Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-05-04
CHAPTER II. Continued

rage moved on, but her face was
white, even TO her lips: and when at
last Ii stopped before her W door,
she Weakened as from a sudden dream.
Hours passed. and her husband did
not return Her dinner was served in
usual state, but she sat down to IL
alone. and made "A miserable felnt at its
enjoyment.
Afterward. followed by the long, I'M
endurable evening, Henri ~dAugmonts
card was brought in, but she declined
TO receive him.
She could not bear his hidden inuen-
does. now that she knew that they
might not be foundationless. There
was ~smouldering within her a fire
which must be quenched or famed in
10 fiercer heat by what Louis might
say to her in explanation. II was for
this she waited.
Midnight had long struck when he
came. A shade of surprise swept over
his face, as, opening the door into the
library. he found her still in dinner
dress, seated before the fireplace, in
which a wood fire cracked. sending
forth n pleasant warmth through the
rooms.
VIII NDt OtfIlfb lt uufSlibltt&,
carclessly. "Not yet learned the good
lesson | tried to teach you this morn
ingg"
"Who was that woman with whom
you were driving this afternoon
An Older, wiser woman. would have
put the question differently-would
nave approached the subject with great.
err tact.
But Florence Gervase was but little
older and no wiser than had been
Florence Vane.
A smile, more CALLING than a frown,
crept about the corners of monsieur's
mouth, but the long mustache hid the
white teeth which gnawed so savagely
at his under lip.
Rather pretty, you thought her, did
you not n he answered, with a scarce.
ly p~erceptible pause. Really, | am
not surprised at your inquiry rs 10 her
personality. BY n strange coincidence,
she made the same concerning you. A
very p%ardonable curiosity. ma chere.
and see no reason why you should not
be CERTIFIED. Tke lady is no other than
the Countess d'Aubigny. said TO be-
barring yourself, my love-the most
beautiful woman In all Paris"
And the woman whose name all Par
is IL connecting with yours she cried,
s%pringing 10 her feet, for the spark had
ignited the fire now, and ii was ~fiercely
burning. "Ah. you thought because
you had kept me "a bird, within a cage,
/ would not see or know; but you can
moi force me back into my old blind
ness. nor my old ignorance. You say
this woman asked who | was? Did she
blush when you told her | was your
wife-the wife whom little more than a
year ago you took from home aud
friends. swearing to make your love $.
full, so perfect. that she would never
know their need nor miss them? You
were looking ut her. Louis. as | thought
you could look Mt none but me-looking
at her as though you loved her. How
could YOU? How dared you? And L
i, your wife--a Witness
you are excited, F~lorence!' an
swered the man; but his cheek was
pale. '"The Countess d'Aubigny is IA
young widow, rich. titled and beauti-
full. Besides, ma chere. since you have
seen fit 10 develop a new quality which
I did Lot know you possessed-that Of
jealousy wish to advise You 10 con-
quer IL at once, and 10 tell YOU. more
over, that at the time of making a very
rash and foolish marriage | did not
think ii at all worth while to acquaint
my friends with the fact; therefore,
really. | believe, l still stand among
them in the light of III unmarried man,
and as such, IL the Countess d'Aubigny
honors me with her notice. you must
see that ii reflects no possible discredit
upon her."
You mean that when this woman
asked you who l was. you did not tell
herr" gasped the unhappy girl, tottcr-
ing a step forward and graspiDg the
back of a chair for support. "You
mean that when the world asks the
SAME question there Is no answer? And
when the question is carried home. and
reaches the dear old fathers ears. can
he. too, find no replyf louis, what
have | done. that you should subject
me 10 this cruel wrong? III i have
wronged you by my jealousy. forgive
me; but promise me that to morrow
the world-your world shall know my
right to the hold title of wife!'
'sTo-morrowf All. my dear. tenor
row already is to-day, and if you woult
preserve your beauty, 1t Is quite tim,
you sought your couch. Good night
ma belief Happy dreams.'
And he went out. leaving her stunned
into silence where she stood.