The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-09-07

IN the tent
You are brave man to face me as you
do" she exclaimed. But | hold you IN
my hand" and she clinched IT. VIII
tell you who found it. and where. Your
sweet, beloved funcee, when paying me
q private visit in my room, admlrlng nay
bal-dress. espied the glitter of that dla-
mond among the lace on the body, where
it had dropped when you struggled TO
stupefy me with your horrible cholorform
Ne, the woman you have been making
love TO ten minutes before-who was
ready To give you all she had-you base
midnight thief
DO not be 50 positive. Might it not
have fallen among your lace as we danced
together. or when | was assisting TO lift
youI'
NO, no, no." she cried, as if carried ont
of herself, and speaking with immense
rapidity Il saw it on your breast when
you left me, and Nora, your Nora, told me
you never touched me, 1t is useless de
nying your guilt. Waite, the detective
knows YOU He saw you here. here with
me. before he started to pursue you. He
was with you at Amsterdam, i'll Paris, at
Chanlaire, when you went to your sick
friend. De Meudon He tracked you, he
can swear to you. l have paid hundreds
to prove it, and have you in my grasp.
She stopped, painting.
Marsdrn rose slowly, his eyes fixed up
on her She was frightened by his silence,
his desperate look. She, too, rose; but
her fury seemed to evapOrate.
What are you going to do Marsden!
she said, quiyering. You would not muir
der me-
He laughed a strange discordant laugh.
Il am BLACKBOARD enough, he sald;
but | would not hurt a hair of your mead.
No. 1t is useless TO contradict your as
sertions. You have me, indeed, III your
grasp, and there is but one way OF eS-
cnpe."
He moved to the door. but she was too
quick for him. Setting her back against
il, she stretched out her arms to keep him
off
You shall not kill yourself. l forbid
YOU. You are bad, and base. but you be
long to me-you belong 10 me! No, Mars
den, you shall not leave RE-
What is life to meT asked Marsden,
with IL calm despair. "A dishonorlnE
shackle! The sooner | am rid of it the
better. | cannot struggle with you. II
you have any pity, let me go.
Il will not, l cannot. Oh. Marsden,
how | have hated you. You have been
50 unspeakab'y falls. To rob me, that you
might shake me off and marry my rival.
Yet" and her eyes sOftened as they rested
on his fine face, SO rigid in its despair, on
his attitude. grand even in its expressive
abandonment, with all, | cannot let You
destroy yourself. If | could hope that
gratitude would awaken anything like
affection, tenderness.
int pl
Marsden. speaking more collectedly. lie
began TO calculate chances. Il know
have done a dastardly decd. | never saw
it's full baseness till l was found out"
esmiletl bitter cynical smile That does
not show much of n moral nature TO work
upon; but have 50 much decency left that
it is torture to be under your eye, to hear
your Just reproaches. | do not ask for
mercy. If YOU choose to call Il policeman,
do So You will be in your right. | will
not resist
He folded his arms and stood quite still.
And do you not know / should tear my
own heart to pieces if injured YOU she
cried. in a passion of anger and love. "Oh.
| can save YOU! | will save you! if You
promise to give me the love | long for.
Can not win you by such service as man
never had offered him before? | can
save more than your life.
Il have no love to give" said Marsdcn,
in n low tone. Il have done with love and
friendship: and, however generous you
may be. how Can you silence your de
teCtive:'
Il have bound up his interest with his
discretion" she said. eagerly, still keep
ing between Marsdcn and the door.
Il tell you, your bittcrest revenge is to
prevent my escaping life and its intoera-
BILE pangs.'
And tell YOU" she cried. hardening
again. that if you kill yourself | will
blazon the story of your felony. your
shame. to the whole world, | will my
self describe to Nora L'EStrange your dis
guises. your creeping TO and fro to sell
your plumber.
"SiIence" interrupted Marslen. fierce
ly making a step forward, then recover
ing himself. 1T is not probable | can do
anything to atone. TO compensate. If
can-" he broke off.
Mrs Ruthven paused and Clasped her
hands tightly together.
IF | hold my tongue none need ever
know of -infamy," she said, slowly
ut will be a secret between our two
selves. Ought not that 20 be an indis
soluble bond of union? There is not
breath of suspicion against you. Waite's
interest is distinctly to he silent If |
choose to submit TO so great loss, that is
my affair"
1T is a tremendous if" said Marsden.
How nm to repay 50 huge debit"
by giving me your life" she returned
in quickly resolute tones, "by giving me
your name"
do you remember that am not only
in love with Nora, but openly engaged 10
her."
Il do. and breaking with her will be
considerable part of your atonement.
know men tolcrahly well; you are quite
capable Of loving two"
You are right, My love for Nora is
| cannot speak of it L. you-it has hith-
erto been the most, the only. spiritualizcd
passion | ever knew; there has been no
time rs yet for il 10 become incarnate
Now there is in you an undertone of dev-
llry that always attracted me-"
VIII You break with Nora for nv
sake demanded Mrs. Ruthven, imperi-
ously.
1t could be managed" he returned.
thoughtfully, remembering his last inter
view with her. BE that rs it may. | shall
never marry her now
draw your heart to me-" she cried. "Oh,
/ have been wild with love and hate for
You and feel how madly foolish and
| de>plcahle l am 10 act rs l do She
burst into passionate fit of sohbing
| The light came back TO Narsden's eyes
You are a woman any man might
love. he said, and as You wisely admit
1 that men can love two or more I'VE are
generally broader than women. some wo-
menh You shall have all the love left in
nc. Of my lifelong gratitude YOU may be
[ sure. You are making sorry bargain. l
! warn You. l shall never be the same
again. but if you care to be Mrs Marsden
( Of Eveslcich, so be it.
All, You are simply selling yourself,
/ And what a price pay,
No. by heaven. l am grateful. and
! always admired YOU. Even that night.
when | unclasped your necklace l felt
( inclined 10 kiss the pretty white throat