Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-01-16

y
to America three years ago, you haven't
heard whether he is alive or dead, and
have the strongest reason for thinking
he is dead. And yet you must bring this
hideous memory-he is nothing more
to you-to stand in the way of your own
happiness. For you would be happy
with me. Don't you know it? Come
now, tell mel"
"Yes, know 1t; am sure Of it, whis-
pered she. And yet"
well, and yet whst?"
II can't do it, can't, can't"
''Give me only reason, and I'll re-
spect it."
Her head dropped.
| Though l never really cared for my
husband and do care great deal for
You, still, can't pretend to be your
wife while he is alive. don't say I'm
wise; don't even say I'm right But
that's how / feel, and-therc's the end
of it,
She sprang to her feet and drew her
cape round her shoulders again. She
would 60 back to her carriage, she said.
But he coaxed her. And because she,
loved him, because it was delight to
her to 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 entrcaties, she gave half-con-
sent to his proposal that she should
| take lodgings for the ensuing week in
the house where he was going to stay.
| This seemed very good suggestion, as
the town to which they were going was
notorious for the badness of its lodg-
ings, and the poor Scotch inn, where
| Cyril and the manager were going to
,tay, offered a prospect of comparative
| luxury.
But Constance, when she again sat
back in her corner of the railway car
riagc, found herself dwelling with so
much eagerness on the pleasure she
would have in being for week con-
Stantly in the society of the man she
loved, thatshe recognized with fear that
the joy was in fact n temptation. When.
therefore, Cyril came to the door of the
compartment at their journeys end, he
| found that her mood and her manner
had changed.
Come" said he, gently, as he took
her bag and offered her his hand. eve
shall have to walk, but it isn't far to the
hotel"
She looked steadily before her, with
white face.
| Thank you. But l have changed my
mind. / am going to stay with Miss
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 Fairbrother;
and Constance, although she managed
! to hide the misery she felt, could not
stifle it. She felt that she loved thit
man go deeply that her powers of re-
sistance were growing unequal TO the
strain. After all, was there not truth
in what he urged, that she owed no duty
to the man who had so neglected her?
| This nominal husbond that must in
deed be dead. For three years she had
heard nothing of him. Was she not free,
in lazy as well as morally, to contract
fresh marriage?
! So she tortured herself, and mean
while held aloof as much as possible
from all intercourse with Cyril excep.
on the stage. But the parts they
played were those of lovers; and the
harassed woman felt that they be-
trayed their feelings in every word, in
every look, that they were forced to
exchange in the business of the stage.
At the end of the week, as she left the
theater after her nights work, the hall
keeper told her that there was man
outside waiting for her.
"He wanted to come in and wait here,
miss; but he was too drunk to stand.
and wouldn't let him in. There he is
by the doorway. If you go the other
way you'll miss him."
But Constance was looking at the hui
man wreck the man pointed out with
wide eyes full of fear. She knew him,
changed though he was.
He was in rags, dirty, haggard; an
appalling spectacle. She answered the
hallkeeper by gesture rather than by
words and made step in the direction
of the doorway within the shelter of
which her husband was standing.
|
her arm. AS she stopped Cyril Ardener
came out by the stage door on his way
homewards. He uttered an exclama-
tion of disgust and darted forward to
send the wretch about his business.
With one quick movement he released
her, and supporting her trembling fig
ure in his arms, said, quickly:
MY poor darling! Don't be fright
ened. I'll see you home"
The other man uttered hoarss
sound meant for laugh. He was stink
ing away without word, when Con-
stance recovered herself.
Let me go. Let me go, Cyril" she
whispered. 1T is-my husband"
Cyril was so much shocked that he
was speechless. Before he could re-
cover from his disgust and amazement
Miss Fairbrother pretty bright brim