Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-05-03

In spite Of the terrible self-control she
has taught herself, Lady Baltimore's self.
possession gives way. Her brain seems
to reel.
"Hahl thought SOL have touched
her at last, through her PRIDE" thinks Bal.
timore, watching her with q savage salts.
faction, which, however, hurts him horri.
bly,. And after all he was wrong, too. He
had touched her, indeed! but II was her
heart, not her pride, he had wounded.
"Abroad?" echoes she, family.
Yes; why not? am sick Of this sort
Of life. have decided on ninsing 1t up
"Since when have you come to this de-
cisionr asks she, presently, having con-
quered her sudden weakness by q supreme
effort.
If you want day and date, I'm afraid !
shall not be able to supply you. 1t has
been growing upon me for some time-the
Idea Of It, I mean-and last night you
brought 1t to perfection"
'Tr'
Have you already forgotten all the
complimentary speeches you made me !
They"-with q sardonic smile-"are SO
sweet to me that I shall keep them ripe
In my memory until death overtakes me
and after 1t, thinki You told me. among
other wifely things-if my mind does not
deceive me-that you wished me out Of
your life, and Lady Swansdown with me-"
THAT IL . direct and most malicious
misappncation Of my words" says she,
emphatically.
''Is it? confess that was my reading
Of them. accepted that version. and.
thinking to do you a good turn, and re-
lieve you Of both your betes noires at once,
! proposed to Lady Swansdown last night
that she should accompany me upon my
endless travels"
There Is a long, long pause, during
which Lady Baltimore's face seems to
have grown into marble. She takes a step
forward now. Through the stern pallor
Of her skin her large eyes gleam like fire.
How dare your she says. in a voice
very low. but so intense that it rings
through the room. "How dare you tell
me this? Are you lost to all shame? You
and she to go-to go away together! 1t
is only what l have been anticipating for
months. ! could see how 1t was with you.
But that you should have the insolence to
stand before me"-she grows almost mag
nificent In her wrath-"and declare your
infamy aloud! Such q thought was be-
yOnd me. There was q time when l would
have thought it beyond your
"Was thereY says he. He laughs
aloud.
There, there, there!' says she, with q
rather wild sort Of sigh. why should
waste a single emotion upon you? Let
me take you calmly, casually. Come
come now" 1t is the saddest thing in the
world to see how she treads down the pas
sionate, most natural uprisings within her
against the injustice of life. "Makes me
at least au courant with your movements
you and she will go-whereT
"Well, you will be disappointed as far
as she is concerned. 1t appears she
doesn't think 1t worth while to accompany
me-"
"You mean that she refused to 60 with
your
"In the very bsldest language, assure
you. 1t left nothing to be desired, believe
me, In the matter OF Iucidity. NO, she
would not 90 with me. You see there i.
not only one, but two women in the world
who regard me as being utterly without
charm"
Il commiserate your says she, with
bitter sneer. "If, after all your attention
to her, your friend has proved faithless,
-
Don't waste your pity" says he. inter.
rupting her rather rudely. "On the whole
the decision Of my friend as you call her,
was rather q relief to me than otherwise
/ felt it my duty to deprive you Of her So
ciety'-with an unpleasant laugh-"and
so 1 asked her to come with me. When
she declined to accompany me she left
me free to turn to sport"
"Ah! you refuse to be cOrruptedT says
she, contemptuously.
"Think what you will." says he. re-
straining himself with determination. 1T
doesn't matter in the least to me now.
Your opinion l consider worthless, be-
cause prejudiced-as worthless as You con-
slider me. I came here to tell you Of my
determination to go abroad"
CTo be continued)