Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-20
CHAPTER XII.

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too terrible. They palsied even the eff
fort of her thought to combat them.
"Come!!" said the man. I'm wait
ing, and the word you uttered just now
was notra bad one to hear to a man
who's been homeless for five years. II
brings up a picture of light, and COM
fort and warmth"
Does it?" she cried, rousing herself
does it? I should think your imag.
anation would paint different back
ground to the wprdT1a scene of revelry
and rioting, of climbing glasses, and the
turn of a Wheel of men to be allured to
their fate, and women to allure them!"
And again she shuddered. II have but
to close nay. eyes to see it ALI"
You were treated we'll enough" he
answered. you've no cause to COM
plain, and in the future
'"The future?" she interrupted him.
11ercely. "In mercy's name, let there
be no future. Go away from me! Oh,
If you have one spark of feeling in
your soul, go back into the grave where
I believed you"
$50 you heard that story, Ell? and
gave it credence. You heard that I
was murdered in a fight. To tell the
truth, I had an ugly knife-wound, and
was not quite sure for while but that
the end had come. Do you know what
was my one regret? That I hadn't
found you and that hadn't killed him.
This, l. think, was what gave me
strength to slowly recover and this.
or"-with a harsh, forced laugh-"be-
cause the devil wasn't quite ready to
claim his own. I can hardly believe
now in my own luck-can hardly credit
that once more we two stand face to
face. It's growing dark. I can't see
you we'll now. But the first glimpse I
had showed how little you were
changed. You've not lost your beauty,
my girf,' and you've been in luck.
You're dressed in furs and velvets,
with diamonds in your ears: but it's
strange place, and strange hour for
80 fine lady to be alone. Come, let's
go home; but first, tell me"-and he
fairly Kissed the question-"are you
afraid because he is there? I will wait
40 longer. Let US be off,
"Listen!" she cried "You are all-all
wrong! Your suspicious always have
been wrong concerning my flight. I fed
cause I hated you I thanked God -
yes, on my knees Il had not knelt be-
fore since I was a little child)-when
heard you We're dead. said my life
was my own now, to do with as 1 will.
j will forget my past; will live in the
future. Eight months ago, I married
q man rich. honored, boasting proud
old name which is mine to-day. Will
10T
down into the mud? You shall not, I
say-you shall not!"
Her listeners breath came short and
hard; his face hardened.
$50 you are married, eh?" he said,
after an almost imperceptible pause.
swell, come, my girl. Introduce me to
your husband. Tell him you've found
q brother you thought was dead"
"I'll tell him nothing: nor will move
one step from this place while. you
stand here. Let me go. Oh, what good
can it do you to drag me down into the
1nire again.? I had almost forgotten it,
but now seem to feel again its slime.
will help you with money if can, but
never-n0ver let me see your face
;again!" -. !, - ...
you forget I've some rights a-man's
not likely to give up You forget I've
not seen you for five years. You are
brave to tell me. what you have Just
told me. Who is the man that you
have married? What is his name?"
"You shall not know his name!'
IT willsknow it, or tomorrow the pa
pers shall ring with your story, and I'm
not one, as perhaps you remember, to
make idle threats. What is this mans
name?". =
"His name is Reynolds" she an
ewered,' then II may as we'll tell YOU
ANY one a.. else would tell you for the
asking. Oh, Tom, leave me in peace!
Don't prosecute mel" !:
"You'll come home with me to-
night" he asserted, slowly and again
he laid his hand heavily ON her shoul-
der. You, hear. me-? You'll come home
with me-
What would be the good?" she ques-
toned, desperately. do you know
what would do? I would murder you.
Oh, am not the woman I was five
years ago! I would not bear what
bore then, believe me-"
"You were a little wildcat on occa-
sions, then, ma chere, but I'm not very
much afraid Of your claws"
(. Again she shrank back, almost as if
In absolute fear.
t'Tom, let us talk sense" she said
@'You say you have fifty-dollars. and
your luck is down. have nothing but
these jewels in my ears. I'll never go
back to the old life. I'll kill myself
first! I'll never go back to your bru-
tally. There is no law of God or man
to compel me. You can, ruin me here.
You can blurt out all the truth. You
could find witnesses enough to corrob-
crate your story If I were fool enough
to deny it, so I won'ts try. You can
drive he from the home and shelter
have found, or you can leave me here
in peace. You can let me hslp you with
money, in such sums as t am able to
obtain. and you can pay me with the
price ofiyour-silence!" e
"A .cod proposition, upon .my word"
replied. the man. 81 will. walk up and
down the path here for while and
think 1t over-not going far enough,
however, to let you out of my sight
ma belle"
she fairly crouched down on the seat
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