The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-04-25

eASOsS y
farther on could see across to Sanjowlie.
In the center of the level road stood the
black and white liveries, the, yellow
paneled rickshaw and Mrs Keith Yves
sington. pulled up, looked, rubbed my
eyes, and, l believe, must have said
something. The next thing knew was
that I was lying face downward on the
road, with Kitty kneeling above me in
tears.
elias it gone, child?' 1 gasped
Kitty only wept more bitterly.
"Has what gone, Jack, dear? What
does it all mean? There must be mis-
take somewhere, Jack-a hideous mis-
takel' Her last words brought me to
my feet-mad -raving for the time be-
ing.
s'Yes, there is mistake somewhere,
repeated, ga hideous mistake. Come
and look at it,
1 have an indistinct idea that drag
ged Kitty by the wrist along the road
up to where it stood and implored her
for pity S sake to speak to ito tell it
that we were betrothed; that neither
death nor hell could break the tie be-
tween us, and Kitty only knows how
much more to the same effect. Now and
again l appealed passionately to the
terror in the rickshaw to bear witness
to all I had said and to release me from
a torture that was killing me- AS
talked suppose I must have told Kitty
of my old relations with Mrs. Wessing-
ton, for l saw her listen intently with
white face and blazing eyes.
ssThank you, Mr.. Pansay," she said.
"That's quite enough. Syce ghora lao :"
The syces, impassive as orientals al
ways are, had come up with the recap
tured horses, and as Kitty sprang into
her saddle caught hold Of the bride,
entreating her to hear me out and for
give. My answer was the cut of her
riding whip across my face from mouth
to eye and word or two Of farewell
that even now cannot write down So
1 judged, and judged rightly, that Kit
ty knew all, and staggered back to the
side of the rickshaw. My face was cut
and bleeding, and the blow of the rid
ing whip had raised livid blue wheal
on it. had no self respect. Just then
Heatherlegh, who must have been fol-
lowing Kitty and me at q distance, can
tered up.
| Doctor" said, pointing to my
face,s here's Miss Mannering's sigma
ture to my order of dismissal and
I'll thank you for that lac as soon as
convenient"
4 Heatherlegh's face. even in my alb
ject misery, moved me to laughter.
"Ill stake my professional reputa-
ton = he began.
| "Don't be a fool, whispered.
1--we lost my life's happiness. and you d
better take me home. =
I, AS l spoke the rickshaw was gone.
] Then I lost all knowledge of what was
passing. The crest of Jakko seemed tc
heave and roll like the crest of a cloud
and fall in upon me-
Seven days later ION the 18th of May.
that is to say / was aware that was
lying in Hea therlegh' s room as weak as
little child. Heatherlegh was watch.
ing me intently from behind the papers
on his writing table. His first words
were not encouraging, but was too fan
spent to be much moved by them.
"Here's Miss Kitty has sent bach
your letters. You corresponded gooG
deal, you young people. Here's packet
that looks like ring and cheerful
sort Of note from Mannering papa
which I've taken the liberty Of reading
. and burning. The old gentleman S moi
pleased with you.
s'And Kitty?" asked duly.
Rather more drawn than her father
from what she says By the same toker
you must have been letting out any
4 number of queer "reminiscences just be
fore I met you. Says that man who
would have behaved to woman as yor
did to Mrs. Washington ought to Kill
himself out of sheer pity for his kind
She's hot headed little virago, youl
mash. Will have it, too, that you were
suffering from d. 7. when that row OF
the Jakko road turned up. Says she L
die before she ever speaks to you again. y
groaned and turned over on the
other side.
4 "Now you've got your choice, my
friend. This engagement has to be
broken off, and the Mannerings don't
want to be too hard on you. Was il
4 broken through d. T. or epileptic fits
Sorry l can't offer you better ex-
change unless you'd prefer hereditary
insanity. Say the word, and I'll tell
'eni it's fits. All Simla knows about
that scene on the Ladies' mile. Come
I'll give you five minutes to think over
it.
During those five minutes / believe
that l explored thoroughly the lowest
circles of the inferno which it is per
mitted man to tread on earth. And at
the same time l myself was watching
myself faltering through the dark laby.
rinths of doubt, misery and utter de-
spair. wondered. as Heatherlegh in
his chair might have wondered, which
dreadful alternative should adopt
Presently heard myself answering in
a voice that hardly recognized:
! '"They're confoundedly particular
about morality in these parts. Give
'em fits, Heatherlegh. and my love
| Now let me sleep bit longer