Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-11
CHAPTER v.

Florence was too weak. too stunned,
to resist. when. having recovered con-
sciousnesS. Marie held sleeping
t1raught to her lips. Had the cup con-
tanned deadly poison. she would still
-unheSitatingly. perhaps With greater
alacrity-have swallowed its contents.
AS it was. it was nearly noon when she
lifted her heavy lids and looked won-
dcringly about the darkcncd room. en-
deavoring to recall me events of the
previous night. All too soon. too read
lily they shaped themselves before her
mental vision. and the dull pain at her
heart sEarpcned into keen and eNuuS-
lite agony.
Marie" she called softly. and in
stautly the faithful girl stood beside
her.
"Madame:" she answered.
Help me to dress. Marie. | have
slept too long. 1t must be late and
must see monsieur before he leaves his
rooms
"MonSieur has already gone out. mad
anne. He called very early this morn
ing for his coffee. and Jean packed Il
valSe for him. so thought he might
be going on some journey. He left Il
note however. for madame. Are you
strong enough to read it,
"Nes, yes" Florence answered. i'm
patiently.
Marie drew the letter from the pock-
ct of her dress; then crossed the room
to open the blind and let in sufficient
light by which it might be read
But even i'll that mOmentary delay.
Florence had found time to speculate
upon its contents. Her husband had
repented of his cruelty. His nobler.
better nature had reaSserted itself. He
had resolved. if, indeed. it We're true,
that the marriage was not legal. to
make it so: and he would not meet her
until he had taken some step to atone
for the terrible injustice and wrong he
had inflicted upon her innocence ana
conlidng faith.
Thus she reasoned as. With trem-
bling fingers. she broke the seal-his
Eeal-his crest-a serpent charming I.
bird-a strange and appropriate de-
vice.
But if her hand strembed as she
opened and unfolded the sheet the bold
characters upon it showed no sigh of
such feminine weakness. They were
clearly impressed. She needed little
aieht to see and decipher them.
II fear, dear Florence" said the let
ter. from our interview last evening,
and the scene which preceded it, that
you are inclined to be unreasonable:
and OF a WomanS unreaSOna blencSS I
have all a mans horror. Therefore. |
have determined TO spend few days
out of town. | am extremely sorry that
you should view matters as YOU do. If
you persist in thus regarding them. it
TEere better, | think, that we should
not. for the present. meet: but if. on
the contrary, YOU will cease to be Il
child and become Il sensible woman. 4
GCtc addressed TO my club will always
find me. No amount Of rebellion Will
do away with facts: therefore. my dear
H'lcrence why not accept them: OF
Course. your account ut your bankers
stands as it always has done. Draw on
6t without reserve. \ tot. Louis
Swiftly her eyes glanced over the
heartless. cruel words. Would they
kill her love: Not yet. 1t still hun
gered. still burning: for to kill it was
to take from her all that Was best.
She crushed the paper in her fingers.
and the small, white teeth We're firmly
locked together.
At that instant Marie appeared
with a small packet. which she laid
upon the bed.
For madam she said.
Nerved to control. Florence took and
opened it. A velvet case WAS beneath
the wrappings. and within Il bracelet.
set in precious stones of great value
and Of exquisite workmanship. to
which her husbands card was at
tac!led.
Her eyes blnzed with the diamonds
own fire as she realized that thus he
would tempt her to shame. The last
remnant of softness died
"Give this back to the messenger.
Marie" she ordered. Say to. him that
DIT is a mistake, which. later. Monsieur
GervaSe will explain. Then return
quickly; I must dress
Silently and swiftly the girl obpyed.
depressing the exclamation which half
rose to her lips.
Shaking off the faintness which OPP
pressed her, Florence rose and dressed
Scarcely was her toilet completed
than the clock struck 1. and five min
utes later Harry Arkwright's card was
banded her.
She remembered that she had not
even thanked him for his protection
/. when she had so sadly needed it. She
could do so now as though she We're
thanking him for someone else, not hel
self.
Her eyes were dry and fearless: her
cheeks pale, with the crimson spot
staining them. But as with the all
and bearing of a queen, she entered the
drawing room, the man standing there
to receive her. his very heart throbbing
in generous sympathy. suddenly felt his
usual ease desert him. and Il strange
sefsse of embarrassment take it's place.
he was prepared to meet a wrongeI
and injured and unhappy girl; but the
woman who held out u him one little