The Portland daily press., 1898-03-31
Chapter VIII
II DARE MOTT"

Chapter VIII
II DARE MOTT"
sWhat do you think of Elias state
uent?" Beck asked, as we were crossing
Staiues Bridge on our way TO Mrs. LANG S.
az can't understand il. | replied,
'.Neither can l." he said. "Girls of her
excltable temperament are apt to make
statements Of that character utterly WIN
out foundation. No doubt dudley was
her intimate friend, and finding him dead,
her romantic mind at once eonJured up
visions of murder.
Eyes There is good deal in your
argument - l admitted, with touch OF
sorrow 1T the remembrance that Ogle
had aspired to her hand.
s'I never spoke to you on the subJect.
for fear of making mischief, but nave
many times been amazed at your blind
ness when Dudley and Ella used TO nir1
openly, before your eyes very, ne op-
served, glancing at me.
ssAh! you are right" l cried angrlly
"I foolishly trusted him, believing I'M
pliciuly in his honour and in Elias purify.
"Of the latter you surly have no cause
for suspicion, he exclaimed quickly
III am not so certain, replied with
bitterness. 1.-THE more deeply l attempt
to probe this mystery, the more sorrow
heap upon myself. was happy IN the
kslief that she loved no other except me,
yet apparently she is as tactful as an au-
ventures, and Delights IN toying WIN I"
mans affections"
fEvery woman is fickle," my friend
remarked sympatbetically. If she Is
thrown into the society of one man fre'
ouentIy and passes idle hours alone with
him, she either ends in loving him or
hating him. There is little purely pla-
tonic friendship between men and women
nowadays"
eyes, alas !'' I echoed, as we entered
thu carriage drive and passed the well
remembered spot where | had discovered
the body. "There is very little, indeed. !"
A Quarter of an hour later stood alons
before the window of the bright morning
room that commanded beautiful view
of the brilliant sunl1t Thames ana tne
row of tall, swaying poplars and dropping
wind-whitened willows on the opposite
Shore 1 was awaiting Ella, who had,
her maid told me, gone to her room.
Presently, pale-faced and trembling,
she entered, and, closing the door, moved
slowly towards me, stretching forth her
hand in silence, her fearful eyes down
cast. / grasped the slim white fingers,
ana found them cold as marble.
"Geoffrey," she exclaimed, low and
huskily. ftGeoffrey, forgive me-"
"Forgive! For what reasonT' in
ouired sternly, looking at her in adm1ra-
fion, yet determined to be firm. This
was, had resolved, to be our last inter-
view.
because II was foolish, and weak,
and She paused. signing deeply.
"WellP' I said, 'cynically. What
other excuse?"
"Yes, yes" she cried, brokenly. 81
know they are mean, paltry excuses: l
know am trying to make you belleye
it was not my own fault, yet and
pausing again she raised her clear blue
eyes to mine with passionate glance. land
yet, Geofrey, love you in manner L
have loved no other man before. "
"You have a strange way of exhibiting
this so-called Affection" l observed, cold
ly. "You actually encouraged the ad-
yauces of the plan in whom reposed
foolish and ill-placed confidence. nee, ~,
ssFor purpose. l never loved him
never she protested, trembling.
.sYou had a reason! A strange one, 1
should think" exclaimed, angrily.
'iIndeed, at this very moment you are
mourning the loss of this man."
dudley Ogle was not your senemy,
Geoffrey. He was your FRIEND" she an
swered. with a tremor in her voice.
HSome day I will prove this to you. I
cannot now. It is impossible.
"Why?'
~ dare not -
Dare not What do you fear?' de-
,nanded, in surprise, instantly releasing
Eer hand.
our love. she gasped." Then, after pause,
she clutched my arm, and burying her
beautiful face upon my shoulder, sobbed
bitterly.
tsOur love.' echoed, contemptuously.
Notwithstanding the fierceness OF my
anger l smoothed her dark gold hair, and
presently, when she grew trifie calmer,
endeavored to discover the meaning OF
hor ctrau0a en- Umatlcal words.
"You cannot knoW-you will never
know how dearly I have loved you,
Geoffrey, she cried, in answer to my
eager questions. Neither will you ever
know how much l have suffered; how
hard have striven for your sake.
.sFor my sake! Yet you admit having
allowed Dudley Ogle to utter words that
{ alone had right to utter y
eyes, admit all, - she said, with a
tragic touch of sorrow in her strained
yoice. ~ deny nothing"
.'And you come to me asking forgive
ness, believing that 1 can again trust you
without hearing any explanation of your
recent strange conduct with Beck, as well
as with Dudley! think you must re-
gard me, Ella, as weak, impressionable
fool I added, with bitter sarcasm.
"No, do not" she cried, quickly. 81
appeal to your generosity towards a
woman. I have been compelled to act
AGAINST my OWL luCIluatlOab, olApCilouJ
in order to outwit my enemies, to act a
part despioable and reyolsing 5 | can now nov
self suddenly upon her knees before me,
she cried, ''See Godfrey, crave one
grain of pity from you. my only friend,
the only man have loved T.
"No, Ella answered, quickly with
drawing my hand that she was pressing
to her hot fevered lips. II may pity you,
Ir,t foroi va ron T6Vor
HNeverl' she gssped, clasping her
breast with her hands as If to stay the
wild beating of her heart, and struggling
unevenly to her feet "Why never?'
because you have deceived me-"
Eyes, yesl'' she walled, 81 admit it, l
admit it all, but 1 swear my actions were
imperative. Ahl alas that you cannot
know every thing. or you would kiss me
as fondly as you used to do. You,
Geoffrey, would love me with a love even
more tender and passionate than before,
if only you were aware of what 1 have
suffered for your sake"
/ turned from her in disgust Her
tragic attitude filled me with loathing
and contempt. for knew she was lying.
frrrc oSJ; uho