The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-02-18
BEMexDucHcSS
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CHAPTER XVI

Isabel? Oh! if so''-vehemently-"it Is
better So
The scene is the Court, and the guests
have just left the dinner table.
II don't think I understand you, says
Lady Baltimore, who has grown very
white. Her tone is naughty; she mas
drawn back little rs if to escape from
contact with the other.
"Ah, That is so like you" says Lady
Swansdown with a rather fierce little
laugh. You pretent. pretend. pretend,
from morning till night. You lntrench
yourself behind your pride. and
"You know what you are doing, Bea-
trice." says Lady Baltimore, ignoring tins
outburst completely, and speaking IN
calm, level tone, yet with face like mar
BILE
eyes. and you know. too says Lady
SwansdOwn. Then. with an overwheim-
ing vehemence: why don't you do some
thing? Why don't you assert yourseh
II shall never assert myself says Lady
Baltimore, slowly.
You mean that whatever comes you
will not interfere"
THAT exactly" turning her eyes full on
TO the others face with a terrible cisdaln.
Il shall never interfere in this-or any
other of his flirtations.'
1t is a sharp stab. Lady Swansdown
winccs visibly.
What woman you are.' cries she.
"Iave you ever thought Of it, isabel
You are unjust to him-unfair. You :
possionately- "treat him as though he
were the dust beneath your feet, and YET
you expect him to remain Immaculate, Tor
IL
| of ice"
NO" coldly. you mistake me.
know too much of him to expect perfec-
tion-nay. common decency from him
But you-it was you whom | hoped to find
immaculate.
You expect too much, then. One ice
berg in our midst is enough, and that you
have kindly suggested in your own per
son. Put me out of the discussion alto
gether."
All. you have made that impossible.
! cannot do that. | have known You too
! long. | have liked you too well. l have,
with a swift but terrible glance at her
"Ioved YOU
Isabel
NO. no. Not a word. It is too late
now"
True" says Lady Swansdown. bring
/ ing back the arms she had extended and
! letting them fall with n sudden dull vehe
! mence to her sides. Her agitation is I'M
! controlled. That was so long ago that
/ no doubt. you have forgotten all about it.
You." bitterly, have forgotten 4 good
! deal"
And You" says Lady Baltimore. very
| calmly. what have you not forgotten
! your self-respect," deliberately, among
other things
Take care, take care says Lady
| Swansdown. in a low tone. She has turn
! ed furiously.
why should take care:' She throws
up her small head scornfully. Have
said one word too much"
Too much indeed" says Lady Swans
| down. distinctly, but family. She turns
! her head, but not her eyes, in lsahel,s di
rection Tin afraid you will have to en-,
dure for one day longer she says in {
low voice; after that You shall bid me {
| farewell forever"
You have come to wise decision,
says Lady Baltimore, immovably.
There is something so COntemptuous il
her whole bearing that it maddens the
other.
How dare you speak to me like that
cries she, with sudden violence not to b
! rcpressed. You Of all others Do yo1
think you are not in fault at ail-that yot
| stand blamcless before the world7'
The blood has famed into her pal,
checks. her eyes are on fire. She ad
vanccs toward Lady Baltimore with sucl
a passion of angry despair in look ane
tone that involuntarily the latter retreat.
before her.
"Who shall blame me?' demands Lad,
| Baltimore, haughtily.
II for one! Icicle that you are, how
can you know what love means? Yo1
have no heart to feel no longing to for
give. And what has he done to you
Nothing-nothinc that any other woman
would not gladly condone."
You are PARTISAN says Lady RaIti
more, coldly. You would plead his cause
and to me. You are violent, but that doe
not put you in the right. What do yol
know of Baltimore that l do not know
! BY what right DO you defend him."
There is such 4 thing as friendship"
as there says the other with dec
meaning. rs there, Beatrice? Oh, thinl
think" a little bitter smile curls tn
corners of her lips. That You should ad
vocate the cause of friendship to me-" say
she, her words falling with cruel scorl
one by one slowly from her lips.
You think ME false" says Lad,
Swansdown. She is terribly agitated
There was an old friendship between Il
I know that-I feel it. You think M
altogether false 10 itF''
Il think of you as little as l can help.
says Isabel. contemptuously. Why Shout
l waste 4 thought on you:'
/ True, Why. indeed, One 50 capahl
of controlling her emotions rs you ar
need never give way 10 super7uous O
useless thoughts. Still, give one TO Balri
! more. 1t is our last conversation toceth
er, therefore bear with me-hear NE. A
his sins lie in the past. He"
You must be mad to talk 10 ne Gk
this" interrupts Isabel. flushing crimson
Has he asked you to intercede for him
Could even he so 50 for rs that? Is it
last insult? What are you TO him tina
you thus adopt his cause? Answer me-
cries she. imperiouSly: all her GOODNESS
her stern determination to suppre her
self. seems broken up.
Nothing" returns Lady Swanst,ovr
becoming calmer as she notes the other
growing vehemcnce. Il never shall be any
thing. | have but one excuse for my in
reference She pauses.
And that"
Il love him" steadily. but family. He
eyes have sought the ground
All" says LaGy Baltimore
1T is true" slowly. 1t Is equally tn
that he-does not love NE. Lot me
then. speak. All his sins. believe me. Ii
behind him. That woman that friend o
yours, who told you Of his renewed &C
qCaintance with Madame Ist7ay. lied I
you. There was no truth in what sh
said"
i can quite understand your not wish
Ing to believe in that story" says Lad
Baltimore. with an undiSguiSed sheer.
Like all good women. Won can tax
| pleasure in inficting a wound" says Lad
| SMarS.lnErn cnrt-nllin1. ka-s.Lf oE---:-,