Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-11-17

passion and desire for revenge, said,
significantly:
what is to become of you? II you
chose to take the risk of trusting Il
man who does not love you, you can
answer the question for Yourself"
No sooner had Judith sent away
Elsies maid with the note to her lover
than she repented and wished she had
answered the message in person.
When Judith came to such conclu-
sions She generally acted upon them:
so now, though her head was aching,
she twisted up her unbound hair.
slipped on the muslin gown she had
taken Off half an hour before, and
went down stairs.
She expected to find Elsie and the
captain in the drawing room. where
she had left the former after dinner:
but they were not there. AS she hest
tatcd she heard the n,urnur Of her
lovers voice outside one Of the open
drawing courl windows. and moved
forward to Join them. 1t was dusk,
bu, sh" saw them plainly enough as
shu walked forward. her football max
:ns no sound on the thick carpet.
Captain Herber twas leaning against
the balcony. while Elsie was standing
beside him. looking up into his face as
She listened intently to what he was
saying. Judith was close to the win
dow before she distinctly heard the
nurmurcd words: but their purport
| was unmiStakable.
1T was silly Of you to take it like
that-to faint at truth you might
have understood for youself if you had
had any thought What but love
should make me wish to marry your
sister? prefer that you should know
the truth. You may call the step you
are about to take what you please; but
it is a disgrace-whch will be visited
upon you, though, of course, l shall
| have to resign my commission. YOu
understand the entire risk you are rum
ming? You give up home. wealth, hus-
band. child and honor for Il man who
does not love you, who will have only
eight hundred a year. and who may
not be able even to give you his name.'
why not?'
Because. if your husband is vindct-
i've, he may decline to free you Of his.'
Elsie laughed harshly, as she said:
II don't fear that. If he does not
care to do it for himself. Judith will
persuade him. imagining that she
could marry him then. But he could
not, could he? Can't you imagine the
| scene between them when they know
we are gone-Claude in a fit and Ju-
dith weeping over his sorrows?"
"Don't!'' he calculated. II shall get
to hate you If you remind me too much
of her love for another man!'
II forgot" returned Elsie, sulkily;
"and you forget that only in what she
suffers on his account will you be
avenged for her deception. But tell
me how had better leave Northwold,
and where l am to wait, then think
you had better CO."
Faint and cold With horror, Judith
turned and noiselessly quilted the
room. She knew now the cause of her
lovers anger and GOODNESS. Elsie had
been poisoning his mind; and, seeing
that she was so persistent in endeav-
oring to spoil her own life, and that
| Captain Herbert was so ready tie be-
| lieve i'll of the woman he professed to
| love and esteem. Judith thought they
| should go their own evil way.
| But. Il moment after, she repented,
remembering what it meant-ruin to
three lives and regulations, besides
robbing a young child of his mother
| and she decided that. if she could pre-
Herbert had shown her, only the night
ebfore. that he loved her. and was
amenable to her intluence-he should
not 80 without she Mt least tried her
power once more.
Springing to her feet. she took
hooded cloak, and. wrapping herself
up in it, passed out into the open air to
await his departure. Walking steadi-
ly toward the drive. without looking
to the right or left, she did not see
Claude making his way to the en-
trance from the direction of the draw
ing room balcony. He staggered, like
| q man under the influence of drink;
but when the iamplight fell upon his
face it showed it to be drawn and
! chastity white.
Il shall have to humiliate myself"
Judith murmured to herself as she
walked under the shadow of the trees
near the drive, but l must win at all
costs!'
The captain emerged from the house
and hurried away as if he were glad
to be free of it. Judith stood quite still,
watching him as he came, with down
bent head, until he was close to her,
when she said. in soft tone of sur
prise. though her heart was beating
heavily:
Captain Herbert-you? I am glad
you have not gone" He pulled up so
suddenly that he seemed to stagger
back: and when she laid her hand on
his arm. with gentle laugh, saying,
odd l startle you? 1 am so sorry" he
thrust her off as though her touch hurt
him.
Judith thought that he intended to
walk on without speaking to her; bur-
while her heart seemed to leap int
her throat at the notion that he,
chance was lost he said, coldly:
Il certainly did not expect to sec 70.
here; is it not rather a strange place
| for you to be at ten o'clock at night?
For whom are you waiting?'
"For Il faithful adherent to take his
departure" she explained, laughingly.
II have the most persistent headach>
l ever had in my life. l could no.
sleep all night"
land continuous crying must be bad
| for the headache, l should imagine"
he said, CURLY.
Continuous crying-yes! But my
opn r,fIurct cnoYnnI IN r<1jn,,o ,,,o