La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-08-13
cHApTER xLIv.-fcontinued)

ter will see you" said Arley Rahsome'
81 must say that she has been cruelty
treated. You are peer Of the realm,
Lord Caraven and have you behaved
as u gentleman TO my child? Have
you treated her with courtesy or afrec-
tion?"
Let me 90 TO her at once said
Lord Carayen. do not be hard on
me, Mr.. Ransome-I have had n great
deal to suffer" And these few words
disarmed the lawyer.
They went together TO Hiidred's
room. Arley Ransome spoke nrst.
"HiIdred. have something very
particular to say to you-open the
door"
There was not a sound-and Lord
Caraven began to feel slightly alarmed.
"Hildred," cried the father. Il have
message from your husband"
Still there was no sound. and, unable
20 control himself. the earl cried out:
"Hildred, for heavens sake. speak
TO me, Let me in-I want to see
youi"
The sound OF his voice seemed TO
have an electric effect upon her. The
the lock and opened wide the door.
With cry OF fear and surprise he
started back when he saw her. He
had seen her lately,so beautiful. SO ra-
diant-now her long black hair hung
in disorder over her shoulders; her
face was pale and stained with tears.
her eyes were dim. her lips white. He
hardly knew her.
''Hiidred," he cried. She looked al
him with dim. sad eyes.
"You!" she said. lis II you who
thought me guilty OF murdsr7"
Lord Caraven turned to Arley Ran
some.
Leave me alone with her" he said.
Il have much to say"
Mr. Ransome went away. The earl
entered the room and closed the door
He went to his wife, holding out both
his hands.
''Wiil you forgive me?" he said. II
can never pardon myself"
But she shrank from him.
You believe that committed mur-
der" she answered. No, | can not
touch your hands,
''Hildred. listen. 1t was almost all
your own fault-you said you were
guilty
Not OF murder" she rejolned. II
could not have supposed that you
would think me capable of that, much
as you dislike me-"
II do not dislike you, Hildred," said
the earl. in voice full OF emotion,
''and | am indeed grieved at having
offended you. Do not refuse to pardon
me-
There can be no pardon. my lord, for
the wrong you have done me-" she re-
piled
And then the earl knew that, IL ever
he won hts wife's pardon. IT would be
work OF patience and of time
He gazed anSiousiy at her She look
ed pale and wan, with the stains OF
bitter weeping on her face. He saw.
too. that she shivered like one seized
with mortal cold.
'HIldred." he cried, do forgive me
you do not know how grIeved / am
to see you like this. | want TO tell you
how the Misunderstanding happened.
VIII you listen?"
Yes" she replied, mechanically. and
she sat silent and motionless while he
told her the story. She looked at him
when 1t was ended with dull, dim
eyes.
II am very sorry" she said. that
Biantyre made the mistake / almost
wish that he had shot me through the
heart. What have to live for?"
II could not spare you. Hildred-you
have been the good angel OF my life,'
he cried.
you would he better without me.
Your estates are free and unincumbered
now-you have reused yourself to
sense OF your duties-you know how to
perform them. l am of no more use.
am sorry that John Blantyre missed
his aim"
This is not like you, Hildred. Where
is your bright energy. your hope. your
cheerful animation!"
She clasped her hands with a shud-
der.
II am sick" she said: sick with
terrible despair"
He was at loss what to say to her
she seemed immovable. Suddenly her
face flushed. and a bright light came
into the eyes that had been so dim.
"Yon sent me from your house. Lord
Caraven, and pronounced me guilty on
what seems TO me very slight evidence.
may claim to be at least as credulous
as yourself. yet declare that had any
one accused you OF murder should not
have believed 1t. You judged me gull
ty at once-guilty OF trying to murder
II, who never in my life trampled
even upon worm. Why should you
have thought tina, wished Lady Ham
ilton dead?"
He looked slightly confused
you remember that you told me
that you were jealous Of herr" he re-
nliAd.