The Eddy current., 1899-04-15

CHAPTER XVii.--(Continued.)
As she looked tho prayer for help
died on her lips, the tumult In her
heart ceased. and she knew Edlth'a
husband was AZ that moment ~ safe
from molestatlon from her a. n al
ready ten thousand miles Of water now-
cd between thom No impulse urged her
az she had feared. 10 throw herself at
his feet and toll him she could never
leave him again, that he must give up
home and children for her sake No,
she felt she could sit IN his presence
tiil morning, watch him playing with
his children, chatting famlliarly with
his so-cailed wife. and never even wish
20 claim him as her own, because her
love for him was dead. She cared no
more for him for whom she had sRcrl-
iiced her youth. almo1t her life.
She watched him passing out. fol-
lowed by his family. then rose with a
bewildored gesture. scarcely knowing
where she was. She looked az hor COM
panion. stlli sleeping IN her corner.
from her to Mrs. Dennya, who came
nouncing IN for the fourth and last
time, and who addressed her uncere-
moniously.
"Ohl Can you tell me. please. II my
maid has returnedl No? II she does
will you toll her the box has been
found. and We" Then the maid APP
poarinR. she went on, "Oh. here you
arel The box has turned up and we
are ready 60 start at last. Are the
children In the landau3 ! am taking
Master Percy In the brougham with
me. he sure 70 put my dressing
case on the front seat. think that's
all. Oh. n ever I travel with such a
nursery againl" she muttercd. impa-
tlontiy fastening on a gauze veil be-
fore the glass. II wonder where Paul
is3 Does he intend driving in tae
brougham or Landau I haven't eoen
-"
"Mr. Dennys, madam, has gone on
/ foot-he said Il was such n fine night
no would like the walk across the
fields"
Fine night why. II Is raining hard
and blowing almost a gale.Extraordl-
nary idear
AZ last the station was clear OF Mrs.
Dennys. her nursery, maids and foot
men; and Helen, unable TO bear the cir
| OF the roam where 30 many emotions
had been crowded. went out to breathe
| In the gale.
81 hurried along needless Of whore
she was going, her cumbroua bonnet
swlnglpl IN her hand. her cloak nylns
out behind her like a great black wing
Was she glad or sorry, relieved or
disappointed Had she ever loved
him az ali. even In those sunny days
before she had heard Edith's name7
| II she had lived out her life In peace
/ by his side. II he had never wanted "a
deseYt her, never cared for another
| would she In time have como TO feel
I towards him as she had felt at that
| mofnent2 Would he have fallen by
| degrees from the pedestal on which
sho had placed him, or would
no have always remained onthroned In
her foolish infatuated eyes?
These and a hundred other questions
she asked herself yainly. as she hur-
ried through the storm; but she could
ind no answer, her mind was racked
/ for the moment. the only feeling clear
20 her was a sense OF self-pity and con
tempt for the years she had wasted In
futile anguish.
Even now the temptor whispered
was II too later After all she wai
only twenty-slx-years OF youth lay
before her II she wished. Why moi
coax IRE and life back 10 her dlmmet
eyes. paint her pale cheeks, let hel
dark hair grow, and taste pleasure AZ
ter her long fast therefrom2 Why
not bring men 20 her teet, shallow
fnithlons men. as she had done before
make other wives weep as she hat
weptg Surely she had endured enough
already; was there sense In donninl
aackcl0th and aahts to the end, deny
ing herself constantly, living IN th,
midst OF misery. disease ana death
when she hed been no wiiful sinner
but one who had been ailnod against
from the beginningi
Thus cynioaily muslng. she leaned
over the bridge under which she hag
once passed. hghtlng unconscloaal,
for the life she had longed 10 destroy
and peered Into the dark water
what a fool ! was-what a viii,
mad fool" she laughed bitterly, "an,
my mother before mel Only there waI
no turning back for you, poor mother
no turning back for your
with n ahudder she passed aimlesa
~ on, her short hair blowing abou
her face. and went into the church
yard again. She paused among thl
reeds; then, turning down the aid,
path that led O. the cross, the moor
ahone fun for moment upon thl
dreary spot and she distinctly sav
the hgure OF man stretched fae'
downwards on her grave. and tha
man was Edith'a husband.
With a stihed scream. her hands In
stinctiyely dying to her face, she start
cd back, and Paul. looking up. saw
AnF NHn hnnrN HNa .4afan stwraIaaN A..