Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-06-24

want you to live your life for me, as
will mine for you. l want the torture and
the pain to end, and be no longer a Toe
to struggle with, but friend that blesses
every hour we know
"And for this end,' l said, my voice
shaken and unsteady, II am to leave my
husband-you are to break faith with the
girl who loves you? That is your pro-
gram?"
''You put it harshiy," he said.
81 put it, | answered, 'as it is-as 1t
will look to others-a life branded with
undying dishonor."
"Words!' he said passionately. what
are words? Empty sounds-idle breath!
Do you think they will quench this hre
in my hearth
81 think" l said Jelly, "that the woman
who parted us did me good service. l
think that never loved you, Yorke Fer
rers, only my ideal of you-an ideal that
every action of your life has fa,sitled-
that your words to-day have destroyed
forever
| raised my eyes, then | looked him
fully. fearessly in the face. The rage
and shame that shook me to the core and
center of my being robbed me of all
face looked white as death, that an agony
of appeal struggled with the disbelief in
his eyes, that the words | had spoken
might be like knife thrust to his heart.
In that moment l cared for nothing
nothing save the longing to repay the
insult he had cast at me and the noble
heart that once had been so surely mine.
"You don't mean it," he said at last,
can't mean it, Joan! You are acting
again.
"Acting!" l cried furiously, scattering
prudence to the winds-resolyed that he
should know the truth at last, even at the
cost of my own self-respect. You mis-
took the part played. 1t was not that
of wife pining for the love of another
man, but wife who saw that day by day
the husband she loved was drifting from
her side for the sake of-that other man,
who could not explain, and could not even
be quite sure of the cause Of this misery
that had overtaken her life, and so, in
desperation and in pain, set herself to hide
it from all eyes-mOst of all the eyes of
the man who would have gloated over her
unhappiness, and misunderstood it. Now
do you see-now do you understand, or
have not spoken plainly enough yet?"
He drew back a step. He half raised
his hand as if to ward off a blow that
would strike him downtown into depths
| had not meant to reach.
''You have spoken-too plainly" he said.
heard the faint wind rustling through
the leaves like spectral whisper, and
afar off through the still, damp air came
the sound of c.ock-the stable clock
striking the hour.
Mechanically counted them. One
wo-three-four-fve
II must go home now" I said. ''This
interview is useless, you see-only pain
and shame to both of u.s. The best thing
we can do is to forget ito go back to
duty, however hard it is. Perhaps"
added sorrowfully, 'some time Sir Ralph
will believe in me again"
Shivering, drew the folds of my cloak
more closely round me and hurried away
| in the direction of the hall. 1t was so
dark that could scarcely see step be-
| fore me. 1 CROPPED along, feeling my way
| by the wet branches, till l reached the
opening in the wood that led to the path
| way. From there my way was easy. In
| fifteen minutes knew I should be home
once more. My limbs were trembling and
unsteady, but tue longing to be once
more safe, and in the shelter and warmth
of home, gave me strength. staggered
| on. I passed the strawberries, the ter
race, gained the window by which had
left the house. 1t was closed, and, as
tried it 1 found it had been locked on the
| inside. must go round to the front door
and ring.
I felt annoyed. The whole household
| would know of my absence now, and won
| der, and discuss it. AS | hesitated I re-
| membered that Sir Ralph's little study,
where he saw his steward, received his
accounts, and kept his guns, had similar
window opening on to the ground. 1t
was just chance that it might be un-
! locked, but would try the chance before
ringing. AS l passed round the house,
walking slowly and unsteadily, sudden
sharp report rang out on the still air.
/ started, listening to the echo dying
| away-slowly, strangely dying in the
breathless silence of mist and darkness.
What seized my heart then in spasm
| of terror? What chilled like death the
pulses that had leaped and thrilled with
| fear? / remember that l staggered up
| against the WALL that with one last effort
of failing strength / tried to utter the cry
| that seemed sitting in my throat-that,
as I uttered it, the darkness seemed to
swoop down upon me like black winged
| giant, and then-then I remember moth
| ing more.
CHAPTER XIV.
I remember it was dark still when I
| awoke. A lamp burned low, strange,
| faint odor of scents and aromatic es-
sences filed the room. From out of the
| darkness shadowy forms stole and moved
and passed back into obscurity. I tried
to raise my head, but could not lift it
from the pillow. My hair as touched it
| felt damp and moist, my hands even
seemed to have grown feeble, and fell
weakly back on the coverlet in defiance
of my efforts.
lay quite still, trying to recall events,
| memories, thoughts, but l could recall
nothing. Then l heard voices, and tried
L