Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-09-17

plunged me in ten-fold perplexity al
to the motive Which induced her Il
lily from me. This, briefly, is wha
Grant told mo: Upon reaching tn,
solicitors, according to appointment
ne found that Viola had already ar
rived and was waiting for him in thu
room into which l was afterwart
shown. Grant exchanged a few word,
with her, then went back to Mr.. Monk
and spoke about details of business
Everything was in order and ready fol-
my inspection when l should arrive; SC
Grant rejoined my wife. He had much
ne wished to say to her, many ques-
lions to ask, and, as he hoped, con-
gratulations to offer.
She appeared strange, absent-minded
and oppressed. He thought she must
DC Ill, Suddenly, to his bewilderment,
she fell at his feet, and, in 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-
lore she arrived, she must go, and leave
no trace! All this she prayed Grant to
do-Resought it, absolutely, on her
knees.
The mans blood boiled. Here, a
fortnight after her marriage, was the
woman he loved begging him, in wild
accents, to save her from her husband.
lie could jump at only one conclusion.
had, in some way, maltreated her.
was an utter villain! My wife had
found out my true nature, and her only
refuge was flight. Was it for the man
whs loved her to urge her to return
to what, from her wild and despairing
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
10 spare for questions. Viola seemed
In an agony of fear. At any moment
my step might be heard. Grant, who
believed that I 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 a cab, placed my
wife in it, and drove off, 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 unavailing. All she
would say was that never could she
meet me again. She must fy-go far
away. II Grant would not aid her she !
must go alone. Finding her so 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 a quiet
hotel, returned to town, made his prem
arations, and had the encounter. which
l have already described, with me. The
next morniSg, as my spy informed me,
the fugitives crossed to Boulog.e. AT
this point Eustace Grant finished ks
tale. AS have said, it increased nv
intensity tenfold. Until the moment
when Grant made what we both
thought a dying avowal of his inno-
Cence, Viola's flight admitted of a nat
ural, if 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 l knew better-she knew better.
But Grant had not revealed all. Go
on" l said; tell me more"
Il have told you all l can, Julian
I have explained the part which, right
ly or wrongly, 1 acted 1 promised
more"
Tell me where she is, that I NAV
see her, and learn all from her own
lips"
"She is with good friends, who love
her. l can say no more"
rs she happy? Tell me the truth"
He hesitated. Il dare not say she
is happy" he answered; but believe
she is as happy as she can be in this
world"
These unsatisfactory answers were
simply maddening.
Grant" said fiercely, for some
reason you are concealing the truth
from me. l can not force it from you.
Until know 1t can not say whether
that reason is right or wrong; but I
will work until find out everything.
But tell me this: do you now believe
that my wife left me on account of
wrongs which I did her? Speak,"
He made pause. 81 can not answer
that question" he said. Doing so
would lead to others. 1 have already
said too much"
You have answered it!' cried, tri-
umphantly. You answered it when
you threw that pistol away; you an
swer it every time you take my hand
-pVarv time ,-o,, epaolr q u,ord ~