Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-03-29

CHAPTER NIII-tContinued.)
Some women are Ike that" says he.
goomily They can open wide their
heart to their chill lren. yet close it against
the fathers of them. Isabers whole life is
given up to her child: she regards it AZ
hers entirely; she allows me no share in
him. Not" eagerly, that l grudse him
one inch the affection she gives him. He
has a father worthless enough. Let his
mother make it up to him.
yet he loves the father BEST" says
Lady SwansdOwn, quickly.
81 hope not" with a suspicion of vio.
lence.
He does. believe me. One can see it.
That sanity mother of his has not half
the attraction for him that you have.
Why, look you, it is the way of the world,
why dispute it? Well. WE'LL" her triumph
ant voice deepening to a weary whisper.
When one thinks of it all, she is not too
happy" She draws her hand in a little
bewildered way across her white brow.
You don't understand her." says Bahi-
more, frigidly. she lives in a world of
her own. No one would dare penetrate
It. Even I-her husband, as you call me
in mockery-am outside it. l don't believe
she ever cared for me. If she had, do yoa
think she would have given a thought 10
that infamous story?'
About Madame Istray?'
Yes. You, too, heard Of it ,then?
who hasn't heard? Violet Waldron
was not the one 10 spare you She pause.
and looks at him with all her heart in her
eyes Was there no truth in that storyt'
asks she at last, her words coming with a
little rush.
None. l swear it! You believe meT'
he has come nearer to her and taken her
hand in the extremity of this desire to be
believed in by somebody.
Il believe YOU says she, gently. Her
voice is so low that he can catch the words
only; the grief and misery in them Is ui,-
known to him. Mercifully, too. the moon
has gone behind cloud, tender prepara-
r. es>l-tf-, s-.at &c
cannot see the two heart-broken tears that
steal slowly down her cheeks.
This is more than Isabel does" says
he, with a laugh that has something of
despair in it.
you tell me, then" says Lady Swans.
down, that you never saw Madame Is
tray after your marriageT
Never, willingly
"Oh, willingly"
Don't misjudge me. Hear the whole
story then-if you mustw cries he, pas
sionately-''though if you do, you will be
the first to near it. l am tired of being
thought q liar.'
"GO on says she, in a low, shocked
tone.
wei. one day, one of the many days
durng which l went up to town, after
long afternoon with Goodman & Smale,
In the course of which they had told me
they would probably require me to call
at their office 10 meet one of the most in
fucutial tenants at nine the next morning,
/ met. on leaving their office, Marchmont
-Marchmont of the Tenth, you know"
Yes. know"
HE and a couple of other fellows be-
longing to his regiment were going down
TO Richmond to dine. Would 1 come? 1t
was dull in town, toward the close of the
season, and | was glad of any invitation
that promised a change of program-any-
thing that would take me away from
dull evening at my club. l made no in.
quir.es; | accepted the invitation, got
down in time for dinner, and found Mad
anne Istray was one of the guests"
Go on
"G0u are a woman Of the world, Bea-
trice; you viii let me confess to you that
there had been old passages between me
and Madame Istray at one time. Nothing
very special-nothing-w 1 swear to
you | had never so much as thought of her
since my maria ge-nay, since my engage
ment TO Isabel. From that hour my life
had been clear as a sheet of blank paper.
had forgotten her; l verify believe she
had forgotten me, too. At that dinner l
don't think she exchanged dozen words
with me. On my SOUL" pushing back his
hair with slow, troubled gesture from
his brow, this is the truth
Your wife has wronged you, terribly"
says Lady Swansdown in low tone.
Thank you" cried he, a passion Of
gratitude in his tone. "To be believed in
by some one so thoroughly as you believe
in me-, IS TO know happiness indeed. What
ever happens, | can count on you as my
friend"
Your friend, always" says she, in
very low voice-a voice somewhat broken
Come,' she says, rising suddenly and
walking toward the distant lights in the
house.
lie accompanies her silently.
Very suddenly she turns to him, and
lays her hand upon his arm.
BE my friend" says she, with a quick
'ccess Of terrible emotion.
EntEeaty and despair mingle in her tone.
Forever" returns he. fervently, tight
en-, : his grasp on her hand
Wei, signing "it hardly matters. We
VIAL nor meet again for long, long time"
CHAPTER TX.