Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-22

couldr' she said. piteousiy. but You
know YOU can't, yon cant, while my
husband is allye,'
Cyril moved impatiently.
Now, isn't this nonsense. childf' said
he. with an air OF indulgent tolerance.
your husband treated you disgrace
fully: as badly as a man could treat
woman lie deserted you for another
woman i've years ago. Since he went
TO America, three years ago, you have
not heard whether he Is alive or dead,
and have the strongest reason for
thinking he Il dead And yet you must
bring this hideous memory--for IL Is
nothing more 10 yon--to stand In the
way of your own happiness. For you
would be happy with me. Don't You
know Il? Come, now, tell me-"
Yes, | know II; | am sure OF Il.
whispered she. And yet
well and yet what;"
Il can't do II. can't, l can't do IT,"
Give me only reason, and Ill re-
spect it,
Her head dropped.
Though | never really cared for my
husband and don't care great deal Tor
you, still. | cant pretend 70 be your
wife while he is alive | don't say I'm
wise; don't eyel say I'm right. But
that's how feel. and--there's the end
OF it,
She spang 10 her feel and drew her
cape around her shoulders again. She
would 90 back To her carriage, she
said, Bur he coaxed her. And because
she loved him. because II was delight
10 her 10 be with him once more, even
IL their interview was as full Of pain as
of pleasure. she stayed.
At last. though she would not yield to
his entreaties, she gave half.consent
10 his proposal that she should take
lodgings for the ensuing week Ia the
house where he was going 70 stay.
This seemed very good suggestion, as
the town 10 which they were going was
notorious for the badness of It's iodg
ings. and the poor Scotch inn where
Cyril and the manager were going 10
stay. offered prospect u comparative
luxury.
But Constance. when she again sat
back In her corner OF the railway car
rage, found herself dwelling with NO
much eagerness on the pleasure she
would have Ia being for week Ia the
society VI the man she loved, that she
recognized with fear that the JOY was.
In fact. a temptation. When, therefore,
Cyril came 70 the door 0f the compart
ment. at their journeys end, he found
that her mood and her manner had
changed.
Come" sald he. gently, as he took
her bag and offered her his hand I'VE
shall have to walk but Il isn't far 70
thu. hotel"
She looked steadily before her with a
white face
Thank you. but I've changed my
mind. | am going to stay With Mrs
Browning
And she walked quickly away. with.
out giving him time for protest or re-
ply
There was no reward OF virtue for
poor Constance. All that week Cyril
devoted himself To Miss Fairbrothcr.
and Constance. although she niana s,tl
to hide the misery she felt, could NOT
stltie 1t. She felt that she loved thi.
man so deeply that her powers Of r..
ststance were growing unequal 10 the
strain, After all. was there not truth
IN what she urged. that she owed no
duty to the man who had so neglected
her. This nominal husband. that must
indeed. be dead. For three years she
had heard nothing OF him Was She
not free. In Law as well as morally. to
contract fresh marriagc7
So she had tortured herself. and
meanwhile held aloof as much az possi.
Bile from all intercourse with Cyril CT.
cept on the stage. Hut tile parts they
played were those OF lovers. and tho
harassed woman felt that they be-.
trayesl their feelings Ia every word. In
every look, that they were forced t. ex.
change in the business Of the atngc.
At the end OF the week, "a she Left
the theater after her nights work. the
hallkeepcr told her that there was a
man outside waiting for her
He wanted to come In and wait here.
miss. but lie was too drunk to stand,
and | wouldn't let him IN. There h. IL
by the doorway. II you 10 the other
way you'll miss him"
But Constance was looking al the hu.