Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-08-17
CHAPTER Xv.-(Coutinued)

That brought to my mind what i nau
almost forgottcn-the woman whom my
imprudent curiosity had brought into
pursuit of her. I felt ready to curse my
folly aloud, as I did In my heart. for
having gone to Messrs. Scott and Brown.
OLIVIA" I sal there Is woman In
Guernsey who has some clue to yOu--"
But could say no more, for thought
she would have fallen to the ground In
her terror. I drew her hand through my
arm and hastencd to reassurc her.
mo harm can come to you." l contin-
ued, whilst Tnrdif and are here to pro-
tect you. DO not brighten yourself; we
will defend you from every danger"
Martin" she whispcred-and the
pleasant familiarity Of my name spoken
by her gave me n sharp pang, almost OF
gludness-'nO one can help me or de-
fend me. The law would compel me to
go back to him. "A wOman's heart may
be broken without the law being broken.
I could prove nothing that would give
me right TO be free-nOthing. SO l
took II into my own hands. tell you /
would rather have been drowned this
afternoon. Why did you save me?"
I did not answer. except by pressing
OH silently towards the cottage. She
was shivering In her cold. wet dress, and
trembling with fear. 1t was plain to me
that even her fine health should not be
triacd with, and loved her too tenderly.
her poor, shivering, trembling frame. to
let her suffer IL could help It. When
we reached the foldyard gate, I stopped
her for moment to speak only few
words.
go in," I said. "and change every one
Of your wet clothes. will see you again.
once again, when We can talk with one
another calmly. God bless and take care
Of you. my darlng"
She smiled family, and laid her hand
In mine.
"You forgive me?" she said.
Forgive yOu! I repeated. kissing the
small brown hand lingeringly; II have
nothing to forgive"
She went on across the little fold.
Then made my way, blind and deaf, TO
the edge Of the cliff, seeing nothing, hear.
ing nothing. l flung myself down on the
turf, with my face to the ground. to
hide my eyes from the staring light Of
the summer sun.
Married? That was what she had said.
1t shut out all hope for the future. She
must have been mere child four years
ago; she looked very young and girlish
still. And her husband treated her ILL
my Olivia, for whom had given up all
Ind to give. She said the law would
compel her to return to him, and could
do nothing. I could not interfere even
to save her from life which was worse
to her than death.
My heart was caught In vice, and
there was no escape from the torture Of
Its relentless grip. Whichever way l
looked there was sorrow and despair.
I wished, with q faint.hcartedncss had
never felt before, that Olivia and had
indeed persisted together down In the
caves where the tide was now sweeping
below me.
Martini said a clear. low, tender
tone In my ear. which could never be
deaf to that voice. I looked up at Olivia
without moving. My head was at her
feet, and laid my hand upon the hen,
Of her dress.
"Martin." she said again, "sec, I have
brought you Tardif's coat IN place of
your own. You must not lie here In this
way. Captain Carey's yacht Is waiting
for you below"
staggered gIddily when stood on my
feet, and only Olivia's look Of pain stead.
led me. She had been weeping bitterly,
could not trust myself to look In her
face again. Tardif was standing behind
her, regarding us both with great con.
Germ.
Doctor" he said. "whcn I came ID
from my lobster-pOts, the captain sen,
u message by me to say the sun would be
gone down before you reach Guernsey
He has come round to the Havre GOsse.
lin. Ill walk down the cliff with you. u
'Take care Of mam'xelle." I said. wheu
we had reached tho top OF the ladder. ind
the little boat from the yacht was dane
Ing ut tho foot Of 1t. "There IL some
danger ahead, and You eau protect her
better than l."
Eyes, yes" he replied; you may trust
her with me. But God knows I should
have been glad II 1t had gone well with
you."