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


How could you be so fascinated by
Nora L'Estrange?' asked Mrs. Ruthven.
still leaning against him and looking up
in his face. "She never could under
stand you as l do. she never could share
your feelings as | can"
She is what she is" said he. shortly.
and has been an infinite misfortune to
me"
Il am glad you see it." Mrs. Ruthven
sat down on the sofa and signed TO him to
sit beside her. Can | trust YOU, Mars
den: looking intently into his face.
Il think SO. Dictate your own terms
settle everything on yourself-everything
of mine that is available. | shall never
feel more than dependent on your char
ity."
You must not say that. You will see
that, together. We shall command society"
Tell me-" resumed Marsden, after a
moments pause, before we drop this ac-
cursed subject forever. how did that de-
tective fellow see me-"
DO you remember an engineer. n Mr..
COlville. calling here and speaking to me
of his having IL little girl, who was my
god-daughter:"
Yes. Shirley was here"
That man was Waite. | wanted him
to see you. | wanted to test the complete
ness of his disguise by defying Shrley's
recognition. Shirley found him for me.
Good God, has Shirley any suspicion:
Not the fantest Do not doubt; |
took every precaution TO shield the name
| might possibly bear. | waited. oh. how
impaticntly! hoping you would avOW your
love and difficulties to me. then | should
have hidden my knowledge even from
YOU; but when | found you were going TO
marry Nora L'Estrange, To expose me to
the contemptuous pity of all your world
and mine. | was on the verge of getting
a warrant of committal against you. My
relapse saved you. Ay, and saved ne
Does not Nora love you intensely" with
keen curiosity
Marsden understood the drift of the
question.
1T would be unchivalrous to boast"
said he. with q significant smile.
A look of delight in the suffering she
hoped to intiict cleaned in Mrs Ruthven's
large dark eyes.
Il must let you go, dearest" she said.
laying her hand caressingly on his shout
der, yet he fancied with a touch of pro
prietorship. But you will be sure to re-
turn to dinner, and be sure You do not
90 to the l. Estrange's. A letter will do
much better than an interview"
AN interview? God forbid" he ex-
claimed, with unmistakable sincerity.
How pleased Lady Darlington will
be-" said Mrs Ruthven, meditativcly.
"Oh, charmed" returned Marsdpn,
while he thought how cruel fate had been
in permitting his affectionate interlocutor
to leave Chedworth alive. Il must leave
alone. | am still dizzy and unhinged with
with the sense of your great goodness"
But you will come back? You will not
do yourself any rm?"-anxiously.
NO | don't think | have pluck
enough left to blow my brains out. or
rather you have given me fresh zest for
life You are looking awfully exhausted.
You must lie down and rest"
do you care enough for me to wish
should rest
How can you doubt? Good-by for the
present" 4 little further tribute and he
fed from her, half mad with rage, de
spair and self contempt.
His ruling motive for the last few
minutes had been TO escape from Mrs
Ruthven to be alone with his crushing
sense Of discovery and defeat. He had
been utterly out-witted. he was at the
mercy of 4 deeply injured woman-a wo-
man from whom he shrunk revolted, all
the more because he had injured her.
The force of degradation could no fur
ther go. and he had been such doubIy
damned fool as to believe himself safe!
That he could defy this keen subtle
tenacious woman. and hug himself in the
belief that by so base, SO shabby a crime
he could secure an adorable creature like
Nora! He had said truly that failure, de-
lection. showed him the depth of shame
into which he had fallen. Had he sue
ceedCd, it would not have occurred to him
to repent.
Still aglow with the passion Nora had
inspired, it was torture to give her up
yet he had so much sense of right left. or
rather restored, that he felt ii would be
equally torture to meet her eyes. to hear
her voice. knowing he was n despicable
Outcast. from whom. was she but aware
Of his true character she would turn with
scorn and lcathng. Why, if he had muir
dcred a man in anger, he thought, as he
paced his room. or sat with locked doors
his head buried in his hands. he could
face the world with comparative bold
ness. aud yet. how unjust opinion is,
What real harm had he done Mrs. Ruth
ven: Only deprived her of few baubles
she looked quite az well without He had
not robbed her of any comfort or ueCeS
sity, or of money or lands Why had he
been So unucky as to have taken such an
overpowering fancy to Il girl like Nora.
unapproachable save by the tremendous
sacrifice of marriage? This was really
the handspring of his misfortunes.
As 10 the future he shuddered To think
,f IL ID /, -
to his solemn promise to Mrs Ruthven.
that weighed but lightly on his soul
What stayed his hand was partly the de
moralization which seemed to paralyze
him, but chiefly his dread of being hope
lessy disGraced in Nora eyes. She had
immense power over him. and he had
said truly, that all Of good in him was
linked with his feelings for her. No, he
might have had resolution 10 end his
ruined life, had he not felt convinced that
Mrs. Ruthven. furious ar being robbed of
her prey, would tell all and make the
worst of all to Nora. No; the one shred
Of comfort in the he'll he had created for
himself, was 10 remain unhlemished in
\ora's eyes He would affect To rplcas,
her by noble effort of solf-denal. and per
haps She would give him a kind thought
perhaps. when Wearied of n monotonous
life with Winton or some other prig. a
regTetful thought.
What sham life was altogether. Was
Nora as true. as real. as she seemed:
Yes, now. lie would swear, but how long
would her truth last the wear and tear of
the world:
Well, he had escaped detection. and for
Nora's sake. for his sisters, his names
sake. he had better drift with the tide
which seemed sitting in his favor. His
only way of enduring existence was 10
forget there was yesterday or 4 to-mor
row.
But dine with that woman. who was
his mistress in the cruelest sense. he
could not at least. to-day. No. to-day
he must be alone; he must be free to swal-
low, unchecked, such an amount of bur
gundy, champagne. brandy. rs might
drown the intolerahle rage and remorse
that m n IIaua5 him