The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-03-15

here"
BY her voice he could tell she was
one Of the people of the region; peo-
pie who are crude, uncultivated, un-
schooled, but simple and kindly, yet
terrible when reused to passion.
What are you doing here?" Aly-
mers asked the question not because
he cared in the least, but because IL
seemed incumbent upon him to make
some answer.
II was waiting-to see him-when he
comes out" the woman said, hesitate
ingly, Il saw him through the window
dancing. with his arm around that tall
dark. beautiful girl"
She stopped suddenly, as IL afraid
she had said too much. There was an
ominous note in her voice, as IL 1t was
not well for this nameless one that
she had seen him with his arm about
that other woman.
You saw him dancing, eh? And
with another girl? Then you mean
your lover | suppose? But how can
that hurt you? You will have him all
to yourself after awhile. won't your"
He spoke half mockingly, and his con-
temptuous note caught the woman's
ear
Il don't know why should tell you,s
she answered sulkily. II know you
are laughing at me. But l WILL for I
must tell some one. No-I shan't have
him-after awhile, because he don't
care for me- But he shan't have that
other girl"
my poor woman" said Alymers,
more gently than was his wont, II
don't know whom you are talking
about, but II l did should caution him
to look out for you-especialIy on q
dark night like this. And my advice
to you is to go home and to bed"
you don't know who I mean? Then
-lookr'
The woman seized his arm and point
ed back toward the hotel, where In the
sudden glare of light from an open
door two figures were revealed In dis
tinct silhouette.
Something in the attitude Of the two,
in the way the man bent toward his
companion and the intentness with
which she appeared to listen to his
words. stung Alymers like whip. He
turned to the woman with renewed in
terest; he began to understand the
passion that swayed her and to feel
some kinship with her.
What is he to you?" he asked.
81 know him and he Is not like other
men. He is kind and gentle-not
rough and coarse"
But you see there Is the other wo-
man-the one he is with now" In
spite OF the hurt to himself he felt
malicious pleasure In adding to the
woman's torture.
What Is she to me? Thar
Aylmers heard twig snap quickly in
her hands, and shrugged his shoulders
at the suggestiveness Of the sound.
Don't be rash, my good woman; II
won't pay. And 1t doesn't matter very
much If we don't get just what we
want"
Maybe not; to you"
The man laughed at this ready ap-
plication Of his philosophy.
well, am going in," he said, "and
1t might spoil yJur chances II Feather
stone saw us here together. Besides.
this wind is too doleful."
Much he'd tare," she answered,
"and like the wind. 1t suits me to-
night"
In the parlors an hour later the three
drew together again.
81 have had a unique experience,
Hugh" said Aylmers. "Out here in
the pines l chanced on an admirer Of
yours, who had come out merely for
the pleasure of watching you through
the windows"
Featherstone tried to suppress a.
look Of annoyance as he answered.:
"Bess Monrose, / suppose. A poor
girl here who seems to have taken a
fancy to me. Why, 1 can't imagine"
Aylmers laughed easily.
"It was too dark out yonder to Judge
of her style of beauty" he said, but
l think man would have his hands
full who would undertake to curb her
temper"
Eugenia rose and walked away from
them to the end Of the parlor where
the low windows led out upon the GAL
lery. She paused there a moment and
lifted the sash and stepped out into
the night. At little distance beneath
the trees she could make out the form
Of woman. She stepped down fear
lessly upon the carpet Of soft pine
needles.
you are Bess Montross," she said.
YES" answered the woman, boldly.
Then tell me, and tell me truly, as
one honest woman to another, what
he is to you"
In the intensity Of her feeling Eu-
genia had seized Bess by the arm and
brought their faces close together, 80
that she had only to whisper her last
words. And 1t was in a whisper that
Bess answered.:
HE Is mine-mine-minep'
"In the sight Of God?"
"In the sight Of God-yes."
Eugenia touched her gently.
my poor girl" she said.
But Bess shrank from her and fed
away into the night.
Featherstone was superintendent Of
the Lenolr mines, where they were
digging black diamonds from the
bowels Of the earth. In the morning
this work called him away early, and
he left without having seen Eugenia
again. At the mine there was some
trouble for some days, 30 Aylmers and
Eugenia were left much to themselves
for companionship.
There WAS mora raetra int hatwaao