Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-10-29
PART 4. .

Thoroughly alarmed at her threats.
In his efforts 10 conceal his feelings he
was not above q weak retaliation.
Stepping back he affected 10 regard
her with a critical admiration that was
only half simulated, and said, with a
smile: VERY well done-but YOU have
forgotten the flag" She did not finch.
Rather accepting the sarcasm as trib-
ute 20 her art she went on with increas-
ing exaggeration:
"No. IL is you who have forgotten the
fsg-forgotten your country. your
people. your manhood-everything for
that high-toned, double-dyed old spy
and traitress' For while you are stand
Ipg here your wife is gathering under
her roof at Robes a ;Ssng of spies and
traitors like herself-secession leaders
and their bloated, drunken 'chivalry.'
Yes! You may smile your superior
smile, but | tell you, Clarence Brant.
that with all your smartness and book
learning you know no more Of what
goes on around YOU than child. hut
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 20 change the command at Fort
Alcatrez and send your wife's southern
friend-Capt. Pinkney-to the right
about, Yes-everything is known but
one thing-and that is where and how
this precious crew meet! That | alone
know, and that ] have told you
"And / suppose" said Clarence, with
an unchanged smile, that this valua-
bile information came from your hus-
bsnd-my old friend, Jim Hooker?-
NO" she answered. sharply. ut
comes from Cencho-one of your own
poems. who is more true TO YOU and the
old Rancho than you have ever been.
He saw what was going on-and came to
me TO warn you"
But why not TO me directly?" said
Clarence. with affected incredulity.
ASK him" she said, viciously. Per
against the mistress. Perhaps be
thought we are still friends. Perhaps
-" she hesitated, with a lower voice
rnd a forced smile, perhaps he used to
see us together in the old times"
Very likely" said Clarence. quietly.
-and for the sake of these old times,
Susy," he went on with singular gen
ileness that was quite distinct from his
lskng face and set eyes, Il am go
ing 20 forget all that you have said of
me and mine, in all the old willfulness
and impatience that see you stiH keep
with all your old prettiness." He took
his hat from the table and gravely held
out his hand.
She was frightened for a moment
with his impassive abstraction. In the
old days she had known it-had be-
lieved il was his logged ''obstinscy"-
but she knew the hopelessness OF OPP
posing 4. Yet, with feminine persis-
tency. she again threw herself agains,
IL. - a wall.
"You don't believe me. Well. go and
see for yourself. They are al Robles
now! II you catch the early morning
stage at Santa Clare, YOU will come
npsn them before they disperse. Dare
yoatry it?"
Whatever I do" he returned, smil-
jEgly. Il shall always be grateful to
YOU for giving me this opportunity of
teeine you sgain-as you were, Make
my excuses to your husband. Good
night"
"Clarence!"
But he had already closed the door be-
hind him. His face did not relax its
expression, nor change as he looked
again 81 the tray with it's broken yiands
leef6re The door. the worn, stained hall
carpet, or the waiter who shuffied past
him.
He was apparently as critically con-
seious of them and of the close doors of
the hall and the atmosphere of listless
decay and faded extrsvagance around
him as before the interview.
Had the woman be had just parted
from watched him she would have sup
posed he still utterly disbelieved her
story. But he was conscious that all
that he saw was q part of his degrade
ton, for he had believed every word she
had uttered.
Through all her extravaganza, envy
and revengefulness, he saw the central
rutk-thst he had been deceived, not
mis- wife. but by himself. He had
bected all this before-this was
4 had been really troubling him,
s1sxs 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. Pinkney
letters that she had openly sent TO mo-
torious southern leaders, her nervous
anxiety to remain at the rancho, the in
-Hpendoes and significant glances of
frienss which he put aside-as he had
this woman's messagel
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. rroud and self-made man il was the
cnininating stroke.
In the same distracted voice he told
fhe eoachman 70 drive home.