Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-05-04

Ni's' oNSiIN hNt, ih''hf"N'At 'AsS
broad shoulders aud athletic frame to
shield her from the curious crowd.
Without speaking word, she hastily
obeyed his command, and let him lead
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
Il shall call tomorrow, at l O'Clock.
madame. II 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 ascended the stairs
To her apartments. Marie wept and
wrung Ler hands, while she undid the
wrap and unfastened the. SATIN robe,
but Florence sat still and fearless, a
block of marble or of ice.
/ SaAt length she motioned that Marie
might leave her, and, reluctantly. she
was compelled to obey. But, left alone,
her Position never changed.
4 III she had been a statue she could
not have been more motionless, more
lifeiess.
Hour after hour struck, but her lids
never dropped. nor a 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 Il
gaivanic shock to a corpse.
TnS tlx,S SS,. m hnr fnat n nd
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
meant 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
your
Her eyes unfiinchingly 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
\ perceptible sheer curled his lips.
"Quite a dramatic scene, ma chere.
Really. with such artistic talent,
would advise your turning your atten-
tiOn to the stage; but spare me its re-
hearsal have one or two practical
truths to lay before you, and l wish
you to listen to them sensibly. You
saw dit tonight to force upon me a
public scandal | thought you were a
young, retiring girl. l did not dream
that you would develop into bold,
audacious woman"
my wrongs developed me-" she an
swered You were looking at that wo-
man, Louis, as you had no right to
lock at any but your wife. She was
leaning on your arm as only had the
right to lean. was alone and unpro-
tected Why. when asked you to pre-
sent me, did you not do so? There
would have been no scene, 40 scandal,
then"
Because you claimed a title which,
while may humOr your whims by Civ
ing you 1t in private, | certainly cannet
so far compromise myself as to allow
you to assume In public. It is quite
time, Florence. that we understood
each other. l am not inclined TO un-
derrate your claim alike upon my heart,
my fOrbearance and my purse: but my
freedom must remain untrammeled-"
You say l claimed title to which
had no right she interrupted, in a
harsh. constrained voice. What was
the titleW
THAT Of my wifer 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, cer-
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 scruples
and my desires. But, Florence" he
added, more kindly, as he saw the ash
on whiteness which overspread her
face. as she extended one hand toward
table near her that she might lean
upon it for support, there is no cause
for unhappiness in all this. / am will
ing 10 overlook tonight IL you promis.
me such scene shall never take place
again. Now that you understand your
position, you will be sensible. Do not
give you all that any woman could do
sire? Have you not horses, Jewels
Hush" she interrupted, finding her
voice at last Take all these things.
and give TO ME my due. Louis, you are
Furnishing me; but what you have said
is not-cannot be the truth! am your
welded wife oh, Louis forgive me. IL
let my jealous anger master me, as
will forgive your denial Of me, but
take back the words you have JUST
I