The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-17

know you can't, you can't. whils my
husband Ii alive!''s # V n
Cyril moved irnpat iently.
Nov, isn't this nonsense, child ?? paid aid
he, with an air Of indUlgent tOler1hce.
Your husband treated you disgrtce-
fully; 40 badly as a man could treAt q
woman. He deserted you for another
woman Ave years ago. Since he vent
to America, three years ago, you hive
not heard whether he Is alive or dad,
and have the strongest reason Tor
thinking he. is dead. And yet you mist
bring this hideous memory-for \ Is
nothing more to y0u-t0 stand In fhe
way Of your own happiness. For lou
would be happy with me. Don't lou
know It? Come, now, tell me-" 4
Eyes, I know. 1t; I am sure Of t."
whispered she. And yet"
"Well, and vet whnt?"
81 can't do It. I can't, can't do t"
"Give me only reason, and I'llfe-
spect it."
Her head dropped.
Though never really cared for by
husband and don't cure q great ealfor
you, still, I can't pretend to be ylr
wife while he is alive. don't say I'm
wise; don't even say I'm right. Tut
| that's how feel, and-there's the hid
| Of It,"
She spang to her feet and drewlfr
| cape around her shoulders again. Sle
would go back to her carriage, Isle
said. But he coaxed her. And bedu}e
she loved him, because 1t was Gefglt
to her to be with him once more, tv4l
If their interview was as full Of pah p
Of pleasure, she stayed. \
At last, though she would not yieh b
his entreaties, she gave half-conett
to his proposal that she should th
lodgings for the ensuing week hte
house where he was going to ST.
This seemed a very good SUGGESTIONS
the town to which they were going ls
notorious for the badness Of Its log
ings, and the poor Scotch inn VIII Re
Cyril and the manager were goingo
stay, offered a prospect Of c0mparate
luxury.
But Constance, when she again It
back in her corner of the railway e.
rage, found herself dwelling withp
much eagerness on the pleasure e
would have in being for week in E
society of the man she loved, that b
recognized with fear that the Joy vt,
in fact, temptation. When, thereto,
Cyril came to the door of the comp4-
ment, ut their journeys end, he f0le
that her mood and her manner u
changed.
"Come," said he, gently, as he tt
her bag and offered her his hand. y
shall have to WALL. but it isn't fart
the hotel"
She looked steadily before her Will
white face.
THANK you. But I've changed
mind. I am going to stay with NJ
Browning"
IL And she walked quickly away, vii
out giving him time for protest or
ply.
/ There was no reward Of virtue
poor Constance. All that week Cy
; devoted himself to Miss Fairbroth
and Constance, although she manas
; to hide the misery she felt, could ]
{ stife it. She felt that she loved t
man so deeply that her powers Of
sistance were growing unequal to
= strain. After all, was there not trl
Il IN what she urged, that she owed
y duty to the man who had SO neglec'
n her? This nominal husband, that M
/ indeed, be dead. For three years {
had heard nothing of him. Was {
9 not free, in law as well as morally,
r contract fresh marriage?
b So she had tortured herself, q
meanwhile held aloof as much as poi
" BILE from all intercourse with Cyril
e cept ON the stage. But the parts Il
b played were those of lovers, and
harassed woman felt that they
Is trayed their feelings in every word,
r. every look, that they We're forced to
1 change in the business Of the stage.
In At the end Of the week, as she
.e the theater after her nights work,
r Eallkeeper told her that there wa
man outside waiting for her.
t. HE wanted to come in and wait h
ID miss, but he nas too drunk to sta
If and, wouldn't let him in. There he
,e by the doorway. If you so the OF
I'd way you'll miss him."
n. But Constance was looking at the