Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-12-01
D0WCC
Chapter X.-(Continucd.)

making you believe ii Il good reason
for our hurried marriage. but am sat
isfed that have done right. My hus
band did not trust me. and thought
that l was fooling him because l re-
iected him last year From first to
last l have had great deal of trouble
with him, but | shall hope now to have
him in subsection.
She paused. for Claude had buried
his face in his pillow. When he looked
up again. there We're tears In his eyes.
My poor little Elsie. Where is she?
l have been so harsh towards her Jul
dith.' he said. rcmorsefully. will she
ever forgive me. do you think? Go and
ask her, Judith! Tell her that it will
be a lesson to me forever. Ask her to
come to me for our child's sake"
Only too glad of an escape. Judith
turned away, but before she had
reached the door he called her back.
Il haven't congratulated YOU. Judy"
he said. affectionately. Il do so with
all my heart: and Herbert is a lucky
man. don't know whether he is
ignorance. let him remain so: it will
better he must come to see me-"
y
The suspicious you have entertained
against your wife-do the doctors and
nurse know that YOU attempted sui.
eide. or do they believe it was an acct.
dent?'
Il don't know: but every time they
have asked me how it happened.
have evaded the question. But now go
and send Elsie to me. dear
Judith. rather doubtful of the result
of seeking an interview with Elsie,
was determined not to lose the vic
tory for want of a little courage and
persistence; so she walked boldly
down the corridor and knocked at her
sisters door.
IF that is you. Robertson. | don't
want YOU" answered Elsie.
1T is not Robertson: it is Judith.
Let me in. Elsie-I bring you mes
sage from Claude"
You can send it by Robertson: l
Will not see YOU" was the sullen re-
tort. Il never want to see you again.
and l think. considering your disgrace
full conduct. that you have taken a
great liberty in returning to my house.
I wonder you are not ashamed to face
met
Never mind that" Judith replied.
amazed at ElSie'S coolneSS. Let ne
inyou must. or | shall say what
have to say here. and no one will re-
greet it more than YOU"
The door was unlocked then. and Jul
tlith walked in Elsie was in her
dreSSing-gOwn. and. whatever her emo
lions resulted from. they had certainly
been sufficiently wearing. for her eye
lids We're red from constant crying,
and she looked years older than the
Self-confident young matron who had
returned from her ride three days be-
fore.
Look here, Elsie" Judith said. Sc
verely. as she closed the door and
faced her sullen-looking sister: Il am
not going to waste sympathy upon
you. for you do not deserve it. You
have been selfishly wicked and
thoughtless. 1t was nothing to you
that you would have sacrificed your
husbands happiness, as we'll as mine
and Captain Herbert's; that you
would have marred the career of a
man who does not care for you. and
brought dishOnOr on husband and
child. You can never look at Claude
in the future without remembering
What you have driven him to. Your
10 uOl lldll 81 great us YOU
deserve. Do you know why? Claude
did not see your face or hear your
voice that night. and. hearing now that
it was l who eloped. he believes he has
made a mistake. and that it must have
been I whom he saw On the balcony
with Captain Herbert. You have a
chance afforded you to try to atone to
Claude for your wickedness. Be CRATE
full to Heaven that his life has been
spared. and it may vet be well with
you. He has asked for you-go and
put your arms around his neck and
hear what he has to say; but be care
full now and in the future, for it is
your last chance"'
Elsie's face expressed by turns. fear,
hope and incredulity; but. as Judith
ceased speaking she raised her head
with Il self-confident little smile and
passed out of the room.
Captain Herbert. meanwhile was
enduring very lengthy wait in the
leafy lane outside the park gates. The
silence in which Judith had received
the unfortunate news he had cOmmu-
nicated to her so soon after their mar
fiage seemed Ominous to him. He had
hot eHteIeu lutO uelillS. Out he knew
that it was not necessary: her quick
ness of perception. coupled with her
knowledge Of his Irritation with Elsie.
would have told her pretty much what
Claude TOwnshend must have over
heard and he did not doubt that she
would visit upon him the due punish
1nent for his SIN
Being in an unusually humble frame
of mind. he knew that he deserved all
he might get, and he feared that .Ju-
dith would seize upon the excuse his
had conduct afforded her to break
with him at once and forever.
Only this morning she told me she
would lie happy with me. and looked
as if she meant it," he thought, miser-
ably, as he paced to and fro. when
she has cried her eyes out about Town
Shend and his wife she will go home,
[ suppose, and never care rap what
becomes of me! How shall be able
to live without her now. knowing that
she is really mine and that it is my
own fault she scOrns meT
He had not answered his mental
query when he saw Judith coming in
the distance. and halted with CULVER