Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-10
CHAPTER III.-CoNT1NUED.

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CHAPTER uI-CoNT1NUED.
"Dear husband" she said. sweetly
"John Briscoe loved you as few men
love their friends. Do you know that
he would rather have you enjoy that
money after his daughters death thar
those people?" "a ~
II don't know: never thought
about it. Jeanne"
"Well, know he would want YOU
to have it, and have it you must"
II declare you mystify me-"
II have something else to say
Blanche was in love with you when
first met you. knew it from the &C
counts you gave me of your visits tc
her. I used to think you were a fool
not to have seen it. She loved you SC
much that"
20, how absurd"
''That when you brought me home
as your wife she swooned away. One
of the maids told me about it. She
pretended to be confined to her room
with a headache, but in reality she
spent the two days in tears. She
keeps diary; it has lock and key,
but one day I found it open and read
her heart. She not only loves you
but she has worshiped you since she
was IS years old. You have thought
she was happy at Lyndhurst. The
truth is she has not had one content.
ed moment there. She dislikes me
and imagines me unworthy of you,
and that has only irritated her pas
SION"
Jeanne" said the major, II can
hardly believe all this, but even if it
were true, what has it to do with this
awful breach between you and me?"
'You must have her money or !
shall never be content as long as I
live" The speaker paused as if to let
her statement settle into his dis
turbed consciousness, then she ended:
"You must have it, or I cannot live
with you any longer"
you mean-'' he was unable to pro-
coed.
II mean that you and I, Rowland,
without harming the girl in the slight
est, can. after her death, live the rest
of our lives on that money, over half
of which you have fairly earned by
your business care and Judgment"
II don't see how we can do it,"
Goddard said, after he had endeavored
to fathom her meaning.
''She has only two years to live at
the very longest, dear. 1t would mean
a temporary separation between you
and me, but in the end we could make
up for it. My plan is this: She loves
you and would marry you within a.
week after my death if you asked her.
I shall 60 abroad at once. and while
I am away absolute proof of my death
shall be brought to you and the au-
thorities in America. Soon after this
you must marry Blanche and get pos
session of her fortune. Then when
she dies shall manage to show that
my death was mistake and shall
come back to YOU"
my God, Jeanne! don't-don't ask
this of mel"
Goddard covered his face with his
hands. His wife removed them gently
and put her left arm around his neck.
Darling, it would be the easiest
thing in the world to accomplish, and
then just think of all the after years
of happiness which we shall spend to-
gether."
Il can't do it, Jeanne-I simply am
not made that way"
''Have you considered that you and
I part. then, tonight"
"You can't mean that?" he cried.
absolutely. I shall not go back to
Lyndhurst unless you fully agree to
my proposal. Even then it will only
be for week while am allaying sus-
picion and preparing for my yoy-
age"
Jeanne, I simply cannot do this"
groaned Goddard; II simply cannot
do it!''
The woman rose and stood before
him at her full height. She had never
looked so queenly- influence over
him had never been so great. She
strobe back and forth across the room
with all the grace and beauty which
had enthralled his senses year be-
fore. -
: Suddenly she stepped up to him and
laid hand upon his shoulder which
commanded him like the touch of q
hypnotist upon a good subject.
'You know. Rowland. that another
rich man wanted to make me his wife
when I consented to marry you?"
~- He remembered that she had told
him something of the kind just before
the wedding, and how that fact had
fastened his marriage. He nodded.
/. 81 remember" -. j
{ s'sHe has not married." said Mrs.
Goddard, in tone of deep signifi-
5cance; land still he wants me, and I
could easily secure divorce from YOU
on the ground that you failed to COM
ply with your agreement in regard
to certain money and property which
was to be settled upon me.''
'Would you treat me that way?
he asked. and she saw him blindly
yielding. .@"a5.
I'D have to. I cannot be poor
woman any longer;sAyou understood
that when yousmarried me, dear man.
1t is you who are failing 1toehkeep
promises. Now. if you will say yes
will kiss You and you may stay here
tonight. Hnot we must actually
part company p She bent down oveI
him; her eyes seemed to glow with
: flames kindled by the highest satanic
art. stf No.. yss
- tive years withoht you?" hi
pasned e.. A. Z aks$s SaE { t,z ff;I4z,s