The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-12-26
X AN l trust you, MaudieY"

Trust me! In what way,
Gerald2 am afraid l have
not been paying much attention to all
that you were saying"
She turned her beautiful hower-like
face toward him with mocklng moue,
her blue eyes sparkling under their
dark lasheS with mischievOus light in
their depths. and with coquettlsh lift
Ing Of the finely marked eyebrows,
which distracted and unnerved him
from the task he had set himself. Would
she ever be serious? ever see that life
held deeper interests than the whims
and amusements of the passing hour?
His wife!-thls bewitching, lovely,
irresponsible being! He went over to
where she was lying in long chair in
the shadlest, coolest corner of the YER
anda. and taking her two slim white
hands In his strong brown ones, he
knelt beside her and said: "Maudie,
have. to leave you here with Mrs.
Tallyour. and want to feel sure that
while am away from you, my dearest
one, you will be prudent, and do moth
ing foolish or unsuited to your position
as my wife for which afterward you
would be sorry or ashamed"
Gerald" she interrupted, with petu-
liant indignation.
Eyes, my darling, | must speak plain
". You remember last winter, 1t was
unintentiOnal on your part, know; but
still how unhappy you were made by
all the wretched talk and gossip that
follOwedw
THAT was three months ago, Gerald.
! am older now and more experienced.
! am sure you need not remind me of
that miserable affair; it Is unkind of
you"
She withdrew her hands from his
clasp with a reproachful gesture, and
added. pouting: after all, 1t is not
my fault that l am pretty, and cannot
help 1t If your friends will admire me
and pay me attention"
"But you will be careful, my darling;
promise me-; this fellow, Perce-
val"
80, now, you are going to abuse
Lord Perceval again, l suppose; l am
so tired Of that topic; shall not listen
to a word against him, Gerald; have
known him all my life; he is my oldest
and greatest friend, and L. do not in
tend. to give him up for any one; no,
not for any one, not even for you, Ger
ald-So tlere!' ,..s..
She sprang to her feet and. walked
quickly to the edge Of the veranda,
where she leaned over the balustrade
with her head averted from him in an
attitude of mutinous defiance. So smafh
and child-like a creature, and yet, pos,
sessed of such potentialities to wound
and hurt the man who loved her. with
all the passionate intensity Of his
strong and sensitive nature. Such"%a
slim. fragile-looking being, and .yet':so
powerful In welding an Influence over
the hearts of those around her. - re-
A,look of helpless and bGfned anxiety
passed over Major Joeelyn's handsome
care worn face. Without glancipg at
him, his wife continued coIdly: Il con-
slider 1t very ungeneroGs Of you to at
tack Lord Perceva1 IN, the way you,haEe
done lately, limiting at things against
him, throwing out insinuatfons as to
his character, but with nothing really
definite that you can state against him.
You know T. like him, that he Is my
friend: / call II mean of you, Gerald
positively mean" .'..
There are plenty Of things l could
state against him II felt inclined, but
there Is no need to particularize. - u
ought to be enough for you that ! tell
ron that / dIstrust and dislike the man.
Lord Perceval has brought a slur on
the names of too many women for any
honest man to care for his wife to caii
him friend" ''' . '''' =
He spoke with angry. emphasis and
afterward there was an ominous Sill
ence between them for some moments.
n was at last broken by the girl saying
with passionate reproach: 90 1t is
cruel of you, Gerald, to speak to me
Iito This to want to quarrel with me IN
tbese our last moments together; 10
leave me with angry words upon your
Inns making me 80 unhappy.
Her voice trembled and broke, ana nsr
hands went up To cover her tsar-lAden