La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-07-30
CHAPTER xL.-Ccontinuec.)

mine, because i. your wiz, nA'' W
tell you this. and you feel surprssedg l
love you. and now that have to leave
you tell you that woman never loved
man, wife never loved husband, more
dearly. more deeply, more devoted!y,
than love you: would have devoted
my life TO you: would have died for
you; every beat of my heart. every
thought of my mind. every action was
for you. love you as Elaine loved
the knight OF old when she said;
Il have gone mad-I love you-let ne
diew
She drew nearer TO him.
Il love you as no one else ever will
as no woman has ever loved you
partly because could not help loving
you. and partly because l have helped
to awaken the better nature within you.
You may live many years, happy, nat
tered. but no love like mine will ever
reach you; the wife you are sending
from you is the dearest and truest
friend you have"
He looked terribly distressed.
why did you not tell me this be-
fore, HIldred?" he asked.
Il tell you? How little you know
me, Was It my place to go to the hus-
band who neglected me and plead for
his caresses, for his love? | could
have died a thousand deaths first. How
little you know me- | should not tell
you all this now. but that | know that
In this world perhaps we shall never
meet again. am speaking to you
across n grave. l stretch out my hand
to you over graye-the grave where
my love lies-slain"'
AS she said the words she fell upon
her knees. weeping, sobbing with DIT
ter cries. as though grave lay there'
and she had fallen upon It,
He was touched. He could not toll
crate what he believed to be her crime.
but she was young, beautiful, loving
Her crime had been committed
through love of him. He raised her
from the ground.
Il am very sorry, Hildred," he said;
''it is very sad for both OF US Now
we mus, talk of something else. You
must go at once"
She raised her weeping eyes to him.
Must you send me away" she ask
ed, gently. at was wrong. I was mad
with jealous anger. but did not think
| was Could you not overlook it,
You speak lightly" he replied,
sternly. mo. you can never re-entcr
my house. l have arranged 1t all.
did SO when took poor Lady Hamilton
back to the castle. ] told our guests
that you had been suddenly sent for
by your father, that l had driven you
to the station-and it Is to your
fathers house you must go.'
Very we'll" she said. drearily.
"You do not seem to understand"
the danger. the peril that hangs over
your"
She did not. but OF what use was 1t
to say so?
TRY to collect yourself and under
stand" he continued; time presses. l
cannot keep them away much longer.
You must depart at once without being
seen. No one must know at what hour
you went You must go to your
fathers house and walt there. II it
should be needful TO send you abroad
l will arrange it."
Have l done SO very wrong?" she
murmured. The earl cried out passion
ately:
Heaven give me patience. You
must be mad to ask me such ques-
tion. One would think you did not
know what wrong meant"
Hildred stood quite still, looking al
most heiplessly at him.
You do not seem to realize or to
know what you have done" he said.
hastily.
u dol do. she moaned: "and there
Will be no pardon. wish that might
fling myself into that lake. would.
but tina, thers is a life to come"
"Hildred. said the earl sternly.
listen to me. have told you that
you must never re-enter my doors; but
You bear my name: and for my names
sake l will shield you. The Countess
Of Caraven may have done wrong. but
the world must not know it. / must
save you from the consequences of your
mad folly. See--I went quietly to your
rooms and have brought you these. :"
He gave her cloak and bonnet with
thick veil. Il found them in your
wardrobe. Have you any money!"
NO" she replied. vacantly: none"
He took out his purse and gave II to
her.
II would accompany YOU" he said,
''but that 1t would draw suspicion on
you. l must be here to ward It of.
Wrap yourself in this cloak. Hide all
that amber satin"
With cold. trembling hands she obey
ed. Suddenly she remembered the ru-
bies. She unclasped the necklace and
bracelets
Take these" she said; and the earl
took them-it was better. he thought,
TO humor her.