Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-09-15
Chapter llI.-(CDntinucdl

GU lllIlk tltStl \ttl tliI'. liiNh
M demanded. ticrcrly. How have l
injured her? Have not lovcd-nay.
iholizcll her ever since have known
her? If my love was not sufficient for
her. why did she marry me: She
knew my temper ANA Ky weakness. as
also. how my early life was embit-
tered. and that if | married her l
should c<,>,crt er to live for me only.
She told! -. she would be content to
do so. and l believed her. But in one
short week after our marriage she was
very W,.:y of my devotion. While
my ey,7 We're dwelling upon her face
in loving content. hers We're seeking
the insulting homage of strangers
Al table-d'hote men gave the wait
er> fees for the nearest place at her
side or opposite to her. Did we walk
or drive. we We're followed or met by
one or otl:er of the men whom she en-
couragcd AS if her natural faScna-
tons were not Sufficient. She took my
money and jewels | gave her to deck
herself out to please men who were.
fer the most part. roues and gamblers.
and whose admiration NlS an insult.
l tried to bear With ii because Of her
innocence and incNncrience. thinking
that. when the nov"l:y had Worn of.
she would tire of her amusement and
see the shame of it. =, did.
'Eut no. Seven Ne1kS of it were
not sufficient to cause safety. so
brought her to I.oi:.:cn. Torn as my
heart VAS by jealousy and diSappoint-
mont endeavn:ed to be gentle and
loving TO her Should l never see her
again, l shall have no reason to re-
proa:l myself with uttering harsh
word 10 her. 1t is she who should be
remor>eiul. for she has repaid my at
lection with Sights and Indifference.
What man could stand it: But. Judy.
to hear her voice. TO see her sweet
face. and hold her o::e more in my
arms. l could forgive her.
Judith listened 10 this passionate
outburSt in tGtmrl:n" silence. and.
when he had tyrne,l his haggard face
from her. she could only look at him
in dumb sympathy conscious of her
inability to llel! him.
Presently Cl:. ,ltie spoke again. and
in a calner tone.
II told YOU we ruarrelled on Satur
tlay-that WIS scarcely the fact. unless
YOU can call 1il::t Il quarrel where the
woman :>-i>-in>ulting and wilful and
the Ean only firm. | am ashamed to
speak 50 Of her: hut it is only TO YOU.
judith. that | would tell the truth.
We Wee going to the Academy during
the day. and | asked her. as a favor.
not 10 wear costume which she had
bought in Paris 4 dress Of gray and
white silk that fitted her like a skin.
and Il tiny hat with white in it--a cos
tune hardly fit for the streets. as it at
tracts too much attention.
'Sho refused my request. and. when
! laughlingly told her that would not
go With her if she Wore it. she lost her
temper. and told me she was sorry she
had married a selfish old bachelor who
wanted to make her dowdy and de-
prvc her Of every little grace and
pleasure her youth entitled her to.
Feeling hurt, told her that the very
age she derjdc;; entitled me. if my po-
SitiCn of husband did not. to exercise
some sort Of control over her when her
ineXperience led her to make mistakes
She said nothing in answer: but. half
an hour later. when asked her to kiss
me. she refused. l would not take her
refusal. but kissed her against her
will. asking her to forgive me. because
/ loved her so. She reCr!@cd me. and
] went out. On my Return she had
gone
Il do not like to interfere and. pos
Sibly. l may be wrong" Judith said
hcSita,ingly: but perhaps if you had
been tirmer she would have been moro
yielding. When you consider that yoll
are in the right You should not ask
for forgiveness. though think
Say it out. .Judith-you think my
Jealousy was Il, fault: can't help it.
AS to being firm with hrr-who could
be harsh with child like that:'
Judith could say nothing. for she
was TOO troubled. Claude told her
what steps he had taken to discover
his wife's whereabouts. and that with
the assistance Of a detective he had
succeeded only in tracing her to Wa
terloo station whcreevery clue had
been lost.
Il delayed going to the FletchcrS.' -
he added. until the last moment, be-
cause l hoped to win Elsie back with
out any scandal. Fletcher was very
kind. and offered me all sorts of adj
vice. none Of which. I fear. will help
me to recover my wife. Mrs. Fletcher
was less sympa1hctir"-h might with
truth have said rude" for Grace con-
Sidprpn that Claude had been in fault
and treated him accordingly But
YOU Judy. you Will help me. will you
not
with al my heart responded Ju.
dith. fcrven1ly-' is. if can. fol
at the mOmcn, / feel so brwildcred
that ! do not sec what ! can do.
hoped YOU were together again. El>ir's
going away having proved a freak OF
which she had quickly repcntcd. Pool
girl dare say, if we could only
know. she is as unhappy as YOU are"
Il am sure she does. Claude. But
she has been p"ttol and made much
of by everybody all her life: conse
Qucntly her Wilfnl young spirit was
c'afed by your attempt TO cocrce her
But. Judy. am | never to point on
Ter errors to her! Living in this lul
place. she would not hay" The OppOl
tHnity to 90 far wrong: but. if Sh'
comes back to mo. and "" 20 out int
tie world together. She will meet mel
and women. lou-whn will only b
too glad to tnruiSh her innocence. Ar
my love. wisdom ard experience no
to be- used in her behalf ngains
thrm:'
Judith sighed: for she had thought