Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-11-17
CHAPTER \.

Nirl. IN an outburSt OF rage ana lcal
GuSv. Il few days later.
On the previous day they had been
10 Il @arden-party. where Captain Her
m"t'S attentions to Mrs. ToWnShcnu
ANA her open encouragement had cN-
cited much scandal. while on that very
morning Elsie had ridden into Lns-
b"rorgh with Claude and. having over
taken Il party of officers and some
lady-triendS who We're bent on Il long
ride. she had consented to Join them.
though she saw that her husband dis
approved and that business prevented
his going. Claude had come home in
jealous annoyance. because Captain
Herbert was of the party. and now
after several hours ahSence-Mrs.
TownShend was riding home with
only the captain in attendance. Jul
lith and Claude stood at one of the
windows. watching them as they slow
ly rode up to the house. Elsie laughing
and boldly returning the captains adj
mirng glanceS as they talked.
Il thought he came to see you"
Claude remarked. scarcely able to ar
ticulate the words i'll his excitement.
Elsie led me to believe he did. or l
would not have encouraged him here.
Tor l never liked him. She is fooling
me. Judith am sure she is. He must
he a Thoroughbred scoundrel to make
his attentions to you a blind for"
Don't say what you may after
wards regret interrupted Judith, Qui-
city. and don't believe that his atten-
lions to me were insincere. He pro-
posed to ME in London last year-but
dared not accept him. You asked me
the day came what had been the out
come of our flrtation: but. until now
have had no opportunity to tell YOU
"Wcll-and now?'
Now l do lot understand him. He
still loves iie-he does not care for Ell
sic. | feel sire. Nov: be cam. Claude:
go our. rs usual. and help Elsie to dis
mount.
There is Il" need." he remarked.
grizzly. Herbert has already seen to
that. BY Heaven. | should like to
shoot him as ne stands"
And rob mo Of my lover" Judith
asked. with q forced laugh. Don't be
cruel. Claun. Your jealousy will
''!:v" YOU mas: Look ut lnc--I am
''Hint. though their Irritation means as
much to me ~ it does to you-nay.
!n"rc. for YOU ~: a. Elsie.
Il wish to H.;: en- that l had never
married her-I should have been &
happier man with YOU" he exclaimed.
with passionate virlerce: and Judith
Slivered as she rl:,;v - away from tn"
window to the lit,',' :.a-table to await
Elsie and her cavalier
Elsie came in first, with smile on
her face which was flushed from eN
poSure to the sun. the captain follow
ing slowly, with an expression of
WEAKNESS on his face, as Judith was
quick to note.
We'll, you two" said Elsie. brightly.
looking from Claude. who was stand
ing grimly in the embraSure. to Jul
'lith. "hoW have you been getting Gil In
my absence? It's pity YOU dc not
ride. Judy you would have enjoyed it
to-day-wouldn't She Captain Her
bert:''
Yes" he said. advancing to shake
the hand that that Judith rendered
him after he had returned Claude's
nod. But ! say Yes without know
ing Miss Hatfield's tastes
Miss Hattields taste does not in
cline to horsemanship-sh is nervous
and Inexperienced replied Judith.
trying the effect of 4 smile upon him
but it had none. apparently. But
don't YOU want i cup Of tea. Else:
You will have one. too, Captain Her
bert"
While they d::nl. it Elsie told them
where they had ridden: bu, in til"
midst of her recital her husband
walked out Of TIE room. She looked
after him a little blanjily. continuin"
her narrative rather diScOnnectedly.
and. when she had finished. she made
some remark about going up to To-
move her habit and see how baby was.
and. with an ar.logy 10 the captain.
quilted the room.
For a few seconds neither Of the
Two left behind either looked at each
other or spoke. The captain was bored
and tired after four hours cOmpan-
iOnsElp with Mrs. Townshand. and Jul
dith was oppressed by many doubts
and fears.
She regretted that she llaG not give,.
the captain Il different answer when
he proposed to her. for. if she had, he
would scarcely have been flirting With
Elsie now. and she wondered whether
she ought to sacrifice herself for
Claude and E!*ies sake They had
been quite happy until Captain Her
bert came upon the seen" would they
not be quite happy again, when. as Il
married man. he had no temptation to
f1irt with Elsie: for there was no way
of getting rid Of him else. since his
regiment wa stationed III Linsbnrough
for an IL unite period: OF course
Claude coi.::. leave Galley Park but
not for lc:iG because il VAS his home
and his fururite place o: residence
She could not doubt bu, that Elsie was
involved heartdeep IL her present
Irritation. and that, if She did not re-
reive some violent check. there was
no knowing where her infatua,ion
would lead her. At the moment she
.Iudith-did not believe the captain
meditated any wrong: but Claude was
so hotly suspicious and jealous that it
might bring about the very cntaStrO-
phe he would sacrifice his soul to
avert.
She was filled with distas1c II, the
very notion of trying to win the cap
tain back and of drcriving him: but,
if her sacrifice meant Claude and FL
sizes secured happiness. what would it
mutter If she only suffered? She would
take care that Captain Herbert meyer
understood, and perhaps she would not
have to go very fnr-prrhapS If she