Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-06-10
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CopveicHr. 1904. nv
BHEr HARrE- 80
PART 4.
CHArTER L-CoxrrSuEp.

Stepping back he affected to regard
her with a critical admiration that was
only half simulated. and said. with A
smile: Very we'll done-but YOU have
forgotten the flag" She did not finch.
Rather accepting the sarcasm as trib-
ute To her art she went on with incrcas-
ing exaggcration:
NO. IL is YOU who have forgotten the
hag-forgotten your country. your
people, your manhood-evervthin for
that high-toned. double-dyed old spy
and traitress. For while YOU are stand
ing here your wife is gathering under
her roof NJ Robes n gang of spies and
traitors like hcrself-secession leaders
and their bloated, drunken 'chivalry.'
Yes! You may smile your superior
smile. but I tell you. Clarence Brant.
that with all your smartness and book
learning YOU know no more of what
goes on around you than n child. But
others do! This conspiracy is known
to the government, the federal officers
have been warned: Gen. Sumner has
heen sent out here-and his first act
was To change the command at Fort
Alcatrez and send your wife's southern
friend-Capt. Pinkney-to the right
about! Nes-cverything is known but
one thing-and that is where and how
this precious crew meet. That / alone
know, and that J have told YOU"
And l SUPPOSE" said Clarence. with
an unchanged smile, that this valua-
BILE information came from your hus-
band-my old friend. Jim Hooker"
mo-" she answered. sharply. 1T
comes from Cencho-uue of YOUR own
poems. who is more true to YOU and the
old Rancho than YOU have ever been.
lie saw what was going OH and came to
me to warn you"
but why not TO me directly?" said
Clarence, with affected incredulity.
ASK him!" she said. viciouslv. Per
haps he didn't want to warn the master
against the mistress. Perhaps he
thought we are still friends. Perhaps
she hcstated, with lower voice
ind forced smile, perhaps he used to
see us together in the old times"
Very likely" said Clarence. quietly,
land for the sake of these old times.
Susy," he went on with singular gen
tleness that was quite distinct from his
Paling face and set eyes. Il am 90
ing To forget all that you have said of
me and mine, in all the old willfulncss
and impotence that / see YOU still keep
with all your old prcttiness." He took
his hat from the table and gravely held
out his hand.
She was frightened for moment
with his impressive abstraction. In the
old days she had known it-had be-
lleved 1T was his logged "obstinacy"-
but she knew the hopclessncss OF OPP
posing it. Yet. with feminine perss-
tency, she again threw herself against
1T, rs wall.
You don't believe me. Well. 90 and
see for yourself. They are at Iobles
now! If You catch the early morning
stage at Santa Clare, YOU will come
upon them before they dispense Dare
you try it?"
Whatever / do" nc returned smil-
ingly, Il shall always be grateful TO
YOU for giving me this opportunity OF
seeing you again-as you were! Make
my excuses 10 your husband. Good
night"
"Clarcnce!"
But he had already closed the door be-
hind him. His face did not relax its
expression, nor change as he looked
again at the tray with its broken viands
before the door. the worn. stained hall
carpet, or the waiter who shufiied past
him.
lie was apparently as critically con-
scious Of them and of the close doors of
the hall and the atmosphere of listless
decay and faded extravaganza around
him as before the interview
Had the woman he had lust parted
from watched him she would have sup
posed ne still utterly disbclieved her
story. But he was conscious that all
that he saw was part of his dcgrnda-
ton, for he had believed every word she
had uttered
trough all her extravaganza, envy
and rcvengcfulncss he saw the central
truth-that h" had been deceived. not
by his wife. but by himself He had
suspected all this before-this was
what had been really troubling him.
this was what he had put aside. rather
than his faith. not in her. but in his
ideal
He remembered letters that had
PASSED between her and Capt. Pinknev
letters that she had openly sent to no.
torious southern leaders. her nervous
anxiety 10 remain az the rancho. the in
nuendoes ara significant chances of
friends which ne put aside-os he had
this woman's mcssagci
Susy had told him nothing new of his
wife, but the truth OF himself And the
revelation came from people whom he
was conscious were the interiors of
himself and his wife. To an independ-
ent. proud and sclf-madc man IL was the
eliminating stroke.
In the same distracted voice he told
the coachman 60 drive home.
The return seemed interminable.
though he never shifted his position.
Hcs when he drew mp at his own door
and looked nt his watch he found he
had been absent only half an hour.
Only half an hour. As he entered the
house he turned with the same abstrac-
ton toward a mirror in the hall as il he
had expected to see some outward and
visible change i'm himself NJ that time.
Diminishing his servants to bed. he
went into his dressing room. completely
changed his attire. put on a pair Of
long riding boots. and throwing SER
npn pypt Lie st,rTd,r-