The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-03

my door, you were going to pay visit to
a strange man "
"Alphonse!"
The woman put up her hands to cover
her face. Mr.. Kennard grasped his
friends arm, with. perhaps, unconscious
vigor.
II shall murder this little brute In q
minute, he murmured.
As he Whispered a response, Mr. Nash
disengaged his arm from his friends too
vigorous grasp.
"Didf not tell you that the French
have their own point of view, and that
we had ours"
M. Gerbert had continued to gaze in ST.
lence at his wife. AS il moved with sthe
courage OF desperation, taking her hands
from before her face, she ventured to
make an attempt TO offer some sort Of
plea in self-defense.
"Alphonse, did II for you"
"For me?" M. Gerbert tapped his hand
against his breast "It was for me that
you paid visit TO a strange man?p
"lt was little plot which / had
formed TO gain for you the ten thousand
francs OF which, you know, you are In
need. | had thought to gain them for you
death might be worth something TO you,
though my life had been worth nothing at
all And, Alphonse-husba bandl have
only returned TO tell you that / think ]
have gained for you the sum which you
require"
'.The sum which require my wife, at
what price?n
The strangest smile fitted across the
girls face, as she held out her hands and
answered: "What does il matter?'
To you i nothing at all. To me-every-
thing. i have my good nsme-Il / have
my honor" NJ. Gerbert crossed his arms
upon his chest. "Already, because of
L.. a A.. A
dust. Your English friend has used me
as II were thing OF the gutter, here, in
my own apartment.
"Mr Kennnard interposed
81 do assure you, my dear Gerbert, that
1t was Misunderstanding
"a misunderstsndIng?' Four foot six
glowered up at six foet four Before the
pigmy the giant seemed TO cover. sit 10
a Misunderstanding, NJ. Kennard, which
can only be explained with your life, or
with mine. ~
"Alphonsei i-my husbandi"
The girl advanced. The man shrank
back.
MADAME Gerbert, have the goodness
not to detile me with your touch. To the
other things which you have brought me,
1t but remained to add iishonor. That,
also, you have brought me, last OF all.
Since, therefore, you have lied to me,
and have returned to crush me unto
with the last offering OF your
unfortunately, because 1t
Is yours, thousand tunes more Is mine!
for me Ii but remains to go.
NJ Gerbert made movement toward
The door. MIR. kennard caught him by the
shoulder. "Gerbert,, don't be fooli''
In an instant NJ. Gerbert was like a
wild cat in frenzy. Leaping up at Mr..
Kennard he attacked him, literally, tooth |
and nail. He poured forth language which |
ne nnIV N mn Ia h,t al
unprintable. The big man, in his turn,
was so taken by surprise that he made not |
the slightest attempt even at defense |
The first paroxysm of his fury exhausted, |
the little man stamped on the floor and |
shrieked with rage.
"tf had but pistol" he screamed.
His wife, who was standing yard or |
two away from him, took something from |
the pocket OF her dress.
81 have revolver" she said. She |
proved II by discovering that she had |
such a weapon In her hand. IL was prob
ably the same one with which, i'm the /
morning, she had kept Mr.. Kennard at a
distance
MIR. Nash called out to his friend:
Keep tight hold of him, Hugh don't |
let him get near IL for your lifeln
Madame Gerbert turned to him with /
hat air OF simple seriousness which was
SO like the exaggerated seriousness OF
little child.
'It is not for my husband. II is for
mel"
Before tney had suspicion OF her pur-
pose, she placed the barrel of the revolver
against her brow and fred. II was done
so quickly that, although Mr.. Kennard /
rushed forward, while the words were
still, as IL were, upon her lips, he was on
~ i'm time TO put his arm about her body |
A. 1t was falling-dcad.