The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1901-11-07

your What do you want?"
The voice that answered was, like her
own voice, faint with fear. 1t said: II
want word with YOU
Moving slowly forward-stopping-
ing onward misunderstanding again-the
woman at last approached. There was
light enough left to reveal her face, now
that she was near. 1t was the face Of
Sydney Westerfeld
Il am amazed at your audacity," said
Mrs Linley.
There was no resentment-there was
only patient submission In Sydney's re-
ply.
Twice have approached the house in
which you are living; and twice my cour-
age has failed me. l have gone away
again-I have walked, / don't know
where, don't know how far. Shame and
fear seem to be insensible to fatigue. This
is my third attempt. II l was a little
nearer to you | think you would see what
the effort has cost me. l have not much
to say. May 1 ask you to hear me?'
Does what you wish to say to me re-
late only to yourself?"
1T relates to another person as well as
to myself"
IF that other person means Mr.. Her
bert Linley-"
Sydney interrupted her in words which
she was entirely unprepared to hear.
Il shall never see Mr.. Herbert Linley
again"
Has he deserted your"
mo. 1t is / who have left him."
your
The emphasis laid on that one word
first time.
IF l had not left him Of my own free
WILL she said, what else would excuse
me for venturing to come here? He has
been all that is kind and considerable she
added; he has done everything that
man in his unhappy position could do to
set my mind at ease. And yet 1 have left
him. OH claim no merit for my repent
ance; bitterly as l feel it might not have
had the courage to leave him-if he had
loved me as he once loved you
Miss Westerfeldl You force me to tell
you that you are the last person living
who ought to allude to my married life"
You may perhaps pardon the allusion,
madame, when you have heard what l
have still to say. owe it to Mr. Herbert
Linley, if not to you, to confess that his
life with me has not been a life Of happi-
ness. He has tried, cOmpassionately tried,
to keep his secret sorrow from discovery,
and he has failed. l had long suspected
the truth; but l only saw it in his face,
when he found the book you left behind
you at the hotel Your image has, from
first to last, been the one living image in
] his guilty heart l am the victim of a
mans passing fancy. You have been, you
are still, the one object OF a husbands
love. Ask your own heart if the woman
lives who could say what have just said,
unless it was true.''
GATHERINGS head sank on her bosom: her
helpless hands lay trembling on her lap.
For the first time since the beginning
of the interview Sydney allowed the i'm
pulse of the moment to lead her astray.
In her eagerness to complete the act of
atonement, she failed to appreciate the Sc
verify of the struggle that was passing in
GATHERINGS mind. She alluded again TO
Herbert Linley, and she spoke too soon.
will you let him ask your pardon" she
said. ''He expects no more"
GATHERINGS spirit was reused in an in
slant. HE expects too muchr' she an
swered, sternly.
late to set it right.
at is my misfortune if have taken a
liberty" she pleaded; pray don't treat
me as il it was my fault. l dare not ask
you to alter your opinion"
do you dare look the truth in the
faeey' Catherine interposed. do you
remember what sacred ties that man has
broken? What memories he has profan
ed? What years Of faithful love he ha:
cast from him? Must l tell you how he
poisoned his wife's mind with doubts OF
his truth and despair of his honor, wher
he basely deserted her? You talk Of your
repentance. Is there no sympathy for me
in your repentanceT'
Sydney silently submitted to reproach
silently endured the shame that finds n,
excuse for itself
Catherine looked at her and relented
, The noble nature which could stoop t.
anger, but never sink to the lower depths
of malice and persecution, restrained il
self, and made amends. Il say it in II,
unkindness to YOU" she resumed, but
when you ask me to forgive, conside
what you ask me TO forget. II viii onl.
D distress us both if we remain longer to
I. gether," she continued. rising as sh
a spoke. Perhaps you will believe that
, mean well when 1 ask il there is anything
can do for your
, Nothing"
= All the desolation Of the lost woman toll
2 its terrible tale in that one word. Invite'
4 to rest herself in the hotel she asked leav
4 to remain where she was; the mere effor
e OF rising was too much for her now. Cath
crime said the parting words kindly. .
o believe in your good intentions; believ
e in your repentance
a Believe in my punishment Ate
that reply no more was said.
? Behind the trees that closed the view a
: the further end OF the lawn the moon wa
L rising. As the two women lost sight o
{ each other, the new light, pure and beau
!, tiful began TO dawn over the garden