Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-01

your eNcuSes; ] have temporiZed. hop
ing against hope that you would make
good your promises; | have accepted
your explanation for my childs sako
--and to-day know YOU have lived a lie
through II all; that you had not then,
nor ever have had. any intention 20
make me your wife. The time has come
for me TO act. Sit here by this table
and address a note TO the clerk Of the
hotel directing him to register Raw.
mond Holbin and wife in room 20! Here
is pen, ink and paper"
Are you insaneT" he cried. rising.
angry and amazed
yes; totally so! Insane enough 10
kill you" Then she deliberately leveled
q pistol at him. "Sit down and writei
! leave this room with an acknowl-
edgment from you in the hands of a
witness. a wife-or murderess. did
II once. Raymond; can 90 ii again.
killed man for you last night As
she uttered this confeS>ieu her face
grew pale as death. the pistol was low
cred, aud she stood shiverins n abiect
terror. You have not heard of it7"
she whispered. Are not the papers
full Of it?' Her form, which had been
erect. seemed to shrink; she looked
over her shoulder towards the door.
listening. The man strobe forwsrd and
wrenched the weapon from her cold
hand. Then he forced her into ch air.
Louise, Louise!" he grosned; and
then in awe he said: "lusane!' She
made no resistance. A tide Of memories
had swept over the new issues.
NO" she moaued. mot yet Would
to God I verel You 90 not believe me,
Raymond. Listen. l found out where
you were stopping in the city. found
the street and number. / had de-
termined to 90 in and bring the horrid
uncertainty TO an end. for you had BOT
answered my letter-you had not
GOMEZ"
But you tid not go I'M" he said, ter.
rfed. Surely, you did not"
NO. ! walked by again and again.
went around to the side street and
looked into the garden; but said: I
will see him first; Raymond cannot
mean to be so basel Still yov did not
come. Will you believe it. | went back
at night, hoping TO zee your could
not stay here alone in this room-l
slipped out Two men entered that
gate. and one of them ! would have
sworn was you. followed and saw
them enter the wing room. While
waited there, wondering if you would
appear again--it was but a few min.
utes. thnk-one Of the men came from
the wing-room. passed me, and, going
out, locked the gate. ] was prisoner,
for the fence was tall with spikes q
iron. Then went and stood under he
window. thinking the room was yours,
and | might attract your attention;
and heard your voice and ~oman's
in there"
II, is liza lei the room belongs
70 Frances. was not in III" city
Frances? Who is Frances? But no
matter, they were there all night; and
1, crazed and abandoned. wept and
ragged out side"
"You are simply daft, Louise; you
don't know what you are saying
They were there, tell you. Once a
match was struck. and I could hear a
woman pleading; and-there I was,
lying upon the ground, the window
Just out OF my reach. Then ! found
myself climbing the ivy and chnging
to the shutters; and ! saw you sittiu 9
there. his woman with curly gold n
hair kneeliug in her night dress before
you, her hand upon your shoulder,
saving good-by 70 her lover while she
held lighted match above his face"
Louise, this is unbearable" Hol-
bin was beside himself
II thrust your pistol between the
shutters. took aim at you and fired,
my aim was true; the man tell for
ward into the darkness, and ! back
upon the wst grass. Look, See the
stains Of the crushed ivy see the soil
upon the gown. see the bGstered
hands! look al your pistol The ham
mer is upon an empty she'll! l got
up and ran for the gate, but . man
was entering and his carriage stood
opposite. Crouching in the shrubbery,
I saw him come back"-her voice san k
TO whisper-"with a dead man in
his arms. got here-how, ! do not
know--and locked myself in. When
you came | thought il was your spirit.
What will they do with mo? VIII
they lock me in gaol7 VIA they hang
me? Why don't you speak 10 me-
Raymond? Why do you look at me
that way7 Raymond, Ray mond!-I
did not know what I was doing! I
was insane, Jealous! I had lost my
child-oh, they ought to know that
Raymond, before they judge me too
harshly, Raymond. Raymond. answer
me-answer," He mastered his emo
ton by a powerful effort.
You have had your revenge" he
said. hoarsely, his lips parting in a
soundless laugh, The shot went &c
the mark" He sank in his chair by
The table and gazsd helpessly upon
her agitated face, his thoughts else
where.
But DO not understand" she said
MY revenge, If you were not the
man"
why. II is incrediblel" he cried, an
grily. Give ne the key the keyl
the key, Quick! the clock is striking
ten--the key"
you will not give me up Raymond
the mother Of your child!-you will
not"
"Ah-no. no. Louise You ara saft