Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-08-06
|Afioi346 1060O A040clATIo0N

tions to ask. and, a. he hoped. con-
'gratulations to offer.
She appeared strange. absent-mindsd
and oppressed. He thought she must
be Ill. Suddenly, to his bewilderment.
she foil at his feet. and. in q passion
ate way. besought him to take her
away at once. Take her anywhere.
Hide her from her husband. Let him
never know where she was; never see
her again. At once-this moment-be-
fore she arrived, she must go. and leave
NO trace! All this she prayed Grant to
do-besought It. absolutely. on her
knees.
The mans blood boiled. Here. .
fortnight after her marriage. was the
woman he loved begging him. In wild
accents. to save her from her husband.
He could jump at only one conclusion.
I had, In some way. maltreated her. I
was an utter villain! My wife had
found out my true nature. and her only
refuge was flight. Was 1t for the man
who loved her to urge her to return
to what. from her wild and despairins
prayers. he gathered must be absolute
misery? No. She besought his aid.
Let him fling prudence to the wind
and do her bidding without asking
why or wherefore. There was no time
to spare for questions. Viola seemed
In an agony Of fear. At any moment
my step might be heard. Grant. who
believed that had, in the course Of a
few days. turned my wife's love into
hate, felt no inclination to show me
any mercy. He raised Viola and prom
ised to save her. He led her out
through the door which opened to the
outer world, called cab. placed my
wife in 1t. and drove on, without troub-
ling as to direction. Her only wish
at the moment was to avoid meeting
me.
Once within the cab, Grant tried to
induce Viola to talk nationally; to give
some reasons justifying the rash step.
His efforts were unavalling. All she
would say was that never could she
meet me again. She must ny-go far
away. II Grant would not aid her she
must 90 alone. Finding her 80 firm,
and not doubling but that my conduct
had brought all this about, he con-
sented to do as she wished. They
drove straight to Charing Cross and
took the first train to Folkestone. Here
he left her for the night at q quiet
hotel. returned to town, made his prep
arations. and had the encounter, which
have already described. with me. The
next morning. as my spy Informed me,
the fugitives crossed to Boulogne. At
this point Eustace Grant finished his
tale. As have said. II Increased my
intensity tenfold. Until the moment
when Grant made what we both
thought dying avowal Of his inno-
csnce. viola's flight admitted Of 4 nat
ural. II shameful, explanation. Now
that the elements of faithlessness and
criminal love were removed, the mat
ter was simply inexplIcable. Eustace
Grant might have thought, might even
now think. that my ill-treatment of
my wife had forced her from my side:
but knew better-she knew better.
But Grant had not revealed all 60
on" I said; tell me more"
81 have told you all I can. Julian.
have explained the part which, right
ly or wrongly. l acted. I promised
nothing more"
Tell me where she Is, that I may
see her, and learn all from her own
lips"
'she is with good friends. who love
her. I can say no more"
rs she happy? Tell mo the truth. :"
He hcsitated- II dare not say she
Is happy" he answered; but I believe
she Is as happy as she can be In this
world"
These unsatisfactory answers were
simply maddening.
Grant,! I said fiercely, for some
reason you are concealing the truth
from me. can not force It from you.
Until I know It can not say whether
that reason Is right or wrong; but I
will work until fnd out everything.
But tell me this: do you now believe
that my wife left me on account OF
wrongs which I did herr speakr'
He made a pause. II can not answer
that question:" he said. Doing %
would lead to others. I have already
said too much"
You have answered itr' cried, tri.
umphantly. You answered It when
you threw that pistol away; you an
swer It every time you take my hand
every time you speak word oi
friendship to me-"
80 be It." he said wearily.
And now. knowing, as you do. all
tell me II you approve Of viola's leav.
Ing meme. who loved her above the
world-the husband who worshipet
her; tell me thisr'
II can say no more. I am weary
worn out. Help me to my ROOM"
I did so. We parted for the night
As he took my hand he looked m,
straight on the face.
Julian" he said, "be wise and asl
no more. Leave this place and forge
Viola. There is no hope. All thli
concealment-all that has been done