Evening star., 1897-06-05
wrstched babble," he went ON in flashing

wretched babble?" he went ON in flashing
INDIGNATION.
Because" she said. family. lifting her
ward him, because 1t would be true!''
There was silence 30 profound that even
the spring seemed to withhold Its mprmur
as their eyes and lips met. When the
spring recommended its murmur, and they
could hear the droning of bee above
them and the rustling Of the reeds, she was
murmuring, too, with her face against his
should follow you-that I should risk
everything to tell you what have told you
before I told you anything else2 You will
never hate me for 1t. George?'
longed. and when he looked again into the
flushed face and glistenfng eyes he was
SAYING: i have always loved you. know
now l loved you from the first, from the
Sta from your lap and saw your tender
ness Tor him In your eyes. could have
kissed you then, dearest. as I do now.'
"And," she said, when she had gained
remember, George. that you told me this
before told you anything of her."
Her? OF whom. dearest?' he asked,
leaning ami over her tenderiy.
tiently, as she drew back shyly, with her
former intense gaze.
He did not seem to grasp her meaning,
but said gravely: Let us not talk of her
her. For" he added, quietly, you know
must tell her ALL
The color faded from her cheek. Tell
her arr! she repeated, vacantly: then sud-
said: But what if she is gone?''
Gomez" he repeated.
Yes. gone. What II she has run away
with Van Loo? What If she has disgraced
What do you mean?' he said, selling
both her hands and gazing at her fixedly
mean," she said, with half-fright-
ened eagerness. that she has already gone
out suddenly and passionately, falling upon
her knees before him, do you think that
1 would have followed you here and told
you what did If l thought she had now
honor? Don't you understand me? l came
to tell you of her flight to Boomyille with
that man; how. accidentally intercepted
them there: how tried to save her from
from your indignation; but how she de-
ceived me as she has you, and even escaped
and Joined her lover while you were with
me. came to tell you that and nothing
more. George, / swear it. But when you
were kind to me and pitied me, was mad
wild! l wanted to win you first out of
your own love. 1 wanted you to respond
to mine before you knew your wife was
faithiess. Yet would have saved her If
could. Listen, George. A moment more
before you speak,"
Then she hurriedly told him all; the
whole story Of his wife's dishonor, from
her entrance into the sitting room with
Van Loo her later appeal for concealment
from her husbands unexpected presence,
to the use she had made of that conceal
ment to fly with her lover She spared no
detail, and even repeated the insult Mrs.
Barker had cast upon her. with the
triumphant reproach that her husband
would not believe her Perhaps" she
added, bitterly you may not believe me
NOV oo,,1I xl,-x
George. If 1t could make you happier; but
you would still have to believe it from 9TH
ers. The people at the BoomviIle hotel
saw them leave it together"
Il do believe you." be said slowly, but
with downcast eyes. land if did not love
you before you told me this, could love
you now for the part you have taken;
but" He stopped.
You love her still,'' she burst out, 'and
might have known 1t. Perhaps she went
on, distractediy, You love her the more
that you have lost her. 1t is the way of
men-and women
IF l had loved her truly" said Barker,
lifting his frank eyes to hers, II could not
even have wished to-as l did three years
ago-as l did last night Then l feared 1t
was my weakness now 1 know it was my
love. 1 have thought of it ever since. even
while waiting my wife's return here. know
Ing that l did not and never could have
loved her. But for that very reason 1 must
try to save her for her own sake, if can
not save ueT IOT HllIe, anu II L Idll, ue1T-
est, it shall not be said that we climbed to
happiness over her back bent with the bur-
den of her shame. If / loved you and told
you SO, thinking her still guiltless and in
noccnt now could 1 profit now by her
fault?'
Mrs Horncastle saw too late her mistake.
Then you would take her back?" she said
frenziedly.
ITO my home-whch is ners-yes. To my
heGrt-no. She never was there"
''And l." said Mrs Horncastle. with a
quivering lip. where do 1 go when you
have settled this? Back to my past again?
Back to my husbandless, chidless iife?'
sne was turning away, but Barker caught
her in bis arms again. NO. he said. his
whole face suddenly radiating with hope
and youthful enthusiasm. mo! Kitty will
help US; we will tell her all. You do not
know her. dearest, as I do-how good and
kind she is in spite of all. We will appeal
to her, she will devise some means by
which, without the scandal Of a divorce,
she and may be separated. She will take
dear little Sta with ner-it is only right.
poor girl; but she will let me come and see
him. She will be a sister to us, dearest.
Courage! All will come right yet Trust to
me-"
hysterical laugh came to Mrs Horn
castles lips and then stopped. For as she
looked up a. him in his supreme hopeful
ness, his divine confidence in himself and
others-at his handsome face, beaming
with love and happiness, and his clear
gray eyes, glittering with an almost spirit
ual prescence-she, woman of the world
and bitter experience. and perfectly cogni-
zant of her own and Kittys possibilities,
was, nevertheless. completely carried away