Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-01-26
would feel lighter If she went away.
nYo,l Soa I ~ .aax i;lai.. H.

would feel lighter if shs went away.
You see, I am not likely to sue him.
He has gone to town."
HI 10 downstairs"
HE is here" I4o"d Ennisford says,
standing on the threshold. Now wish
Lady Ennisford gOod-by. and make haste.
The carriage will be hero in thirty-1ive
minutes"
Must she go::" Lady Ennisforu says,
in a low. constrained tone.
II have sworn it! and l let IL, one in
terferc with my will" he cries. AFRO
gantly.
His wifc's lips form themselves into
the word "Truc," but 1t does away I'M
spoken.
This is her husband after all. .ii.r man
whom She has sworn In love. honor and
obey. no matter whit he THINKS fit to do,
it is not for hey To aggravatc him into
greater bitterness. His sins against low
Ing kindness and fidelity do rot exempt
her iroin her VOWS.
But Bella, leaning against the wall,
looks ut him inso.ea;ly.
OF course. know why You want me
gone she flashes. ut is because Fran
COS docs not know you us do. and you
think l shall initiate her into IL few
things. and ! shall. even now. even ut
THIS eleventh hour. Don't nc foo.cd,
Frances, hy him and that dreadful wom,
an. both arc as had as bad can be-"
40 she says this in II loud. ringing
voice. Lord Ennisford. with Il couple of
strides. reaches her. and puts his hand
, on her mouth.
How dare you dcsecratc Lady Ennis.
ford's presence by such vile untruths:'
he says. i'll Infatuated accents.
Bella pushes his hand awav.
And how dare you dcsccratc Lady En-
niSford's presence us you did last night,
rs you have done willfully, deliberately.
through the whole of your married lifc:'
she questions. with an evil sheer. pray.
was it Il feeling of honor toward her that
made You send for meg
y hot scarlet flush rises on his face,
II his eyes absolutely droop a little;
and his wife. whose attention is now fully
aroused, and who has been watching both
of them, gives a start.
"Ennisford, what docs Bella mean by
that?' she asks in IL tremulous voice, not
daring to analyze the horrible suspicion
that once scourgcd her life, but which
had been long laid aside.
Mean, nothing! She is n mad woman.
a dangerous l%lnatic. and before many
days are over her head she will he safe
and snug where hcr words and deeds will
hurt no one!!"
"Oh, that's your game, is it:" Re,ia
asks. cool.y.
IF YOU don't keep quict-ycs.."
"Coward!" she says, in Il deliberate
fnn0 ssinnn 81 .,-, ,,,J Ia ...ty i
Your work. Have you forgotten every
thing? Don't You know the meaning of
regret. conjunction. rcmorsc: III go. and
never darken your doors again: but hc.
fore I leave it will do me good to dis
l must tell your wife that 1 have hated
her, and tried to injure icr in every
way
But why. Bclla-why have YOU done
this!' breaks in IL sweet. gentle voice.
why. because he was lny love before
he WAS yours-bccansc he was minc-,ny
very own in the sight of heaven; and
YOU came and took him from mr-and so
l hated You. hated OH. hated you as
much as l pity you now"
Lord Ennisford. paralyzed at this eff.
%irontery. is dumb rs Il sheep. and throw
LIS Liih ~ siIstlt SIstutt Sie SttS on.
".And l nave lone another thing, some.
thing which l don't repent: of which I'm
glad.-for it will bring that woman ia
shame. I have sent Lord Ennisford's
love letters to Lady .Aylmer to-Lord
.Aylmcr.."
Losing all sc,f-control at this-rcaiiz.
ing the ruin she has brousht-L.ord En-
nisford springs upon her like Il wild beast,
1rl ,tnssne l,o,. r,nn n,o;n.A ~. .Il
with almost s,ipcrhuman strength md
tierceness.
At last he releases her. shaking himself
from head to foot. and rs she reels a lit.
tle-breathlcss-ashy white. half fain:ing
Lady Ennisford feels !, certain sensation
of pity for her. in spite of all. Bella.
too. has suffered throush-him.' she
thinks.
Go. Bella: / pray of YOU. at once: and
before you go. if You care to hear 1t. he.
,ievc that ! forgive YOU quite anything
you may have done against me-"
Bella looks at her amazed. This Is
womanly nature and womanly goodness
that she cannot understand, and for tls
first time in her life she feels really sor,.
for the mischief she has wrought.
Ii seems to her as ii IL touch OF I.aly
Enni>ford's hand would do her good. ln!,
Lady Ennisford does not offer it. and
with Il wistfil look at her Bella turns
away and goes slowly ont of the room
leaving husband and wife together.
Lady Ennisford sinks back on her sofa
and bnrics her face in the cushions.
Well" says Lord Ennisford. "wilai
do you think of me? was Bella Grant.
lover before our marriage. and an
Lady Ayimcr's lover now"
".And my husband! Please heaven.
shall never forget that. no matter. wha,
happens" says Il low, loyal yoice through
IL heart-brokcn sob.
ITO he continued.)
Some Little-Knuwu Facts.