Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-07-10

ed lips.
"Thcn you don't believe III" she said
slowly.
believe sci Ny God. what a ques-
tion from you 90 mel My queen, my
saint As if I'd believe all the world
against your he broke out, passionate
". ''I'vo been a bad lot myself, but do
you think / don't know a good woman
when / find one 2"
you'd believe me against all the
world, " she echoed, "but if l joined the
world against myeelf what would you
believe them
81 don't know what you mean. Don't
jest on such a subject, and, trust me,
I'll make the woman who wrote those
lies smart for it,"
"But they are not lies" said Lillian
Stanhope slowly. sit is tho simple
truth"
He looked Ct her in utter bewilder-
ment. What did she mean? What was
she talking of? Was she out of her mind?
"You don't seem to understand" she
said quietly. Every word in that let
ter is true"
He did not answer, but still stood
gazing at her. She had crossed over to
the mantelpiece and stood with one ell
bow resting OH it, her face turned to-
ward him. Tho sleeve of her morning
wrapper had slipped down, and no could
see the curve Of her round, white arm.
Perhaps he would still have believed her
IL she had not suddenly smiled such a
smile as he had never dreamt of ON her
face.
He did not know what he said-per-
haps he only made some inarticulate
cry-but he sank into q chair aud hid his
face in his hands from that look.
Neither Of them spoke. 1t seemed to
him that minutes were merging into
eternity. Tho ticking Of the clock on the
mantelpiece was like tho strokes Of a
hammer on his brain. His heart seemed
shrinking under the touch of redhot
iron.
Lillian vilei Oh, it was incredible,
impossible, some hideous dream
He raised his head again to look at
her. Surely a lifetime had passed since
that smile, and yet the clock had only
marked three minutes.
II am glad you know, &" said his wife.
II was so tired of pretending to be
good" And she stretched her arms as
one laying down q heavy burden. II
wonder you have never guessed it be-
fore"
Guessed it'll II reverenced you too
much to insult you by u thought"
"You mean virtue was my role, and
it was for you to play sinner. Oh. you
were too cgotistical. You wanted always
to play lead"
"Oh, what did it matter how much I
sinned? l was never good. But you'll
You have been n saint IN heaven TO me. "
"No woman is ever u saint, and, re-
member, l have been your wife five
years. L was good once, but your love
has been q liberal education for me"
Her whole bearing seemed altered.
The sweet sadness Of tho mouth had
changed to mockery; her voice rang
clear and hard. Every word struck home
to his soul as nothing had over done in
the course Of his gay, successful life.
''Then 1 have damned you and my
self, he said hoarsely.
Don't talk so primitively. We have
been educated out Of all that now." she
answered. ""Thore are hundreds o.
husbands and wives in u own case.
"But this man-Dacre'-he brought
ont tho words as if they burned bis lips
"You-you can't love hfm?''
She shrugged her shoulders carelessly
Love? What docs it moan? He wa
sufficiently amusing. Did you low
Lady Fancourt, Miss Bollair und-bu
why extend the listi"
II? That is quito another thing. /
mani But he stopped short under tn,
scorn of her eyes.
"What will you do? You can't di
vorce me. You could never appear IL
court Nith such a record as yours" sh
went ON. Il don't SEQ, myself, why thi
should make any difference to us. w
know the truth about each other nov
and can be mutually complacent."
The ~vileness of such words on her Lip
was "unbcarable to him. He sprang u
and caught her by both arms, studying
every line Of her face with savage inten
sity.
faro you going tokill me?" she said
shrinking a little. II did not take you
confessions so traRically."
II can't believe it. Ican't understanl
it," he muttercd. "You, who wer,
worlds above me, to havo sunk SO mucl
beneath mel"
II think we are on a level footin.
now," she retorted. "Our sin is Of tn
same quality.
"But l know myself for tho black
guard l am, and you-oh, Lillian, don
you realize what it is for your"
She shook her head slightly. A sud
den hatred Of him had sprung mp in hel
and instinctively she knew that nothin
she could do or say would wiring hi
heart as did her callous bearing.
He looked at her for an instant wit
d~espairing eyes and then caught her I
him rs if he would kiss her, but rC
coiled. and, loosing her, dashed rcughl
from tho rooms. Paul's.
Seems TO Be n Long Lived Set.
A list Of the losses which the Roya