The Eddy current., 1898-10-01

Il 40 not undersiand-yo say nuch
hard. cruel things" she moaned
"Hard and cruel" repeated her hus-
hand. with bitter contempt. "did ever
q woman live 90 cruel az your"
~ am not cruel" she replied. II
have been driven mad"
There was such Infinite sadness In
the young voice. such droary despair In
the young face. that he was touched
IN spite OF his anger and contempt
Tell me" he said. what made you
DO this thlng this cruel. ungenerous.
unwomanly deed7"
she thought he referred 10 her con
duct 4. following him. and they seem
cd 10 her hard words
What made me do n? You will
only despise and hate me the more n
I tell you" sho replied
Frankly speaking, Hlldred. nothing
that you can say to me will make the
matter worse, but II may certainly be
made better. Tell me the plain truth. :"
Yes, | will tell you" she replied.
II zee that all good understanding is
az sn end between u.s."
THAT IL certain" he sGld. with em-
phasis; with my consent you shall
never enter my doors again"
Have ! acted 10 very wrong?" she
asked. sadly.
"wrong?" he exclaimed contempiu-
ously. we will waive that. Hildred.
You have done that which will never
pardon. Now tell me why you did H..
You may speak the truth 10 me: you
bear my name. will shield sou from
all harm. No one knows but myself"
Thea she did not see me7" said Hill
dred. drearily.
and you may be thankful for
H." answered the earl. severely. "She
| did not see You You may speak quite
frankly-no one knows anything about
Il except myself Now tell me-"
What have to tell you?" she said.
II did Il; / followed you here be-
cause oh, how hard II is 10 telll-be,
cause ] was Jealous Of her, thought
that you were both ridiculing me. that
you would tell her that you had been
Obliged to marry me to save yourself
from ruin, but that you did nc; love
me. you did not care for me. you dis.
liked me, you hated me, you longed
10 be FREQ from me-my accursec
money was all you wanted-that you
would never like me. And I fancied
she would pity you In that soft, caress
Ing voice OF hers pity you for beinl
burdened with wife you did not love
believed that you would tell her that
| was Jealous OF her. that then both o.
you would laugh at me-"
The passion Of her words had dead
oned all sense Of shame. She had for
gotten that which her Jealousy ha,
prompted her TO do. and remembere,
only her great. bitter wrongs. She wal
no longer heroine-only a passion
ate, injured, deeply loving woman
She rose to tho occasion.
The earl was impressed more thai
he would have cared 10 own.
81 could not bear IT," she contin
ued, passionately. Il should have don
worse than this. am sure. II II coul,
have been done ! was mad I vii
tell YOU all ! was mad because ! ma
learned 20 love sou with all IN
strength Of my heart and soul. eoul
not bear that you should jest abou
me with careless words; II was a
though you stabbed me for pleasure.
You love me?" he interrogated, In
credulously.
The dark shawl fell from her, an
she stood erect before him IN all IN
dignity Of her pale. passionate beaut,
Her amber dress and her ruble
cleaned In the starlight; the queenl
head was held aloft; she no longC
pleaded and wept; the memory Of he
passionate love and her bitter wrone
flled her with angry pride,
ITO be Continued)