Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-04

ODeyeu MS command, ana let ulm 1edU
her down the stairs and out into the
street, Marie following. There was no
delay in obtaining her carriage. He
followed them both in, and gave the
necessary directions to the driver.
Long after Florence remembered this.
He must have already known, then,
where she lived. At her door he left
her.
II shall call tomorrow, at O'clock,
madame. 1t may be that may be Of
service to you, and, if so, beg that you
will command me-"
She bowed her head assentingly, but
uttered no single word, even Of thanks.
Mechanically, she assembled the stairs
to her apartments. Marie wept and
wrung her hands, while she undid the
wrap and unfastened the SATIN robe,
but Florence sat still and fearless, q
block of marble or Of ice.
At length she motioned that Marie
might leave her, and, reluctantly, she
was compelled to obey. But, left alone,
her position never changed.
If she had been statue she could
not have been more motiOnless, more
lifeless.
Hour after hour struck, but her lids
never dropped, nor single nerve out
wardly quivered. Long past midnight
a key turned in the outer door. The
sound in it's effect upon her was like q
galvanic shock to a corpse.
Instantly She sprang to her feet and
stood in an attitude of rigid expectan-
cy. A minute later the portiere from
the room beyond was lifted, and her
husband entered her presence.
| He started as if surprised. He had
meart to assume the part Of one IN"
| jured to treat her as an erring child,
whose will in all things must be mold
ed to his own, and 10! very Nemesis
stood before him.
The task he had set himself, into
whose performance, he told himself,
her action had forced him, was in no
case an easy one; but in this moment
he realized it to be more difficult than
he had assumed.
Then he remembered all that he had
at stake, and sardonic smile played
about his lips.
'Do you know that you disgraced
yourself and me tonight in the sight of
all Paris? How dared you, how dared
you?"
Her eyes unf1inchingly met his.
slowly she extended one hand, pointing
downward to the carpet at her feet.
''Your place is here" she said-'here
at my feet, to crave my pardon! If you
have in you one spark Of generosity, OF
manhood, of remorse, kneel here and
seek the forgiveness alike Of the wo-
man and the wife"
A perceptible sneer curled his lips.
"Quite a dramatic scene, ma chere.
Really, with such artistic talent, I
would advise your turning your atten-
ticn to the stage; but spare me Its re-
llearsal. 1 have one or two practical
truths to lay before you, and [ wish
you to listen to them sensibly. You
saw fit tonight to force upon me a
public scandal. 1 thought you were a
young, retiring girl. did not dream
that you would develop into a bold,
audacious woman
MY wrongs developed me-" she an
swered. ''You were looking at that wo-
man. Louis, as you had no right to
look at any but your wife. She was
leaning on your arm as only l had the
right to lean. I was alone and unpro-
tected. Why. when asked you to pre-
sent me, did you not do so? There
would have been no scene, no scandal,
them
because you claimed a title which,
while may humor your whims by Civ.
ing you it in private, certainly cannot
so far compromise myself as to allow
you to assume in public 1t is quite
time, Florence, that we understood
each other. / am not inclined to I'M
derrate your claim alike upon my heart,
my forbearance and my purse; but my
freedom must remain untrammeled-"
"You say claimed title to which l
had no right she interrupted, in a
harsh, constrained voice. 'What was
the title?"
'.rhat of my wifew he answered,
steadily and brutally. 'This farce of
matrimony must end. Florence. Our
marriage-the marriage your whim or
rained-was not legal. took good care
that it should not be so. In France, no
marriage is legal without full consent
of the parents, when the contracting
parties are minors. Moreover a Ger.
tain residence here is necessary. My
name, and position and money, enabled
me to fix up certain civil contract
which would not hold good in any
court Of law. 1t satisfied your scrup1es
anu LILY uCol1CS. 4)uI, AOASASS3 hS
added, more kindly, as he saw the ash
en- whiteness which overspread hel
face, as she extended one hand toward
table near her that she might lear
upon it for support, "there is no Gauss
for unhappiness in all this. I am will
ing to overlook tonight if you promise
me such a scene shall never take plac,
again. Now that you understand your
position, you will be sensible. Do no
give you all that any woman could de
sire? Have you not horses, Jewels
':Hush!' she interrupted, finding he
voice at last. ''Take all these things
and give to me my due. Louis, you ar
Furnishing me; but what you have SAT-
is not-cannot be the truth! am you
welded wife. Oh, Louis, forgive me, i
I let my jealous anger master me, as
will forgive your denial of me, bu
take back the words you have jus
spoken! I will 60 away, If you hav
wearied of mel will interfere wit
your actions never again; but tell m
that l am an honest wOman-tell M
that am a welded wife!'
And, sinking upon her knees in tn