The Portland daily press., 1898-04-19
BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUx.


was iiOV lily lON6E. L ChT0 lOE III OAO Va
cept your own dear SELF
Terms of endearment are unneces-
sary, l answered impatiently. turning
from her. "Such expressions from one
who has so grossly deceived me are abso-
lutely nauseating. l have striven for
your social advancement and have loved
you dearly. but from this moment you
are my wife only in name. :"
She buried her face in her hands and
was seized by fit of hysterioal sobbing.
All her self-control had vanished at the
instant she realized that I knew the
truth, and she now stood before Inc bent
and penitent.
Forgive me-" she whispered earnestly.
Forgive ne, Godfrey"
No." ] answered with frmness 81
cannot trust you.''
Overlook this incident, and 1 will
never again give you cause for jealousy,
she exclaimed. II will do anything you
ask, only have patience W 18th me-"
II have already had patience" an
swered. "Yet, deceived as I am daily,
we can live together no longer"
but love you,'' she declared with
fierce earnestness, fixing her fathomless
myself"
lit is your own fault entirely said.
You have chosen to act in this manner,
and whatever are the consequences they
are of your own seeking. l suppose you
will tell me next that this man who was
with you compelled you to meet him."
'That is the absolute TRUTH she fall
tered.
"Ah, always the same lame tale,''
observed in disgust. 81 have not forgot
ten that night at the Nook when I
watched you walking with Beck. No,
Ella. There is some strangs mystery
about it all that don't like. You pre-
tend to love me; but you have some
ulterior motive"
"There is mystery, It is true," she
admitted, her eyes dimmed with tears.
"a mystery so strange and startling that
when you know the truth you will stand
aghast and dumbfounded. But with
its elucidation you will have knowledge
of how I have suffered and striven for
your sake; therefore can only pray that
the revelations that must accrue may be
me as base and deceitful, you will then
learn how much one woman has endured
and sacrificed because she loved you
"Then we must part until this mystery
is cleared up" said. calmly, my heart
full of grief. "You refuse to take me,
your husband, into your confidence, there
fore 1 can place no further reliance in
"Think,'' she cried clutching my arms
convulsively. "Why should the happi-
ness of both of us be wrecked by mere
misunderstanding?
"a Misunderstanding I echoed. "It
is assuredly more than that"
NO." she answered, endeavoring to
stifle her sobs. ssYou misunderstood
am acting solely in our mutual inter-
ests."
"To walk alone with stranger is sure
ly not acting in your husbands inter-
ests, observed, bitterly.
"Ah, you are Mistaken" she said,
quickly. when all is explained you will
regret the cruel words you have uttered
this evening"
"Have /, then, no cause to object to
your acquaintance with this MANI" I in
quired, looking sharply at her.
"None whatever. he is neither my
lover nor my friend.
"What is bis name?'
81 do not know. He did not tell me-"
she replied.
"Was this the only occasion you had
metz"
"He spoke to You casually in the street,
suppose?'
toria Station" she answered quite frank
"By appointment Then you know
him?"
''No our meeting was arranged by
third person. 1t was by no means of an
amatory character, I assure you
what was its object?" asked.
Slowly she shook her head. 81 cannot
tell you without relating to you facts
that dare not yet divulge."
''Ah as 1 thought" cried in anger.
You refuse always to explain. AS
each week passes the mystery surround
ing you Increases
Unfortunately cannot prevent 1t"
she answered in a low earnest tone. "Be-
fore we married told you plainly that I
intended to seek the truth of the con-
spiracy against Dudleys life, and you did
not object"
why not leave that wretched affair to
the. police and secure our own happiness?"
I urged.
because the police are powerless
They can have no clue
Is it then absolute ly necessary that
you should attain this end?" I inquired
obviously, "Are you ready to sacrifice
your own home and husband in order to
ascertain the truth regarding a crine9'
Yes, 1T is absolutely Imperative" she
replied emphatically. "Before perfect
happiness can be ours we must both he
sudden death. Towards that end I am
striving. and knowing what do. am
striving, regardless Of your suspicious
and your cruel words If we part-well,
it will be you who one day will be filled
with bitter regret; and as for me, shall
not pause in my merciless quest.
OtJen she had told me that to ascertain
the true cause of Dudley's death was,
next to her duty as my wife. her main
object In life, and these words, uttered
with an earnestness that was genuine,
bore out her most frequent declarations.
CHANGING at the facts as a. whole it was
not surprising that should have suspect
ed Dudley of having been her lover whose
death she intended to avenge.
In silence and hesitation 1 paced the
room that she had furnished with such
exquisite taste. A dozen times she asked
forgiveness, hut no word passed my lips.
She stood .motionless, her head bent in
submission, her hands clasped before her,
awaiting my decision.
Her pale, tear-stained face betrayed
signs of terrible breathless suspense,
she fearing that 1 intended to cast her
off, while could not bring myself to any
firm belief that her declarations of affec-
ton were genuine. Between us there
yawned gulf of darkness and mystery
which hourly grew wider and more i'm
passable.
HTell me that you:Il StiIJ he patiapt ,,j