The Portland daily press., 1898-04-27
WILLIAM LIE QUEUX.

them and discovered that one was my
own, that she had evidently taken with
her when she had SO suddenly left my
house, and the other a portrait of the
man who had betrayed me, Dudley Ogle.
Slowly my yes wandered around the
elegant apartment, una BILE to realize that
this handsome luxurious abode could ac-
tually be my wifes home. How mean
and paltry indeed must our small draw
ing-room in Phillimore Gardens have
appeared to her after all this stately mag
niticence and rigid etiquette. AS passed
through the great mansion, one of the
largest private residences in Paris, my
nostrils had been greeted by the subtle
odours of exotics, and upon my ears there
had fallen the strains of an orchestra
somewhere in the opposite wing of the
building. Guests were evidently not
shown to the side of the house where 1
had been conducted, for not a sound pene-
trated there. All was quiet, peaceful, and
stately.
Suddenly. just as bent to more closely
examine Dudley's portrait, and had dis
tingulshed that it was copy similar to
the one 1 hao seen in Sonia's possession,
the door was thrown wide open by
tall liveried servant, who entered, and,
bowling low, announced in stentorian
tones:
"Her Imperial Highness, Elizaveta
Nicolayevna.
The rapid frou-frou of silk sounded out
side, and next second my wife and stood
face to face.
In an instant the colour left her cheeks.
She staggered as if she had been dealt
blow, but managed to regain her self
possession, she turned quickly to the SER
want, and in frigid tones said:
$50. Anton. And see that I am not
disturbed.
The man, glancing at me for a moment
in unfeigned surprise, bowed. and with
drew in silence.
l stood mo tionless, gazing upon her,
noting the beauty OF her costume, the
brilliance of her diamonds, and the death
~ pallor of her haggard but adorable face.
"Geoffrey!'' she gasped at last. In a
half-fearful whisper she repeated my
name, adding, so you have found mel"
With quick. impetuous movement she
walked unevenly towards me, with rust
ling skirts and outstretched hands. 1t
| seemed to me as looked at her, as if my
soul flew towards her, spreading at first
like wave around the outline of her
head, and then attracted by the white
ness of her breast, descended into her.
Yes" said slowly and gravely. 81
have found you, Ella.
"Ah, nol'' she cried, advancing so close
to me that the well-remembered odour of
sampagita intoxicated me. l felt her
warm, passionate breath upon my cheek.
'Do not call me by that false name. For
get it-forget it all, and call me by my
right name, Elizaveta. -
cit is impossible answered.
NO. do not say that she cried hoarse-
". I'll know have deceived you,
| Godfrey. lied to you. But forgive me.
Tell me that you will some day forget -
"Think," said in low reproachful
tone, my heart filled with grief to over
owns h rgad how lyon yeu have wreoksd
before me as a plain English girl; you
married me and allowed me to adore you
-ah! better than all the world besides
until you grew tired and left our poor
matter-of-fact home to reassume your
true station, that of a Grand Duchess
You never loved ne; but it amused you,
| 1 suppose, to become the wife of a man
who was compelled to earn his livelihood
The economy you practissd while with
me was q new sensation to you, and
your
"Stop!" she cried vehemently, putting
up her tiny hand to my mouth as had
been her habit long ago when she
'Stop cannot bear It'll 1 tell you /
did love you, Godfrey. love you now,
dearer than life.''
"Then why did you practise such base
deception?" I demanded. "why did you
leave me and cast aside my wedding
ring"
"I-I was compelled to- she faltered.
COMPELLED p echoed, in voice full
Of bitter sarcasm. 81 do not-indeed /
cannot blame you for regretting the false
step that you toc1f when you consented to
become my wife, yet why you should
have done this is to me utterly incompre-
hensible.''
sit will be plaiu ere long," she assured
me, in a low inJbnse voice. "!f had
| mr. chr hay he
"But you were cruel to deceive me
thus" I retorted.
sit is my misfortune, Godfrey, that ]
was born a Grand Duchess" she an
swered, looking straight at me with her
deep blue eyes full of intense anxiety and
sorrow. sit is nos my fault. I swear
still loYe you vita love as honest and
as pure as ever woman entertained
towards man.
"Rut after deceiving me in every par
ticular regarding both the past and the
present You thought fit to leaye,' / went
on ruthlessly.
"Ahr' she exclaimed, as if rejecting.
81 admit that I wronged you cruelty
yes, l admit it all, everything. Neverthe.
less, since We have parted, Godfrey,
have recollected daily, with a Thousand
heartfelt regrsts, the supreme Joy of ou1
married life. All it was happiness in.
deed with you, the man so dearly loved.
But now" and she shrugged her Shout
ders half hidden in their pale blue chiffon
the movement causing her diamonds te
CLEAN with fiery irridescence. "Now,
without your love, I have happiness nc
longer. All is despair.
II have not forgotten. Every detail Of
our brief joyous life together is still fresh
in my memory" I declared sorrowfully
Forgotten How can either of us
forget!'' she cried, impetuously, pushing
back from her white brow her gold. brown
hair with it's scintillati ng star. "Only in
those few months spent by your side
Godfrey, have known what it is tic
really live and to love. Although 1 have
been absent from you have nevertheless
known from time to time how you have
Jared, yet dared not give you any sigr
MS to my whereabouts, fearing that you
would brand me as base and heartless. Tt
you 1 must appear so, know; yet, al
though we are separated, am still yoar
wife and you are my husband. still love
you. Forgive me-"
And she stood before me with bent head
in penitent attitude, her slight frame
shaken by tremulous emotion.
Ir~. f@14