The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-02-15
CHAPTER IX.-CoNTINu7zD).

Thus would he crush n0f pOWtI " us
grace him further, he said, hoarsely.
When she did return, she should give
an account to him for these mysterious
absences, or he would make her pris-
oner to the Rock.
On the night of the third day he
found her sewing quietly in her little
private sitting room. She looked up
coolly as he entered.
ct is fine evening, Mr.. Tren-
holme," she remarked, indifferently
He laid heavy hand on her shoulder
and bent his dark, fiery eyes upon hers.
She met the gaze without f1inching.
Madam, where have you been?'' he
asked, in a voice hoarse with anger.
She shook herself loose from his
grasp.
"You hurt my shoulder she said,
quietly.
81 ask you, where you have been?'
'"And l don't choose to tell you"
tYou must tell me. will take no cold
evasions! Tell me, or by the heavens
above us, you will repent it!''
The red leaped into her cheek.
"Do you commando"
cay, command! and the sooner you
obey the betterr'
"And I shall not obey. There is the
bell; am going down"
She rose, lifted her arm to put her
work into hanging basket. In so doing
her sleeve fell away from the wrist and
her husband noticed that the heavy
garnet bracelet she had always worn
was missing.
81 don't see you bracelet" he said,
half inquiringly.
81 have laid it aside. Garnets are not
lost my color"
He detained her a moment to say in
voice low and deep with stern deter
mination:
'Imogene, you will consider yourself
an inmate of the Rock for the remain
der of the winter-for all time, until
you explain to me this mystery. | leave
it with you to decide, whether shall
confine you to a single room with bolts
and bars, or give you the liberty of the
whole place, and let your word of honor
be the chain that keeps you here. De-
cide!"
She looked up into his hard face, and
her own set lineaments softened She
remembered how she loved him. 1t
made her simple woman, ready to
obey the man she loved.
81 will remain here. I will not go
away. give you nv word, and it shall
be chain"
Every WE'LL he said, $50 be it." Then
in a gentler Tone as if suddenly recol-
Letting that she was woman-"Any
time when you deign to explain this
mystery, will listen gladly, for it goes
against my will to use this semblance
of cruelty"
Mrs Trenholme bowed loftily, and
| went up to her chamber. After that, she
spent most of her time in her room. In
vain her husbands mother urged her
to come out of her retirement. She al
ways had some reasonable excuse for
her conduct and after a while she was
left to herself. Ralph she scarcely saw
now, save at meal time. He never came
to her; never spoke soft word to her.
He never looked at her, even when she
had spent long hours in making herself
beautiful hoping to attract his atten-
| ton.
Business called him to Boston for a
week. He merely announced the fact at
table, and went away without any
| teave-taking. He did not see the ghast-
| ly pale face that from her window
watched him ride away; he did not
know that for hours after his depart
IRE his wife lay in a heap upon the floor,
not weeping women like her seldom
weep-but breathing great shuddering
cries.
80 heavenr she moaned, ''for his
love have risked everything, and be-
hold he hates mev'
Ralph returned home about II one
cold stormy, night. He took his horse
to the stable himself, without dis
| turbing the hostler, and came to the
house by a path through the garden.