muttered flinging
the paper from him and crushing it un-
der his foot. "What are you driving
me to?"
Rage and humiliation swept over him
in waves. A cry of disgust broke from
him. If she had only waited, Marian
would have gone SO soon with no suspi
cion of the love he had sworn to conquer
In her senseless, vindictive jealousy his
wife had betrayed him. He had not
seen Marian even for moment since
the night she had sought him. He had
purposeiy kept away, had avoided meet
lug her 'g Al, sorts of small precautions
land nowT Oh, 1t was maddeOlng. He
was shamed beyond redress
How long he stood staring at the let
ter he did not know.
The servant, after speaking to him
several times, ventured to approach and
touch him on the arm.
Dinner is ready, sir. ;"
AS she waited upon him she cast tim
i'd glances at his stern, weary face She
was sorry for him, but he asked no
questions, and she ventured no express
sion of sympathy.
'The missis gone, and as heartless q
bit of flesh and blood as ever lived,
with no thought in the world but dress
and style, she conflded to the tea cad.
dy later, "and he the best Of men, with
always kind smile and ready word. 1t
just hurts me to see him sittin there
alone, his dogs head on his knees, so it
does.
Before Hugh left the table the bell
rang 1t was maid from next door,
with note from Mrs Ventnor:
"Come in for moment, do. We
know what has happened. Your wife
stopped here today on her way to the
train. A little diplomacy will set the
whole matter straight "
A burning flush mounted to his fore
head as he read the words. Go in and
face them after the scene to which they
had been treated that day? He could
not.
"I'm sorry find it impossible he
dashed off, and then hesitated But why
not go? Might it not be better to carry
the unfortunate matter OFT lightly, act
ing as he would if Jenny's onslaught
had been utterly without foundation.
Besides, some sort Of explanation was
required Of him.
They were just finishing dinner when
he was admitted. Marian was facing
the open door of the dining room, and
as he walked down the hall the entice-
ment of her delicate beauty stole out to
meet him.
Beautiful? Yes, she was that and
more. A whiteness from the newly lit
candles and the warm glow from the
lingering twilight wrapped her about,
lighting up the depths of her eyes and
the transparent delicacy of her skin. AS
on the first night he had seen her, she
wore a white, short waisted gown, her
supple throat uncovered, star in her
hair.
Surely his last, torturing memory of
her was but vagary. This woman
could never have sobbed out the confes-
sion that had SO disturbed his life.
There was nothing of the Magdalene in
the untroubled, lovely face before him.
There was no difference outwardly, and
yet, yes, there was, for he had never
thought her eyes untroubled before.
She sent him smile that thrilled
him with joy, while it made him steel
his heart with sudden pain.
Very glad you've come, my dear
boy, aild Mrs. Ventnor gave him her
plump, jeweled hand sit down oppo-
site and have a cup of coffee with me. /"