The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-03

confident about yourself and about me.
You have entirely misunderstood me.
l am grieved to distress you, but for
your sake 1 must speak plainly. 7 am
your friend always, Mr.. Wardour. I
can never be your Wife
He mechanically repeated the last
words. He seemed to doubt whether
he had heard her araight. "You can
never be my wife?"
Never"
"Why?"
There was no answer. She was in
capable of telling him a falsehood.
She was ashamed to tell him the
truth.
He stopped over and suddenly pos
sessed himself of her hand. Holding
her hand firmly, he stopped little
lower, searching for the signs which
might answer him in her face. His
own face darkened slowly while he
looked He was beginning to suspect
her, and he acknowledged it in his next
words
Something has changed you toward
me, Clara. Somebody has influenced
you against me. Is it-you force me to
ask the question-is it some other
MANI"
"You have no right to ask me that. ;"
He went on without noticing what
she had said to him. HAS that other
man come between you and me? |
speak plainly on my side. Speak plain
ly on yours.
Il have spoken. have nothing more
to say"
There was a pause. She saw the
warming light which told of the fire
within him, growing brighter and
brighter in his eyes. She felt his grasp
strengthening on her hand. She heard
him appeal to her for the last time.
Reflect" he said, reflect before it
is too late. Your silence will not serve
you If you persist in not answering
me, shall take your silence as con-
fession Do you hear me?"
81 hear you
CLARA Burnham! I am not to be
trifed with. Clara Burnham! l insist
on the truth. Are you false to me?"
She resented that searching question
with woman's keen sense Of the in
suit that is implied in doubling her to
her face.
"Mr Wardour! you forget yourself
when you call me to account in that
way. never encouraged you. l never
gave you promise or pledge
He passionately interrupted her be-
fore she could say more: you have en-
gagged yourself in my absence. Your
words own it; your looks own it! You
have engaged yourself to another
mani"
IF I have engaged myself, what
right have you to complain of it," she
answered firmly. What right have
you to control my actions"
The next words died away on her
lips. He suddenly dropped her hand.
A marked change appeared in the ex
preston Of his eyes-a change which
told her of the terrible passions that
she had let loose in him. She read
dimly read, something in his face
which made her tremble-not for her
self, but for Frank
Little by little the dark color faded
out of his face. His deep voice drop
ped suddenly to low and quiet tone as
he spoke the parting words: Say no
more, Miss Burnham-you have said
enough. I am answered.; I am dis
missed" He paused, and stepping
close up to her, laid his hand Oh her
arm.
1.-THE time may come" he said,
"when | shall forgive you. But the man
who has robbed me of you shall rue
the day when you and he first met"
He turned and left her.
A few minutes later. Mrs. Crawford,
entering the conservatory, was met by
one of the attendants at the ball. The
man stopped as if he wished to speak
to her.
What do you want?" she asked.
81 beg pardon, ma'am. Do you hap
pen to have a smelling bottle about
you? There is young lady in the
conservatory who is taken faint"
CHAPTER V.
hzz1Es HE morning of the
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