Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-11

you think you are better III Deu, stot
there. It's all one to me-
Have you come TO stay. or is tbs
merely a flying vislt:" she asked.
well. rs | told you. | brought n port
mapteau with me-" he explained. light
ing Il cigarette; but, in view OF youi
present frame OF mind, | think VIII
take it away again. | am not wanted
here, that's plain enough.
That il an unjust and coWardly
thing 10 say. stephen Deane, she re-
ioiLed. hotly. II have been waiting
here for you (God knows how anxious
~, how longinslyD for many dreary
weeks. What do you suppose a GIL
demonstrated as | am. can do with
herself. alone in these wretched rooms,
from morn till night, week in and Week
out: Go out: Where TO? With whom:
! h; We abandoned my WI people fol-
youT sake. To whom could ! look Tor
companionship In your absence! tell
You | have many times wished myseil
dead. to escape the madness 10 whlch
this prolonged solitude has been slowly
driving me. Yet now You dare to tell
me-you who have deserted me-that
you are not wanted here!
Spare me these heroics," he pleaded,
mockingly. "We shall get on better II
we both keep our tempers. Now. as
understand you. you are Curious be-
cause | have been away six weeks. ana
you choose 10 regard this as wiliful
neglect on my part. AS a matter or
fact, | have been kept away by mat
ters of vital Importance, and simply
| could not get back before"
Il know all about the Deanshurst af-
fair. / have had ample time TO read
the newspapers"
Very we'll. then | need not explain
any further" he proceeded. in fact,
| did not come with the intention OF
explaining at all, believing that my
simple statement would satisfy you.'
$50 far as an excuse can satisfy me,
| was satisfied. You have deemed IL
wise or expedicnt to leave me here
alone, and | suppose you are within
your rights, as my husband, in so do
ing. But | have my rights. also; and |
refuse TO endure this hole-and-corner
existence any longer"
"Soh...... You mean to show fight,
do you.'' he queried. with a bitter
laugh. Very foolish OF you. Alice,
very foolish. indeed"
IF by showing fight you mean my
| right to assume my position before the
world as your wife," she made answer.
yes, / do, and l shall. Nay, hear me
out. Until to-day | have trusted you,
obayed you blindly. I consented TO Il
secret marriage. | have borne the igno-
miny OF masquerading under a false
name. And all this to serve you, and
for reasons which you have never con-
descended TO explain TO me-"
quite true" he assented, coolly. Il
have, hitherto refrained from giving
you my reasons Shall | tell you why?
Don't blame me. mind. IL the infOrma-
ton proves a bit startling just at first"
"Go on" she said, fixing her dark
eyes on his face.
We'll. Ii you must know the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, you
lave no more legal claim tn my name
than to the n you are passing under
AT presents"
FOL several moments she seemed in
capable of doing aught save TO stare at
lim in bewildered horror. The. the
true import of the terrible statement
cdme home to her, and she found her
voice.
1t is false she cried. raising her.
self in the bed and grasplng him. al
most fiercely. by the sleeve. 1T Is rs
false as everything else that you say.'
Think soI' he inquired. mockingly,
AZ the same time disengaging his arm.
"Oh. no, IL isn't; it's quite true. | can
assure you, most solemnly. OF course
It's not your fault Pm o tied 10 you
for the rest of my life: you tried very
hard. indeaH. to make sure Of IRE. But
you see, marriage don't suit my book
ut all. And SO | devised a little plan
that had the double advantage of salts
flying your scruples and leaving me
free. Need ! assist you in divining
what that little plan was, or does the
hint sutficeT'
"rhe clergyman who married us"
was, Of course, no clergyman at ALL
he in,erposed, airily. "played the part
well. though. didn't acknowledging
he is always three parts drunk, I un-
derstand. The license? All nonsense,
Of mrs I'm afraid the Rev. Jeremy
Jones will get into trouble one of these
days"
Silence, you ruffian,'
Even the most callous are not proof
against ii swift. unexpected blow from
the dagger OF Truth. Stephen Deane
was q ruffian: he had treated this girl
woman in r%uffianly fashion: and. de-
spite himself, he recoiled before her
words. There was. moreover. that in
her look which indicated u courage and
resolution he had never given her cred
it for possessing. The abrupt brutali-
~ OF his ayowal had not crushed her ~
he expected 1t would: he had mistaken
her patient endurance ami submission
to his wishes for weakness Of charac-
ter. He had. in short, blundered, and
he knew II. a
Il can make every possible excuse for
your excited state" he said. without a
trace of the cynical. bullying tone lie
had previously INDUCED in: '.but |
must ask You to refrain from calling
me ames You can serve no useful
purpose by irritating me-"
Irritating youy' she repeated. scorn.
fully. Does ii occur 10 you that, II
what YOU have said about yonr mar.
riage is true, | would he justified in
killing you! Upon your oath. before
Heaven. is IL true? Or is IL merely n
device TO seal my lips until such time
as II may suit your plans To acknow.
l~l